A propos some messages that I had received in relationship to the WBW week
bulletin and the sharing of a communique taken from Ross/Abbotts annual
report on penetrating new markets that Jack posted on Lactnet, I received a
communique from a friend on the marketing strategy of the formula companies
related to HIV.

Since many of us are already on the alert for possible ways in which the
companies are going to try and undermine World Breastfeeding Week, perhaps
we can think together about some strategies to fend off possible attacks or
how to respond to them when they come...

My friend thinks that it is possible that the whole HIV question will be
used by the companies to market and also to attack breastmilk as
contaminated -- particularly in relation to this year's WBW theme -- which
is ecology.

So, it seems to me, if that possibility exists, we need to be prepared to
confront it... and many of us -- particularly those of us who work
internationally and don't have such immediate access to the journals, need
some quick updates on the state of research, especially about transmission
rates, risks, etc. to be able to respond with a reasoned approach.

Also, I've had a look at the draft action folder in Portuguese and while it
talks in general about pollution, there is not the specific kind of
information that the activists need when responding to the attacks that
will inevitably come about pesticide contamination, metals, etc.

How about some short pieces by some of our fantastic members that could
speak to some of these issues, with short referenced facts, sort of like
the sheet that LLLI puts out every year with two line summaries from
different research studies, with their respective references.





World Breastfeeding Week August 1-8, 1997 - "Nature's Way"
Judy Canahuati
PO Box #512
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Telephone: +504-50-9737
Fax:       +504-50-7482
E-mail:    [log in to unmask]

"The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating.
The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them
changes both the maker and the destination."  Attributed to John Schaar