FAN Bulletin 899

December 14, 2007

Dear All,

Scientific American has delivered a gigantic Christmas present to us. In its January 2008 edition you will find a 7-page article by Dan Fagan entitled,  “Second Thoughts about Fluoride” (pp 74-81). Largely focused on the NRC report, he writes “Scientific attitudes toward fluoridation may be starting to shift in the country where the practice began.”

You can find excerpts from the article in the top item on our home page at http://www.FluorideALERT.org  We cannot print the whole article because of copyright – however you can buy it online, or you can purchase the whole issue on the newsstands.   This is an article you will want to keep and share with others. The last paragraph of the article confirms that FAN has become a leading voice in the world-wide fight against this archaic practice. It reads:

“Opponents of fluoridation, meanwhile, have been emboldened by the NRC report. ‘What the committee did was very, very important, because it’s the first time a truly balanced panel has looked at this and raised important questions,’ says Paul Connett, a chemistry professor at St. Lawrence University and the executive director of the Fluoride Action Network, one of the most active antifluoridation groups world-wide. ‘I absolutely believe it’s a scientific turning point because now everything’s on the table.  Fluoride is the most consumed drug in the U.S., and it’s time we talked about it.’

And speaking about Christmas presents, we have reached that time of the year when FAN has to raise money for next year’s work. We are hugely outspent by our opponents but as the citizens of Juneau, Alaska beautifully showed, even when we are outspent $163,000 to $7,500 in a fluoridation referendum, we can still win when the public is informed by professional journalism.

In 2006, we won the scientific battle with the publication of the long awaited NRC report.

In 2007, we showed that over 1200 professionals agreed with us, by obtaining their signatures on the Professionals’ Statement calling for an end to fluoridation worldwide.* The huge support for this statement has shattered the proponents’ claim that “there is no scientific debate about water fluoridation.” The Statement was covered by national newspapers in Canada, ABC News affiliates in the US, and leading political blogs. A great start but there is much more to do.

In 2008, we have to win the battle politically. To do this we need to persuade more investigative journalists, national organizations, and decision makers to examine the NRC report on fluoride’s dangers. The Scientific American article is a great start to these efforts. An additional task in 2008 is to convince more and more people that the largest studies indicate that there is very little, if any, benefit in reducing tooth decay in the permanent teeth from swallowing fluoride. Surely, with so little scientific evidence of benefit (after 60 years of fluoridation) no rational decision maker could possibly sanction putting people at further risk from this practice.

Ultimately we have to persuade the US Congress to hold Congressional hearings to force the Oral Health Division of the CDC to explain why it is ignoring the science and stubbornly continues to promote fluoridation and also force the US EPA to explain why after over 20 months, it has not determined a new maximum contaminant goal (MCLG) for fluoride as recommended by the NRC panel. If the EPA does this scientifically it would halt fluoridation overnight.

But our 2008 effort will take a lot of money – and more than we have ever raised before. Last year we raised $60,000. This year we need to set our sights on raising $100,000, which is far less than some national groups spend accomplishing less than we have. That’s largely because so many people like you are out there buttressing our efforts without pay and often with little recognition.  

So once again we urgently need your support. Our mini-goal is to reach $12,000 before Christmas day and $24,000 by new year’s eve.  Our efforts have been boosted by a pledge from one of our most generous supporters. She will match the first $5000, dollar for dollar. So right now each dollar you donate will bring us two!

Please go to our home page and pledge as much as you can to keep our efforts going. It’s easy to do, just go to  http://www.FluorideALERT.org and click on the Donate link at the top of the page. You can choose to give a lump sum or contribute in monthly installments. Your donations are tax deductible (if you are a US citizen), because our parent organization the American Environmental Health Studies Project (AEHSP) has 5013C status. Alternatively, you may simply write out a check to AEHSP and send it to AEHSP, 82 Judson Street, Canton, NY 13617.

Thank you for all your hard work and financial support in 2007. Together we have come a long way these past few years, and together we can defeat water fluoridation once and for all. 2007 was a terrific year for us, help us make 2008 even better!

Meanwhile, a very HAPPY Holidays and a VICTORIOUS new year for you all.

Paul Connett
Executive Director
Fluoride Action Network

*You can read the Professionals’ Statement on our home page at http://www.FluorideALERT.org