Oh dear Oxfam have made a bit of a boob (or actually a bottle in this case!)

[mawbroon]

Have a look at this. Especially around 2 mins when Mel B makes an appearance

If you understand why this is a big blunder on their part and feel strongly enough to complain, then you can do so here

Sorry, that made no sense where it appeared!

I agree, this one thing is not worth getting worked up about (but that mainly because I rarely get worked up about anything).

Wannabe, you're being a bit daft. There's nothing 'wrong' with formula. What's wrong is the promotion of formula as something that's better than breastmilk - whether in this country or in the 3rd world. Can you really not see that those 'militant' bfers have nothing to gain but promoting good health and hygiene, whereas the formula companies have lots and lots and lots to gain completely separate to health! And no, I'm not saying it's not healthy. And no, I'm not a militant bfer, a 'normal' one!

Mmn, I was quite lucky too Scottishmummy, but there were a lot of mums in my parentcraft class that just were not going to do it. Hadn't given it a thought. Of course they were going to formula feed.

On the one hamd I don't care what the woman next door does, it's none of my business. But I strongly object to people who don't know better being told that formula is better - they get baffled by science and that's that!

hand, even!

I understand what you are saying about the image of a well wannabe.

However the reason that formula feeding is a cause of death is because cynical profit motivated companies have aggressively and unethically marketed formula feeding in countries that don't have the infrastucture to do so safely. These companies know this but continue because they want to make money. Lots of people think this is wrong and those people tend to object to things which endorse or contribute to this human catastrophe.

A drinking well could be tainted or not. However if it was common for companies to install, and make money from, tainted wells in poor countries whilst removing access to fresh local sources of water, then the image of a well would be a dubious choice for a video about liberating people from the consequences of poverty.

Lovin your analogy, Beachcomber

To those who think 'it might be expressed breastmilk in the bottle' - it's the bottle that's the symbol, and what is literally in the bottle is not at issue. It is meant to be 'a bottle of milk' and it clearly is intended (crassly, unprincipledly, unknowingly, unfortunately) to represent babies and motherhood.

This is a million miles away from saying formula should be banned or only available on prescription - totally different arguments, and for the record, no, I do not think it should be banned or only on prescription. It should be cheap and easily available to all who need it, unbranded and unmarketed and unpromoted.

Breastfeeding is the physiological norm, and a major public health issue everywhere. Depiction of bottles everywhere undermines breastfeeding - not massively in any individual instance (eg Playmobil baby) but in a drip-drip effect which I and others are against, in principle.

mode of feeding is a complex socio-economic dynamic.may 2008 BF stats strongest determinant of BF is class and age

Thank you tiktok. I have learnt a lot about the politics of all this from you and other MNers.

Also thank you PuzzleRocks for saying something nice.

I wish I were as eloquent as Beachcomber and tiktok. Beach - I love your well analogy, removing access to fresh water etc, that made a really good point!

Daphne, there is no (or very little) criticism of Mel B on this thread - the criticism is aimed at Oxfam, who should know the issues and should know better.

In Beachcomber's utopia generic alternative feeding methods are available at cost price to those who need or want it.

Nobody makes money from formula and so there is no incentive to advertise it. Breastfeeding is encouraged and supported properly for all those that want it.

This is about big business being allowed a free rein to make cash no matter what the cost to human life.

Don't believe I know or care how Mel B personally feels about all this. This is nothing to do with her, it is to do with the image and messages that OXFAM are promoting.

I'd like to sign up to Beachcomber's utopia please would love a world where women don't feel guilty for either bf or ff.

Utopia sounds great.
CrapOClock - Lovin your name: LOL

I reckon that Mel B wrote her name on the bottle as she has recently had a baby.

I have absolutely no objection at all to seeing baby bottles and babies being bottle fed on the media or anywhere else generally. This isn't about the choice to feed human or formula milk - that has to be for individual mothers to make.

Beachcomber and Tiktok have put it much better than I ever could, but the issue is basically about mixed messages from Oxfam. It can't spend years campaigning against the inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes in the developing world and then use a baby bottle as a symbol of motherhood when so many babies die because of drinking formula made with contaminated water.

In fact, Millennium Goal 4 has as part of its aim to pursue exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months for that reason.

Here is the response I got from Oxfam.

Thank you for your email about the recent In my namecampaign. I appreciate you taking the time to write to us with your comments and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to explain Oxfam's approach in a bit more detail.

In my nameis a campaign action recently launched by GCAP (Global Call to Action Against Poverty), of which Oxfam is a part. Many celebrities, high profile people, activists and others worldwide have already given their name, photograph or video. Those photographed or videoed have chosen the way they would like to sign their name; Mel B chose to sign on a baby bottle. However, this is in no way intended to promote bottle feeding or formula milk. The image was used simply because many mothers use bottles to feed their babies after a period of breast feeding. This is the case with Mel.

Oxfam believes that breast feeding is the best nourishment for babies in their early months of life. Not only is it nourishing, nutritionally balanced, safe and free, but it also contains protective elements which help infants fight illnesses. Such qualities are not available in any so called substitute. In line with World Health Organisation, Oxfam recommends that babies should be breast fed for up to at least 18 months of age, Oxfam believes that breast feeding should be continued with the introduction of solid food as the baby is growing.

I hope this has helped clarify Oxfam's position and you will feel you can continue supporting our work in the future. We understand that it is the support of people like you that enables us to carry out our essential emergency, development and campaigning work around the world.

If you have any more questions about this or any other aspects of our work, please do get back in touch, we'll be very happy to help.

And by the way, the OP, who is actually a very pleasant, thoughtful and respectful person, got the video from me. I read about it on a friend's blog.

Both of us have spent a fair bit of time supporting mums who want to breastfeed, to give them the information they need to resolve whatever problem they are having. Sometimes they are able to continue, sometimes not. Neither of us would ever, ever want to make anybody feel bad for ending up formula feeding. I hope the fact that I've remained in contact with some mothers who made that decision and they have come to me looking for info on other subjects proves that.

I do genuinely believe that Oxfam have made a blunder here. That doesn't mean to say I think we should all boycott them, but I have written to them expressing my concern about this particular video which I thik has cast a shadow over an otherwise laudable campaign.

The OP was simply making people aware of the issue and giving them the appropriate address to write to if they felt that they wished to.

Bugger! THanks fi. I'll get it deleted.

For the sake of completeness: The message I had deleted was an email identical to the one PuzzleRocks got. I was daft enough to forget to remove the senders name...