Breakdancing mums headspin for decent healthcare

24 September 2008

Carrying on from the hand-in of our giant, knitted petition, expectant mums have been gathering in five different countries for short flashmobs to raise awareness of the scandal that millions of women in poor countries and around the world aren't getting the healthcare they need for a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Along London's Southbank passers by were met with the unusual sight of 'pregnant' mums back-flipping their bumps.

The dancers in the video below weren't really pregnant; they were professionals wearing pregnancy suits. But the idea was to say to people: "Dancing like this when you're pregnant is dangerous. But for mums in poor countries - who often give birth without access to midwives, hospitals, or medicines - pregnancy is an even bigger gamble."

If you like the video, why not tap your neighbour on the shoulder at work and show it to them? Or you could email it to your mum. Either way, by passing it on you'll be helping us raise awareness of the issue ahead of the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit, where world leaders will meet to discuss progress on tackling global poverty.

The Millennium Development Goal 5 pledged to reduce the number of women dying in pregnancy or childbirth by 75 per cent, but it is the Goal most off track. World leaders must ensure that the promises they made are put back on track.

Similar flashmobs also went on in Paris, Berlin, Utrecht and Canada, which you can see by browsing over to YouTube.

Thanks to breakdancers Rosa, Odilia and Stella, and Yami and Sunanda from Flowzaic, and thanks to Zan Barberton for filming.

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