I've Been Censored!

Censorship -- the control of the information and ideas circulated within a society -- has been a hallmark of dictatorships throughout history. In the 20th Century, censorship was achieved through the examination of books, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports, and other forms of communication for the purpose of altering or suppressing ideas found to be objectionable or offensive.



ARE YOU SERIOUS?

In August, I was ASKED TO WRITE a blog post for Best for Babes website's new advocacy page about my "Stop Newark/Nestle Now" Campaign.  So I spent a good day or so writing what I thought was a very nice piece.  Previously, I had done 2 guest blog for Mothering.com and Motherwear.com which were well received.  I looked forward to educating and enlightening more people.

I sent the guest blog post to Michelle-- the person in charge of the advocacy page - she approved and posted it. 

(I stuck it here if you'd like to read it)

http://wwmdwhatwouldmariado.blogspot.com/2012/09/weighing-in-on-newarknestle-partnership.html

Shortly, thereafter I received the following email.  

Hi Maria,

I wanted to let you know that I made a decision to remove your guest blog post from the Best for Babes blog.   Although we fully support the petition you created and link to it from our Take Action hub (which is managed by Michelle Hickman), the tone of the post you wrote does not reflect the way in which we strive to communicate with our followers, fans and supporters.   In addition, some time ago we were made aware of comments you made on your blog that were negative towards formula-feeding moms, which is a conflict because we ask that guest bloggers subscribe to our mission and credo; and also negative remarks towards Best for Babes, which leads us to believe that writing for Best for Babes is not a good fit for you.

Danielle and I do appreciate the work you do to support moms and babies to breastfeed, and wish you the very best in your endeavors!

With best regards,

Bettina

-- 

Bettina Forbes, CLC

Co-Founder, Best for Babes® Foundation

Of course, I was taken back a bit.  I spent time, worked hard on it and felt that this campaign deserved the attention.  Isn't that  why did they ask me to write it in the first place?  So, I responded with the following email:

Dear Bettina,

Thank you for your candid email. I appreciate honesty and regret this correspondance hadn't occured sooner.

Offending is never my intent when I write a blog. I am well aware of how words can influence and stir up some very uncomfortable feelings in both the writer and reader. My words (in question) were meant as a passionate "Call to Action" for all women but obviously they were misinterpreted by some (as often they can be)- I deeply regret that. As I try to keep close watch on how I live and how I teach and stay true to what is right, I am not by any means perfect :(

Also, if you had thought that I had made any negative remarks about your organization, I apologize and wish you would have contacted me immediately. I would hope we could openly discussed anything as we are professional adults, working together for the greater good.

I can assure you that I am in no way prejudice or judgemental toward any mother, no matter how she feeds her baby. Obviously, I wouldn't have a successful, rewarding career helping mothers and babies for over 20 years if I was like that. Anyone that knows me can tell you, I am all welcoming and inclusive in my work and my life.

As I realize your opinion is based on your passion and loyalty, I would hope that you would reserve the judgement that you so kindly impart to your followers to me as well.

As far as the guest post I was asked to write for your "Take Action" Hub, I respect your opinion but if you wouldn't mind clarifying for me what you meant by "the tone of the post you wrote does not reflect the way in which we strive to communicate with our followers, fans and supporters" ? I spent quite a bit of time on it and similar guest blogs of mine were posted on Mothering.com and Motherwear.com. without any problems so could you be more specific?

The Newark-Nestle issue is much more important than my ego, trust me, so I am open to re-writing something that you feel would better suit your readership. I just need to know what you want :)

Best to you,

Maria Parlapiano RN IBCLC


Guess what?  I never heard back from her. 

Do you believe that the B4B readership should be "protected" from the information provided in the guest post I submitted? 
Or is this censorship more personal ie. Bettina just doesn't like me.

You be the judge.

 

Weighing In on the Newark/Nestle Partnership- Tipping the Scales for Profit

Why is the world’s greatest purveyor of junk food “piloting’ a nutrition program for infants and children?    Nestlé wants us to believe their mission is to decrease waistlines when in fact it’s all about increasing their bottom line! 

Yes, it’s true one of the major contributors to global obesity, Nestlé Corporation is sponsoring a program targeted at reducing childhood obesity in one of the poorest cities in the US -Newark, NJ.  (25% of population is below poverty level)   Keep in mind, Nestlé (Gerber/Beechnut) is the largest baby food and infant formula manufacturer / marketer on the planet with total sales of $30 billion/ year in North America alone!   Can you say, “Conflict of Interest”? 
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303592404577361070078138812.html

On Feb. 11th, Mayor Cory Booker gleefully accepted a check from Marilyn Knox of Nestlé Nutrition, USA for $100,000 sealing the fate of these poor babies and children of Newark.   When the Mayor was filmed accepting Nestlé's check of $100,000.00, he was standing in front of a background covered with  Nestlé/ Gerber logos and the Nestlé's press release had pop-up ads for formula, coupons, rebates, Baby Club etc.

http://newarknj.patch.com/articles/new-pilot-program-will-target-childhood-obesity-in-newark

So with Mayor Booker’s blessing, here is what Nestlé has planned for Newark’s most vulnerable citizens at all 15 of the Family Success Centers.  First, Nestlé will provide their own “nutritionists” to "promote, educate and support" breastfeeding when in reality, formula feeding will be the focal point of instruction.   Second, the promotion of healthy eating, endorsing the use of home-made, whole, fresh foods for babies but in fact, they will promote Nestlé prepackaged, processed baby foods, first and foremost.   Also, Nestlé plans to set up peer counselor programs (using the clients to market Nestlé products), hand out gifts and samples “luring” the mothers in and making them dependent on Nestlé products. (formula costs at least $200 a month/ baby -that is 14% of the per capita income of the average Newark family!)   

It is quite telling that in this posted job description for the "Nestlé-Newark Now Family Nutritionist" there was no mention, at all, of breastfeeding.   http://shrp.umdnj.edu/current_students/career_rc/documents/NewarkcommunityhealtheducatorjobDescription.pdf

Nestlé strategically plans to take this program across the country to other vulnerable US cities.  Nestlé's Infant Nutrition President and CEO Marilyn Knox, stated on a YouTube channel press release, "we want to recognize Mayor Booker specifically for not only what he is doing here, but the example of taking Newark and turning it into actually an example, a role model to replicate in other places ..."

http://www.mediajunkey.com/2012/02/15/nestle-ceo-marilyn-knox-speaks-about-innovative-lets-move-newark-program/

If you’re not convinced yet of Nestlé’s true agenda, allow Peter Brabeck-Letmath, head of Nestlé S.A, to clarify, “Companies should only pursue charitable endeavors with an underlying intention of making money for investors.”  Simply put, Nestlé will only link its name to initiatives that will be profitable.

Source: Boston Herald “Nestlé chief rejects the need to 'give back' to communities”, 9 March 2005.

 It was clear to me that Mayor Booker and these poor Newark families are just being used as a "front" for the largest coup in US formula industry history!

That’s when I screamed, "Bad Move"!  Surely, Mayor Booker is ill-informed, I thought.  Obviously, no one told him about Nestlé’s appalling reputation of being one of the top 4 most boycotted companies on the planet or the studies that show formula, bottle feeding and early introduction of solid foods actually increase childhood obesity!

 http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/27/can-a-formula-company-really-promote-breast-feeding-and-fight-child-obesity/

The World Health Organization, (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, (the Code), endorsed by the US Government, was developed to try to curtail Nestlé's marketing practices http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf

The International Nestlé Boycott, started in the US in the 70's, attempts to put pressure on Nestlé to comply with the Code.  Some people remember the Bottle Baby Scandal, where Nestle was implicated when millions of babies in Africa died.  Many people today think Nestlé has changed their ways but they have not.  Nestlé continues their well-deserved, notorious reputation for aggressive and unethical marketing including mislabeling/misrepresenting their formulas and baby foods worldwide.

http://info.babymilkaction.org/pressrelease/pressrelease19apr12

Nestlé spends $4 million each year lobbying against regulation and taxation of unhealthy food. This manipulation enables them to continue manufacturing and marketing junk and confectionary foods that have resulted in increasing world obesity rates. 

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000042332&year=2011

The Surgeon General's 2011 Call to Action for Breastfeeding Report called for "all women to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first 6 months" and states “full-term infants have a 32% excess risk of childhood obesity associated with not breastfeeding.” Action 6 (from her report) states: "ensure that the marketing of infant formula is conducted in a way that minimizes its negative impact on exclusive breastfeeding". http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdManatee/Pdf/Surgeon_General's_Call_to_Action_to_Support_Breastfeeding.pdf

Nestlé is setting themselves up as "The expert nutrition educators" in the US and throughout the world.  In the US, they have already partnered with the AAP http://www.aap.org, USDA http://www.usda.gov

 The Governor of Michigan has given Nestlé the go-ahead to "educate" in medical schools, hospitals and communities.

http://www.nestle.com/Media/NewsAndFeatures/Pages/Gerber-programme-child-obesity.    

http://www.citizen.org/letter-to-snyder

So, after failed attempts to meet with Mayor Booker, I created the petition, “Stop Newark /Nestlé Now!" on February 16, in an attempt to stop this hypocritical partnership.  Petition link:

 http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-newark-nestle-now 

This petition has been a great educational tool, (around the world people are watching Newark / Nestle and speakers at conferences are discussing what is going on, groups are posting in their newsletters/blogs etc.).  We have signatures from over 2000 concerned people from 55 countries but it has not encouraged Mayor Booker to cancel his partnership with Nestlé .   He refuses to meet or communicate with any of us including the thousands of people, who have written to him through Public Citizen.

http://www.citizen.org/letter-to-booker

L'Tanya Williamson, Director of Child and Family Well-being along with other advisors to the Mayor, also refuse to communicate about this issue.   The NJ Health Commissioner, Mary E. O'Dowd, who supports breastfeeding, says she cannot stop the partnership because it is a donation to the City of Newark, while Governor Christie is differing back to the Commissioner.  Neither the Surgeon General nor First Lady Michelle Obama has responded to our multiple pleas for help.  Everyone seems to be “passing the buck” even though, it is obvious that this "donation" will negatively affect health, increase obesity and increase health care costs not only in NJ but across the country.

If you are concerned about Nestle being allowed to sponsor programs targeted to reduce childhood obesity, please sign our petition and spread the word! Contact your local politicians, health professionals, clergy and media.  We cannot let corporate money be the determining factor in our fight for a brighter, healthier future for our children.    Immediate action is needed before Nestle comes to your town.

GOT BREASTMILK? Milk Sharing in a Modern World

In a busy practice such as mine, often enough I am confronted with the issue of a baby needing to be supplemented with a little extra breastmilk temporarily. Sometimes it's a baby that will always require supplementing like in breast CA or adoption cases. What's a consultant and family to do? I have been know to say," Wish I could take breastmilk from some who have too much and give it to those who need it!" Can we really do that? Well, yes there are ways......


The following link is to a blog post by a colleague, Amber McCann, IBCLC which lays out this dilemma and solution.  http://www.ambermccann.com/blog/milksharing/#ixzz27Oy2pI4Z">
As she says so nicely,

"I believe that parents are capable of making the choices that are best for themselves and their families. It is my job to make sure they have all the information to do so."

So as I cannot legally serve as a "Milk Broker", but there is no reason I cannot provide the information for you to explore all your possibilities for donating or receiving breastmilk.

I do not condone nor recommend buying and selling breastmilk as I believe money truly contaminates everything!   Also, I ask that you consider NOT donating to a for-profit company such as Prolacta because they are using donated milk to make hybrid baby milks and human milk fortifiers and selling them at a HUGE profit!

Also note that "left over" milk, even from the human milk banks is given or sold to the formula industries for research and patenting. Over 2000 patents of breastmilk components have been issued! This is not good :(        *for further info about that see- http://www.valeriemcclain.com

You do not want your precious gift of milk to be used in the ultimate demise of breastfeeding! 
(which sadly is the formula industry plan)

Personally, I believe mother-to-mother milk sharing with someone familiar and with the screening methods you are both comfortable with is a great option.


For more info on the subject of milk sharing you can also check out:http://www.milkjunkies.net/2012/09/milksharing-and-la-leche-league.html