ROMANIA - FOR EXPORT ONLY: Book Review: Romania for Export Only

Thursday, 11 December 2008

Book Review: Romania for Export Only

Roelie Post allows the reader a unique insiders view regarding the politics of international adoption. It was an eye-opening account that not many are willing to share to the outside world.

In her experience with Romania’s orphan care and international adoption program, Ms. Post begins her journey as many do (innocent) and as her knowledge about the politics behind international adoption grows-- revelations on the real truth behind the industry of international adoption becomes quite clear.

Never again can I look at the “black and white” pictures of the "poor orphans" that rely on us to “save” them with the same naïve eyes. This book offers amazing parallels into other international programs-- including China. Ms. Post talks about the points system, safe-haven drops, attachment studies on orphans, media attention and the pressure from outside countries and NGO’s to gain access to Romania’s children... all of which are familiar themes in many IA programs.

While it was heart-warming to know that there are many people who work very hard to preserve children’s rights, it is equally scary to understand the underlying situation that most will never get to see.

This is a must-read book for anyone entering into the world of international adoption.

Cathy Wagner

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Romania - For Export Only

the untold story of the Romanian ' orphans' gives an insider’s look into the adoption kitchen, where the most used ingredients are political pressure and emotional blackmail. A nexus of adoption agencies, adoptive parents and politicians are using their powers to ensure that intercountry adoptions continue. Often they are successful. However, in Romania they were not. The Romanian government, with support of the European Union, stood firm and took the decision to no longer export their children. A decision the adoption industry continues to challenge now for five years.

The reader is taken along on an eight-year-travel, from 1999 to end 2006, and will be shown the story of the Romanian ‘orphans’ from a different light, where global politics and private interests compete with the rights of the child.

Hilbrand, W.S. Westra, Coördinator - United Adoptees International - Netherlands, said...

Roelie Post dares to describe a taboo-issue at a level that can compare with the works of Noreena Hertz and the movie Constant Gardener. Unfortunately such reporting in general does not receive a lot of media attention, because of
its political sensitivity. If you read the book, you find out why. A nest of scorpions of big (business) interests interwoven with political and social
actors, and the large demand for adoptable children, creates indeed a market functioning that until now was systematically denied. As a result the discussion remained in the margins of society.

Cathy Wagner said:

Roelie Post allows the reader a unique insiders view regarding the politics of international adoption. It was an eye-opening account that not many are willing to share to the outside world.In her experience with Romania’s orphan care and international adoption program, Ms. Post begins her journey as many do (innocent) and as her knowledge about the politics behind international adoption grows-- revelations on the real truth behind the industry of international adoption becomes quite clear.Never again can I look at the “black and white” pictures of the "poor orphans" that rely on us to “save” them with the same naïve eyes. This book offers amazing parallels into other international programs-- including China. Ms. Post talks about the points system, safe-haven drops, attachment studies on orphans, media attention and the pressure from outside countries and NGO’s to gain access to Romania’s children... all of which are familiar themes in many IA programs.While it was heart-warming to know that there are many people who work very hard to preserve children’s rights, it is equally scary to understand the underlying situation that most will never get to see.This is a must-read book for anyone entering into the world of international adoption.
Cathy Wagner, 11 December 2008

VIVID - Romania

Not only did the Romanian government come under tremendous pressure from politicians in the US politicians and in some EU member states (namely, Italy and France) but Roelie Post was continually harassed in her job at the Commission. Her book is a blow by blow account of the main lobbyists in Brussels, with scandalous walk on parts from the likes of Silvio Berlusconi and Romano Prodi. For anyone interested in the intriguing international adoption story this book is essential reading.
19 November 2007
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Posted by Roelie at 19:19 0 comments

AntiAdopt said...

This book unravels not only the mechanism behind adoption, but also how the interests of rich parties dominate politics. The Dutch version of the book might be easier to read than the English one. Much recommended.
Applause for Ms. Post and her colleagues who stood up for what is morally right, against aggressive and powerful parties. If we could have counted on the fact that your kind is the only one, we might have voted YES [for the European Convention]. 13 August 2007
http://antiadoptie.blogspot.com

Niels says...

Romania - For Export Only is a captivating book. I read it cover to cover over the week-end. It is a very well documented account in diary style of the wheelings and dealings over the access to Romanian orphans. At times it can be a tough read, because she gives many details of the Romanian case. Fortunately the book is much more than cold facts and figures. Roelie Post keeps closely focused on the child's best interest, both in her work and in the story she has to tells us.
13 August 2007
http://poundpuplegacy.org/node/4544#comment-1483

Marian van Teeffelen, Coördinator Roemenië Kinderpostzegels, says

When will the interest of the child be finally at the centre? The book of Roelie Post makes clear how easy this principle of the Convention on the Right of the Child is put aside. And replaced by the wishes of a few doubtful Western organisations. With this the de-institutionalisation process in Romania was frustrated and a more humane local approach of the issue hampered. Already beginning ‘90s many Romanians were ready to take children out of the orphanages, where they often lived in diar circumstances, to take them into their family. But it took years before they got this chance. And the story goes on, in other countries. What is the EU about? About the Rights of the Child, or the pressure of a doubtful Western lobby? 15 June 2007

Mirah Riben said...

I have only just begun reading Roelie's book. I cannot wait to complete it to write a full review.For now, I can say: This is a MUST READ for anyone interested in adoption or child welfare....especially anyone from one of the "importing" countries who is planning to adopt. It is "an insiders" view of the corruption and bureaucratic failures.Those of us in the industrialized world who think adoption is a win-win way to 'save" and 'rescue" babies need to read this! Every movie star should be MADE to read it! Thursday, April 05, 2007 Mirah Riben, author of "Shedding light on...The Dark Side of Adoption" and "The Stork market America's Multi-Billion Dollar Adoption Industry"