A word usually reserved for the powerful, is in this instance used to describe mothers just like you and me… Wow, except for in my own home I rarely get described as tyrannical, and then only when I’m very very grumpy.
(thanks Antonia!) The Tyranny of Militant Lactivism Oh, please! There’s so much good (as in bad, but inspiring) stuff worth responding to in this article, but I chose to do a comic in response to his final line: “Surely it is time we left it to mothers and mothers alone to decide how to feed their infants.” Indeed. And that’s EXACTLY WHY we ‘militant lactivists’ (funny, the only arms I have are for hugging ;o) - ooooooh, another good comic idea! want a ban on formula advertising to new mothers. EXACTLY.
xox,
Heather
ps. I spent some time reading the comments and found this:
BVGeesten
Comment No. 1084123
January 27 11:45
GBR
Q: “What do infant formula milk, cigarettes and alcohol have in common?”
A: The fact that all of the industries that make these products have historically poured money into phoney thinktanks and front groups to try to deflect criticism, and push the idea that any attempt to regulate their activities is “irrational” and “hysterical”.
Brendan, why don’t you tell us a bit more about the relationship between your online magazine, Spiked Online, and the “Infant and Dietetic Foods Association”?
On page 10 of your “Brand Manager’s Pack” (http://www.spiked-online.com/pdf/BrandManagersPack.pdf) it says that you’ve “worked with” the INFORM campaign, which is apparently “an Infant and Dietetic Foods Association (IDFA) initiative on behalf of the UK infant formula manufacturers SMA Nutrition, Nutricia (Cow & Gate,
Milupa) and Farley/Heinz.” (http://www.idfa.org.uk/resources/public/InformManifesto.pdf)
Also quite striking is the fact that all 8 articles on breastfeeding on the Spiked website (http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/issues/C112/) seems to take exactly follow the industry line in attacking what you call “militant lactivism”.
Sorry to bang on, but in your “Brand Manager’s Pack” it also says that one of the services you offer to businesses is that you can help them with “brand alignment”, or they can “commission a Spiked series”. I’m curious - how much does it cost to “commission a Spiked series”, and what would I get for my money?
In the name of robust, open debate, free speech etc., do you not agree that journalists with financial links to a particular industry ought to declare any such affiliations up front?
Nice, very nice.
This Musing is directly related to the Comic The World According to the Formula Manufacturers!