More Than Stone

In response to my post on Nestle, Glen posted a comment on my site, and on his blog. Glen’s wife is a medical researcher and she disagreed with saying Nestle is “an evil” company. She cited lack of clean water sources, lack of adequate nutrition and HIV as reasons mom’s can’t breastfeed. All of which are valid concerns.

However, this does not negate Nestle’s role in undermining breastfeeding in women who SHOULD be breastfeeding. I would like to cite some sources to back this up.

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes

FAQ on the code

Monitoring compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in west Africa: multisite cross sectional survey in Togo and Burkina Faso from BMJ

Nestlé’s violation of international marketing code

The Truth About Nestle

From WHO:

Difficult circumstances refer to situations faced by particularly vulnerable groups such as:

* HIV-infected mothers and their infants
* People suffering the consequences of complex emergencies, including natural or human-induced disasters such as floods, drought, earthquakes, war, civil unrest and severe political and economic living conditions.
* Low birth-weight or premature infants
* Infants and young children who are malnourished
* Adolescent mothers and their infants
* Children living in special circumstances such as foster care, or with mothers who have physical or mental disabilities, or children whose mothers are in prison or are affected by drug or alcohol abuse.

WHO is working on technical guidelines and materials for infant and young child feeding for vulnerable groups, in particular as it relates to HIV and infant feeding, infant feeding in emergency situations, feeding of malnourished children and feeding low-birth weight and premature infants.

The contribution of breastfeeding to mother-to-child transmission of HIV is an area of considerable concern. Evidence shows that up to 20% of infant born to HIV-infected mothers may acquire HIV through breastfeeding, depending on duration and other risk factors. Recent studies indicate a heightened risk of transmission during the early months. However, evidence from one study shows that exclusive breastfeeding in the first three months of life may carry a lower risk of HIV transmission than mixed feeding does. WHO is supporting research to estimate risks of transmission associated with exclusive breastfeeding and early cessation, as well as to develop interventions to ensure safe replacement feeding. Pending new information, the UNICEF/UNAIDS/WHO guidelines issued in 1998 remain valid. For more information on available guidelines and tools, please refer to the page on HIV and Infant Feeding.

In WHO’s most recent guidelines (2003) on HIV and breastfeeding it states

Exclusive breastfeeding during the first 4-6 months of life carries greater benefits than mixed feeding with respect to morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases other than HIV.

Replacement feeding carries an increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with malnutrition and associated with infectious disease other than HIV. This is especially high in the first 6 months of life and decreases thereafter. The risk and feasibility of replacement feeding are affected by the local environment and the individual woman’s situation.

HIV, lack of proper nutrition, and no access to clean water are CLEAR issues that must be addressed when we are looking at poverty. However, corporate greed, as has been evidenced by Nestle, must be stopped as well. Nestle continues to violate the code, not only in third world countries, but also in second and first world countries as well.

If you are still reading, here are more issues with Nestle….

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHDOG SUES NESTLE, ADM, CARGILL FOR USING FORCED CHILD LABOR

Most Wanted” Corporate Human Rights Violators of 2005 from Global Exchange

Corporations and Worker’s Rights

Just two decades ago, Sri Lanka was a country where fresh milk was freely available and very cheap. In 1981, under the policy of liberalisation and privatisation, the government took a decision to close the National Milk Board and signed an agreement with Nestle to develop the dairy industry. After 20 years, there is no fresh milk available in the market, and the entire milk foods sector is in the hands of just two or three large companies, such as Nestle, Anchor and Maliban, which market only milk powders imported from the West.

Nestle Taken to Court for Trafficking, Torture, and Beatings of Child Laborers on West African Cocoa Farms

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR APPALLED WITH THE DECEPTIVE TACTICS OF MILK
COMPANIES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Technorati Tags: Rob Bell, easter, Burundi, Mars Hill, resurrection

When I had the chance to go to Mars Hill for the Isn’t She Beautiful conference. At that time, Rob Bell said that at the beginning of Lent, a plan would be unveiled for people around the world, that feel part of Mars Hill to get involved. Here is the XYZ, watch the video and if your intrigued, check out the site. It’s so cool.

Technorati Tags: Mars+Hill, Rob+Bell, poverty, church

HT to Max for this article.

For those of you following all the goings on in the Anglican Communion, a fascinating speech given by BISHOP MUSONDA TREVOR SELWYN MWAMBA of Botswana. If you have some time, hop over and read it. It’s a different view from Africa than the one that I have heard touted the most. If you are unfamiliar with the split in the Anglican Communion, at the most basic level, it’s about homosexuality. Some churches in the US (and elsewhere in the West) have split from ECUSA and joined AMIA. (And if you ARE unfamiliar with this schism, where HAVE you been?)

One thing I have wondered during this whole thing, is how does power and $$ play into this? AMIA now has 109 affiliates with over 70 other groups in various stages of formation. How much $$ is now being directed to the provinces in Rwanda and Southeast Asia? Does this $$ play into the schism? Read a quote from Bishop Mwamba….

“The other factor influencing the voices from Africa is numbers and the almighty dollar!

These factors can be seen to influence – and at times bring pressure to bear, or even manipulate the situation. Where does ‘power’ lie in the present debate? The provinces in Nigeria have collectively the largest number of Anglican members in the world – more than the Church of England and ECUSA combined! America has long been generous in its hospitality and support for African church projects and its leaders, however, in the current situation, the almighty dollar has been used to strengthen the voice and position of some African bishops who have been invited to the States and given generous incentives. Very tempting indeed for a bishop from a poor African diocese to be feted and offered funds by his American hosts, if he endorses the party line!

One of the things that amazes me in this whole debate is the manner in which lobbying, very peculiar to America, has been used to influence opinion, decisions, and relationships, which results in the creation of a culture of ‘them’ and ‘us’, ‘in’ and ‘out’, and never shall the twain meet. The success of this lobyying has been assisted mainly by the dissemination of information on the internet.”

I am not implying that the Bishops that support the separation of US churches from ECUSA do not have strong beliefs and convictions. I am saying, however, that money has a great potential to corrupt and confuse issues.

Another quote from the Bishop.

” One is reminded of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the King sitting as a judge orders the jury to consider their verdict even before the trial has began. And the Rabbit hastily interrupts, “Not yet, not yet! There is a great deal to come before that!”

Yes, there is a great deal to come from the listening process and so we all need patience the solution will not come today or tomorrow but most likely within the next 20 years or God’s time because God who was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, is also here today working for reconciliation in the Anglican Communion as we embrace different views of our faith. Reconciliation is the answer.”

Reconciliation is the answer. Hmmm. I think that perhaps this is a theme that continues to pop up. Isn’t this what God is about? Reconciling us to Him and to each other.

NOTE: I am adding this addendum to this post. I found a quote by Archbishop Kolini. (see AMIA.)

Quoting the Bible, Kolini said that Christians should always keep their bodies pure since the body is God’s temple. He said that yielding to acts of homosexuality is tantamount to committing genocide.

“In Rwanda we are spearheading the ‘Never Again’ notion. We had physical genocide and we can’t afford having another moral genocide,” he emphasized

Wow. This is so sad. Another genocide? This type of inflammatory rhetoric should NOT be allowed.

Technorati Tags: Anglican, AMIA, Africa, Kolini, Yong, homosexuality

John Stackhouse has a great article entitled “William Wilberforce as an Evangelical Leftist?”.

Stackhouse says, with tongue in cheek-

Whatever happened to proper evangelical social concerns: abortion, promiscuity, euthanasia, homosexuality? You know: beginning of life, end of life, and sex in between?

HT JR Woodward

To quote Bono…

“His Truth is Marching on….And to those in the Church who still sit in judgment on the AIDS emergency, let me climb into the pulpit for just one moment. Because whatever thoughts we have about God, about who He is, or even if God exists, most will agree that God has a special place for the poor. The poor are where God lives. God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is where the opportunity is lost and lives are shattered. God is with the mother who has infected her child with a virus that will take both their lives. God is under the rubble, in the cries we hear during wartime. God, my friends, is with the poor.”

Technorati Tags: bono, AIDS, Africa, NAACP

Phil Wyman of Square No More, pastor of the Salem Gathering, said that the Scripture about the sins of Sodom, caught his attention in this video. I jumped over to You Tube to view it. It addresses just about everything I’ve posted on in the last few days. Take 6 minutes and 42 seconds to watch this.

Technorati Tags: poor, needy, social+justice

Thanks to John for pointing out Mike Todd’s blog. Mike is seeking 1000 people to give $10.00 by December 31st to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation funds community-based initiatives in Africa. Our funding works in four areas:

* to provide care at the community level to women who are ill and struggling to survive, so that their lives can be free from pain, humiliation and indignity;
* to assist orphans and other AIDS-affected children in every possible way, from the payment of school fees to the provision of food;
* to support the unsung heroes of Africa, the grandmothers, who bury their own children and care for their orphan grandchildren;
* to support associations of people living with HIV/AIDS - courageous men and women who have openly declared their status - so that they can educate themselves and share information with their broader communities on prevention, treatment, care and the elimination of stigma.

So, post this on your blog, give 10 bucks, make this your “one thing” for today.

Technorati Tags: Stephen+Lewis+Foundation, World Aids Day, Aids, Africa, poverty