ANTI-FLUORIDE CAMPAIGNER'S
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF!

Congratulations to CTM member David Maddock from Dorset whose personal persistence in combating fluoridation policy in Portsmouth paid off handsomely. David sent us his fluoridation street survey notes.

Letters carry far more weight than petitions.

Photocopied letters fall into the photocopy pile and therefore carry less weight than the hand-written letter. However, individual computer generated letters, which just require a signature, are ideal.

Personalise each letter with the name, correct address and postal code. Select a month to carry out the street survey; i.e. July 2002. You can then enter the correct date by hand that the signature was signed.

You are selling signatures to letters, you are not present to educate. Education at this stage robs you of time. Just carry a picture of teeth damaged by fluoride, because a picture tells a thousand words. A picture plus the words "I don't want your kids' teeth damaged by dental fluorosis. Please sign our letter, so you keep your freedom of choice."

The majority of people support freedom of choice.

1 per cent will object "Where did you get my name and address?" Just smile, apologise and leave.

Deliver the letters by hand to the chairman of the authorities in question and always collect a receipt of the number of letters delivered.

In the case of Portsmouth Water the water company received around 100 hand-written letters against for a few letters of support.

Portsmouth Health Authority never started the consultation period, which shows the power of the letter.

I also conducted my own street survey; Do you want or not want water fluoridation? In that question, the public cannot tell if you are for or against water fluoridation. Around 33% were against, 17% for (local newspapers supported water fluoridation) with 50% saying they wanted more information on the subject. This is interesting because it shows how intelligent the public are - they want more information - a fact totally missing from so called NOP surveys that 4 out of 5 want water fluoridation.

(If you collect names, addresses and postcodes from those who expressed opposition to fluoridation in your street survey, you can then use their information to compile that person's letter to the water authority with their name and address details. All the person has to do then is sign the letter and give it back to you, so you can deliver it to the water authority along with the other letters you have collected).

Here is an example of a letter that can be used.

Dear Sirs,

I understand that the Southampton & South West Hampshire Health Commission has requested that you fluoridate my water supply.

When I turn on my tap I expect to receive water in its purest possible form. The Company, Directors or Employees cannot be forced to include fluoride into my water supply. Neither have they any duty to do so.

The addition of fluoride to my water supply is based on medical grounds, and it is illegal to medicate me without my permission, which I DO NOT GIVE.

In the event of an accident or incident involving overdosing of fluoride chemicals, the Company, its Directors and Employees are at risk of criminal prosecution and will be held responsible.

The Company, its Directors and Employees cannot absolve themselves of the responsibility by claiming that certain health officials assured them of the safety of fluoride.

Yours sincerely,

Well done David and keep up the inspiring work!