Quote for the Day

"Peace puts an end to every war."

~St. Ignacius of Antioch

Perfect

And to think I've wasted all that money on gym membership.

HALF THE SKY LIVE - Event Trailer

In honor of International Women's Day, theatres throughout the nation will be sponsoring this one night event inspired by stories from the New York Times bestseller Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. The book and this film event bring awareness to sex trafficking, maternal mortality, and violence against women. Go to the website to find a theatre near you.

I was all set to attend - then I remembered my Not a Cent for Lent vow. So, instead I'll have to hope Netflix carries it.

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Last night I heard great news - the Hummer will be no more!  For years I have despised that vehicle.  It just represents so many things I hate.  It's a tool of war; it's a gas guzzler; it represents all that's wrong with the consuming public.  The Hummer is just plain obnoxious.  In my humble opinion, anyone who purchased a Hummer should have put a sticker on their backside saying, "I'm rich and arrogant so I bought the ugliest, most obnoxious vehicle on the market."  Sorry.  That's just how I feel.  I cannot understand one single thing good about that vehicle. 

A few years ago, I watched a DVD called, "Who Killed the Electric Car."  The electric car was developed by GM in the 90s.  Most "owners" lived in California.  They weren't really owners as GM would not sell the vehicles; they could only be leased.  California taxpayers spent major dollars installing the infrastructure to support the vehicles.  Many of the "owners" were celebrities who were interviewed for the film.  They were thrilled with their electric cars and were glad to be doing something to protect the environment.  Fast forward:  the "govenator" was enamoured with the Hummer.  And was also seduced by the idea of hydrogen fuel cell technology.  The film shows Schwarzenegger driving a Hummer with a giant advertisement for hydrogen fuel cell technology plastered on the side.  Problem is, that technology Does. Not. Really. Exist.  Period. 

So, the electric car existed, was beloved by those who owned it, and was killed.  In fact, as leases ran out, the cars were confiscated and destroyed.  No amount of begging or offers to purchase the vehicles by the drivers could save the cars.  Now when I hear car manufacturers say they're close to having an electric car ready for production, I almost want to cry.  At least I have this good news - no more Hummer!



(Photo from http://wallpapers.free-review.net/17__Hummer_H2_Geiger.htm)

They Will Know We Are Christians by our Love

I wanted to share this after discovering it on my friend Deanna's blog (http://teawithdee.blogspot.com/). Wouldn't it be great if we all behaved like this?

Who I Am and Where I'm Going

Lately, I've been giving a lot of thought to separating my various areas of interest into different blogs so as to spare help readers who are only interested in one area of my life from having to slog through rants about other areas.


On the other hand, I am, like everyone else, a multidimensional human being with many interests and I wear a variety of hats.  So, it wouldn't make sense to compartmentalize my life. 


Here's a peek into my life.  Among other things:

• I'm a wife and mother.
• I'm a liberal, social justice-oriented Christian.
• Politically, I'm a Libertarian.
• I'm a city girl who happens to live on a farm.
• I try to live *green* and try to get others to do the same.
• I try to live a simple, non-consumerist lifestyle.
• That said, I do like having nice things, but like to enjoy what I have.
• I'm an avid reader.
• I'm a vegetarian who believes animals should be treated in a compassionate manner.
• I'm a student.
• I'm community volunteer.
• I'm an advocate for Haiti.   

All of these different facets of my life call for different blog posts, depending on what is happing in my life and in the world.  After careful thought, though, I've decided to create a blog that is specific to Haiti.  Although I'll continue to blog here, in my new blog, named Haiti Calling, I will write about my continuing relationship with the country and people of Haiti. 

Update on Unicef Interference

I had to post an update to this morning's entry.  Haitian children and their legal guardians were verbally attacked at the Port-au-Prince airport by a mob of angry people who had no idea who the individuals were (I guess they felt inspired by the media frenzy set off by the arrested missionaries).  The police intervened with the result being that the children were taken to a Unicef camp.  Here I post pictures (and a link to the blog) of someone from the adopting orphanage who visited this camp.  I'm speechless over the thought that Unicef believes this is in the best interests of the children.  According to the orphanage's blog, supplies are few and adult caretakers are scarce.

Unicef's camp for the children who were going to their adoptive homes.

Where the children sleep.

A substitute for a baby bottle.

Funny, according to Unicef's website, they are trying to have Haiti adopt the following guidelines as passed by the UN in 2009:


1.Ensure that children do not find themselves placed in alternative care unnecessarily; and


2.that, where out-of-home care is provided, it is provided in appropriate conditions and of a type that responds to the child's rights, needs and best interests.
 
Looks like they're violating their own guidelines.

I'm Mad as @*## and I Can't Take it Anymore

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.  (Franciscan Benediction)

I think I've had it.  I'm not talking about my latest troubles on the farm, as those are minor in the big picture.  I'm angry about what is happening in Haiti.  Prior to the earthquake, life in Haiti was unbearable, but there were those individuals on the ground who were doing the best they could with their resources and talents to relieve the suffering.  So many big-hearted people have spent years in Haiti, literally giving up their own comfortable, (usually) American lives to try to make a difference.  When the earthquake hit, I was stunned but thought maybe, perhaps this tragedy could be turned into something good.  Now the world's eyes were on Haiti and it would be unconscionable to look away.  What has happened, though, is that those with a lot of power have turned this into an opportunity to get even more. 

First, there was the cry by large NGOs like World Vision who said they feared child trafficking and that all adoptions should be stopped.  (I need to add that of the almost 500,000 certified orphans in Haiti, only 300 were adopted out last year.)  They also stressed that children adopted internationally lose their culture.  Unicef joined in.  (However, it is ironic that their celebrity spokesperson has herself adopted internationally; I guess different rules apply to different people.)  What they don't talk about is that Haiti's culture (especially now) is a culture of death.  Haiti cannot, repeat CANNOT, feed it's own children.  Many of these children are going to die. Period.  Lose your culture (maybe) or lose your life?  Hmmm, what would you choose?

I know I repeat myself here but child trafficking was already a serious problem in Haiti prior to the earthquake, with over 300,000 children in slavery and another 2,000 a year whisked across the Dominican border every year to become slaves.  Where was Unicef's powerful voice then?  Now, when a group of well-intentioned but misguided American missionaries try to take a group of children out of the country for a better life, with the permission of the parents, why is it suddenly headline news?

Here are a couple of blog posts that are must reads for anyone concerned about the plight of the Haitian children: 

This entry on The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog shares the story of busybodies who interferred with legal guardians taking their children out of Haiti.  As a result, these children were torn from their families and placed in a Unicef camp.  (Is this in the headlines?)  Can you imagine the trama these children are going through?

This post from God's Littlest Angels, an orphanage that has been in Haiti for 19 years, tells how Unicef is interfering with children being transferred to the orphanage from another because the orphanage had collapsed.  Dixie, the director at GLA, talks about how BRESMA (the orphanage that was prominently in the news after the earthquake) made the decision to relocate the children:

BRESMA brought 32 children to GLA to get them inside and out of the weather. The children were getting sicker and sicker. Several had been in hospital and one had even died. The older children can tolerate being outside better than the babies. To save her children, the director of BRESMA made the decision to put them in GLA for 3 months until repairs could be made to her orphanage.

Unicef, in all it's wisdom, has stepped in to tell them the transfer was illegal (as well as to meddle in other affairs at GLA).  What gives?

I'm not sure what I'm going to do about this but I know I cannot remain silent.  



P.S.  Since posting this, I read the story of a little boy, rescued by missionary friends, who would have died had it not been for their generous hearts.  Unicef and other powerful organizations are making it more difficult for these children to be rescued.

Quote for the Day

“Think of the plight of the orphan somewhere right now out there in the world. It’s not that she’s just lonely. It’s that she has no inheritance, no future. With every passing year, she’s less “cute”, less adorable. In just a few years, on her eighteenth birthday, she’ll be expelled from the orphanage, from “the system”. What will happen to her then? Maybe she’ll join the military or find some job training. Maybe she’ll stare at a tile on the ceiling above her as her body is violated by a man who’s willing to pay her enough to eat for a day, alone in a back alley or in front of a camera crew of strangers. Maybe she’ll place a revolver in her mouth or tie a rope around her neck, knowing no one will have to deal with her except, once again, the “bureaucratic authorities” who can clean up the mess she leaves behind. Can you feel the force of such desperation? Jesus can. She’s his little sister.”

 ~ Russell D. Moore, Adopted for Life



(Thank you to Missy's Posterous for sharing this on her blog)

Poem

I Am The Land: A Poem In Memory of Oscar Romero
I am the land.
I am the grass growing.
I am the trees.
I am the wind, the voice calling.
I am the poor.
I am the hungry.


The doors of the church are open
as wide as the heart of a man.
In times of trouble
here is a rock, here is a hand.


God knows the meaning of our prayers.
I have asked our government to listen.
God is not dead
and I will not die.


I am the land.
I am the grass growing.
I am the trees.
I am the wind, the voice calling.
I am the poor.
I am the hungry.


He who is resurrected is revolutionary.
He who is resurrected is revolutionary.
He who is resurrected believes in peace.
This is the meaning of light.
This is the meaning of love.


The souls of my people are the pages of history.
The people of El Salvador are the people of the world.


I am Oscar Romero, a humble servant.
I am the land.
I am all the people who have no land.
I am the grass growing.
I am all the children who have been murdered.
I am the trees.
I am the priests, the nuns, the believers.
I am the wind, the voice calling.
I am the poets who will sing forever.
I am the poor.
I am the dreamer whose dreams overflow with hope.
I am the hungry.
I am the people.
I am Oscar Romero.

from Whispers Secrets and Promises (1998) by E. Ethelbert Miller
(found on What Would Jesus Eat)

Ode to a Bagel

Several years ago, just after we moved to Virginia, there was a hound dog wandering our community.  Knowing people didn't fence their dogs as they do in cities, I assumed the dog belonged to someone.  However, after seeing the dog for about a month, I began to ask around about him.  Turns out he didn't belong to anyone and he was making a nuisance of himself by eating whatever cat or dog food that was set out for pets.  Our theory was that he had been a hunting dog who had been abandoned at a nearby dumpster.  My husband seemed to have grown fond of the dog, so I reluctantly decided to take him in. 

The first order of business was to come up with a name.  Independent of one another my husband and daughter both determined his name should be Jack, so Jack it was.  Jack blessed our lives with his sweetness.  He liked nothing better than to put his big freckled paws on my legs so I could reach down and pet him. Jack seemed to live for love.  He also never met a stranger - be it a human being or another animal, he wagged his tail at all.  We were never sure what breed he was but decided that he was part beagle and part bassett hound, thus we called him a bagel.

Unfortunately, he gave us many nights of worry as he would sometimes wander off for days at a time.  Hunting season gave me heartburn because Jack would run off with the hunting dogs that sometimes came through our farm.  He kept losing his dog tags so I had to buy a collar that had our phone number woven into it.  When hunters rounded up their dogs, they would find the spare and give us a call.  Several times Jack's life was actually in danger but he always managed to pull through.  He was almost like a cat in that he had nine lives. 

Last December Jack underwent surgery for what I was told was an abcess.  He never really recovered from that.  He lost a lot of weight and was downright skinny - quite a change from the portly dog who loved to eat.  Wednesday night I found Jack in his bed in the garage and I covered him up like I always did.  In the morning, he was still there, covered up, and I realized we had lost him.  He was a much loved bagel and will be greatly missed.  RIP Jack.

The Starfish and Keeping Green

Recently, during a small group study at church, we read the following story:

"I awoke early, as I often did, just before sunrise to walk by the ocean's edge and greet the new day. As I moved through the misty dawn, I focused on a faint, far away motion. I saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin.


As I approached, I sadly realized that the youth was not dancing to the bay, but rather bending to sift through the debris left by the night's tide, stopping now and then to pick up a starfish and then standing, to heave it back into the sea. I asked the youth the purpose of the effort. "The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach and they cannot return to the sea by themselves," the youth replied. "When the sun rises, they will die, unless I throw them back to the sea."


As the youth explained, I surveyed the vast expanse of beach, strectching in both directions beyond my sight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth's plan became clear to me and I countered, "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference."


The youth paused briefly to consider my words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made a difference to that one."


I left the boy and went home, deep in thought of what the boy had said. I returned to the beach and spent the rest of the day helping the boy throw starfish in to the sea."  (Based on the story by Loren Eisley and retrieved from http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/starfish.htm)

Over the years I have struggled with the concept of living a green, sustainable life.  I'm not perfect.  In fact, oftentimes I wonder how much of a difference I'm really making.  Sometimes agonize over conflicting choices and try to make sure everything I eat and use is organize.  Other times I see those around me continuing to consume chemically-laced, over-processed, over-packaged product and I think I'm not making a bit of difference.  In fact, those around me are cancelling out the little things I do.  That's when I revert to buying conventional products.  Living a green life can be very difficult at times, especially where I live.  I have to go out of my way, literally, to find products that are gentle on the earth.  Many times I have to drive an hour from my home or order over the internet in order to purchase sustainable products.  Either way, it's very inconvenient.  However, I need to remind myself of the story of the boy and the starfish - each little effort really does matter.


 
(Photo from http://www2.mpsaz.org/kerr/academics/5th_grade/images/starfish.jpg)

Lent

Regular readers might remember that last year, I gave up watching/reading news for Lent.  It was a difficult experience for me because I had become such a news junkie.  However, it turned out to be one of the best things I've done.  As a result of the news fast, I found myself feeling more peaceful and content.  My prediction was that I would race for the remote that Easter Sunday, but I didn't.  It was a while before I turned on the news or scoured web sites for current events.  Even now, I try to limit my exposure by watching the morning news for weather info and about 1/2 hour of evening news.  Sometimes I slip up and I pay for it - I lose that feeling of contentment.

This year I was struggling to come up with something to do.  Then, while reading some of my favorite blogs, I stumbled upon the perfect idea.  Kristi at La Bella Figura said she was joining her neighbor in the "Not a Cent for Lent" program.  That means not buying anything except essentials (i.e., gasoline, groceries, toiletries, pet food) during the six weeks of Lent.  I love this idea as it will be a sacrifice, will make me more aware of the wasteful spending I do, and make me more appreciative of my ability to purchase things on whim. 

I'd love to hear what any of my readers are doing for Lent.

More Happenings and a Surprise

Things have quieted down on the farm - for now.  On Friday I discovered another baby goat in a stall with it's mother hanging out nearby.  I acted quickly to get the mother in the stall so they would begin bonding.  After I had them together, with the mother giving me a funny look, I realized it was NOT the mother.  Juliette was still pregnant, thank you very much.  So I had to go round up the other pregnant goat.  When I found Kelly, I realized she hadn't given birth.  The problem was, only two goats were pregnant, or so we thought.  After surveying the herd, I found the mother, Angie.  She's one of our younger goats who got under the fence one day, into the billy goat's pasture.  So that's how it happened - and it happened so quickly.  We had no idea she was pregnant.  At first I thought Angie rejected her new baby, which meant three months of bottle feeding on my part.  Turns out, she was just hungry and had left the baby in the stall while she got a much needed meal. 

In addition to all the birthing, I discovered that two of our goats are sick and I've started giving them penicillin.  Both are improving and I'll be able to discontinue the antibiotics as soon as the symptoms disappear.  Looks like we're going to have a good outcome this time.

Quote for the Day

You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
 -Rabindranath Tagore

(Thanks to Oh, Mishka for sharing this quote)

It Doesn't Stop

Well, just as I thought I had a bit of a reprieve, two more baby goats arrived.  This morning when I went out to check on the goats and take care of the rest of my farm chores, I discovered Maggie in a stall with two baby boys. 

Our barn has four stalls and it seems the mama goats always have their babies in the one stall used by the horse.  This extremely busy season has really shown this to be the case.  When Nellie had her babies, I closed stall and set up the one next door for the horse, Rowan.  The next morning, Missy had her babies in the new horse stall.  So, once again, I set up another stall for Rowan.  He had a couple of days to enjoy his new stall and this morning I had to shut the doors on him as Maggie chose his stall to have her babies.  One reason is probably because the goats like Rowan's company.  A neighbor once warned me about putting the horse and the goats in the same pasture; he was afraid the horse would injure the goats.  While that is a possibility, Rowan would never hurt one of the goats on purpose.  He genuinely likes having them around and became quite distressed the few times we've had to separate them.  The feeling must be mutual as indicated by the mothers trusting Rowan enough to have their babies in his stall.

Stay turned as we have three more pregnant does. 

More Goat News

Yesterday was another rough day on the farm.  One of Nellie's boys died during the night, so now we've lost six of the ten babies.  Then I had to turn my attention to Marla, the mama who lost all three of her babies.  She separated herself from the herd on Sunday and spent the day laying down in the stall.  She showed some signs of an upper-respiratory infection so I dosed her with penicillin.  First thing in the morning, I called the vet.  Upon examining Marla, the vet said the pregnancy probably took too much calcium, magnesium, etc. from her.  In addition, when goats are down they become suseptible to pneumonia.  He gave her a couple of shots of antibiotics then started an IV to quickly replace some of the missing nutrients.  Unfortunately, it was too late.  We lost Marla just before the IV was empty.  Marla was one of our best goats.  She was sweet and friendly, without being obnoxious or a bully.  We'll miss her.

In the afternoon, I checked the other pregnant goats in the herd.  Four are supposed to be pregnant - two are definitely showing.  However, they don't look like they're due any time soon so we'll get a bit of a break until the next round of deliveries. 

Kidding Season

We've finally had some good news on the farm.  Last night, when I went to check on the goats one more time before I called it a night, I heard a little goat voice (sounds like a very loud human baby).  I raced to the barn and discovered that Nelle had given birth to quadruplets!  Unfortunately, one of them was stillborn but the others were healthy.  I got busy putting up the heat lamp, drying off the babies, etc. to make sure everyone was healthy and comfortable, then headed to the house for the evening.   Nellie is the proud mother of two boys and one girl, Amy.  (We no longer name the boys as they are sold at market.)

This morning I had another mama, Missy, give birth.  She had twins - a boy and a girl.  The girl's name is Sally.  It took me a couple of hours to get everything situated - dry off the babies, close up the stall, get food for Missy.  I needed another heat lamp and my mother-in-law volunteered hers.  However, before I ran over to her house, I checked on the goats one more time.  Missy was acting strangely and, without going into too much detail, I realized she had another baby that she couldn't deliver.  For the first time, I had to use my real goat midwife skills and help her deliver a stillborn. 

Usually, I would be providing pictures but right now I don't have a camera that functions.  Or at least, I have a new camera; I just don't have a memory card to go with it. 

Although I'm sad about the five kids we lost, I'm thrilled that so far we have five healthy babies.  Both mothers are experienced, good mothers so they should take great care of the surviving babies.  We still have pregnant goats and I'm hoping the rest of the births will go smoothly.  But, as my husband says, the simple life isn't simple.

A Bad Morning on White Flint Farm

Several of our goats are pregnant and due this month.  Last night, in preparation for the births, I cut up some old sheets into rags.  This morning, I got up bright and early, carried the rags to the barn, fed the guard dog and the barn cats, then started to put hay in the various stalls.  In the first stall, I discovered two dead baby goats.  I checked the goats milling around outside the stall and saw that Marla was the mother.  After I cleaned up the stall, I went to put hay in the other stalls; that's when I found the third baby, still in the birth sack.  Marla must have gone into labor in the middle of the night and, for some reason, couldn't care for the babies.  I don't know if they were too weak to survive or if the cold got to them.  Unfortunately, this is part of farm life - some animals make it, and some don't.  But it doesn't make me feel any better.

I Can't Let It Go

I'm still enraged over the orphan situation in Haiti.  People who have never been there nor had any involvement whatsoever prior to the earthquake are now experts on the problem.  I've heard people explain about having patience with the paperwork for adopting and people complain about trying to convert children to Protestant Christianity.  What none of these individuals realize is that:  1) paperwork in Haiti is a joke (adoption or otherwise).  Those who submit appropriate paperwork are turned away because there is a typo, or the wrong form was used, or a law has changed, etc.  And the process starts alll over.  2) Haiti is a Christian nation - 90% of the citizens profess to be Christians.  While it is officially Roman Catholic, as a (Catholic) missionary friend said to me, "The great thing about Haiti is that we're all Christians here," meaning Catholics and Protestants work side by side to love and care for the people of Haiti.  What seems to be lost in these legalistic discussions is that children are DYING.  Yes, care needs to be taken that human traffickers are apprehended, but that problem seems to have been ignored in the past.  And now, well-intentioned folks are being attacked.

Here I'm linking to three other bloggers who have a lot to say on the topic:

My husband who discusses the REAL trafficking problem;

Kristen at Rage against the Minivan questions UNICEF's agenda;

Here I have to quote Tara at The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog:

Haiti is an incredibly difficult place. It was before the earthquake. Now it is difficult times ten. UNICEF would like you to believe that there are lots of "safe spaces" (whatever the heck that is) where they can put children. They want you to think that there is a great risk GREAT RISK of children being used for sex slaves and domestic servitude in the USA and other countries ... they want you to believe that Haiti is the safest place for them to be protected.

We have only been here four years plus a year of going back and forth a ton. BUT in these years I can tell you that we have seen horrific abuse of children. Neglect, sexual abuse, restaveks ---- it is rampant. Sexual crime is NOT a crime in Haiti.

For example A 30 year old man can have sex with a 8 year old girl here and there is no legal process for pressing charges. It is culturally acceptable. Working with women I can tell you that they do not control their own bodies. The men call the shots. In my neighborhood there are restaveks working at 5am sweeping the fricking street for the people they live with. There is no way in hell Unicef or any other yahoo that has not lived in this culture and seen it with their own eyes will EVER EVER EVER convince me that Haiti is a safer place for an orphan. Never. Also, sitting somewhere else and reading news stories that the media produces is not a good way to decide that UNICEF is good and on the up and up. The media has something to gain from making stories more dramatic. Unicef has something to gain by keeping orphans as orphans. No Orphans equals no Unicef afterall.

I challenge any of the critics to go to Haiti and experience it for themselves.  It's easy to pontificate from an armchair.

Trash Found in Fish

This morning ABC's Good Morning America revisited the problem of the North Pacific Gyre - that large, Texas-sized collection of plastic out in the Pacific Ocean.  In the past, they had found plastic particles in fish - the fish actually feast on the plastic, mistaking it for food.  However, up until now, they had not found the particles in fish that humans consume.  That has changed as they have discovered plastic has been ingested by Mahi Mahi, a very popular item on menus.  This serious issue isn't limited to the Pacific.  This Christian Science Monitor article describes a "plastic soup" in the Atlantic Ocean as well.  It would be easy to blame these masses on corporate dumping, but that's not the case.  The plastic originates on land and is washed out or blown out to sea.  It is consumers who litter who are responsible, showing us that actions that seem little or insignificant can amount to serious problems.

Another 15 Minutes of Fame

Just when I thought I had my moment, when I was interviewed by our local paper last December about my fundraising for Haiti, I got another chance.  This morning I received a call from the BBC; they had discovered my blog entry about the plight of the Haitian children.  I mentioned the Americans who are under arrest for human trafficking in Haiti for attempting to cross the border with 33 Haitian children.  I was invited to participate in a BBC Radio show called, "World Have Your Say." 

Unfortunately, the show opened with my answering a brief question (which I didn't expect), then the conversation quickly moved from person to person.  Before I had a chance to jump in, I was thanked for my participation and that was that.  I wasn't sure if they wanted interruptions or not, but I noticed the two other participants didn't jump in either.  I expected it to be a conversation between the participants but it just moved from person to person.

It seems most of the callers were interested in ensuring the letter of the law be followed when it comes to removing children from Haiti.  The problem is, there really is no law, or at least any consistent law that can be followed with an end result in sight.  Now, I don't believe children should be randomly picked up on the street and taken out of the country.  However, there are plenty of children who were in orphanages prior to the earthquake who are eligible for adoption. 

In addition, there are approximately 2000 children who are taken across the border every year to become virtual slaves in the Dominican Republic.  Haven't heard any outrage over that.  It reminds me of the time I lived in Florida and many residents were afraid of having casinos in Florida.  Said it would open the door to organized crime in the state.  Organized crime?  In Florida?  Where had those people been living?  Now we have the issue of human trafficking in Haiti.  Suddenly it's a problem?  And it seems people don't care about that.  They just care about the letter of the law.  And don't get me started on the callers who were concerned (with much prompting by Ros, the moderator) with the Christian "agenda."

This is a complex issue but there are reasonable solutions.  I just hope the children aren't forgotten after the Red Cross and other international agencies move on to the next disaster spot.