The Story of Stuff Supports Healthy Mothers

Annie Leonard is the star of a popular video on the internet which explains, in very simple terms, the relationship between free-market economics, public health, environmental degradation, and the impending disasters of resource depletion and atmospheric chemistry changes. You can see Annie's video by clicking through on this link:

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

I found the most memorable part of Annie's presentation to be the part in the second section (entitled "Production") where she explains that since human beings are at the top of our food chain, we serve as the accumulation site for many toxic chemicals in the ambient environment. In practical terms, this means that, whether we like it or not, human breast milk contains a higher concentration of many toxic substances than any other food available. And, we expect vulnerable infants to consume it. The fifth Millennium Development Goal -- IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH -- tries to address the issue of environmental toxicity, and many other issues affecting the health of women.

I don't think it's really possible to separate the health of the mother from the health of the infant, and I think that this inseparability is thoroughly woven through the writings of the 14 c. Anglican mystic Julian of Norwich. Here is a passage from her work, The Showing of Love, paraphrased into metered verse, that expresses our connection to God by using the relationship between mother an infant as the paradigm:

Excerpt from Chapter 57:

For when God knitted him to us
As child within the Maiden's womb,
He took himself our sensual soul,
In which taking, he wrapped himself,
Having us all enclosed in him,
He oned himself in our substance.
In which oneing was perfect man.

For Christ, having knit into him
Each and all those who shall be saved,
Is perfect man and perfect woman.

Thus our Lady is our Mother,
In whom we are all like enclosed,
And of her we are born in Christ,
For she who’s Mother of our Savior
Is mother of all who shall be saved;
And our Savior our very Mother,
In whom we are endlessly born
Yet never shall come out of him.

It is distressing to see the intervention of toxic chemicals, many of them unknown and poorly understood, preventing the continuation and development of such an intimate and fruitful bond.