FAN Bulletin 930
 
February 15, 2008

Dear Supporter,

The World Council of Elders (WCOE) is a nonprofit organization comprised of spiritual elders from native and indigenous peoples in the U.S. and around the globe that is dedicated to preserving the culture, spiritual teachings, and health of indigenous elders. American Indians are disproportionately harmed by kidney disease and diabetes, and WCOE on hearing about warnings from the NRC (2006) panel that those with kidney disease may be particularly vulnerable to drinking fluoridated water sent the following letter to John Davis, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation.
 

        February 8, 2008
         
        John Davis, CEO
        National Kidney Foundation
        30 East 33rd Street
        New York NY 10016
         
        Dear Mr. Davis,
         
        It has been brought to our attention that the National Research Council has designated diabetics and kidney patients as “susceptible subpopulations” that are particularly vulnerable to harm from fluoride ingestion.  The NRC study can be found online. [Ed. You can buy the book or scroll down to see the table of content and read it chapter by chapter online.]
         
        As an educational organization dedicated in part to maintaining the health and well-being of indigenous elders, we are alarmed that the National Kidney Foundation has not publicized the findings of the NRC.
         
        Native Americans are at a high risk of developing diabetes, a disease that often leads to kidney problems.  Diabetics are thirsty, and therefore, ingest large amounts of potentially-fluoridated water.  In places where the water supply is not pure, the drink of choice is soda, which frequently contains fluoride.  The accumulation of this toxic substance can lead to further damage to the kidneys and to the bones.  Yet the health problems of the populations that we serve are already immense, complicated by poverty, indifference, and a lack of political power.
         
        As far as we know, neither the Indian Health Service nor the CDC have alerted the Native American tribes in this country to this critical health information. Because the NKF is presumably independent of any political or governmental pressures, you must advocate on behalf of our Native elders and openly oppose water fluoridation.
         
        We respectfully request your assistance on this matter.
         
        Sincerely,
         
         
        Woody Vaspra, President
        World Council of Elders
         
        cc: Joseph Vassalotti, Chief Medical Officer

I hope our contacts in Australia and New Zealand will forward copies of this letter to indigenous peoples in their countries. Meanwhile, Dan Stockin has sent us more details on the Lillie Center’s efforts to put pressure on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). He writes:

    We have been working to put pressure on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to publicly come out against water fluoridation. After attorney Robert Reeves’ letter last fall to NKF about NKF’s failure to warn kidney patients, their caregivers, and their families that kidney patients are particularly vulnerable to harm from fluoride ingestion (per the National Research Council), NKF’s national board of directors immediately discussed the issue. NKF has since withdrawn its outdated position paper about the safety of fluoridated water for kidney patients and is now trying to figure out what to do next. If they don’t say fluoridated water could harm kidney patients, they face the prospect of all kinds of lawsuits. If they do come out against fluoridation, they must withstand attacks by CDC and other groups.

    We have been encouraging kidney patients and concerned citizens to contact NKF. I’ve been told that NKF is being “flooded” with calls and emails, but we need to increase the pressure even further. I’ve been talking to kidney patients, dialysis caregivers, members of the African American community (disproportionately affected by kidney disease), and other kidney-related groups. Dear Abby (Jeanne Phillips) is on the board of NKF. If FAN members would like to help “widen the crack” that has opened related to the kidney harm issue, FAN members as concerned citizens and their relatives or contacts with kidney stones, kidney disease, kidney transplants, or on dialysis can: 1) email and/or fax NKF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Vassalotti josephv@kidney.org / fax: 212-779-0068; and CEO of NKF John Davis: johnd@kidney.org / fax: 212-889-2001, and send a letter by hard copy or fax to Board of Directors, National Kidney Foundation, fax: 212-889-2001, snail mail: Natl. Kidney Fdn, 30 East 33rd Street, New York NY 10016. African American, Native American, and other groups that FAN members have contacts with could really help by wading in. Also send a note to Dear Abby at: dearabby.com . News organizations can also be shown attorney Reeves’ letter to NKF at: fluoridealert.org/NKF_letter01.pdf

 
Meanwhile, if you live in Southern California don’t forget the meeting that Gene Burke has organized for Saturday February 16 in Santa Monica. Details below.

Paul Connett
———————————————————————

The Santa Monica Forum on Fluoridation

DATE:
Saturday, February 16, 11 am - 2 pm

WHERE:
Santa Monica Library Auditorium (on ground floor)
601 Santa Monica Blvd. (enter from 7th Street entrance)

TOPICS:
? What can we do to end fluoridation in SoCal and how can we do it?
? Discuss a new SoCal network for Safe Drinking Water actions.

FEATURED SPEAKER:
Dr. Paul Connett, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network
(Bring a “pen drive” if you want to access a digital copy of Dr Connett’s power point presentation.)

DIRECTIONS:
405 to 10 Fwy West; exit after a few miles at Lincoln Blvd;
Stay in right lane & turn right (North) on Lincoln.
At Santa Monica Blvd, turn left. Go one block and turn right on 7th St. Then quickly left turn into driveway of Library entrance. Suggest self-park in Library building (underground). Take ticket - go to 1st floor Auditorium.

EVENT COORDINATOR:
Gene Burke
Santa Monica Safe Drinking Water Coalition, P.O.Box 358, Santa Monica, CA 90406
Tel: 310-451-9950
Email: burkegene@msn.com