At my DiabetesLifeNotes.BlogSpot.com personal blog, I talked about finally connecting with Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, a Filipina Breastfeeding Advocate/International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a practising vegetarian these past 17 years, who asked me to check out the “Diet for A New America.”
Our conversation also touched upon some “whistle blowers” regarding Formula Milk made by Wyeth that is supposed to be recalled in the Philippines. I got the impression from my chat with Nona that birth statistics regarding the contaminated milk have not yet been disclosed, especially the inference about the increased percentage of new-born infants who contracted meningitis. This definitely needs more investigative work — so whoever reads this and is interested can certainly contact Nona.
Since I don’t know what all the perspectives are, my googling research is what I’m writing about (and I’m biased because I’m pro-breastfeeding). What I found about the current war between formula milk and mother’s milk in the Philippines (and probably other third world countries) made me reflect on my own role as an advertising and business development professional. I asked myself, “Do I solicit advertising from companies who do not share my values about compassion and sustainability?” and “Do I even care about media’s civic role in advancing the Filipinos’ mindsets and attitudes?”
My online research, upon Nona’s prodding, took me to the UNICEF Philippines’-produced documentary, FORMULA FOR DISASTER . The marketing copy caught my attention: “This eye-opening documentary reveals how the marketing of powdered milk has caused fewer mothers to breastfeed in the Philippines – including those who can ill afford artificial milk and suffer its harmful consequences. The milk companies’ formula for profits is a formula for disaster.”
Here is the “Formula for Disaster” documentary, courtesy of UNICEF-PHILIPPINES through YouTube.com.
Formula for Disaster (Part 1 of 5)
Formula for Disaster (Part 2 of 5)
Formula for Disaster (Part 3 of 5)
Formula for Disaster (Part 4 of 5)
Formula for Disaster (Part 5 of 5)
During my searches at YouTube, I found this endearing video, A TRIBUTE TO BREASTS. I thought that the 2nd Synchronized Breastfeeding Event deserves a third-party tribute for its noble efforts.
Nona Andaya-Castillo is very busy bringing people and organizations together to organize the Second Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide Event, scheduled on October 11, 2008, as well as its launching during the World Breastfeeding Week on August 1 to 7, 2008. She is looking for public service, corporate, non-profit agency, and community-based partners who can sponsor the US central global event to be held in New York City.
COULD THIS BE YOU OR YOUR GROUP?
TO CONTACT NONA D. ANDAYA-CASTILLO:
Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
The Breastfeeding Clinic: Your Partner from Pregnancy to Parenting
Telephone: 632-444-4716 632-271-0954
[email protected]
+63-919-839-5555 and [email protected]
Founder:
Nurturers of the Earth
A support group for vegetarians and vegetarians-in-progress
Children for Breastfeeding
Mobilizing children to promote earth-friendly parenting
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