There is much going on, though not new news. So please click on more to get the latest and greatest as we see it.
CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 will be airing a segment on Guatemalan adoption tonight. I am very disappointed that they did not contact Guatadopt in order to get an unbiased, objective assessment. The show airs at 10 p.m. est.
We have learned that Josefina Arellano is no longer in her post at PGN. No news on what that means.
Other rumors – no, adoptions were not suspended. Agencies – read things more clearly! We don’t know if Barrios is on vacation. The process seems to be running in its usual slow pace.
Many of you have asked for info on where our old UNICEF halloween camapign are. You can find them here: http://www.guatadopt.com/archives/000228.html
As previously reported, the DOS has said they are lobbying for in process cases. The Guatemalan congress website shows that Consul General John Lowell met with Guatemalan officials on Sept 28. in regard to adoption law: http://www.congreso.gob.gt/gt/ver_noticia.asp?id=4266
As I have stated since DOS made its original announcement, even the pessimistic, anti-authoritarian Kevin can’t imagine either the Guatemalan authorities or DOS officials sitting by and allowing so many children to suffer by suspending in-process adoptions. So please, don’t make a liar and participate in the various campaigns to save in process adoptions. With that in mind, be sure to be a part of JCICS’s Guatemala 5000 Initiative: http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm. I have been critical of JCICS in the past but I want to support this well coordinated effort. Now is a time to be united in one thing – that a suspension of in-process cases would be disastrous.
While you are planning your letters and talking points for the Guatemala 5000 Initiative, you should decide whether you wish to address legislation before Guatemala’s congress at the same time. As a US citizen, I am reluctant to endorse specific legislation. But I will say this. Ortega (3217) would be a travesty. Guatemala’s system would suffer the same fate as so many others before it. If the DOS is going to be lobbying for any specific piece of legislation, meddling in Guatemala’s affairs, then it should NOT be Ortega. Bill 3635 contains many improvements over the current system. If implemented and enforced, it would make Guatemala a benchmark for other countries. Of course, Guatemala’s current system, if legally enforced, does the same. Since UNICEF and the Hague seem to be more concerned about laws meeting “international standards” than they do about the impact of those laws on children, 3635 does achieve that goal.
Focus on Adoption has officially endorsed 3635. You can read their paper on it here: Download file
The first couple of pages are an great intro in case you haven’t time to read the whole thing. Of course, we all need to be experts so you should read the whole thing.
I'll end with one last thought. The adults of influence all need to get off of their relative positions and start thinking about children's best interests. It is time for all "established positions" to be thrown out the window and for a new day to be born in the world of intercountry adoption. It is time for politicians to remember that their job is really to do what is right, rather than to do what is politically relevant. It is time for NGOs and international organizations to re-think what they have created. Things like the Hague and the CRC were created with the best of intentions. But until things go into force, no one can predict what they will actually cause. In the case of ICA, they have been a failure in many ways. So please, everyone, throw away your weapons and let's all act like adults, look at the goods and bads of Guatemalan adoptions, and develop a system that EVERYONE can be proud of. The opportnity is here, if only the right voices can be heard.
Kevin,
Thanks for the update and for the positive comments. We all need to hear things like this right now, and appreciate your opinions.
thank you for all your hard work. It has been so helpful relying on your website. And yes, we have been working hard too, writing letters and calling. Your information has kept me going.
Posted by: Janet at October 3, 2007 03:03 PMMy understanding is that the Ortega Law bans singles from adopting. Should there be a grandfather clause, would this be something that would be "grandfathered" or would it only be "process". Also, is this something that could be addressed in the point by point reading? Does anyone know WHY this was added? Is there political pressure? Any ideas for how to best advocate for my case and the future of other singles who would like to adopt?
Posted by: Kimberly at October 3, 2007 03:59 PMKevin I can't open the second UNICEF doc? could be me or my old computer. Thanks for all you do here, I have a grandson in the adoption process in Guatemala and your site helps me understand better what is going on and what I can do to help. Again, Thanks
Posted by: Abuela at October 3, 2007 04:04 PMSo let me see if I get this...
The law passed, but next week there is an opportunity for ammendments to be made- correct?
So there is no "grandfather clause" in the current law, but it could be added next week- correct?
And we don't know when the law will go into effect- correct?
If our cases are grandfathered in after the 1st of the year, will DOS accept our case?
I'm trying not to panic,
Lo
Hi, Kev. Right on with that last paragraph. It's not about us, it's about the kids. Let's get out of our own way. I've also been thinking we should take a cooperative rather than confrontational tone with those we are contacting. Replace "you better..." with "We expect you to do the right thing and we're here to back you up." Keep the faith everyone!
Posted by: Lauren B at October 3, 2007 04:41 PMIf AC360, something I did respect, goes sensational tonight instead of doing fair reporting please remind them to read http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0609/26/cnr.04.html . I hope they do not make things worse and turn Guatemala into another Romania. The UN, Unicef, and their pals do this damage everywhere it is not unique to here.
Posted by: mom at October 3, 2007 04:46 PMRe: CNN tonight
Harris Whitbeck did a show in Spanish about adoptions on episode 13 of "Entremosle A Guate". You can view it here and there are many related articles, etc.
http://www.entremosleaguate.net/ep13.php
The Entremosle show is not bad but reading his blog on the CNN site doesn't sound so good.
Joan
I agree completely with Mom that the UN, UNICEF, and their pals do damage everywhere. Why can't we get someone to comprehend what they're doing? They succeeded in Romania, and now it seems they will succeed in Guatemala as well.
In case you're not aware, the new Jenna Bush book about AIDS - all proceeds go to UNICEF. Personally, I won't be buying the book because I won't condone any of my money going to this organization.
Posted by: Lu at October 3, 2007 06:48 PMCould someone help me to understand the Ortega Law? We are 4 1/2 weeks in PGN, could this effect us? What is considered in process when they talk about "in process cases will be grandfathered" - are we in process since we are in PGN?
Freaking out here! Anyone with me?
Posted by: J at October 3, 2007 08:35 PMWhat can you do? Make six simple phone calls and one email.
1. Call your U.S. Senator.
· You can find your Senators’ phone numbers at www.senate.gov
· Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
2. Call your second U.S. Senator.
3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative.
· You can find your representative at www.house.gov
· Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
4. Call or fax UNICEF Headquarter
· Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director
· Their number is 212-326-7000
· Their fax number is 212-326-7758
5. Call or fax UNICEF Guatemala
· Ask to speak with Manuel Manrique
· Their number is 011-502-2327-6373
· Their fax number is 011-502-2327.6366
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls
6. Send and email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@jcics.org
· Write briefly or at length
· Joint Council will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for Intercountry Adoption
When should you call? Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (October 9th, 10th 11th)
· For maximum affect, we are asking you to make these calls within a 72 hour window!
What should you say or write to member of the U.S. Congress? Speak from your heart and give them the following information.
· Inform them that you are calling regarding Guatemala 5000
· Ask them to sign the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) sponsored letter to President Oscar Berger
· Ask them to sign the Joint Council on International Children’s Services sponsored letter to UNICEF
· Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008.
· Inform them that President Berger’s announcement also indicated that there will be no ‘grandfathering’ of adoptions already in process.
· Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care.
· Ask that their office get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
Sample Statement
Hello,
We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. We, as your constituents, are asking that the Senator/Congressperson add their signature to two letters. First, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute sponsored letter to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger. Second, the Joint Council on International Children’s Services sponsored letter to UNICEF.
As you may be aware, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no ‘grandfathering’ of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. Your office must get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
Sincerely,
What should you say or write to UNICEF? Speak from your heart and give them the following information.
· Inform them that you are calling regarding the Guatemala 5000
· Ask them to support the right’s of children and lend their considerable influence to ensuring that intercountry adoptions currently in-process be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
· Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008.
· Inform them that President Berger’s announcement also indicated that there will be no ‘grandfathering’ of adoptions already in process.
· Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care.
· Ask them again for their support of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative.
Sample Statement
Hello,
We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As financial supporters of UNICEF (through our tax dollars), we are asking that UNICEF lends its support and considerable influence to the Guatemala 5000 initiative.
As you may be know, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no ‘grandfathering’ of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. UNICEF must get involved and help ensure that all intercountry adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
Sincerely,
Can you explain the problem behind the pending crisis? Here is some additional information…
· Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to effectively stop all adoptions into the United States including those children who have already been referred to adoptive parents
· Over 5,000 children have been referred
· The birthparents for these children have already relinquished their parental rights. As a result, they currently have no family and the Berger suspension will result in these children having no prospect for a permanent, safe and loving family
· The government of Guatemala currently does not have the finances or facilities to even provide housing for these 5,000 children
· The Berger plan is a crisis waiting to happen
What else can you do? In addition to your primary calls to U.S. Congress and UNICEF, you can call the following.
SOSEP (Guatemala)
· Director Teresa Echeverría de Bastarrechea
Office Phone- 011-502-2383-8400
· Assistant Director- Edin Palma- Same office phone
Office Phone- 011-502-2383-8400
· Jaime Tecu
Office Phone - 011-502-2239-0000 ext 2766
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls
Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs
· Minister Gerth Rosenthal
Office Phone 011-502-2410-0000, 2410-0010
· Vice Minister- Marta Altoaguirre
Office Phone 011-502-2410-0020
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls
PGN (Guatemala)
· Carlos Victor Hugo Barrios Barahona
Office Phone 011-502-2248-3200 Ext. 207/208
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls
Procuraduria of Human Rights
· Dr. Sergio Morales
Office Phone 011-502-2424-1717
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls
Embassy of Guatemala in the U.S.
2220 R Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Office Phone 1-202-745-4952
Office Fax 1-202-745-1908
Website: www.guatemala-embassy.org/
Just had to watch most painful media coverage of my life...minutes of Anderson Cooper's 180 degrees (there was no balance to call this 360 anymore.)
CNN and Anderson used to be two favorites of my life...not anymore. I am humiliated, devastated, and sad. Somehow, he was able to sell one half (or one third) of the story -- CNN's lucrative (w/o paying too much attention to balance) coverage will haunt me and my son in my neighborhood, friends, and other places we visit, for a long time. My son will now be a "potential product of an assembly line" to average ignorant Americans. Why wasn't our advocates allowed to ask Anderson these thought questions:
Why Guatemala's humanitarian record is the worst in world?
Why did he take “if a dog bites a dog, it’s not news and if a man bites a dog, it’s lucrative story” approach. Is this because the side of the story of law-abiding citizens of a rich country opening their pure hearts to embrace those poor kids, does not sell as a story?
Why so many children die out of mal-nutrition before living thru their first b-day?
Why so many children die of treatable disease?
What’s the accountability of $28M by UNICEF that Berger was promised before he leaves office ?
What is PGN's real approval process has been ( is this really out of pure jealousy as they can't get the piece of $30K action)?
How is PGN's corruption and politics towards American families justified?
Why is DOS has so much interest stopping Central American babies coming to the US?
How much money President Berger saves in western banks?
Why was President Berger allowed to appear at the closing Bell of the most prestigious financial institution?
What would millions of future and relinquished children do growing up on the streets and sniffing glue, because two governments struck a political and financial deal to close adoption?
I am frustrated at this news coverage. As I vent directly to AC360, let's approach FoxNews for a balanced PAP's point of view and let Kevin be interviewed.
Is Anderson going to cover all of the above other side -- the PAP side?
Phil;
I disagree with your anger at the unbalanced report. You actually used the word "sell". I was refreshed to see a counterbalance to the what I see on the websites perporting to be "informational Adoption websites", but in reality are there to sell a product. (And I want to be absolutely clear that even though Guatadopt gives links to some of these, they are not selling anything)
Is your point that Notarial adoptions have been the solution to the social ills you have listed? Sadly, you are dead wrong. The children who through adoption avoid the sad liturgy you have in your questions are saved...but at what cost? If you found out that because of the corrupt system, one child was lost for every child that made it to the U.S. would you be willing to consider that it is not OK? (confusion of identities leading to abandonment, pressure on the mother leading to "shopping her child around", children culled and abandoned because of defects after being isolated from their society by the adoption process. I have heard of an alarming number of children who died while in the adoption process) The number may not be one for one, but there are victims of the present system, and I feel that increasingly, there are too many.
There are hundreds of young women found dead in the canyons of Guatemala city. I have worked with women who have been birth mothers who were defrauded. Their fear of complaining makes me wonder if some of those bodies might be others who were lessed cowed. We have a DNA data base that could verify clearly if my fear is founded or unfounded.
Posted by: steve at October 4, 2007 10:04 PMMy husband was able to set up a phone apointment to speak with Cardinal Rodolfo Quezada Toruno, he is the Guatemalan Cardinal to the Pope. The Catholic Church has great influence in Guatemala. We believe the Cardinal will support pressuring the Guatemalan Government to do the right thing and amend the Ortega law to include a grand-father clause for all in process cases.
Perhaps, others would like to call the Cardinal's office and offer their views and support. His contact information is:
Cardinal, Rodolfo Quezada Toruno
011 502 223-29707
011 502 223 29601
My husband is fluent in Italian and Spanish, but I believe you could leave a message in english.
It may be helpful to ask your community priests or bishops to make the phone call to the Cardinal on your behalf. Please remind them that we are under a great time constraint and these calls should be made now.
This is not about religion, this is about bringing are babies home and please feel free to call no matter what your beliefs are. He is a kind respectful man.
Thanks for your time.
Melissa & Guy
Steve,
ADA is very interested in documenting cases of abuses in the adoption processes as the ones you mention, to find the way to prevent them from happening again. Please indicate your sources of information to check them out. Also, please define "corruption" regarding the adoption process. Could you please explain why is that you blame it on the notarial process for all what it is wrong with adoptions in Guatemala? If I misunderstood your post, I apologize. As you can see, my English is far from perfect.
Thank you.
Susana Luarca
Thanks Susana for the 5000orphans.com link. This was the first I heard of the NPR newscast and was sick to my stomach when I heard that there are basically no requirements to adopt from Guatemala other than paying $30,000. LET'S GET ON NPR'S CASE EVERYONE. We must have FAIR coverage from the media about what we prospective loving parents go through besides reaching in our pockets to buy a Guatemalan baby because it's just so easy to do. Of course, we want our adoptions to be ethical and legal. This ignorance is a punch in the gut.
Susana, you are right, there is no Mafia.
My apologies for insinuating otherwise.
My references to corruption have been repeating what others have said, and many commenters on this site agreed is there.
Posted by: steve at October 7, 2007 09:10 PMHere was my response to the Anderson Cooper 360 report. I blogged it, but they did not post yet.
I am a Casa Quivira parent who has children that were taken by the Guatemalan governmental authorities. We have been in a living hell on earth since August 11. We are in a constant state of anxiety and fear and at any given hour of the day we can go from a glimmer of hope to a crashing blow. I sent in request after request to Anderson Cooper hoping that he could help save these children. I remember being so scared and then actually calming myself down because I knew that CNN was down there in Guatemala and was going to “Keep them Honest” and expose what was really happening.
This report missed more than 80% of the story. If Anderson Cooper was really about “keeping them honest” than the deep political reasons for the raid (as well as many, many other raids) and subsequent actions by the Guatemalan government would have been exposed. I am a “waiting” mother and I have a full time job and I was able to uncover what was really going on in a matter of days. True, I am being driven by a deep, deep love and by a true desire to save all of these children. I also know that we presented these motivators to CNN, but this was ignored.
The saddest thing in all of this is that it is the truly innocent who are being hurt the most—the babies, their birthmothers and us waiting families. Who will speak for the innocent? I believed naively that Anderson Cooper would do that.
What is really going on? As always, it comes down to two things: money and power. We know for a fact that the Guatemalan government decided to conduct the raid on Casa Quivira when a few things were in place.
1) Casa Quivira not only assists with adoptions to US parents, they also assist with adoptions to other countries including Great Britain. It was no coincidence that adoptions for families from other countries were completed at the time of the raid on August 11. This raid was timed to only include Americans. One reason is that these other governments would fight tooth and nail for their citizens and another was that the mandate to “stop all adoptions to Americans by December 31, 2007” was already decided. The Guatemalan President felt he had “backing” to raid foster homes who adopt to Americans.
2) August 11 was only weeks away from the Guatemalan presidential elections. The issue of International Adoptions has been a hot, hot political topic---due to the amazing job of UNICEF anti international adoption propaganda. The President had to do a big “show” that he was cracking down on international adoptions before the elections. He had to show it to his people and to the world. Casa Quivira is owned by an American and had 46 children which gave him more bang for his buck. He is using Casa Quivira as a “test” case to demonstrate how they plan to become Hague compliant. His executive branch has even come out saying that they are trying to “apply” the Hague rulings to ONLY these CQ cases---before the Hague rulings would be in effect. This is actually unprecedented worldwide and is what the civilized world calls “lawlessness.” You cannot retroactively apply a law/ruling. It is like having a policeman pull you over in a 50mph zone and give you a ticket because in 3 MONTHS that zone will become a 35mph zone.
Many of you may be aware, but there is a political battle going on within the Guatemalan government over which branch or which office will control the lucrative international adoption business. This battle is single-handedly going to decide whether 5,000 innocent Guatemalan babies will live in institutions for life (or die in them). Or, with the current severe lack of funding, these children may end up on the streets. What is more disturbing is that ALL of these 5,000 babies have waiting, permanent homes and loving families.
I mentioned, follow the money. This is very hard for people to believe, as it was for me also. It is like the very first time you realize your parents are fallible and human, crushing. As alluded to above, UNICEF is the true motivator behind the closure of international adoption to Americans all over the world. They have spent more money on propaganda and media against international adoptions in Guatemala than they have on actual programs for the people of Guatemala. Plus, the 28 million dollars promised to President and First Lady Berger by UNICEF will walk away with the Bergers in January and will not get to the poverty-stricken people of their beautiful country.
In addition, the complete closure of international adoptions ----those in-process in particular--- is in complete violation of women’s rights. These women made a choice to relinquish their children to be adopted, not to be institutionalized. When they made their choice, they had the option to relinquish their children to adoption, now the Guatemalan government is taking that choice away.
Why isn’t CNN “keeping them honest” and advocating for the innocent babies and innocent poor, under educated women of Guatemala?
Who should CNN interview?
· UNICEF Guatemala. Ask them how they spent their funds over the last 2 years. By the way, this is with hard earned American tax-dollars.
· Susana Luarca. A leader of the ADA in Guatemala. She would be able to provide another view of what is going on in the political arena around adoptions.
· Ambassador Castillo. Ask him what he is doing to help the 5000 innocent babies that will be left behind if they stop “in-process” cases.
· President Berger. Ask him why he would take away the rights of the 5000 women that properly, legally relinquished their children.
· Any Senator or Congressman who is on the Appropriations Subcommittee State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. This subcommittee funds Guatemalan programs and UNICEF (2008 they will give $128 million to UNICEF). This is with hard earned American tax-payers dollars.
· A moderator from Guatadopt.com--- a leading source of Guatemalan adoption information. This site is referred to by almost every American adopting in Guatemala and is also read in Guatemala by many.
· Any one of the many thousands of American families that have adoptive children from Guatemala. The children of Guatemalan are being treated to a life filled with love and with a deep appreciation of their home country and culture
Ann;
My heart goes out to you. There is no emotional pain to compare to that of a parent’s for a child…even a surrogate, or rescuing parent In my years working at rescuing children, my heart has been broken again and again by the unfair actions of the adults that control legally, but not righteously, the children that I love.
However, I am afraid that your investigating has fallen short of the reality here in Guatemala. Here are some facts:
1) Casa Quivira was involved in shady dealings regarding the origin of the children there. But shady is hard to prove, and I don’t believe the Government chose them for that. It is ironic that CNN could stumbled upon a problematic situation when they sought to verify the mother’s identity. But what caught my attention is that Clifford did not bat an eye regarding the “false” address of the mother. If I was responsible for data like that, and someone said it was not right, I would have gasped, or argued…he acted like it was probably true, and didn’t want to dwell on it. But CQ also very openly marketed to Gay couples. Regardless of one’s feelings about that, it is absolutely illegal in Guatemala. I think that may have been the government’s reason to choose CQ
2) You have slandered the president of Guatemala in your comment. I don’t know what kind of ground you hoped to gain by that, but I can tell you the effect it has on Guatemalans. Whatever they think of Oscar Berger, I have not heard any Guatemalan say he is a thief or corrupt ( adoption lawyers are the ONLY exception). And it angers them. A friend of mine who works with adoption said a well bred woman screamed at her recently, shouting about the babies she happened to be near: babies in the adoption process. I wonder if she was reacting to the slander perpetrated continuously on sites you have “investigated”. Yes, many politicians here are corrupt, but Berger has a reputation, well deserved, of honesty and cleanness in a very dirty arena. The idea that he or his wife would use the $28,000,000 from UNICEF for anything other than programs to benefit the poor of Guatemala is not even considered except on the websites aimed at inflaming Americans waiting for children.
3) You sound like the president is running for re-election. There is no second term for presidents here. Berger has no Political agenda, except maybe that he wants posterity to remember him on the side of justice in all matters.
4) Let’s follow the money: I wish Anderson Cooper would ask Susan Luarca to account for the disparity noted by the Vice President here in an article last Sunday. He said that all good thinking people want adoptions to be an option for babies in need. But he felt that the present “easy money” situation caused corruption. He said this because he had heard hat the birth mothers might get $3,000 ( I have never heard of this, but have heard of broken promises for that and more) and heard that the American parents pay $30,000 to $40,000 for that child. Do you, Ann, feel good about that disparity? Can you think of any other motivation for corruption in 3rd world countries than $$$$$?
I can’t
now what people in guatemala 5000 where is the adoption center am finding out why its taking all this time for adopt children now please call or email my sister jeannie b.evans at 1910-686-4287 email at jevans14@ec.rr.com this is her deaughter adopting the child this been going on over a year why they paid out loads of money allreaddy. get it toghter now send the child to our faimly my niece she needs her child now.
Posted by: bill berry at October 12, 2007 04:16 PMHey Everybody,
Has anyone heard what happened in court on the 10th? Wasn't that the date for CQ to go to court? Wasn't that the day when all 40 some CQ kids would be present by law? Did any of the PAP's get to see their children? Find out how they are or where they are? I just can't imagine being one of these PAP's not knowing where their children are for the past 2 months!
Lizzie