FAN BULLETIN 2003

December 8, 2009

Before we get to the latest developments on the help being given to Mildura, “the little city that roared” we would like to urge your financial support to continue efforts like this to mobilize the voices of integrity and courage around the world to end this practice once and for all. Your support is critically important because we don’t get government handouts (like fluoridation promoters) and we don’t get huge foundation support (like the big environmental and public health organizations who won’t lift a finger to help us). We rely entirely on you, the people who care about principle, who care about their fellow citizens, who care about retaining integrity in public affairs.

In our fund raising efforts to date we have raised $3,410 on route to our goal of $50,000 by midnight Dec 31, 2009. We have had a total of 31 donors. Don’t forget we will receive another $1000 if we get more than 100 people donating $25 (or more) each.

Here’s how to donate:

* SECURE ONLINE: at https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=5061

* By Check in US dollar. Make payable to Fluoride Action Network, and send to Paul Connett, FAN, 82 Judson Street, Canton NY 13617

SPECIAL OFFERS!!!

– $25 donation: we will send you 1 plain box DVD, Professional Perspectives on Water Fluoridation ($50 = 2 DVDs, $75 = 3 DVDs, etc.)

– $40 donation: we will send you 1 fancy boxed copy of the DVD ($80 = 2 DVDs, etc.) - a great Christmas gift!

But please email separately at info@fluoridealert.org if you want take advantage of this DVD offer.

More on the Mildura front

Today we print four letters sent to Victorian Health Minister Andrews supporting the call for Dr. John Carnie’s resignation (see the updated list of signers of the Letter to Minister Andrews at http://fluoridealert.org/australia.carnie.letter.html )

One comes from Bill Grant, who describes himself as an average citizen from Connecticut; another from Professor David Hill from Alberta; another from Dr. Linda Rydholm, a City Councilor from Thunder Bay, Ontario and the fourth from Muna Lakhani, a social and environmental activist from South Africa.

There are a lot of wise words in these four letters and I urge our readers to read them closely.

In three of these letters the issue of the doctors’ Hippocratic oath “First Do No Harm” is raised. That oath of course is being violated with fluoridation. In this practice we are allowing decision makers to do to the whole community what an individual doctor can do to no one ? force them to take medication without their informed consent.

Every day doctors around the fluoridated world are allowing this to happen in silence, and as David Hill cited Martin Luther King Jr. in his postscript, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” (Thank you David for this wonderful quote.)

There are three basic questions that can be asked about fluoridation:
1) Is it safe”
2) Is it effective?
3) Is it right?

Those who have had a scientific training like myself tend to get caught up in doing battle on 1 and 2, but at the end of the day the most important argument must be number 3): Is it right?

Is it right to deliver medicine via the public water supply? Is it right to force people to take a medicine whether they want to or not? Is it right to go ahead without communities being given a chance to hear both sides and without being allowed to vote on the matter?

Is it right to remain silent?

We don’t need scientific qualifications to address these questions and both Bill Grant and Muna Lakhani make that very clear, as have about another 200 people from around the world who have signed the letter to Minister Andrews. Please get as many of your friends as you can to add their names to the letter, and if they feel so inclined to write their own personal letter to Minister Andrews. Please help the “little city that roared”

Paul Connett

More letters to Minister Andrews

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1) From Professor David Hill, Alberta, Canada.

It has come to my attention that communities in Victoria are being subject to arbitrary mandatory water fluoridation regardless of the wishes of citizens.

It is bad enough that this outdated practice is still promoted, despite overwhelming evidence of harms to many organs in the human body (thyroid, bones, brain, and even — yes — teeth in the form of fluorosis), together with clear evidence that any “benefit” is minimal or non-existent (see, for example, Dr. John Colquhoun’s comprehensive study of New Zealand children, reported in “Why I changed my mind about water fluoridation,” Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 41, 1 - Autumn 1997 — University of Chicago.

But the idea that citizens of a free democracy can be subjected to this unwanted harmful medical procedure against their will at the whim of one individual is quite extraordinary.

The Hippocratic oath, supposedly adhered to by all doctors, states: “First do no harm.” I would suggest that any doctor who imposes mandatory water fluoridation on a population should be asked to resign, and if he or she will not resign, should be relieved of their duties anyway.

Yours sincerely.

David Hill, P.Eng., F.B.C.S.
Professor Emeritus, University of Calgary, Canada
Member of the International Society for Fluoride Research

PS “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

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2) From Bill Grant, Groton, Connecticut, USA

I’m just an average citizen living in Connecticut, USA. I have been studying the question of fluoridation in municipal water supplies. With so much professional information and studies showing fluoride is actually harmful to humans and animals and with no real proof that drinking fluoride does anything positive for one’s teeth, I don’t understand how entire populations have been duped into drinking this stuff on a daily and permanent basis. I could see how this could happen in a communist country where the democratic process would not be available - but for this to happen in a wonderful country like Australia (and my own country) it makes my heart sad and challenges my sense of faith in those assigned the sacred duty of protecting - as best they can - the health and wellbeing of their fellow citizens. The largest mystery to me is the motivation of those working so hard around the world to force so many to ingest a known poison. The promoters of this poison say a little bit of it can’t hurt you. Scientific studies prove this position to be false?

Officials - in any country - that try to force entire populations to drink ANY AMOUNT of a potentially harmful substance should be immediately removed from office.

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3) From Dr. Linda Rydholm, City Councillor, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

It has come to my attention that water fluoridation has been determined for some places in Victoria, and that the people have not been consulted with a vote to fluoridate (or not). I hope that democracy has not been usurped by the influence of dental lobbyists on politicians or government administrators. I have been informed that a bureaucrat named Dr. John Carnie has been influencing the pro-fluoride agenda.

The City of Thunder Bay has a population of about 110,000 people and is located at the head of the “Great Lakes”, on Lake Superior. Our city water supply has never been artificially fluoridated, despite the efforts of some dental groups periodically over the decades.

Please be advised that the Canadian Dental Officer of Health and various health/dental association representatives have strongly lobbied my City Council in various ways during the past 2 years to add fluoride to the local water system. However, City Council has resisted their efforts?

Having done MUCH reading on the fluoridation of water, I offer the following comments related to the “Precautionary Principle” (”first, do no harm”):

- research shows that “OVERDOSE” occurs, for example 48% of 13 year old children in Oakville, ON, a fluoridated community tested positive for fluorosis in 2008 ….. fluoride is found in toothpaste, water, many beverages, canned soups and other tinned foods …. hard, brittle teeth probably means bones are also affected ….. white or brown spotting indicates OVERDOSE, and one wonders what else is happening in the body

- the most commonly used fluoride additive is hydrofluorosilcic acid (HFSA), a waste product from the processing of fertilizer or aluminum …. containing TOXIC elements such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, etc. ….. not good for people or aquatic life

- when questioned, the dentists/lobbyists here could NOT CITE any scientific research that proves the SAFETY of fluoridated water

- there are studies showing increased CORROSION of LEAD from water pipes ……. thyroid, cancer and other HEALTH issues

- a number of places in the world are discontinuing water fluoridation …..including places in Canada and Europe

Very best wishes to you as consideration is given to Fluoridation of Community Drinking Water. Studies and statistics can be used in various ways. Ensure that BOTH sides of the Fluoridation issue are heard and considered by the people.

No one should dictate the addition of an unnecessary and potentially harmful chemical like fluoride to the community drinking water system.

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4) From Muna Lakhani, South Africa

Respectful greetings from South Africa, and in particular, our Institute for Zero Waste in Africa (http://www.izwa.org.za/).

It is difficult to understand how it was possible, under your ministry, to allow this unsatisfactory state of affairs to arise in your part of the world. We are horrified that a paid government official can be involved in behaviour that can only be called scandalous, and many of us, from different parts of the world, are seeking to influence you in this critical matter.

Of course, I refer to the fluoride-gate and your Dr. John Carnie - not only is he in violation of the Hippocratic Oath (which I presume all your medical people have to take?), but he is abrogating to himself the position of judge and executioner - but it seems the reality is that he is a tool of harmful and vested interests, and at best, an ill-informed member of your team.

Not only would it help redeem you and your country in the eyes of many around the world if you asked for his resignation, it also behooves you to call for a halt to all the fluoridation processes that are being imposed will nilly on the populace at large.

Let us hope that history will judge you positively for your choice of the right path in this important matter.

Kind regards
Muna Lakhani
National Co-ordinator
Institute for Zero Waste in Africa
http://www.izwa.org.za/

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