| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 27 2007 : 08:27:48 AM
Ladies:
I am not sure how to go about starting a movement. My sister told me about some really horrible things happening to babies in Russia. I want to start a letter writing campaign to our senators, to our local newspaper editors, to Russian government officials, basically to anybody who will listen.
So before I tell you what made me so sad and upset, let me tell you that if you are a young mom like me- you might not want to read the news article. When my sister told me about this, I had nightmares about Nora for the next several nights.
So here is a link to a news article and then I am going to elaborate below that (just forewarning you so you can skip this post if you don't want to read):
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/russian-babies-have-their-mouths-taped-shut-by-yekaterinburg-hospital-staff.html
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/cellphone-camera-exposes-gagged-babies-in-russian-hospital/
My sister's neighbor adopted a little Russian orphan boy. He is adorable by the way. From what she has been told, it is common place to tape up the mouths of orphaned infants in Russia to "train" them not to cry. Also, my sister was told, the Russian government does not pay enough for diapers, so the kids wear two sets of clothes and their play room is lined with potty chairs. The kids are allowed to play for about 20 minutes, then are forced to sit on the potty chairs for 20 minutes. They only get fed once or twice a day and sometimes all they are fed is a watered down cereal like drink for breakfast.
All of this is happening to infants and toddlers who are in an orphanage system that many Russian citizens don't even know about. The Russian government does not advertise these orphanages which are often behind huge walls. My sister's neighbor says that if she returned to Russia, she probably wouldn't even be able to find the orphanage again because it looked just like all the other buildings around it. Most Russian citizens think they are just another government building.
Also the Russian government has closed down adoptions to foreigners. So what is to happen to these poor kids? Their own countrymen don't even know they exist and the foreigners who would adopt them are not being allowed to!
Any thoughts and ideas about what we could do? I know a letter writing campaign might not get huge results, but I can't think of anything else.
Thoughts or Ideas? If you all are interested in doing a letter writing campaign started, I would be happy to do the leg work and get addresses for us to send letters to (Senators, White House, Major Newspapers...)
Thanks!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - Jun 27 2007 : 08:36:46 AM
Oh, Alee, I'm so sorry for your pain, and for what so many children suffer. I hope your heart heals through your actions. At least we Can do what we can do.
We make a difference. |
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