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The decision by the Russian Duma (or parliament) supported by President Putin to ban the adoption of Russian orphans by American parents has incited outrage around the world. This legislation is a kind of tit-for-tat action by Moscow, a political snake-pit which is set out in the accompanying Euronews video on the right. The decision seems particularly inhumane for more than 40 American couples who are currently in the process of the long and expensive task of choosing a child and getting approvals. On the left, is a picture of the Thomas family of Minnesota. Their son is 7-year-old Jack, who was adopted as an infant from a Russian orphanage. He and is mother and father were expecting to bring Jack’s brother, Nikoly, to join him. Now, their hopes are thrown into chaos and uncertainty. It is said that some 750,000 children are living in Russian orphanages and that U.S. families alone have adopted more than 60,000 in recent years. As you will see in the video, there is also strong objection to this ban on the streets of Russia.
