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UK Against Fluoridation

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Author heading dementia campaign

Author heading dementia campaign
"We have got used to believing that Alzheimer's is automatically a part of getting older, and it isn't" Author Terry Pratchett has handed in a petition to 10 Downing Street calling for an urgent increase in funds for dementia research.
The petition, which has been signed by 20,000 people, describes current level of funding as "appalling".
The campaign is backed by more than 100 top scientists.
The Discworld creator, diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease this year, also met Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Health Minister Phil Hope.
The petition, addressed to Mr Brown, highlights that Alzheimer's and related diseases, which affect 700,000 people in the UK, currently receives just 3% of research funding.
Mr Pratchett, 60, said: "We are facing, to use the term said to me by one of the leading US researchers, a worldwide tsunami of Alzheimer's and other dementia diseases. .....................

Too many toxic substances in the environment?

Further dumbing down of the masses

Further dumbing down of the masses:
Australia seeks comment on fluoride in bottled water
Water Technology Online
Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:42 UTC
Food Standards Australia New Zealand, a bi-national government regulatory agency, is seeking public comment on a proposal that would allow beverage manufacturers to add fluoride to bottled water.
The agency undertook review of the matter after the Australian Beverages Council Ltd. applied for approval of the voluntary addition of fluoride, at a level of 0.6 - 1.0 milligrams per liter (total of naturally occurring and added fluoride), to bottled water. According to the Foods Standards agency, this level aligns with the fluoride levels in fluoridated tap water, considered to have a "history of safe use."
If approved, bottlers adding fluoride to their bottled water would be required to indicate on the label that the product contains added fluoride. "This requirement will assist consumers to make an informed choice," the agency said.
Dr. John Matthews, federal president of the Australian Dental Association, said in a November 12 Radio Australia report that he agrees with the proposal to add the fluoride because fewer people are drinking tap water.
In the United States, about 20 bottled water companies produce bottled water brands that contain fluoride, according to the International Bottled Water Association Web site.

Australia - Gold Coasters to get fluoridated water

Gold Coasters to get fluoridated water
3:42p.m. 30th November 2008|
By Crystal Ja
Northern Gold Coast residents will be the first Queenslanders to sample fluoridated water when it is added to local pipes on Monday.
A water treatment plant in Moledinar, supplying the north of the Gold Coast, will be the first recipient of fluoride.
It marks the first step of the government's plan to provide fluoridated water to 90 per cent of the south-east and the remainder of Queensland by 2012.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the introduction of fluoridated water would improve the state's dismal dental health record.
"By Christmas and New Year, all of the south-east corner will have fluoride in its water and the beginning of a turnaround in the dental decay of Queensland's children," she told reporters on the Gold Coast.
Ms Bligh said concerns fluoride caused health problems was unfounded, with major cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, enjoying fluoridated water for the past 40 years.
"There is no evidence of any health problems, no evidence that those cities suffer any particular health issues except that they have better teeth and their children have better teeth than ours," she said.
"That's what we've got to turn around."
Ms Bligh spoke while marking another first for the Queensland water system - the completion of the Tugun desalination plant on the Gold Coast.
While the plant would not be fully operational until next year, Ms Bligh claimed Sunday as its official opening, having processed its first batches of seawater.
"Two years ago we were facing Armageddon in the eye," she said.
"Well, we've stared it down and we will never be in that position again because this plant will keep us from running out of water."
Ms Bligh said the desal plant was an important part of the government's drought-proofing program, especially given it was not reliant on rainfall.
The plant at full operational capacity could provide south-east Queensland with 125 million litres of water each day.
Hundreds of locals took the opportunity to tour the plant on Sunday and taste test the water, which received an overall thumbs up.

USA - Dental clinic sees demand grow daily

Dental clinic sees demand grow daily
People without insurance sign up for care
Friday, November 28, 2008 BY LISA CAROLIN
It's been just a bit more than two months since the VINA (Vision, Integrity, Need, Action) Community Dental Center opened to offer affordable dental care to residents without dental insurance.
The demand for services grows daily.
"There are a lot of people who need us,'' explains office manager Cindy Gates, who is the only employee of the Brighton clinic. "There is clearly a high need in Livingston County for affordable dental care.''
Gates says the office is working with a call list of dentists who volunteer their time based on availability. Clients who meet the criteria are placed on the list on a first-come, first-served basis.
Currently there are 11 dentists volunteering at the clinic along with eight dental hygienists and 10 dental assistants.
"We could still use more dentists as well as monetary donations,'' says Gates, who adds that some of the volunteer dentists include periodontists and oral surgeons. "If someone needs more than we can offer, we direct them to the University of Michigan Dental Clinic in Ann Arbor. We are seeing people from all over Livingston County and all ages from 18 and above.''
The clinic does not see children because there are a number of dentists in the county who participate with the Healthy Kids program through the Department of Human Services.
"We're getting a darn good response, and people are deeply appreciative,'' says volunteer dentist Dr. Harry Davis. "Our patients have just been clobbered. They've lost jobs and lost their dental insurance, and many have just skipped going to the dentist.''
Davis says that because of the lack of regular dental care, they're seeing patients with severe gum decay and periodontal disease, and many who are in pain.
"We do the best we can to save teeth and eliminate pain,'' says Davis. "We fill teeth, extract teeth, clean teeth and educate people about brushing and dietary control to try to help them help themselves.''
"What's surprising is that demographically who we are treating has turned out to be the working poor,'' says volunteer dentist and oral surgeon Fred Bonine. He also is the fundraising chairman for the clinic.
"Chronic neglect is a huge problem, as well as a lack of information such as the fact that soda pop can destroy peoples' mouths,'' he says.

Ann Arbor, Michigan is fluoridated:NYSCOF

Saturday, November 29, 2008

USA - Tennessee: Lawmaker Campaigns Against Fluoride Bill

Tennessee: Lawmaker Campaigns Against Fluoride Bill
Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:58 AM (Source: Chattanooga Times/Free Press)By Pam Sohn, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.
Tennessee Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, wants all water systems in Tennessee to stop adding fluoride to water.
"It has too many side effects, and the benefits are not there to warrant giving mass drugs to the population whether they need it or not," said Rep. Hensley, who also is a family practice physician.
A national debate about fluoride in water began spilling into Tennessee when Rep. Hensley sent a letter in 2006 to every water utility in the state, telling them there is no state requirement to add the chemical to water and he didn't think they should.
"There were a few that used my letter to stop," he said. "It's not state law, and it's not required."
Since Jan. 1, 2006, 31 state utilities have dropped fluoride, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The agency writes fluoride guidelines into water treatment permits for utilities that choose to use fluoridation.
TDEC spokeswoman Tisha Calabrese-Benton said 296 of the state's 490 community water systems are fluoridated. She said systems must monitor their treated water to measure the amount of fluoride.
Many of the systems that dropped fluoridation did so because of "problems with fluoride chemical availability, quality control issues with imported fluoride powder ... and the escalating cost of liquid fluoride chemical," she said.
Fluoride -- a byproduct of fertilizer manufacture -- has been added to water systems all over the nation for about 40 years to prevent tooth decay. It has been hailed by the Centers for Disease Control as one of the greatest breakthroughs in public health.
But two years ago, fluoride's major supporter, the American Dental Association, and the National Academy of Sciences both issued warnings that baby formula shouldn't be made with tap water to ensure infants don't get too much fluoride.
Fluoride accumulates and can harm developing teeth, according to research reports. It also has been linked to kidney and thyroid disorders in adults.
However, ADA and CDC Web sites continue to tout the benefits of fluoride in water for the general population.
Many states, including Georgia, require the additive unless utility systems or municipalities offer a referendum so citizens may vote to have it dropped from water treatment.
Rep. Hensley said the confusion over whether fluoride in water is good or bad is understandable. When the practice began decades ago, little was known about the side effects of ingesting a chemical that, as a paste on teeth, is protective.
Now, after years of defending the practice as good for people, governments have a hard time backing down, he said.
"It's face saving," he said of some utilities' and municipalities' reluctance to let go of the practice. "They would have to then say, 'All these years we were saying it was good for you -- we were wrong about that.'"

Friday, November 28, 2008

UK - Southampton dosing station demonstration

Canada - Fluoridation for city is nearly underwater

Fluoridation for city is nearly underwater
By Kevin Werner, News Staff
Hamilton could join other municipalities this week in the United Stated, Australia and Europe in banning fluoride in its drinking water.
Politicians are expected to debate the merits of continuing to fluoride the city’s drinking water after Hamilton started its fluoridation program in 1966. In Ontario, about 70 per cent of the population, or about 8.7 million people, drink fluoridated water.
Earlier this week the Board of Health deadlocked 6- 6 on whether to continue to fluoridate the water supply, but at a reduced level from 0.7 parts per million to a target of 0.6 ppm.
“There are a lot of unknowns,” said Hamilton Mountain Councillor Terry Whitehead, who is opposed to continued fluoridation. “We know that putting anything artificial into your body may not be a good thing.”
The Board of Health members listened for five hours earlier this week to the benefits and detriments of fluoridating the city’s water system. Dr. Chris Mackie of the city’s public health department said most industrial nations, and all of the world’s leading health organizations endorse fluoridating water. He said the 46 largest cities in the U. S. fluoridate their water, while fluoridation is done in 75 per cent of Australian cities.
The proposal public health officials recommended was to reduce the level of fluoridation from 0.7 ppm to 0.6 ppm which would reduce the cost of fluoridating the city’s water from $1.4 million per year to $1.2 million.
“You are getting the same bang for a lower buck,” said Dr. Mackie. “0.7 per cent is considered safe, while 0.6 per cent is for lower cost and protecting the environment.”
Health Canada recommends fluoridating water at 0.7 ppm levels. Anything at or below 0.5 ppms would not provide the proper coverage, it has stated.
A number of medical officials backed Hamilton’s public officials recommendation to continue its fluoridation program.
“At a safe and effective level, fluoride works,” said Dr. Larry Levin, president of the Ontario Dental Association. “We have to do something now based upon current information.
Yet, Mr. Whitehead pointed out to Dr. Levin, his dentist doesn’t support fluoride in the water system.
Dr. Levin said the U. S. Centre for Disease Control, the United Nations health organization, even an Ontario medical panel supports fluoridation.
“Surely these are the people you have to listen to,” he said.
If the Board of Health decides to stop fluoridating the city’s water, the options the city can take to protect Hamilton’s most vulnerable population –especially children living in low income areas -include topical application by the public health at a cost of between $4.9 million to $13.8 million, topical application by dentists at a cost between $10.2 million and $29.8 million, and distributing toothbrushes and toothpaste at a cost of about $3.2 million.
Fluoridation facts
• In 1966 Hamilton starts fluoridating its water after holding referendum;
• 8.7 million people in Ontario drink fluoridated water
• $1.4 million is the annual cost to fluoride Hamilton’s water system
• 97 per cent of European countries have chosen fluoride-free wate.
• 20 to 75 per cent increase in dental fluorosis in fluoridated countries.

Yet in Southampton Barry Cockcroft calls for 1ppm as the optimal level - I think fluoridation is as sensible as blood letting. Dumping 112.3 tonnes per year of contaminated fluoride into our drinking water for the sake of some deprived kids in the city centre is plain daft.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Ireland - Huge health risk in Limerick water, claims MEP

Published Date: 26 November 2008
By Nick Rabbitts
PEOPLE across Limerick are facing huge health risks every time they sip a glass of water, according to Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott.
After chairing a meeting in the city this week, Ms Sinnott, who represents Limerick and the South of Ireland in the European Parliament, has called for a full investigation into Ireland's policy over the last 45 years.
A long time opponent of the use of fluoride in public water supplies, Ms Sinnott also called on Limerick's local authorities to follow a precedent set by Kerry County Council, petitioning the HSE to remove the fluoride supply.
More than 40 people were at Jurys Inn to hear Ms Sinnott - a member of the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety - speak on the issue, alongside forensic ecologist Doug Cross, as well as anti-flouridation campaigner Robert Pocock, and Liz Vaughan of the UK Councils against the issue.
Ms Sinnott said: "I am particularly concerned for my constituents in Limerick who are more vulnerable (to fluoridation] due to excessive exposure of aluminium and lead.
"I call for a full investigation to be carried out which I hope will bring about an end to the harmful water flouridaton policy of the last 45 years."
Earlier this year, more than 50 cities in Ms Sinnott's native USA rejected fluoridation of their water, but here in Ireland, fluoride is allowed to be pumped into the water supply under legislation dating back to 1960.

Speaking before the meeting, Ms Sinnott said: "It costs millions of euros to fluoridate our water supplies every year and provide the medical treatments and health services to deal with its long term adverse effects. Cutting out water fluoridation would save money immediately and into the future."

Also on her visit to Limerick, Ms Sinnott appeared at the University of Limerick to address the public on "Life after Lisbon" at Dromroe Village Reception, an event organised by the UL Law Society.

Canada - Fluoride stays put in Delhi -- for now

Fluoride stays put in Delhi -- for now
Posted 18 hours ago
Fluoride in Delhi’s water is a ‘hot button’ issue not just here in Norfolk but in towns and cities provincewide.
Is it a benefit? Is it a health scare? Or is it even necessary?
Dentists and anti-fluoridation activists both showed contrasting evidence to support their side and at a recent council meeting, Norfolk council voted unanimously to defer stripping fluoride from Simcoe, Delhi – including Courtland – municipal water systems until February 2009 at the earliest.
Currently, Waterford, Port Dover and Port Rowan water systems do not receive the cavity-fighting chemical in their municipal water systems.
“We decided that everyone should receive it, or no one should receive it,” said Norfolk County Mayor Dennis Travale. “This is an issue across the province. With more than half the population here living in rural areas and not having fluoride in their water, it proves that we don’t need it. To sell it as a universal system would be great, but that’s not the way it is.”
Many Norfolk residents still rely on well water and even those with fluoridated water are turning to bottled water, said Travale.
Eric D’Hondt, manager of public works and environmental services dept., said during the council meeting that the addition of fluoride to all three systems currently without was estimated at $130,000 capital and $16,000 in annual operating costs.
Known historically as a dental health benefit, Travale said times have changed since 25 years ago when fluoride was added to Delhi and Simcoe water.
“We are looking at this in a serious light both ethically and financially,” he said. “We are not rushing to judgment on this issue which is why we are asking for a balanced report from the Norfolk Health Unit.”
In 1985, Delhi council representative Mike Columbus said two-thirds of Delhi residents voted for fluoride to be added to the municipal water system.
“We have had fluoridation for more than 20 years,” he said. “The way I see it, if it was proven that fluoride was bad for you the Ministry of Health would clamp down on it. This is a very large provincewide issue. There are two strong opposing views, and both are very good.”
Barbara Simpson

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

UK Southampton

If you want to see the two Question Time events with Professor Connett filmed in Southampton Fluoridation debate

The final Question Time is on the the 3rd of December.The consultation ends on December 19th. The decision will be announced in February.

UK - County gives thumbs down to fluoridation

County councillors have rejected proposals for one of the south coast's largest cities to add fluoride to its drinking water.
Hampshire County Council unanimously voted against artificial fluoridation of the water in Southampton and South West Hampshire after an investigation by a special panel of councillors.
Responding to a consultation by the local Strategic Health Authority (SHA), the council said more research and reassurances are needed before Southampton City Primary Care Trust (PCT) takes any further steps.
The PCT has proposed the move to reduce what it says are "unacceptable levels of dental decay" in Southampton, but the county council raised fears it could instead damage the population's dental health.
Council leader Ken Thornber said: "The Southampton City PCT wants to improve the oral health of specific communities in Southampton, but their proposals will impact on people in South West Hampshire who do not have the same problems of poor dental health.
"There may be some benefit to some children living in the affected area but there is also a strong possibility that children with otherwise health teeth may develop a degree of fluorosis."
But just a day earlier, Southampton City Council had voted 26 to 18 to back the plans.
Andrew Mortimore, public health director for Southampton City PCT, said: "We are delighted by the fact that elected councillors who represent Southampton, which makes up the majority of those who would benefit from fluoridated water in the proposed scheme, have decided to support water fluoridation."
He added that he hoped more residents would follow the city councils'a lead and support the proposals.
The South Central Strategic Health Authority has sent out more than 110,000 consultation forms to households in Southampton and South West Hampshire, and has been holding free Question Time-style events for residents at Southampton FC's stadium.
Kevin McNamara, from the SHA's consultation team, said: "We are making every effort to collect as many views as possible from people who live or work in the area and we want to hear from everyone."

Kate Martin

Think twice about safety of fluoride

Think twice about safety of fluoride
Published: 11/26/2008 12:03 When I read the headline "Fluoride in Our Water" in the Health & Fitness section, I was hoping somebody had finally gone public with the truth. But, alas, it was just another article defending this poisonous industrial by-product. The naturally-occurring fluoride in water is calcium fluoride, which is not toxic. But that is not what is put into our drinking water. Sodium fluoride and fluorosilicic acid are the compounds that are added to our water and they are toxic, so much so that they are used in rat poison and insecticides.

The chronic use of these compounds has been linked to osteoporosis, osteomalacia, mottled teeth, Down syndrome, depression of the immune system, and even cancer.

A government body charged with monitoring additives and other substances in our food supply (Delaney Congressional Investigation Committee) had stated "... fluoridation is mass medication without parallel in the history of medicine." Unfortunately, due to industrial lobbyists who saw a way to make more money on a by-product that had otherwise limited use, the committee wasn't able to stop it.

Now, you may think you don't drink enough water for the poison to affect you, but you're wrong. Almost every state, city, and village has fluoridated its water, so any food product you buy that contains water, like canned goods, juices, water-added meats and poultry, carbonated beverages, beer, bread, baby foods, baby formula, etc., contains fluoridated water. There are alternatives: buy distilled water or use reverse osmosis filter to attach to your water supply.

There is something else you could do, however, but it's not so simple. Do your own research, find out the truth, then write every public official you can think of asking them to stop poisoning us.

Judith A. Carlson

Des Plaines

Fluorosis is a growing problem in the United States

...... Fluorosis is a growing problem in the United States, and the more prevalent mild fluorosis can be visually mistaken for early enamel demineralization. ......

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Leading Dental Researcher Speaks out Against Water Fluoridation

Canada - Less fluoride urged

City to recommend a slight cut
November 24, 2008 Rachel De LazzerThe Hamilton Spectator(Nov 24, 2008) The growing controversy over fluoridating drinking water comes to Hamilton today with critics and advocates of the practice making presentations to a city committee.
The city's health department is recommending it continue using fluoride -- at slightly less concentrated levels.
But that doesn't sit well with representatives from the group People for Safe Water, who have been telling civic leaders in southern Ontario communities that fluoride presents an unnecessary health risk for conditions including cancer.
Quebec City, Thunder Bay and Niagara region recently decided to stop fluoridation, says anti-fluoride advocate Carole Clinch, who is to make a presentation today at the board of health meeting.
She says only 4 per cent of British Columbia and Quebec use fluoridation.
South of the border, 53 cities rejected fluoridation in referendums held in four states on the same day as they cast their votes for a new president earlier this month.
Halton region is also looking at doing away with fluoride in water, and Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville says it's the most divisive issue he has seen in his five years on regional council, and 11 years on municipal council.
Clinch is research co-ordinator for People for Safe Drinking Water, a duty she now devotes herself to fulltime.
She says the groundswell against fluoridation originated in November 2006.
That's when the U.S. National Research Council published what she calls the biggest review ever done on water fluoridation, and indicated health concerns at fluoride concentrations lower than Hamilton's 0.7 milligrams per litre.
One of the authors of the study is a University of Toronto professor.
Fuel was added to the fire when, at the same time, the American Dental Association and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began saying children shouldn't be given fluoridated water.
In Ontario, it has been a group of six to 10 people putting it on the agendas of every health unit in the central-west part of the province, says associate medical officer of health Dr. Chris Mackie, who prepared today's report.
He says they've made it their "personal" mission to rid drinking water in southern Ontario of fluoride.
"They've gone to every city council and they've tried to meet face-to-face with every city councillor in that area, and they're presenting this selective interpretation of the literature," he says.
Mackie's report recommends the board continue fluoridation at 0.6 milligrams per litre, the same level as Halton. Studies have shown the benefits of fluoride level off at 0.6.
The health department report found "the evidence does not support a causal relationship with ... health effects such as cancer."
Clinch says the report is "cherry-picking" and ignores the peer-reviewed findings of the National Research Council, and others.
Mackie says it was a systematic rather than selective review, meaning it included studies from both sides of the fence: "We don't exclude studies that we disagree with."

USA - Dentists visit schools to help low-income

Dentists visit schools to help low-income kids
by Marisa Helms, Minnesota Public Radio
September 13, 2007
Thousands of children in St. Paul will get free or low-cost dental checkups this year. The care doesn't come from a government program, but from a partnership between businesses and nonprofit groups.
St. Paul, Minn. — Arcelia Sanchez, 7, is getting her teeth worked on by dental hygienists, but she's not at the dentist's office. She's in a small administrative office at John A. Johnson Elementary School in St. Paul.
During the visit, Arcelia receives a cleaning, fluoride treatment and has a sealant applied. In the coming weeks, she will be back for some followup visits that include some restorative work.
Learning and hygieneThe hygienists treating Arcelia work for Children's Dental Services, the state's largest nonprofit provider of dental care to low-income children and pregnant women.
"One of the highest unmet health needs for children in Minnesota, and really across the country, is dental care," says Sarah Wovcha, executive director for Children's Dental Services.
Wovcha says dental problems are directly linked to children not doing well in school.
"Tooth decay tends to leave children in acute pain. And so they're unable to concentrate on academics to perform in core skills like reading and writing. There's been a real correlation between those two," says Wovcha. "The crisis comes about when schools try to reach out and connect to that care, and there are no dentists available to provide it."
Minnesota, where fluoridation is state-mandated:NYSCOF

Monday, November 24, 2008

Ireland - Sinnott to speak in Limerick tonight on water quality

Sinnott to speak in Limerick tonight on water quality
MEP Kathy Sinnott
November 2008
By Clodagh O'Leary
INDEPENDENT MEP Kathy Sinnott is set to speak about the "cumulative poison" being added to Irish tap water at a public meeting in the city this Monday night.
Ms Sinnott, who represents the south of Ireland in the European Parliament, is a long time opponent to the use of fluoride in public water supplies.
"As a member of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, it became clear to me that the Irish policy of contaminating its water supplies was not just bad public health policy but in contravention of EU environmental and public health directives," explained Ms Sinnott.
"Every day, Irish sanitary authorities add hydrofluorosilicic acid (more commonly known as fluoride) to public water supplies under legislation dating back to the 1960 Fluoridation Act."
"Hydrofluorosilicic acid is an industrial waste by-product which is a very active and highly absorbed molecule when swallowed," she said, adding that this should not be confused with less absorbent sodium fluoride used in toothpaste and other dental products or chlorine.
Referring to a decision taken by 53 US cities who rejected fluoridation of their water earlier this year, Ms Sinnott added: "People in the US have the right to vote on whether or not they want this cumulative poison added to their water, while we in Ireland are being mass medicated by successive governments for the past 45 years with no choice in the matter."
The meeting takes place this Monday night at 7.30pm in Jurys Inn. All are welcome to attend.
And earlier at 5pm. Ms Sinnott will be at the University of Limerick to address the public on "Life after Lisbon" at Dromroe Village Reception. This has been organised by the UL Law Society.

Inhuman "webcam suicide" viewers – Who is to blame?

Ian Brockwell
November 23, 2008
Abraham Biggs, 19, from Pembroke Pines, near Miami, announced his intentions to commit suicide on his blog and with the help of his webcam was able to broadcast this tragic moment "live" to the world.

There was a time when the mere mention of a possible suicide attempt would have people calling the authorities to warn them, just in case. Unfortunately, Abraham Biggs did not live in those times, he lived in a world where most people think only about themselves and obtain some sadistic pleasure in seeing others hurt or killed.

You can be certain that many of the people who clicked to see this article "secretly" hoped to find some "before and after" images of Biggs, to satisfy their twisted curiosity. If you are one of them, take a good look at yourself in the mirror, do you like what you see?

Some may offer the excuse that they thought he was joking, or that it was a hoax. This might have been possible (initially), but how long does it take for some people to realize the truth? Biggs died 12 hours after he made his announcement!

According to reports a few tried to talk him out of it, but others actually egged him on. Even those more concerned seemed to be waiting for "confirmation" before taking any action.

Abraham Biggs suffered from Bipolar disorder, a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person´s mood, energy, and ability to function. This can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. It is believed that almost 6 million American adults or about 2.6 percent of the population aged 18 and older in any given year have bipolar disorder.

The condition is usually treated with drugs, but patients respond differently to these (some are more effective than others). Although many doctors doubt the ability of hypnosis to help Bipolar disorder, most agree that it can not worsen the condition (if used in the correct way).
However, drug companies (and of course some doctors) prefer to promote the use of drugs as these are more profitable than "alternative" medicines. Sadly, in Abraham Biggs´ case, it was the medicine that he was given that provided the means to end his life (a combination of opiates and benzodiazepine). One has to wonder about the logic of providing "lethal" drugs to potentially "suicidal" patients, without trying much safer options first.

We can also speculate about the widespread use of drugs and chemicals that we come into contact with everyday, like fluoride in tap water and mercury in vaccinations (for example), both capable of reducing our IQ levels. Is it possible that these are contributing to the "don´t care" attitude we have seen increase over the years?

Clearly, television and movies play a big part in the way we think, but have drugs and chemicals made us more receptive to outside influences?

There have been calls to "control" internet sites that provide a platform for those wishing to display extreme acts in public, but this will not correct the real cause of the problem. What we should be doing is questioning those who make violent movies (or video games) and asking whether it is really necessary to display excessive violence (beyond that found in reality), and whether society should be so dependent on drugs, many of which do more harm than good.

In the meantime, for those who take pleasure in watching death or violence, remember this. One day you may suffer from a condition not unlike that endured by Abraham Biggs (don´t think it can´t happen), or perhaps find yourself being attacked and beaten in the street. How would you feel if people ignored your cry for help and just stood around watching, perhaps taking photos and joking, would that be OK?

Capitalising babies

...............Dr Naomi Baumslag writes that infant food companies influence government health policies and have made the medical profession their handmaiden. They use "science" to scare mothers, exploit women's working rights and men's desires to adapt to family realities.
The influence of the formula industry extends to doctors, nurses, and pediatric departments who are given money by formula companies for equipment, conferences, travel and publications, with the goal of enlisting their endorsement and promotion of the products. Governments are also on the payroll as they receive financial incentives for importing infant foods. In Zimbabwe, income is generated for governments through the 17.5 per cent sales tax on imported formula and a 10 per cent import duty. Thus, the government shares in the profits when mothers abandon breastfeeding.
In Tricks of the Infant food Industry, Dr Naomi Baumslag writes that:
Although scientific studies continue to attest to the superiority of breastmilk, bottle-feeding formula is becoming the norm. Aggressive formula marketing has deceived mothers into believing that formula is equivalent to breastmilk. Good lactating breasts have been removed from the mouths of infants and promoted only as sexual organs. The positive effect of breastfeeding on mothers' health has also been ignored. Throughout the world, scarce resources are used to buy formula when the money could be put to better uses.
And, in China, as a result of capitalist greed and corruption, babies who were formerly fed their mother’s milk, or fed by another lactating woman have been killed or made very unwell due to the addition of a chemical additive to baby formula; formula with its own set of problems when you consider what it contains.
In the United States, a $3 can of formula costs 22 cents to produce and contains waste and by-products from other industries such as whey from cow’s milk, lactose, sugar, rice, starch, cornstarch, soybeans, coconut and peanut oils. The corn and soy are likely to be genetically engineered and the formula itself can contain harmful bacteria and toxic substances, such as fluoride, aluminium, and carcinogenic chemicals.
Similarly when you look at the commercial child care industry that has grown into such a racket, that one childcare business, ABC Learning, has gone from holding a few dozen centres at the time of listing in 2001, to owning more than 1,200 at its peak, is now in receivership.............

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Why not to Trust ANY corporation.

Fluoride Opposition: Scientific, Respectable & Growing

Fluoride Opposition: Scientific, Respectable & Growing
Since the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) first issued a statement in August 2007 calling for an end to fluoridation, over 1300 additional professionals signed on as even more evidence emerges to condemn fluoridation. Also, 53 cities rejected fluoridation on election day.
Now over 1,950 professionals urge Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted, citing scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html
Since the first FAN statement, the following has occurred:
-- The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Canada’s leading voice on environmental health issues, released a statement opposing fluoridation.

-- The National Kidney Foundation dropped its fluoridation support replacing it with this caution: “Individuals with CKD [Chronic Kidney Disease] should be notified of the potential risk of fluoride exposure.”

-- Researchers reporting in the Oct 6 2007 British Medical Journal indicate that fluoridation was never was proven safe or effective and may be unethical. (1)

-- “A qualitative review of ...studies found a consistent and strong association between the exposure to fluoride and low IQ,” concluded Tang el al., in "Fluoride and Children’s Intelligence: A Meta-analysis” in Biological Trace Element Research (e-published 8/10/08)

-- Scientifc American editors wrote in January 2008, "Some recent studies suggest that over-consumption of fluoride can raise the risks of disorders affecting teeth, bones, the brain and the thyroid gland"

-- Dr. A. K. Susheela, a leading fluoride expert, explains in a video why US physicians overlook fluoride as a possible cause of diseases commonly caused by fluoride. http://tinyurl.com/Susheela

-- An expert panel Health Canada commissioned to study the risks of fluoride exposure says the government should cut the recommended amount in drinking water, encourage the use of low-fluoride toothpaste by children and have makers of infant formula reduce levels in their products.

Signers to the FAN statement include:

-- Dr. Arvid Carlsson,winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine

-- Vyvyan Howard, MD, PhD, President, International Society of Doctors for the Environment

-- Ken Cook and Richard Wiles, Environmental Working Group

-- Lois Gibbs, Center for Health, Environment, and Justice

-- Joseph Mercola, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who runs the #1 most visited natural health website

-- Theo Colborn, PhD, co-author, “Our Stolen Future”

-- Sam Epstein, MD, Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition

-- The current and six past Presidents of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology

-- Board of Directors (2007), American Academy of Environmental Medicine

-- FIVE Goldman Prize winners - given for excellence in protecting the environment

. -- Three members of the prestigious 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel that reported on fluoride’s toxicology

-- Three officers in the Union representing professionals at EPA headquarters

-- Hundreds of medical, dental, academic, scientific and environmental professionals, worldwide.

Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Arvid Carlsson, , says, “Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It's really obsolete.”

An Online Action Petition to Congress in support of the Professionals' Statement is available on FAN's web site, http://congress.fluorideaction.net and over 16,000 individuals have signed so far.

“The NRC fluoride report dramatically changed scientific understanding of fluoride's health risks," says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network. "Government officials who continue to promote fluoridation must testify under oath as to why they are ignoring the powerful evidence of harm in the NRC report,” he added.

The Professionals’ Statement also references:

-- The new American Dental Association policy recommending infant formula NOT be prepared with fluoridated water.

-- The CDC’s concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic.

-- CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children.

-- Major research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.

-- A Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a DC watchdog, revealed that a Harvard professor concealed the fluoridation/bone cancer connection for three years. EWG President Ken Cook states, “It is time for the US to recognize that fluoridation has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, and unlike many other environmental issues, it's as easy to end as turning off a valve at the water plant.”

USA - Flint-area households kicking the chemicals; medical experts mixed on effectivenessby

Flint-area households kicking the chemicals; medical experts mixed on effectivenessby
FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- For Flint Township mom Stacey Kimbrell, it all started with a homemade painkiller for a twisted ankle on a family camping trip.
Dilcia LaRocca of Mundy Township threw out processed meats after an endocrinologist warned her the synthetic hormones could be causing her 6-year-old daughter's premature growth.
Baker College student Dana Hitchcock cured her son's skin allergies by switching to chemical-free soap and deodorant.
Marcie Decker of Flint used a homemade mix of baking soda and powdered sugar to get rid of ants without exposing her toddlers to dangerous pesticides.
They're among a group of local homemakers who are relearning homespun remedies and kicking chemicals out of their homes.
But is there a common-sense line between healthy and hype? Not even the experts can say for sure where that line should be.
Flint Journal extras How to get more info To learn more about household toxins: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: www.epa.gov/epp To host or join a nontoxic cleaning party:e-mail: livingbalanced@comcast.net
Kimbrell knew nothing about the subject until her youngest son sprained his ankle playing tag during a family camping trip in July 2007. The campground manager rubbed a homemade mix of plant oils on his ankle to relieve the pain.
"Five minutes later this kid got up and ran off down the path to play with the other kids," said Kimbrell. "I couldn't believe it. What was that stuff?"
The woman invited her to a class on natural health and nutrition. Kimbrell was hooked. When she got home, she read the labels on everything in her cupboards and medicine cabinet.
"I couldn't believe the same ingredients in my kids' toothpaste was the stuff they use to treat the water in sewage plants. I went through everything in the house, researching all the chemicals online," she said.
"I was the mom who always came home with the giant packs of Little Debby's cakes from Sam's Club. But after we read the ingredients, even my kids didn't want to eat it. I kept them like a little shrine on the counter."
Now she organizes "nontoxic cleaning parties" at her neighborhood church to make household cleaners from baking soda, lemon, vinegar and essential oils from plants.
She treats her sons' fevers with wintergreen and peppermint. They don't eat anything with preservatives or other chemical additives -- a change she believes has cured her two sons' hyperactivity.
"The doctors and schools wanted to put our kids on medication. Instead I cut out all the dyes and processed sugars. In weeks we noticed a gigantic difference in the boys' behavior. One son was two grades below his reading level. Now he reads Harry Potter," said Kimbrell.
Still, experts say to be cautious about homemade fixes to health problems.
"You have to be careful using words like 'natural' that have a common meaning but also a marketing usage," said Scott Cruzen, a registered environmental manager and industrial hygienist at Genesys Regional Medical Center.
His job is to evaluate the potential health risks of everything in the hospital from disinfectants to plastic tubing.
"If you can clean that surface with a damp cloth and water, then there's no benefit to spraying a chemical on it. But if that area needs to be sanitized because of risk of infection, then maybe it makes sense to apply that disinfectant. It depends on the specific situation."
Avoiding unnecessary chemicals and artificial additives is good common sense. But just because something's natural doesn't mean it's safe.
Arsenic and crude oil are "natural," but that doesn't make them any less toxic, said Cruzen.
"Volcanoes are natural, but I don't think anybody wants one of those in their backyard," said Cruzen.
Still, the local women are true believers in the natural remedies.
LaRocca said she no longer sees signs of premature puberty in her daughter after tossing out processed meats and containers with BPA, a synthetic sex hormone used to make polycarbonate plastic.
"Our grocery bill is a lot bigger than normal now, but it's worth it for our children's health," said LaRocca. "When you first jump in, it's big bills because you don't know what all your options are. It's a big learning curve. But we're on the road to figuring that out and making it cheaper."
But getting everyone in the house on board isn't always easy, some admitted.
"My husband is not totally into it yet, and especially with food the whole family has to be. So I have to wait for him," said Decker, who's slowly making the switch to an all-organic diet.
"But the ant killer was a great start. He was amazed by that. I think people just have to see it works, and if it works, then they'll be all for it."
But the presence of a chemical additive doesn't necessarily make a product unsafe -- and that's the part that has created headaches for public health officials.
Fluoride, for example, can be a very reactive, toxic substance. But in small, controlled concentrations it has marked benefits for dental health.
"But it remains controversial to this day in spite of the scientific evidence showing the risks are far outweighed by the huge public health benefit," Cruzen said.
Worries about vaccine preservatives have caused a growing number of parents to refuse to vaccinate their children, despite public health warnings about potential new epidemics of deadly diseases.
Mercury amalgam dental fillings have been blamed for a variety of health problems -- while others worry about hormones leaching from the plastic resins used to replace them.
There are no easy answers, said Cruzen. It's up to the individual to make their own informed choices.
"It's about risk versus benefit, about whether the benefit outweighs whatever small risk is involved."

Saturday, November 22, 2008

UK - Southampton

110,000 households asked for their views on fluoridation proposal
21 November 2008
South Central Strategic Health Authority

The CSHA are spending a fortune on asking what is already known. Southampton citizens do not want 112.3 tonnes of fluorosilicic acid including 2 tonnes of heavy metals dumped into their water supply every year for very little benefit, if any,and maybe harm to our health.

USA - HEALTH & WELLNESS: Get children’s teeth examined starting in toddler years

.............Nearly three out of 10 American children ages 2 to 5 had visible tooth decay, according to figures released last year by the National Center for Health Statistics, based on surveys taken between 1999 and 2004. That’s a sizable jump from the 24 percent rate in the previous survey, taken between 1988 and 1994........

USA - Public Private Partnership Aims to Improve Children’s Oral Health

Public Private Partnership Aims to Improve Children’s Oral Health
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Fresh from the release of an AP analyzed study which labeled Huntington as the latest “unhealthiest city” in the USA, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) announced a children’s preventive care partnership.

The report castigated Huntington, in particular, while the statistics actually also incorporate statistics for rural portions of the Tri State region. Based on data culled from Center for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, West Virginia has the highest rate of natural teeth loss in the country: 69.6% of seniors 65 and older have lost six more teeth and 42.9 % have lost all of their teeth. Poor dental health often rises as a result of poor oral health and lack of adequate dental care in childhood. Children with untreated dental problems experience pain and difficulty eating and sleeping and can have trouble adjusting socially and performing in school....

West Virginia is 92% fluoridated:NYSCOF

Friday, November 21, 2008

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AGAINST FLUORIDE

UK - Hampshire County Council rejects fluoride in water

County rejects fluoride in water
Critics say fluoride has been linked to health problems
Plans to add fluoride to tap water in Southampton have been rejected by Hampshire councillors, just hours after city councillors backed the idea.
Southampton City Council voted 26 to 18 in favour of the measure after a heated debate on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Hampshire County Council decided unanimously that it did not support the proposals.The South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) will make the final decision after a 14-week consultation.
The city's primary care trust wants the level of fluoride increased in Southampton to cut tooth decay. But county councillors concluded that more research and reassurances were needed before Southampton City Primary Care Trust takes further steps to increase levels of fluoride to one part per million.
Councillor Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council, said: "The Southampton City Primary Care Trust wants to improve the oral health of specific communities in Southampton, but their proposals will impact on people in south-west Hampshire which does not have the same problems of poor dental health.
It is not fully understood if there are other health effects to a population that has fluoride added to drinking water Ken ThornberLeader, Hampshire County Council
"There may be some benefit to some children living in the affected area, but there is also a strong possibility that children with otherwise healthy teeth may develop a degree of fluorosis."It is not fully understood if there are other health effects to a population that has fluoride added to drinking water." Earlier, Hampshire PCT put its weight behind the idea but said views of all residents across the county should be taken into account.The county council will send its views to the SHA for assessment.Opponents claim fluoride has negative effects on the body.
John Spottiswoode, chairman of Hampshire Against Fluoridation, said: "When most countries across Europe have tried water fluoridation and abandoned it as ineffective and dangerous, why should we in Southampton be forced to go down this scientifically discredited route?"
If the plans are approved more than 200,000 people would be affected.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Canada - Filling the holePosted By Posted 17 mins ago

Filling the holePosted By Posted 17 mins ago
A new report from the Ontario Dental Association makes a convincing case that public health educators, emergency dental care programs and parents all need to do more to prevent children from getting cavities.
Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease in Canada and one of the main reasons children miss school. According to the ODA, it is five times more prevalent than asthma among children ages five to 17.
The ODA is now promoting a program that has three main thrusts: better access to dental care for low-income children, beginning when they are one year old; more emphasis on dental issues by public health workers; and better education for parents about what tooth disease it, how to prevent it and how to recognize early signs.
The ODA argument in favour of more direct government investment in early dental care is similar to what we often hear from the health sector: spend now to save later. But while investment in prevention often generates health care benefits, the promised economic savings often don't show up for years and are difficult to quantify.
Boosting dental care programs would produce immediate results and make better use of current investment of tax dollars.
Another effective recommendation would see public health agencies put more focus on dental care. But education is only helpful if the knowledge is applied. Parents need to follow the dos and don'ts. Larry Levin, ODA president, says informed, conscientious parents can eliminate tooth disease in their children. That's true of all parents, not just low-income earners.
The report also warns against a reversal of the common practice of adding fluoride to drinking water and says all municipalities should be fluoridating their water.
Peterborough Examiner/Sun Media

Fluoridation isn't that effective and causes fluorosis and maybe other harm so why not get it out?

UK - Southampton - Fluoride in tap water plans approved by council chiefs

Fluoride in tap water plans approved by council chiefs
9:20pm Wednesday 19th November 2008 By Matt Smith »
SOUTHAMPTON'S councillors tonight voted to back plans to add fluoride to the city's water to save thousands of kids teeth from decay.
Health chiefs want to improve poor dental health among youngsters in the city by controversially adding fluoride to the tap water delivered to two-thirds of residents.
A special panel of city councillors set up to examine the proposal had recommended 160,000 city residents should have levels of fluoride in their tap water topped up from the natural 0.08 parts per million to one part per million.
Anti-fluoride campaigners vowed to continue their fight.
The final decision will be made by the South Central Strategic Health Authority in February.

I went to the council meeting last night, seemed like a life sentence, and had to wait until 7pm from 2pm before fluoridation came up. They voted 26 to 18 in favour. We got insulted as one councillor, extremely obese and ugly, said that we antis were mainly green and somewhat weird. Although I am not a green as he puts it and I hope not weird I would prefer that then to carry around the body he inhabits.
Several councillors said that West Midlands fluoridated for years proved that fluoridation improved teeth but at the last minute too late to make a difference the Chair person of the health scrutiny panel revealed, what we knew, fluoridated Coventry is getting £1.5 million because the children's teeth are in such a poor state. This money will go towards programmes of fluoride varnishes or fissure sealant.
Fluoridation works? OH NO IT DOESN'T. (UK joke) Yet according to government statistics the Coventry children have very low caries rates. Are they fiddled to make the West Midlands look good?

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

UK - Southampton

I attended the second Question Time event yesterday in Southampton and I have to admit Barry Cockcroft the UK chief dental officer is as wily as a politician. On being told that Coventry fluoridated for years is to receive a cash injection of £1.5million to counter the high dental decay of children he turned the question around to congratulate Coventry for getting the money as there always will be a dental decay that fluoridation will not stop that. Laughs from the audience did not phase him in his righteousness.

Canada - Dental prof: Water fluoridation needless

Dental prof: Water fluoridation needless
Published: Nov. 18, 2008 at 8:25 AMOrder reprints | Feedback
TORONTO, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A University of Toronto dental professor says adding fluoride to drinking water supplies to prevent tooth decay has become redundant.

Dr. Hardy Limeback told the Toronto Star that, after years of study, he's convinced the population is getting sufficient fluoride in toothpaste and other oral hygiene products to offset the need for municipal fluoridation.

About 43 percent of Canadian municipalities add traces of fluoride to water supplies. However, Limeback said many European countries are stopping the practice and tooth decay rates are no higher there than in Canada.

"Even those people who rely on food banks pick up fluoridated toothpaste for their families," he told the Star in an e-mail interview. "Fluoridated water is not needed for the poor."

In 2006, the National Research Council of Canada issued a warning that infants younger than 12 months could develop a permanent mottling of the teeth called fluorosis from too much fluoride. Limeback said there were also studies linking fluoride to nerve damage in infants, leading to lower IQ levels in later life, the report said.

USA - Low-income youth to receive fluoride treatmentsby

Low-income youth to receive fluoride treatmentsby
Paul Kopenkoskey
The Grand Rapids Press Tuesday November 18, 2008,
A twice-yearly fluoride varnish can give low-income children a fighting chance against a widespread preventable disease: tooth decay.
That varnish treatment is available free through the Michigan Department of Community Health. It is expected to provide more than 17,000 varnish applications to the teeth of more than 8,000 Medicaid-eligible children during fiscal year 2008-09.
"Tooth decay can easily be prevented with proper care, but many of Michigan's children do not have access to this care and develop dental disease early in life," said Janet Olszewski, director of MDCH, which expects the treatments to reduce up to 60 percent of tooth decay in children who participate in the program.
The topical varnish is a protective coating painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and stop the ones that have started from gaining new ground on children's teeth. The sticky fluoride attaches easily to the teeth and hardens the outer layer of the teeth -- the enamel. This staves off cavities.
A small disposable brush is used to paint the varnish onto the teeth. The varnish releases fluoride over several months, which strengthens the teeth.
The varnish is recommended for children of all ages, including infants, MDCH spokesman James McCurtis said.
Applications can help children get an early start warding off other oral-related diseases, including gingivitis, McCurtis said.
"That's why it's very important for children to have access to this type of care," he said.
"We want to prevent children from developing dental diseases that lead to other types of ailments."
Children also will receive dental screenings and referrals for treatment and ongoing care.
E-mail the author of this story: yourlife@grpress.com

Grand Rapids - isn't that the first city to be fluoridated?

Australia - Proof lacking on fluoride benefits

Proof lacking on fluoride benefits
newsOpinion19 Nov 08 @ 05:55am
STAFFORD: On behalf of Queenslanders For Safe Water Inc, I would like to respond to comments by Dr Jeanette Young, Queensland Chief Health Officer.
In this letter Dr Young asserts that “regular drinks of fluoridated water provide the ideal constant repair kit for teeth”.
If this theory was true, then adults in the other Australian states which are all heavily fluoridated should have much less tooth decay than Queensland adults, where less than five per cent of the population currently drinks fluoridated water.
Unfortunately for Dr Young, her theory is blown out of the water by Australian state adult tooth decay data published just a few months ago, that shows in every adult age group Queensland adults actually have less decay than at least one other state and there is actually very little difference between the states.
Could Dr Young please explain why, if fluoride acts as a constant repair kit for teeth, it doesn’t work when adults have been swallowing it for 30 to 40 years? Perhaps, also why no health and safety studies have been done before forcing fluoridation on Queenslanders?
The case seems to have been proven that fluoride in water, ingested for 30 to 40 years makes no difference to decreasing tooth decay, so why is Premier Anna Bligh forcing it on us?
Merilyn Haines
Spokesperson For Queenslanders For Safe Water, Air and Food Inc.

USA - Fluoridation Opponents Win By Ten Votes In Corning

Fluoridation Opponents Win By Ten Votes In Corning
Reported by: Jeff Stone
Email: JStone@WETMTV.com
Last Update: 11/18 11:49 pm
Fluoridation Opponents Win In Corning Vote Water fluoridation opponents in Corning have won a narrow victory. Our newspaper partner, The Leader, reports that by just a ten vote margin voters decided to strip Corning City Council of the authority to add fluoride to the city's drinking water supply.
On election night fluoride opponents were ahead by about sixty votes with 270 absentee ballots still to be counted. However once all the absentee and affidavit ballots were counted their margin of victory was cut to ten. More details in Wednesday's edition of the leader.

Canada - The Halton report on water fluoridation states that 48.4 per cent of Oakville's 13 year olds have dental fluorosis.

The Halton report on water fluoridation states that 48.4 per cent of Oakville's 13 year olds have dental fluorosis.
This is a condition caused by the ingestion of too much fluoride, and is apparent by opaque white spots on the teeth, that can be quite unsightly. This is not normal enamel and the teeth are more brittle.
Fluoride is also deposited in parts of the body that you do not see, like the bones.
In the face of an obvious overdose of fluoride, Halton’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Nosal has represcribed this drug to these 13 year olds.
What will their teeth and bones be like in 20, 40 years while they continue to deposit fluoride?
If you live in an unfluoridated part of Halton, you have to get your doctor to prescribe this drug to your whole family to get the so-called benefits of water fluoridation.
How many doctors would do this?
Dr. Nosal can prescribe for me, a patient of whom he has no medical knowledge, a drug at a dose to be determined by how much water I drink, for all the years of my life and without my consent.

USA - Chancellor dismisses fluoride suit

Chancellor dismisses fluoride suit
By Joel Davis
of The Daily Times Staff
Chancellor Telford E. Forgety Jr. on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit seeking to force South Blount County Utility District to stop fluoridating its water supply and to provide documentation showing fluoride in water is safe to drink.
The utility's Board of Directors voted Jan. 2 to begin fluoridation at the request of Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham. Fluoridation ultimately began in May.
Linda King, of Citizens for Blount County's Future, filed the lawsuit in Blount County Chancery Court shortly afterward.
In stating his reasoning for the dismissal, Forgety said the plaintiffs did not show that any specific law or regulation had been violated by the board. Forgety said it is a long-standing principle in Tennessee that the courts do not interfere in decisions that public officials have the discretion to make.
"The courts will not interfere in the exercise of a public official's discretion," he said. "His decision may be right, may be wrong, but the court cannot operate South Blount Utility District, the court cannot operate Blount County, the court cannot operate Blount County Schools. ... The court cannot come along behind boards and commissions to second guess their decisions."
During the hearing, Thomas Mabry, King's attorney, withdrew a request to collect damages from the utility, when it became clear that if the lawsuit sought damages, as originally written, it would fall under auspices of The Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act. Forgety said that such claims have to be filed in circuit court.
Weldon Patterson, the attorney for the district, said Tennessee Code Annotated 29-20-201 grants the board immunity from litigation arising from the discharge of their duties.
'Up to the voters'
King has maintained that Cunningham, who appoints the directors of the utility district, unduly pressured the board members to vote for fluoridation. In his comments, Forgety said that, even accepting the allegations as true, it made no difference to the court.
"So what?" he said. "... Some decisions are just political in nature. The voters can either accept the positions or reject them. It's up to the voters."
King said she would discuss her options with Mabry concerning whether to appeal.
"What I get out of the system today is that Mayor Cunningham has rights, the Board of Commissioners of South Blount County Utility District have rights and the citizens have none," King said. "It [fluoride] is a drug, it's a toxic waste chemical and they are forcing us to ingest it."
District Manager Henry Durant said the district can now concentrate on operating in today's challenging economic conditions.
"We're just pleased with the outcome and hope things just go forward from here," he said. "We will not have to worry about that now. We were fairly confident what the outcome would be, but you never know until you get to court."

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Canada - Information on fluoride isn't really new

Information on fluoride isn't really new
Posted By
Posted 21 hours ago
Sir:So, the fluoride debate is on again.
The government has come to the conclusion that fluoride levels in drinking water should be no more than 0.7 milligrams per litre. Mike Bradley says any decision "should be based on science and health. It should not be based on politics." I agree. I also think the public should have the "new" information. Much of the information is, in fact, not new.
The Danish scientist Kaj Eli Roholm wrote of the dangers of fluoride in the 1930s. Phyllis J. Mullenix, a prominent U. S. neurotoxicologist, warned of its toxicity in the early 1990s. Many other prominent minds worldwide have added their voice.
Fluoride in the human body is cumulative and the daily amount of fluoride that any individual ingests through the public water system is variable and cannot be accurately controlled. Our bodies absorb fluoride from bathing and showering and it is present in many other substances, including various medicines.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to avoid fluoride exposure in our society. Many of us are being "medicated" against our will and with little choice of alternatives. Those who choose fluoride for dental protection can opt for topical dental treatments and supplements where dosage can be more accurately controlled.
Fluoride was once used by the medical profession to reduce thyroid function in an overactive gland. Fluoride displaces iodine in the thyroid. Without sufficient iodine, the thyroid cannot function efficiently and this can lead to many problems
Cretinism in children has long been linked to malfunction of the thyroid. Heart disease, high cholesterol, learning disabilities, cancer, dementia, weight gain, arthritis and others have been linked to low thyroid function, which often goes undetected.
I find it interesting that in the 50 or so years since fluoride was added to the water supply, all of these health problems have increased dramatically.
I am not suggesting that fluoride is the only source of these diseases -- if only it were that simple -- however, by eliminating fluoride from our water, we can decrease the risk and possibly reduce some of our overburdened health service costs.
Let us consider finances. It cannot be inexpensive to fluoridate our water supply. What do we use this water for? Watering lawns, laundry, flushing toilets, bathing, food preparation and drinking.
Systemic fluoride has been shown to be useless in preventing tooth decay while topical applications may be of some help.
So, why are we adding this substance to the public water supply?
I do hope that our councillors -- those entrusted to protect the interests of the citizens of this area -- do their homework thoroughly before jumping into the fray. I think they will be appalled once they see how we have all been manipulated to become a dumping ground for this toxic chemical.
Nancy J. Tock Sarnia

UK - It’s thumbs down for fluoridation from Hampshire County Council

It’s thumbs down for fluoridation from Hampshire County Council
7:00am Tuesday 18th November 2008
By Lucy Clark »
HAMPSHIRE County council bosses are the latest to come out against plans to put fluoride into tap water.
They will this week oppose fluoridation for the city, hot on the heels of Test Valley councillors who have also rejected the proposal.
Southampton City Primary Care Trust wants to add more fluoride to water supplies in a bid to improve poor dental health among the city’s children. It will affect 160,000homes in the city and 30,000 in Eastleigh, Netley and Totton.
The county council set up a panel to investigating fluoridation and on Thursday, the panel will urge the council to oppose fluoridation due to a lack of evidence on its safety and to ask for a debate on the issue to take place in a “more mature and participative way than has been the case”.
Panel chairman Anna McNair Scott said: “One question that the review panel felt had not been satisfactorily addressed is that of the optimal dose. There are indications that this is an important unknown – for example, there are now suggestions in the US that infant formula should not be made using fluoridated tap water. When this was raised with witnesses, answers were dismissive.”
Test Valley councillors voted against fluoridation by a 26 to 10 majority. Cllr Alan Dowden said: “More people now brush their teeth properly. Any beneficial effect of fluoride comes on the surface of the teeth, no benefit at all from drinking it.”
South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) is running a public consultation on the fluoridation plans, which ends on December 19. A final decision will be made in February.
n A SECOND fluoridation Question Time event will take place in Southampton tonight at St Mary’s Stadium from 7-9pm.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Canada - Region debates fluoridation of tap water

When there’s doubt, take it out.
That was the message councillors delivered loud and clear Thursday night after taking the first step to remove fluoride from drinking water in all Halton municipalities.
Members of the region’s health and social services committee supported a motion by
Halton Hills councillor Clark Somerville to stop fluoridating water in Halton once current supplies of fluoride are used up and current contracts expire.
“When you’re in doubt, don’t do it,” said Milton councillor Colin Best at the meeting.
The recommendation was made against the advice of health department staff and Halton’s medical officer of health, Dr. Bob Nosal, who said fluoridating drinking water is a safe, efficient and cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay.
Currently, the older section of Milton is the only portion of Halton that doesn’t have fluoridated water. Halton Hills’ well-based water system is fluoridated, as are the lake-based water systems supplying Burlington, Oakville and the newer developments in Milton.
Best said that, as a representative of the only community without fluoride in its water, “not one person in my ward has asked for fluoridation.”
He added no other medical treatment is dispensed through drinking water.
Burlington Councillor Rick Goldring also supported the motion.
“There’s enough doubt here that I don’t think we can carry on with the status quo,” he said.
Committee members also voted for staff to report back on the feasibility of an alternative way to get fluoride to the residents who want it.
The motion to stop fluoridating went against the position expressed in a staff report by Halton Medical Officer of Health Bob Nosal. It states dental decay rates are lower in communities with fluoridated water than in those without it.
For every $1 invested in fluoridating water, $38 is saved in treatment costs, it states.
Nosal made it clear at the meeting he didn’t agree with taking fluoride out of the water. “As medical officer of health, (I say) we should continue fluoridating the water supply,” he told councillors.
He noted major organizations supporting fluoridation include the World Health Organization and Health Canada. Putting the $238,000 it takes to fluoridate Halton’s water toward a “plan B” won’t amount to much, he said.
“That’ll only be a drop in the bucket,” he said, explaining alternative ways to deliver fluoride to residents will cost millions. “You can’t do anything with $200,000; that’s why we put it (fluoride) in the water.”
Dr. Robert Hawkins, Halton Region’s public health dentist, explained one of the reasons fluoride in the water is so effective is there’s no compliance factor. “High-risk kids” who might not brush their teeth at all still get the benefits.
Burlington Councillor Carol D’Amelio asked Nosal why he didn’t invoke the “cautionary principle” as he did with the issue of pesticides, in which he essentially aired on the safe side.
Nosal replied the cautionary principle applies when there’s a risk hazard involved and he doesn’t believe there is one here. “The evidence is clear that at the levels we’re fluoridating, there is no health effect,” he said.
D’Amelio questioned whether it was practical to stop adding fluoride to water before looking at alternative ways to get fluoride to the residents who want it.
“I’m not ready to throw the baby out with the bath water,” she said.
Voting against the motion to stop fluoridating water were Regional Chair Gary Carr and D’Amelio.
Councillors also recommended that the cost of the current fluoridation program — about $238,000 — be transferred to the health department from the infrastructure services and engineering budget. The committee’s vote came after spirited presentations by 13 delegates — three in favour of fluoridation, 10 against.
“Fluoride is a toxic waste product that should never be allowed in drinking water,” said Milton organic farmer Paul Bousfield.
Oakville resident Diane Sprules agreed, saying 98 per cent of western Europe doesn’t fluoridate its water and “their teeth are as good or better than ours.”
Numerous speakers cited concerns over warnings on toothpaste tubes directing people to call poison control if toothpaste — which contains fluoride — is swallowed.
They also cited concerns over fluorosis, which causes white spots on teeth when a person has too much fluoride in their body. A few speakers said the white spots are just an outward symptom of something more serious going on inside the body.
Also of deep concern to many of the speakers are warnings that babies not drink fluoridated water.
On hand to defend the practice was Dr. Peter Cooney, Health Canada’s chief dental officer, who said studies show drinking fluoridated water helps to reduce tooth decay by 20-40 per cent in kids and teens and by 27 per cent in adults.
Committee members also voted unanimously to support the formation of an Ontario Water Fluoridation Office, which would keep abreast of research and evaluate the effectiveness of fluoridation. The item will go to regional council for a vote Wednesday.

UK - Coventry Observer 13th November



Fluoridated and children still have bad teeth.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Australia - Coast will drink fluoride by ’0912:00a.m. 15th November 2008

Coast will drink fluoride by ’0912:00a.m. 15th November 2008
Dr Martin Webb says that fluoride in the water is ok and is not the danger a lot of people fear. Sunshine Coast residents will be drinking fluoridated water by January 2009, as the state government implements the first stage of its water fluoridation plan.
Work is in progress at south-east Queensland water treatment plants, including Landers Shute near Palmwoods, to phase in water fluoridation.
While public debate rages on the issue, Maleny dentist Dr Martin Webb said water fluoridation was the safest and most effective way to ingest fluoride, and people were often misinformed about the potential harmful effects of fluoridation.
“What we’re finding is that people in fluoridated areas are getting less root decay than those people who are living in unfluoridated areas,” Dr Webb said.
Dr Webb, former president of the Australian Dental Association Queensland branch, said a recent survey showed about 75% of the community supported fluoridation.
“As a preventive health measure, the introduction of fluoride has some opposition on the grounds of health risks and that it is a breach of civil liberties,” Dr Webb said.
“But the government has decided to listen to the compelling scientific argument from the rest of the country and the rest of the world.”
Queensland Health is overseeing the $35 million state-wide rollout, following the endorsement of a new Water Fluoridation Act in March 2008.
More than half of Queensland will have fluoridated water by January 2009, and 80% of the state will have fluoridated water within two years.
Dr Webb said people who didn’t want to drink fluoridated water could buy bottled or spring water, or install reverse-osmosis water filtration systems in their homes.
The public debate against water fluoridation is led by Queenslanders for Safe Water, Air and Food, an association that advocates fluoride-free water pending a referendum, and government rebates for reverse-osmosis water filters in fluoridated areas.
Association president Merilyn Haines argued that water fluoridation was “mass medication”.
“Water is life-giving,” Mrs Haines said.
“We can’t live without water and we shouldn’t be contaminating our water.
“Putting fluoride in water is medicating people, and the government has no right to medicate us through our public water supply or medicate us in any way at all without our consent.”
Queenslanders for Safe Water, Air and Food will continue its campaign.

FluoriNation

Saturday, November 15, 2008

UK - Southampton - **NEWS RELEASE**

**NEWS RELEASE**
For Immediate release

From the South West Hampshire Green Party
combined with Hampshire Against Fluoridation

Test Valley vote to reject Water Fluoridation

Those opposing water fluoridation have achieved a landslide victory in Test Valley. At a momentous meeting on 13th November, Test Valley Borough Full Council voted against Water Fluoridation with a massive majority of 26 to 10.

Hampshire County Council is also being recommended to oppose water fluoridation by its Committee who also investigated the subject in detail.

Jenny Johnson, anti-fluoridation campaigner in Test Valley said: “The councillors approached this highly complex subject with open minds to listen to all sides of the debate. The quality and level of their investigations, the time and effort they put into their research showed the highest degree of commitment. Council after council across Hampshire appear to be giving the thumbs down to this highly unethical and unsafe 'health' measure. What will the unelected SHA, already under investigation for a rigged ballot and a sham consultation, do now? They have the power to ignore all opposing voices, so will they choose to ignore the decisions of MPs and councils, of campaign groups and groups like the WI? If they do, they run the risk of possible legal action and publicity that could terminally damage the policy nationwide.”

Councillor Alan Dowden proposing the motion to reject water fluoridation said “More people now brush their teeth properly. Any beneficial effect of fluoride comes on the surface of the teeth (fluoride is a nasty chemical so kills bacteria). No benefit at all from drinking it.”

“So what does the most authoritative scientific study in the UK say? The governments York Review gave the definitive position in year 2000. They did NOT find that that water fluoridation was safe.”

“In the USA, what does their most important and prestigious scientific body say about fluoride ? The USA’s National Research Council (NRC) said in 2006
Fluoride damages the teeth. Fluoride may cause cancer Fluoride damages the brain Fluoride can weaken bones and increase the risk of fractures Fluoride interferes with the glands and hormones.”
“These effects were found at worrying low levels of fluoride. As Fluoride is also in many toothpastes and teas, some people drinking water at 1ppm the level proposed by Southampton PCT would already be receiving a higher proportion than the safe limit.”

“Babies should never be fed fluoridated water. There is no known need for any fluoride in the body at all, and we only excrete around half of what is taken in. So Fluoride collects in our bodies over the years.”

Dr. Peter Mansfield who worked on the York Review said: “It is ethically wrong to force people to drink fluoride. No physician in his or her right senses would prescribe for a person he or she has never met, whose medical history they did not know, a substance which is intended to create bodily change, with the advice. ‘ Take as much as you like , but you will take it for the rest of your life because some children suffer from tooth decay’. It is clearly is a preposterous notion.”
For more information please contact:
Email: john.spottiswoode@btinternet.com

USA - Water systems earn quality award

Water systems earn quality award
Friday, Nov 14, 2008 - 11:02:31 am CST
Thirty-four Nebraska public water systems received the fluoridation quality award from the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the Nebraska Section American Water Works Association annual conference Nov. 6 in Kearney.

The award was presented to the utilities for their consistent and professional adjustment of the water fluoride content to the optimum level for oral health for 12 consecutive months.

Area public water suppliers who received the Fluoridation Quality Award included Fremont, Lyons and Scribner

I find that weird if this 1 part per million is such an exact science delivered by fail safe systems why awards for quality?

Canada - Region eyes flouride removal

Region eyes flouride removal
News
Nov 15, 2008
When there’s doubt, take it out.
That was the message councillors delivered loud and clear Thursday night after taking the first step to remove fluoride from drinking water in all Halton municipalities.
Members of the Region’s health and social services committee supported a motion by Halton Hills councillor Clark Somerville to stop fluoridating water in Halton once current supplies of fluoride are used up and current contracts expire.
“When you’re in doubt, don’t do it,” said Milton councillor Colin Best at the meeting.
The recommendation was made against the advice of health department staff and Halton’s medical officer of health, Dr. Bob Nosal, who said fluoridating drinking water is a safe, efficient and cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay.
Currently, the older section of Milton is the only portion of Halton that doesn’t have fluoridated water. Halton Hills’ well-based water system is fluoridated, as are the lake-based water systems supplying Burlington, Oakville and the newer developments in Milton.
Best said that, as a representative of the only community without fluoride in its water, “not one person in my ward has asked for fluoridation.”
He added no other medical treatment is dispensed through drinking water.
Burlington councillor Rick Goldring also supported the motion.

“There’s enough doubt here that I don’t think we can carry on with the status quo,” he said.

Committee members also voted for staff to report back on the feasibility of an alternative way to get fluoride to the residents who want it.

Visit America's "Unhealthiest City"

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- As a portly woman plodded ahead of him on the sidewalk, the obese mayor of America's fattest and unhealthiest city explained why health is not a big local issue.
"It doesn't come up," said David Felinton, 5-foot-9 and 233 pounds, as he walked toward City Hall one recent morning. "We've got a lot of economic challenges here in Huntington. That's usually the focus."
Huntington's economy has withered, its poverty rate is worse than the national average, and vagrants haunt a downtown riverfront park. But this city's financial woes are not nearly as bad as its health.
Nearly half the adults in metropolitan Huntington are obese -- an astounding percentage, far bigger than the national average in a country with a well-known weight problem.
Huntington leads in a half-dozen other illness measures, too, including heart disease and diabetes. It's even tops in the percentage of elderly people who have lost all their teeth (half of them have).


Huntington, West Virginia is fluoridated:NYSCOF
Fluoride and obesity seem to go together

Friday, November 14, 2008

UK - Lymington Times - Southampton

USA - A mother's cry for help

A Bay City mom says she's desperate and now she's asking for help for her 3 yo. daughter. Medea Heilman says big businesses are getting billions, but she can't even get $300 to pay for her daughter's absessed tooth to be removed.
"The puss bag could pop and the poison could go into her blood stream and kill her while she is sleeping," Heilman says. "Or if the swelling is too much in her jaw, it could cut off her airways and stop her from breathing. So, I'm afraid if I sleep I won't know if she is going to be okay."
In the last two weeks, Medea has taken her little girl to dentist after dentist. She even drove to Ann Arbor to see a specialist.
"We sat there for five hours with her not eating or drinking and then at the last minute they tell me we need the money up front," Heilman said.
But 300 dollars to a single mom of three is hard to come by. Medea is told Rian needs to see an orthopedic surgeon, but says her insurance company is giving her the run around.
"Her insurance is supposed to cover anything health wise if they are five yo. and under," Heilman says. "And this is a health condition so why aren't they covering it?"Little Rian hasn't eaten solid foods in more than a week and her tooth is getting worse."I just need a dentist that will work with me even if it's not accepting her insurance, but atleast let me make payments so I can get her tooth out."
If you have any advice for Medea on how to help little Rian, you can contact her at 989-252-6076.

Bay City, Michigan is fluoridated: NYSCOF

Thursday, November 13, 2008

SHA reply to Julian Lewis's opinion

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

New York – November 12, 2008 -- Fifty-three cities rejected fluoridation in referenda held in four states on November 4

New York – November 12, 2008 -- Fifty-three cities rejected fluoridation in referenda held in four states on November 4, 2008, according to the Fluoride Action Network (FAN).
Lobbied by the Nebraska Dental Association and supported by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Nebraska legislature passed a law in April 2008, over the Governor’s veto, to require all Nebraska cities with populations over 1,000 to add fluoride chemicals into water supplies unless cities opt-out by 2010. Forty-nine Nebraska cities said “no thanks” in referenda on Election Day.
Corning NY residents passed a citizen-initiated referendum to rescind their city council's right to decide the issue for them - effectively halting fluoridation. A pro-fluoridation dentist raised $100,000, mostly from dental organizations, to fund the fluoridation scheme. Corning joins 15 NY State communities that have rejected fluoridation in past years.
Also voting down fluoridation: Prairie du Chien, Wisconisn; Jackman and Moose River, Maine.
“Once again we have seen confirmed - from Maine to Nebraska - that informed citizens, when given a choice, will reject fluoridation," says FAN Executive Director, Paul Connett, PhD. “This is not surprising considering twenty-three studies now link fluoride exposure to lowered IQ.”
According to Connett, these rejections bode well for a citizen fight back in Louisiana. After years of trying, the ADA and the Louisiana Dental Association expended much money and lobbying efforts to finally convince a novice group of Louisiana State Legislators to pass a fluoridation mandate law this year. However, cities can still opt out after petitioning 15 percent of registered voters for a referendum which must then pass by a majority of voters.
Alamo Heights, Texas rejected fluoridation in September 2008. A city council member who is a retired geophysicist, with a keen interest in research and the time to do it, confronted Texas “fluoridation experts” who were unable to answer important safety questions. As a result, the council unanimously said “No” to fluoridation.
Other US cities rejecting fluoridation in 2008 prior to Election Day: Littleton and Yarmouth, Massachusetts; Poughkeepsie, NY; Manila, California; Marion, Wisconsin.
In Canada: Quebec City, Quebec; Dryden, Welland, Pelham, and parts of Thorold, Ontario
In the UK: Isle of Man; Pendle, Hyndburn, and Lancashire, England.
In New Zealand: Alexandra, Earnslceugh/Manuheriki and Cromwell.

From NYSCOF

UK - Question time debate in Southampton

There are now four half hour films of the debate that took place in Southampton hosted by the South Central Strategic Health Authority on the Hampshire Against Fluoridation web site.
There are two more Question time events arranged.

The SCSHA and the City Primary Care Trust must be spending half a million pounds trying to persuade us that fluoridation is wonderful. As one of our most active members of the Hampshire Against Fluoridation said she has spoken to up to 400 people and all apart from five have spoken angrily against forced medication.

Despite this I'm sure the SCSHA board in their Ivory tower will no doubt still impose it on us for the greater good. Prof John Newton one of the board members even states that mild fluorosis improves the look of teeth! What else does it do to the body?

Big Pharma's New Mass-Drugging Agenda Pushes Statin Drugs for Healthy People

(NaturalNews) Drug companies used to sell products for the treatment of disease. But it didn't take long for Big Pharma to figure out that the number of diseased people is limited, and therefore so are drug profits. To bypass this problem, they began inventing diseases and marketing them to the public as a way to create new demand for high-profit pharmaceuticals. This is how "bi-polar" came into existence, for example. Same story for ADHD, social anxiety disorder and even high cholesterol (which isn't a disease in the first place).

But even this disease mongering strategy had its limits. Only a limited number of gullible doctors and consumers can be convincingly deluded into believing in fictitious diseases and psychiatric disorders. To really expand its profits, Big Pharma was going to have to do something revolutionary: They were going to have to figure out a way to sell drugs to people who weren't sick at all.
Or, put another way: They needed a way to sell drugs to healthy people.
AstraZeneca, Crestor and the new era of mass-drugging
The American Medical Association, not surprisingly, came to the rescue. A study called "Jupiter" was presented at an AMA conference last Sunday. It was funded by Crestor maker Astrazeneca, and it claims that statin drugs save lives when given to healthy people who show no signs of high cholesterol!

Physicians and Big Pharma reps were practically falling over each other Sunday in a mad stampede to the stage in order to out-do each other on making the most outrageous claims surrounding statin drugs. One doctor said the drugs are so useful at saving lives that governments around the world should start prescribing them to practically everyone. Another said that tens of millions of adults should now be put on what he called "statin therapy." (It's therapy now, folks, not medicine!) Not to be outdone, a third doctor suggested the drugs be dripped into the public water supply in order to dose everyone!

(Fluoridation isn't enough, it seems. Now they want to drip drugs into the water supply. Don't they realize the water supply is already contaminated with pharmaceuticals?)

The AMA convention was so heated with the proclamations of the pharmaceutical faithful that an uninformed onlooker might have mistaken it for a Southern Baptist Revival event. Except it wasn't faith in God that was being praised here; it was faith in chemicals to conquer nature and dominate human biology.

The new position of the pharmaceutical industry, you see, is that the human body is born deficient in pharmaceuticals. Human biology must now be "corrected" with "therapeutic doses" of these patented chemicals. Oh, and don't forget to leave your wallet at the door, too, because these drugs aren't free................

Au/NA - FSANZ considers approving voluntary addition of fluoride to bottled water

The Australian Beverages Council Ltd has applied for approval for the voluntary addition of fluoride, at a level of 0.6 – 1.0 milligrams per litre (total of naturally occurring and added fluoride), to packaged (bottled) water. This level equates to fluoride levels in fluoridated reticulated water supplies. The applicant claims approval would enable bottlers to offer fluoridated packaged water to consumers as an alternative to fluoridated reticulated water, or as a source of fluoride for those who do not have access to fluoridated reticulated water. FSANZ has concluded that there are no public health and safety concerns. We propose to approve the application, with the condition that the presence of added fluoride must be stated on the package label. We seek public comment on our proposed course of action.
Submissions:
FSANZ welcomes public comment from industry, public health professionals, government agencies and consumers. Details of the applications above can be found on www.foodstandards.gov.au.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Aus/NZ - Flouride may be approved for bottled water

Flouride may be approved for bottled water
11/11/2008 12:16:02
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is considering allowing manufacturers to voluntarily add fluoride to bottled water.
FSANZ spokeswoman Lydia Buchtmann says there have been concerns children who do not have access to fluoridated tap water are missing out.
Ms Buchtmann says bottles containing fluoride will have to be labelled. She says probably only ten percent of the market will add fluoride to their products, but it will give parents a choice.A report into fluoridation of bottled water is available for public comment.

Australia - Oberon councillors to discuss fluoridated water

Oberon councillors to discuss fluoridated water
Posted 9 hours 0 minutes ago The contentious issue of fluoridated drinking water could be back on the agenda in Oberon.
The New South Wales Department of Health is seeking permission to brief Oberon councillors next month on the benefits of adding fluoride to the town's water supply.
The shire's residents currently fall into the 6 per cent of the state's population which does not have access to fluoridated drinking water.
The council's general manager, Bruce Fitzpatrick, says councillors will decide tonight whether they want to hear the presentation.
"We have previously had representations made by people involved in the dental type area," he said.
"They have indicated a lot of the young children and people in this area have poor teeth because of lack of fluoridation. We've previously looked at it and the council of the day has said 'no, we weren't going to introduce it'.
"It seems to be like people either believe in it very strongly or don't believe in it at all and there doesn't seem to be too much middle ground. It's really going to come down to what the balance in the council is, in terms of whether they wish to go down this path or not."

Editorial: Heart drug study merits caution

Editorial: Heart drug study merits caution
Last update: November 10, 2008 - 6:11 PM
With heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women — killing about 450,000 people each year — it’s no wonder that any potential treatment advance is greeted with enthusiasm and headlines. That was the case when a team of researchers led by a Harvard Medical School cardiologist released a new study of the drug Crestor at an American Heart Association annual meeting on Sunday. Although the findings are significant, there are some important caveats.

Crestor is a statin drug and belongs to the same well-known pharmaceutical family as Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor — drugs already taken by an estimated 16 million to 20 million Americans. In a massive study of nearly 18,000 people — research funded by Crestor’s maker, — researchers found that the drug cut the risk of cardiovascular death by 20 percent in people who did not have high levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, but did have high levels of a protein considered a gauge of heart disease risk.


About half of heart attacks occur in those who have levels of LDL cholesterol currently considered acceptable. The study suggests that Crestor and other statin drugs could be used even more aggressively to prevent heart disease in millions more people. “It’s absolutely paradigm-shifting,’’ Dr. Steven E. Nissen, a well-respected Cleveland Clinic heart specialist, told the Los Angeles Times.

Experts were already updating treatment guidelines. It’s likely that the new ones — issued next year — will reflect this study’s findings by expanding the universe of people who should use the drugs.

With all the excitement, it’s no wonder that a crowded Monday morning session at the American Heart Association meeting had the tongue-in-cheek title of “Statins in the Water? Responsible use of Lipid-Modifying Drugs.’’ No one, of course, is seriously considering adding the drugs to the water supply like fluoride....

I wouldn't put it past them to try to do it this way. Anyway it is no wonder so many Americans do die each year with heart disease going by the size of them. Losing weight and more exercise would achieve better results.