Many thanks to Mary Byrne and her team for all their hard work. Here is Mary’s letter. Watch this page for updates:
Dear all,
I have just returned from New Plymouth where I attended the two day New Plymouth District Council?s Tribunal Hearing on Fluoridation.
This is the best Council consultation I have been seen during the 12 years I have been involved with this issue.
I know I am biased, but I am sure everyone there (and anyone that watches it online) would agree; we won this debate hands down. There is no question about it. The only reason NPDC could decide to continue fluoridation is if they are corrupt.
They will make their decision on Thursday the 13th of October.
The whole Tribunal Hearing can be viewed on the NPDC website here http://www.ustream.tv/channel/npdc-test. I strongly recommend watching the first part at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/17561351. Start at 34 minutes as the first 30 minutes is The Professional Perspectives DVD, but the next hour is Dr Lawrie Brett, practising dentist from Whangarei, and Dr Peter Scanlon, practising A&E doctor in Hamilton. I feel these presentations won the argument for us then and there and I think all of us learnt something new when we listened to Dr Scanlon.
After that we heard from the pro-fluoridation representatives and then the afternoon and next day contained speaker after speaker giving their view on fluoridation. Just about all the speakers were against fluoridation. The calibre of the speakers was amazing with each speaker providing another nail in the coffin.
The Hearing finished with a short summing up from the pro-fluoridation representatives who did not dispute one point we had raised. The only thing they could say was that it was good for teeth. Notably, they never said fluoride was safe, they only said the MoH assured them that the water was safe. Allison Roe and Lawrie Brett then gave a summing up from our side, which banged the nails in so hard there is no way they can take these nails out again.
Mostly good articles in the Taranaki Daily News:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5708104/Hot-start-for-fluoridation-hearing
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5714737/TDHB-member-condemns-fluoridation
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/life-style/5715413/To-add-or-not-to-add
As I said, the ONLY way they can continue with fluoridation is if they have been corrupted. There is NO WAY this can continue on the facts.
I would like to thank everyone that has been involved, especially the people that travelled long distances and/or took time off work, and also for Paul Connett for coming to New Zealand and inspiring so many of us. It has been a great experience seeing so many people become active.
Tune in on the 13th of October to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/npdc-test and watch the councillors deliberate and come to their decision.
Go the Naki! Let’s all hope the councillors make the right decision.
Mary Byrne
Fluoride Action Network
