Lisa Murkowski: “at nine minutes after the hour of nine in communities across Alaska and around the world, people are pausing today to…”

“at nine minutes after the hour of nine in communities across Alaska and around the world, people are pausing today to observe International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Awareness Day. International FAS Awareness Day was first observed on September 9, 1999. It began with a small group of parents of children afflicted with FAS and Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE) who came together on the Internet to ask this compelling question, ``What if a world full of FAS and FAE parents all got together on the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month of the year and asked the world to remember that during the nine months of pregnancy a woman should not consume alcohol?'' These pioneering activists, most of whom were adoptive and foster parents, led by Brian Philcox and Bonnie Buxton of Toronto, Canada, did not have the resources of large public relations firms or well connected lobbyists. They organized the first International FAS Awareness Day on a shoestring using the Internet. Rapidly their group grew to include more than 70 volunteer coordinators in eight countries. Through this grassroots awareness effort, many women of childbearing age learned for the first time that no amount of alcohol in pregnancy is good. Each year their simple message travels further. On this fifth International FAS Awareness Day, we know that the message is getting across. Numerous observances are planned in my home State of Alaska.…”