August 21
Seattle Sites of the Day:

	Heart of America NW
	Citizen's Guide to FFTF
	Hanford Watch
	Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
	WPSR: Hanford

Saturday, August 26, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Community Action Network, 115 Prefontaine Pl. S, near 3rd and Yesler:

Work party to prepare for August 30 Dept. of Energy hearings, to ask the DOE "to close down the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) at Hanford, ... on 'hot standby.'

RSVP appreciated for work party. Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia, (206) 547-0952 or e-mail bb218@scn.org."

Wednesday, August 30, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. - U.S. Dept. of Energy hearing at Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle

Pre-hearing workshop with Heart of America Northwest, 5:45 p.m.

From WPSR on May 5, 2000:
"Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is appalled at Department of Energy Secretary Bill Richardson's announcement that DOE will initiate a 90-day 'Program Scoping Plan.'

"This plan is an attempt to find a mission for the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) at Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state, a facility that has long outlived its mission.

"The FFTF, built in the 1970s as part of the nuclear breeder reactor program, was shut down in 1992 and has been on 'stand-by' ever since.

"Maintaining this relic has cost taxpayers millions of dollars, money that could have been spent on cleaning up the vast wasteland of radioactive waste that surrounds the Hanford facility.

"Restarting the reactor would dramatically shift resources from Hanford's cleanup mission to a production mission, and would exacerbate cleanup efforts with new waste streams.

"'There is no rational basis for restarting the Hanford reactor,' declared Robert K. Musil, Ph.D., Executive Director of PSR. 'There is evidence that radioactive waste is seeping into the watershed and polluting the Columbia river.

"DOE should stop fishing around for a mission for this old relic reactor and put the money into desperately needed cleanup efforts at Hanford.' ...

"'This process is a slap in the face to the public and community stakeholders in Washington state,' said Tim Keller, M.D., president of Washington state chapter of PSR. 'Along with many others, we have clearly communicated over the past years that we want FFTF shut down, and real cleanup to move forward at Hanford.'"

For more information from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, contact Ruth Yarrow at ruthy@wpsr.org or (206) 547-2630.

"Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns with rare exceptions. ... When direct feeding is not possible expressed human milk, fortified when necessary for the premature infant, should be provided.

"Breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible after birth, usually within the first hour. Except under special circumstances, the newborn infant should remain with the mother throughout the recovery period. ...

"Newborns should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger, such as increased alertness or activity, mouthing or rooting. Crying is a late indicator of hunger. Newborns should be nursed approximately 8-12 times every 24 hours until satiety, usually 10-15 minutes on each breast with a range of 5-30 minutes.

"In the early weeks after birth, non-demanding babies should be aroused to feed if 3-4 hours have elapsed since the last nursing. ...

"No supplements (water, glucose water, formula etc.) should be given to newborns unless a medical indication exists... With sound breastfeeding knowledge and practices, supplements are rarely needed. Pacifiers should be avoided in the hospital unless a baby and mother are separated by illness.

"... exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life.

"Gradual introduction of solids begins in the second half of the first year. It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and thereafter as long as mutually desired.

"... in the first 6 months water, juice and other foods are generally unnecessary for breastfed infants. ...

"Should hospitalization of the breastfeeding mother or infant be necessary, every effort should be made to maintain breastfeeding, preferably directly, or by pumping the breasts and feeding expressed breast milk, if indicated.

"Encourage and support no separation of mothers and babies. Babies who require special intensive care should still have as much access to parents as possible.

"Assure that breastfeeding begins as soon as possible after birth, usually within the first hour. Skin to skin contact between mother and baby is to be encouraged. ...

"Prohibit the distribution of infant formula discharge packs, promotional items, educational materials or acceptance of money from formula companies for education or supplies."