In 1948, Costa Rican President José Figueres abolished the country’s military—and marked the occasion by throwing a sledgehammer against the wall of the country’s military headquarters. The move was a brave one for this small Central American country. And consequential: it allowed Costa Rica to make strides in education and environmental protection, while avoiding much of the internal conflict that has plagued its neighbors. Nearly 70 years later, Costa Rican environmentalist Mónica Araya stood before the famous photo of Figueres and his sledgehammer and urged Costa Ricans in a packed museum auditorium to be bold again. This time, she said, the country must do so by eliminating fossil fuels from all sectors of its economy. “This moment established the narrative of our country: we... [Log in to read more]