Hi Morgan,
I'm Ok with you disagreeing with me ;-)
Media in emergencies is my specialty, it's the job I do for the Infant and 
Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Core Group. There's a whole body of 
literature around media in emergencies- what is reported, disaster myths, 
what gets people to donate $$$ This is really not about a wider view of 
breastmilk vs formula. This is about the ridiculous idea that when an 
emergency happens in some part of the world that the best thing that people 
can do is send things. It's not just formula that gets sent, it's medicines, 
clothing (and after the Tsunami in Aceh, breast implants). Sending things 
just clogs up the system. Anything that promotes that idea is BAD- it kills 
people.
As I said in my earlier post, people have been hunting around for someone to 
take milk from the US for a week or more and have been told no thanks, it 
won't help. And the US Navy (which carries infant formula in its advance 
strike force) has come to the party- they've just got more of the same 
message- stuff helps.
Can I plead with the organisations that put together that press release, if 
you really care for the mothers and babies of Haiti, put out a press release 
telling people where they can donate money to programs that will help 
mothers and babies. Do something truly useful. Something that will help 
thousands of babies.
It's also about who can save babies. On of the common disaster narratives is 
of the starving baby and the saviour who brings food- this milk donation 
thing feeds right into this. This harms babies- results in more formula, 
more plumpynut, less breastfeeding support. It is MOTHERS who can save their 
babies- they just need support to do it.  It is incredibly arrogant to 
presume otherwise.
Karleen Gribble
Australia

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Morgan Gallagher" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 11:24 AM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [LACTNET] URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI 
INFANTS

> This is probably the first time I've ever disagreed with Karleen... 
> hopefully the last!
>
> But I disagree.  Whilst it's not perfect by any means... there is a wider 
> issue.  Formula wins the media war.  Media wars are important, they 
> fashion views and culture and opinion.
> : get lactnet welcome 

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