FAN Bulletin 897

December 12, 2007

Dear All,

The battles between governmental arrogance and citizen resistance are hotting up in different ways in Australia.

In Queensland, opponents are preparing to go to court to fight the move by Premier Anna Bligh to fluoridate the whole state. If you have any spare change that you would like to contribute to this effort please contact the adorable Ailsa Boyden afin2@bigpond.com.

Meanwhile, for those who track opinion polls, the votes on this practice, as recorded in a poll conducted by the Courier-Mail, has over the last 5 days swung dramatically over to opposition to fluoridation. On Dec 7, the poll recorded 3038 votes for fluoridation and 1559 votes against. Today, the poll shows 3890 votes against and only 3064 for. So in the last five days 2331 people have voted against fluoridation with a mere 26 voting for the practice– that’s nearly a 100 to 1 margin! Are the people speaking out or what? You can check this poll – as I do at regular intervals.

In Victoria, arrogant state officials are determined to push through their fluoridation program no matter what. But the citizens of the iron triangle of Warrnambool, Ballarat and Geelong have other ideas. In fact, when one considers the corrosive power that the state is trying to exert using its tame toadies in the dental and medical professions, I think I will refer to these three towns as the “stainless steel towns.” Organizers there are up to dealing with the corrosive influences of the state.

Here are some messages from key players today:

From Alwyn Anstis in Ballarat:

Dear Friends,
 
Fluoridation has been officially announced today in Ballarat.
Keeo your eyes and ears on the Media tonight and tomorrow.

On the Ballarat Courier website, posted 11th December.
 

Will update as soon as I can
 
Alwyn Anstis
alwyna@ncable.net.au

From David McRae in Geelong:

Water Quality Australia Inc.
 
FLUORIDATION MEMO  -  12-12-07
 
Warrnambool Standard appears to be running another online poll on fluoride.

Go online to the page of the Dec 11th story on how there will be no plebiscite for Warrnambool, according to the government, and there you will find the poll.

The people of Warrnambool are determined to keep this fight going and to win. Geelong and Ballarat have to fight just as hard, and develop a coordinated campaign with Warrnambool. This can only help any chance of getting the publicity needed for all fluoridation (eg. Melbourne) to be reevaluated.

This week Ballarat saw the start of the propaganda campaign - the delivery of the DHS fluoridation promotion booklet to households, which signals that government will announce that fluoridation is going ahead very soon.

The pattern is: (1) deliver the booklets  (2) several weeks later claim that very few people have rung the number tucked away in the back of the book, to complain  (3) claim that community consultation is complete and sign the order to the water authority to commence building the fluoridation equipment.
 
Doubtless Geelong will see the start of this process shortly. Government appears to have decided to make Ballarat’s critical time over the Xmas and new year period when potential protesters are away or preoccupied. Clever tactic.

 DAVID MCRAE
djmcrae@ncable.net.au

Philip (Buzz) Robertson reporting from Warrnambool:

Short note here from the Warrnambool rally.  Around 700-800 citizens congregated on the City Green which was a good turnout as there were other things on this evening.

Warrnambool’s Fluoride Action Group’s Vern Robson gave a summary of the action with Peter Hulin and others also giving good short sharp speeches. Premier Brumby said he will not be giving anyone a say about fluoride in today’s paper.

Then David Hawker Liberal for Wannon gave an interesting account of new legislation in Federal Parliament with ‘royal decree’ now allowing for Federal Government to arrange for plebiscites to be led on state issues.  Somebody in the crowd hollered out that was now a bit too late with labor in government all over Australia.  Vern Robson will be passing on the unanimous vote for Rudd  (the newly elected Prime Minister, PC) to be approached to give people a say.

Cheers Buzz

Philip Robertson
carmoora@bigpond.com

From Peter Sycopoulis in Warrnambool:

I see that our front page news is making it around the country (and around the world now - Paul, I  received your Bulletin late last night).  With a bit of luck that will be small compared to what should be in the press in a few days time - just keep your fingers crossed.
 
Our neighboring Shire Council has recently decided to defer the implementation of the dental section of it’s health plan until they seek the community’s view on fluoridation. They met with DHS representatives on 30th Oct. 2007 but the DHS representatives floundered to answer any of the questions to the Shire’s satisfaction.
 
The DHS promised to reply in writing and I received a copy yesterday. Their responses are pathetic…

I was in Dr. Natalie Ryan’s office yesterday morning and she said that Carnie (Chief Health Officer for Victoria, PC) and other dentists etc are trying desperately hard to show her up as some sort of fool but she looks to be doing a great job of replying to them with quality studies and information to back herself up.  
 
I hope we have some more good news for you in a few days.
 
Cheers
 
Peter Sycopoulis
psycopoulis@bigpond.com

If you would like to email your support to the “stainless steel triangle” please email your thoughts to djmcrae@ncable.net.au, alwyna@ncable.net.au, carmoora@bigpond.com, psycopoulis@bigpond.com

And, if you want to make my wife Ellen smile, find one (or more ) professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, chiropractors, naturopaths, lawyers, PhDs, academics, scientists, water board or water department officials, vets, architects, any officer in an environmental group with more than 50 members, a representative of any First Nations grouping, or members of local health boards).

If they wish to sign they can do so by going to http://www.fluoridealert.org/professionals.statement.html  Or if you would like to get their details (their names and qualifications, position, town, state and their email address), please send them to us and we will enter their names onto the list. Please send to paul@fluorideALERT.org

If you haven’t clicked on this URL recently, please check out the very impressive list of signers, which now includes Lois Gibbs (of Love Canal fame) who is our fourth Goldman prize winner and probably the world’s leading grass roots activist.

Paul Connett