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02-05-2006, 02:25 PM
| | JKR writes about her experiences in Romania
In todays Sunday Times J.K.Rowling has written about her experiences in Romania with the Children's High Level Group. The author also details how she became aware of the needless suffering of children in Eastern Europe. Quote:
In the Czech Republic, 6% of all children under three are institutionalised (the highest proportion in Europe, higher than central Asia). Across Europe there are estimated to be 23,000 children under three in residential institutions variously called “care homes”, “placement centres” or — the Western press’s favourite, because it fits neatly into headlines — “orphanages”. Yet only 6% of the children currently living in these institutions are actually parentless.
Quote:
We launched the Children’s High Level Group in Romania because it is the eastern European state that was prepared to admit that it had a problem with institutionalised children and opened its doors to external agencies that wanted to help. There is still much work to do there — more than 30,000 children remain in care — yet when you look at how far Romania has come it is hard not to concede that a minor miracle has been achieved.
Quote:
"She’s five months, look,” said Kevin, pointing at the date of birth on the sign over her cot. I tickled her cheek with a finger; she continued to gaze ahead. But then, as I was about to move away, she looked around, focused on me in that endearingly drunken way small babies have and gave a sudden and unexpected smile that made me feel as though I had a hard boiled egg lodged in my throat.
“That was one of the best units I’ve seen,” muttered Kevin in my ear as we left the room. “Did you hear? One of them was crying when we went in. So they’ve learnt that their needs will be met if they show distress.”
Kevin has seen those babies whose alarm system has been set permanently to mute: nobody responded, so they stopped behaving as babies are designed to behave when they are hungry, cold and wet. Continual neglect leads to permanently impaired brain function.
Quote:
One of my first thoughts, when I finished reading that initial article by Justin Sparks, was “why didn’t I know about this? How could I not know about it?” I had momentarily forgotten that human suffering, however dreadful and on however wide a scale, will always go ignored and unheard unless somebody is prepared to shout about it, and others are ready to act. It is phenomenally easy both to hide and to silence children once separated from their families. They are small and portable, their language skills aren’t great, they don’t have lawyers and they aren’t registered to vote. Abandoned, neglected, caged or trafficked, these children were intended by nature to be protected by their parents. Now it is somebody else’s job — partly, mine.
The entire piece can be read here and here. |
02-06-2006, 03:20 AM
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#26 (permalink)
| Red Cap
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Somewhere in the state of New York.
Posts: 71
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Wow, that's incredibly sad. I'm glad that JK Rowling is helping though.
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02-06-2006, 04:22 AM
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#27 (permalink)
| Dugbog
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pennsylavania
Posts: 125
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Jo is the greatest
__________________ LOVE
{The Greatest thing you will ever learn...} |
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02-06-2006, 09:59 AM
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#28 (permalink)
| Firecrab
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: *thinking where should i go*maybe today go North Pole and South Pole on the next day
Posts: 699
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That is a tragedy...
But thanks to JK, who is helping.
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02-06-2006, 10:31 AM
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#29 (permalink)
| WWW & Potterdom Mod Newbie Mod
Wrackspurt
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: SHIELD's Helicarrier
Posts: 214,020
Hogwarts RPG Name: Dhruv Vihaan Khanna Graduated Hogwarts RPG Name: Aryan Zahid Atreyu-Rehman Slytherin Fifth Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Idris Ace Grunt Gryffindor Third Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Dynah Aavni Atreyu-Rehman Hufflepuff Seventh Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Krittika Saanvi Joshi Ravenclaw Sixth Year x12 x12
| ~ Mrs. Steve Harrington ~ It be like that sometimes.
its good shes helping
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02-06-2006, 11:20 AM
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#30 (permalink)
| Romanian Longhorn
Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Neverland
Posts: 39,693
Hogwarts RPG Name: Margaret Jacqueline Atkinson Morris Fifth Year | Potter’s Princess A+ FangGirl
Wow. JK is just... I have no words for what she's been doing, I really haven't.
__________________ I gotta go back to the muggle world,
they're gonna try and tell me this wasn't, that none of this happened,
but you know what? It was real. It did happen.
We spent time here. We made friends here. That's a part of us.
Cause Hogwarts is bigger than any of us, of any of it's founders,
and it's going to be around long after we're gone.
Maybe we'll see our kids come here one day.
That's the thing about Hogwarts.
No matter how long you're away from it, there's always a way back. |
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02-06-2006, 11:28 AM
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#31 (permalink)
| Alex && Jay = Obsessed!Luff Gnome
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: *Permanently Glomping Nabs & thanking her for the Wonderful Avvy she's made me*
Posts: 322
| I found it beautifully written. It was amazing to read about her experiences, about how she felt. All the sufferings those poor kids have to endure. I wish I could do something for them --- and i will. But I'm so glad for what Rowling is doing.
Love,
##Alex## |
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02-06-2006, 11:54 AM
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#32 (permalink)
| Nogtail
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 4,526
Hogwarts RPG Name: Cherrinell Baron First Year x3
| JayMay ♥ Big, yellow duckie <3 I knew about their deplorable conditions, but to hear them from my own Jo...That doubled my anguish. poor, innocent, suffering souls. But it is certainly instigating to know what Rowling did to help them. She is my girl. A good author is always sensitive and responsive to the needs of others, and so is she. It is brilliant of her to help the destitute so.
Thanks Jo!
~~Jay~~
__________________ Jessica's time on SS is now limited thanks to that big and BAD thing called real life |
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02-06-2006, 12:02 PM
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#33 (permalink)
| Veela
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In a fairytale
Posts: 37,061
Hogwarts RPG Name: Jillian McGuffin Sixth Year | Gryffindor Goddess
wow! cool! lucky her! though she has been lucky ever since she wrote the HP books! im really curious about something.......are there really dragons in Romania??
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02-06-2006, 12:05 PM
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#34 (permalink)
| Streeler
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: England, United Kingdom
Posts: 213
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That's is soo sad but its great that JKR is helping.
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02-06-2006, 03:30 PM
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#35 (permalink)
| DA's Ultimate Fan Firecrab
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: living in the burrow while I try to find a teaching job in PA, USA
Posts: 889
Sixth |
JKR is such an amazing woman! She really cares about the entire world and would do anything to help it. She is the most unselfish, most brilliant, and kindest woman I can think of. She really cares about the little people of the world and really wants to do anything in her power to help. She is truely amazing! She has certainly brought our attentions to these types of causes! We'll help in anyway we can too! JKR Rocks!
__________________ You too can help stop Voldemort!
Join the DA today!!! |
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02-06-2006, 05:51 PM
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#36 (permalink)
| ♥ Karachiite Super ♥ Imp
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Somewhere closeby. (Siggy by CelestialLight)
Posts: 425
Hogwarts RPG Name: Samantha Dayle Sixth | I will say it once more: It was heart-rending to read about the poor condition of all the orphands and other suffering children. Rowling is working for a very noble cause. I laud her efforts and her for it.
~~Rish |
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02-06-2006, 09:45 PM
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#37 (permalink)
| Dugbog
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 122
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wow. this is tragic. i applaud JKR for all of her work and hope others will help too.
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02-06-2006, 10:12 PM
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#38 (permalink)
| Billywig
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: TeXaS!!! UsA!!!
Posts: 3,476
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so sad..i saw something like that on 20/20
__________________ ~smile like you mean it~ the killers~ |
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02-06-2006, 10:12 PM
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#39 (permalink)
| Dugbog
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: In cyberspace, say I
Posts: 138
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This is so sad. I'm glad JK is writing and doing something about this. She is so kind! *keeps on reading...*
__________________
90% of everything is crud. -Sturgeon's Law
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02-06-2006, 11:18 PM
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#40 (permalink)
| Billywig
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In a Sanrio store spending big bucks!
Posts: 3,877
Hogwarts RPG Name: Cocoa Third |
What a sad story! |
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02-07-2006, 08:48 AM
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#41 (permalink)
| Longbottom Legatus NLFC President Tom's Aussie Puffskein
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Australia
Posts: 1,999
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And I thought I couldn't be any more in awe of the woman...Looks like I was just corrected.
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02-07-2006, 08:41 PM
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#42 (permalink)
| Cinemaniac Gnome
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Connecticut (USA)
Posts: 311
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awesome, sounds like she had fun !!
__________________ Thanks to Cat for my fab siggy!!!! |
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02-07-2006, 08:48 PM
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#43 (permalink)
| Cinemaniac Gnome
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Connecticut (USA)
Posts: 311
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sorry about last post i had two windows open, shes sooo great.. glad shes trying to help
__________________ Thanks to Cat for my fab siggy!!!! |
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02-07-2006, 11:10 PM
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#44 (permalink)
| Mackled Malaclaw
Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Maryland
Posts: 11,247
| Book Club Babe
That's nice of her to help.
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02-07-2006, 11:47 PM
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#45 (permalink)
| Gnome
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA, USA
Posts: 333
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interesting..
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02-08-2006, 01:30 PM
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#46 (permalink)
| Flobberworm
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan
Posts: 13
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My friend went to Romania with his church and worked in orphanages. He said the experience was amazing yet so sad. I long to go but at the same time- I feel like one of the worst things ever is to see a child suffering. They are so innocent and cute- it's just sad.
I'm glad that J.K went out of her way to help and can provide reliable information to others so maybe they can do things as well.
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02-09-2006, 04:04 AM
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#47 (permalink)
| Jarvey
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 501
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Kudos to JK Rowling for her work with the children. Thanks.
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02-09-2006, 05:59 PM
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#48 (permalink)
| Bundimun
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: glasgow
Posts: 30
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jk is really great
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02-11-2006, 03:14 PM
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#49 (permalink)
| Flobberworm
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 10
| Quote:
Originally Posted by *Ayra* Jo is the greatest Totally agree. |
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02-11-2006, 06:37 PM
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#50 (permalink)
| Porlock
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: With Rupert in his n
Posts: 8,135
Hogwarts RPG Name: Emma |
It is so difficult to believe that the level of neglect for these poor children was so high! Thank You J.K. Rowling for doing something to help and bring these children's plight to the world!
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