Fluoride Alert newsletter

San Marcos Says NO to Fluoridation

On Tuesday, voters in San Marcos, Texas (pop. 45,000) approved a resolution ending and prohibiting the fluoridation of the public water supply with 61% of the vote.  Voters passed the following language into law: “The City of San Marcos shall not add, or direct or require its agents to add fluoride in the form of hydrofluorosilicic acid, hexafluorosilicic acid, or sodium silicofluoride to the San Marcos municipal water supply.” 

San Marcos has artificially fluoridated the drinking water since 1987, but a major grassroots effort over the past year has brought that to an end.  A strong coalition of campaigners, including Fluoride Free San Marcos and Texans for Accountable Government weren’t discouraged by a city council that ignored their calls for an end to the practice.  Instead, the multi-partisan coalition moved forward and collected the 1,600 signatures required to get a resolution amending the city charter on the ballot.  Then another obstacle arose.  Their referendum petition was illegally invalidated by the City Clerk, who even sued Fluoride Free San Marcos and three of its officers to have a judge void the petition and have the campaigners pay the city’s legal expenses.  The judge ruled that the petition was legal, and directed the city to place the question on the ballot.     

We congratulate the campaigners who led the charge in San Marcos, facing major obstacles and overcoming them brilliantly to bring an end to fluoridation in their city and inspire fluoride-free campaigns around the world. 

With the victory in San Marcos, the number of communities that have rejected fluoridation since 2010 has surpassed 200.  This is a major milestone and a clear sign that the momentum is building in our favor.  Also please keep in mind that it’s very likely that this number is actually much higher since not all votes against fluoridation make the news or get passed on to FAN. 

If you’d like to increase the fluoridation ending momentum in your community, please consider sharing the new film “Daily Dose,” with your neighbors and elected officials:

-Share the film with your Governor and State Legislators.

-Share the film with your City Councilors.

-Share the film with your Congressional Members.

Paul Stepping down, Michael Stepping up

As FAN’s Director, Paul Connett, PhD has indicated to many close friends and colleagues over the last few years, his 75th birthday would mark the end of his tenure as executive director of FAN.  That day has now come, and Paul has officially retired from his position.  However, this is not a reason for campaigners to get discouraged, because as Paul points out:

"This should bring no solace to the zealots that continue to promote the bizarre and preposterous practice of water fluoridation for two reasons. First, my son Michael is interrupting his career in law to take over the reigns (part time in November and full-time from Dec 1). Second, I will continue to fight the battle for common sense, integrity and justice on this issue by giving presentations in communities when invited and debating proponents, if and when they are prepared to pluck up the courage to do so. I will also do my best in my writing to continue to expose the highly paid 'spin' tactics used by proponents as substitute for a scientific defense of this practice."

November’s Teleconference

The next International Fluoride Free Teleconference will be held on Saturday, November 14^th at 5PM (Eastern time).  The call is entitled, “Daily Dose: Real People, Real Harm,” and will feature award winning filmmaker Jeremy Seifert discussing his recent fluoridation film “Daily Dose” and how you can use it to end fluoridation in your community.