An independent voice for ethical adoption
Mercy James
Malawi Fundraiser
In June, 2009 Ethica raised funds to assist children in Malawi to be able to stay in their communities and families. We had tremendous response to this effort and we sent over $800 to an organization who has agreed to utilize these funds in a way to help orphans in their homes and communities.
Here [...]
Hearing Only One Voice: What does the future hold for Mercy and Malawi?
On June 13, 2009, the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeals overturned the lower court’s ruling and granted Madonna’s adoption of Chifundo “Mercy” James. Because of Madonna’s adoptions and her work with her charity “Raising Malawi,” the court found that she did not arrive in Malawi “by chance or as a mere sojourner” and, therefore, satisfied [...]
Mercy James’ Judgment
Overnight, the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the lower court’s rule and allowed for the adoption of Chifundo “Mercy” James.
You can read the full 25-page judgment (.pdf) on our website.
Ethica has made an official statement available here.
Wealth, Poverty and the Child’s Best Interests
It’s interesting how the public is drawn into celebrity adoptions and is beginning to explore the complex issues surrounding wealth, poverty, and how they play into building or in some cases, the need to rebuild families. I live in Michigan and work as a social worker here. Ironically enough, Michigan is also Madonna’s home state. Food banks are scrambling to meet the demands of hungry families and the state has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Now more than ever we can empathize with struggling families and the terror that comes with the need to feed and care for our children. Now more than ever we can empathize with the daily realities of families in developing countries. Most of us would recognize that tearing a family apart and institutionalizing our children, or placing them into adoption, would be a last resort. Yet, many of us are ready to condemn a Malawian grandmother for fighting to keep a child when it seems like the child’s best interests can be met by a wealthy stranger.
Adoption Is Not the Only Way to Help a Child
Ethica launched a fundraising campaign this week in response to the Madonna adoption case. We have received numerous positive comments back from many people, as well as donations for the cause of keeping Mercy with her family in Malawi. Thanks to those folks who got involved with our call to action.
We received some impassioned comments from other folks as well.
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