FAN newsletter

There was a major fluoride-free victory this month in New Zealand, and today is the deadline for fluoridation to be shut off for the 150,000 residents in the city of Hamilton. On June 5, the Hamilton city council vote 7-1 to make the city the second largest unfluoridated community in the country.

While the effort was spearheaded by Fluoride Action Network New Zealand, there were many others involved, including Fluoride Free Hamilton, the members of the fluoride Tribunal, the 120 people who testified at the hearings (including FAN Director Paul Connett, PhD.), and the nearly 1,400 residents who petitioned the council to end fluoridation. Here is a much more comprehensive list put together by Fluoride Free Hamilton of experts who testified and supplied written testimony.

The victory has caused the dental community in New Zealand to attack the decision and call for a referendum to overturn the council’s vote. Mary Byrne, the National Coordinator for FAN-NZ, wrote a comprehensive review of the backlash following the Hamilton victory.

Listen to Dr. Paul Connett discuss his thoughts on the historic victory in Hamilton in this short radio interview while on the Vinny Eastwood Show.

More Celebrities Oppose Fluoridation

This week actor, comedian, and environmentalist Rob Schneider expressed his strong opposition to water fluoridation during an interview with Fox news affiliate WNYF-TV in Watertown, New York. Schneider calls fluoride a “toxic poison” and urges people to get involved, saying “get it out of your water…you have to fight for it.”   His response is at the 4:00 minute mark. 

Schneider’s comments come as the city council in Watertown, NY is debating ending fluoridation.   You can learn more about the campaign in Watertown, and get involved by visiting Watertown Anti-Fluoridation Action

Comedian and political commentator, Bill Maher also recently spoke out in opposition to fluoridation. While being interviewed he was asked what he thought about the recent fluoridation vote in Portland, Oregon. He replied, “I would have voted no as well…don’t add it to water, let consumers make their own choice.”

Maher and Schneider are not the only celebrities who have openly opposed fluoridation. Earlier this year Ed Begley Jr. and Ed Asner filmed fluoride-free public service announcements. In years past, actor Martin Sheen, actor and fitness expert Suzanne Somers, bodybuilding world champion Dorian Yates, and actor and former Governor Jessie Ventura have all come out against fluoridation, bringing greater awareness to the issue.