Dear Reader,
See FAN's new online interview with RALPH NADER, America's number one consumer advocate, at the top ofhttp://www.fluoridealert.org/ and hear Nader's response to the question: Why is fluoridated water still promoted?The video was a collaborative effort with Kevin Hurley of Polaris Media Works, Michael Connett, FAN's former managing director, and DJ Catrow, the designer of FAN's new logo as seen in the video. It's also on
As of 8:45 pm (est) tonight, over 14,000 emails have been sent in support of Fluoride Action Network's submission to the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The submission is in response to HHS' proposal to lower fluoride levels to 0.7 ppm in drinking water fluoridation schemes. In essence, FAN said that fluoride at 0.7 ppm is still too high and that fluoridation needs to be ended now.
If you haven't done so already, please sign-on to FAN's online message to HHS. February 14 is the last day that comments will be accepted. Please share the sign-on link with friends, networks, and colleagues.
Today's judiciary decision from the UK.
Background: In 2003 the UK government set up Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) across various regions of the country. According to James Meikle in The Guardian, "The government has been trying to extend fluoridation for years, having changed the law in 2003 to enable health chiefs to order, rather then request, water companies to add fluoride." The South Central SHA (SCSHA) was the first to implement the 2003 directive and made its decision in February 2009 to fluoridate certain areas of Hampshire County, including the city of Southampton and parts of Eastleigh, Totton, Netley and Rownhams, affecting over 220,000 people. This decision was made after the SCSHA's own poll found that 78% of 10,000 people contacted in these communities said they did not want fluoridated water. The SCSHA's decision was final and the only redress was to take them to court, which is exactly what one Southampton mother, Gerri Milner, did, even though the SCHA put aside £400,000 (approx $640,000) for legal fights.
Today the Judge released his opinion and as reported by The Guardian, "The court rejected a complaint by Southampton resident Geraldine Milner that the South Central strategic health authority's plans to fluoridate the city's water supply broke the law... Refusing the claim for judicial review, the judge expressed sympathy for people like Milner who disagreed with fluoridation but said he had not been able to conclude that there had been any illegality in the decision-making process. Parliament has decided that water can be flouridated in certain circumstances and the approval of a majority of the local population was not needed for that, he said. "This SHA have not acted unlawfully and no court can interfere with their decision."
The good news is that it is highly unlikely that the SCSHA fluoridation scheme will be implemented. The new government, under Prime Minister David Cameron, has said all the SHAs will be abolished by 2013.
The Daily Echo today has a short video interview with Prime Minister David Cameron on fluoridation prior to the judicial decision:
Reporter:
What are your views on adding fluoride to the water?
Cameron:
I've always taken the view that this is something that should be decided locally. I don't believe in the compulsory fluoridization of water...
Hampshire Against Fluoridation has led battle in Southampton, under the excellent leadership of Stephen Peckham and John Spottiswoode.
For more background see http://fluoridealert.org/southampton.sha.htm and http://www2.fluoridealert.org/Alert/United-Kingdom/England
Keep up the great work,
Paul Connett
Fluoride Action Network
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