Hello everyone,
I've been a bit quiet the last few day because my computer died (Argh!!!!-
that's the pain of my left arm being removed!)...logging in on someone elses
computer right now. However, I really wanted to let you all know about the
great resources that ABA has put together for WBW that you can use in your
location if desired. There is a both a poster and a business card designed
to be distributed to emergency workers in developed country contexts (go to
www.breastfeeding.asn.au) to see and and request pdfs of the files to be
sent to you.
I would also urge as many of you as possible to call the aid agencies to
whom you donate to ask them what they are doing for WBW? Will they be
putting out a press release? I've had some success with a couple here in
Aust and a couple of knock backs (when the newsletter about the situation in
Gaza comes complete with a 'lovely' photo of a mum holding a baby with a
baby bottle, you know that there's a problem- no more of our $$$ to
Actionaid from us).

I know some of you question the relevance of this year's theme. For sure,
some of you live in places where emergencies are pretty rare. However, we
live in a globalised world and so often it is the well meaning aid from
"safe" countries n the form of infant formula and powdered milk that kills
mothers and babies affected by emergencies. We really must look beyond the
effect of emergencies on our own communities in this instance and look at
how our community's ignorance is harming the most vulnerable. Every day, I
sift through media reports of formula being sent from the US, NZ, Aust,
Sweden, Dubai, UK, Canada etc etc to emergencies all over the place. Don't
sit and do nothing- if you know that this happens (and you do because I just
told you it does) you have a responsibility to do something about it. Don't
just do a hospital display, make some calls, write a letter or two. Go to
the WBW website, read the packet of info there, go to the ENN website, get
the tools to write the letters in the guide to the general public. This is a
HUGE problem! A couple of stats for you- during the crisis in Kosovo it was
estimated that 40% of aid transported in by NATO was baby product- much of
it formula and bottles....after the earthquake in Yogyakarta Indonesia, in
2006- 80% of the carers of babies were given donated infant formula. This is
something that can be changed. A small group of aid workers have been trying
for 10 years or so to make some headway here and they have gotten some way.
I told them that breastfeeding advocates across the world in the mother to
mother support orgs would help. I'm hoping that I was right.
 Make a difference.
Karleen Gribble
Australia

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