Fwd: Film Challengin Fluoridation-Valparaiso,Indiana reopens fluoridation

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arnoldgore

Wed, 1 Oct 2003 07:53:19 EDT

Film Challengin Fluoridation-Valparaiso,Indiana reopens fluoridation

 

Subj: Film challenges fluoridation

9/29/2003 8:35:04 AM Eastern Standard Time

 

 

Anybody get interviewed for this?

 

Valparaiso (Indiana) film firm challenges fluoride use in city water

 

BY PHIL WIELAND Times Staff Writer

 

VALPARAISO -- In May the city's water department was honored by the U.S. dental

directors for helping prevent tooth decay by fluoridating the water for the past

50 years. In September the water board was asked to stop fluoridation because it

is a danger to humans.

 

Gary Foreman of Native Sun Productions, a Valparaiso company that specializes in

producing historical documentaries that have appeared on the History Channel,

A & E, Discovery and PBS, has done research on fluoridation for the past few years

as part of the work for a documentary on the poisons in the foods we eat and

drink.The documentary, " Food to Die For, " is a bit of a departure for Foreman,

whose works usually focus on American and Indiana history " because some of these

stories have never been told. They are fascinating stories and they changed the

course of history. "

 

A native of Indiana, the 53-year-old Foreman was mesmerized by photography in

college and couldn't decide whether to be a history professor or a film

producer. So he decided to do both. After many years doing film work in

journalism and advertising, he created Native Sun in 1998 after securing

contracts with several networks based on the pilot he did for " Frontier Legends

of the Old Northwest. "

 

The program won Best Documentary from the Western Writers of America, and now

Foreman said he is doing what he always wanted to do. " I've learned some

interesting lessons from gifted people with interesting observations about who

we are now, " he said. " I think we are living in extraordinary times with a lot

of wake-up calls coming. "

 

At the water board's Sept. 9 meeting, Foreman and co-worker Carolyn Raine asked

the board to consider the wealth of new research being done on the possible

hazards of fluoridation and whether it is necessary. The board's initial

reaction perhaps was reflected in President Jack Barkley's question before the

two spoke. " How long is this going to take? "

Barkley asked.

 

Raine told the board there is more research coming out that fluoride is harmful

and has no benefits. Fluoridating water is endorsed by virtually every state

health department, national water producers, dental associations and the World

Health Organization. " It's become a part of our culture, but it's nothing less

than a big smoking gun, " Foreman told the board saying the fluoride compound

used to treat water is a product of the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic

bomb.

 

" Other parts of the country are still fighting it. We are asking the board to

consider the evidence and the research and whether we really need this in our

water. " Water Operations Leader George Brown said Valparaiso adds six pounds of

fluorine compounds per million pounds of water, which is about a quarter of what

is recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because the city's

water already has enough naturally occurring fluoride to make up the

difference. " Anything in the wrong dosage can be harmful, " Brown said, pointing

out that sodium and chlorine are harmful separately but together they form table

salt. " We get more complaints about the chlorine than the fluoride. The research

is not really there (saying fluoride is bad). It's mostly anecdotal and

opinion. "

 

Foreman called fluoridation " part of an ongoing effort to become a mutant race. "

He compared the effort to remove harmful food coloring, flavoring, preservatives

and other chemicals from what people eat and drink to the early battle against

the health hazards of tobacco. He identifies with the tobacco issue very

closely, saying both his parents died of cancer as a result of smoking. " The

public is asleep at the wheel, " he said. " We find that the Midwest is one of

those dormant places that could be a leader but chooses to be a follower. We are

not as sophisticated about our role, and we exhibit less energy and concern.

People here are less aware of their geography and heritage and their

opportunities. "

 

Foreman said he was not surprised by the water board's response, which was to

ask the general manager to look into the matter. He provided the department with

more information and said it's an issue that will not go away. " If people look at

the information that's out there, they can see there is a need to be informed

and to care. There are issues with the environment and health that are near

catastrophic. Those issues are going to surprise a lot of people, and the

information is available. Just by the way we function, it's obvious we don't

understand the whole concept of what water is all about. " Everything about what

we do now is based on packaging and myth, and that includes how we landscape our

properties. We are living with an artificial landscape. Most of the turf grass

we have on our lawns is not native, and it sheds water so it is not absorbed

like it should be and the water tables dry up. " What examples are we setting

today in Indiana and the Midwest that will inspire our youth

to stay here and prosper? " he said. " Are we going to be leaders or continue to

be followers? "

 

Phil Wieland can be reached at pwieland or (219) 462-5151, ext.

352.

General comments: comments

Letters to the editor: letters

NewsTips: newstips

 

 

http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2003/09/29/news/top_news/c2b9ffa5ff5c1e73\

86256db0000052f2.prt

 

 

New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation

http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

http://tinyurl.com/ad9k

 

Fluoride Action Network

http://www.fluoridealert.org

 

 

 

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