[Cheryl101]

Have you guys seen the post on the "big list". A woman is trying to plan a hunger strike in front of PGN starting Monday.

[adoptlove66]

Yes, and I think it is a terrible idea.

[Alexa07]

Yes, I've been following this and am praying that it does not happen. Don't get me wrong; I completely understand the frustration and urgency and my stomach is sick over what is happening, but this is not a good idea at all. This is not our country. And with how Guatemala reports events in the media, this does not bode well. Let's push our Government - it's election year. But let's leave Guatemala alone (as hard as it may be). I am up for the march in DC....but please, let's not perpetuate the image of the 'Bullish-American' that unfortunately so many foreign countries have of us.

Stay strong everyone.....we're in this together.

[giovanni7460]

I saw that the day she posted it. To be honest I think if my kids were not home I would think seriously about being there. I remember when I first found the big list (the only board I knew at the time), I was desperate. I wrote that I could not believe how our country forgot our kids. Worse yet being an American how they forgot ME. I was so angry. This was during the Hague of '03. I will never forget how lonely I felt. One of the list moderators sent me a nasty message, She almost made fun of the suggestions I had. I felt like a fool and so low. I dont know if a hunger strike will help. But I do know that I would be there monday morning in a minute.
These are children we are fighting for.
Patty

[Gatos]

giovanni7460 "These are children we are fighting for" does not hold water in all arguments. PGN is trying to make sure that none of the children we are bringing to America were kidnapped and sold. I have no doubt in my mind that this has happened. No doubt. So, if PGN is redoubling its efforts to assure that children aren't trafficked, we have to let them, even if some legit adoptions are stalled in the meantime. It is hard. It is frustrating. It is painful. I have been there, too. But this issue is not cut and dry, and we cannot say we are taking the moral high road just because we are adopting and these are children. Like it or not, we are all part of a system that has, in some cases, gone very, very wrong.

[brinalilah]

I can totally empathize with the sentiment as well. To us these are already our children and her mother instincts are to protect her child at all costs, I understand I really do but...

The legality of doing this is my first concern, what are the laws in Guatemala with regard to doing such a protest especially as a foreigner. I know about the 4 Guatemalan women's public hunger strike but my concern is the Guatemalan law enforcement would find some way to arrest and imprison this poor woman. If that happens it really could jeopardize the processing of her case, remember all the police checks etc we had to have for our dossier????

The other concern is that this will also seem like (and I mean no disrespect it is jmho) a patronizing copycat action by an American who can't wait for PGN's reported audit.

We are all scared, I have hardly slept since this started. I do feel alone as well but I have concerns for this woman's welfare and the successful completion of her adoption should this protest take place.

I 100% undertand her mother lion instinct though and wish her the very best.

ETA I checked her post and she says such an action is legal but I still have grave concerns for her welfare.

[sophia07]

If PGN has all good intentions, then why are they holding ALL cases for a month, when many interviews have been completed and the birth mothers confirmed their relinquishment??? No one can explain that to my satisfaction.

[gwenrenee007]

I have a lot of opinions on this, but most of all will Pgn even care if this woman doesn't eat? they might care if she stays out in front of Pgn, but will she be safe? There are gangs and a lot that can happen to her. Will they care if she doesn't eat for a month?

I hope for her, her safety, and her child she is adopting someone talks her out of it.

[Michelle Smiles]

I hadn't heard this...I am a little out of the loop these days. I can totally understand the feelings of frustration and powerlessness. But my first thought is - what kind of message are you sending when you hold a hunger strike in a country where such a large number of people don't have sufficient food?

[gwenrenee007]

Originally Posted by Michelle Smiles

I hadn't heard this...I am a little out of the loop these days. I can totally understand the feelings of frustration and powerlessness. But my first thought is - what kind of message are you sending when you hold a hunger strike in a country where such a large number of people don't have sufficient food?

Excellent Point.

[Devora]

This is not our country.

Yes -- and until the protocol is issued and signed by the child's relinquishing parent they are not our children. I hate to sound harsh, because I know prospective adoptive parents want what is best for their hoped-for-children. But I think an action like a hunger strike by a prospective adoptive parent is arrogant at best.

PGN is trying to make sure that none of the children we are bringing to America were kidnapped and sold. I have no doubt in my mind that this has happened. No doubt. So, if PGN is redoubling its efforts to assure that children aren't trafficked, we have to let them, even if some legit adoptions are stalled in the meantime. It is hard. It is frustrating. It is painful. I have been there, too. But this issue is not cut and dry, and we cannot say we are taking the moral high road just because we are adopting and these are children. Like it or not, we are all part of a system that has, in some cases, gone very, very wrong.

Yes! It is painful and complex and heart-breaking. But the #1 priority must be to ensure that the children are legally and ethically adopted and that no parent's rights have been violated in the relinquishment or abandonment process and that no parent was coerced into relinquishing.

what kind of message are you sending when you hold a hunger strike in a country where such a large number of people don't have sufficient food?

Excellent point. It only fuels the negative impressions of our country and our sense of entitlement.

[JustBarbara]

Well, I think this is a bad idea. Who are we - the wealthy Americans - to protest another country's laws/ protocols - and with a hunger strike. I know once we get a referral it is difficult to not fall in love with the child(ren) but they are not OURS until all the relinquishments and DNA testing have been completed. We all knew this when we signed on - but of course so many things have changed/ been added in the last few months that I can certainly understand the frustration. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to adopt a child if there is even a hint of illegality though I also have no doubt that there are aparents here whose main concern was getting the child to the States, no matter what it took. Not for me - even when I was in the long wait. As for her security - I hope she is fluent in Spanish, has a great lawyer, has registered with the USE etc. I have not personally checked out her case/ what she has gone through but I can almost guarantee a hunger protest by a non-Guatemalan will not bring positive results, if any. As for her case, I am unfortunately feeling rather pessimistic - PGN might just decide that this action would have a detrimental effect on her achild and deny it. Please don't get me wrong - I'm all for calls for action to OUR senators, congressman, USE representatives but the Guatemalan government does not work for us.

[dmg0703]

JMHO - I really hope that Guatemala modifies their adoption laws to become more centralized and streamlined. I may get flamed for this, but my opinion is that these children should be referred at the end of the process, once the gov't (or whoever else) ENSURES that these available children were rightfully relinquished or abandoned.

It is incredibly hard to KNOW your child, albeit sometimes only through pictures, and to wait sometimes years to bring them home when other families are flying through the process (i.e. PGN outs in only DAYS). There MUST be some accountability and standardization. I truly, truly hope that PGN's intentions are good and that Guatemala is working on a process that makes it much more standard to adopt a child. God knows, there are children that need homes and PARENTS suffering through this process, constantly wondering whether their referred kids will come home. What an unbelievable shame!!!

[EZ2Luv]

I understand this woman's frustration, but this is really not a wise idea. This is a country where it's own people have a good amount of fear of authority. While something in their laws appears to be "legal" we all know that their laws are suseptable to change. Just look at what was supossed to be legal as far as grandfathered adoption. Thjis is a third world country, no laws are etched in stone. What happens if this woman is arrested and since it is their country, what happens if there is a negative affect on her pending adoption?
PGN is the one holding things up, albeit to try and insure that these adoptions were on the up and up, but what if they get angry and do something ?
Then what happens if she ends up arrested in in jail? This is not the US where you are innocent until proven guilty. I do not know the laws in Guatemala but just watching the raids of the hogars and other aggressive forms of law enforcement dealing with Guatemalan citizen, I don't think they would be so kind to a foreigner.
I relize this woman feels powerless and wants to do what she can, but the reality is until the adoption is final this is not her child and PGN has the ball in their court. Not a wise idea at all and can cause more harm than good.

PGN is just trying to do some damage control, a day late and a dollar short. What they are doing is attempting a crash course at adoption reform. Had they implemented this type of program way back when they first suspected unethical practices things would have never came to this.

EZ

[JosieWales]

Originally Posted by dmg0703

JMHO - I really hope that Guatemala modifies their adoption laws to become more centralized and streamlined. I may get flamed for this, but my opinion is that these children should be referred at the end of the process, once the gov't (or whoever else) ENSURES that these available children were rightfully relinquished or abandoned.

I completely agree. Many, many other countries do it this way, isn't that correct?