Grandmothers and orphans often go together, so it makes sense that hundreds of Canadian grandmas would join up in a march urging Canada to step up as a leader in support of AIDS orphans in Africa.

Working with the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the Canadian Grandmothers of Africa organized the march in Ottawa which included some grandmothers who had made the trip from Africa.

In addition to encouraging the government to take action, they also demanded Canada honor a 2004 piece of legislation, the Access to Medication bill, that had promised to provide HIV/AIDS drugs to Africa but has not yet sent one single pill.

And to put the issue into some perspective, this story from South Africa leads with this:

'You need to come. We are drowning in orphans," read the email from Sally Duigan, for many years the head of the Tzaneen diocese's response to HIV and Aids.

In a place where up to 450 funerals take place in one weekend and undertakers are preparing for the southern hemisphere winter by stacking up on baby-sized coffins, there is no question that more is needed.

Juxtaposing this scene with this one from the Washington Post rather make a case for more adoption in the world, not less, in my book.

Following five families as they return to China twelve years after adopting children, and although the girls certainly stood out as different, that seems okay by them.

"I feel lucky that we get to come here. A lot of people probably don't," said adoptee Minna Pauly, 12, of Annapolis, Md. "We get to share our experiences with them. We get to show them what life's like back in the U.S."

Interestingly, four of the five families would not be allowed to adopt from China under the present restrictions. I'm guessing their children find that tragic.

Things have changed in China, and one graphic example is the focus of this story on glitz.

A fundraising gala with "an all-star cast" was recently held in Beijing with orphans stated to benefit from the proceeds, reportedly going to building computer classrooms in welfare homes.

China's biggest chi-chi publication, Bazaar Magazine, hosted the event that drew sport and film stars, TV hosts and the social elite of Beijing, and an auction of Gucci, Dior and Louis Vuitton goods were auctioned off.

Can anyone imagine this happening even twelve years ago with the girls traveling back now were adopted?