Join the campaigns to BF in Public and stop Formula advertising!!!!!!

[Difers]

I got this e-mail today and thought that some of you may be interested in supporting these campaigns

Dear Friend,

We have a short, but important window of opportunity to influence policy and implement two of the Breastfeeding Manifesto?s objectives. As a supporter of The Breastfeeding Manifesto I am writing to ask for your urgent help to influence two important proposed laws which could see the implementation of objective 5 and 7 of the Manifesto- if you act now. Visit www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk and send the emails to the government ministers on the ?How You Can Help? page. It?s quick and easy!

Objective 5-Breastfeeding in public

Objective 5 of the Manifesto is: ?Develop policy and practice to support breastfeeding in public places.? The UK government has released The Single Equality Bill for consultation. This means that everyone including organizations and members of the public can submit their comments on this proposed new law. The Single Equality Bill covers a range of issues but one of its aims is to stop the discrimination against breastfeeding mothers in public. We are delighted that the government is finally addressing this issue. However, we feel that the bill as it currently stand is worrying; it only provides protection for those mothers who are breastfeeding a child up to the age of 12 months. By only protecting Mothers breastfeeding children under the age of 12 months the UK government is sending out a message that it is unacceptable to breastfeed a child over the age of one and therefore suggesting it is acceptable to discriminate against them. The World Health Organization recommends that babies are breastfed for two years or beyond and so we believe that the cap on 12 months could be damaging to children?s health. We need you to send the email at the bottom of this pagewww.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/make_your_voice_heard_1.php to ask the government to change the proposed law to ensure all women are fully protected to feed their babies in public beyond their first birthday.





Objective 7- Advertising of Formula Milk

Objective 7 of the Manifesto is: ?Adopt the World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant Resolutions.? The Food Standards Agency is currently consulting regulations for the advertising and promotion of formula milk. You may have read the recent press coverage and out cry surrounding OK, the model Jordan and SMA formula milk. It is this kind of promotion which we want to stop. However the proposed regulations would not cover this kind of promotion and so the regulations are inadequate for protecting parents and babies from the influence of formula-milk promotion. Parents need reliable information based on evidence, not commercial pressure from baby milk companies. Non commerical, independent information will benefit all parents including those who bottle feed. However, the proposed regulations are inadequate for the job of protecting parents and babies from the influence of formula promotion. Objective 7 of the Manifesto calls for the implementation of The WHO Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and it provides an excellent model for the law that is required. We need you to send the email at www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk/make_your_voice_heard_2.php asking the Foood Standards Agenncy to go further than they propose to go.



It is only with your help and when we work together that we will be be able to influence the government and have lasting affect on children?s health.



I urge you to please visit this website and send the emails, your voice really matters.



Best Wishes

Alison Baum

Co-Founder and Spokesperson, The Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition

[lulumama]

think there was a similar petition, if not the same one recently

bump though

[Desiderata]

Errm, the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition sounds likes something vaguely Communist.

Sorry, but I'll pass. I hope you get others who'll sign.

[andiem]

communist are you having a larf its people like the NCT royal college of midwives etc etc

[Difers]

SIGN UP TO THE PETITION TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO PREVENT BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC!!!!!

Lulamama - Not just signing the manifesto but in particular asking you to e-mail important people regarding two separate issues regarding breastfeeding.

The government are considering a a bill where it would be illegal to prevent breastfeeding in public BUT only for babies up to 12 months which means that if you want to feed your baby over 12 months then you still could be asked to do it elsewhere.

The second issue is relating to the regulation of promotion of formula.

Hardly communist, but very important issues for some of us on here I feel.

[Desiderata]

Well, of course I'm having a larf, but it doesn't sound good, does it? It sounds aggressive.

[Difers]

Asking the government to support breastfeeding in public is aggressive???

[Desiderata]

Hey Ho, here we go

It's isn't the idea that annoys me, or the drive to get bf more acceptable in public that annoys me. It is the NAME of the movement. Purely the NAME.

It is not good PR ... honestly! It will put more people off, if anything. It needs to be more .... fluffy!

[3andnomore]

Desiderata, why agressive?

I had done this a while back...but apparently it was nothing to do with whomever I send it, too...dispite me taking his name from the drop down menu [raised eyebrow emoticon]

[3andnomore]

Desi...don't think fluffy would work

[Desiderata]

Look, I don't have the slightest problem with the issue of breastfeeding in public. I think it's a natural progression of human rights, and it will be enforced in law at some point in the not too distant future.

It is not the sentiment I find aggressive, it is the name of the organization. Manifesto and Coalition are not good words to describe a natural process (the giving of infant milk). They belong to the dirty world of politics ... and whenever I see the word Manifesto, I automatically link to Communist (Karl Marx).

A good PR person would advise against the name.

And who are the coalition? What fragmentary groups go to make it up? Why must there be a coalition in the matter of breastfeeding in public?

Honestly, the name stinks. It sounds militant.

[ScottishMummy]

o dear god more monomaniac BreastFeeding ranty amntra - i wont be signng

[Difers]

Help...Formula Feeders are hijacking the thread.....

I'm not actually asking you to sign up to the the breastfeeding manifesto. (BTW all political parties have manifestos not just the communist party).

If you support the notion that it should be enshrined in law that breastfeeding be allowed in public, then at least the government should make good law. In my opinion to have a law concerning babies aged 12 months or under would cause confusion.

So this is an opportunity to make sure that good laws are made. Write to your AM, MP, MEP or whatever off your own bat if your don't want to be associated with an organised group.

I don't expect you Desiderata or you Scottish Mummy as you have posted previously your expressing your anti breastfeeding views.

[ScottishMummy]

o didums hijack Formula Feeders HaHa u make it sound like u are under attackposted on a open forum implicitly people will read and comment o crickey

actually u have no idea how^ i feed - never disclosed to you- u immediately judged - like true BF Monomaniac

[3andnomore]

BF Monomaniac...now there is a new term...not sure I like it any better then BF NAzi etc...though....why is there always namecalling? No one was attacking any Formulafeeders, it's not about that at all

Desi, I can see your point , but I suppose the Breastfeeding Manifesto coalition wanted an impressive name, something that has a political ring to it, something that sounds official....but just my thoughts...really don't htink a fluffy name would work.

[pampam]

hi difers, got the same email as you today. Will be contacting my mp and whoever else i can think of.

"monomaniac BreastFeeding ranty amntra" WTF have you read it?

[ScottishMummy]

i responded to desi plantiff plea that her thread was hijacked and sniggered when she used trem formula feeders haha sounds like quatermass expt o no hide It is the formula feeders in summary laughed at difers disproportionate response to a post

felt sad difers assumed how i feed

[ScottishMummy]

yes i read it - ranty breastfeeding monomaniac tubthumping - that about covers it

[pampam]

i don't think the issue of bfing in public is very fluffy, especially from the position of having been moved on by an anti-breastfeeding maniac.
i want to get my norks out and feed my 15 month old baby wherever and whenever i like!

[Desiderata]

I am not anti-breastfeeding, difers. I did it myself, for a while. I think it would be an extreme viewpoint for any female to be anti breastfeeding.

I didn't come on this thread to diss you. I came on this thread to give my views on the name. Yes, I'm aware that all political parties have manifestos, but you're not a political party. You're a breastfeeding mother. The name has the potential to alienate those people you wish to reach out to.

I take on board that 'fluffy' might be inappropriate, but a middle-ground would be wise.

There is a cultural antipathy to open public breastfeeding in this country. The reasons are no doubt complex, and I don't fully understand them myself, but they're obviously there.

All I'm suggesting is that, to turn this ocean liner around, you need to use less political terminology. I'm afraid that it is the language, and not the sentiment, that provokes strong views.

[LittleBella]

How sad that people still think that an issue which affects women and children mustn't be pursued in a nasty aggressive way, it must be fluffy.

FGS. Women, know your limits.

[pampam]

scottishmummy - it's a shame you think that, what's tubthumping and monomaniac aout the manifesto exactly?

[Difers]

ScottishMummy - You have previously mounted a particularly spiteful post against myself where you stated your anti breastfeeding views so forgive me for assuming that do you formula feed. My mistake. Like I said I don't want this thread to turn into some argument but perhaps some people would be interested in having a sensible breastfeeding law and if the posts go off on a bizarre bf v. ff ranting tangent that won't be achieved will it now??

[ScottishMummy]

difers -i cant recall what i did last week let alone what i may/may not have said on MN whether u feel you have been sujected to an attack by myself- really??

u need to get out more - get a life if an post is still vivid in your memory

[Desiderata]

Well, I'm sorry LittleBella, but I don't think that pursuing anything in an aggressive way is going to get anyone anywhere

Obviously I used the word 'fluffy' inadvertently. I had no idea that it was another MN offensive word.

So ... fine! The Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition. Ahhhh, what a lurrvely ring that has to it

[Difers]

I don't really care what they are called. They could call themselves "The Raving Titfeedingapo coalition" for all I care. I'm pleased that they have drawn my attention to the fact that the government are considering a law and given me an opportunity to comment on the content of that law.

After all,when the law is made it is too late to complain about it.