A vendor sells dogs dressed in Chinese style clothing at a dog market in Tongxian, a suburb of Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004. The three-month-old puppies were selling for 1200 Yuan (US$145.00) each. According to state media reports, one in 10 Beijing families keeps a pet — despite high annual registration fees and restrictions on when they can be walked in the streets.
Looted antiques on display, at home China: Four 18th century sculptures which had been looted by British and French troops some 140 years ago from the imperial garden Yuanmingyuan in Beijing, went on display under tight security Thursday at the ongoing Shenzhen cultural fair.
China tries to calm dam protests: China has sacked at least one Communist Party official and suspended work on a controversial dam after one of the largest rural protests in recent years. Tens of thousands of farmers staged violent protests over the Pubugou dam project, in Sichuan province.
China faces cold winter as fuel grows scarce: Some 200 million people could be left out in the cold in China this winter, the state-run media warned yesterday, as energy shortages threatened the traditional switching on of the nation's centrally planned central heating system.
China opens TV to foreign firms: China has announced it will allow foreign companies to buy large stakes in Chinese television and film production ventures.
China issues first set of stamps of Chinese family names: On Nov 18, China issued its first set of stamps of the top 100 Chinese family names in Beijing. Based on the outcome of the 1982 census, the stamps include the 100 most frequently-used surnames in China. This set of special stamps features a red Chinese knot, which symbolizes unity and luck, in the center and a totem design of the surname.
ISU professors to adopt baby from China: A picture of Frances Herndl in a silver frame sits on the mantel in the family's living room. She has a crib full of colorful quilts and a variety of toddler toys. But her parents have not yet met her.
Ministry makes families whole: Jessica Burel acquired her name well after she was born June 19, 2003, in Hefei, a city of 1.2 million in eastern China.
Since November is National Adoption Month, adoption.about.com posted some adoption poetry written by Tom Fisher, a China-adoption parent:
Yellow River—Shrinking, Violent: Qinghai's Meteorological Bureau has announced that water inflow to the upper reaches of the country's second longest river has continued to shrink since the 1990s due to dry and warm weather thought to be caused by global warming.
China 'sorry' over mystery sub: China has apologised for what it called an accidental incursion by one of its submarines into Japanese waters last week.
Beleaguered Chinese Movies: The fact that young director Lu Chuan's movie Ke Ke Xi Li won Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival is just as well for China -- most of it's movies came back empty-handed from festivals this year.
Looking for some China-related items?
As some of you know, my husband and I have created an online store featuring items for adoptive families, all of which we designed ourselves. It is a fundraiser for our adoption. The link is http://www.bundleofsoy.com. We have recently added Christmas items, as well as a couple of other designs. We are still working on having a complete line of Chinese zodiac designs. Hope you enjoy visiting our site!
The site has a great design and lots of different items. It's definitely worth a look.
You're Not My Real Mother! is a new book that has received positive reviews.
Drawn from the author's everyday life as an adoptive parent, this cheerful yet tender parent-child conversation offers a response to children who've ever asked an adoptive parent why they don't look like one another. Gentle, lighthearted watercolors by Christy Hale complete the picture of a very special relationship. Here is an invaluable companion for adopted children—and the adults who love them—as they explore the emotional realities of a different kind of family.
The graying of adoption: At ages 59 and 60, a time in their lives when many American couples are winding down careers, heading for the golf course or taking cruises, a growing number like the Higginses are otherwise engaged — building backyard forts, fashioning Halloween costumes and helping with homework. And it isn't for their grandchildren; they've become parents in later life, through adoption.
