The Personal is the Political
What's the connection between coffee bean prices and prostitution in Ethiopia? If you said control of prices by US and EU multinationals which is resulting in life-threatening poverty for Ethiopian women and girls, you are absolutely right. I was just introduced to the movie Black Gold . This inspirational and moving movie documents economic assault against Ethiopian coffee farmers by the interests of the dominant countries' buyers. This kind of economic brutality has proven to be one of the direct causes of prostitution and trafficking. To get to the root of the racism, colonial economic policies, and lethal sexism which causes prostitution, global fair trade issues need to be addressed.
What can we do?
1) See the movie Black Gold (Download at Jaman for only $1.99)
2) Boycott coffee retailers until they sign an agreement with Ethiopian coffee cooperatives that gives the growers a fair price (a 1% increase in the price of Ethiopian coffee on the world market will result in billions of dollars going to Ethiopia and will enable the country to survive without US economic aid).
3) When you discuss the needs of women and children who are trafficked, consider addressing the issue of economic justice. Trafficking does not exist in a vacuum separate from other sexism, racism, and poverty.
4) Locate Ethiopian coffee that is FAIR TRADE coffee in your town. It is truly some of the finest coffee in the world.
So...what's next?
Below is an overview of an Ethiopian adoption process from the time my agency receives adoptive parents' completed dossier and home study.
Agency Sends Dossier for Authentication and Translation Check!
Agency will forward adoptive parents’ dossier to the U.S. State Department and the Ethiopian Embassy for authentication. Once processed, the agency will forward the dossier to our staff in Ethiopia where it is translated
Referral Process Check!
Once the dossier is in Ethiopia, adoptive parents can wait six to eight months for a referral of a child. Once referred, the agency will send the adoptive parents referral photos, medical information and the child’s background information, including any known family history. Upon acceptance of referral, the agency's foreign staff will submit adoptive parents’ dossier, with the referred child’s documentation to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA).
Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) Reviews Documentation Check!
MOWA is the branch of the Ethiopian government that reviews all documentation submitted by the adoptive parents and on behalf of the referred child recommends the adoption to be finalized to the Federal Court of Addis Ababa.
Federal Court Date November 11, 2008 Check!
Once MOWA recommends the adoption to be finalized, a court appointment is scheduled. At this appointment, the judge can either finalize the adoption or ask for further documentation and set another court date. Once the adoption is finalized, the court decree, new birth certificate and passport are issued, and the adoptive parents can travel.
Travel December 6, 2008 - December 11, 2008
Adoptive parents should be ready to travel within two to four months after accepting a referral. One parent is required to travel and the in-country stay in Ethiopia is five to seven days. During this time, adoptive parents will complete the U.S. Embassy Immigration appointment for the adopted child, which is necessary to bring the child to the United States. The agency's in-country staff will accompany each family throughout their entire stay in Ethiopia.
Post-Adoption- Until the child turns 18 years old In Process
In Ethiopia, an adoption is finalized before entrance into the United States. Upon arrival, post-adoption reports are due at three, six, and 12 months on the anniversary of the U.S. Embassy appointment date. After the first year, family authored self reports are due every year until the child reaches 18 years of age.
2 comments:
Melissa,
I am dying to hear your new numbers. And after your post I would really like to see this movie. I will check it out. And can we please hear your new numbers soon?!?
Thinking of you,
Autumn
Thank you for sharing this - I'm going now to download the movie!
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