President Molina announced that he's willing to allow the remaining cases to be completed. We've heard some similar things in the past, hopefully it is true this time!
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/apr/11/lt-guatemala-adoption/
Click on more for a couple of stories of interst. The first deals with some of teh mized messages being sent (non0adoption) during Molina's first days in office. Truly amazing if you follow Guatemalan politics.
The second is a blog post from someone who recently met with Susana Luacra. There is the link as well as some of my thoughts on it.
There has been a bug in our system for some time and comments have not been getting sent to me to approve. I just went through and approved all the legitimate old ones I could find. I apologize to anyone whose comments were not posted until now.
If you ever post a comment and it doesn't go on the site within a day or so, please let me know. We don't censor and anytime there is a comment we are not comfortable with, we would let you know.
The US Embassy has a new notice regarding a process for those cases being handled by the CNA (not notarial cases with the PGN). You can read the notice by clicking on more or here:
Last week I finished reading Erin Siegal's Finding Fernanda. What you can read by clicking on more will be a combination of a book review and personal reflection. Because myself personally and this site were mentioned in the book, being part of the story so-to-speak, it was impossible to separate the book from my personal involvement, albeit minimal, in it. And as you will read, it also caused some self-reflection.
Friends Through Guatemalan Adoption invites you to join our 7th Annual Holiday Giving Back Project in conjunction with Behrhorst Partners for Development. Each year families like you help to change lives of rural Guatemalan families! This year we are funding the installation of and training on the use and maintenance of fuel efficient vented stoves. As a thank you to any family who funds a stove, we will send you a child's Guatemala soccer jersey so that each time it is worn it serves as a reminder of another family's life changed by your family's generosity!
So how can you help?The total cost of an installed stove and training on the use and maintenance of the stove is $150.Please click on the below to download your pledge form and learn more on how you can give. We thank you on behalf of the the families in rural Guatmala who will benefit from your generosity.
CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFO AND PARTICIPATE!!
Otto Perez Molina and his "Mano Duro" has won the Guatemalan presidential election. My hope is that he is somehow successful in making the country safer for all Guatemalans without returning to the human rights ills of the past, especially given his history. Admittedly I am worried but I also know that the security situation for average Guatemalans is dire. He got the vote of many kindred friends of mine so will try to be as optimistic as they are.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/06/world/americas/guatemala-elections/index.html?hpt=wo_c2
Here is a must watch new 20 minute video from Reason.TV. I applaud them for making it because it is a story that needs to be told. While I am the first to admit it doesn't portray the problems that existed in a thorough manner, that was not its intent and there are currently numerous sources of info on that. But what has not been getting any coverage is the reality of what the shutdown means. Lastly, it did cover the most important thing that should have been done - rigorous enforcement of the laws that existed. Maybe if some prosecutions had happened a few years earlier, this video would never have needed to be made. You can watch below or find it directly here: http://youtu.be/vWrdz-Aqw-U
I highly recommend giving these a read.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/210694/group/Sports/
I know nothing more than what is in this story. It was the first I had heard of this..
I'm not going to comment much on this. As I have consistently stated all along on this, my opinion is that the adoptive family has been making a mistake on this by not addressing it and trying to resolve collaboratively. Easy for me to say as I am not the one facing it, but also easy to say because I cannot fathom the pain of having a child taken away from me.
This case is going to set precedent or at least is unlike anything before. A horrible shame for all involved who love this child, and the child herself.
http://www.kctv5.com/story/15215292/parents-ordered-to-return-adoptive-child
This is a major sign of justice and living up to the terms of peace accords. I only wish that Rios Mont doesn't stand trial himself - not only his foot soldiers that did his dirty deeds!
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/guatemala-sentences-ex-soldiers-12-060-years-jail-174709252.html
CCAI issued it's report on the trip to Guatemala. A very interesting read that backs up much of my opinion/explanation of the Senator vs Cicig. Also, interesting to see how UNICEF's dollars continue to directly impact adoption.
You can read the report here:
http://www.ccainstitute.org/images/stories/ccai_20_20_vision_program_report_-_guatemala_2011.pdf
There are two different newsworthy items that I've been neglecting to post. And the more I pondered the "how" to address them, the more I realized that they were intertwined and best managed combined in one post.
Story One - Susana Luarca's bail was revoked and so far as I know, she is currently incarcerated while awaiting trial on a string of charges
Story Two - A war of words between CICIG and Sen. Landrieu over just how bad the old system was or wasn't
Upfront, I'm not expert on either of these stories. So if I get something factually incorrect, post it to the comments.
On the heels of her recent trip to Guatemala the Guatemala900 has created a Thank You letter to Senator Landrieu for her amazing advocacy work for the children and families with pending adoptions there.
Please take a moment to sign the petition and also put the word out to all family, friends, and supporters!
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/thank-you-senator-landrieu.html
