I'm sure some of you are also on the WABA Listserve, but if not, I couldn't
resist spreading the opportunity for you to share your experiences good and
bad. Hope I'm not violating Lactnet rules by copying this for you here.
I'm sooo tempted to share the letter my former boss gave me about
breastfeeding not being acceptable due to the nature of the workplace (and
the organization supposedly supported breastfeeding, but I guess it was
only good for those third world women!).
***********
Dear Friend of Breastfeeding,
Did you ever wish you could preserve for future generations breastfeeding
experiences outside of the ordinary that you, your friends or family have
had? Whether it was something good or bad, here’s your chance!
WABA announces the launching of a Breastfeeding Hall of Fame and a
Breastfeeding Hall of Shame. Those received by August 20, 2002 will be
included in an exhibition that will be on display for all to see throughout
the WABA Global Forum 2, September 23-7, 2002 at Arusha Tanzania. After the
Forum we will continue to gather nominations for both from the WABA website
(http://www.waba.org.br). And in time they may be published as a book—or
even set up as a museum—who knows?
In addition to writing a story for us, send us photos or other items for
display. Or bring them to Arusha if you are attending the Forum! Write a
caption or explanation for each!
The Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame will memorialize those who went beyond the call of duty to
support a breastfeeding mother. All women need a doula, someone who sticks
by their side, supporting them through pregnancy, delivery and
breastfeeding, and helping with any problems that may occur. But sometimes
the person playing this role makes unusual sacrifices on behalf of mother
and baby that deserves to be immortalized. Maybe someone inspired you or
taught you so well that this turned you into the kind of breastfeeding
advocate who would attend a Global Forum?! Or maybe your own mother made an
unusual sacrifice to breast feed you?!
Or tell us about a transformational experiences or events that have turned
a baby-unfriendly place or institution into a place where the rights of
mothers and babies are respected! Even a law might deserve a place in the
Hall of Fame!
The Hall of Shame
Some of the most important assistance the breastfeeding movement has gotten
has come from people who used to work for baby food companies and told us
what really goes on behind closed doors. Here’s your chance to tell the
world—anonymously if you like—of what baby food companies did, or still do,
to undermine breastfeeding. Or maybe you are a health worker who did things
you now regret that harmed breastfeeding—before you learned better!
You may also write for the Hall of Shame about how your own breastfeeding
experience was harmed by advertising, incorrect or inappropriate advice or
pressure from a health worker, bad advice you followed from neighbors,
friends or a newspaper article--or fears caused by scare stories about
environmental hazards or contaminants in breast milk. We are interested to
hear about what is happening in projects aiming to prevent mother to child
transmission of HIV—even without identifying the project by name if you
like. (Of course this could also be a positive experience for the Hall of
Fame.)
Thus we are looking for first-hand accounts for the Halls of Fame and
Shame, but they do not necessarily need to be your own breastfeeding
experiences. What counts is that this is not hearsay, but something you
have seen or experienced. (You can of course ask the person who experienced
it to write it and you send it in for him or her.)
You need to give us your name for us to include your story, but we will
include your contribution anonymously if you like. However, if you use
anyone else’s name in your account besides your own, you must attach that
person’s signed permission (this is true for both Halls). Of course, you
may tell about events or things you experienced without using the name of
the person responsible/involved. Also, you don’t need the companies’ or
organizations’ permission to write about them as long as what you say is
true!
Reply forms for nominations are attached. Please fill in one form for each
person/organization/mass medium you want to nominate. Since the forms need
to be signed, they cannot be submitted by email. You can mail them to the
address below or fax them to the fax number below.
We look forward to receiving your nominations!
Ted Greiner
Programme Coordinator
WABA Forum 2
WABA
PO Box 1200
10850 Penang
Malaysia
tel: +604 658-4816
fax +604 657-2655
email: [log in to unmask]
website: www.waba.org.my
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
