In a fascinating protest a cut above the usual marches and roadblocks, a group of UCR (University of Costa Rica)
 students washed a giant Costa Rican flag in the water fountain next to Mall San Pedro, La Fuente de la Hispanidad. 

Upset about the acts of corruption by public officials (the IDA land scam, Caja-Fischel and ICE-Alcatel cases), by treaties that put the people at a disadvantage (CAFTA), at bureaucrats who put themselves first and to remind Costa Ricans of their values and ideals, university students tried to cleanse a giant flag in a symbolic act on Friday.

In the activity, called "Let’s Wash the Flag", the flag was lowered from the overpass into the fountain, and then the students jumped into the cold water (with clothes) and began to wash the flag.  The artistic protest proved that you don’t need riot police and blockades to make a point.  Traffic was stopped as fascinated drivers and passerby gawked at the activity.

A flyer passed out during the activity stated: " Today we wash the flag to purify its energy and express our disgust, as is our right.  We wash the flag because it is the duty of everyone, as a symbol that the fight against those who would ignore, dirty and discredit Costa Rica continues. Everyone has a duty to fight, to be responsible for the fight.

Costa Rica has converted itself into a country that negotiates treaties that will do it no good, and from a position of the weaker party. Negotiations yield, authorize and permit things that favor only a few within the country, leaving many out.  While most Costa Ricans stand by waiting for the worst to happen and doing nothing. "