Israel Accused of Organ Harvesting in Costa Rica

Kevin Samson

A scandal has erupted at one of Costa Rica's largest state-run medical centers, Calderon Guardia Hospital. The head of Nephrology, Francisco Mora Palma, has been arrested for playing a key role in a suspected international organ trafficking ring set up to supply patients in Israel.

Inside Costa Rica cites information obtained by Costa Rica's Attorney General, Jorge Chavarria:

“The patients who required the transplants were in Israeli territory, and some of the (trafficking) victims [had their kidney removed] here and others were transported to Israel."

(...)

The prosecutor explained that the organization has branches in Israel and Eastern Europe, though did not elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation.

This arrest highlights the wider problem of organized human organ trafficking, as well as Israel's role as the centerpiece for this disgusting practice. It is something that Israel as been accused of many times before.

Game Over for Online Poker? FBI Seizes Top Poker Domains

Scott Oliver

WeLoveCostaRica

Game over? FBI shuts down three of the largest poker sites in probe that could mean the end of online gambling - and the loss of thousands of well paid jobs - in Costa Rica.

In a surprise move today: "Three of the largest online poker sites have been shut down by the FBI in a probe that could bring about the death of the internet gambling industry."

Does Ayahuasca Offer a Natural Gateway to Healing Ourselves and the World?

Ayahuasca is a indigenous plant medicine that is said to teach a holistic understanding of the true nature of ourselves and the universe.

Amazon Shaman at Rainforest Plant Medicine gathering
at Guaria de Osa EcoLodge, Costa Rica

Human World Order
Activist Post

As the material world rushes around us at a blistering pace, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find truth and meaning in all the chaos.  The rat-race economy occupies most of our time and energy, and what's left is typically drowned out by perpetually empty distractions.

We may feel utterly disconnected from nature and each other, almost as if we've been deliberately torn from our natural state to conform to a manufactured reality.

When we become conscious of this illusory fabric of our society, it's a somewhat liberating experience.  On one hand, understanding that the matrix is following a predetermined track helps to bring clarity to previously incomprehensible world events, as we can now begin to see the forest through the strategically placed trees. By contrast, it can be quite frightening to realize that the engineers of this matrix seem to prefer war and fear to peace and love.

WikiLeaks: U.S. Punished Costa Rica For Not Signing Covert Immunity Agreement

Anthony Freda Illustration

Michael Edwards
Activist Post

Like a mafia strongman who kneecaps you, then threatens you not to tell anyone or it will only get worse next time, the United States slashed support to Costa Rica after the Kentucky-sized country failed to grant immunity to U.S. soldiers and American citizens in the International Criminal Court.

WikiLeaks is once again at center stage in bringing to light government intrigue that has remained undercover for years.  Apparently, even the smallest countries are not immune.  According to the cables, between the years of 2004-2006, the U.S. imposed undeclared sanctions on Costa Rica totaling upwards of $400,000 annually, according to Costa Rica's largest newspaperThe Nation (La Nación).

Although these cables are a bit dated, the news of U.S. coercion remains relevant as 46 U.S. Coast Guard ships and 27 US Navy vessels are parked in Costa Rican waters as part of ongoing operations against drug trafficking.  The 10-year agreement involving 7,000 U.S. Marines was signed by former Costa Rica President, Oscar Arias, where the U.S. reportedly pays Costa Rica $300,000 per month to occupy its waters.

If Costa Rica legalizes marijuana, the United States would stop sending funding and cut off agricultural exports

Free and Equal

MILL VALLEY, Calif. – Christina Tobin, founder and chair of The Free and Equal Elections Foundation, today announced details of her meeting with Costa Rica Vice President Alfio Piva and Founder and President of Costa Rica Libertarian Party (Partido Movimiento Libertario) Otto Guevara. Tobin also announced she will host a press conference, Thursday, September 9, 2010, in Seattle.

Tobin met with Vice President Piva for over an hour, Monday, August 30, to discuss electoral reform, proportional representation, marijuana legalization and war. The two also discussed the recent deployment of U.S. Marines to Costa Rica, where Tobin was told the United States is paying Costa Rica $300,000 per month to have U.S. troops present in the country. In addition, Tobin and Piva talked about the dangers of a top two primary system, which threatens to spread from California across the United States.

In a separate meeting, Saturday, September 6, Guevara discussed with Tobin details of the relations between the United States and Costa Rica. The 10-year agreement involving the occupation of 7,000 U.S. Marines was signed by former Costa Rica President Oscar Arias, who is reported to have close ties to the Obama administration, not the current President Laura Chinchilla. According to Guevara, if Costa Rica legalizes marijuana, the United States would stop sending funding and cut off agricultural exports to the United States. At the end of the recorded meeting, Guevara endorsed all electoral reform initiatives that Free and Equal pursues in the 50 states. A recording of the meeting will be available soon.


“America needs to take the lead in marijuana legalization,” said Gerald Murray, national youth coordinator for Laura Chinchilla’s 2010 presidential campaign. “If Costa Rica were to legalize it before the United States, we would risk losing a large part of our economy, the agricultural products that we export to the U.S.”

In total, U.S. goods imported from Costa Rica totaled $5.6 billion in 2009, while U.S. imports of agricultural products from Costa Rica totaled $1.1 billion in the same year, according to reports from the office of the United States Trade Representative. According to the same reports, leading imports from Costa Rica include: fresh fruit at $425 million, bananas and plantains at $211 million and unroasted coffee at $153 million.

“It’s despicable that the United States has such ‘authority’ over a sovereign nation such as Costa Rica,” Tobin said. “There’s a lot we can learn from Costa Rica, nonetheless the U.S. government continues to bully other countries to achieve its objectives, a hopelessly undemocratic tactic to international policy.”

Tobin also was scheduled to meet with President Laura Chinchilla while in Costa Rica, however the meeting has been rescheduled for later this year due to a last-minute conflict.

Tobin to Give Seattle Press Conference, Thursday.

Tobin will give a press conference in Seattle, Thursday, September 9, 1 pm to 2:30 pm. In addition to Tobin, Donovan Rivers, Washington Democratic candidate for Congress; John Davis, a Hempfest chief; Rachel Hawkridge, chair of the Libertarian Party of Washington; Linde Knighton, chair of the Progressive Party of Washington; and Gentry Lang, political activist for voting reform, are slated to speak at the press conference. Topics will include: Top Two election systems, proportional representation, election fraud, all inclusive debates, the war on drugs, and war. While in Seattle, Tobin will attend Marc Emery’s sentencing hearing, scheduled for Friday, September 10, 1 pm to 3 pm. All events will be at the South steps of the Federal Courthouse, located at 700 Steward St., Seattle, Wash.

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Can Legalizing Marijuana Save California, Our Republic?

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