F.A.N. Newsletter

As we were putting this bulletin to bed last night we heard the exciting news that the judge has dismissed the EPA's' motion for summary judgement (MSJ) in the TSCA lawsuit. This means that our case will go forward and will be heard in April of next year (it is scheduled to start April 20 and run for two weeks). This is the first time in its 43-year history that citizens have been able to successfully bring a suit to court under provisions in TSCA. This is a huge moment for us and the environmental movement as a whole. Finally the EPA is going to be held accountable for its decades of neglect with respect to protecting citizens from the deliberate addition of a known toxic (neurotoxic) substance to the public drinking water. Finally, we will get our day in court with experts from both sides presenting under oath.

Michael is working on a videotaped statement which we will circulate in a second bulletin today. We need the extra time because our video editor and producer is in Nashville, TN today.

Meanwhile, we have a nice note to share, an update on our fundraising saga and a link to another statement from a person whose plight the health authorities continue to  ignore - someone who is highly sensitive to fluoride.

Just a quick note to thank you and everyone at FAN for your dedication and tireless efforts over many years to end fluoridation.  Words cannot express how grateful I am for everything you’ve done including the incredible website, updates, bulletins, videos, interviews, study tracker, health effects database, fluoride news from around the world, your travel to many communities, the presentations, and so much more.  Absolutely incredible!! 

All of this has made it possible for many to understand the issues, reduce their family’s exposure to fluoride from many sources and take action on a community level to end water fluoridation.

Much appreciation and thanks also for your tremendous work on the lawsuit against the EPA.

Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

-Marlene

Thank You

From all of us at FAN, a huge thank you to all of our supporters who have given so generously towards our operating costs for 2020, some more than once! Even though it looks as if we have fallen far short of our goal we know that many of you went to great lengths to rustle up donations from family members and friends and we are very, very grateful. 

 

The FAN Fundraising Saga

With less than 24 hours left to reach our reduced goals of  $150,000 from  1000 donors, our total now stands at  $122,993 from 888 supporters.

 

Thanks to a 5k pledge from yesterday, the next $539 will be doubled. We will also receive a pledge of $2220 from our milestone team at 900 donors ( that is just 12 donations away) and another $2220 if and when we pass  1000 donations.  Can you help us do that?

 

To boost our numbers, don't forget to add family members in the name line on the online form - e.g. John, Joan and Robert Smith. If you are sending in your donation by mail please email us with the amount and number of names so that we can keep up with the numbers right up to midnight Pacific Time. 

 

Meanwhile we wish all our supporters a very happy and successful new year. May we all celebrate a victory in our lawsuit and an end to this miserable practice. 

 

For those who don't have a party to go to tonight but will be seeing the new year in we have provided a link to all the videos that we have used in our fundraising bulletins, so you will have plenty to watch while the clock ticks to midnight.

 

Thank you all

 

Paul Connett and the whole FAN Team.

 

How to Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

• Online, using our secure server.
   
• If you should experience difficulty in donating online please email: Ellen@fluoridealert.org
   
• Or by Check, payable to the Fluoride Action Network. Mail your check to:

Fluoride Action Network
c/o Connett
104 Walnut Street
Binghamton NY 13905

Fluoride and Migraines: A Personal Story From Julie Simms

Ignored and Forgotten No Longer!

This month we have already shared the personal testimonies of several individuals who experienced adverse reactions to fluoride in water, including Dr. Amanda Sleeper, Audrey Adams, and Maria Castro.  We continue with a new video featuring Julie Simms telling an engaging story of how she alleviated her migraine headaches by limiting her exposure to fluoride and fluoridated water. Julie is one of many fluoride sensitive people that have seen relief once fluoride is removed from their diet, and we plan to continue sharing their stories with our supporters, the public, the media, and elected officials.  

Please also enjoy and share these FAN video playlists:

• Calgary City Council Fluoridation Hearing Testimony
   
• Fundraising Videos Featuring FAN Staff and Supporters 2020/2019
   
• Fluoride Fundamentals Educational Series

From Ann

A Wills via outbound.mailhop.org	17:47 (46 minutes ago)
to awills

“What Doctors Don’t Tell You”  Dec 2019.  “FLUORIDE IN OUR WATER:  TOO MUCH FOR TOO LONG?  (shortened)

Fluoride Facts:  Small children often swallow 50% of toothpaste on their brush, ingesting up to 1.5mg of fluoride.

All fluoride toothpaste is supposed to carry a poison warning in US.

Fluoride raises the chance of bone fracture.

By 2004, fluorosis - discoloured teeth from too much fluoride - affected 41% of US adolescents.

Almost all research into water fluoridation was done before 1980.   2 new studies conclude that fluoride is a neurotoxin (nerve poison) that affects children’s IQ & ability to learn - even when it’s the mother who drank the fluoridated water while pregnant. Even the lower fluoride level introduced by US of 0.7 ppm of fluoride is still too high, say researchers from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York.  This shows it crosses the placenta.  (UK still uses the higher amount of 1ppm.)  A Canadian study at York Uni, Toronto, also found fluoride causes lower IQ but might have been ignored were it not for many other studies coming to the same conclusion.  Eg research from Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical Uni in China looked at 26 studies of 7,258 children & found high fluoride exposure in water is strongly linked to lower intelligence.  Researchers from Kent University in UK concluded: “Fluoride has the potential to cause major adverse human health problems….The fluoridation of public water should be reconsidered.”   (My comment:  the full 3-page article has references. The journal is sold in some WH Smiths & some newsagents. It has a “Letters” page -  letters@wddty.co.uk )

Ann

F.A.N. Newsletter

A huge thank you to all our supporters who beat the bushes yesterday recruiting friends and family members to join our winning team at $10 a head. They helped us add 90 names to our total number of supporters and $2,365 to our total which now stands at $112,307.

We have just two days left to reach our reduced goals of $150,000 from 1000 donors. Thanks to a pledge just in, the next $5000 will be doubled. Also helping us, we have $6660 in the kitty pledged to kick in when we reach 800, 900 and 1000 donor milestones. Can you help us do that?

How to Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

• Online, using our secure server.
   
• If you should experience difficulty in donating online please email: Ellen@fluoridealert.org
   
• Or by Check, payable to the Fluoride Action Network. Mail your check to:

Fluoride Action Network
c/o Connett
104 Walnut Street
Binghamton NY 13905

Meanwhile, here are FAN's Milestone winners, with another one expected today - donor #800 is just 5 donations away.

Donor # 400 - Linda Newland, Dallas, Texas

Donor # 500 - Paul still trying to contact 

Donor # 600 - Leslie Dack, Aiken, SC

Donor # 700 - Wouren- Courose Drencove , Kansas City, MO

Paul has been able to speak with three of these winners on the phone.

Linda Newland. Has been opposed to fluoridation since she heard Paul speak before Dallas City Council about 4 years ago. She works with Regina Imburglio's group and speaks regularly before City Council.  She argues there is no need to add fluoride to the water. "It might have a small benefit to teeth but it harms other parts of our bodies."

Leslie Dack. Leslie first got involved with FAN when she attended the joint FAN-ISFR conference we held near Toronto in 2008. Leslie's health was ruined by a fluorquinalone drug in 1986. She went from a healthy athlete who rode, trained and competed horses to someone who can no longer hold the reins. She has spent many years warning people and doctors about the dangers of fluorquinalone drugs (e.g, Cipro). These are organofluorine compounds that metabolize to free fluoride ion producing devastating affects on many systems in the body. When I asked her about FAN, she said "You guys are awesome.- you never give up." When I mentioned the frog cartoon she said she has that cartoon on a on a T-shirt she has worn for many years. She says she has the "Never give up" gene in her DNA.

Wouren-Courose Drencove. Wouren agreed that 2020 will be the year that fluoridation is ended. When I asked him how he would celebrate he said he would try to get to NYC if FAN organized a party. Meanwhile, he would phone a local lady who looks after dogs that she no longer has to buy bottled water. Wouren sees a parallel between the battle to end fluoridation and the long struggle to ban slavery.. He urged me to watch a movie about William Wilberforce (1759-1833) "Amazing Grace" starring the late Albert Finney and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Mike Ewall's appeal

I have known Mike from the 1980s when Ellen and I were fighting the building of incinerators in North America.  Mike was a student then and he was one of the first to tell us about this new fangled tool called the "internet." In those days we were putting out a newsletter (Waste Not) by hand !  Mike went on to get his law degree the same year as our Michael (2011). Mike heads up a very effective group called "Energy Justice Network" (Energy Justice.net).

Paul Connett,
FAN Director

Fluoride-induced rectal barrier damage and microflora disorder in mice

Abstract

Intestinal microflora plays a key role in maintaining the homeostasis between immune and host health. Here, we reported the fluoride-induced changes of rectal structure and microflora in mice. The morphology of rectal tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The rectal development parameters (the thickness of mucosa, intestinal gland and muscle layer) were evaluated. The proliferation of rectal epithelial cells was evaluated via BrdU labeling. The distribution of goblet, glycoprotein and mast cell were evaluated by specific staining. Rectal microflora was detected using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the rectal structure was seriously damaged and the proliferation of rectal epithelial cells was significantly inhibited by fluoride. The distribution of goblet cells, glycoprotein and mast cells decreased significantly after fluoride exposure. The relative richness of microfloras was changed after fluoride treatment, such as increased Bacteroidetes and decreased Firmicutes. In summary, this study indicated that excessive fluoride damages the intestinal structure, disturbs the intestinal micro-ecology and causes intestinal microflora disorder in mice. Findings mentioned in the present study enrich a new scope for elucidating fluoride toxicity from intestinal homeostasis.

F.A.N. Newsletter

I have never been more confident that we will see - if not the end - the beginning of the end of fluoridation in 2020. Why do I say that? 

First, there is the science. Beginning in Sept 2017 we have seen a series of US government funded studies clearly indicating that fluoride is highly neurotoxic - possibly as neurotoxic as lead. 

Second, we have seen that science coupled with scientific integrity. We have seen people like the editors of JAMA Pediatrics open their eyes and minds to this new science. We have seen the O'Brien Institute of Calgary University - expected by friends and foes alike to endorse fluoridation - back off their endorsement clearly disturbed by this solid evidence of harm and we have seen the National Toxicology program conclude after three years of the most systematic of reviews that fluoride is a presumed human neurotoxicant.

Third, we have a superb panel of experts to present this evidence before a court which has already shown that it can resist the usual pressures to keep this practice going at any cost. 

Fourth, based on depositions from spokespersons from the EPA and CDC they have no scientific evidence that can resurrect a case for continuing this reckless practice. 

Fifth, It will be a victory for perseverance. The perseverance of those who came before us. The perseverance of our team that is celebrating the 20 years since the formation of FAN in 2020 and the perseverance of you our supporters who have stuck with us year after year.

So I have two questions for our supporters: 

1) How are you going to celebrate this victory, which has been so long in the making? 

2) How many more of your friends, family members and colleagues can you share this victory with?

One way, you can share the victory with them is by making a donation of $10 in their name. Keep a copy of the message you get back from our parent body - the American Environmental Health Studies Project (AEHSP) - acknowledging their/your donation. Share it with them in years to come.

Yesterday, we raised a magnificent $15,615 from 16 donors to bring our total up to $109,942 from 705 supporters. 

Realistically, with three days to go, we are not going to raise $250,000 by midnight Dec 31 but we would be happy to reach $150,000 and we would love to do that by adding 300 more names to bring the total of our supporting donors up to 1000. If you help us do this we will receive an extra $6,660 from the milestone pledge team that recognizes the 800, 900 and 1000 donor milestones. 

Will you and your friends be one of the 1000 people who helped change the world for our children? 

Will you be one of the 1000 people who helped protect the fetal and infant brains of millions of children in the future from the unnecessary exposure to a brain-damaging substance?

What a sweet and satisfying victory that will be.

Thank you for all you have done to make this victory possible.

Paul Connett
FAN Director

How to Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

• Online, using our secure server.
   
• If you should experience difficulty in donating online please email: Ellen@fluoridealert.org
   
• Or by Check, payable to the Fluoride Action Network. Mail your check to:

Fluoride Action Network
c/o Connett
104 Walnut Street
Binghamton NY 13905

Canada - Letter to the Editor: No fluoride? No problem?

I’m from Windsor Ontario where our council voted six years ago to stop artificial water fluoridation as recommended by our very own utilities company. The 2002 Safe Drinking Water Act states, dilution is no defense for adding a contaminant to drinking water. The chemical agent most commonly used to fluoridate water (H2SiF6) is toxic, synthetic and contaminated with trace amounts of arsenic and lead.

http://www.nsf.org/newsroom_pdf/Fluoride_Fact_Sheet_2019.pdf

Since cessation the Cochrane Review concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to determine that fluoridation helped change disparities in oral health across socio-economic status levels, or that stopping fluoridation would cause an increase in caries.  They also concluded the majority of studies that have shown fluoridation to be effective were at least 44 years old and had shown a high level of bias.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/25/fluoride-water-supply-benefit-unproved-tooth-decay

The CDC (NHANES) reported a huge leap in dental fluorosis rates (damaged tooth enamel from fluoride over-exposure) which now effects the majority of U.S. teens.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2380084419830957

In a meta-analysis, researchers from Harvard School of Public Health stated that fluoride may adversely affect cognitive development that should not be ignored. The lead author of the report stated, “Fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury, and other poisons that cause chemical brain drain”

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/fluoride-childrens-health-grandjean-choi/

Large scale, government funded, peer-reviewed studies from York University demonstrated that pregnant women living in fluoridated communities across Canada had double the fluoride level in their urine than in non-fluoridated communities.

There are now five human studies linking these same levels of fluoride in urine to lower IQ and ADHD symptoms in offspring…one such study was published in JAMA Pediatrics.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2748626 

Health Canada and the National Academies of Sciences are currently reviewing the association of Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects while several other organizations like the Kidney Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association have completely stopped endorsing artificial fluoridation. 

Incredibly, against most of this backdrop of information, our new council recently voted to re-introduce artificial fluoridation and are awaiting new reports from the utilities company.

Why? Because of one very biased, non-peer-reviewed “report" conducted by our Health Unit which failed to consider confounding factors, made disingenuous claims of zero cases of dental fluorosis, ignored fluoride’s toxic and bio-accumulative nature, and used opinion surveys that were not randomized. 

Questions that should be asked:

Ask your water treatment plant to see the NSF Certificate of Analysis of H2SiF6.  Ask them why it is transported, measured and handled as a highly corrosive, hazardous and dangerous good and why it is illegal to dump it anywhere in the environment. 

Ask Health Canada why they have failed to regulate this chemical as drug, nutrient or even a food-grade additive. Ask them how it can be labelled a water treatment chemical when it contaminates and doesn’t treat the water.

Submit an FOI request to your Health Authority for any peer-reviewed study that demonstrates fluoride is safe for the developing fetus.

Submit an FOI request to Health Canada for any peer-reviewed study that shows consuming H2SiF6 treated water is safe for thyroid health, brain health, or that it is even effective at preventing cavities.

Dr. William Ghali is the scientific director of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary. He just reviewed all the science, ask him if he believes fluoridated water is safe for pregnant women.

Ask the authors of the new studies out of York University (Till, Green, etc.) and the editor of JAMA Pediatrics if they believe pregnant women should be advised to avoid fluoride exposures with the same caution they are informed about lead, caffeine, and even raw cookie dough.

Ask why the Ministry of Health in B.C. is boasting that their children’s oral health scores are better than Canadian averages even though they have virtually no fluoride in either their tap or well water.  

https://www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2014/provincial-kindergarten-dental-survey-report-2012-2013.pdf

Ask why states like Georgia (92% fluoridated), Illinois (98% fluoridated), and Kentucky (99.9% fluoridated) are still experiencing an oral health crisis especially among their low income households and still have above U.S. national averages in tooth loss due to decay. 

Ask your water engineers how they can possibly justify this statement... “As a plant that serves the entire region, it is absolutely essential that we have a modern facility that produces the highest-quality drinking water for its customers, including the City of Regina.

You cannot achieve the “highest-quality” drinking water when you add a fluoride contaminant and all of its co-contaminants to it.

My own OB/GYN recommended I avoid fluoride decades ago. He was pro-active and protective. My children (now adults) have nearly perfect teeth.
 
Regards,

Donna Mayne
Windsor, ON

F.A.N. Newsletter

Today we have a moving video from a mother whose son experienced severe reactions to fluoride in the water.  According to the promotors of fluoridation chemicals, people like her son - who are hypersensitive to fluoride - don't exist.  Unfortunately, the side-effects of fluoride on some individuals is all too real, as you will learn from the video below.  But first, here is a quick update on the annual fundraiser as we head into the final days to raise our operating budget for 2020.

Yesterday we raised $3,862 from 38 supporters.  This included a $1000 doubling challenge from Dr. Mercola and another $1000 for reaching 675 donations. Our current grand total is $94,327 from 689 donors.

Today, Dr. Mercola will double the first $1000 donated and with another 11 donations we will receive $2,320 from our milestone pledge team for reaching 700 donations. So we are hoping we will have reached $100,000 by tonight, bringing us a little closer to our ambitious goal of $250,000 by midnight Dec 31.

Thank you to all of you who have given so generously and have supported this effort in the many other ways that you do.

How to Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

• Online, using our secure server.
   
• If you should experience difficulty in donating online please email: Ellen@fluoridealert.org
   
• Or by Check, payable to the Fluoride Action Network. Mail your check to:

Fluoride Action Network
c/o Connett
104 Walnut Street
Binghamton NY 13905

Fluoride Sensitivity: A Personal Story From Audrey Adams

(Click on graphic for video)

In today's video Audrey Adams shares a compelling story about her experience of learning about and coping with her autistic son's adverse reactions to fluoride and fluoridated water. We at FAN would like to thank her for sharing this powerful testimony.  As we've learned from Audrey and many others -- whose testimony we will continue to share -- hypersensitivity is real and likely effects tens of thousands, and maybe even hundreds of thousands of individuals across the U.S. alone.    

In the 70 years of this unethical and reckless practice not one health agency in any of the countries that practice water fluoridation has called for, or financed, any scientific study to investigate the possibility that some citizens are particularly sensitive to fluoride’s toxic effects. The explanation for this unscientific and irresponsible promotion of the practice is very simple and disturbing: for those who promote fluoridation it is far more important to protect this practice than to protect the health of our citizens. And so Audrey suffers, her son suffers, as well as many others.  Thousands more will suffer needlessly until we rid the world of this irresponsible and reckless practice.

Please watch and share this video.  By amplifying the voices of the victims of fluoridation, we can show the unnecessary cruelty of adding this chemical to everyone's drinking water without regard for dose, medical history, or individual reactions.  If our politicians cannot ensure its safe for everyone, then it shouldn't be forced on anyone!

Thank you, 

Stuart Cooper
Campaign Director
Fluoride Action Network

F.A.N. Newsletter

Yesterday we raised $4,205 from 36 supporters, which included a $1000 doubling pledge from Dr. Mercola and bonus for reaching 650 donations. This brings our grand total as of 8am Dec 27 of $90,465 from 651 supporters. A hearty Christmas thank you for all who have donated so far and a Happy New Year's wish for all those who will be giving between now and midnight Dec 31.

Dr. Mercola will again double the first $1000 donated today and will pledge another $1000 if we can reach 675 donations by midnight tonight.

Thank you to all of you who have given so generously and have supported this effort in the many other ways that you do.

How to Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

• Online, using our secure server.
   
• If you should experience difficulty in donating online please email: Ellen@fluoridealert.org
   
• Or by Check, payable to the Fluoride Action Network. Mail your check to:

Fluoride Action Network
c/o Connett
104 Walnut Street
Binghamton NY 13905

Jack Crowther: Why I Want FAN to Succeed

(Click on graphic for video)

Dear Friends,

The annual fund-raising campaign of the Fluoride Action Network, the organization leading the fight against fluoridation worldwide, is under way and will run to the end of December.

As it did last year, FAN is seeking to raise $250,000 to continue its work against fluoridation, using a small staff and many volunteers. I'm happy to support this effort and hope you will consider doing so too, in whatever amount you can afford. 

Since attending the FAN convention near Washington, D.C., in 2017 with my wife, Sue, I’ve continued to work with FAN’s Advisory Committee, helping in a small way to plan ongoing campaign efforts. This has been both gratifying and humbling. Gratifying to participate in work so important with highly qualified and committed leaders. And humbling to witness the relentless, shoulders-to-the wheel determination of both staff and volunteers.

In nearly five years of anti-fluoridation work, I’ve appreciated FAN's science-based and honest effort to prevail in a politically-charged debate. FAN’s integrity persists in the face of well-funded and cynical efforts to promote fluoridation. We face opponents who value public relations over science. They appeal to authorities who have impressive titles but are far removed from the moving edge of fluoride science. 

It is discouraging to push a boulder uphill. But as I see it, the boulder is not rolling back on us. We are chocking that boulder it as we go, raising it ever higher toward our goal: an end to fluoridation.

FAN bulletins show our progress. Our and others’ lawsuit under the Toxic Substances Control Act, and continuing victories at the local level, keep us attuned and encouraged. I’m convinced that we, through science and common sense, will succeed. (Meanwhile I continue my own boulder-rolling in my home town of Rutland, Vt. I have faith that this effort, too, will succeed.)

Please consider a donation to FAN. It fights not only for your and my health and right to choose what we put in our bodies but for the very integrity of science.

Thanks, and Happy Holidays,

Jack Crowther
Rutland, Vermont

**Jack Crowther is a retired journalist and corporate communications professional.  He manages the website Rutlandfluorideaction.org, and is an active leader in the movement to end fluoridation in Vermont. 

My Thanks

Although critical of certain branches of medicine I do think we have a lot to be proud of. My wife was going blind with fast growing cataracts at the start of the year since then she has had two separate operations to remove them. Her vision is now better than mine and does not need to have glasses to read or watch TV.

The operation is done very quickly and not that traumatic going by all the comments made when patients come back.

My thanks to the staff of the Southampton eye hospital.

Bill

F.A.N. Newsletter

We hope all our supporters had an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas day. At this end it is back to business, as we enter the most important few days of our fundraiser. We have the very daunting task of trying to reach a total of $250,000 by midnight  Dec 31.  But you have surprised us before.

Our current total stands at $86,260 from 615 supporters. Dr Mercola has sweetened the pie by offering to double the first $1000 donated today and will also throw in another $1000 if we can reach a total of 650 donors by midnight tonight. To help us do this you can sign on several family members at $10 each.

Thank you to all of you who have given so generously and have supported this effort in the many other ways that you do.

Sincerely,

Paul Connett
Executive Director

How to Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

Online, using our secure server.

If you should experience difficulty in donating online please email: Ellen@fluoridealert.org

Or by Check, payable to the Fluoride Action Network. Mail your check to:
Fluoride Action Network
c/o Connett
104 Walnut Street
Binghamton NY 13905



See all FAN bulletins online

Make A Tax Deductible Donation Today!
Fluoride Action Network
 Binghamton, New York
 info@fluoridealert.org

F.A.N. Newsletter

First, we at FAN would like to wish all our supporters a very happy Christmas and any other holiday you will be celebrating this year.  

(Click on picture for a special holiday video from FAN)

On the fundraiser front, yesterday we raised $3,285 from 30 supporters - to give FAN a grand total of $74,478.  While it's a long way from where we had hoped to be at this point in our daunting (impossible?) task of raising $250,000 by midnight Dec 31, we have had some very good news today. 

We received a $10,000 challenge grant from Dr. Mercola to use in the most productive way to boost our efforts. So we are going to use $5000 of this to double the next $5000 donated and save the other $5000 for a different challenge grant after Christmas.

We are also only 12 more donations away from the 600 donor milestone which will trigger another $2,200 from our milestone team (now four-member strong). Are you going to be supporter number 600 and win a book and have a phone interview with Paul?

See you all again on Dec 26.

Thank you, 

Paul Connett
Executive Director

How to Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

• Online, using our secure server.
   
• If you should experience difficulty in donating online please email: Ellen@fluoridealert.org
   
• Or by Check, payable to the Fluoride Action Network. Mail your check to:

Fluoride Action Network
c/o Connett
104 Walnut Street
Binghamton NY 13905

Australia - Take a closer look at validity of fluoridation

Fluoridating municipal drinking water is a significant annual cost for council.

The realisation that fluoridation is not delivering the dental benefit claimed by State Health, Federal Health and the NHMRC raises financial and ethical concerns for council and informed residents.

Additionally, the possibility that fluoridation may be harming residents' health is an alarming prospect and has prompted the current administration to seek assurances of 'safety' from NSW Health and the NHMRC.

Unsatisfactory responses from these bodies have prompted PMHC to obtain authoritative legal opinion after lawyer Michael Lusk identified existing illegality.

The opinion given by S.C. Timothy Robertson confirmed that fluoridation has been illegal since 1989 (i.e. since establishment of the Federal Therapeutic Goods Act 1989). It thus emerges that fluoridation of the Hastings LGA in February, 2012 was illegal and that NSW Health shamelessly deceived the council back in 2004. Many residents were bitterly disappointed by this abusive behaviour.

PMHC's wide publicity of S.C. Robertson's legal opinion has prompted the Morrison federal government to exclude fluoridated reticulated drinking water (FRDW) as a therapeutic good from the TGA's list of therapeutic goods.

The recent exclusion of FRDW from federal TGA 'regulation' has presented very serious legal challenges for federal and state governments alike.

It now appears to be illegal for state and federal governments, all health departments and councils to make any therapeutic claims of benefit from the fluoride added to drinking water. Further legal opinion is needed to confirm this assertion and to clarify other important legal questions.

So what are councils to do? Without TGA protection or claims of therapeutic benefit, fluoridation chemicals become illegal toxic water additives, or poisons, that pollute the receiving environment. Councils thus currently function as unregistered toxic waste disposal outlets for dumping industry's toxic waste.

Perhaps injunctions could be applied to stop water fluoridation at state or even the federal level?

There is no doubt that water fluoridation is a reckless policy that is harmful to health.

The NHMRC's biased attempts to defend water fluoridation have become unsustainable as more scientific evidence accumulates, particularly evidence relating to children's IQ decrements due to fluoride exposure.

Regrettably, our federal and state governments remain in denial and continue to parrot the NHMRC's claims that water fluoridation "is safe, effective and equitable".

It is presently evident that conscientious and informed grass roots opposition to water fluoridation, via approaches to federal and state health ministers and politicians, has stalled miserably, and there is little prospect for reversing this situation.

Furthermore, it is reasonably predictable that federal and state governments may do nothing and will attempt to live with illegality, so long as the public is ineffective in forcing political change or in overturning fluoridation in the courts.

The United States National Toxicology Program (NTP) released its draft report in September, 2019 stating "that fluoride is presumed to be a cognitive neuro-developmental hazard to humans."

Another high level US Health Agency, the National Academies of Science, is reviewing the NTP's draft report, with the final NTP report due in September, 2020.

A court case against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently well advanced in a Californian Federal Court. The focus of this case is on the neurological harm that fluoride inflicts on the human brain and on children's IQ.

A possible visit by retired chemist Professor Paul Connett?

Anti-fluoridation advocate Professor Paul Connett (President of Fluoride Action Network (FAN, USA) could be invited to visit Port Macquarie in April, 2020, during his planned visit to Australia and New Zealand. Andrew Parry, President of Fluoride Free Australia Inc., has communicated that the EPA court challenge, in which FAN is a principal applicant, may be finished before April, 2020.

An April visit by Dr Paul Connett would be ideally timed if PMHC agrees to sponsor a Fluoridation Forum and subsequent poll of electors poll at the September, 2020, Council election.

A poll of electors poll on water fluoridation was conducted by Port Macquarie Council coinciding with the 1991 council election when fluoridation was voted down by 71%. On this occasion, LGA residents had a democratic expectation that their wishes would be acknowledged, respected, and acted upon. And they were.

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that PMHC:

1. Seeks further authoritative legal opinion, and

2. repeats Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's 1991 experience involving a public pro- vs con- fluoridation forum in the first half of 2020, followed by a poll of electors poll coinciding with the September, 2020 council election.

John Lusk and Paul Jones