Posted on behalf of FTGA
FTGA is again organizing an order of personalized pens made by the weavers of MayaWorks (www.mayaworks.org). The cost of a pen is $2.50. Half of the cost goes to the women who weave the pens as a "fair trade" cost. The other half will be donated to Worldlink Partners on behalf of the Let's Be Ready Preschool Programs in rural areas of Guatemala! See the order form and informational sheet included for more information and to consider making an additional donation for these programs as well as placing your pens order. Orders are due by March 8th.
A story ran in the Prensa Libre on Friday about adoptions (and how illegal ones still exist). Within the story, PGN says that as a result of aprocess with the CNA aimed at verifying the validity of documents, the in-process, grandfathered cases at PGN will be released in the next six weeks.
Some words of caution: (1) it doesn't say all will be approved (2) it speaks of the cases with no legal issues - whatever that means (3) does not include those cases that have to go through CNA/the new law (4) PGN doesn't always deliver on its promises...
Nonetheless, for those waiting in PGN it can't be viewed as bad news!!!
The story can be found here or click on more for a translation..
http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2010/febrero/06/373653.html
Last Wednesday the CNA held a meeting for hogar directors in Guatemala. While not an adoption-specific meeting, I think we all realize the stake and concern we have for the systems being developed in the wake of the adoption law, Hague standards, etc.
Nancy Bailey from Semillas de Amor was kind enough to write us a synopsis. Click on more for that.
I just had the extreme pleasure of having checks cut to support five organizations in Guatemala providing direct aid to children. These organizations were chosen for their services and not their religious affiliation or adoption philosophy. In the end, we're sending out $9000 which leaves about $800 left in our bank account for misc. fees and any needs that come up. As such, each of these organizations is receiving $1800 from the Do Good Charitable Foundation:
1.) Semillas de Amor
2.) Amor del Nino
3.) Hogar Luz de Fatima
4.) Friends of the Orphans
5.) Orphan Resources International
A UN based investigation has found that Rodrigo Rosenberg commissioned his own killing, filming the video to try to place blame on President Colom. For the sake of the country, if for noother reason, I am happy this was the finding.
Very interesting...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100113/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_guatemala_lawyer_killed
Posted on behalf of PEAR:
Derived from the gaps identified from PEAR’s POSitive study and the recommendations from PEAR’s Mental Health Resource and Therapist Resource surveys, PEAR has created State Directories of Adoption
Resources. These directories are designed for prospective adoptive parents, adoptive parents and service providers looking for local resources.
This library is temporarily housed at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PEARdirectories/ , where you can freely download the pdf directories until our website can be updated.
Here's a few items of interest:
1.) In case you missed it, there was a wonderful Guatemalan band in the Rose Bowl http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=7167453
2.) Pres. Colom raised the minimum wage in Guatemala. Kudos for that move!!! http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2009/diciembre/30/365599.html
3.) The Children's Hospital in Cincinatti is loooking for children adopted from Guatemala for a study on a rare disease. http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/trials/current/adoption-studies/adopt-guatemala.htm
4.) Things are stepping up on the ICA pilot program. Looks like ten countries are interested in participating, only five will be chosen. http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2010/enero/05/366371.html.
If you're a Guatadopt reader, please find the time to read this tirade in its entirety by clicking on more…
For starters, there are no new adoptions being started from Guatemala! So my posting this thread is only because "you never know" who might be researching ICA, trying to adopt from another Central American country, etc. As always, if somehow this site's reach can help right a wrong, we'll give it a go! It's a huge longshot, but why not try...
http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2009/diciembre/23/364625.html
This little guy was snatched from his family in Jalapa. The CNA is concerned he could be sold for adoption (domestic or ICA in another country), prostitution, slavery, etc.
Just wanted to say how happy I am about this story.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091218/ap_on_re_us/us_asylum_domestic_abuse
So.. Now there is a move to try to drive my name through the mud. The Pound Pup Legacy site has an anonymous comment from some ignorant moron trying to tie me to all sorts of implied impropriety.
http://poundpuplegacy.org/node/41474
By clicking on more, you will find my reply to this comment (just in case they don't post it). But I am leaving the comments on Guatadopt closed because I'd much prefer to see them on the Pound Pup site.
Thanks to them for this last hannukah present!
As always, I apologize if my legal definition of "charged" is incorrect. What i know is that Susana was "arrested" yetserday on a few charges and was later released on bail.
From my read, the specific allegations raised by the MP seem to revolve around the fact that, like in the Karen Abigail case, Susana was involved in cases that started as traditional reliqnishment and later became "abandonment" cases handled through the courts.
http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2009/diciembre/17/363455.html
UPDATE MON 12/14 - Most, if not all, calenars went out today. At least I received an e-mail this afternoon saying that it looked really good that all would be going out today.
Sitting beside me right now two of the first calendars off the presses... And they look awesome!!!!
That doesn't mean they are all done and shipped. It takes a decent amount of time for them to be dried, bound, pakcaged and shipped. We are on schedule for all calendars to arrive before X-Mas, shipping by the 16th...
There will be about 20 extra calendars available via donations to Do Good. The item is active on the site but realize any donations going in now will not get a calendar before the holidays.
BUT, it is gift giving season and if you donate for any of the other premiums (shirts, mugs, etc), they'll go out in a day. I'm not seeing much come in, why not give the gift that also feeds a child in Guatemala! http://www.do-good-stuff.com
This is not the first CNA has requested this but they are again...
CNA is again requesting that all children in public or private care be registered with the CNA. The notice is addressed to the hogares, not APs and can be found here: http://www.cna.gob.gt/portal/.
They are saying this is essential for them to understand how many children there are for many reasons. There's nothing I see in this that makes it tied solely to the children who had been referred for ICA.
Reuter's has a story running about how Sobrevivientes is pushing for US help in obtaining DNA tests for the children we're read so much about. My opinion is that I support the US trying to help out how it can, within the framework of the law of course.
There's one paragraph in the story worth pointing out:
"Some 3,000 cases that started under the previous adoption system are still in progress, with prosecutors promising to meticulously examine the files for fraud. So far, about half have been completed successfully, and the rest will likely be resolved by the end of January, said a spokesman for the new adoption authority."
I have no further info and can only hope there is some truth to this!!!
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B741820091208
