For some great shots of the Independence Day celebrations, check out Mongkol for a good bit of the feel of the day.

This year marks fifty-four years since gaining independence after 90 years of French rule.

Here's the message sent from the White House in honor of the occasion:

The President of the United States of America, George W. Bush, sent the following message to His Majesty King Sihamoni on the Occasion of the 54th Anniversary of the Independence of the Kingdom of Cambodia:

Your Majesty:

On behalf of the American people, I wish to congratulate you and the people of the Kingdom of Cambodia on the occasion of your Independence Day on November 9. I look forward to the year ahead as our two nations continue to identify opportunities to strengthen our bilateral ties, as well as to work together on mutual areas of interest. This past year has been marked by significant progress in our relations, with the arrival of the first U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers and a warmly welcomed U.S. Navy humanitarian ship visit. We value your commitment to further democratic development.

I wish you and the Cambodian people peace, prosperity, and good wishes.

Sincerely,
George W. Bush

This sounds to me to be more about the US than Cambodia, and most certainly includes no mention of the fact that the suspension on adoption of Cambodian children by Americans has now been hanging like the sword of Damocles for a few weeks shy of six years.

Maybe next year ... ?

If you are a Cam family in the UK ... the London area, specifically ... do NOT miss this event: On Thursday 13th December Al Murray 'The Pub Landlord' (and CamKids Patron) will be hosting a special variety show at his pub of choice in aid of CamKids at the George IV Function Room, 185 Chiswick High Rd W4 2DR.

Tickets are £25 and seating is limited to 250, so reserve now by emailing benefit@camkids.org.

(The Brits are still not allowing Cambodian adoptions, either, after having jumped on that bandwagon the Americans were dragging around.)

In the US, the new film "Holly" premiers in NY city tonight, with subsequent showings scheduled in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, DC and Detroit over the next few weeks.

Shot on location in Cambodia, including many scenes in actual brothels in the notorious red light district of Phnom Penh, HOLLY is a captivating, touching and emotional experience.

The film stars Ron Livingston (Sex and the City, Band of Brothers, Little Black Book"), and Thuy Nguyen, telling the story of a 12-year-old girl sold by her family into prostitution and the efforts to save her.

"Holly" was also almost the last work of Christopher Penn, the talented but troubled actor who died of drug-related issues in January of last year.

A portion of the proceeds from the film will go to Redlight Children's Campaign.

Here's the schedule of showings:

11/9 -- NY - Clearview Cinema 62nd and Bway

11/23 -- Washington DC - AMC 5 Dupont
LA
Music Hall Beverly Hills
Regal Garden Grove
Regal Westminster
Regal Long Beach Stadium

Houston, TX
Angelika,
Cinemark Westchase 24

Detroit, MI -
Uptown Birmingham

11/30
San Fransisco
Kabuke

Las Vegas
Regal Village Square
Regal Boulder Station

12/2
Seattle
Regal Meridian Benefit for Stop Exploitation Now
(Email admin@stopexploitationnow.org for more information on this
showing.)

There is a look at a Finnish woman's adoption from Cambodia here.

The journey began with Sanna Backman's time volunteering at the Nutrition Center and continued through a determination to adopt ethically, and makes for an interesting read.

From the BBC, here's a story about how hard it is for kids in Cambodia to get an education. Of course, corruption plays a big part in making like miserably difficult.

The government is updating their de-mining strategy, drafting a 'ten year plan'.

Mines and UXOs have threatened Cambodia's economic, social security and safety, Hun Sen told the National Conference on Mine Strategies.

"Even we have conducted the campaign against mines and UXOs, the Cambodian children and other people are still suffered," he said.

Yep.

Big part of the problem in the past? When Cambodians have gone off for training with UN de-mining missions in other countries, they don't speak the French or the English or whatever happens to be the lingua franca of the experience so they can't learn what they need to learn.

Do I hear a "Duh"?

Under the last ten year plan, 63,000 Cambodians have been killed or maimed by landmines and UXO (unexploded ordnance).


Photo Credit: Decaying French Villa in Phnom Penh