[by Daniel Zalec]

Dear Editor,

I have been asked to notify Dr John Carnie, Department of Human Services, Victoria, of a recent challenge, issued by Professor Roger D. Masters, Dartmouth College, USA:

“Please tell Dr. Carnie that I challenge him to a live radio debate (on a telephone link) on the topic: ‘Silicofluorides are Toxins that Harm Behavior and Public Health’. If a TV debate could be arranged, it would be better. Feel free to publicize this challenge. In general, supporters of water fluoridation have consistently declined the challenge to debate.”

Roger D. Masters is Research Professor at Dartmouth College, and also the Nelson A. Rockefeller Professor of Government, emeritus. Recently, his research has

focused on cognitive neuroscience, the nonverbal behavior of leaders, and the effects of toxic metals (such as lead and manganese) on human behavior. He is President of the Foundation for Neuroscience and Society, and serves on the editorial board of Evolutionary Psychology. He is co-author of ‘Water treatment with silicofluorides and lead toxicity,’ with Myron J. Coplan, International Journal of Environmental Studies, 56 (4, 1999): 435-449.

Furthermore, nearly two months have passed, with Dr Carnie and his DHS colleagues failing to respond to the basic scientific questions put to them by Dr Paul Connett, Dr Hardy Limeback, Dr J. William Hirzy, Dr Albert W. Burgstahler, Dr Robert Isaacson, Professor C.V. Howard, Dr Kathleen Thiesson, and others (‘Citizens are being mislead,’ Sunraysia Daily, Sept. 18, 09). The authors concluded:

“He [Dr Carnie] and his colleagues can only get away with this because they have the power and prestige of their respective organizations. But opinions on this issue which are unsupported by scientific data cannot be taken seriously. Hopefully, citizens in Mildura, and throughout Australia will have the fortitude to challenge Dr Carnie and other fluoridation promoters to defend the practice scientifically or abandon it forthwith.”

I hereby publicly remind Dr Carnie of this challenge, and notify him of the additional one. I also remind him of the expectation that, as Chief Health Officer of Victoria, he be able to scientifically defend the practice of mandatory water fluoridation, prior to forcing the measure on more Victorian communities.

Daniel Zalec,
Anti-Fluoridation Association of Mildura