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As G8 gathers rich nation hypocrisy is exposed in attack on Philippines infants

Mike Brady | 05.06.2007 17:30 | G8 Germany 2007 | Ecology | Globalisation | Health

Rich nations will claim at the G8 meeting that they want to help developing nations. Yet when it comes to protecting the interest of their corporations they are prepared to overturn legislation to keep up profits, regardless of the impact on infant health. Plus action that can be taken to support the Philippines as it comes under pressure from the US and action to hold corporations to account.

This is to update you on developments with Baby Milk Action's work, with a focus on the Philippines and Bangladesh.

***George Monbiot on the bullying of the Philippines authorities

Baby Milk Action has been working with partners in the Philippines to monitor baby food company acitivities and support implementation of World Health Assembly marketing requirements.

Regulations updated by the Ministry of Health last year have been challenged by the baby food industry in the courts and US institutions have put pressure on the President of the Philippines to have the regulations suspended.

George Monbiot has written on this case in an article appearing in today's Guardian (5 June 2007). You can read it on-line at:
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,2095675,00.html

You can view a film from UNICEF Philippines showing the aggressive marketing practices used by the companies and its impact at:
 http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2007/05/watch-film-from-philippines-here.html

If you haven't signed our petition of solidarity with the Philippines yet, you can do so via the following campaign action.

***Campaign targeting Wyeth's aggressive marketing in the Philippines

Wyeth (makers of SMA formula in the UK) is part of the legal action against the Ministry of Health. Today we are launching a campaign exposing the type of aggressive marketing Wyeth wishes to continue in the Philippines. Last week it targeted mothers with young children with a promotion for its Bonna milks.

See pictures and send a message to Wyeth by going to our Campaign for Ethical Marketing action sheet for June 2007 at:
 http://www.babymilkaction.org/CEM/cemjune07.html

***Campaign against Nestlé's distribution of infant formula fliers to mothers in Bangladesh

Also on the campaign sheet, you will find details of how Nestlé is attempting to defend its practice of distributing fliers for its Lactogen infant formula through the health care system to mothers in Bangladesh.

This is a blatant violation of the World Health Assembly marketing requirements.

Last month a Guardian investigation exposed the practice and the impact of aggressive marketing on mothers and infants. Please send a message to the Chief Executive of Nestlé. See:
 http://www.babymilkaction.org/CEM/cemjune07.html

***The inside story

For inside information on Baby Milk Action's campaigning and its effect, see today's entry on my daily blog at:
 http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/2007/06/wyeths-assault-on-law-and-logic-in.html

If you prefer to listen to information, follow the link from there to my weekly podcast.

You can subscribe to receive alerts from Baby Milk Action via the 'contact us' page of our website
 http://www.babymilkaction.org/

If any of the links in this alert do not work, try cutting and pasting the address, making sure there are no line breaks.

Best wishes,

Mike Brady
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Mike Brady
Campaigns and Networking Coordinator
Baby Milk Action

Tel: 01223 464420 (International +44 1223 464420)
Fax: 01223 464417 (International +44 1223 464417)

Baby Milk Action, 34 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1QY
 http://www.babymilkaction.org/

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Without your support we wouldn't be here.
Please visit our on-line Virtual Shop at  http://www.babymilkaction.org/shop/

Read my blog at  http://boycottnestle.blogspot.com/

Mike Brady
- e-mail: mikebrady@babymilkaction.org
- Homepage: http://www.babymilkaction.org/