I wrote about a Ukrainian citizen throwing a rock at Marines in the Crimean. NATO (the reason why the US Marines are there) and Ukraine are running a military exercise together.

Many Crimean city councils have passed "NATO free" city resolutions. Crimea is very pro-Russian. And some folks in the Crimean see NATO as the same thing as the US.

Being Pro-Russian almost always translates to Anti-American... But Anti-American on a government level. Typically this doesn't... more

For some time now I have gotten The Action Ukraine Report. It is only sent via email and is free. The newsletter focuses on current Ukrainian news stories. It has original content not found elsewhere. Sometimes it is an excerpt of other news organization's stories.

I searched for it, but The Action Ukraine Report seemed to be the only organization that covered Ambassador Taylor's swearing in ceremony.

WASHINGTON - William B. Taylor, Jr. was... more

Here is a more detailed story on the Bush Leg (chicken legs) contraband. People are smuggling (not paying duty taxes) on the chicken and selling it in Moldova and Ukraine.

After years of impasse, officials in Ukraine and Moldova, at the encouragement of the United States and Europe, are pressing for a solution to the conflict in Transnistria. And they are doing so at the risk of inflaming Transnistria's separatist sentiment and worsening relations with the region's patron, Russia.

The goal, a senior U.S. official said, is to "effect a change in... more

In early December 2005, Ukraine reported that H5N1 was found in domesticated birds. And just yesterday the US Embassy in Ukraine emailed out a Warden Message on H5N1. It has turned up in wild birds this time in Kherson.

The WHO is very worried about cases of human illness (linked to H5N1) in Indonesia. It looks like human transmittion of the virus may be happening there.

Why you should care about this:

Influenza pandemics are recurring events. The world may be on the brink of another pandemic. All countries will be affected.... more

Image what would happen if the government regulated fees on your utilities (water, trash, telephone) went up 25% to 35%. Then image the same increase on your natural gas bill. According to Conoco Phillips almost 70% of all new houses in the United States have gas furnaces. So many families can relate to the money pains caused by increased natural gas costs.

Weeks after announcing that Ukrainians would have to pay about 25 percent more... more

A husband and wife who are Ukrainian citizens and live in the US recently had their parental rights terminated for child abuse. Their children are dual citizens (American and Ukraine). It looks like the parental rights were terminated before the Ukrainian embassy was notified. Parents are going to appeal.

A Kent County judge terminated the parental rights of Marina Ivanova on Friday along with those of her ex-husband.

In September of 2004, police say they found Ivanova's 3-year-old daughter and 23-month-old son tied up in a trash-filled apartment.... more

A loophole in German law is allowing men to adopt children under very specific circumstances.

Under a law on children's rights dating from 1998, a man can become the legal father of a child as long as the mother gives her permission and there is no record of a birth father.

Once adopted, the child can gain a German passport and have access to the welfare state as well as education.

From: Man to adopt 1,000... more

Many families trying to adopt from Ukraine are getting very emotionally tired. I know that I would be. Ukrainian adoption used to be more predictable for families. They could be completed from start to finish within a year. There are people waiting for an appointment who were registed in Feb 2006.

Current rumor is that the SDA will open at the end of June.

Sending everyone who is waiting a virtual hug.

(((((((((((((((((( hug ))))))))))))))))))

*************************************************************************

Here are some... more

Starting with the current rumors....

The SDA is going to open May 1 or May 3 or May 8. All the dossiers (without problems) have been transferred and they will quickly issue appointments. The SDA wants to get rid of the backlog as quickly as possible.

A few families who registered in Feb to June 2005 are waiting for an appointment. Some of these families traveled to Ukraine and failed to find their child, so they are returned a second time.

It seems like the bulk of waiting families registered between July and Sept 2005.

I keep saying... more