11-14-98 Monterrey Bay Aquarium: A fellow mediawatcher alerted me to your Flukes, Flippers and Fun exhibit in which baby bottles are used to depict how much milk a baby whale drinks. I know you had to use something to portray the amount of milk, however, please consider using another symbol (a gallon jug or barrel?). You probably know that artificial (formula) feeding carries much greater health risks for infants, children, and even their mothers. Still, you may think that the breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding decision is a choice that each mother must make for herself, and that you would not want to take a stand on such issues. However, by placing baby feeding bottles in your ads, you are in fact promoting the artificial feeding method. The feeding bottle as THE symbol for how babies are fed is very pervasive in the media. Numerous health organizations, struggling to promote the much healthier choice of breastfeeding, would like to see that changed. In a recent policy statement (Dec 97), the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that practitioners should "encourage the media to portray breastfeeding as positive and the norm." I have visited your great aquarium and know that you are concerned about ecology and the health of our planet. Protecting and promoting breastfeeding is of vast importance to the health of mothers and babies around the globe. I hope you will decide to make a simple change in your graphics, as requested above. Sincerely, Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC Coordinator, Louisiana Breastfeeding MediaWatch Campaign Violet LA 70092 [log in to unmask] Note: The Louisiana Breastfeeding MediaWatch Campaign is part of the National Breastfeeding MediaWatch Campaign, sponsored by the Texas Dept of Health, an ongoing project of the Bureau of Clinical and Nutrition Services. For more information, call (512) 406-0744. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com