A State of Independence
The UK doesn’t celebrate its independence. The Romans left long enough ago that we don’t feel the need. Having said that I hear that some want the 23 June to be our day, in celebration of the exit from Europe. I don’t usually eye roll but I’m doing it now.
But plenty of countries DO celebrate their independence (quite a number FROM the UK). And rightly so. I’ve never been a big fan of conquering anything. Not even mountains. I mean let’s get real, you don’t “conquer” Everest. You struggle up it (and I mean nothing but respect by that – it is one of life’s most amazing human achievements) and thank whatever deity you hold in your heart that you made it. You don’t get to keep it. Or take it home. Or tax it. Or throw its tea away. You simply acknowledge the experience and be grateful for it.
Today is Costa Rica’s Independence Day. When they separated from Spain (along with Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua) 196 years ago, they established their right to decide their own future. Governing a country more than 5000 miles away was a major pain in the arse anyway. Even today the cell phone bills alone would be atrocious, but back then the Spanish had become so exhausted fighting Napoleon (who probably wouldn’t have made it up Everest) that they actually said Hasta la vista baby and handed it over. Good on you Spain.
It actually took nearly a month for the news to get here from Guatemala. Probably because the lad bringing it on his horse kept stopping to drink coffee and avoid pot holes.
Celebrating by lamp light
It’s a nice celebration. On the evening of the 14th the children come out into the streets with lamps and celebrate faroles. Like an idiot I only realised last night that this was happening so I blew going to see it and taking pictures, but next year my friend. Next year.
The lanterns represent the message of independence being brought to Costa Rica. There is also a lighted torch that is carried by runners, (much like the Olympic torch) from Guatemala to Costa Rica’s colonial capital of Cartago.
On the 15th (which is a national holiday) there are more celebrations during the day and the children come out again in marching bands. When I was in Atenas a few weeks ago I saw the school band there practicing. They were certainly jamming 🙂
With great power comes great responsibility
Costa Rica has done some good things with its independence. Free mandatory education for 6 to 13 year olds and free voluntary education for 13 to 18 year olds has meant literacy rates of around 95%, and education is considered of national interest here (there is no standing army and the money is used in education and healthcare). They take a pragmatic approach to it as well. In rural areas where children may not continue in school past 13 (as they may go and work on their parents farms), the government builds every municipality a library, in an attempt to keep education available to everyone.
The healthcare system is ranked by the UN in the top 20 worldwide, and No. 1 in Central America. There is constant investment in hospitals, training and facilities and Caja (as the universal healthcare is known) is affordable for low income families. Like all socialised medicine it has its issues (speed of care for some conditions being one) but apparently it does work and is effective.
I personally believe that we are impacting our planet, through our waste and pollution. Lots of countries talk about carbon footprints and achieving milestones such as those set out in the Paris Agreement. But in Costa Rica’s case it is actually trying. Could it do more, yes. But so could just about every country on the planet. And quite a few individuals as well.
According to a report in The Independent (no pun intended for this post 🙂 ) Costa Rica used renewable energy for approximately 98% of it’s electrical energy requirements in 2016. Now such figures don’t tell the whole story (you have to contrast this number with the fact Costa Rica imports 70% of its heating and petrol/gas as fossil fuel), and you have to take the relative power requirements of a country like this against a behemoth like the US, but it’s still a significant achievement.
Whether you subscribe to climate change or debate if it’s a Chinese hoax while getting your spray tan, how we treat our environment is important. And how we treat each other is equally important. In Costa Rica’s case they are trying on both fronts, and that is worth something.
I hope I do as well with my own independence.
LTPV!
Gary