I have posted before on the benefits of bfg. supporters getting better organized. This can happen at a local level by forming coalitions of interested stake-holders under the auspices of an ILCA affiliate or Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies, or any number of other entities. These groups should be organized enough to have some by-laws that clarify where financial sources of support may ethically be obtained, and what sources are prohibited. (Having wording like this in the by-laws is useful when people join who are not typically educated about the conflicts connected with accepting money from industries not in compliance with the CODE.) One can pay dues to ILCA, NABA, LLLI in the US, or ILCA, WABA, INFACT, or whatever country-specific bfg organization is applicable. If everyone sent a small contribution to such organizations today, there would be money to do some of the things folks keep calling for on Lactnet. It is easy to complain on LN, but at some point rehashing the outrage becomes redundant when one could pick up a pen and write a check or go out and organize a more concrete response in one's community. In the meantime, Virginia is right about doing one's bit as an individual. Letters that keep on coming are impt. With regard to how appropriate it is to strategize on an open and monitored list like Lactnet, in my opinion, not very. LN is a great info dissemination service, and general advice on how to contact legislators is very appropriate. Megan, collecting signatures is another fine way to do things. My advice would be to tailor your own simple letter of a few lines. Something along the lines of: "We are writing in protest of any influence by the formula industry in the design of a public health campaign to increase breastfeeding rates. There is a clear conflict of interest, and it is inappropriate for public officials to allow profit to dictate public health policy." Signed: Then collect a list of signatures from your home town. Send a copy to your Congressional representatives. Remember that the environmental groups have to stay constantly vigilant because of always encroaching efforts that threaten retreat on previously successful campaigns. When the anti-smoking crusaders started they were few in number. Look what they accomplished; but it didn't happen over night. Most of what changed in both environmental and anti-smoking movements occurred because the public health community refused to back down on the data about the risks. Remember when re-cycling was really counter-culture? Remember when the answer to "Mind if I smoke?" was "Not at all. (cough, cough.)" Today, more people in the US re-cycle than vote and the smokers (at least in Austin) are all banished to the parking lot. The best offense is to do the right thing. The world will always be full of pitiless bastards intent on exploitation. Aren't we lucky we have such a deeply good cause to champion? Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC Austin Lactation Associates LactNews Press www.lactnews.com PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: [log in to unmask] *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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