I was asked to forward the following information to lactnet. I would like to add that for further information on WABA or World Breastfeeding Week you may contact Rebecca Maghalhaes, Director of International Development and Outreach at La Leche League International (NOTE NEW AREA CODE!) 847 -519-7730, EXT. 260. For World Walk for Breastfeeding Info call Trisha Noack, Director of PR ext. 205. Dear Friends, I've seen several questions in lllol lately I can answer for you, I've just been busy planning this summer's World Walk for Breastfeeding! World Breastfeeding Week has been declared to be August 1 - 7 again this year, and it is doubtful it will change again. This is a promotion by WABA. However, WABA did give each country permission to declare their own Week. Europe has chosen to celebrate in October, the United States and many other countries will continue to celebrate August 1-7. This is why there is some confusion! If you are in another country and you know that your delegates have chosen a different date, please let me know. What's WABA? WABA stands for The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action and is "a global people's initiative to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. WABA works in close liaison with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)." LLLI was one of the founding members of WABA. Our way of celebrating World Breastfeeding Week is to hold our Annual World Walk for Breastfeeding which Groups may pick any date for up to 6 weeks before or 6 weeks after World Breastfeeding Week. We do encourage you to hold your Walk during 'the Week' if possible. WABA is holding a global forum in Thailand Dec. 2-6, 1996 called Children's Health, Children's Rights. What is GLOPAR? The Global Participatory Action Research Project was conceived by WABA in 1993 as part of a long-term effort to mobilize groups and individuals around the world to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. It is to look at breastfeeding in all countries, use networking and involve those working with breastfeeding to assess policy, to translate the information into tools for change, to find out what hinders breastfeeding, to see if 'asking a few questions' can 'start a change for the better.' To be a partner write for the guidebook available in English and Spanish. Also available are a Report of Phase I and National Report Card on the State of Breastfeeding in India. WABA PO Box 1200, Penang, Malaysia. Hope this helps! Feel free to pass this information along to other interested parties. Cordially, Trisha Noack, Director of Public Relations, LLLI