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Costa Rica - A Land of Peace
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Whether you want to live, retire,
invest, or just relax in Costa Rica, it is a comforting thought for you
to live in a safe and peaceful demilitarized country that has been
commended by the Dalai Lama, a country that enjoys the greatest
political, social, and economic stability in all of Latin America.
Costa Rica enjoys a rich indigenous history, and Costa Rica's
civilization dates back to thousands and thousands of years.
Historically, Costa Rica (means rich coast) has enjoyed greater peace
and more political stability compared to other Latin American countries.
However, back in 1948, Costa Rica endured what was dubbed the bloodiest,
most brutal civil war in its history.
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The 44-day civil war resulted in more than 2000 casualties and was described as the bloodiest event in 20th century Costa Rican history.
The Costa Rican Civil War was triggered by the Costa Rican government's
decision to annul the results of the presidential election of 1948,
declaring the election of Otilio Ulate as president a fraud. A rebel
army under Commander José Figueres Ferrer rose up against the government
of President Teodoro Picado and defeated it. After the victory in the
civil war, Costa Rica's path toward democracy remained unchanged, and
José Figueres ruled Costa Rica for eighteen months as head of a military
junta before overseeing the new election and stepping aside to whom the
Costa Ricans chose as a leader - Otilio Ulate. On December 1st, 1948,
José Figueres Ferrer abolished Costa Rica's army, and 38 years later, in
1986, President Oscar Arias Sánchez declared December 1st the Día de la
Abolición del Ejército (Military Abolition Day). Costa Rica was the
first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army, and as
a result, Costa Rica, unlike all other countries in Latin America, has
not experienced any political violence or civil war since then.
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Costa Rica has taken leaps and bounds from being described as "the
poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all Americas" by a Spanish
governor in 1719 to a country that declared its independence from Spain
in 1821, endured a brutal civil war in 1948, and currently enjoys a
great economic stability and ranks 4th among Latin American countries
and 48th worldwide in terms of the 2007 Human Development Index, an
index that measures human development - including life expectancy,
literacy and education, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita -
for countries worldwide.
Costa Rica also ranks 5th worldwide in terms of the 2008 Environmental
Performance Index, an index that measures the environmental performance
of countries' policies worldwide, up from the 15th place of two years
before. Demonstrating broad and deep environmental awareness, the Costa
Rican government unveiled in 2007 a plan that will make Costa Rica the
first country in the world to become carbon neutral by 2021.
Costa Rica is a safe and peaceful haven that enjoys a lengthy,
uninterrupted democracy that dates back to 1949. During that same year,
the abolition of the military was introduced in Article 12 of the Costa
Rican Constitution. Costa Rica has no standing army since then, and the
budget that was previously dedicated to the military is now dedicated to
Costa Rica's security, education, and culture. In a time of war and
political uncertainty in the States and many other European countries,
it is very comforting for millions of people all over the world to know
they are able to live in a country so peaceful that it doesn't even need
an army.
Costa Rica is now a democratic republic that enjoys a strong system of
constitutional checks and balances and an independent judicial system.
Since 1949, Costa Rica has held 12 presidential elections, the latest
being in 2006, and all of them have been regarded as peaceful and
transparent by the international community. The presidential election is
held once every four years, on the first Sunday in February, and anybody
over eighteen can vote.
Who wouldn't dream of living in a country so peaceful it takes pride in
having more teachers than policemen? In today's war-torn world, it is
very reassuring and comforting to know that we can all retreat to the
beautiful, safe sanctuary of Costa Rica.
As always, at CostaRicaLandToday, we can make your dream of living in
Costa Rica a reality. Feel free to contact us at our website below, and
we will help you find your dream house, property, or land for building
in the Central Valley, specifically Grecia, San Isidro, San Miguel, San
Ramon, San Luis, El Cajon, San Pedro, Santa Rosa de Poas, and adjacent
areas. Our wish for you is Pura Vida (The Good Life)!