ST - Not so fast with Haiti adoptions

From my archive of press clippings:

Seattle Times

Not so fast with Haiti adoptions


Originally published Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 10:00 PM

Sometimes the impulse to do good can make a problem worse. Relief agencies working in Haiti know that images of distressed children often spur people to pursue an adoption. That is a noble sentiment, but one that needs to be leavened by some serious thought.

Jerry Large
Seattle Times staff columnist


Sometimes the impulse to do good can make a problem worse.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Relief agencies working in Haiti know that images of distressed children often spur people to pursue an adoption. That is a noble sentiment, but one that needs to be leavened by some serious thought."

"Amy Parodi, a World Vision communications specialist, said the agency has two primary concerns.
One is that a child who is separated from her family might be adopted on the assumption that she is an orphan, when she has just been separated from her parents by the disaster. They could be found or there may be aunts, uncles or extended family who would want to take her in once they are located.

The second concern is that, "In the chaos following any disaster, it's easy for children to be exploited." There is almost always a black market in which children are offered for adoption, she said. "We want to make sure these children are protected at every stage."


Adoptions that were already in the works are a different matter, but even with those, speeding up the process risks missing some steps established to protect children."

"(P)eople who are committed to adoption should find a reputable agency and be willing to forgo shortcuts, to be sure the child's interests are served.

Last year, U.S. citizens adopted 330 Haitian children. Between 1998 and 2009, Washington state families adopted 166 children from Haiti, according to the U.S. State Department, which has a site with information on international adoptions:

www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/convention/convention_462.html. "

_____

Jerry Large's column appears Monday and Thursday. Reach him at 206-464-3346 or jlarge@seattletimes.com.

ST - Coping with natural disasters on trips

From my archive of press clippings:

Seattle Times

Coping with natural disasters on trips

How travelers can safeguard themselves in case of natural disasters such as hurricanes, and get airlines and hotels to give refunds or replacement vacations

Originally published October 31, 2008 at 12:00 AM Page modified October 31, 2008 at 1:25 PM

By Christopher Elliott Tribune Media Services

Talk about adding insult to injury.

When a natural disaster strikes, travel companies like to play the "God card," unless everyone is looking.

The God card — technically, the Act of God clause, a legal term for, "circumstances beyond our control" — basically means your airline, cruise line or hotel owes you nothing. After all, the tragedy wasn't their fault.

Read the entire article here.