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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    The Business of Child Adoptions

    Spurred by church groups, charities and Hollywood stars, American families had been adopting foreign children at an increasing rate. But there are signs of corruption in what's become an international business.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Spurred by church groups, charities and Hollywood stars, American families had been adopting foreign children at an increasing rate. But there are signs of corruption in what's become an international business. Members of a French aid group, Zoe's Arc, are under arrest in Africa on charges of stealing 103 children from Chad while claiming they were orphans from Darfur. The United Nations says they were not, but kids—ranging from one to 10--who were living with family members in Chad, where adoption is virtually forbidden under Islamic law. The incident has sparked outrage all over Africa, in part because colonial history and cultural misunderstanding. Meantime, an adoptive American mother struggles with personal pain and cultural differences. Why don't more American parents adopt American kids?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Colonial History, Cultural Misunderstanding, and Foreign Adoption
    1. 1:32For the First Time, Bush Veto Overridden by Congress
    2. 7:12The Business of Child AdoptionsYou’re reading this
    3. 43:01The Fed and Subprime Problems, Falling Dollar, High Oil Prices
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Dan Konecky

      Producer, To the Point

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

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      Karen Radziner

      Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

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      Lydia Polgreen

      West Africa Bureau Chief, New york Times

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      Elizabeth Larsen

      Lecturer in Journalism, University of Minnesota

    • KCRW placeholder

      Adam Pertman

      Executive Director, Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Colonial History, Cultural Misunderstanding, and Foreign Adoption
    1. 1:32For the First Time, Bush Veto Overridden by Congress
    2. 7:12The Business of Child AdoptionsYou’re reading this
    3. 43:01The Fed and Subprime Problems, Falling Dollar, High Oil Prices
    Back to To the Point