Luis Alberto Monge: Honoring a legacy
Official event invitation from the 34th anniversary of the proclamation of Costa Rican neutrality, with special homage to Luis Alberto Monge.
November 29 marked one year since the passing of one of EARTH University’s most beloved founding fathers, former Costa Rican President Luis Alberto Monge.
To celebrate his life and lasting legacy, EARTH took part in an event hosted by the Costa Rican Institute of Neutrality and Peace. Also commemorated was the 34th anniversary of Costa Rica’s proclamation of neutrality amid the war-like conflicts ripping through much of Central America. Monge presented the nation’s stance to the world on Nov. 17, 1983.
The event included a panel discussion featuring people close to Monge: Evangelina Aguiluz, one of his closest friends; Dr. José Zaglul, president emeritus of EARTH University; Álvaro Madrigal, journalist, lawyer and businessman; and Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz, CEO of the Ad Astra Rocket Company.
Monge remained steadfast in his desire to bring the world to Costa Rica, and to export Costa Rica to the world through education. That dream lives on in EARTH University, in its mission and within its students and graduates. To pay homage to Monge and his efforts, at the event EARTH students in traditional attire represented the multiculturalism present on the University’s campus.
Xavier Ullaguari (‘19, Ecuador); Lynda Alvarado (’19, Honduras); Tamia Gualán (’20, Ecuador); Fiorella Guzmán (’20, Costa Rica); Bianca Martínez (’19, Honduras) and Luis Enrique García (’14, Mexico) (not pictured) took charge of the cultural act at the celebration. Also pictured are Dr. José Zaglul, president emeritus of EARTH University, and Dr. Franklin Chang, CEO of Ad Astra Rocket Company.
On Nov. 17, 1983, Monge made a proclamation regarding the active and permanent neutrality of Costa Rica amid numerous violent Central American conflicts. This reaffirmed the country’s commitment to peace, non-interventionism, the free self-determination of the Costa Rican people and ideological pluralism.
More recently, in 2014, the Costa Rican government codified the initiative through a law barring the country from armed involvement in any war or conflict.
This note was produced with the help of CENECOOP R.L.
