Anyone remember the Breastfeeding Picnic we organised last year? We're doing another one!! Please add your support here!

[theSuburbanDryad]

I know there's a petition up for people to sign if they don't agree with the new Equality Bill being proposed, but if you'd like to do something more physical then watch this space!

We're hoping to do this on the 21st July, to coincide with the recess of Parliament for the summer break. We're also going to be organising regional events this time, as I know that a lot of people would have liked to be involved but couldn't get to London!

More news as I soon as I know what we're doing - but your support will be invaluable.

"Protect My Baby, Protect Me"

Well, I've done to promo blog post, explaining it all out, and sending out the first invitation.

Everyone can use the URL to spread the message out further than these communities.

So can we ask you to propagate, propagate, propagate!

one-of-those-women.blogspot.com/2008/06/protect-my-baby-protect-me.html

Also , can anyone draw? We'd like an illustration to got with "Protect My Baby, Protect Me"

And we have a poster image we'd like to photograph... if we have any photographers!

For those of you on Facebook, there's a group set up here

Protect Me, Protect My Baby

That's a great headline.

Posters would be great.

I can do York. is 21st July a Monday? would have to book day off work.

Another one who will be pregnant and breastfeeding

I'd be happy to organise something in Birmingham, if I can get advice etc from people who have done this sort of thing. I should be able to co-opt a good non-MN people.

On the Facebook one - can we just be clear that it's ONLINE. So if you join up for the facbook event, you don't have to go in person! Got people saying "Oh we'd love to go, but I'm stuck that day!" Thats' why it's a facebook event, so you can attend online!!!

What would I need to get a picnic organised (apart from people, which I should be able to manage).

Has someone sorted banners / leaflets and suchlike? I can get small stuff printed at work, but what else would be needed?

Could anyone who has photos from last year's event, go to the facebook site and post them? Many thanks!! :-))))

ChairmumMiaow (i love your name!!) Do you know where you want to do the picnic? A park, or outside council offices, or even in a shopping centre (assuming you won't cause a disturbance, we don't want bad press!! )

You need to find out from the local police whether you need to ask for permission to gather. Make it clear when you ask that you are hosting a picnic, not a protest. They may ask yout to put it in wriyting.

Nominate a local press officer (if you don't want to do it yourself) to give interviews to local papers and radio - i should hopefully ve able to drum up some interest and will email you with press releases nearer the time.

Apologies for typos, am nursing!!

Any one in here know of or work for anyone who can make placards?

Have we got a list of venues yet? London, York, NE seem popular - is there anything else down South for those wimps among us would prefer not to brave central London/tube with buggy, even for our right to bare boobs in public.

We're a bit like the swans at the moment, gliding along seemingly calm, but paddling like crazy under the surface.

It's takes a day or two for each person in each area, to check with the police etc, on how to book their own spot, so we will let everyone know other places as and when the bookings are confirmed.

Yorky - to be honest, we're trying to get as many people as possible to the London event, so if it is at all possible for you to travel to London then that would be fab.

If not, I believe there is one in Cambridge, and one in Norwich - but it depends how far South you need it to be - I know there's one happening in Plymouth, for example, and one in Bristol!

Loving your swan analogy Morgan!

is there one in York?

SuburbanDryad - I was thinking about the park by the cathedral in the centre of birmingham. People eat their lunches on the grass there and there should be enough space.

I'll see if I can contact the local police to ask what I might need to do.

Oh yes, what should I be asking the police?

If its ok to hold a large(?) picnic? - should I mention its to bring attention to this issue and that we might have banners etc?

Chairmum - yes, you need to phone your local police dept and ask them if they have a Special Events dept. Then ask them if you need permission. Keep it lighthearted with them - they are not against us. They don't want any trouble! Mention that you are organising a picnic not a protest but that there will be banners - if you want there to be banners - so really it depends on how they're defining protest!

Get a rough idea of numbers, maybe, and make sure they have your hone number just in case they need to get in touch. Just remember, the police are on your side - they are there for your protection and they don't want any problems!

SPB - we're hoping to organise one for York, yes. Are you volunteering?

I can do York - only problem is that DS (3.0) weaned a month or so ago otherwise I'd be another pg and bfing mum! Can I come anyway?

To clarify - I can come but can't really commit to helping organise - this pg is turning out to be complicated and I keep ending up in hospital with bleeds, sigh, which is making committing to anything at all difficult!

i would love to come along for the day. DD is now 3 and only feeds 2x a day.

But i am also suffering SPD and will be 31 wks pg at the time so can't see me up to it.

There is an online event that you can show your support with if you can't make the RL one!

And as I said further down - the more the merrier!! Non-bf-ing mums, partners, kids, friends, family and associated hangers on!

Have joined the facebook group, and would love to come to the London event.