ADOPTEE RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION

Are you ready and packed? Its on Tuesday, July 22, 2008. Its being held in New Orleans, Home of the Big Easy. It will be held at the National Conference of State Legislators. Its gonna rock. Won't you join us in fighting against the discrimination against adoptees and their families? Its time to fight back against the system.

Hope we rock the house down on Tuesday.

VIETNAM AND THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD CONVENTION

Check this news out.

Here is the link. Here is the story:

Deputy PM: UNSC approves Vietnam-drafted statement on children

10:19' 21/07/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge - The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) had adopted the UNSC Chair’s Statement prepared by Vietnam in addition to introducing orientations for new actions related to healthcare, education, and technical assistance to address long-term consequences of armed conflicts to children and speed up the implementation of related legal documents, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said. Talking with the New York-based Vietnam News Agency correspondent following the UNSC’s open debate on “Children and armed conflicts” on July 17 where he worked as chairman, Deputy PM Khiem said child issues and armed conflicts were considered as significant by the UNSC because those matters caught the international community’s concern. Around 2 million children were reportedly killed and 6 million others seriously injured or permanently disabled in armed conflicts besides falling victim of fighting, kidnappings, rapes, sexual slavery, and other cruel forms of tortures in the past decade alone, said the Vietnamese deputy PM. “The UNSC’s effective operation will help prevent and put an end to armed conflicts and completely root out such situations,” Deputy PM Khiem said. At the open debate held under the initiative of Vietnam , UN agencies, countries and non-governmental organisations re-evaluated the effectiveness and outcomes of deployed measures and discussed directions for their future cooperation in order to protect children more effectively in armed conflicts, he added. Also at the debate, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon delivered a speech on the issue on behalf of 40 nations and leaders of many international organisations, Deputy PM Khiem said. He affirmed that his Chair of the open debate reflected Vietnam ’s respect and sense of responsibility to the UNSC, the leading agency tasked to maintain global peace and security. Deputy PM Khiem unveiled that he had separate meetings with the UN General Secretary, UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Swaziland Moses Mathendele Dlamini, and US Ambassador to UN Zalmey Khalizad on the sidelines of the debate. He went on to note that the country’s initiative to highlight the theme “Children and armed conflicts” at the open debate and its joint preparations on contents and organisational work has been highly valued as active contributions to the UNSC’s operation by the UN General Secretary and other member countries. The Deputy PM stressed that through those preparations and the Vietnamese representative’s speeches to the UNSC and contacts with the world media, Vietnam ’s peace-loving tradition and its policy of giving special care to and protection of children were indicated strongly. This was of more significance when Vietnam is preparing to report to the Committee for the Convention on the Right of the Child on its implementation of the Convention in the country, Deputy PM Khiem added. He talked about the UNSC’s operation in the second half of the year, mentioning debates on issues already mentioned in its agenda, i.e those related to peace and security in different regions and discussions on issues possibly arising in the world. Deputy PM Khiem referred to the situation in the Middle East, Darfur, and Kosovo, nuke issues in Iran , the Democratic Republic of Korea, and developments in Myanmar as those of great concern, in addition to the situation in Zimbabwe and Georgia . In the coming time, Vietnam will continue to partake in the UNSC’s activities in an active, initiative, constructive and responsible manner and work with other countries to seek practical solutions to issues arising in the UNSC’s operation on the basis of the UN Charter in respect of legitimate interests of all nations and for the sake of peace, cooperation and development, Deputy PM Khiem said.

IBBAANIKA BOND DOES IT AGAIN

I am personally loving it This time she confronted Presidential candidate, John McCain. Congratulations Ibby. I am very proud of you.

Here is the link. Here is the story.

McCain Speaks Out Against Abortions

Laura Meckler reports from Kansas City, Mo., on the presidential race.

Sen. John McCain went out of his way to speak against abortion twice today at a town hall meeting before a friendly audience that vigorously applauded a range of conservative proposals. It’s a subject he rarely raises on the campaign trail unless asked directly about it—and one where Democrats think they have the edge.

The Republican presidential candidate also received strong applause when he said the nation should allow offshore drilling, and a standing ovation when he spoke of his support for the war in Iraq.

The first question concerned sexually graphic material on the Internet. McCain segued from that to abortion.

“I also would like to say one other thing very quickly to you–that is I am proud of my record of protecting and advocating the rights of the unborn. I believe this is also an important issue,” he said. He said the noblest words every written were the rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“Life means the rights of the born and the unborn,” he said. “You can count on my active advocacy for the rights of the unborn.”

He also criticized his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, for opposing a ban on a late-term procedure opponents call “partial birth abortion.”

“My friends, that’s a hideous procedure. It should never be allowed any place on earth,” he said told several hundred supporters gathered at the historic Union Station.

Obama has said he wants an exception for the health of the mother.

Later, McCain was questioned by a woman who said she gave her son up for adoption and was trying to get him back. She asked what McCain would do to protect rights of birth parents. McCain spoke of his strong support of adoption and also volunteered that he would continue to protect the rights of “the born and the unborn.”

Abortion rights advocates believe that many voters mistakenly believe that McCain supports abortion rights and that they will be less inclined to vote for him once they realize he does not.

On the flip side, McCain did not back down for his support of embryonic stem cell research, anathema to many abortion opponents because it involves destruction of a human embryo, typically those left over from fertility treatments. McCain said he hoped that advancing research will obviate the need for stem cells.

“At the moment I support stem cell research [because of] the potential it has for curing some of the most terrible diseases that afflict mankind,” he said.

McCain also took a hard swipe at Obama over health care after an audience member suggested that government is already too involved in the health system.

“My friends, we’ve seen this movie before. It was called Hillary Care back in 1993,” he said to laughter, “and we’re not going to do it againl We’re not going to have the government take over the health care system in America. And that’s what Sen. Obama wants to do.”

Obama’s plan would involve a greater role for government in health care and new spending, but it is much different from the 1993 Clinton plan and most outside observers agree it is far from a government takeover of the health care system.

ANTIQUATED

Yep Indiana laws are antiquated. They have been more harmful to adoptees and their families. Adult adoptees should be able to make their own decisions. Mothers should be able to update their files without the government telling them what they can and can't do.

We have lived with the CI law for years. We have lived with the passive registry for years. I have heard more stories where adoptee can't get their vital information only to be lied to. Mothers get told that it is all about the adoptee. Adoptees get told its all about the "birth" mother.

Most research will tell you that adoption needs to be about the adoptee and his and her family. The laws should reflect that. Instead it reflects those that are in power. Those that stand to make the most money out of adoption itself.

Wake up America. Its time to change the laws.

AN ADOPTION AGENCY IN TROUBLE

Looks like this agency is finally being shut down for good. Thank God. One less crooked adoption agency. Sadly this woman will just open up under another name.

Here is the link and the story.

Embattled Adoption Agency Gives Up Its License

Posted By: Jackelyn Barnard 58 mins ago

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The baby room is ready for the little boy and girl the Ernfridssons were hoping to adopt with the help of Adoption Blessings Worldwide.

But $40,000 later, that room sits empty and their dreams are on hold.

"We don't want anymore families to go through what we went through. We lost our entire life savings. We were promised children and that didn't happen," says Lori Ernfridsson.

They are just one of the families who stepped forward to make complaints about the agency to state authorities. The complaints were made weeks ago, but First Coast News learned that on Thursday, Georgia officials received notification that ABW was relinquishing its license.

The agency was once licensed in Florida and based on the First Coast under a different name, Tedi Bear Adoptions, years ago. After numerous problems and state investigations, the agency surrendered its license to Florida authorities in 2003.

The agency was already licensed in Georgia, and changed its name from Tedi Bear to Adoption Blessings Worldwide, but its executive director, Tedi Hedstrom, still had a home in Ponte Vedra.

Complaints against ABW started rolling in to Georgia and Florida authorities months ago.

"That's why they're shutting down. There's been too many problems to continue doing business for them," Andreas Ernfridsson told First Coast News.

Hedstrom did not return phone calls to her home and cell phone.

In a statement released by her attorney, Rick Rumrell, Hedstrom says she's been "....praying that God give her direction in regards to the future...with Adoption Blessings Worldwide.... It is with great regret that Adoption Blessings Worldwide and Tedi Hedstrom will be formally closing its doors to adoption services."

"We were absolutely thrilled to hear that," says Lori Ernfridsson.

The couple is taking legal action to get their money back.

"They need to pay the money back to these couples that have been hurt and suffered, and they need to never practice again," says Andreas Ernfridsson.

First Coast News has learned that a number of former ABW clients will soon be filing a lawsuit against the agency.

The agency told Georgia authorities it will relinquish its license by July 31, 2008.

Hedstrom's attorney says pending adoptions will go forward with another licensed agency. Hedstrom does not want to reveal what agency that will be until all clients are notified.

First Coast News

INTERESTING NEWS

Evidently St. Elizabeth Coleman has taken out a Youtube ad compaign against the negative effects of this blog. Oh well. I have found out recently that St. Elizabeth Coleman has started doing homestudies for international adoptions. Interestingly enough, the agency that they have chosen to associate itself with was banned from Russia recently. The Cradle Society got popped in Russia recently. I understand it to be a temporary ban but it is still the same thing. It is another mark against the agency as a whole.

INDIANA PLANNED PARENTHOOD JOINING THE ADOPTION INDUSTRY

This idea makes me cringe. I heard a while back that they will only do open adoptions. At least they are thinking for the future of the female and male adoptees that will be adopted. I don't like another entity getting involved in the adoption industry.

Here is the link. Here is the story.

Planned Parenthood adds adoption option
(http://www.post-trib.com/news/opinion/1054509,edit.article)

July 14, 2008

The Planned Parenthood clinic in Merrillville recently established a new program that should further distance itself from an image fostered by critics who claim its prime function is performing abortions.

This week, the clinic became the third in Indiana to offer free services promoting adoption. The clinic joins a handful of centers nationwide in offering on-site counselors from a local adoption agency.

"Our mission is to provide women with options, to give them information so they can make good decisions for themselves and their families," said Liz Carroll, vice president of patient services for Planned Parenthood of Indiana.

Two adoptions already have been completed at the Indianapolis Planned Parenthood clinic.

The Merrillville clinic established a partnership with The Adoption Center for Family Building, and the regional branch of the adoption center relocated from Munster to the Merrillville clinic.

Planned Parenthood dedicates itself to the reproductive health of women. Performing abortions is one of many services it offers. But services often overlooked include family planning, Pap tests and information and education services about sexually transmitted diseases. The clinic now can add adoption counseling to the list of services it provides.

Deciding to have an abortion is one of the most painful and difficult decisions a woman ever has to make.

No matter how distasteful it may be to some, it is a right afforded to women by the Supreme Court.

The recent step by Merrillville's Planned Parenthood to offer adoption services to women considering their options at a critical time is a positive one that should be supported by both sides of the abortion issue.