A month ago I passed through Costa Rica for two reasons (1) to check out the University for Peace and (2) being stingy (bargain flights to LA). I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, like bear statues in Berlin a few years ago, and elephants in Copenhagen last year, San José was spotted with colourful statues of doves…

It is probably no surprise Costa Rica was hosting a “Parade for Peace” considering it also:

(1) has no army (abolished permanently in 1949)

(2) is considered the “greenest” country in the world (and is planning to be the first carbon-neutral country by 2021)

(3) ranks first in the Happy Planet Index [1]

(4) houses the world’s first University for Peace

(5) is soon to be the HQ for The Earth Charter (more next entry…)

It’s also probably not much of a surprise that the University for Peace was up in the mountains in one of the most… wait for it… peaceful places to study. Hm… maybe I’ll go back one day…

 

References:
[1] Ashley Seager (2008-07-04). “Costa Rica is the world’s happiest and greenest country in the world.”. London: Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-07-04.