FAN Bulletin 992
 
July 24, 2008

Dear Supporter,

As our readers know even the best researched information often falls on deaf ears when we try to present it to local officials. They are too easily impressed with the “white coats” and “government officials” who repeat the mantra of fluoridation’s “safety and effectiveness” when it is backed up with a long list of “impressive” endorsements.

This situation becomes doubly frustrating when one knows that those who get away with this often know very little about the subject themselves and are usually speaking from ‘play sheets’ provided to them by PR firms or their department chiefs. I believe that their authority on this matter would quickly fall by the wayside if they had to testify under oath and that is why we continue to push for Congressional hearings.

Over the last few years I have witnessed performances from many of the leading public spokespersons for fluoridation ? either live or on videotape. These include Professor Michael Lennon, chair of the British Fluoridation Society; Dr. William Mass head of the Oral Health Division of the CDC; Dr John Carnie, Chief Health Officer of Victoria and most recently Dr. Peter Cooney, the Chief Dental Officer for Canada.

Dr. Peter Cooney

I have spent much of the last few weeks editing videos shot in Dryden, Ontario of a presentation there by Dr. Peter Cooney on April 1, 2008, and my response the following day. I think the result will be a powerful tool in the fight to end fluoridation in Canada. Because Dr. Peter Cooney sings from the same hymnbook as many other government “health” officials who promote fluoridation with “authority,” these videos will be useful in battling fluoridation everywhere it raises its ugly head.

Dr. Peter Cooney is the Chief Dental Officer of Canada ? a newly formed position in 2004 ? I suspect to promote fluoridation. He is big wheel in the FDI (World Dental Federation) which is hugely funded by industrial interests. Currently the FDI is working with WHO and IADR to promote fluoridation in every country ? they are claiming that access to fluoride is a human right!

Both Dr Cooney’s April 1 presentation, and my April 2 presentation were filmed by a local cable network (Shaw cable). An edited version of these were later shown on cable TV, but unfortunately no one in Dryden was able to tape them off air.  Meanwhile, the station adamantly refused to make the tapes available. For me this was very frustrating because I felt that I had done well in this exchange.

But all was not lost. A citizen (Ruth McLaren) who had traveled from Thunder Bay for the event had filmed both Cooney’s April 1 and my April 2 presentation from the audience. She had borrowed the video camera from a friend and this was only the third time she had videoed anything! She did not use a tripod so the camera is a little wobbly at times but the sound is excellent. So my huge thanks to Ruth and her friend Michel Barbeau for his technical support in getting me this footage. I have spent the last few weeks trying to cover up the really wobbly places with imported power point slides and other B-roll shots.

I believe that the unedited (soundwise) video presentation by Dr. Peter Cooney is an incredibly important document for us.

When the citizens of Dryden voted 87% to 13% against fluoridation on April 14, I would like to believe that this was a judgment on this “debate.”  However, it was really a result of the fabulous organization of the local group led by Joyce Fleming and a local pharmacist Rob Button. Note in his presentation Dr. Peter Cooney described the previous vote for fluoridation of 56% as massive!

Videotape descriptions.

There are 4 videotape segments, approximately 30 minutes in length each. I divided my response up into three segments .

Dr. Peter Cooney’s presentation. (No editing of sound. Some B-roll footage added for illustration and to cover wobbly shots.)
Paul Connett’s response to Dr. Peter Cooney (part 1). Specific responses to arguments made.
Paul Connett’s response to Dr. Peter Cooney (part 2). An overview of the Fluoridation Debate.
Paul Connett’s response to Dr. Peter Cooney (part 3). More Ugly Facts. More scientific details in Fluoridation Debate.

I think the combination of Cooney’s presentation and part 1 of my response will be excellent ammunition for any community in Canada confronted with Dr. Cooney’s promotional efforts. It will also be a good starting point for Canadian communities considering ending fluoridation.

I have edited part 2 of my response in a way in which it can act as a stand alone segment for communities who wish to get a 30 minute summary of the arguments against fluoridation. In fact, because it is so important I have repeated a section from part 1 on the neurodevelopmental effects of fluoride.

For those who wish to get some more in-depth comments on some of the science underpinning our case, part 3 will be very helpful. Unfortunately we are experiencing some difficulties uploading this segment, but we will post it as soon as we can. At the end of this tape I have added in some comments from Dr. Phyllis Mullenix, Dr. Hardy Limeback, Dr. William Hirzy and the  late Dr. John Colquhoun

Accessing the first three of these videotapes.

The first three of these tapes can be accessed on Google at

Dr. Peter Cooney’s presentation http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4888471756915953833&hl=en
Paul Connett’s response to Cooney (part 1) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8298672336694063917&hl=en
Paul Connett’s response to Cooney (part 2) “The Arguments Against Fluoridation.”
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6009890695063189914&hl=en

Happy watching. I would love some feedback on these tapes. Meanwhile, with this editing practice under my belt I am turning to the professional quality videotapes of my debate on the Isle of Man with Dr. Michael Lennon, President of the British Fluoridation Society.

Paul Connett