If you've been looking for a tangible way to help in this situation, join with others to flood all those involved in this. Even if you are not one to normally participate in these kinds of things, really, when was the last time you had the opportunity to effect the lives of 5,000 children and their future families?
Take the time to help!
(some of you may be wondering why UNICEF is being mentioned and involved. Unfortunately, they have been a driving force in this initiative. While their claimed motives may be "for the children", the birth parents of those children who have already been referred have already legally relinquished their parental rights. So, in other words, these children will be the legal wards of a country who can not even house them, let alone feed them and take care of them. UNICEF has proposed a donation to the country to help take care of these kids. But what about permanent families? This goes against
UNICEF's own statement on international adoption. (you can see it on their website) Anyone who studies the governments of Central America knows that the children will not see that money or very much of it. Sr. Berger is leaving office in January and I'm sure will be financially set, if you know what I mean. Personally, I can't believe how
naive UNICEF is on this one. I know that their response to this crisis will determine any future support I might have given them!)
GUATEMALA 5000
Dear Friends,Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to suspend
all intercountry adoption with American families on January 1 2008.
The Joint Council on International Children's Services strongly
opposes such a suspension and asks for your support in their efforts
to ensure that all children retain the right to permanency
through Intercountry Adoption.President Berger's plans also call for the suspension of
adoptions currently in-process. Such a suspension would be
extremely detrimental to the children referred to adoptive parents.
If President Berger's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000
will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely.This situation represents a pending crisis for the adoptive
families who have lovingly chosen to provide permanency, safety and love to
a child in need and most importantly a crisis for 5,000 children of Guatemala.
What 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 Staff2. 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 Staff4. 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 011-502-2327.6366Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls
6. Send and email supporting
Intercountry Adoption to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaitingChildrenChina/post?postID=CiIXKhPh2de5MKxqR8PkS1D6_TQzQnT-knSfLkDsmDGwPf5H5RnoWJ_ZOaAF9XaYE45T71M71wWsMOhCNDSkTg· 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 12008. 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 Guatemala5000· Ask them to support the rights 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 5000Initiative.
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 12008. 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 January1 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 EcheverrÃa 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 2766Please 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 011-502-2410-0020Please 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 011-502-2424-1717Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls
Embassy of Guatemala in the U.S.2220 R Street N.W.Washington, DC 20008Office Phone 1-202-745-4952Office Fax 1-202-745-1908Website: www.guatemala-embassy.org
"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders."Psalm 9:1 I have had many memorable days in my life and I have experienced God's amazing work over the years. I must say that today I have seen the hand of God. Caleb has handled today much better than we ever could have hoped and we can see glimpses of the little boy who is in this tiny little body. First, a word about our local guide. This is her first adoption. She also has her boss with her and hates to fly. The poor thing was in tears last night and Faith talked her through the whole 1 hour flight. She is trying hard to help us but it is a good thing we have done this before. But now, on to Caleb :) We pulled into the Civil Affairs office right behind the cab with the Assistant orphanage director and one of the nannies, a young girl who had grown up in the SWI. We were so excited to see him - there was no mistaking who he was :) We spoke to them and followed them up 5 flights up steps! since the electricity wasn't getting turned on till the afternoon. Once we got there we gradually made the switch from the nanny to me. He wimpered but never really cried that hard. I wanted to get a photo of Caleb, us and the ladies from Datong but he was not doing well with me walking to the same side of the room as they were so we video taped our interaction instead (sorry - not digital so we can't post it). We left the civil affairs office to take the picture we needed for the adoption decree. Luckily we dropped everyone else off - we walked all over Taiyuan trying to find a place that would take the photo we needed. Once we got back, it was time for McDonalds (Caleb isn't interested) and baby bananas for Caleb. We've gotten him to laugh and the kids have had fun playing with him. We've left him in the crib - I think that is where he spent most of his time and he seems most comfortable there. We're so amazed at the prayers - the Assitant Director kept telling our guide that Caleb is so weak and that he cries a lot. Yet he has not freaked out too badly yet - I'm sure it will happen eventually but he has been pretty peaceful today. We are so proud of our little guy - he has killer eye lashes! I'm in awe of God's handiwork and am anxious to see how Caleb's personality will emerge.
