www.CostaRicaTicas.com

From A.M. Costa Rica article quoted in full above:

"Milena Grillo, Paniamor's executive director, did not mention the Central Valley Thursday as she listed what she considered to be the major areas of prostitution: Tamarindo, Flamingo, Sámara, Papagayo, Jacó, Quepos, Manuel Antonio on the Pacific and Manzanillo, Cahuita and Tortuguero on the Caribbean. "


She would be a great contact. I never had much luck in those towns other than Jaco last few years.

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Living Life To the Fullest {Pura Vida}

Let's just hope that this advocacy group does not get enough power and influence to push through a "code of conduct" on all manner of Hotels and establishments. If it can be tied to the renewal of permits, endorsements or liscences then they could effectively shut down the industry. This would never happen in a first world country, where legal processes can prevent unfair laws, but all manner of unfair and rediculous laws exist in Costa Rica (see jail time for insulting a lady law as an example).

Costa Rica is notorious for uneven enforcement of it's own laws and policies, especially against foreigners. Oh well, at least the approprtiate businesses will still be able to bribe...that is one custom in CR that is not likely to go away....

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Just a squirrel tryin' to get a nut,
Carpe Diem!

Val

I have no statistics on this, but if US government officials are any indication, I suspect lots of legislators make use of the ample supply of prostitutes in the country. Likewise I suspect many very influential Ticos monger frequently. They are men (primarily) after all.

Then there is the employment situation here. Despite a few moonlighting secretaries (or whatever) the majority of working chicas have no other source of income. If we actually do have 9000 sex workers and magically they all become unemployed, I think we'd see street demonstrations! (would love to watch THAT one).

I see all this hubub as the typical posturing you see all over the world. Not long ago there was a big push to 'clean up' Jaco. So the Best Western stopped allowing guests. BFD. I'm pretty sure that you can still find company in Jaco, and places to take said company.

To quote Bill Shakespeare: Much ado about nothing.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

"Never underestimate the enemy"

Thing that seem to start as small inconveniences can take on a life of their own and grow large enough to exert enough pressure that change becomes inevitable.

I am not saying that will happen in this case but if the bureaucrats who license hotels and the Tourist board decide that the country would be better of without "sex tourism" there could be serious ramifications.

Some years ago the CR President denied there was Ch*ld prostitution in CR. When Bruce Harris & Casa Alanza (sp?) and others started to exert sufficient pressure the government stepped up efforts to crack down and it was mostly driven underground. At least I think it still flourishes underground but have no evidence to support that hypothesis.

Like prohibition, drugs, gambling, etc. you will never wipe out what the government considers vices but you can drive them into the shadows or underground which raises the prices.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Costa Rica needs the girls to work p4p and they need us. The average chica I meet is the sole provider for not only herself , but siblings , patrents , Babi*s , grandparents , and her macho novia Carlos "Man of Love". money from other tourists rarely makes it into the hands of the people listed above. We support them.

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

Irish,

I would agree that if this 'movement' were strong enough, they could do harm not only to hobbiests, but to the chicas who depend on this work to 'put food on their families' (to quote an unnamed Texan).

My own belief is that there is no real political will to do much. But even if there were, we aren't citizens of CR (the great majority of us) so it's really a moot point. I don't have a vote, and I don't see much any mongers can do. I don't think a Monger's March would be very productive. Perhaps we could pay some chicas to march, though. Wonder if they'd demand $100?

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis