how did the demonstration go in Burnaby?

[Can Dance]

Against Nestle? anyone know?

[Janice in Canada]

Below, Renee provides a summary of what happened, in the end, with this
event.

Renee thanks me for distributing the information through my Breastfeeding Canada News list, but I
think the real thanks goes to Renee. It was she who identified and reported
this Code violation, and who advised us all on the details, and did much
legwork to find information, contact organizations for support, organize the
demonstration, and facilitate it. She continues with her follow-up in
encouraging the other supporters, and filing complaints with the appropriate
organizations. And this was all built on top of her decades of involvement
and working in educating BC health professionals and others.

I'm sure there are other strong and willing advocates everywhere, and we can
all be encouraged by seeing how the efforts of ordinary people can make a
difference.

Janice

-----Original Message-----
From: Renee Hefti [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 10:20 AM
To: Janice Reynolds
Subject: Re: Nestle 'Wine and Dine' Cancelled

Good morning Janice - yes would love to have you send out a thank you /
update for me.

Many thanks to those of you who participated in the email campaign to stop
Nestle from giving a
"wine and dine" talk to health professionals that was scheduled for June 12,

2008 in the Vancouver, Canada area. Hundreds of emails went to Nestle and
the College of Dietitians of B.C. and because of your emails, the event was
cancelled shortly before June 12, 2008. Yeah!

George Abbott, the B.C. Minister of Health, in a June 6, 2008 letter wrote,
"By targeting health professionals as invitees for the June 12, 2008 "wine
and dine" event, it is clear that Nestle is violating the Code's
sub-section, 7.3" and "community groups and breastfeeding champions have and

continue to influence the outcomes of events that do not meet the standards
of the Code." and "I encourage you to continue in the provision of this
influence in order to promote and support breastfeeding". Please email me
if you would like a copy of this very supportive letter.

However, Nestle, in their cancellation letter, did not admit this was a Code

violation and they said "this education event is in line with Code intent"
and they said "in an effort to avoid placing those who have requested this
information in any difficult situations, we have made arrangements to
provide the requested information in an alternate manner".

Since we had no idea what "alternate manner" meant (change of venue? change
of date? or ?) we went ahead with our demonstration. There were mother's
with their babies, consumers, midwives, doulas, nurses and lactation
consultants represented at the demonstration. Following the demonstration,
the group met to brain storm how we can further protect breastfeeding.

For those of you who also wrote to the College of Dietitians of B.C. with
concerns about the dietitian, Owennie Lee, planning to talk on behalf of
Nestle, there is follow-up work in this area. ie. the College will not act
on public concerns, about one of their members, until after a complaint is
filed. Complaints will be filed shortly. Her talk did violate the Code and
it appears she was also violating her organization's bylaws. If you would
like to file a complaint, email me off line for information. Also, this
same Owennie Lee, (a Nestle representative) offers prenatal nutrition
classes in Cantonese, in the Vancouver area. The first three items on her
program read: 1. Benefits of breastfeeding, 2. Comparing different formulas

and 3. Allergies.

Also, for those of you concerned that the talk was approved for Educational
Credits for pharmacists, please email, off line for more information.

Again, thank you so much for your support and thank you to Janice Reynolds
for circulating the information on her network. It was very powerful and
successful campaign. Together we CAN make a difference,

Renee Hefti - Graham
RN, Lactation Consultant
[e-mail]

[Can Dance]

that is FANTASTIC! thanks Janice!

[MaryJaneLouise]

for your activism!