Good news! Victory at Brighton!
News just in - the Motion to Brighton Council, presented by the Greens, was passed by about 75% of the Councillors present. Gary Kemp, Pete and friends worked hard prior to the event, for which they deserve our sincere thanks. Gary wrote tonight: "Very strong feelings about it on both sides and the public gallery - we were threatened with removal three times!!!"
Here is the Notice of Motion - the local paper will do a story, which we will circulate to the eList. - J
Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies - Notice of Motion - Council July 17, 2003
Council notes that the government plans to introduce an amendment to the Water Industry Act 1991, which will give indemnity against legal action to water companies adding fluoride to their supplies. This plan is a precursor of aims to extend fluoridation of the public water supply throughout the United Kingdom.
This Council is concerned that:
- Mass medication without consent is unethical and contrary to a European Convention on Human Rights and Medicine.
- Evidence challenges the belief that fluoride reduces tooth decay. Readily available fluoride products, such as fluoride toothpaste are available for those who may wish to use them.
- Fluoride added to drinking water is hexafluorosilicic acid - a hazardous toxic waste by-product of the phosphate fertiliser industry derived from the pollution scrubber liquor from its factory chimneys.
- Considerable scientific evidence has been gathered that fluoride, more toxic than lead and only slightly less so than arsenic, can be harmful to health even in small quantities and accumulates within the body increasing the likelihood of cancer and increasing the rate of tumour growth. Additionally fluoride has been linked to other medical conditions including thyroid complaints, irritable bowel syndrome and dental fluorosis.
- Calcium levels in the body decrease as fluoride levels rise: bone density rises and the internal structure of the bone changes making them brittle. Studies show an increased incidence of hip fractures in elderly people living in fluoridated areas.
The vast majority of countries do not fluoridate their water supplies, a number that once did have now abandoned the practice, and more are reviewing their own policy on the matter.
Bearing in mind this Council has a duty to protect the health and human rights of Brighton & Hove residents it believes the appropriate policy for water supplies and dental health would contain:
- A properly resourced strategy for reducing tooth decay, including education of children and adults about dental hygiene, the need for a healthy diet, and the effects of excessive consumption of sugar.
- A ban on the fluoridation of drinking water.
- A health warning on all sources of fluoride intended for human consumption.
John Butterfill, MP for Bournemouth West, has submitted an Early Day Motion (EDM 1258) to Parliament stating:
"That this House considers that the only chemicals which should be added to public water are "those which are essential for its purification for public consumption; believes that the addition of "medicines to public water supplies is a breach of fundamental human rights; and rejects any "proposals to amend legislation to permit the addition of fluoride to public water supplies."
This Council agrees wholeheartedly with these sentiments and wishes to publicly state its opposition to an unnecessary and unethical imposition of mass fluoridation, and therefore resolves:
- To call upon our local MPs to sign and support Early Day Motion 1258.
- To oppose moves to fluoridate our local water supply.
- To require the Chief Executive to write to our partners in local health care, Southern Water and the relevant ministers seeking their support for this Council's firm opposition to fluoridation.
Proposed by Councillor George Richard Mallender
Seconded by Councillor Bill Randall