HAMILTON CAMPAIGN

17th October 2009

Sign the Petition! Send this link to everyone you know in Hamilton.

Stop Fluoridation Petition Launched in Hamilton

Download this for a paper based copy and ask friends and family to sign Hamilton Stop Fluoridation Petition.doc

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2005

A huge amount of work was done in Hamilton in 2003 presenting information to the Hamilton City Council and getting out in the community spreading information.

A Council meeting was held where campaigners presented the anti-fluoridation position while the Ministry flew someone in from Wellington to support the local DHB representative in giving the "pro" side – with the standard issue PowerPoint presentation. The presenter couldn’t even get dates and basic facts right, and obviously knew nothing of the subject – just parroting the propaganda she had been fed.

Because of the pressure exerted both by these campaigners and some of the councillors, the Hamilton City Council agreed to commission an independent report of the fluoridation issue. However they actually organised for one of their officers to do it. It all looked very hopeful with the scientist, Marcus Shipton, being supplied with a huge amount of research material which he seemed eager to study. We thought that the council would then vote to have a referendum on the issue at the next local body elections.

But not to be. The report was appalling:

  • It failed to cover the issues raised before the council – contamination of the substance used (HFA) and lack of any human health safety testing;
  • It failed to give a single scientific reference to substantiate any of the standard generalisations used in promotional propaganda;
  • It completely misrepresented the York Review findings – in spite of Mr Shipton having the public statement by the chairman of the review board;
  • And in the absence of facts, recited the usual references to "reputable world bodies" who support fluoridation to hide the report’s total ineptitude.

The Hamilton City Council voted 6 to 5 to remain with fluoridation.

Campaigners will continue to work in Hamilton. We commend those councillors who have already stood up against this misguided practice. It only needs one more councillor to change their mind and Hamilton will go the other way. It only needs one more councillor to realise that people have a fundamental right to decide what they drink and what medication they take.

So the battle is on: what can you do to end fluoridation and protect your own health?

Hamilton remains fluoridated, but the issue will be raised for the local body elections in 2004.