China adoption news for February, 2007

International adoptions

Are celebrities doing it for themselves or for the good of the children?

"International adoption has become increasingly popular within the United States. Since 1992 international adoption rates have almost tripled. China and Russia are at the top of the list for nations from which Americans adopt; however, many countries have been affected by international adoption. Some of its popularity can be attributed to celebrity involvement. Julie Andrews, Angelina Jolie, Mia Farrow and Meg Ryan are only some of the many celebrities that have adopted children internationally. This may be good for those who need adoption to survive, but what about the children who have families and loving homes? They may have the misfortune of being born in a poor country without adequate water or nourishment. Shouldn't these children be helped, too?"more>>

Kids parade for Chinese New Year

"Hundreds of parents and their children paraded in a colorful procession Saturday through downtown Fairhope to celebrate the Chinese New Year."more>>

Risher: Sometimes, saying 'good-bye' can be overwhelming

"For the most part, Piper is a calm child.

Other than what some might consider an unnatural excitement about chewing gum and spaghetti, there's not much that riles her. However, just try leaving without telling her good-bye."more>>

Raising a child with roots in China

"PRINCETON, N.J. -- Peter Fenton, 43, who is of English and Dutch heritage and grew up in South Africa, was dressed in a blue Chinese man's shirt."more>>

Adoption Today Magazine to Include Hoppenhauer Excerpt

"New York, NY, February 22, 2007 --(PR.COM)-- The April/May issue of Adoption Today magazine will feature an excerpt from Adopting a Daughter from China, the latest book from iUniverse author Denise Hoppenhauer."more>>

'Happy new year'

Local adoptive parents work to keep Chinese culture within children's lives

"CIRCLEVILLE - The girls giggled together over some chicken with a bowl of oranges nearby, whispering secrets in each others ears.

The oranges and chicken are only two of many items Corrine Woods, 4, and Caroline Rhude, 5, were eating while celebrating the Chinese New Year Sunday at the Grand Buffet in Circleville."more>>

Chinese children adopted in S. Florida celebrate their heritage and New Year

" DAVIE -- A group of South Florida moms and dads rang in the Year of the Pig with their adopted children at a festive picnic on Sunday.

The Chinese New Year celebration at Robbins Park in Davie had a little bit of everything -- a bounce house, Chinese food and a Kung Fu demonstration by Beijing Wushu Academy."more>>

Chinese Culture Day in Pleasanton seeks to make community 'family'

"PLEASANTON - In her native China, Amy Liu would be visiting relatives, sitting down with them for meals on multiple days to celebrate the upcoming new year."more>>

Hard-working Ox ushers in Year of the Pig

"Qingbin Wang faced a problem Thursday morning unlike any he confronted growing up in China's Shaanxi Province: He couldn't open the front door of his house in South Burlington. Too much snow in the way."more>>

Baby Supermarket

"China's recent announcement of tighter guidelines for foreign adoption, together with a claim that the supply of available babies could not meet growing demand, surprised many."more>>

Tradition to guide Chinese New Year

"SAN FRANCISCO - Starting Sunday, Chinese-Americans across The City will be engaged in a wide variety of traditional customs and practices — from eating spring rolls that look like “gold bars” to giving money in red envelopes to children and bags of tangerines to adults — in celebration of the Lunar New Year, the most significant event in Chinese culture."more>>

Celebrate the Year of the Boar with foods rich in tradition

"(W)hen the lunar new year arrives Sunday, so, too, come the lions, dragons, and lucky money.

Several Asian cultures celebrate the holiday, which marks the first day of the lunar year and is known as the Chinese New Year. This year's turning ushers in the Year of the Boar (or pig). Anyone born in the coming lunar year, according to Chinese astrology, will have the sign's traits -- honesty, loyalty and amiability."more>>

Fewer Chinese Babies Adopted by Dutch

"AMSTERDAM — The number of Chinese children adopted by the Dutch decreased dramatically last year. According to researcher Brian H. Stuy, this was due to the elimination of a large child-trafficking network in China."more>>

Chinese New Year celebrated in Valletta

"A vibrant touch of the Orient swept through the streets of Valletta yesterday, with music and dance performances by the Shaanxi Folk Art Theatre troupe from northern China being held in St George's Square, Republic Street, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens to celebrate the Chinese New Year - the Year of thePig."more>>

'Year of the pig'

Discovery Center to host Chinese celebration; Monkey King exhibit to open in conjunction

"Although Vivian Yan misses her native country of China, she is sure to get a taste of home Friday when the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring hosts a Chinese New Year celebration.

"I will bring my husband," Yan said, who is looking forward showing off her 13-month-old daughter, Tiffany Dawley, when she goes back to China later this year."more>>

Local family adopting from China

"We're following an Oak Harbor family through the process of adopting a child from China. We first met them back in November, but a lot has happened since then."more>>

Families celebrate adoption, diversity

"ROCKFORD — They say the hardest part is the wait. Or the paperwork. Or the cost. Or the stigma. Or more paperwork. And more waiting. But the downsides to adopting abroad instantly vanished for Evelyn and Dennis Meyers the minute they spotted Molly. Next it was Annie. And then Zoey."more>>

Celebration provides support, education for adopted Chinese children

"WEST NYACK -Four-year-old Jade Handsman dashed across the basement of the St. Anthony's School cafeteria yesterday toting a glossy photo of a wide-eyed baby.

The little girl, wearing a traditional Chinese blue-and-gold embroidered outfit, was proudly showing the picture to the dozens of smiling grown-ups gathered to celebrate the Chinese New Year."more>>

Adoption across an oceanEthiopian orphans finding homes with American families

"When Cheryl Carter-Shotts first started trying to help Americans adopt children from Africa 20 years ago, she said people told her, 'Africa, Cheryl? Wise up, nobody cares.'

In her estimation, a couple of huge celebrities helped change that situation."more>>

Chinese New Year a time for celebration, learning

"The second annual festival is part of a full slate of weekend events.Goodbye to the dog; hello to the pig.

Bainbridge’s second annual Chinese New Year celebration ushers out the Year of the Dog and welcomes the Year of the Pig this weekend with an array of events that include a parade, traditional foods, crafts, film, theater and dance."more>>

Families that adopted from Asia host Chinese New Year

"Amy Hall wanted to be a mother and had feared that might not happen.

So, she and husband Richard decided it was time to start an adoption process, which took them all the way to China."more>>

How to adopt internationally meeting to be held Saturday

"Area residents interested in adopting a daughter or son from China, Korea, Vietnam, Haiti, India, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine are invited to attend a free “How to Adopt” information meeting to be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Eureka. The church is located at 520 Del Norte St."more>>

Old traditions ring in New Year

"Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 18, but the Chinese Students Association, Taiwanese American Union and Association of Chinese Americans celebrated early this year with their first-ever Lunar New Year festival. The year of the pig was rung in with a celebration complete with demonstrations of the Chinese martial art form Wushu, paper lanterns, Panda Express and lion dancing, a dance which mimics the movements of a lion."more>>

New Regulations of International Adoption

"Lea Werking came home to America with her new mother three years ago.

"I remember my friends and family were all there to meet me at the airport," says Lea.

She's almost seven years old now and is well adjusted to life in America."more>>

Adoption's complications

"When I was first considering adoption some ten years ago, I looked for books on the subject. At that time, the bookstore shelves were full of adoption how-tos and adoption memoirs, both of which I read avidly, searching for the message: You should adopt; yes, you! Encouraged, my husband and I finally decided to get off the fence. We adopted a little girl from China last year."more>>

When Stars Adopt

Could High Profile Adoptions Backfire?

" At first, it seemed like the best possible PR for a worthy cause. Two of the most famous female performers in the world — first Angelina Jolie, then Madonna — chose to adopt children from third-world countries. When Jolie adopted her second child, Zahara, from Ethiopia, the number of adoptions from that country rose dramatically, from 441 in 2005 to 732 in 2006."more>>

The mystery of China's orphans

"MCLEAN, Virginia: According to a U.S. State Department report released last week, American citizens adopted 6,493 children from China in 2006, a decline of 18 percent from the previous year's total of 7,906. And yet, over a month ago, The New York Times reported that China had prepared strict new criteria for foreign adoption applications because the country claimed it lacked "available" babies to meet the "spike" in demand."more