PRESS RELEASE

Open Letter to Sir Professor Peter Gluckman
Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

Dear Professor Gluckman,

We read your Opinion Piece in the Herald on Saturday 22nd May. We were heartened to see that you believe, “Marching may be seen as one way of engaging, but it cannot replace the harder work of making ourselves available, making our work relevant and making science difficult to ignore”.

We would like to take you up on your commendable offer to “make yourself available” at this crucial time to discuss fluoridation of the public drinking water supply across New Zealand before the second reading of the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill.

We therefore cordially invite you to join Professor Paul Connett, Fluoride Action Network Founder and St Lawrence University Chemistry and Toxicology Professor Emeritus, in a moderated public discussion or open debate. As you probably know, Prof Connett participated in a quality open debate on television with Malaghan Institute’s Professor Mike Berridge last year, moderated by Cameron Bennett.

TV producers at Q&A and The Nation told us last week that they are keen to host a debate between Auckland University Professor Michelle Dickinson (Science Media Blogger ‘Nanogirl’) and Prof Connett. However, Dr Dickinson has now told Q&A that she does not want to go through with the debate.

Health Select Committee Members have referred to the 2014 Fluoride Report authored by Professor David Skegg and yourself many times, and cited it as an important fluoridation resource.

We estimate that half of the population of New Zealand does not agree with fluoridation, and many people are extremely concerned about it. We are now calling on you to make yourself available, and to engage in a meaningful and balanced public dialogue about fluoridation with a scientist of equal standing. Together you can make the necessary information accessible to lay people.

Please advise when you are available and we can arrange media and travel details.

ENDS

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