FAN Bulletin #967

June 6, 2008

Dear Supporter,

In an email sent to us last week, John Graham, of the National Pure Water Association in the UK, said that after attending a meeting of the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in Southampton,

“The impression received from this SHA meeting is that it’s a done deal from Health Secretary, Alan Johnson down.  Only overwhelming public opposition or legal action will stop it.”  

John is talking about the effort to force fluoridation on citizens of this large southern city in the UK. You can help mobilize this public opposition in two ways:

1) If you are reader from the UK, especially if you live in the Southampton area, please go to http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/latest/display.var.2308568.0.fluoride_you_decide.php and add your “NO” vote to this effort. Currently the NO vote is winning, 71% to 29%.

2) If you live outside this area, and even outside the UK, please post a comment in the Daily Echo, which is going out of its way to gather lots of input from citizens. Go to http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/hampshirenews/display.var.2323865.0.make_sure_you_have_your_say_on_fluoride.php

These votes and comments are critically important because the SHA is spending a massive $360,000 on a “public consultation process.” As John implies, this exercise if left to itself will almost certainly come back with the desired object of furthering the UK government’s push for fluoridation. We have also seen that, where the public is informed and the press allows comments to be expressed from both sides in an even handed fashion, the weight of public opinion can outweigh even massive spending by proponents. We saw this recently in Juneau, Alaska and Dryden, Ontario. Truth is on our side but for that to show we need good organization and communication.

So once again dear patient readers we are looking for some thoughtful words from your pen.

Below I have printed John’s email and below that the article in today’s Southern Echo, which has already garnered 18 comments, mostly anti-fluoridation.

Meanwhile, thanks again to all of you who sent one or both of the ONLINE Messages to the Louisiana House representatives. To date 723 sent the first message and 212 the second. If you haven’t sent the second yet you may wish to change the subject line, so they don’t assume that they are getting the same message over and over again. To send the second message go to: http://la2.fluoridealert.org

Many thanks.

Paul Connett

p.s. 700 people have already watched the latest video in FAN’s “Professional Perspectives” series: the top item on our home page http://www.FluorideAlert.org . Meanwhile, 61,474 have watched the first in the series featuring Dr. Bill Osmunson.

Email From: John Graham

South Central Strategic Health Authority decided at its board meeting on Thursday, 29/5/08, to go to consultation in Greater Southampton on its intention to introduce fluoridation there.  They will prepare for two months, consult for three months and the board will take a decision to proceed (or not) at a board meeting next January.  

Elizabeth McDonaugh, Ian Packington, Jan Brears and I attended as did a number of campaigners from the South Coast.  The board broke with normal practice and allowed 20 mins for contributions/questions from the floor.  Three spoke against and two in favour.  Elizabeth spoke about the harm from fluoride and was followed by two SHA/PCT clones who spouted the usual claptrap despite what Elizabeth had just said.  I then spoke about the legal issues.  The board then discussed the issue and one board member raised mild concerns about legality of F but was reassured by other board members.  The board then voted unanimously in favour of consultation.  The impression received from this SHA meeting is that it’s a done deal from Health Secretary, Alan Johnson down.  Only overwhelming public opposition or legal action will stop it.  

We left the meeting after the agenda item on fluoridation.  The Southern Daily Echo’s Jon Reeve followed us and we spent 15 minutes with him during which Ian, Elizabeth, Jan and others gave him much more information.