FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK
FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK
http://www.FluorideAlert.Org FAN Bulletin 1082:
Australian fight back July 19, 2009,
As far as the willingness of a handful of countries to force fluoridation on its citizens, I find Australia the most frustrating and depressing. However, I have also been very impressed with the spirit of the individuals who are fighting back against the odds - odds not helped by a hugely indifferent media, an academic community which just doesn't want to get involved, and a largely apathetic public. Apathy rules in Oz. Most people have a very comfortable life there - and probably don't want to be worried about the possibility that what they are drinking every day may be robbing a few IQ points from their kids, lowering their own thyroid function or damaging their bones. Doesn't everyone have those aches and pains? Don't we all get very tired at times? Best not to know. If you don't know, you don't worry.Meanwhile, the philosophy of the state governments, which push this practice on their citizens, is "if you don't look you don't find." Despite the fact that Australia has been fluoridating the water of most of their major cities since the 1960's, their health agencies have steadfastly avoided doing any studies to check to see if there are any health problems. Instead, they have relied on the tame "research" of the literature by their rubber stamp federal government agency called the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The latest scientific travesty from this pathetic entity was their claim, in their 2007 report, that the findings in the US National Research Council, Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Review of EPA's Standards (NRC, 2006) was not relevant to Australia. Such embarrassing conclusions are gobbled up by state officials determined - for whatever reason - to keep this practice going at all costs. Even when the rubber stamp NHMRC suggested - in 1991 - that governments should be tracking the level of fluoride in people's bones and checking the numerous anecdotal reports of people claiming that they were very sensitive to fluoride, neither the federal health agency nor the state health agencies have done either - and that's after 18 years!Instead of putting money into basic health research on this issue, the state agencies continue to put thousands of Australian dollars into PR firms to produce expensive glossy brochures answering their own self-serving questions. When I asked the Chief Health Officer of Victoria, soon after one of these brochures had appeared, if he would respond to my "50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation" he responded that "Neither I, nor my staff, have any intention of doing so!"When I asked him, "Why, if swallowing fluoride was good for teeth, was the level so low in mothers milk (0.004 ppm)" he responded, "So, Mother Nature has dealt some children a poor deal."Perhaps the most upsetting thing about Australia's pursuit of this practice is the point blank refusal of those who most confidently espouse its benefits and safety, to debate the issue with me in public, even though I have toured Australia three times and on each occasion local activists have challenged health and dental officials to do so. This gutlessness is in such sharp contrast to the world famous boldness of their renowned sportsmen. For courage, integrity and determination one has to look at the opponents of fluoridation. They represent the best of Australia. Here is some of their fight back against mandatory fluoridation and a way all our readers may be able to help their efforts.Australian fight back1) The Barwon Association for Freedom from Fluoridation (BAFF) is organizing a "Rally to Stop Fluoridation" outside Parliament House in Melbourne, on Wednesday, 29th July. We hope as many people as possible in communities in Victoria (and even from outside the state) will get to this rally. Below David McRae explains why it is so important. How you can help. For those outside Victoria and outside Australia, please send a short message of support to David so at the rally he can read out messages of solidarity from around the country and around world. David's email is djmcrae@ncable.net.au2) Gillian Blair has sent in an appeal to the Victorian state Ombudsman to investigate this issue (see letter below). In her letter she puts the foolishness and injustice of this practice very concisely. How you can help. Please send an email to Gillian (perhaps addressed to the Ombudsman) in support of her efforts. It would be helpful for the Ombudsman to know that his action (or inaction) is being keenly watched around the world. Gillian's email address is gillianb9@westvic.com.au.3) Wayne Evans has committed civil disobedience for the second time to draw attention to the forced fluoridation of Coff's Harbor in New South Wales and for the second time his action has earned front page coverage of the issue. See Wayne's explanation below why he is putting himself on the line for this issue. How you can help. Please email him with your moral support and suggestions. Wayne's email address is pev53897@bigpond.net.au4) According to David McRae, some people in Geelong are withholding payment of part of their water bill to protest the poisoning of their water. David explains: "A number of people are reporting that they are withholding the 'Water Volume' component of their bill, and informing Barwon Water of exactly why they are unwilling to pay for "poisoned water". So far a number of the people have had further letters from Barwon Water telling them to pay up "with the introduction of water fluoridation you are still required to pay bills as normal" or some such. Several have had calls or letters from debt collecting agency PROBE, that claims to act for Barwon Water. Other advice has told us that if PROBE has no contract to do business with you, you have no obligation to even enter into any discussion or written communication with them.It will be most interesting to see how far Barwon Water will go with heavying the non-bill payers. Will they restrict their water flow? Will they take them to court? A court case that involved a hearing on whether the water is "poisoned" or not, as consumers claim, is just what Australia needs."Paul Connett
http://www.FluorideAlert.Org FAN Bulletin 1082:
Australian fight back July 19, 2009,
As far as the willingness of a handful of countries to force fluoridation on its citizens, I find Australia the most frustrating and depressing. However, I have also been very impressed with the spirit of the individuals who are fighting back against the odds - odds not helped by a hugely indifferent media, an academic community which just doesn't want to get involved, and a largely apathetic public. Apathy rules in Oz. Most people have a very comfortable life there - and probably don't want to be worried about the possibility that what they are drinking every day may be robbing a few IQ points from their kids, lowering their own thyroid function or damaging their bones. Doesn't everyone have those aches and pains? Don't we all get very tired at times? Best not to know. If you don't know, you don't worry.Meanwhile, the philosophy of the state governments, which push this practice on their citizens, is "if you don't look you don't find." Despite the fact that Australia has been fluoridating the water of most of their major cities since the 1960's, their health agencies have steadfastly avoided doing any studies to check to see if there are any health problems. Instead, they have relied on the tame "research" of the literature by their rubber stamp federal government agency called the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The latest scientific travesty from this pathetic entity was their claim, in their 2007 report, that the findings in the US National Research Council, Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Review of EPA's Standards (NRC, 2006) was not relevant to Australia. Such embarrassing conclusions are gobbled up by state officials determined - for whatever reason - to keep this practice going at all costs. Even when the rubber stamp NHMRC suggested - in 1991 - that governments should be tracking the level of fluoride in people's bones and checking the numerous anecdotal reports of people claiming that they were very sensitive to fluoride, neither the federal health agency nor the state health agencies have done either - and that's after 18 years!Instead of putting money into basic health research on this issue, the state agencies continue to put thousands of Australian dollars into PR firms to produce expensive glossy brochures answering their own self-serving questions. When I asked the Chief Health Officer of Victoria, soon after one of these brochures had appeared, if he would respond to my "50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation" he responded that "Neither I, nor my staff, have any intention of doing so!"When I asked him, "Why, if swallowing fluoride was good for teeth, was the level so low in mothers milk (0.004 ppm)" he responded, "So, Mother Nature has dealt some children a poor deal."Perhaps the most upsetting thing about Australia's pursuit of this practice is the point blank refusal of those who most confidently espouse its benefits and safety, to debate the issue with me in public, even though I have toured Australia three times and on each occasion local activists have challenged health and dental officials to do so. This gutlessness is in such sharp contrast to the world famous boldness of their renowned sportsmen. For courage, integrity and determination one has to look at the opponents of fluoridation. They represent the best of Australia. Here is some of their fight back against mandatory fluoridation and a way all our readers may be able to help their efforts.Australian fight back1) The Barwon Association for Freedom from Fluoridation (BAFF) is organizing a "Rally to Stop Fluoridation" outside Parliament House in Melbourne, on Wednesday, 29th July. We hope as many people as possible in communities in Victoria (and even from outside the state) will get to this rally. Below David McRae explains why it is so important. How you can help. For those outside Victoria and outside Australia, please send a short message of support to David so at the rally he can read out messages of solidarity from around the country and around world. David's email is djmcrae@ncable.net.au2) Gillian Blair has sent in an appeal to the Victorian state Ombudsman to investigate this issue (see letter below). In her letter she puts the foolishness and injustice of this practice very concisely. How you can help. Please send an email to Gillian (perhaps addressed to the Ombudsman) in support of her efforts. It would be helpful for the Ombudsman to know that his action (or inaction) is being keenly watched around the world. Gillian's email address is gillianb9@westvic.com.au.3) Wayne Evans has committed civil disobedience for the second time to draw attention to the forced fluoridation of Coff's Harbor in New South Wales and for the second time his action has earned front page coverage of the issue. See Wayne's explanation below why he is putting himself on the line for this issue. How you can help. Please email him with your moral support and suggestions. Wayne's email address is pev53897@bigpond.net.au4) According to David McRae, some people in Geelong are withholding payment of part of their water bill to protest the poisoning of their water. David explains: "A number of people are reporting that they are withholding the 'Water Volume' component of their bill, and informing Barwon Water of exactly why they are unwilling to pay for "poisoned water". So far a number of the people have had further letters from Barwon Water telling them to pay up "with the introduction of water fluoridation you are still required to pay bills as normal" or some such. Several have had calls or letters from debt collecting agency PROBE, that claims to act for Barwon Water. Other advice has told us that if PROBE has no contract to do business with you, you have no obligation to even enter into any discussion or written communication with them.It will be most interesting to see how far Barwon Water will go with heavying the non-bill payers. Will they restrict their water flow? Will they take them to court? A court case that involved a hearing on whether the water is "poisoned" or not, as consumers claim, is just what Australia needs."Paul Connett
posted by Bill at
10:05 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home