I don't know if attachment came through (my computer is old).
But everything you need is in the body of the message.
Time to type!

Elaine Mazgelis
Cambridge-Somerville WIC 
Massachusetts, USA

            Anne Veneman recently took over the post of the Executive
Director of the United Nations International Children's Fund UNICEF),
but has already made some startling changes to the organization.
Veneman, who was picked by President Bush for the position, has
announced that UNICEF will no longer provide legal assistance for
governments in order to enact the International Code of Marketing of
Breastmilk Substitutes into national legislation.  Since the
International Code was passed in 1981, UNICEF has helped 64 countries
legistlate some form of the Code, and 23 additional countries now have
similar laws pending.  The withdrawl of UNICEF's support in this process
seriously damages the ability of any further nations to pass the
Internati! onal Code into law.  

          A lack of strong legal measures controlling the marketing of
breastmilk substitues puts infants and young children at risk and will
surely impede the achievement of the United Nations' Millenium
Development Goal of reducing global infant mortality by two thirds by
2015.  This decision by Veneman clearly runs counter to UNICEF's mandate
of protecting the health of infants and young children the world over.  

          Veneman's action is all the more disheartening because of her
links to major food companies.  Before becoming Seceratary of
Agriculture under George W. Bush, she served on the International Policy
Council on Agriculture, Food and Trade, a group funded in part by
Nestle, the world's largest baby food manufacturer and the greatest
single violator of the International Code.

          While many doubt that Veneman's experience as a corporate
lawyer for major food companies qualified her to head UNICEF,
unfortunately she has already been appointed and the international
community will have to do its best to cooperate.  This is a drastically
important issue and urgent action is needed.  Please inform Veneman that
cutting support for the International Code is an absolutely unacceptable
decision that will cost young lives.


Alter the attached letter or send your own to:


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Visit theVillage - Where BREASTFEEDING is the norm . . . after all it is
TheirBirthRight!

Kimberley Traylor, MA, Lactation Specialist, Doula Executive Director
TheirBirthRight, Inc. dba theVillage Bryan, Texas  77803
979 574 1117
281 733 5680
281 259 6883 fax
www.TheirBirthRight.org

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