Announcements

Thank you to everyone for coming out to make ASK's Bingo Bar Fundraiser such a success!
We raised over 1,300,000 won that will be used for print, media, conferences, donating to support organizations ASK supports, website costs, etc.
Congrats to all the winners!
1.  Kate Faherty,   2 pitchers of beer donated by Jane's Groove
2.  Lee Rose,       2 movie tickets + a salad at My Thai in Itaewon
3.  Lee Rose,       2 steaks at Hollywood Grill in Itaewon
4.  Murry,            a haircut at Zen by Ewha

~ Aeranwon Bazaar ~
Come out and Help Support Single Mothers!
When? November 3, 2007 (Saturday) 10A.M ~ 4P.M.
Place? Aeranwon (애란원)
Items for sale
Aeranwon Crafts
Natural soap, natural detergent, natural shampoo, handicrafts

Please sign the petition to support US citizenship for all intercountry adoptees
Why This Is Important
"The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows certain foreign-born, biological and adopted children of American citizens to acquire American citizenship automatically. These children did not acquire American citizenship at birth, but they are granted citizenship when they enter the United States as lawful permanent residents (LPRs)." U.S. Department of State
One of the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA 2000) was that the adoptee be under the age of 18 on its effective date, February 27, 2001. International adoptees 18 and older were not granted citizenship under its provisions. Some, but not all, obtained citizenship through their own efforts or those of their adoptive parents. Of those who did not, many were unaware that they lacked this legal protection. Being without citizenship while believing they possessed it placed these intercountry adoptees at risk of violating U.S Federal law through no fault of their own by representing themselves as citizens upon return to the United States at any port of entry (including Canada and Mexico), applying for public benefits (including Federal education aid), or voting in Federal or other elections.
Further, strict immigration policies under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 increased the risk of deportation. This law does not provide for “discretionary relief,” which would allow the unique circumstances that led to an adoptee's lack of citizenship to be taken into consideration in determining outcomes. Adoptees have faced deportation and have been deported to countries in Asia, Latin America and Europe - countries unknown to them in every way: language, culture, family or friends. Additionally, adoptees without citizenship who travel to their countries of birth may be subject to laws there that prevent their return to the United States.
Reliable statistics for adoptee deportation do not exist, but individual cases demonstrate the complexity of the issue and the staggering emotional impact to adoptees and their families, as demonstrated by these examples, which are just a few of the cases that have occurred:
Joao Herbert was adopted from Brazil at the age of eight by a family in Ohio. A charge for attempting to sell marijuana, although a first offense, landed him in immigration detention, after which he was deported to Brazil in 2000. Joao Herbert was murdered in Brazil in May 2004.

The following is about a KBS news show called "ChooJeok 60 Boon(In-depth 60 minutes)"
============
Title: (In-Depth 60 Minutes.)
Topic: (The Nation Exporting Babies - Two Faces of Overseas Adoption)
Channel: KBS2
Time: May 25th. Wed. 11pm
Language: Korean

GIFT DRIVE FOR KOREAN UNWED MOTHERS RAISING THEIR CHILDREN
This Holiday season ASK and TRACK are excited to continue our support of the moms of Miss Mama Mia, a newly founded organization that is a support network for single moms but more importantly, it's a group of dedicated mothers working to improve and change the laws that affect single mothers in Korea.
This group was started by single mothers for single mothers and they have been supporting both ASK and TRACK in our various events and campaigns.  Therefore this holiday season we would like to return their support them through gift giving!  ^.^  We have asked them to compose a brief bio, and a list of things they need that would make their lives easier and more FUN!
Please check the list and donate an item or two if you can!  Or gather a group of friends and donate all the items to a whole family!  Or gather a group to donate a more expensive item! Below you will be able to find the bios, the items, and the estimated cost of the items on the wish list.
If you are interested in participating, in order to prevent duplicate purchases, you can check the updated list of which items have already been purchased and which items still remain at the TRACK webite: http://justicespeaking.wordpress.com
Once you have picked an item you would like to donate, please respond to [email protected] with the name of the family(child), the number corresponding to the gift and your gift drop-off method.  If possible please have the item gift wrapped.  You can arrange to give them to Joo Ae directly  in Sinchon, but you can meet her as welll.  Or you can drop gifts off at KoRoot.  Or lastly you can order gifts online and have them delivered to KoRoot. When doing this be sure to address it as:
KoRoot뿌리의집: ASK/ TRACK

ASK FUNDRAISER
@ JANE'S GROOVE in Hongdae
~Play bingo, win fabulous prizes, support ASK~
Friday, August 13 from 9 p.m.
Organized by Adoptee Solidarity Korea
Go to Hongdae Station, line No. 2, exit 5. Jane's Grrove is a 15 minute walk from the station. Or meet at exit 5 at 8:30 p.m. and an ASK member will lead a group to Jane's Groove (http://cafe.naver.com/jgliveclub).
This event is open to everyone - adoptees, family members and friends.

Korea passes law to change adoption policy
Bill strengthens oversight, makes birth registration mandatory
“아이 포기 숙고하세요”…입양숙려제 도입
July 01, 2011
Korea has just passed historic legislation that is likely to change the way adoption in the country is practiced.
The bill to amend the country’s Special Act Relating to the Promotion and Procedure of Adoption, which was sponsored by Democratic Party Representative Choi Young-hee, passed Wednesday with 188 yeas, no nays and four abstentions.
The bill was drafted by a coalition of adoptees, single mothers and public interest groups, including Koroot, Dandelions, Adoptee Solidarity Korea, Truth and Reconciliation for the Adoption Community of Korea, Gong-gam Public Interest Lawyers Group and the Unwed Mothers & Families Association.

ASK SKILL SHARING DAY
~ Pass It On! ~
Saturday, August 25
From 2-6 p.m.
At Haja Creative Hub (directions below)
Come and have a chill, fun, creative and meaningful day where you can choose from a selection of inter-active workshops and insightful talks.
ASK Skill Sharing Day -- the annual fundraiser for Adoptee Solidarity Korea, this year with a new spin. The event is a skills-sharing workshop that aims to showcase the resources, knowledge and skills the Korean adoptee community can offer in various fields.

~Workshop on Unwed Mothers~
Thursday, February 26 from 10am - 5pm
This week, there is a workshop on unwed mothers co-hosted by Korea Unwed Mothers' Support Network and Aearnwon. Hope to see you there!
DATE: Feb 26 from 10am-5pm
WHAT: Day-long symposium titled Supporting Unwed Mothers and Thier Children: Challenges, Strategies and Benefits to Mother, Child and Community with Dr. Cheryl Mitchell (Ph.D. Social Poilcy, Research Professor at University of Vermont)
WHERE: Community Chest of Korea auditorium
DIRECTIONS: Gwanghwamun Station Line 5 Exit 6 (3-minute walk) / City Hall Station Line 1 Exit 3 (12-minute walk) / City Hall Station Line 2 Exit 12 (15-minute walk)

This article was originally published in "Oh My News" on Nov 21, 2010
Translation via KUMSN - Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network: kumsn.org
(http://www.kumsn.org/main/?document_srl=8133#0)
Korean: www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001479276
[Oh My News] Nov. 21, 2010
“Child Is Adopted, Moms are Dropped Out of School……
Are Unwed Mothers Patients with Infectious Disease?”