Adoption and World Events
To China’s credit, they have never allowed world events to interfere with adoption. I remember a statement back when our people were being held during the Hainan Island incident in 2001 and agencies inquired about whether travel could continue. The response was that the babies were not pawns to be played in a chess game, but babies who needed families. I know people who traveled during that time period, and while they were advised to not advertise the fact that they were Americans, they traveled on schedule with no delays.
Adoption did not even slow down when we accidentally bombed the Chinese Embassy back in 1999. Traveling families were advised to stay out of the public as much as possible, and sightseeing was discouraged, and IIRC the U.S Consulate personnel went to the families so the families didn’t have to go to the consulate, but adoption did not slow down.
So, consider this a little bit of reassurance, adoption has never stopped for World Events or International Incidents.
Granted, the same people are not in charge now that were in charge then. But I have to hope that the statement will remain true, that babies are not pawns to be played in a chess game.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:37 am
This a great comment RQ and I hope you are right. I pray for those who are so close to getting their children that the Olympics do not interfere. The babies are the most important people to remember.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:55 am
I forgot to mention I came accross a site yesterday that updates adoption info(China and other news)
http://www.adoptionpolicy.org
I thought some of would like to look at it. It does mention the fee increases and other news.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Let’s just pray that this continues to be the case.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:20 am
RQ…I sure hope and pray you are right…I cringe when I see turmoil on the world news…and anything surrounding China. Let’s hope all our babies keep safe…and not/never be used as pawns..Thanks again for your words on the subject…
March 26th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I imagine that you’re talking about the situation in Tibet … But what about Brian’s allegations and what he plans to do (going to the media with proof) ???
R
March 26th, 2008 at 8:57 am
RayRDT,
I think I missed this. What’s he doing? All anybody has to do is mention his name and my sensitivity radar goes off.
Thanks.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Never mind I found it. :(
March 26th, 2008 at 9:13 am
l also saw Brian’s threat on his blog. I actually believe him when he says that he has evidence of payments for babies. I strongly suspect my daughter’s orphanage has been doing something like that, or is at least corrupt in other ways. But I think Brian is naive if he thinks he is going to fundamentally change anything, and I worry that he is only going to hurt the kids that come from whatever orphanage(s) he is focusing on. Even after a year or more of coverage of tainted this and that from Chinese factories, and diplomatic pressure, do you think anything has really changed? Stories about forced labor, trafficing for sexual purposes, and forced abortions crop up repeatedly - does anything change? All that is going to come of this is that the kids from his targeted orphanage and their families will have to live with the publicity. If his allegations are strong enough, China will make a show of punishing the director. And the rest of the orphanages will continue their practices.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
RQ, I hope you’re feeling better.
I tend to believe that, unfortunately, what we’re seeing in the press right now is nothing new. China definitely has some issues that need to be resolved. We all do. But when a world event as huge as the Olympics comes along, it’s only natural that political groups, the press, etc., would use it as an opportunity to bring their issues (or their careers) into public view. Right or wrong (both in some cases), demonstrations, protests, and sensationalized news stories are imminent. I, too, have to believe, however, that the children will never be used as pawns (and shame on any reporter who tries to do so.)
March 26th, 2008 at 9:52 am
We recieved word yesterday from our agency that the CCAA has begun matching! I hope the word comes out soon on the cut off date. With a 1/12/06 date I don’t expect to recieve our referral until the beginning of next month, but here’s to hopeing. We get our last fingerprint update march 31st. I think that we problably could find some kind of protest or upheavel during all of the Olympics. Its a worldwide stage. Countries boycott, protest and people come out of the woodwork to further theyre cause. In the end we all should pay attention and sort out the real and the false ideas. My goal is to get my daughter home and move out of this limbo.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I’m sorry, who is this Brian person? Is he the reporter who started all the trouble for the Netherland families?
March 26th, 2008 at 10:22 am
OK I feel out of the loop - Who is Brian, what allegations are being referenced? Where is his blog?
RQ your history of IA through difficult times is reassuring.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:48 am
mtonkinson-
You must be soooooooo excited :) If not this month, then next. Just think, someone may be looking at your file right now saying “Where’s that baby that belongs to them?” and she’s wiggling her little file right up next to yours saying “Come on, mom and dad, this is the first of a million times you’ll have to come pick me up” :)
Best wishes.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:12 am
RQ, as someone at the front of the line this month (finally!) I was in desparate need for this reassuring note. Until she’s in her crib here, I will remain a bit nervous but your words provided some comfort.
Thanks.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Thanks for that, RQ! It was a very positive way to start my day!
March 26th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Great post RQ!
DH and I were treated so amazingly well when we were in China bringing home our DD that I want everyone to experience what we did… We were often greeted on the street with such compassion and caring.
We traveled over the Christmas holidays (few days before Christmas) and one young man came up to us, spoke to us in English and offered a Christmas gift…a beautiful ornament that he wanted us to have to to take to America…we will always cherish it. Fortunately, we had gifts to share in return….but we were so honored. We feel that we forged a bond with the Chinese people, and we thank them for the GIFT of their beautiful children that they are sharing with the world.
Certainly our world is chaotic, but I am so hopeful that kindness and support for the littlest ones will prevail…
I am so grateful for the path that brought us to our daughter….not a path I would’ve imagined some 16 years ago as a young woman saying “I do”…..but I would change not one day.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I think I am out of the loop. Can someone enlighten me to who Brian is, and what issues are we talking about? Not sure if I should be concerned about something yet. The day doesn’t seem complete unless there’s something to worry about…
To RQ thanks for the reassurance about China and IA through difficult times.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
In Holland we haven’t heard about Brian. Who is he and were can I find his blog?
The government in Holland is quite now. We are all waiting for the investigation from our Minister of Justice. He is trying to come with an answer before may 1. We have a LID of jan. 11 ‘06. And we hope sooooo much that we will have a referral with this batch. Hopefully we are save than and we can bring our baby boy or girl home! The idea that Holland will stop the adoption from China while we have our referral is making my heart break! We are in contact with other waiting adoption parents in Holland and everyone is holding there breath! I can tell you: it’s not very nice all of this. Be glad that this is not an issue in the USA!
jan. 11 jan. 11 jan. …… or more of course!!!!
I hope you do feel better, RQ!!
March 26th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
We in Holland never heard about Brian. Who is he? And what did he say?
In Holland every waiting adopting parent from China is still nerveus. At the moment we hear nothing from the government. But we know that our Minister of Justice is doing research. He wants to inform the Government again before may 1.
We have an LID of jan. 11 ‘06. We hope soooo much that we are in this batch! But can we be glad than? What if adopting in Holland stops? Can we still bring our baby boy or girl home? Only thinking about this makes my heart breaks. When we recieved our daughter in 2004 from China, there was only joy in our lives. Now there is a lot of fear. I understand when this is hard to believe for you guys in the US. But believe me: this is really the situation in Holland.
I hope soooooo much: jan. 11 in the batch: or more of course!!
RQ, I hope you do feel better!
March 26th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I wish I knew how to link to another site. There’s an article on MSN.com about President Bush calling the leader of China to discuss Tibet, encourage dialogue to bring a peaceful resolution, etc. It says that Bush promised not to boycott the Olympics and that the two leaders are working together to regain peaceful relations. I was happy to see the US and China working together.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
EJ’s Mom and RQ,
I agree-children should NEVER be used, in any way. How cool that you have an ornament to keep forever. I think MOST people in China have good hearts and are good people.
I do agree with the other posts about Tibet, etc. but I feel better after RQ post today on this issue. China would look really, really bad if they stopped adoptions for any reason other than to protect the children from something like illegal adoptions.
Yes, WHO IS BRIAN and what did he do or say?
March 26th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Am I out of the loop on world events, has something specific happened that has cause this speculation and concern??
March 26th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
FindingHope, I left a question for you on RQ’s blog post yesterday about concurrent adoptions. You probably haven’t seen it there yet.
Would you mind checking it out and getting back to me if you can please? What your agency says could be very important for my family’s situation.
Feel free to PM me through the forum if you prefer. [sorry to be OT everyone]
Thanks so much for your help, meismama
March 26th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
You know, it’s funny….kinda….that I was almost dreading the Olympics this year, because I thought that some crazy, overzealous reporter is going to stick his/her nose into something and really piss off the Chinese government, and my only thought was ” well, that certainly won’t bode well for adoptions” How selfish of me, and narrow-minded to boot. I love the Olympics! and I’m sure I’ll be just as glued to them as in previous years, possibly more, just to get a glimpse of the country.
Having said that, I feel that any country that gets the priviledge of hosting the world’s athletes for a few weeks is going to get the scandal seekers. Take for example, we Canadians. The 2010 Winter games are in Vancouver. My cousin who lives out there has already noticed that they are shuffling the homeless, hookers and junkies out of view. Somewhat similar to what China is accused of doing. Shielding the world’s eye from it’s undesireables. I’m more than certain that a few will end up telling their story to any interested reporter, but it will certainly not cast a huge shadow over the city, or especially Canada as whole.
I, for one, have been concerned about how China will react to any negative feed back, but have put things into perspective. Even if the scandal mongers get their teeth into something, the children should not be the ones to suffer.
I know that I would feel the same way, even if we were not involved with IA. I just feel it with more passion now.
That’s just my humble Canadian opinion. :)
Cindy LID 05/30/06
LID
March 27th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Here is the hard part. I’ve heard from some parents who have evidence their child’s SWI is still paying a “finder’s fee”. I have encouraged these families to go to the State Department with their information.
As for Brian and his information, he’s just looking to further his agenda. And possibly looking for his 15 minutes of fame while he’s at it.
If he truly wanted to get to the bottom of it he would take his information to the State Department or the Consulate in Guangzhou. If he takes it to the press then he’s 1) harming any children who have been adopted from the orphanages he publicly implements and 2) proves he is just in this for his own agenda.
I’m not saying that there isn’t something that needs to be investigated. I’m just saying that I’d like to see the State Department have the opportunity to do it.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:04 am
meismama-
We were trying to do a concurrent with China and Ethiopia, and I’ll be honest, I’m STILL not completely sure of my agency’s policy. I know that WE were not eligible to continue with our China adoption once receiving a referral from Ethiopia, but I’ve heard that other families with other agencies were.
I can’t emphasize strongly enough how important it is for you to speak with your individual agency, find out from them EXACTLY what their policy is and then go from there. Don’t be afraid to ask questions over and over again, and make sure you understand everything. Like my SW told me, that’s what we’re paying them for.
Good luck with your research! And, by the way, we decided to stick it out with China and withdraw from the concurrent.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
No matter how China has handeled itself on matters of Human Rights and World politics I have always firmly believed that the general public, SWI workers and top government officials have and always will place the children’s best interest first. I know that some parents have found, upon arriving in China, that their children are sick or not well fed but this is from lack of funds and available resources not lack of caring on any level. For a developing nation China is doing the best it can, with very little outside help, for it’s youngest citizens. Every culture has it’s faults, yes, even our own! But caring for children is universal.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
That was a great site referrence listed above. Tons of info.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Thanks for all you do RQ - hope you feel better! What about SARS - didn’t they temporarily slow/shut things down during that outbreak? I continue to have hope - things will keep moving along!!
March 27th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
…MacyGirlInChina …from one Canadian to another..well said…
LID March 17, 2006
March 28th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Findinghope, thanks for getting back to me.
What’s allowed [and what's not] with concurrents is all just about as clear as mud isn’t it?!?!?!