Send to Friend 
 Digg   Del.icio.us   Facebook 
 StumbleUpon   Reddit 

More trend spotting in Central America

posted on Monday, April 13, 2009 11:39 PM

My last full day in Costa Rica. What more have I discovered about this country and Guatemala.

Well, on the plus side, Costa Rica abolished its Army many moons ago and devoted the revenue instead to education etc making it the most wealthy country per capita in the region. Now I´m not saying every country should follow this course but most could certainly trim their military budgets. The United States for instance has 5% of the world population yet spends 50% of the world military expenditure. Like with ancient Rome, this kind of excessive expenditure and general over reaching is likely to prove unsustainable in the long run. Fortunately, I think Obama knows this and is already looking at what he can cut. If all countries should aim to spend more on education than on defence, the world would probably be a safer place.

I was here over holy week and for two days, Costa Rica had a ban on the sale of alcohol. I think this happens in quite a few catholic countries but it was my first experience of it. It left me wondering what would happen if my own country Ireland followed such a course. Despite its many catholic worshipers, I suspect the mere suggestion of such a law would plunge the country into a revolutionary state. Needless to say the touristy restaurants served up Sangria which suspiciously had more than fruit juice in it and some more brazenly served beer in plastic cups disguised as coke.

Finally, crime. Both Guatemala and Costa Rica seemed to be plagued by this course, especially in their capital cities where is almost impossible to roam the streets safely by night, but most parts are affected by it to some degree. Crime has an insidious distorting affect on all aspects of society. Its spreads like a cancer. Even young teenagers who take up petty crime soon fall into local gangs and as they become adults, so flourished a new and dangerous gangland culture. I have visited many dangerous parts of the world and cities like Sao Paolo, Mexico City, Johannesburg stand out as amongst the worse. I do hope Central America gets a grip of this before it is too late.

Comments

Ugonna Wachuku

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 07:53 PM

Dear Tommy:

Thanks a million for sharing your recent Central American experience. It's an insightful piece.

And I do appreciate the following thought-provoking line:

"If all countries should aim to spend more on education than on defence, the world would probably be a safer place."

May I also add that, indeed, if the world could do away with drinking alcohol, we'll all live much better in this hurting and dying earth.

With very good wishes:

Ugonna

Tommy Hutchinson

Monday, June 01, 2009 02:55 PM

Thanks very much for your comments Ugonna