I've been tapping my fingers anxiously on the keyboards for the past week or so in the hopes that someone would pick up on this particular piece of news and post their thoughts, but it hasn't happened, so I'm going to jump the gun and start a topic myself.

god... it's really disturbing to think that stuff like that can happen. it's even worse to think about how many people don't even know. thanks for posting that, and i hope everyone here will see it.

I was beginning to think no one cared, so thank you Shellolly for posting your awareness of the article. I've been working on getting my friends and family to pool some funds and make a donation. Like I said, its not much, but a lot of not much adds up to something in the end.

That is so sad, razzberry! I feel so badly for those children! I can hardly imagine if my parents through me out. If I was not a child I would put up donations right now. But I have to ask my parents. I can hardly think of what those children would suffer. I do have to say so many children in my area are so kind. So many children I know don't collect toys for their b-days, but collect money for others not as fortunite. I'll try and donate something. I fel so bad to have so much while others suffer.

Lachy

Heya Razz!
That's just too horrible! Children abandoned by their own parents..
I really wish I could do someting, but, just as Lachlan says, I have to ask my mum permission.. She thinks I'm too young for donations. ( I know, what kind of rubbish is that?) I'm not allowed to until I'm 18. It's really frustrating to read about these children; I have everything and they have nothing and there's nothing I can do..
I hope others who have a more understanding mum do send money, ans as soon as I'm allowed I'll help.
It's good Jo brought this under the attention. The nice thing of fame'you can reach people..

Aw hey Lachy and Lynn!!

I'm so glad some other people are becoming aware of this type of thing. Thank you for posting your thoughts. I know what you mean about donating, as a single mum I really don't have wads to spare, but I'm going to do what I can.

Oh my god...i have heard of stories like these and it is truly horrible...how can they have the heart to throw their children out, to abandom them, to get rid of them.....the world has heartless people and it is not as we think of it, all fun and entertainment..no it has more to it...more inside it that most people cannot see because they have drawn a blind sheet infront of their eyes and pretend there is no sadness in this world.
i will do what i can to help and i hope others will too.

*sigh*

That is just terrible. I really cannot comprehend what type of empty-hearted person would even consider doing that. And then those poor children grow up feeling abandoned and unloved. Its just scary to know that things like this still happen, but unfortunately not enough people do know. Thank you Razz for posting this topic here because I feel it is necessary for everybody to be aware of such...terribleness.

Every month, my family and I save up all of our extra change and donate it to a charity of our choice, or a charity where money is specifically needed. I know where we are donating to this week. I am going to read the article now to find out how to donate! Thanks again, Razz.



_daviD

You know Razz, It's hard to admit, but I *did* spot this topic before. For me personally topics like this lay heavy on my heart, but I definitely read them, I just need to find the right time to do it. I know I'm always awestruck and speechless when I'm finished reading them.

And yes, again I'm touched and disturbed by an article.
The worst thing is, that country isn't even far away from where I live. It makes you think about how things can be so different over there, how the situation can be so inhuman over there, and why we didn't know about it.

I know I can't do much at home, but at my university every two weeks we have a different charity for which the students can (and do!) donate money. I'm definitely going to take this article over there to make sure this article and the charity gets all the attention it deserves (and needs).

you know, we have to make a way to make sure that all members see this thread and be touched by it....we have only had a few replies but we need many....to help these people!

Hey guys *waves*

Its so cool to see more people on the thread. Wow, Marieke, that's a brilliant idea!! Its just one more thing that can be done to help. I'm still working on my own friends, so far they're keen to donate because I never ask anything of them unless its important to me, but I want to time it so they can give a decent amount, if you know what I mean?

Dementor, I really like your suggestion of taking it a step futher and I'm working on it, but we'll just have to wait and see for now.

Aw, David, this is exactly the sort of thing I'm talking about. People like us can make a difference. I have a special place in my heart when it comes to the children who are suffering, and it makes me feel a little sick at the reality of the fact that these kids grow up never knowing what its like to have a mothers love, or a fathers security. We really can make a difference, and it looks like we just might be doing that on this thread.

You guys all deserve a huge for your interest and empathy. You're good people! What a difference we can make to the quality of someone elses life, eh? It's so gratifying to come to this thread and see what people are willing to do to make a difference. Give yourself a huge pat on the back

wow, lot's of people have posted since i last came here....awesome.

i'm thinking of taking the article to my school, maybe give it to the leadership group or something so we can start a fundraiser for it. i don't know if there are any specific organizations that we should give donations to... i'll look for one, but i don't really know how to do this sort of thing... post something back if you can help me out.

Hey guys!!

Well I've done some searching in the Children's High Level Group, and although its mentioned in many sites, I can't find out how we are actually able to help, by maybe donating money>> If that's what they're after.... I managed to get my friends onside to contribute, but now I'm a little stuck. From this point on, as I'm so busy elsewhere in the forums, I'm looking for someone who can give us deatils on what we might do to help, or where we can make donations (If they're actually asking for them) Can anyone else come up with a link???

*sniff sniff* That is so sad... I think it's horrible that it something like this happened in the U.S or Canada, or Great Britian, the person who was treating kids like this would be locked up in jail for a very long time, but since this is in a third world country, nobody seems to want to do anything about it.

A few years ago we did this thing in creative writing class about why we thought that even though it only costs like 50 cents to give a child measles shot, why there are still millions of kids who die from dieases that could we cured by a simple shot.

Our teacher asked us this question, comparing it to donating to UNICEF or some other third world aid chartiy company-

You are a Harverd professor, and one day, as you are walking to give a lecture to some very important people, you see a child struggling in a decorative pond on the campus. It's clear the child will drown if you don't help her, but if you save the child, you will be late for your lecture, ruin your suit, and lose your job. Do you save the drowning girl, or leave her and go off to your lecture?

It's easy to say you would never even dream of letting that child drown, but is that what you would really do?
If you save her, you will lose your job, but if you walk by, letting the girl drown, it will be horrible to live with yourself.

I know this is one of those preachy moral questions, but I think it doesn't have on straight answer.

You know Shellolly, if I had a brain, I'd be dangerous D'oh, D'oh and double D'oh!! I already pointed out in my first post there was a donations contact in the article, but instead of going back and reading it again, I decided to go to the High Level Group web site, which had loads of fascinating and worthy projects on it, but not the information I was looking for (or at least, I couldn't find it).

Well, thank you for pointing it out, now I can collect on the promised monies and do my bit.

Emma, that question you posed is something that I honestly don't think most of us would even think about. Its a natural reaction within most of us that if we see someone in strife we just act, mostly without even thinking. You hear news items all the time where people have come to the rescue of others and when the press makes a big fuss of it they usually quote the rescuer as being very humble, well most of the rescuers say that they didn't even think about it - they saw someone in trouble and immediately went to help. secretkeeper, a long-time member of VTM related a story where he came across some thugs beating on a guy, and even though he didn't know any of them, he just automatically went to the rescue, for him it wasn't an option not to do anything. I suppose not everyone is like that, but most of us are because most of us hate to see other people suffering. Anyway, I tend to think that under the circumstances you listed, there is no way anyone would fire you for being late to a meeting because you stopped to save a childs life. I just can't bring myself to believe that! But it is still an interesting question to ponder for the youth.

I know this is getting way off topic now but just as an instance, when I was around 10yrs old and I was standing on the verge of the road in the city ready to cross, I stepped forward to go and was suddenly yanked back by my t-shirt just as a bus whooshed passed me at great speed. A complete stranger had literally saved my life. I was thoroughly embarrassed for doing something so stupid, and all the man did was give me a wry smile before walking on his way. I like to think that people are just like that.

Maybe you could pin it? Everyone will see it for sure then..
It is an important topic, so why not? And we just have to keep posting.. then everyone will see it too..

Sweet emoticons!

I have made the effort to get this issue brought to greater attention though I haven't heard anything back as yet. I'm not holding too higher hopes either because I think what I was asking might not be something the site itself wants to get involved with as it may mean there are all sorts of legal ramifications as well. I suppose I could pin it. It certainly seems worthy of at least that. So okay, I'll go ahead and do that now.

Hiya Lynn!! I'm glad to see you here too. I think you're right, one of the best ways to get people interested enough to read the thread is to keep it regularly updated. Any new news that comes to hand about it we'll post in here. I can't really move the thread because it doesn't belong anywhere else but in the News discussions forum. We'll do our best though and see what happens...

When Matt originally posted about Jo's article, I read what she wrote and I brought it up to my Mom. We then had a very honest and open discussion about the way people are treated in this world. We came to the same conclusion that, these things don't always happen in third world countries whose names you can't pronounce or language you've never heard of. They aren't always poor, they aren't always hungry nations, either. It happens in the UK and in the US. Since I'm in the US, I can speak for what I have seen in my lifetime here on Earth.

In my city, we have a mental institution called Angews. It's been here since before anyone can remember yet we've all heard the stories. However, I've heard more stories than most. My paternal grandmother and aunt worked in that "hospital" for 30 years each. The horrors that occured there are some too gruesome to mention. I will say though that many times they would experiment on the patients who didn't have the ability to stop what was happening to them. Everything from bizarre torture machines (they were convinced they could scare the "crazy" out of them) to drugs with horrific side effects. Everyone knew what went on there but no one cared because they assumed they were all a bunch of crazies who were better locked up there than on the streets of society.

A vast majority of the patients suffered from Downs Syndrome. If you know what that is then you know those who were born with it certainly are not dangers to society -- in fact, "normal" people are a lot more of a danger because those with Downs are the happiest and kindest people you'll ever meet. And what's worse is that they weren't put in Angews because their care was too much for their families to handle (physically, financially or emotionally), it was because they were considered an embarrassment to their families. So, they were shut up for all eternity there. They were abused by staff (sexually, mainly). They even performed electric shock therapy.

If that wasn't enough, the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (starring Jack Nicholson) was based on the life of a man who stayed at Agnews for a sort period of time -- you see, the author of the book was a patient there himself. Some even say the character "Nurse Ratched" was based on my Aunt (and I believe it because she is one evil, sadistic woman whom I have nothing to do with).

However, in the 1980's, President Reagan ordered all patients be released from mental hospitals. He didn't do it to spare them, he did it to spare the budget. So, they were all turned on to the streets where they received no care at all (good or bad). Many died of illness, many ended up in prison for committing crimes they wouldn't have otherwise committed had they been cared for and others are on the streets to this day.

Agnews is still open (and my Aunt still works there). It has been converted to a convalescent hospital for the elderly or severely disabled (physically or mentally) -- they go there to live out their dying days.

Anyway, this world is full of sickening places and people like I described. Crimes against humanity are frighteningly common. You could live in the richest neighborhood on the planet and still have a neighbor who is a child molestor, rapist, or any other sort of abuser. We all see things on TV where they ask for donations (Christian Children's Fund for example). However, this world has turned many of us into skeptics. So many organizations have asked for donations and turned out to be fraudulent that we rather not risk it. Or it's too painful to watch. Or, like in my case, you simply cannot afford to donate any money.

But like Razzberry said, getting the word out and raising awareness is just as good. Being able to walk down the street and not be naive to world issues is so important. I fear that young people these days are more concerned with Britney Spears than they are world issues.

I'm glad to see you started this thread. While we all know Harry Potter rules our lives (j/k), we should expend a little bit of brain power towards (honestly) more important issues.

HermyNymph

Sad thing is, children are abandoned and mistreated every day, in all parts of the world including the US/UK by their parents. A former friend of mine, chose drugs over her kids and she abandoned them. They are now living with their Aunt and uncle inlaw in a very large house in Berkshire, but those kids went through hell. A few years back I went to check on them and found them in the flat with no heating and no clothes on, eating crap off the floor. I took them back home with me and she didn't even bother to look for them. The social services took them away and now they are so happy, they never smiled before, all they did was cry or shake, but now, when i see them with their Aunt, they are filled with happiness. People should never abandon their kids, or choose something like drugs over them, it is the worst thing ever......

Emma sophia wrote
You are a Harverd professor, and one day, as you are walking to give a lecture to some very important people, you see a child struggling in a decorative pond on the campus. It's clear the child will drown if you don't help her, but if you save the child, you will be late for your lecture, ruin your suit, and lose your job. Do you save the drowning girl, or leave her and go off to your lecture?



Well I am not a professor of any kind, but years back i was walking down the street, I saw a little girl playing by the road. I was on my way to a job interview, as i had just turned the corner I watched a man in his car pull up beside the girl. I actually stopped, because i felt really nervous. The girl, who was about 6 at the time walked up to the mans car. I actually became really frightened, so I quickly walked back over to the girl and called out to her and asked where her mother was and why she was out by herself. She told me, that she had not asked to go out, but wanted to play. I looked at the man and asked him, who he was, he told me that he had stopped, because he was worried. He drove off after that and i called the police and gave them his car reg No. The little girl's mum, was frantic, she was actually in the garden doing some work and when she went back inside, her daughter was gone. She had called the police.....Well I didn't get that job, but you know what I didn't really care either. That was 8 years ago now, I have moved from that area, but i still see the girl who is now 14 years old. Her mum always reminds me of that day and says, what if the man had actually taken her....not worth thinking about, that thought is far too scary.


Children all over the world are mistreated, or are losing their childhood, because adults can't be bothered to look after them. I was watching a documentary about a little African girl from Siera Leon and she said, that she was made to kill her own friend, by throwing stones at her, she had watched her mum, dad and baby brother all get killed by soldiers and if she didn't kill her friend, they would kill her, so she killed her friend. It was the worst thing I ever heard and watched.


Children are beautiful, no matter where they are from, or what they look like. I HATE anyone who mistreats children. I have 2 kids of my own and my son has Autism,OCD and Tourettes Syndrome (not the swearing type) and i would never dream of abanding him, he is my little Angel.....

He is also a HUGE harry Potter/Daniel Radcliffe fan, which is so sweet.



ML

Berkana

The toy of Ron Weasley
http://www.gentlegiantltd.com/blog/uploade...sley-729993.jpg

Will be soon.

[MOD EDIT] Hi aizhol, your post is off-topic because the bust of Ron and this established thread are completely different stories. Also, we prefer posts to have hyperlinks to images instead of displaying it in the post. Remember to review the rules board and feel free to Personal Message a prefect or moderator.

I am writing an essay about caged children in English class... i needed a topic, and remembered reading this, and yeah. But I just want to say that there are a lot more cases like this than you would think - it isn't only the one place you hear about in the article. It's even in other countries! And since some mental institutions aren't owned by the government, they can get away with it in places that it is against the law sometimes (like the U.S. and Britain). It's so horrible.

that's all.

Thank you for starting a thread about this devastating reality. No one can here can even begin to imagine what these children have been through. My school is having an 80's themed Art's Festival and of course, the Chernobyl accident occured in the 1980's. Of course, everyone can make a difference. And even if reading the posts in this thread hasn't motivated you to support these children suffering in the aftermath of an event that occured decades ago, hopefully it has motivated to help others in some way. Even if you are out for yourself remember that giving feels so much better than receiving. If you cannot spend a cent then at least remember that you are so fortunate and can probably spare a few dollars once and a while!When I am bogged down with school work, I remember how fortunate I am to even be able to attend school. So remember this saying:
*~Don't sweat the small stuff!!*~
It breaks my heart to see nature and animals being mistreated...if people reading this post don't support a foundation at the moment and would like to, I thought I would list links to two worthwhile websites.
World Vision
World Wildlife Fund

I sponsor a child through World Vision and I really love receiving letters from her and sending letters back! When I am older I would love to actually be able to volunteer but at the moment I can only sponsor a child. Also the World Wildlife Fund is great! You can adopt animals and be sent a monthly e-newsletter.
Anyway, happy browsing!

*~*Stephanie*~*