[Janice in Canada]

[I think there may be a lot of errors in this "opinion" piece - but its really odd that the Nurse-Ins are attributed to NABA. I'll have to forward this to someone at NABA.

I wish this was corrected, but its probably a small readership anyhow.

(btw NABA is the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy
http://www.naba-breastfeeding.org/

Janice]

Cameroon: Missive From Mid America - the Politics of Breast Feeding in Public

http://allafrica.com/stories/200706211002.html

<partial quote>

The nurse-in is the brainchild of the National Alliance of Breastfeeding Advocacy (NABA), an interest group of breastfeeding advocates and supporters that lobbies for breastfeeding and all things related to breastfeeding. According to its Web site, the organization is intent on moving breastfeeding into the public health arena and restoring breastfeeding as a cultural norm.

In keeping with the adversarial vocabulary of civil-rights-inspired interest group politics, the New York Times and other media organizations have dubbed members of NABA, "lactivists," an expressive neologism made from the contraction of the words 'lactation" and "activist."

In the last few years, NABA and allied "lactivists" have come into national prominence through a number of highly publicized "nurse-ins." These are essentially protests by nursing mothers who assemble at a public location and breastfeed their babies as a sign of protest against what they feel is a 'lactose intolerant America,"

<snip>

[re: Delta and Emily Gillette]

After the incident, the National Alliance of Breastfeeding Advocacy (NABA) promptly swung into action. True to its objectives of breastfeeding advocacy protection, and promotion, NABA members organized the national airport nurse-ins. Mothers across America were incensed at Delta Airlines and Freedom Airlines. Many of them cancelled their scheduled flights with these airlines.

(see link for full item)

Janice

 

[Sagesgirl]

Hmm, I've never heard of NABA. Why didn't I get that memo?

 

[jaxxy]

the naba website has some good information. \

ETA: I really like the story in the second link...thanks!

 

[Janice in Canada]

Just to make it clear for new members, who weren't around for the Nurse-Ins.

NABA has nothing to do with the Nurse-Ins - I contacted Marsha Walker, the Exec. Director for NABA, and she said she has no idea why this was said in the article, and no one contacted them for an interview. She doesn't think that "nurse-in" is even mentioned on their website.

The Nurse-ins were all organized by moms, through internet networks and bulletin boards like this one. This Lactivism formun at MDC was the main rallying point for many of them, including NYC "The View" Nurse-In, and the Delta Nurse-In, as well as others. The support material for these 2 Nurse-Ins were primarily organized by myself and Ashley Clarke, with help for NYC from Erika Ross, and for Delta from Lorrie Leigh. Many many other women put in lots of hours organizing their local areas. We did this all anonymously - the media kits never included our names.

So I suppose when someone is writing about the Nurse-Ins, they can't find anyone specific to attribute the organization to. So they make guesses, or mistakes.

We don't mind doing this without recognition, but we don't like it when the recognition goes to someone or a group that had nothing at all to do with it!!!

Especially since in some cases, the more established breastfeeding groups had been less than supportive of the idea of nurse-ins, and only now are coming to realize their strength!

Janice