Dear Friends;

I am deeply concerned about the health of our children and our families. As a nurse, I feel I must bring the following unfortunate situation to your attention. Our City just started adding a non-FDA approved medication to our drinking water supply to supposedly improve our health.

We want to expose the facts and put the issue on the November 2002 ballot. We need your help to keep our water as safe as possible. Sign the petition, (click here to find out how.)

Here's a few of the most frequently asked questions.

#1 Question: I've always heard that water fluoridation was safe and prevented cavities.
Answer: Regarding safety, the medication which is added to the water supply has never been approved by the FDA as being safe and effective. FDA approval should be mandatory.

Regarding cavity prevention, many studies have shown that cavity rates between fluoridated areas and nonfluoridated area have both decreased over the past 20 years and show no stasticially significance difference.

#2 Question: I've heard that the American Dental Assoc. pushes fluoridation.
Answer: That's true, but the American Medical Association has written that they are not prepared to state that water fluoridation is safe. Even a former AMA president opposes fluoridation.

Other scientific and medical professionals also oppose it. EPA scientists have called for a moratorium on fluoridation and 15 Nobel Prize winners, including, Dr. A. Carrson, co-winner of last year's Nobel Prize for Medicine, object to fluoridation. If scientists can't agree, our families should not be guinea pigs.

#3 Question: Can fluoride be harmful?
Answer: According to the federal government, 2 of 3 children in fluoridated communities show visible signs of excess fluoride. The first signs are discolored teeth and later, weakened and brittle bones.

#4 Question: I've heard that fluoride is naturally occurring.
Answer: Arsenic is naturally occurring too but we all understand how deadly that chemical is. The fluoride added to the water supply is not pharmaceutical quality but rather a waste byproduct of the fertilizer industry. Unfortunately, this waste byproduct also contains heavy metals, lead and arsenic, which are also added to the water your family drinks and cooks with.

#5 Question: What alternatives are there for those wanting fluoride?
Answer: Fluoride drops can be given to children, fluoride toothpaste can be used and California law provides for the free topical application of fluoride in both public and private schools.

We do hope that you better understand why we want to put this important water safety and health issue on the November 2002 ballot for voters to decide. If you are a registered voter in Mtn. View, please sign the initiative. One can be downloaded (click here) from our website, or call (650) 968-1424 for a fax or a mailed copy.

Thanks - your family appreciates it.

Only Mtn. view registered voters can participate in this effort. If you live in Mtn. View and are not registered to vote, you can register to vote and then sign the petition. Call us and we'll send you a voter registration card and a petition.

First obtain a copy of the petition either by downloading a copy (click here), or getting a mailed or fax copy. Only exact copies will be accepted. Fill out the information for area 1. If there is someone else in the household eligible to sign, please have them complete the information on area 2. Of course, if you have friends that are also interested in their family's health, get them to sign up too.

After 5 signers, the person asking for signatures should complete the part called "Declaration of Circulator." This is to ensure someone simply doesn't falsify information.

The petition can contain just one voter's information, the circulator. That's o.k. but don't forget to complete the declaration. If by chance you can get more than 5 signatures, simply start a second form.

As you complete the form(s), return them back to us at the address on the bottom of the form. They cannot be faxed as the originals are required.

DEADLINE: Do it now, please, as it takes a while to obtain the 3,300 signatures needed.