Opinion piece from Clean Water Newport:
Clean Water Newport has discovered that a pro-fluoridation display ad running in the Newport News-Times the last two weeks contained false information. The ad is paid for by Upstream Public Health in Portland, the same organization that led the unsuccessful effort to fluoridate Portland’s water in 2013. It lists organizations and individuals under the title “A Review of Organizations and Local Providers Supporting Fluoridation.”
But Clean Water Newport has received confirmation in the past three weeks that several of the organizations listed do not in fact have a position on fluoridation, including the American Cancer Society, National Association of Social Workers, Children’s Health Fund and National Down Syndrome Society.
In an e-mail exchange, Dr. Susan Andersen, Clean Water Newport chair, sent copies of e-mails from officials of three of these organizations to Mel Rader, executive director of Upstream Public Health. Each stated they had no position on fluoridation. Pointing out his ad in the News-Times had misrepresented these organizations, she asked him to stop running it, which he wouldn’t do.
In his responses, he said he took the list from the American Dental Association, saying ADA “confirmed that the list on their website is accurate and up to date.” He also said “The organizations gave permission from their executive directors to the ADA to use their names stating they recognize the public health benefits of water fluoridation.”
Yet neither Rader nor ADA provided any documentation for their claims, which were clearly contradicted by the organizations themselves. “When shown undeniable evidence that they were presenting false information to the public, both Upstream Public Health and ADA refused to act,” Andersen said. “This says more about the pro-fluoridation leaders’ lack of integrity and credibility than anything we can say.”
Copies of the e-mails Clean Water Newport received from the organizations in question can be found on its website at www.cleanwaternewport.org. Clean Water Newport urges all Newport residents to vote NO on fluoridation, Ballot measure 21-164.
