posted on December 9, 2000 05:28:59 PM
Last night, I was watching CNNInternational's "Inside Europe" program. One of the segments had to do with the selling of orphans...
for their organs.
The crew doing the story rode along with a squad of Russian cops who had set up a sting operation to catch some of the people who were in the orphans-for-organs business. They showed a five year old boy in a car, crying his heart out while the transaction went down. Once the money and child had exchanged hands, the cops moved in and arrested the man and an older woman. The child was safely returned to the orphanage and both the man and the woman are being held for trial.
The going price for a healthy 5 yo boy? $90,000.
The sellers? The boy's uncle and grandmother.
The uncle's reason why he was willing to sell his own blood into death? He had a dream of buying a new car and clothes.
The whole thing was Grandma's idea. Not only that, she stiffed her own son. She said the people paid $70,000 and she pocketed the extra $20,000.
According to the Russian police, selling orphans for organs-or to use Larry Niven's "organlegging"-is a growing business in some parts of the country.
I couldn't believe anyone would do such a thing so I did a little research on the web and found this:
When we lived in Turkey, there were several news stories of people offering to sell their spare kidneys for money to feed, clothe, and shelter their families. It started happening enough that the Turkish government outlawed the practice of selling one's own body parts.
It was hard enough comprehending the desperation that would lead a person to make such an offer but to think family members would knowingly sell a child into certain death because they wanted "a new car and some clothes" appalled me. Reading that what's happening in Russia is probably not uncommon in this world just about shorted out all my mental relays.
And what does it say about people who are willing to go to such lengths to stay alive?
(Edited to add a zero)
[ edited by Shadowcat on Dec 9, 2000 05:30 PM ]
Dont know what to say at all. cept that I learn more and more every year that I could be a toy to an homocidal animal, my kids; organ donors, food and or toys to sickos.
Always watch your kids, always walk thru a parking lot like you could kill anyone who walked too close to you and your kids. (and teach your kids that primal self protection)
Don't stay with anyone who tries to unbalance your natural defense system.
Give when ya can, love and cherish those with you.
Help children around you, who arent yours, who you may not even like, who desperately neea smile and a peanut butter sammich.
And leave the worry and the rest to nightmares and (pick one) God, chance, higher being, whatever.
posted on December 9, 2000 06:29:58 PMLinda K: Thanks.
Kitsch: In college, my anthropology teacher asked the class if anyone could kill another human being. I raised my hand. The whole class stared at me in horror and leaned away from me. The prof asked how I could kill another human. I said if a choice came between protecting my children and killing another, my children would ALWAYS come first without any hesitation.
All the sudden, the other parents in the room raised their hands, too.
posted on December 9, 2000 06:44:41 PM
Good on ya Shadowkitty,
Knowing yourself and being honest with what you know about you is 10 steps ahead of many many people.
AND knowing that you would fight to the death shows......and leaves you and your children looking like the strongest in the "herd" to a would be rapest or murderer.
It is a shame that our defenses can be weakened by men at times. We make mistakes and lose our footing. It comes back tho. Just wake up and walk away and soon it comes back.
PS, I meant by men who manipulate and hurt. I KNOW there are men out there who don't
posted on December 9, 2000 07:08:06 PM
LOL, I'm glad you edited that, Kel. The tom is very laidback but he'd be right there with me if someone tried to harm the kittens.
Of course, the kittens are grown now and can probably fend for themselves but it's hard to lose that Mama Bear thinking.
posted on December 9, 2000 07:17:18 PM
aye, I'm still fully embroiled in the protective Mode. I think it never really goes away. I bet it comes back even stronger when the kids have kids.
