tuluum's Diaryland Diary
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BOYCOTT NESTL�!
I've been having some serious fun with my Free Agent Path stuff so far :) Had some cool sessions with Steve, Lynn and Faizah so far :D
A few entries ago I made mention of my boycott of Nestl� products. But I didn't go into any details. I want to talk about it a bit more now and I hope that I will, by doing so, cos some of you out there to join me in my boycott, and will spread the word in turn!
We Can't Let Them Get Away with It!
Why I Am Boycotting Nestl�
1) Nestle promotes artificial infant feeding around the world, breaking a World Health Organization (WHO) code of marketing.
2) WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund say that reversing the decline in breastfeeding could SAVE 1.5 MILLION LIVES EVERY YEAR. Millions of infants become seriously ill -EVERY YEAR- because they are NOT BREASTFED.
3) Where supplies of water are unsafe and conditions unsterile (as in many Third World Countries), a bottle-fed baby is up to 25 times more likely to die as a result of diarrhea. Expensive formula (often costing more than half the entire family income) impoverishes people who are already poor. Milk is often watered down to make it go further, thus adding the extra risk of malnutrition. Yet it is these countries where Nestle's campaigns are the most aggressive and at times in blatant violation of international laws.
4) A breastfed child is less likely to suffer from gastroenteritis, respiratory and ear infections, diabetes, pneumonia, polio, allergies and other illnesses. "Bottle baby disease" is the name given to the deadly combination of diarrhea, dehydration and malnutrition, which is the result of unsafe bottle-feeding. (The majority of bottle-feeding in the Third World where Nestl�'s marketing is relentless qualifies as unsafe)
5) Breastfeeding is the best start in life for a child - but Nestl�'s baby food marketing puts profits before health.
6) Baby Milk Action coordinates the 20 country international Nestle boycott that is currently in effect (participants include Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Cameroon, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and USA). They focus on Nestle because Nestle controls about 40% of the world market in baby milks and uses its influence to undermine controls on marketing activities. Monitoring shows Nestle to be the largest single source of violations worldwide. The Boycott is supported in the UK by over 100 church, health and consumer groups, over 90 businesses 80 student unions, 17 local authorities, 12 trade unions, 74 politicians and political parties and many celebrities.
Nestle takes notice of sales figures - by boycotting Nestle, you can help stop MILLIONS of unnecessary DEATHS.
What Can You Do?
1. Don't buy any Nestle products. If the company you work for provides Nestle products in Vending machines or in the staff canteen, make sure whoever is responsible is aware of their practices. Nestle's reach is wide and for a complete list of their products click here. BTW Nestle is also behind L'Oreal and Lancome two of the most cruel practitioners of animal testing on the market today.
2. Email this message in your own words:
"I understand that Nestle baby milk substitutes contribute to the unnecessary death of 1.5 million infant deaths per year, I therefore pledge to do my best not to buy any Nestle products. I shall continue my boycott until independent monitoring demonstrates that Nestle no longer unethically advertises or promotes breastmilk substitutes."
Use this page to send email to Nestle.
3. Forward this message to all your colleagues and friends by email, and tell others who don't have email access.
4. Contact Baby Milk Action for information on how you can join and contribute to their campaign.
Notes:
1. UNICEF reviews contaminants:
The possibility of breastmilk contamination has recently been portrayed in alarmist headlines by the media. A UNICEF paper 'Breastfeeding and Environmental Contamination' reviews the evidence. The superiority of breastmilk, despite the presence of small quantities of chemicals is affirmed. One study cited estimates that 'about three days of life expectancy would be lost because of cancer attributable to contaminant exposure through breastmilk. In contrast the decrease life expectancy from not breastfeeding was about 70 days'
2. Exclusive breastfeeding recommended for 'around 6 months': This is one of the conclusions of a WHO. report reviewing existing scientific knowledge about complimentary feeding in developing countries. The report states that 'full-term infants with appropriate weight for gestational age should be exclusively breastfed until about 6 months of age' and that 'children should continue to be breastfed for up to 2 years of age or beyond'
3. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk substitutes was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981. It aims to protect all mothers and babies from aggressive company practices and to ensure that they receive accurate information. It bans all promotion of baby milks and other breastmilk substitutes.
For more information -> Visit this site
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6:57 a.m. - Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003
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