Theme: Breastfeeding. Maximum card mailed to me as a postcard by my friend "Luxi" from Luxemburg

The theme/subject of this custom-made UNICATE (only 1 in the world) maximum card is breastfeeding, as a concept.

It's not strictly about Luxemburg, although the stamp and the postmark are from there.

It's not strictly about Africa, although the postcard depicts a Himba mother with child.

"The Himba are an ethnic group of about 20,000 to 50,000 people^[1] living in northern Namibia, in the Kuneneregion (formerly Kaokoland) Recently they have also built two villages in Kamanjab which have become tourist destinations. They are mostly a nomadic, pastoral people, closely related to the Herero, and speak Otjihimba, a dialect of the Herero language."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himba

That's why I have approved Luxi's proposal to create this maximum card for me.

Breastfeeding, as a concept.

For those puritans who might object to any public image of naked breasts, here's an example from the official [State] Flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Virginia.svg

"The obverse of the seal is the official seal of Virginia and is used on all the official papers and documents of the Commonwealth's government, as well as on its flag. On this side, a female figure personifying the Roman virtue of Virtus was selected to represent the genius of the new Commonwealth. Virginia's Virtus is a figure of peace, standing in a pose which indicates a battle already won. She rests on her long spear, its point turned downward to the ground. Her other weapon, a parazonium, is sheathed; it is the sword of authority rather than that of combat. Virtus is typically shown with a bare left breast; this is commonly recognized as the only use of nudity among the seals of the U.S. states.

Tyranny lies prostrate beneath the foot of Virtus, symbolizing Great Britain's defeat by Virginia. The royal crown which has fallen to the ground beside him symbolizes the new republic's release from the monarchical control of Great Britain; Virginia and New York are the only U.S. states with a flag or seal displaying a crown. The broken chain in Tyranny's left hand represents Virginia's freedom from Britain's restriction of colonial trade and westward expansion. The useless whip in his right hand signifies Virginia's relief from the torturing whip of acts of punishment such as the Intolerable Acts. His robe is purple, a reference to Julius Caesar and the Etruscan king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus.

The motto selected for the obverse of the Virginia seal is Sic semper tyrannis, or in English, Thus always to tyrants. This is a derived quote from the famous events in Roman history, attributed to Brutus upon his participation in the slaying of Julius Caesar. (Caesar had been named perpetual dictator of Rome in the same year, and some Senators believed had ambitions to abolish the Roman Republic and establish himself as a monarch.)".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_of_Virginia

Listen to this interview from NPR, and read the abridged transcript, too!


 

A Breast Oncologist, Diagnosed With The Disease

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/14/131760656/a-breast-oncologist-diagnosed-with-the-disease

"Causes [of cancer]

"Definition of breast cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

"Cancers are primarily an environmental disease with 90-95% of cases due to lifestyle and environmental factors and 5-10% due to genetics.[4] Common environmental factors that lead to cancer death include: tobacco (25-30%), diet and obesity (30-35%), infections (15-20%), radiation, radon exposure, stress, lack of physical activity, and environmental pollutants.[4]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer


Estimated new cases and deaths from breast cancer in the United States in 2010:

	New cases: 207,090 (female); 1,970 (male)
	Deaths: 39,840 (female); 390 (male)"

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast

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Happy PFF (Postcard Friendship Friday)!

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