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In today's Inside Costa Rica, 5/02/06:

San José Will Collapse Within 15 Years: UCR Report

A study by the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) concludes that is the disorderly growth of the Gran Área Metropolitana (GAM) - San José - continues, contamination will quadruple and quality of life will be practically unsustainable.

The report says that by 2018 the government should build at least 21 kilometres of new roads to meet the growing number of vehicles, which will add to the contamination of the air.

Also required to meet the growth is the construction of at least 335.000 homes to meet the demands of a growing population, will all add to the social disorder if no measures are taken today. As the infrastructure fails and cannot meet the number of vehicles, the city will come apart and will see an increase in conflict for services and hostilities between the rich and the poor.

The experts recommend that the cities find a balance between built up areas and conservation and recreational areas. The report says that the cities that make up the GAM need to put into place a system of public transport that has priority and study the models of other urban centres that have placed a priority on public transit.

Some alarming numbers from the report:
- In the last 11 years the GAM has grown by 80%
- More than 1.000.000 vehicles are now circulating the streets, a 10% growth in the last year
- 80% of the contamination is caused by vehicles

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

My guess is that the Government will address this issue just in time to save us all. That would probably be within 15-20 minutes of innhialation. The solution will be..... da da da drum roll....... A large fan to blow away all the "bad air". In with the good air and out with the bad air.

ROTFLMAO

VB, I had no idea you were such a brilliant city planner. Somehow I also do not see the government doing anything to resolve ANY future problems.

I think I see a great opportunity here for Costa Rica. If they can solve the crowding, traffic and pollution problems here in San Jose, then they can make BIG BUCKS retrofitting things back in my home state, California. LA and Silicon Valley, clean and uncongested! A dream come true!

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

Unfortunately there might be some credibility to this report.

Two examples would be The Black Forest of Germany and Egyptian sculptures. Both show rapid deterioration in the last 30 years thanks to man-made pollution.

http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/watc ... forest.asp

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/egypenv.html

While the report certainly raises serious concerns about the problems that San Jose greater metropolitan area (GMA) faces I believe it is the typical academia egghead scare tactic.

The US has had these frightening reports issued by Universities for years and while they raise legitimate concerns they are typically overblown and unnecessarily alarmist.

Think San Jose will survive a few more years than this report predicts.

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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

Agreed: Probably some young buck working on a college thesis.

I think that the pollution is the way that CR practices population control. When was the last time anyone saw a healthy looking elderly person in SJ?

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Why Chicas Come to CostaRica:

"Predators gather where prey abounds"

Gentlemen,

I would like to announce my newest humanitarian effort the chica relocation program. Affectionately known as bring the "chica to my house". I will be setting up a late night infomercial for donations. If you choose to donate I will send you a picture (w/me) and a letter (RFM) of your very own chica. Please send all donations to the reverend Xman c/o HDR where I will be located laying hands on and heading up this purely humanitarian effort. I know each and every one of you will help to SAVE THE CHICAS



Thank You in advance for you donation,
the reverend Xman

You have to be joking. Make an early morning visit (6:30 AM) to Clinica Moreno Canas, which is in the Barrio Cuba section of San Jose, go to the laboratory section. There you will see the first people being attended to when the lab opens are Gold Card holders. That means they are at a minimum 65 years of age. I believe you will find they are as a group much healthier looking then you will find in a metropolitan area of the United States.

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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

Does that mean you old guys get up early?

What time do you guys eat supper? 4:30 pm?

Is that why they sent John Glenn into outer space the second time, to see the effects of eating supper early while in a no gravity environment?


Hey, hey, hey, just kidding, c'mon, we love you guys.

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Gotta chime in here;
I've lived in the states and I've lived here. Seems to me that the older folks I know here are a lot healthier than the old folks in the states. Might be the stess level or it might be that here (CR), they work longer and harder so they stay in shape longer.
Just my two colones,
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

LVSteve,

Maybe a less fat diet in Costa Rica also? I always lose several pounds during a one month stay in CR. I do more walking in CR, but the diet in CR seems to be less fat.

Zebra

The average Tico also does a lot of walking and much of it is up some fairly steep hills. I believe this is a major factor in their relative good health.

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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