MAiLBox Breastfeeding means optimum nutriti Dear Editor: Catherine Davey (Jan. 5 letter) will be pleased to know that I agree with her that it’s a woman's deci- sion whether to breast or formula feed her infant. However, before making that decision women must have up-to-date information in order to make an in- formed choice. First of all, it is not my ‘‘assumption”’ that breast milk provides the optimum nutrition for infants — it is an undisputed scientific fact. The World Health Organization and UNICEF unanimously zgree that breastfeeding is the unequalled way io previde the ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants, Breast milk is a living substance that contains almost as many live cells as blood itself. These cells actively destroy bacteria. The breastfed child suffers fewer infections (i.e. bowel, ear, respiratory) and is less likely to develop food allergies, eczema, asthma, childhood cancers and diabetes. The incidence of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) is decreased. Also, women who breastfeed for more than one month have a decreased risk of breast cancer. Catherine Davey lists physical inability as a reason not to breastfeed, but pediatricians indicate that probably 95 to 97 per cent of all woman can provide on She also lists returning to work as being incompati- ble with feeding despite the fact that many women manage to return to work and continue to breastfeed. In order to choose what to feed their babies, women must also have information about artificial feeding. Formula is usually cow's milk that has been process- ed, dried and manipulated. The living cells and an- tibodies are killed. It is a dead product. Formula has been found to have lead contamina- tion (levels higher than tolerable that are associated with learning disabilities, reduced intelligence and kidney damage) and dangerously high aluminum levels (affecting kidney function and IQ activity). The cost of formula feeding one infant for a month is more than $100 not including bottles, teats arid an- tibiotics for increased infections — an important con- sideration for the approximately 13 per cent of B.C. families who live at or below the poverty level. When making their choice women sometimes choose hottle feeding because it seems easier. It’s true that while breastfeeding is the natural way to feed it is an art that has to be learned. There is help available from knowledgeable nurses and physicians, lactation consultants, La Leche League leaders and the Van- couver Breastfeeding Centre. Renee Hefti 7 - Sunday, March 18, 199() - North Shore News GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TREASURY BILLS 12.50%* CALL ROD CLARK WALWYN STODGELL COCHRAN MURRAY LTD. 669-6262 * Min. 350,000 — 6 month rate — subject 988-6321 Kenneth J. Baxter Lawyer 310 - 145 Chadwick Court, North Vancouver (ust south of the market — next to the Seabus) . Lonsdale Quay Plaza m Divorce m A. John Lakes sufficient milk. Dear Editor: With respect to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Chuck Cook’s letter of Jan. 28 wherein he stated the GST will improve the overall fairness of the tax system by the provision of a sales tax credit to those families earning less than $30,000 annually, why levy a tax thar takes it in the first place? How will the Canadians with no fixed address, let alone the five per cent of the population who are functionally illiterate, receive their sales tax credit? How many of the 60,000 new jobs by 1992 will be tax collectors, and how much more will the in- Dear Editor: Noel Wright had interesting reasoning for supporting referen- dum-style financing for schools (Feb. 7). He felt that the $5,000 + figure per student was sufficient and extra requirements should be Dear Editor: Lynn Creek and Seymour River together form our last big rain- forest ecosystem near Vancouver. If any housing development begins past the cemetery on Lillooet West Vancouver creased bureaucratic payroll cost the taxpayer? Even more ominous, once the new tax system is in place, what is to stop the government from increasing the percentage to even more ‘‘revenue-producing”’ heights? Mr. Cook speaks of the great advantage to the Canadian economy when the current unfair manufacturing tax is removed. Great. I think we should remove that, too. The only consistent loser is the taxpayer. I do not believe that def- icits can be brought under control by increasing taxes. Deficits can be brought under contro! by reducing spending. shouldered by the parents. I would like to continue ap- plying this reasoning to health care. Each patient in B.C. should receive a set amount of funding for health care. If a patient requires Protect urban wilderness It is the mountains, forests, rivers and oceans that credit our beauty -— can’t we see the need to Maintain this immeasurably valuable urban wilderness? John Harvey GST will hit poor hardest It’s time the government began trimming its expenditures to suit its purse — cut out subsidies to in- dustries or expensive favors to special interest groups; reduce or Postpone non-essential spending programs. The poor and the handicapped will be hardest hit by this tax. Why not a good look at the current tax system, if we’re going to make any changes, and the provision for each Canadian of a guaranteed annuai income or a single flat in- come lax, easy to grasp, cheaper to administer, fair. Stanley C. Wood West Vancouver Education costs should be shared more funding, a referendum should be held for family, friends and neighbors to seek their agree- ment in financing the extra care. Just like the student, the needs of the patient and the contribution they make to society can take a back seat to the economics of the concerned parties. As ludicrous as this seems for health care, it also is for educa- tion. Funding for education is a responsibility to be shared across all of society as society ultimately reclaims the benefit or failure of the education of its youth. Peggy Snelling @ Maintenance m Custody fw Separation Agreements * James L. Straith g@ William J. Rodgers LAWYERS 202-1217 Lonsdale North Vancouver ENVIRONMENT How does the environmental movement determine how you invest your money or your vote? MR. PETER COOK - Senior Vice President. Ethical Investrnent Officer. Van City Credit Union & MR. RICHARD BIDWELL. - Technical Assistant, Media Arts, Green Party THURSDAY, MARCH 22nd SHAW CABLE 7 to 8 pm Call in 985-2151 Mm Host: Ernie Crist Lose the urge, Lose the habit Road, it will inevitably lead to fur- North Vancouver ther encroachment upon the maturing potential of the Lynn- Seymour refuge. Can our own inner-city rain- forest forever fight off the devel- opers whose obsessions are to cut and build? The vast majority of people today support the environ- ment. Too bad the mayor doesn’t. The obvious solution is higher density rezoning (including the proliferation of in-law suites) so that we don’t have to continue to deface our beautiful city. CANADIAN —— 986-4263 Free home estimates DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN Low, low prices on blinds Serving the North Shore for 18 years. North Vancoaver CUSTOM DRAPERIES ARD VALANCES Labour $6.50 per panel unlined, $7.50 lined. CUSTOM BEDSPREADS AND COVERS and tracks For FKEE Estimates Call 987-2566 You can quit smoking comfortably. We will design a personalized program and show you how to eliminate both the withdrawals and the habit. By combining hypnosis with new understandings about quitting smoking, kicking the habit will be comfortable and permanent without added stress or weight gain. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THE INI'TIAL CONSULTATION MAKE TOMORROW BETTER. CALL TODAY. Ce Daniel J. Rutley & Associates Clinical Hypnotherapists 986-9304