| May 28, 2006
Having failed to force Bellingham residents to ingest fluorosilic acid (fluoride), fluoridation interests have set their sights on Skagit County.
December 2, 2005
Fluoridation interests have had their efforts rejected by cities to put fluorosilic acid "fluoride" into the water supply in Bellingham, Spokane, Sumner and Lakewoord and other cities in Washington. On November 8, 2005, five cities in different parts of the country have rejected fluoridation efforts as well, as the detrimental health risks of fluoridation become better known.
Having failed at the local levels, many expect a push to simply override or "pre-empt" local decision makers and force fluoridation on cities though the Washington State Legislature in early 2006. The legislative session starts on January 9, 2005.
If you live in Whatcom County, you likely reside in either the 40th or 42nd Legislative District. Information to contact your legislative representative is located in the Take Action page of this site. Please contact your legislative members today and let them know that Bellingham voters alone should be making decisions concerning their drinking water!
Our legislative members should make sure to respect our decisions concerning our health and not be influenced by well financed outside interests.
November 29, 2005
Today, Bellingham officially rejected the fluoridation proposal with 53.03 percent (11,926) of city residents voting against.
A new page has been created analyzing voting patterns concerning the November 8, 2005 election when Bellingham voters rejected the fluoridation proposal. Result : 32 of 47 precincts (68.1 percent) voted against the fluoridation proposal. Unless you live in a newly annexed part of the city, chances are extremely strong that you live in a precinct which voted against the fluoridation proposal.
November 26, 2005
Read the comprehensive study of the fluoridation issue performed by the City of Natick, Massachusetts which was made when the city considered whether they would fluoridate the drinking water supply.
Perhaps no other city in the United States has performed such comprehensive report on the pros and cons of fluoridation including the history of fluoridation, implementation costs, health risks, dental fluorosis rates, and medical choice issues. After issuing the report, the City of Natick rejected the fluoridation proposal. Although the report is fairly large, it is laid out well in an objective format and easy to read.
If the City of Bellingham would have conducted such a report before letting the issue proceed to the ballot, the fluoridation proposal would have likely been rejected on a 2 to 1 basis.
November 21, 2005
With 22,416 votes counted, Bellingham residents reject adding fluorosilicic acid "fluoride" to the drinking water supply with 53.03 percent (11,888) voting against the proposal. See the press release issued by Rainey Fackler-Adams declaring victory for clean and safe water.
November 20, 2005
See fluoride voting map showing areas in Bellingham voting most strongly against fluoridation.
November 18, 2005
Fluoridation proposal now failing by 1076 votes with 52.66 percent of voters rejecting the measure. This amounts to over a 5 percent lead against.
November 16, 2005
Alex Wilson, a local folksinger sang at the Wild Buffalo night club in Downtown Bellingham at 208 W. Holly at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16th. (Click on the link above to hear the song).
Alex is very talented and sang his own songs and many others. Among his songs was "Keep It Out" an anti-fluoride song that was used in radio commercials during the campaign. However, the song has now taken on a life of its own and grown in general popularity.
November 14, 2005
Bellingham residents appear to be rejecting fluoridation for the third time after previously rejecting fluoridation in 1992 and 1997.
The latest vote count is against fluoridation (50.92) with the last four vote counts between 10 to 12 percent against.
November 10, 2005
Fluoridationist's lead narrow to 68 votes with over 10,000 ballots left to count in Bellingham. Please make sure you send back the signature verification affidavit if the Whatcom County Auditor sent you one. Let's make sure every vote counts.
November 9, 2005
Cities rejecting fluoridation proposals on 11/8/2005.
Tooele, Utah: 66-34% Against Fluoridation
Springfield, Ohio: 57-43% Against Fluoridation
Xenia, Ohio: 63-37% Against Fluoridation
Had Bellingham not had $258,493.03 spent by out of town special interests on misleading ads, the fluoridation proposal would have certainly failed with similar margins (2-1) in Bellingham as well.
Perhaps the residents in the above cities were able to learn through the media that 1500+ EPA scientists had called for a moratorium of water fluoridation and discussed other health risks.
November 6, 2005:
ABC NEWS WORLD NEWS TONIGHT featured a segment on Bellingham Fluoride debate featuring Dentist Paul Rubin and Dentist Bill Osmunson discussing the health risks of fluoridation and the trend of cities around the United States rejecting fluoridation.
November 5, 2005 :
Whatcom Independent:
"My Jaw has been slack over the amount of money pouring into town to promote our use of fluoride. It may exceed $300,000 from Seattle and out-of-state sources - which is nearly $10 per voting citizen in Bellingham, and is perhaps $20 to buy every "Yes" vote."
Whatcom Independent 11/4/2005.
Read newly posted "Local Citizen's Statements Against Fluoridation." (small sample of statements received.)
November 4, 2005 : Read new article about the many acute fluoride poisonings (and one death) from water fluoridation (Fluorosilicic Acid) when injection equipment malfunctions. It's more common than many people realize.
In a four day period, approximately 30 letters to the editor printed in Bellingham Herald with 80 percent opposing fluoridation. Apparently, the California political consultants pushing fluoridation can't write letters to the editor despite their $258,493.03 budget.
See articles and/or ads concerning the adverse health consequences of fluoridation today in Western Front, Whatcom Watch: "Fluoridation is a health threat," Whatcom Independant, Bellingham Weekly, and Organic Press. Read one or all of them.
November 3, 2005 : Fluoridation initiative now trailing in independent Bellingham.net poll with 55.9 opposing the fluoridation initiative and 40.9 percent supporting. With few local volunteers but with ample financial resources, fluoridation proponents begin "robo-calling" Bellingham residents with automated telephone messages.
November 1, 2005 : With nearly every Bellingham civic leader, local newspaper, elected official and political group now opposing the fluoridation proposition, and the support failing, fluoridation proponents have responded by spending an unbelievable $258,493.03 on the media campaign designed and run by California consultant Paul Kinney Production.
October 31, 2005 : ABC NEWS WORLD NEWS TONIGHT has produced a segment on the Bellingham Fluoride debate featuring Dentist Paul Rubin discussing dental fluorosis rate in fluoridated cities, the Harvard cancer study concerning fluoridation and the EPA Scientists call for water fluoridation moratorium. The special interest funding will likely also be a topic of the newscast. (Scheduled to air on Sunday, November 6th, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.)
October 30, 2005 : Todd Citron, Commissioner, Lake Whatcom Water
and Sewer District Pos. #2 and Board President now formally opposes Bellingham Fluoride Proposition #1 in statement to Bellingham Herald (10/30/2005).
Poll at bellingham.net (10/30/2005): 55.8 oppose fluoridation; 41 percent support fluoridation.
October 28, 2005 : Dentist Bill Osmunson debates the fluoridation issue with a fluoridation proponent at the Bellingham Senior Center. Dr. Osmunson discussed the latest scientific studies concerning the negative effect of fluoridation on bone factures and other negative consequence of fluoridation on seniors. Dr. Osmunson joins the growing list of dentists and medical professionals and 14 Nobel Prize winners opposing fluoridation.
Bellingham Senior Center publishes article in their newsletter against fluoridation citing bone fracture risk.
Western Front publishes article : "Bellingham residents divided over adding fluoride to city water" citing fluoride dangers. An earlier Western Front article was published against fluoridation titled Putting flouride in Bellingham's water is unhealthy on May 27, 2005.
Bellingham Water Treatment Operator Keith Fredrikson opposes fluoridation proposal in statement to Bellingham Weekly entitled "Don't Make me Fluoridate."(10/28/2005)
October 27, 2005 : Dentist Bill Osmunson discussed the health risk of water fluoridation at a debate at Western Washington University including dental fluorosis, a condition caused exclusively by excessive fluoride and afflicting 25 percent of people in fluoridated communities.
See also "Dentist No Longer Supports Fluoridation." concerning Dr. Osmunson.
October 25, 2005 : Dentist David Kennedy discusses negative health effects of fluoridation on KGMI with "Brett and Debbie."
October 24, 2005 :Local Newspaper Whatcom Watch publishes extensive and detailed article against fluoridation and health risks. Pick one up at your local bookstore or coffee shop.
October 21, 2005 : Pro-fluoridation media campaign designed by California Consultant Paul Kinney Production hits Bellingham residents in an effort to overpower the Bellingham City Council's 6 to 1 decision rejecting fluoridation based on health risks and excessive costs in 1997.
Seattle fluoridation forces amass a record $150,000+ for their Bellingham "media production" effort, double what has ever been spent in a Bellingham campaign.
Yet, according to poll at bellingham.net, 55.9 percent of Bellingham residents still oppose the fluoridation effort with only 40.8 in favor and 3.3 undecided.
Bellingham Weekly publishes article detailing special out of the court interests pushing fluoridation, the source of the outside money as well as the recent studies discussing the health risks of fluoridation.
October 19, 2005 : King 5 News comes to Bellingham and presents the report "Heated debate over fluoridation of Bellingham's drinking water" and discusses the health risks of fluoridation.
October 16, 2005 : TIME Magazine publishes the appropriately titled article "Not In My Water Supply" concerning Bellingham fluoride debate citing health risks, EPA scientists' call for a moratorium, Harvard University bone cancer study, and other issues.
October 15, 2005 : Dentist Bill Osmunson comes out against fluoridation proposal at Political Forum with League of Women Voters at Bellingham Public Library with 75 to 100 people attending. Answers questions concerning negative health consequences of fluoridation.
Bi-partison coalition of Bellingham civic leaders, Bellingham City Council members and candidates for city offices come out against water fluoridation.
October 14, 2005 : Detailed articles discussing the health risks of fluoridation published in local Bellingham newspapers including Whatcom Independant, Bellingham Weekly, Whatcom Watch, NW Citizen.com, and the Organic Press. Read any of them.
October 12, 2005 : With local support for fluoridation failing, Seattle fluoridationists write a $59,000 check to California political consultanting company "Paul Kinney Production," apparently for a media buy to convince Bellingham residents that placing fluorosilic acid in the water supply has "grass roots" support in Bellingham.
October 10, 2005 : Political Forum : Dentist Paul Rubin speaks at political forum at the Leopold Hotel against fluoridation proposal outlining health risks such as dental and skeletal fluorosis and the dental procedures require to fix (or cover) these conditions caused by water fluoridation.
September 30, 2005 : After hearing arguments on the matter, the court declines to require fluoridation proponents to disclose to voters that Fluorosilicic acid will be the chemical used to be added to the water supply. Nor will the ballot be forced to disclose that heavy metals such as mercury and lead are present in Fluorosilic acid as it is an industrial bi-product.
In other hearing, the court declined to require that the cost and tax increases to the Bellingham water rates be disclosed. The fluoridation proposal will now appear on the ballot in Bellingham on November 8, 2005.
September 19, 2005 : Two more Bellingham residents file an action concerning the fluoridation initiative requesting the court to address the following questions:
a) Can the fluoride initiative legally raise the taxes of Bellingham water ratepayers?
"If the fluoridation measure passes, (Bellingham City Council member John) Watts said, the council will have to approve increases to water rates." (Bellingham Herald 8/17/2005)
b) Is the ballot initiative legal and permissible under the City Charter? With the Bellingham City Council voting against using the water utility to distribute Fluorosilic acid "fluoride" by a 6 – 1 vote in 1997, can a special interest group with $100,000 to spend legally override the council’s decision on the issue?
September 15, 2005 : Whatcom County Democrats officially oppose Bellingham Fluoride Proposition #1. In 1997, both the Whatcom County Democrats and the Whatcom County Republicans opposed the fluoridation proposal. This year, the republicans have not taken a stand on the issue.
September 14, 2005 : Bellingham resident Rainy Fackler-Adams files action against "misleading" fluoride initiative. Fluoridationists propose adding Fluorosilicic acid "fluoride" to the water supply. What chemical is actually being proposed to be added to the water supply? Ms. Adams states:
"I have learned that the most likely chemical to be placed into Bellingham’s water supply is Fluorosilicic acid. Because this product is a industrial waste product from various chemical industries the product has significant amounts of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, all of which have significant health risks."
Rainy Fackler-Adams (9/12/2005) - Plaintiff in legal action concerning ballot description.
Concerned about the tax and costs implication of the fluoridation proposal, she forms a new group called Bellingham Citizens Against Fluoride Tax.
August 19, 2005 : Eleven Separate EPA employee unions representing over 7000 scientists, engineers and professionals call for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country, and have asked EPA management to recognize fluoride as posing a serious risk of causing cancer in people.
August 17, 2005 : Bellingham City Council member John Watts discusses the certainty of a water tax increase should the fluoride proposal pass. "If the fluoridation measure passes, Watts said, the council will have to approve increases to water rates."
Bellingham Herald 8/17/2005.
August 15, 2005 : Bellingham Municipal Law Attorney Rolf Beckhusen concludes fluoride initiative "legally flawed." Urges city attorney to bring a declaratory legal action to remove the initiative to avoid the needless expense of an election on the fluoridation issue.
Bellingham City Council member John Watts states in reference to the fluoride initiative "It will impact the budget and the city charter says no initiative can change the budget." (Bellingham Herald 8/16/2005)
"An initiative that would add fluoride to Bellingham's drinking water is misleading and potentially unenforceable, leaving the city on the hook for fully funding the program, a lawyer for an anti-fluoride group claims." (Bellingham Herald 8/16/2005)
August 5, 2005 : Dr. Debra Hopkins, a dentist from Lakewood, Washington, comes to Bellingham and presents a Power Point presentation showing through numerous dental photographs the damage that excessive fluoride causes to children's teeth as a result of water fluoridation. Bellingham residents come out in force to "Rally for Clean Water." Dr. Hopkins also discussed the extensive cost of implementing a fluoride delivery system. (Hopefully pictures of the events will be available shortly). See the event flyer.
Professor Connett presents a key note speech "50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation."
August 4, 2005 : St. Lawrence Chemistry Professor Paul Connett speaks to nearly 100 Bellingham residents. Dr. Connett thoroughly discussed the health dangers mass fluoridation poses including dental fluorosis and other health issues. Questions from the audience are asked and answered. See the highlights of the Bellingham fluoridation forum.
Bellingham residents also heard from Dentist Dr. Paul Rubin who gave a presentation citing the negative health risks of excessive fluoride and why many dentists now oppose fluoridation of the water supply.
The suprise of the night was that a number of Bellingham dentists showed up to hear the discussion and learn about the health risks fluoridation poses.
(Note : Although the fluoridationists were invited and make their case, they failed to appear. Nor did they submit any written material. Apparently, they had no dispute with the expected fluorosis rates and healths risks that dentists Dr. Hopkins, Dr. Rubin and professor Connett discussed at the forum.)
July 28, 2005 : Bellingham Herald bellinghamherald.com poll conducted reports 60 percent against fluoridation of the water supply; 34 percent for fluoridation. bellingham.net poll reports 57 percent now against fluoridation of the water supply; 40.1 percent for fluoridation.
July 18, 2005: Bellingham City Council rejects the proposal to place Fluoride in the water supply in Bellingham directly in a 5 - 0 - 1 vote. Measure now goes to the ballot in November of 2005.
July, 2005: Local news, community and environmental groups across the political spectrum come out against forcibly requiring Bellingham residents to ingest Fluoride including:
Lakewhatcom.org (Marian Beddill) writes:
"Why should so much effort in so many good programs
be made to keep our drinking water clear and pure,
then the city would put another toxic chemical into it?"
"I myself grew up in a city with fluoridation in the water.
Would you like to see a picture of my false teeth?"
Nw Citizen (John Servais) writes:
"The fluoride proponents don't have a clue. They don't get it.
When I open my water tap, I want clean water to come out, not medicine."
"Water. We want pure clean water. It is as simple as that. It really is"
Bellingham.net (60 percent against fluoridation). See supportive comments against fluoridation.
July 7, 2007
Bellingham residents rally to protect clean water and oppose Fluoride in front of Bellingham City Hall. The clean water advocates greatly outnumbered the Fluoridationists who conducted a press conference annoucing that the paid signature gatherers had acquired enough signatures to place the matter on the ballot.
July 5, 2005
Harvard University comes out with study linking fluoride to rare bone cancer in boys.
Western Front published article Putting flouride in Bellingham's water is unhealthy opposing water fluoridation in Bellingham:
The city should not put fluoride -- a poison -- into Bellingham residents' drinking water.
Western Front 5/27/2005
June 10, 2005
Bellingham based Citizens Against Forced Fluoride is formed with
Campaign Manager : Dr. Mark Steinberg (Bellingham);Committee Officers : Dr. Terry Poth (Bellingham); James Wagner (Bellingham) Treasurer : Charol Poth (Bellingham)
Almost immediately, dozens of Bellingham residents from all walks of life volunteered to protect clean drinking water by placing yard signs in front of houses, conduct mailings, attend Farmer's Market and conduct many other activities. Hundreds and hundreds of Bellingham residents have now signed petitions against placing Fluoride in the water supply. Unlike the Fluoridationists, all of the signatures against Fluoride were gathered by volunteers in Bellingham.
June 1, 2005
After hiring paid signature gatherers from a company out of El Sagundo, California called PCI Consultants, the Fluoridationists began gathering signatures in Bellingham. The paid signature gatherers were paid $5000 on 5/16/2005 on this day alone for their efforts in Bellingham.
April/May 2005
Telephone pollsters, hired by Seattle fluoridationists claiming to represent Bellingham Public Works in conducting a poll of Bellingham residents concerning the fluoride issue. Was the poll honest in its intentions?
Bellingham Public Works Director Dick McKinly sets the records straight:
“They are not doing a survey on behalf of Public Works in any way, shape or form,” Bellingham Public Works Director Dick McKinley assured the Bellingham Herald at the time. “I consider it fraudulent. I consider it gross.”
-Bellingham Weekly (6/2/2005)
May 12, 2005
Fluoridationists receive a $50,000 check from a Seattle based PAC to push a pro-fluoride initiative in Bellingham. A measily $300 comes from Bellingham.
April 26, 2005
Fluoridationists form a Seattle based PAC with three positions out of four listed with a Seattle address. The "books" of the PAC are held in Seattle.
December 2004
The City of Lakewood, Washington estimates that the cost of implementing a Fluoride delivery system in the city (population 60,000) would be $820,000 initially and $140,000Lakewood then rejects the proposal to add Fluoride to the water supply. per year.
June 29, 2000
The scientists, toxicologists, biologists, chemists, engineers, lawyers of the EPA, comprising over 1500 members give thorough and comprehensive testimony to the United States Senate against the fluoridation of municipal water supplies, specifically examining increased fluorosis rates and other negative health risks.
Senior EPA Scientist Dr. J. William Hirzy speaks against fluoridation for the EPA.
September 15, 1997
After much public debate, consideration of the scientific literature on the matter, the Bellingham city council passes Resolution 42-97 banning fluoride from the city supply:
Res. No. 42-97 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM RECOGNIZING THE IMPROPRIETY OF THE USE OF ITS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM TO DISPENSE FLUORIDE TREATMENT OT THE GENERAL POPULATION
1997
Dentist John Colquhoun, formally an advocate for Fluoridation, now strongly denounces attempts to fluoridate water supplies in his groundbreaking article "Why I changed my mind about fluoridation" (University of Chicago Press).
In this article, Dr. Colquhoun explains his former role as an advocate for fluoridation and the health concerns including fluorosis and increased cancer risks that he discovered during his research in fluoridated communities. Dr. Colquhoun also demonstrates graphically how the drop in cavities in the United States over the last 50 years cannot be attributed to fluoride.
May 1, 1999
The union of "approximately 1500 scientists, lawyers, engineers and other professional employees" at EPA Headquarters" formally oppose fluoridating the water supply in article entitled :"Why EPA'S Headquarters Union Of Scientists Opposes Fluoridation."
May 4, 1992
Bellingham residents submit a petition "containing over 1100 signatures of people who want Bellingham city water to remain free of fluoride additives."
The Bellingham City Council considers the issue on the matter, hears public and expert testimony and votes to reject fluoridation proposal.
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