Holiday blessings and the meaning of Christmas

I drove through the city of San Jose last weekend. Everywhere the streets were clogged with traffic and shoppers, rushing around to cash in on Christmas deals and sales. Besides making a mental note to avoid the traffic until after Christmas, the scene made me adamantly think how much I do not want that chaos for my holiday season.

Sure, it’s fun to buy gifts for others; and it definitely is fun to receive them! Giving and receiving at any time, in all forms, is one of the most beautiful elements of life. But the stress of having to shop for and have that “thing” is not my cup of tea.

The most famous and timeless holiday stories elaborate on giving love, sharing kindness, being generous with joy, courageously helping others, and spending time with loved ones. Look at Charles Dickens’ Scrooge, or the Grinch who became the good guy, or even Rudolph who found acceptance after his heroics.

Here are two Irish Christmas blessings that sum up the holidays for me:

“May you be blessed with the spirit of the season, which is peace, the gladness of the season, which is hope, and the heart of the season, which is love.”

“This Christmas may you have … Walls for the wind, and a roof for the rain, and drinks beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, and those you love near you, and all that your heart may desire.”

My friend Susan Money, owner of Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat at Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica, shared with me that, for her, love, grace and gratitude are the three keys to the meaning of this time of year. “The specialness of the Christian and Jewish holiday season inspires me with a sense of love, grace and gratitude. I believe that we are all One and all connected,” she said.

Susan wrote a lovely message on the website blog of Pranamar Villas expressing gratitude to her hotel’s guests: “The holiday season allows us all time to reflect and appreciate. Pranamar has been blessed by all of you. Thank you. We hope to serve you always with love, kindness, grace and gratitude.”

A little about Pranamar Villas: Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat is a beachfront hotel at Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula. The Costa Rica beach hotel specializes in yoga classes, all-inclusive yoga vacations, surfing holidays and beach vacations.

Article by Shannon Farley

Six Reasons to Keep Traveling and Stay Young at Heart

We all love things that make us feel young (or remember our youth), feel free and be happy. Traveling is almost always in the top 10 – even if only to an old neighborhood where we once lived. Why?

1. Traveling opens up our world.

In today's world, where emails and smart phones often replace face-to-face interaction, traveling makes us get out and connect with humanity. Traveling changes our scenery. When we travel, we leave our daily routine and see new things which stimulate our mind and encourage creative energy.

2. Traveling teaches us to relax.

Whether we want to or not at first, we have to chill out to really enjoy traveling. Traveling for pleasure rejuvenates us physically and mentally so we can return to our daily routine with more energy and patience. Taking a break from our routine – work, school, daily to-dos of parenthood, household chores, etc. – refreshes our mind and gives us the freedom we need to renew.

3. Traveling makes us active both physically and mentally.

Traveling by its very nature makes us move. Whether we're exploring a museum, walking the streets of an ancient capital, shopping in a bazaar, hiking in the woods, or simply lying on a sunny beach in Costa Rica, we are being active. New places may make us want to try new activities … ziplining or waterfall rappelling, anyone? Besides being good for our bodies, physical exercise is also good for our brains. Mental stimulation, especially languages, improves brain function and protects against age-related losses in memory or motor skills. In other words, "use it or lose it."

4. Traveling helps us to discover new things. 

Traveling is education through experience. Travel brings to life things books only describe, no matter how well. When we travel, we learn there are many different ways of thinking and that other people have their own customs of living and doing things that work equally just as well. Traveling the globe makes us lifelong learners.

5. Traveling brings humility and connection.

Travel teaches humility. When we travel, we are often at the mercy of needing help from others. A kind, open, humble attitude gets us much farther than nastiness and arrogance. As we travel more, we learn that language, customs and exterior differences aside, that people share the same basic desires and concerns. We start to see that the world is both a big and small place, and how interconnected we all really are.

6. Traveling teaches appreciation – for home, loved ones, good food, good company, beautiful sights, art, music, freedom, your blessings … and the list is endless.

Travel to Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica

The laid-back beach town of Santa Teresa is near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Mal Pais, Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa and Playa Hermosa – once secret hideaways for surfers and backpackers are now popular beaches sprinkled with eco-lodges, beach bungalows and upscale luxury boutique hotels. Yet, this multinational paradise with world-class surf breaks remains off-the-beaten path.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat is a relaxing oasis on the beach at Santa Teresa, with elaborate oceanfront villas and tropical bungalows in lush tropical gardens. Designed in exotic Bali-style, the luxury boutique hotel gives daily in-house yoga classes, and all-inclusive yoga vacations and surfing holidays.

Article by Shannon Farley

10 top medicinal foods and herbs of Costa Rica

What if keeping a doctor's visit at bay is solved simply by what we eat? Even more, what if herbs grown right in our backyard and foods we can pick up at any corner store can heal what ails us, including the pesky common cold?

Humans have relied on foods and herbs for medicine for thousands of years. In Costa Rica, it turns out that plenty of easy-to-find familiar foods are actually just what the doctor ordered.

Here are 10 top medicinal foods and a list of herbs commonly found in Costa Rica. (Most information is taken from the book Medicinal Plants of Costa Rica by Ed Bernhardt.)

Pineapple: This nutritious, antibacterial tropical fruit contains bromelain, which is effective against certain throat and mouth infections. Pineapple is high in Vitamins A, B and C.

Papaya: The most common fruit in Costa Rica next to pineapple, papaya is effective at treating digestive problems – indigestion and constipation – as well as liver problems, as a diuretic for the kidneys, and to lower high blood pressure.

Coconut: Coconut palms are everywhere along Costa Rica's beaches. People here drink the young coconut water, called "Pipa", which helps revive you after too much sun, too much drink, being seasick, or when you are low on energy. Both the coconut meat and water are used for digestion problems, gastritis, ulcers and liver ailments.

Star Fruit: Called "carambola" in Costa Rica, Star Fruit hails from Malaysia and is a powerful antioxidant with lots of C and B-complex vitamins. The tart fruit is served as a natural juice in Costa Rica and as a garnish.

Cilantro: Cilantro, or coriander, came from Europe to the Neotropics and is used preventatively as an antioxidant and natural cleanser. As well it serves for an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. Wild spiny coriander, called "culantro coyote" in Costa Rica, is native to the Neotropics and has the same properties as regular cilantro.

Ginger: Ginger has been used for centuries in India and Asia as a spice and medicine. Ginger is antibacterial and antiviral and can help prevent infections. Use it to treat colds and flu, sore throats, morning and motion sickness, and circulatory, digestive, kidney, and bladder problems. As a natural stimulant, ginger is a good substitute for coffee. Easiest way to use ginger is to boil it into a tea or cook with it as a spice. Sucking on a small piece of ginger will relieve a sore throat and help ease motion sickness.

Turmeric: Bright orange turmeric (in the ginger family) has been a staple in Ayurvedic medicine for roughly 6,000 years. It is an antioxidant and has been used to purify the blood, relieve stomach problems, indigestion, liver and gallbladder diseases, arthritis and rheumatism, and for colds and flu. Raw turmeric applied to the skin is effective in treating inflammations, infections, bruises and sprains.

Lemongrass: Originally from India, lemongrass grows prolifically in Costa Rica. Lemongrass tea (made by simply boiling fresh leaves) is used to treat colds and flu, gastrointestinal disorders, nervous conditions, pain and inflammation. Add ginger and honey to your tea to really knock out a cold.

Honey: One of the most well-known antibacterial foods in the world, honey has been used medicinally by many different cultures for centuries. Long before synthetic antibiotics were developed, honey was used as an antibacterial treatment for wounds and illness. Studies have documented honey's effectiveness in treating cuts, burns, insect bites, yeast infections, various skin conditions, and fungal infections.

 Honey also is nature's natural energy and immune system booster.

Chan: This strange seed drink is still served in many Costa Rican "sodas," or local diners, though most people don't know what it is. Native to Central America, the seeds of this roadside plant have been used to relieve indigestion, gastritis and constipation. The drink – made by mixing dry black Chan seeds in water with honey for sweetener – looks like a glass of milky frog's eggs. However, Chan is very healthy … and it doesn't taste like frog's eggs!

Herbs: There are numerous beneficial herbs, which are a great way to flavor meals and prevent disease at the same time. Here is a list of herbs you can find easily in Costa Rica with antibacterial properties:

• Basil
• Bay leaf
• Cardamom
• Chili peppers (Cayenne)
• Cilantro (Coriander)
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Cumin
• Dill
• Mints – spearmint and peppermint
• Oregano
• Pepper
• Rosemary
• Thyme

All of these medicinal foods and more are served in the healthy gourmet cuisine of the Buddha Eyes Restaurant at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat at Santa Teresa Beach. The luxury Costa Rica beachfront hotel fronts the internationally-renowned Playa Santa Teresa on the southern Nicoya Peninsula. 

A TripAdvisor 2013 award winner, Pranamar Villas features daily yoga classes, yoga retreats and workshops, all-inclusive yoga vacations, surfing and yoga holidays, and has a beachfront spa.

Article by Shannon Farley

Santa Teresa, at a development crossroads, is still heaven.

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Santa Teresa, like many other small communities located in gorgeous locations in Costa Rica, finds itself at a development crossroads. Pave or not pave the road? How to solve the fresh water issue? How to avoid high-rise overdevelopment?

Yet Santa Teresa’s growth spurt has definitely brought positive outcomes like jobs and a thriving multi-cultural community.

Residents at the laid-back beach town, near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, say that despite the growing pains, Santa Teresa will remain the pristine paradise that first lured surfers and backpackers two decades ago “Santa Teresa will never be that big because the mountains and ocean won’t allow it,” said Mario Matarrita, manager at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat in Santa Teresa. “We’re just a narrow strip of land along the beach with large coastal mountains behind us.”Pranamar Villas special events manager, Larissa Chevalier, added praise to the enforcement of the maritime concession law in Santa Teresa. The nationwide law prohibits permanent structures on any beach within 50 meters of the high tide line. “You can walk down the beach in Santa Teresa and you don’t see any hotels or bars or any development right on the beach. You can look through the trees and see buildings, but nothing right on the beach. It leaves the beach pristine,” said Chevalier, who moved from Canada to Santa Teresa years ago.

"We’ve got issues with the road, water, crime – just like any growing area,” said Chevalier. “At the same time, there are positives with development, like recycling, beach clean ups, etc.”

The Tourism Board in Santa Teresa and Mal Pais actively promotes many projects, commented Matarrita. One of their main focuses now is improving public beach access, he said. Many of the hotels contribute to regular beach cleaning, and environmental groups are forming in the area.

“Santa Teresa still has something special and untouched, and at the end of the day, I’m still happy to live here,” said Chevalier. “I live in one of the most amazing places on the planet.”

Article by Shannon Farley

Paginas Verdes Costa Rica

Páginas Verdes es un directorio que busca incluir a todas las empresas amigables con el ambiente en Costa Rica. Según sus fundadores, la intención es que con el auge de los productos verdes haya más personas interesadas en productos y servicios sostenibles.

La guía incluye desde los productos ecológicos más comunes hasta otros menos usuales. En ella los consumidores costarricenses encontrarán café orgánico, productores de alimentos, proveedores de energía alternativa, reciclaje y transporte verde.

La empresa ha ayudado a negocios para que se transformen en empresas más respetuosas con el entorno. También ha brindado consultorías al Gobierno de la República para mejorar las prácticas sostenibles.

Páginas Verdes toma una visión holística a la hora de evaluar una empresa, basada sobre todo en el tipo de venta que haga: de productos, servicios u organización no gubernamental (ONG).

La idea surgió en 2008 y el lanzamiento virtual un año más tarde. Además del sitio web, existe una edición impresa. El siguiente paso es crear una aplicación para teléfonos inteligentes, en un intento por ampliar su alcance.

De modo afín, a partir del 2013 desean promover actividades de tipo formativo en temáticas vinculadas al medio ambiente. Se hará énfasis en eventos y ferias nacionales.

Es que no cabe duda que el respeto al ambiente ha venido para quedarse. En ese sentido, el hotel y villas Pranamar se ha montado en la ola. Sus administradores y propietarios se han dedicado a ofrecer un servicio de primera calidad del lado con la protección ecológica. Ubicado en Playa Santa Teresa de Cóbano, en la provincia de Puntarenas, cuenta con una variedad de habitaciones que se adecua a sus deseos, además de un restaurante que se especializa en cocina saludable.

Leer Más: http://www.pranamarvillas.com/es/blog-es/41-sostenibilidad/111-busque-en-paginas-verdes-todo-para-ser-ecologico.html

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Traveling in Costa Rica as a vegetarian or vegan is easy.

I had a pair of friends visit me in Costa Rica not long ago who were vegetarian and vegan. My first reaction was, "Oh, no, what are they going to eat?" I know how much Costa Ricans love their chicken, beef, chicharrones (fried pork), fish, etc.

They said, not to worry. Rice and beans are the nation's main staples, and there is a wealth of fresh vegetables and tropical fruits. It's true!

Traveling in Costa Rica as a vegetarian or vegan, or even needing a gluten-free or dairy-free diet, is relatively easy. Rice and beans (both red and black) are present at every meal, including breakfast. Steamed vegetables, simple salads, fried plantains, corn tortillas, and plenty of tropical fruits are common and readily available. If you eat fish, the country is full of fresh fish (both saltwater and fresh water) and seafood.

Here are some easy tips for eating vegetarian / vegan while traveling in Costa Rica:

1. Learn food names in Spanish so you can understand a menu and ask for what you'd like. (See my handy English/Spanish food guide below!)
2. Be very clear about what you can eat / not eat. Just saying that you are "vegeteriano/a" (vegetarian) does not guarantee you won't be served fish or chicken, or that bits of meat aren't mixed in a dish.
3. Order a combination of several appetizers or side dishes if you can't find any entree on the menu that works. Costa Rica has several very-filling vegetarian soups, for instance.
4. Make a request. Maybe something on the menu looks really appetizing, but they've included chicken in it. Simply ask them to prepare it with vegetables instead of chicken. "Arroz con pollo" (rice with chicken) can be turned into "Arroz Jardinero" (rice with vegetables), for example.
5. Be flexible. Remember, you are traveling in a different country with its own culture, cuisine, customs and ways of doing things. Costa Ricans are friendly and will do their best to help if you have patience and explain what you need.
6. Seek out vegetarian restaurants. There are many throughout the country. Chinese restaurants also are popular and always have vegetarian options.

The open-air restaurant at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat, at world-renowned Santa Teresa Beach, specializes in healthy cuisine and can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and other special dietary needs. The luxury boutique hotel fronts the spectacular beach of Santa Teresa on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica.

Their Buddha Eyes Restaurant, positioned beautifully on the edge of a lagoon-style pool, merges Pacific Rim and Asian cuisine with native Costa Rican and Italian touches. They feature organic Costa Rican fruits and vegetables, creative vegetarian cooking, and fresh just-out-of-the-ocean fish and shellfish.

Head Chef Rodrigo Soriano of Argentina specializes in fish and grilled meats. Chef Claudio "Cicco" Mazzone from Italy is known far and wide for his homemade eggplant parmesan, based on his grandmother's secret recipe. Chef Jesus Zabala from Venezuela adds his touch to vegan and vegetarian dishes. Guests rave about Pranamar's salads, hotel staff said. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served seven days a week and the restaurant is open to the public.

A TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence award winner, Pranamar Villas features luxurious two-story poolside villas, elaborate oceanfront villas and tropical bungalows in lush tropical gardens. Pranamar gives daily in-house yoga classes, regular yoga retreats and workshops, all-inclusive yoga vacations, surfing and yoga holidays, and has a beachfront spa with relaxing massages and body treatments.

English/Spanish food guide for Costa Rica

• Gallo pinto – White rice and usually black beans cooked with garlic, onion, red bell pepper and cilantro. Served for breakfast.
• Huevos (revueltos / fritos) – Eggs (scrambled / fried)
• Frutas -- Fruit
• Granola – Granola (easy!)
• Yogurt -- Yogurt
• Chorreadas – Corn pancakes served for breakfast or with coffee. (Check to make sure they are not made with milk if you are eating dairy-free.)
• Platanos – Fried plantains
• Casado (sin carne / pollo / pescado) – Typical meal (without meat / chicken / fish) for lunch or dinner. The dish consists of white rice, black beans, fried plantains, and salad of lettuce, tomato and onion. Vegetarian options serve steamed vegetables.
• Arroz – Rice
• Frijoles – Beans
• Vegetales al vapor – Steamed vegetables
• Arroz Jardinero – Garden, or vegetarian, rice dish
• Sopa Negra – Black bean soup (usually served with a hard-boiled egg; just ask for "no huevos" if you want dairy-free).
• Ensalada -- Salad
• Batidos en agua – Fruit smoothies in water ("en leche" is in milk)
• Tortillas de maiz – Corn tortillas

By Shannon Farley

Research shows massage therapy has extensive health benefits

While massage may have developed a reputation as an indulgence for people who love pampering, studies reveal that it has wide-reaching, evident health benefits, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.

Research over the past few years has found that massage therapy boosts immune function in women with breast cancer, improves symptoms in children with asthma, and increases grip strength in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, reports the Wall Street Journal. Other massage therapy benefits include relaxing tight muscles, increasing circulation, aiding in lymphatic drainage, releasing toxins, and reducing stress. It can boost your health and keep you feeling "young" and full of vitality.

According to the American Medical Association, stress is a factor in more than 75% of illnesses today. Visiting a spa or getting a professional massage regularly is an opportunity for the desperately-needed downtime to relax and recharge your mind, body and spirit.

However, the benefits of massage go way beyond feelings of relaxation and wellness. The Wall Street Journal notes that the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society include massage as one of their recommendations for treating low back pain.

Scientific research also is starting to show what happens in the body after a massage. One study, for example, found that a single, 45-minute massage led to a small reduction in the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the blood, a decrease in cytokine proteins related to inflammation and allergic reactions, and a boost in white blood cells that fight infection, noted the Wall Street Journal.

"There is emerging evidence that (massage) can make contributions in treating things like pain, where conventional medicine doesn't have all the answers," said Jack Killen, deputy director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the USA, in the Journal.

With so many things competing for our attention in our fast-paced lives, it's challenging to find the time in our normal schedule to care for ourselves and keep balance. Somehow it seems easy to fall into being tired, stressed, anxious, or exhausted, yet harder to take the time to counteract all of that with something positive like the healing benefits of massage. It truly is amazing what 60 minutes (or 90 minutes, or more, if you can) of making your muscles and body relax can do to improve your health and well-being.

In recent years, health and wellness tourism has increased substantially in Costa Rica. Spa resorts and vacations, yoga classes and yoga retreats, and professional massage are plentiful. While on vacation in Costa Rica, visit Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat in Playa Santa Teresa for a healing massage or spa treatment. Pranamar Villas offers a large menu of massages and spa treatments to keep you healthy. From 60 to 90-minute massages using various techniques, to more intense, longer treatments focusing on specific problem areas, Pranamar's spa therapists help you ease into relaxation.

For instance, there is a focused treatment called "Traveler's Well-being: Re-grounding." The description states: "After many hours of sitting and waiting, irregular meals, new air, water and weather while traveling, your body is in need of rest and relaxation. This treatment will ground you and give you peace through internal organ massage, Reiki, Reflexology and Therapeutic Massage. Your body will thank you!"

Pranamar offers massages, focused treatments, custom treatments and special health packages at their beautiful beachfront resort.

 Following the hotel's commitment to health and the environment, all massage oils and lotions are 100% organic and made in Costa Rica.

The lovely, intimate, boutique hotel fronts the spectacular beach of Playa Santa Teresa on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. A TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence award winner, Pranamar offers luxurious two-story poolside villas, elaborate oceanfront villas and tropical bungalows, all designed with Indonesian flair and simple elegance. The flowing serpentine saltwater pool and abundant lush tropical gardens lend beauty to the eye at every turn.

There is definitely an uplifting energy at Pranamar. "Prana" in Sanskrit means "vital energy" and "breath", and "mar" means ocean in Spanish. Pranamar Villas offers daily in-house yoga classes, regular yoga retreats and workshops, all-inclusive yoga vacations, and surfing and yoga holidays.

By Shannon Farley

Costa Rica le da la importancia necesaria a la comida orgánica.

• Barefoot Gourmet, una compañía de alimentos orgánicos iniciada por el exconsejero delegado de AOL Europa, Andreas Schmidt, planea conectar a los clientes con productos libres de pesticidas

En el 2012, el fundador Andreas Schmidt y un pequeño equipo de colaboradores abrieron la tienda Barefoot Gourmet en Santa Teresa, en el sur la península de Nicoya. Esta sirvió de plataforma para aprender más acerca de lo que quieren los clientes y la mejor manera de vender alimentos orgánicos.

Para Schmidt, «lo bueno es que hay muchas granjas pequeñas en Costa Rica. Lo malo es que no tenían un sistema de distribución para llevar esa comida al mercado». Del mismo, se ha desarrollado una demanda creciente de esta clase de productos, motivo por el cual hay potencial para el proyecto.

Además de su sitio web, Barefoot Gourmet puso un centro de distribución de productos ecológicos en Guachipelín, Escazú. Según el perfil empresarial en Facebook, este lugar se ubica a 800 metros de Multiplaza, cerca de la escuela Blue Valley.

El dueño del emprendimiento guarda la esperanza de que la demanda se dispare una vez que se haya corrido la voz. Tiene la fe de que los hoteles y restaurantes se sumen a esta iniciativa de modo que su compañía pueda crecer y producir más alimentos.

Cabe recalcar que este nicho de negocio es revolucionario en tres ejes principales. En primera instancia, beneficia a los pequeños productores. Tal segmento constituye solo el 2% del mercado local. Por ende, Barefoot hará que muchos agricultores se ganen la vida. En segundo término, se acaba la búsqueda engorrosa de clientes para alimentos orgánicos. Al ser un proceso en línea, se conecta al productor local con el comprador local y se gestiona el transporte. Esto se vincula con la llamada globalización a escala, en la cual alguien en un lugar determinado puede relacionarse en beneficio mutuo otra persona en otro sitio.

El beneficio final es obvio: la preservación de la Tierra y de los recursos naturales. En ese sentido, la misión principal es lograr el bien común en lugar de la maximización de beneficios. «Desarrollamos la idea Barefoot como un sistema que puede cambiar uno de los mayores problemas que nos aquejan: la comida saludable que nos nos enferme ni que destruya el planeta», concluyó Schmidt.

Por su parte, el hotel y villas Pranamar en Santa Teresa tiene un historial de restauración en este tipo de comidas. Así, apoya iniciativas de corte orgánico, al tiempo que posee otras estrategias para la conservación y protección del medio ambiente. Aparte de las vistas espectaculares y una atmósfera relajante, disfrutará platos que nutren el cuerpo y despiertan los sentidos.

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

CO2 levels at all-time high; scientists call for action.

Leading climatologists are calling on world leaders to take better action to control climate change after carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were measured at a disturbingly record-breaking high last month.

The Earth System Research Laboratory, belonging to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Mauna Loa Volcano in Hawaii, measured its daily average CO2 reading at more than 400 parts per million for the first time (that is 400 molecules of CO2 for every 1 million molecules in the air). The daily average CO2 figure on May 9 was 400.03, reported Dr. James Butler who is in charge of the Earth System Research Laboratory.

The last time CO2 regularly reached this level, scientists say, was 3 to 5 million years ago, before modern day humans existed, according to BBC News reports. Scientists say the climate back then was also considerably warmer than it is today.

"Mauna Loa and the South Pole observatory are iconic sites as they have been taking CO2 measurements in real time since 1958. Last year, for the first time, all Arctic sites reached 400ppm (parts per million). This is the first time the daily average has passed 400ppm at Mauna Loa," explained Dr. Butler in news reports.

The long-term measurements at Mauna Loa were started by Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientist Charles Keeling. In 1958, he found the concentration at the top of the volcano to be around 315ppm.

 Every year since then, the "Keeling Curve", as it has become known, has been inching higher, news reports stated.

Carbon dioxide is regarded as the most important of the man-made greenhouse gases, coming principally from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, and is blamed for raising the temperature on the planet over recent decades. The usual trend seen at Mauna Loa is for the CO2 concentration to rise in winter months and then to fall back as the northern hemisphere growing season kicks in, notes BBC news reports. Forests and other vegetation pull some of the gas out of the atmosphere. This means the number can be expected hopefully to decline below 400 in the coming weeks, but the long-term trend is moving upwards.

Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, head of climate change at the UK-based Royal Society and director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, told the BBC that the new record-breaking figure should "jolt governments into action." Professor Hoskins said a greater sense of urgency was needed to control climate change.

"Before we started influencing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, over the last million years it went between about 180 and 280 parts per million," reported Professor Hoskins. "Now, since the Industrial Revolution, and more in the last 50 years, we've taken that level up by more than 40% to a level of 400, and that hasn't been seen on this planet for probably 4 million years."

Professor Hoskins did say that the forecast is not all doom and gloom. He noted that changes are happening around the world. For instance, in the United States, a switch from coal to gas in power generation helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 200 million tons, bringing them back to the level of the mid-1990s, according to the International Energy Agency. Even though the use of coal increased in some European countries last year due to low prices, emissions in Europe declined by 50 million tons because of the economic slowdown, among other reasons, reported the Paris-based IEA.

The International Energy Agency urged governments to quickly adopt four policies that would ensure climate goals could be reached without harming economic growth. They are: improving energy efficiency in buildings, industry and transport; limiting the construction and use of inefficient power plants; halving methane emissions; and partially phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. These would reduce global energy-related emissions by 8 percent or 3.1 billion tons of CO2 equivalents in 2020, the IEA stated.

Costa Rica has committed to be the first carbon-neutral country by 2021. Costa Rica has been touted in recent months as a world environmental leader for its conservation policies. 

The Central American country has become an international ecotourism destination in the past decade.

On environmental award-winning beach Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, the boutique hotel Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat is a prominent planet-conscious place to stay. The yoga-surf hotel in this southern Nicoya Peninsula paradise takes its commitment to the environment seriously.

The luxury hotel reclaims and cleans its water used at the property to irrigate their organic gardens. They use no herbicides or pesticides on the property. Much of the vegetation is "edible" – fruits, vegetables and herbs supply Pranamar's open-air restaurant with fresh, healthy cuisine. The hotel's composting system completes the food cycle by turning the restaurant's organic waste into natural fertilizer.

Sustainably farmed and recycled woods were used to construct Balinese-style bungalows and villas. All soaps, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and guests' bath amenities are biodegradable. Energy-saving light bulbs and appliances reduce electricity usage. Even the free-form swimming pool is eco-friendly; it's filled with salt-water, meaning less chlorine and other chemicals.

By Shannon Farley

El Ministerio de Educación trabaja por establecer relaciones humanas pacíficas y amigables en el estudiantado

Según el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD), la convivencia se define como: «la dinámica social basada en relaciones de confianza y cooperación, en la que todas las personas se sienten parte de una sociedad, disfrutan de derechos humanos y de oportunidades socialmente construidas y expresadas». Siguiendo esta idea, el Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP) –en colaboración con el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (UNICEF)–, diseñó la «Guía para la formulación de la estrategia de convivencia en centros educativos».
Este informe procura la creación de estrategias propias en cada lugar de estudios para optimizar las relaciones entre sus componentes.

Así, se procura poner coto a situaciones indeseables que se han presentado en los últimos tiempos. Ha habido casos de alumnos amedrentados y heridos con armas punzocortantes; o menores que menoscaban la integridad de sus compañeros a través de acoso psicológico y verbal. También es común la discriminación por creencias religiosas, preferencias sexuales o color de piel. A raíz de lo anterior, el MEP comenzó un plan piloto en el 2010 a través de «Convivir».

Dicho programa se compone de actividades culturales y deportivas aupadas por los propios gobiernos estudiantiles. La intención es que, en el futuro, se apacigüe el ambiente intolerante y hostil que se vive en ciertos sectores de la ciudadanía. En palabras del propio ministro de la cartera, Leonardo Garnier Rímolo, «nuestra identidad, independencia y libertad siempre se forja (sic) en convivencia». Y agregó: «El sentido de nuestros actos y pensamientos está tanto en nosotros mismos como en la relación que tenemos con los demás: en lo que nuestros actos, ideas y sentimientos signifiquen para ellos». Las intenciones del jerarca han despertado el reconocimiento público por sus esfuerzos. Pero también le han granjeado agrias disputas con el integrismo local. Aún está fresco el enfrentamiento que generaron los «Programas de Educación para la Afectividad y la Sexualidad». Fue la propia Sala Constitucional la que dirimió el asunto con una decisión salomónica: los alumnos podrían recibir el curso siempre y cuando contaran con la aprobación de sus padres o tutores.
Al final, alrededor de 98% del alumnado de sétimo, octavo y noveno año acabó recibiendo el contenido didáctico.

«Se trata de conocer y disfrutar con las diferencias y las similitudes que nos caracterizan. Especialmente las diferencias que son las que más nos enriquecen, las que nos ayudan a cambiar, a mejorar, a conocer nuevas visiones, nuevos sentimientos», concluyó. Si bien las bases de una buena convivencia se fundan en la familia, estas se fortalecen en los centros educativos. Además, se potencian en los demás espacios sociales: la calle, trabajo, transporte público o cualquier otro sitio donde haya dos o más personas. Así, termina impactando en nuestra calidad de vida. Por eso es imprescindible que la humanidad completa trabaje por establecer relaciones humanas pacíficas y amigables. Esta es una tarea titánica, compuesta por esfuerzos cotidianos en pro de los valores de autonomía, colaboración, respeto y solidaridad.


En ese sentido, el hotel y villas Pranamar se ha caracterizado por estimular estos conceptos. Tienen un enfoque holístico en el que se cultiva el respeto hacia el medio ambiente, más allá de las meras relaciones interpersonales. En cualquier caso, podrá disfrutar de instalaciones de lujo en un ambiente relajado y responsable socialmente.

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez.

Amazing trip San Jose to Santa Teresa Beach using Paquera Ferry .

Santa Teresa Beach is custom-built for fun. You have the perfect combination of relaxing beaches, exciting tropical rainforest and luxurious accommodations and spas. White sand beaches, lush vegetation and spectacular sunsets set an amazing stage for your romantic holiday.

Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat, is a winner of the 2012 Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice Award. Pranamar Villas is a gorgeous, intimate boutique hotel right on the water with luxury two-story villas built around a free-form saltwater pool and tropical gardens, and elaborate beachfront villas. Picture Balinese architecture with bamboo, hardwoods, stone, water and plenty of windows and doors to let in fresh sea breezes.

El cambio climatico y sus efectos en la flora y fauna

• Alrededor del 75% de las plantas y el 50% de los animales podrían verse afectados durante los próximos 100 años.
• Los humanos no serán inmunes ante las consecuencias pues el agua y el aire también se verán afectados.
• Una intervención rápida puede aplacar el impacto hasta en un 60%.

Aproximadamente el 75% de las plantas y el 50% de los animales podrían enfrentar una mengua sin precedentes durante este siglo como producto del cambio climático. Esto se extrae de una investigación de la Universidad de East Anglia (UEA) en Norwich, Norfolk (Reino Unido). Los resultados se publicaron el domingo pasado en la revista Nature Climate Change.

Estudio consideró 50.000 tipos de plantas y animales. Se determinó que dos tercios de los vegetales y la mitad de las bestias perderán su hábitat climático para el 2080 si no se toman medidas para mitigar los efectos y velocidad del calentamiento global. En otras palabras, la distribución geográfica de la biodiversidad bajará en todo mundo. Según esos cálculos, el mayor riesgo es para las plantas, reptiles y anfibios. Asimismo, zonas como el África subsahariana, América Central, Amazonia y Australia verán mermar sus especies. Mientras tanto, Asia Central, Europa del Este y el Norte de África experimentarán una disminución de plantas sin igual. No obstante, una actuación veloz para amortiguar el cambio climático podría significar la reducción de pérdidas en un 60%. De ser así, habría 40 años más para que las especies se adaptaran. De tal forma, la temperatura mundial subiría solo 2° C para el 2100 respecto a tiempos preindustriales (1765).
Por su parte, el estudio fue financiado por el Consejo de Investigación del Medio Ambiente Natural (NERC). A su vez, estuvo a cargo de la doctora Rachel Warren de la Escuela de Ciencias del Medio Ambiente y el Centro Tyndall para la Investigación del Cambio Climático de la UEA.
Contó con el apoyo de Jeremy Vanderwal, de la Universidad James Cook (Australia); y de Jeff Price, también miembro de la UEA. Según la directora, «se sabía poco acerca de cómo el aumento de la temperatura global afectaría las especies más comunes». Y agregó: «el tema más amplio de la pérdida potencial de especies de amplia distribución es un problema grave, ya que incluso pequeñas reducciones en estas pueden alterar de manera significativa los ecosistemas». Pérdidas enormes en la biosfera. Warren explicó cómo se puede inferir mediante sus pesquisas que las especies más comunes se encuentran en peligro. «Esta pérdida de biodiversidad a escala global empobrecería considerablemente la biosfera y los servicios ecosistémicos que proporciona». Como consecuencia, se volverán más comunes y extremos algunos fenómenos que hoy son más bien esporádicos, como plagas y enfermedades. La científica advirtió, empero, que las estimaciones del equipo fueron «probablemente conservadoras». «Los animales en particular pueden disminuir más que nuestras predicciones por una pérdida de los alimentos de las plantas», alertó la doctora Warren.
Hizo hincapié en el círculo vicioso que también traerá consecuencias importantes para la humanidad. Destacó situaciones relacionadas con la purificación del aire; la calidad del agua y el control de las inundaciones; el ciclo de nutrientes y el ecoturismo. Pero el panorama no es del todo gris. El estudio trae consigo nuevas evidencias decisivas sobre cómo se pueden reducir rápidamente los gases del efecto invernadero. Estas medidas pueden retardar enormemente la pérdida de la biodiversidad, puesto que reducen el importe del calentamiento global de 4° C a 2° C. Dicha ventana de oportunidad permitiría que hubiera 4 décadas de tiempo para que la biodiversidad se adaptase a estas transformaciones de temperatura.
De actuarse a tiempo, las pérdidas de los hábitats climáticos podrían reducirse hasta en un 60%. Por eso es vital que haya un aporte generalizado para el beneficio del medio ambiente. En ese sentido, existen diversas iniciativas públicas y privadas en pro de la conservación. Por ejemplo, el hotel y villas Pranamar (Santa Teresa, Puntarenas) ha sido, desde sus inicios, un lugar dedicado a la relajación y el descanso en armonía con la naturaleza. El centro turístico se toma muy en serio el tema de la huella ecológica, por lo que ha implementado diversos programas como el reciclaje de aguas residuales, el uso de jabones biodegradables; piscina libre de químicos y el empleo de bombillas y electrodomésticos de bajo consumo.

Por: Andrés Figueroa Vásquez y agencia Europa Press.

Are you happy?

That seems to be the question being asked in recent times, from boardrooms to bars, international conference centers to offices of government leaders, business schools to book stores. Are we happy? Following our bliss? Living our passion? Are we "me-focused" or "others-focused"?

The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan even measures its country's prosperity by its "gross national happiness" (GNH), measuring the spiritual, physical, social and environmental health and happiness of its citizens and natural environment. Bhutan's policy attracted great interest at the United Nations climate change conference in Doha, Qatar last December.

Costa Rica has made it to #1 on the Happy Planet Index for two years in a row (2012 & 2011), based on its national conservation policies, small ecological footprint, high quality of life and life expectancy rate all being "exceedingly above par", states Forbes Magazine. The Happy Planet Index is an annual survey conducted by the New Economics Foundation, a British think-tank that aims to measure the level of happiness in every country in the world. The ranking system establishes a solid link between happiness and the environment or nature.

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Susan Money and Greg Mullins followed their bliss 20 or so years ago to live in harmony with nature in Costa Rica. The California couple first opened a bed and breakfast hotel, then the very successful Florblanca Hotel on Playa Santa Teresa, and now are owners of the highly popular Pranamar Ocean Front Villas and Yoga Retreat, also on Santa Teresa Beach.

"The Pranamar experience is a unique one. Rather than the typical corporate model, we work under the family model. Pranamar evolved from a sense of oneness – a desire to be in community with people we love and people who simply make us feel good," explains Pranamar owner Susan Money.

Pranamar Villas is a gorgeous, intimate luxury hotel fronting the spectacular beach of Playa Santa Teresa on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. A Trip Advisor award winner, Pranamar offers luxurious two-story poolside villas, elaborate oceanfront villas and tropical bungalows, all designed with Indonesian flair. Pranamar evolved from the Susan and Greg's experience of living in the Indonesian island-paradise of Bali. They loved living alongside a river where neighbors gathered in community. In that image, they created the four poolside villas alongside the "river" of their winding saltwater pool, along with abundant lush tropical gardens throughout the property. A hidden statue here and there, shells and rocks artistically placed in the pathways, all lend beauty to the eye at every turn.

The hotel's name shows the owners' passion in what they do. "Prana" in Sanskrit means "vital energy" and "breath". "Mar" means ocean in Spanish. There is definitely an uplifting energy at Pranamar.

"At Pranamar, I feel like what we're really doing is inviting guests to experience the beauty of life," comments Nancy Goodfellow, Yoga instructor at Pranamar and Susan's daughter. "To get out of our usual routines; to step aside and see this amazing nature around us and the beauty within us – this vital energy that is all around us. Simultaneously, one will experience this deep tranquility and inner peacefulness."

The long tranquil beach of Santa Teresa is nearly perfect with its light beige-white sand shimmering with crushed shells and volcanic sea glass in the sunlight, shady palm and almond trees, and spectacular sunsets. Along with world-class surfing and top-quality Yoga classes, retreats and package vacations, there are numerous activities to do in the area, such as snorkeling, horseback riding, canopy zip line tours and nature tours.

"The memories and friendships established at Pranamar will linger in our collective hearts for a lifetime," notes Susan.

The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play. Arnold Toynbee

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. Albert Schweitzer

By Shannon Farley

All you need to know for planning your destination wedding.

Trending in recent years among brides and grooms is leaving behind the traditional, large, 250-person, fancy church, banquet hall wedding in favor of a fun, exotic destination wedding that adds the adventure of a sunny honeymoon vacation.

Couples choose to go out-of-town for many reasons, including basic economics. You would think that staging a wedding in another country would break the bank, but in most cases, only close friends and family attend these celebrations; thus, sparing couples from the large, expensive, traditional wedding receptions back home where everyone up to your long-forgotten Sunday School teacher are invited.

Destination weddings have become increasingly popular for couples of all types. Costa Rica has become one of the premier locations for destination weddings in the world. The popular wedding website TheKnot.com named Costa Rica in 2012 a top wedding destination in Latin America. TheKnot.com reported that one out of every four destination weddings in Latin America take place in Costa Rica. What’s not to like? You have fabulously gorgeous beaches, lush rainforest, volcanoes, a thriving tourism industry, and an abundance of hotels, resorts and vacation homes available.
A destination wedding is an exciting alternative to a traditional wedding, but a destination wedding requires a lot of planning. Information taken from many sources, including top Costa Rica wedding planner Aimee Monihan, owner of Tropical Occasions and Santa Teresa Beach Weddings, brings you our:
Top 10 list of “Things to Know Before Planning a Destination Wedding”:
 
1. Choose your location carefully. Destination weddings don’t always have to be a beach setting. Choose a mountain, volcano, lake, forest, etc. if beaches aren’t your thing. For instance, Costa Rica has lovely cool climates up at elevated cloud forests.

2. Plan well in advance, especially your airline tickets. Try not to plan a wedding during the country’s busiest times of year when tourism and costs are at their highest, or during national holidays when people do not want to work and businesses are closed. (For Costa Rica, these times are Christmas Week through New Year’s, and Holy week.)
 
3. Do your weather research. You probably don’t want to have a beach wedding in hurricane season. If it is that country’s rainy season, or if during your wedding month it usually is very windy, or excessively hot, prepare for it so that no matter what, your plans will happen with no issues. When having a beach wedding, make sure to check on the tide times and sunset times for your wedding day so that you can plan properly.

4. Make sure your wedding will be legal, and also valid back home. The nice thing about Costa Rica is that citizens from other countries can get legally married without any residency requirements, blood tests or waiting periods like on many Caribbean islands. In Costa Rica, you can either be legally married in the Catholic Church (following all rules and protocols), or by a civil lawyer. The only downside to doing the legal part of your ceremony in Costa Rica is sometimes very long wait times to have your wedding certificate officially registered, then translated to your home country language, certified by your country’s embassy, and mailed to you. Many brides and grooms handle the legal arrangement in their home country and then enjoy a worry-free spiritual ceremony in Costa Rica that is intimate and personal.
 
5. Use reputable vendors. Always check out venues and hotels beyond what you see on a website. Check online reviews, ask to speak with a past bride who was married there, and make sure that all that you are seeing and reading on the website is true to what is shown in the photos and written.

6. Be aware of local laws and cultural customs. Make sure you know what local laws are regarding noise, fire, alcohol, etc. For instance, you may be expecting to dance under the stars all night, when local laws rule that all amplified music must be turned off in open spaces at 10:00 pm. Or, you want to have a bonfire or fireworks, but they are not allowed due to fire bans or environmental restrictions. Keep true to local cuisine; remember you are celebrating your wedding day in another country which may not have access to some of your favorite cuisines.

7. Be helpful to your guests. Give them as much information and travel help as possible, and far in advance. Modern etiquette dictates that couples only need pay for themselves at a destination wedding, so how much and what you pay for is up to you.
 
8. Choose wisely what you and your guests will wear for your destination wedding. Don’t require formal wear at a tropical beach wedding, for instance, or you’ll have very hot and unhappy guests! Get great ideas for destination wedding guest wear and bridal gowns at TLC.

9. Go with the flow. What’s important at the end of the day is that you and your guests had fun and shared love. The “unknown” of holding an important event in another country, another culture and another climate can be stressful, so remembering to relax and enjoy is all-important.
 
10. Hire a professional wedding planner to avoid that planning stress; they already know the ins and outs of destination weddings. Allow someone with experience and years of knowledge working in that foreign country to help take your ideas, vision and dreams to fruition so you can truly be a guest at your own wedding and live in the moment of every memory being created.

One of Costa Rica’s best destinations for weddings and honeymoons is Santa Teresa Beach on the Pacific’s Nicoya Peninsula. Santa Teresa is the perfect backdrop for a romantic wedding with its wide, light sandy beaches, lush vegetation and spectacular sunsets.

An excellent choice of locations at Santa Teresa Beach is Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat, a Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice Award winner. Pranamar Villas is a gorgeous, intimate oceanfront hotel with luxury two-story villas, beachfront villas and tropical bungalows, all designed in tropical Indonesian architecture. The free-form saltwater pool and tropical gardens add beauty to the eye at every turn.
Pranamar’s on-site wedding and events coordinator can help make your wedding the day you’ve always dreamed of having. From abundant tropical flowers to catered unique food and drinks, they’ll take care of creating an extraordinarily beautiful beach wedding for you. The hotel can sleep 30-35 guests; having the entire property for your party ensures complete privacy.

By Shannon Farley