Dear Readers,
The Pew Charitable Trusts has become a significant player in promoting fluoridation schemes throughout the United States. While Delta Dental offers millions of dollars in grants each year to communities for fluoridation chemicals and equipment, Pew partners with pro-fluoridationist groups, lobbies city councilors and state legislators, and in at least one case paid highly influential lobbyists to get a state-mandated fluoride bill passed in Arkansas.
Last week, Pew sent out a press release patting themselves on the back for successfully "encouraging" (lobbying) decision-makers in San Jose to fluoridate the drinking water for the cities' approximately 280,000 unsuspecting residents.
In response to Pew's misguided promotion of fluoridation, and their misleading media release, FAN sent out the following press release last night:
Pew's Promotion of Water Fluoridation Undermines Science and the Democratic Process
Please help FAN spread-the-word about Pew by distributing this press release to your local papers using our automated system. The more pressure we can put on Pew, the greater the chance they will re-examine, and possibly reverse, their position on fluoridation.
Two More Canadian Victories
Of all the provinces in Canada, British Columbia has the lowest percentage of fluoridated water. Prior to this week, only 3.8% of BC residents, living in eight communities, had fluoride added to their water by a municipal government. This week that number dropped significantly as two more towns ended decades of fluoridation, leaving only 6 fluoridated communities left in BC.
In Williams Lake, British Columbia citizens voted 2453 to 970on Saturday to end fluoridation for the town's approximately 11,200 residents. Williams Lake taxpayers will save $94,000 annually by ending the practice. Town officials cited several reasons for bringing the referendum to the voters, including:
-Increased costs to continue adding fluoride to the water.
-Risk to City employees while handling the product.
-Prevalence of fluoride available in many dental hygiene and food products.
-Calls for it's end from citizens and advocacy groups
The second BC community is Lake Cowichan, whose residents voted 335 to 147 to end fluoridation for approximately 3,000 people.
These two communities join 8 others in British Columbia that have stopped fluoridating their public water since 1992: Comox/Courtenay (1992), Squamish (1993), Port Hardy (1993), Kelowna (1996), Kitimat (1998), Kamloops (2001), Burns Lake (2003) and Golden (2005). Vancouver discontinued fluoridation in the early 1960's.
Sincerely,
Campaign Manager
P.S. -- To help support FAN's work, please consider giving a tax-deductible donation today via our secure online system. Thank you!
QUICK LINKS:
FAN Press Release
Inform your local media the Press Release
Inform your State Legislators about fluoridation
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