Announcements

Thanks to all who came out and supported the ASK Skill Sharing fundraiser. In case you haven't seen it, this is a link to the blog about the fundraiser.

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.

ASK supports Deann Borshay Liem's new film project, "Geographies of Kinship." Check out the links on how you can be a supporter too -- get exclusive swag and be a part of this important documentary about the Korean adoption story.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/453281398/geographies-of-kinship-the-korean-adoption-story

1st Adoptee Art and Film Festival
Daehangno CGV, Seoul, Korea
When: Nov 18 5-6pm
Opening film Deann Liem Borshay's "In the Matter of Cha Jung-hee"
Nov 19:
10 – 12am
Resilience(나를 닮은 얼굴) / 75 mins / Tammy Chu

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.

ASK Bingo Fundraiser
~Play bingo, win fabulous prizes, support ASK~
Doors open at 8 p.m., Bingo starts at 9 p.m.
Organized by Adoptee Solidarity Korea
Directions to Earth Battery: Go out Sinchon Station, exit 2 or 3. Walk straight and turn left at the first street past the U-plex. Walk a block and take a right at 7-Eleven, and then a quick left at the next street. Earth Battery will be on your right. See the attached postcard for a map.
This event is open to everyone - adoptees, family members and friends.
PRIZES from our generous contributors include:

ASK Forum on Mental Health and Adoption IV: Interpersonal Relationships
When: August 27 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: TOZ Business Center in Sinchon (see directions below)
RSVP: We kindly ask you to rsvp via Facebook.
At this forum, three mental health therapists will give adoptee-focused presentations on different aspects of adoption뭩 impact on interpersonal relationships, including those with family members, friends and partners. Kacy Ames will Skype in from New York to discuss race and ethnicity in relationships with significant others. Eli Fehler will discuss various attachment styles and the role they play within relationships. Liz Suk will discuss place attachment, cultural identity and its impact on relationships with birth family and Koreans. Eli and Liz will take part in a Q & A session afterward.
This is an open forum and we invite and encourage adoptee allies to attend. Hope to see you there!
BIOS:

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.

South Korea's National Assembly passed The Special Law On Adoption and Promotion Law reform bill (10473) today with 188 votes in favor and 4 abstentions.
Thanks to ARC (Adoption Reform Coalition): ASK, Gong-gam (lawyers' special interest group), KoRoot, Mindullae, Miss Mamma Mia (KUMFA), TRACK
www.korea.na.go.kr
www.assembly.go.kr/main.acl

Venue: Club After Mainstage, Itaewon, 서울시 용산구 이태원동 132-3
Run Dates: April 8-17, 2011
Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm
Sundays at 4pm and 6pm
Tickets: 15,000 KRW. All proceeds will go to KUMFA
Booking: [email protected]