Skip Starbucks (not my writing but a good cause)

Okay. This will probably be the only time I will do something like this. If I didn't have the theme weeks I would even do a double post on both blogs.

I'm not going to post the entire story because the original one is much better than my retelling what is going on, so make sure to check out this blog: http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/

C.J. is in the process of adopting a little girl from China, but has run into complications due to changes made. International adoption isn't easy and what can already take a several months has not only taken longer but is going to cost even more. So, on her blog, C.J. is asking for donations to help with the unexpected added cost. Those who donate can get a prize, but that is such a minor detail with this.

The giveaway is called skip starbucks because they ask for as little as the amount of a coffee from starbucks, asking people to skip that one day and help instead. I don't go to starbucks on a regular basis because small town wyoming doesn't have any. There is a Barnes and Noble an hour away and that is it. So, for me it's just donate whatever because I want to donate.

Aside from gay rights, children are an important aspect in my life. I don't have any children, yet, but have considered adoption as an option in the future. I also have done a few years of research on China, the one child policy and international adoptions.  In fact, I wonder if ratifying the Hague Convention several years ago is a part of why the process and costs have changed. The goal of the convention was to put an international agreeance on adoption that focuses on keeping the children in the family first, the country second and puts international adoption last. The US and China were the last ones of the bigger countries to not only sign but ratify (and I don't know if the US has even). China did it almost at random the year the college policy debate had china as a topic with one option being about the one child policy, which has an influence on the number of children up for adoption. Thus, how I know about it. But I would almost guess the changes are part of their attempt to follow the order needed, since in the past international adoption was closer to first on the list.

While people may be aware of US citizens adopting Chinese babies (my professor for lit criticism adopted twins from China), it's not easy to do. There are strict requirements for married couples (have to be married), which includes making enough money by their standards and then going through all the red tape and everything else that goes with the actual adoption.

If you donate, great. If not, no problem. I gave my donation and hope that they get the amount they need.