FAN Bulletin 775

March 11, 2007

Dear All,

As most of our readers are very much aware, those who have promoted fluoridation - inspired by one of the great propagandists of the 20th century, Edward Bernays – have been brilliant in their ability to convince decisions makers, the media and the general public, that science is on their side, and the only opponents of fluoridation are a “vocal minority” of people unfamiliar with the literature and who practice “Junk science”. Even worse, they sometimes imply that opponents are in the lunatic fringe. In this respect their greatest success (or was it just plain luck?) was the appearance of the 1963 movie Dr. Strangelove in which the mad general warned of a communist plot using fluoridation to take over our “precious bodily fluids.”

With the avalanche of scientific studies which now show that the benefits of fluoridation have been wildly exaggerated and the dangers grossly underplayed, the promoters position is laughable – at least for those who are prepared to read. Last year’s National Research Council 500 page review should have ended this foolish notion that there is no scientific debate on this matter. However, promoters and the newspaper editors they dupe with their mush, continue to apply the same old formula of citing authority and denigrating opponents. And sadly, too often, get away with it.

That is why FAN is putting together (with the help of Maureen Jones, Eleanor Krinsky, Taylor Moore, Mike Ewall, Deb Moore and others) a list of distinguished scientists (including 14 Noble Prize winners), and professionals, drawn largely, but not exclusively, from the medical, dental and public health fields, who have expressed their outright opposition to this practice, or expressed their reservations. To help us we urge you to send us the name, degree, town and state, of any such person who has spoken up in your local campaign, so we can add them to the list.

Today, we start by bringing you a series of lists of such professionals from the past. I am doing this in small batches so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Our first list comes from Michigan in 1955. That is 8 years before Dr. Strangelove began to intimidate the scientific community from getting involved. The statement and list of names is printed below. You will get several of these over the next few days. I urge you to put these into a file so that you can produce them when necessary.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to get as many people as you can to watch these four videotapes:

1. “Don’t Swallow Your Toothpaste” (Channel 4, UK) (24 minutes)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5118194644870429589&hl=en

2. Canadian TV debate on fluoridation in the “Medical Hotseat” series (Health Discovery Channel, Canada) (22 minutes)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8651924132181016035

3. Harvard cover-up (Fox-TV, Boston) (7 minutes)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6559260786488769155

4. “The Fluoride Deception” (FAN’s interview with Chris Bryson) (28 minutes)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7319752042352089988&q=the+fluoride+deception

Paul Connett
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Voices from the past. Part 1.

March 31, 1955

The Honorable G. Mennen Williams
Governor of Michigan
Lansing, Michigan

Dear Sir:

Whereas, the addition of fluorine to drinking water is being vigorously promoted by the Michigan State Health Department and

Whereas, the evidence presented to physicians and dentists as proof of the benefits is highly contradictory and unconvincing and

Whereas, there is abundant and incontrovertible documentary evidence of Harm resulting from fluoridated water and

Whereas, what is being called the “safe” concentration of this cumulative poison is likely to result in considerable damage to a large portion of the population in years to come, because there are vast differences between individuals in tolerance to drugs and

Whereas, fluorine can be administered efficiently and economically to individuals who are convinced of its benefits and

Whereas, no man has the right to force another to partake of a dangerous drug against his will and

Whereas, there are proven cases of poisoning, especially in Highland Park and Saginaw, after only three years of fluoridation,

We, the undersigned, therefore, as members of the recognized national, state, and local societies of our respective professions, physicians and dentists practicing in the state of Michigan, herewith protest against the relentless promotional activities of the Michigan State Health Department and petition the Governor to call a halt to the persistent promotional effort of the Michigan State Health department on the local medical, dental and lay groups in the state of Michigan, until such time as they can present incontrovertible proof of its harmlessness to the general membership of our respective societies.

D. Ruedemann, M.D.
Cecil W. Lepard, M.D.
William H. Gordon, M.D.
Fritz Bramigh, M.D.
M. Large, M.D.
Aaron A Farbman, M.D.
Edward H. Lauppe, M.D.
George L. Waldbott, M.D.
H. C. Moritz, M.D.
M. H. Miller, M.D.
Charles H. Steele, M.D.
H. W. Vielmetti, D.D.S.
Warren R. Moore, M.D.
S. J. Joyce, M.D.
Clifford D. Benson, M.D.
Harold W. Carlson, M.D.
N. Brllke, M.D.
John H. Longe, D.D.S.
R. W. Alles, M.D.
H. E. Carnes, M.D.
K. K. Latteier, M.D.
Laslo Galdonyi, M.D.
Ruedeman, Jr., M.D.
Norman W. Brey, M.D.
Arthur W. Erkfitz, M.D.
Ralph M. Burke, M.D.
Bruce Proctor, M.D.
George C. Thorteson, M.D.
Flinn F. Morse, M.D.
Frank B. Bicknell, M.D.
Gabriel Steiner, M.D.
Harold E. Cross, M.D.
L. M. Sa’di, M.D.
H. E. Schmidt, M.D.
Louis D. Stern, M.D.
Lyle G. Wagoner, M.D.
John E. Andries, D.D.S.
Wadsworth Warren, M.D.
F. L. Sperry, M.D.
C. Stanley Waggoner, M.D.
A. E. Catherwood, M.D.
Neil J. Whalen, M.D.
R. L. Girardot, D.D.S.
E. C. Schulta, Jr., M.D.
Campbell Harvey, M.D.
Gordon Armstrong, M.D.
E. A. Sharp, M.D.
L. Bauer, M.D.
Prosper D. White, M.D.
T. Percy Clifford, M.D.
M. M. Braverman, M.D.
John E. Pittman, M.D.
Leo Orecklin, M.D.
Walter K. Whitehead, M.D.
H. A. Jarre, M.D., F.A.
Loren C. Spademan, M.D.
Ralph H. Pino, M.D., F.A.C.S.
J. W. Becker, M.D.
Hugh Stalker, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Harold B. Fenech, M.D.
Franz Blumenthal, M.D.
Hugh L. Dill, M.D.
Frederick A. Lauppe, M.D.
William F. Streit, D.D.S.
Earl G. Krieg, M.D.
C. N. Thurwachter, D.D.S.
Luther R. Leader, M.D.
Wesley G. Reid, M.D.
L. Paul Sonda, M.D.
Harry Hoemer, D.D.S.
C. L. Douglas, M.D. F.A.A.P.M.
J. Roach, D.D.S., A.A.A.
William E. Johnston, M.D.
Leslie T. Colvin, M.D.
Glen E. Millard, M.D.
John M Hopkins, D.D.S.
John E. Webster, M.D.
Earl G. Merritt, M.D., F.A.C.S.
William S. Sumers, M.D.
Charles J. Courville, M.D.
Raymond A. Goux, M.D.
Ernest C. Schultz, M.D.
Robert R. Sterling, M.D.