Oct 5, 2007

A Plan of Action....

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 http://www.senate.gov/
· Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

2. Call your second U.S. Senator.

3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative.
· You can find your representative at http://www.house.gov/
· Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff


4. 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 011-502-2327.6366
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

6. Send and email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@jcics.org
· 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

13 comments:

Tracie said...

Sound the Alarm!

I hear the sound of the bells Kimmie!
(the rest of you will think this an odd comment, Kimmie will know what I mean)>

Lovella ♥ said...

praying even now . . .

EEEEMommy said...

Oh, Kimmie!
I hadn't been by in a while, but when I just received Hallie's newsletter which reported on your situation, I just had to drop by and let you know that I am definately praying. I've signed the petition and will look over this list to see what else I can do!!!
God has a plan in this! Trust Him!

Blessings,
Angel

Quinne said...

Thank you for sharing the information on how we can become involved, Kimmie! My family and I are keeping you and this situation in our prayers. Love to you! Q

Christin said...

May God multiply our efforts!
blessings

Beth said...

I will make the calls, Kimmie. We are praying daily for you and everyone involved.

Foxy5 said...

Do you mind if I post a link to this post on my blog? I don't get a ton of visitors, but every 1 counts!

Mycrazylife said...

Sweet Kimmmie,

I will be praying, writing, signing and calling, whatever is necessary to help bring change to this terrible situation.

My heart is in this with you! Love you sweet friend!

Tracy said...

I would be happy to help in this way, Kimmie!

Julie said...

I will call and continue to pray.

((Hugs))

Amrita said...

i would have voiced my concern and support if ai was American or lived in a western country. but theu won 'rt pay attention to me.

Nunnie's Attic said...

Kimmie,
Thanks for the links and please keep us posted. You're still in my prayers and just remember that God will use this in His most perfect plan.

Love,
Julie

Webmaster said...

I found your blog from Julie's (Nunnie's Attic). Thank you for posting this! It's horrible to think of all the children who are in orphanages or foster care when there are so many families who would love to have them!

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