More info on Guate:

The petition is up to over 14,000!!! That's amazing! I'm humbled by everyone's action that has been taken already. Some of you have asked what else you can do so I'm copying/pasting info from another email. There's also a new website to check out:

http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm

I am cutting/pasting the specific steps about how you can participate:

Make six simple phone calls and one email.

1. Call your U.S. Senator.
You can find your Senators' phone numbers at www.senate.gov
Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

2. Call your second U.S. Senator.

3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative.
You can find your representative at www.house.gov
Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

4. Call or fax the Department of State's Office of Children's Issues
Their number is 202-736-9130
Their fax number is 202-736-9080

5. Call or fax UNICEF Headquarter
Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director|
Their number is 212-326-7000
Their fax number is 212-326-7758

6. Call or fax UNICEF Guatemala
Ask to speak with Manuel Manrique
Their number is 011-502-2327-6373
Their fax number is 011-502-2327.6366

7. Send an email supporting Intercountry Adoption to
guatemala5000@jcics.org
Write briefly or at length. Joint Council will use the cumulative
email petition in our advocacy for Intercountry Adoption

When should you call?
Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday (October 8th, 9th 10th)
For maximum affect, we are asking you to make these calls within a 72
hour window!

What should you say?
Speak from your heart and give them the following information:

The Guatemalan government has announced that all adoptions with the
U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008.

Their announcement also indicated that there will be no
`grandfathering' of adoptions already in process.

If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they
will languish in institutions or foster care.

Your office must get involved and sign the CCAI sponsored letters to
the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all
adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to processed to
completion under the existing notorial laws.

Your office should contact the Office of Children's Issues at the
Department of State. Their number is 202-736-9130