Spain's stolen babies
Spanish society is shocked as accusations of child theft and sales begin to emerge.
Currently over 900 cases of baby theft and trafficking are being investigated in Spain, although the actual number of children sold is thought to be around 300,000. Starting in the 1930's during the reign of dictator General Francisco Franco, these abductions continued until the 1990's, over fifteen years after the death of the dictator and introduction of democracy in Spain. Parent's of abducted children would be told their child had died shortly after birth and would not be allowed to attend the funeral or see the body of their supposedly dead child. It is believed that child theft started of as an ideological practice, but later became a moral issue of taking away babies from parents that were deemed unfit. Among those being accused are nuns and priests that would find adoptive parents, and doctors that lied to the parents about the death of their children.
What are the implications of child trafficking in a democratic state?
It is astonishing to hear stories such as this. The government will freely let me go buy and smoke cigarettes, which are known to cause health problems, but I am unable to purchase foods which are healthy and natural, such as raw milk. Raids such as these on small family farms are unfair and appalling. I believe that people everywhere should have the choice to eat organic, healthy and sustainable food without the government stepping in to protect big business.
In nations in Latin and South America, the Farmer to Farmer (or Campesino a Campesino) movement have found ways to produce food sustainably and more efficiently than mainstream agriculture had in the past. If nations that are coming out of wars and that are typically seen as less developed than the United States can learn to farm sustainably, then so can we. I applaud Kristin Canty for making this film to bring about awareness of the injustices faced by those trying to produce sustainably.
Posted by kamador | November 2, 2011 1:28 PM
This type of legislation worries me on several levels. The first and most important is the risk that it poses to women seeking abortions. If they are not allowed access to legal, safe abortions, they may try to sneak across borders to where it is legal and face potential legal trouble. If they are unable to do that, they may try to find someone who will do it illegally, without maintaining any health or safety standards, and women can die from this.
As for government determining when life begins, I feel that they do not have the right unless they are truly representing the views of all the people in their nation. The beginning of life is a very personal idea that is different for everyone. Some may believe that life begins at conception. Others may believe that it doesn't begin until the fetus is able to survive outside of the mother's womb. Other people may believe that life doesn't begin until after the baby is born. The point is that no matter what you believe, it is your beliefs that count and should be respected, not those of the government.
Posted by kamador | September 30, 2011 9:00 AM