Row brewing on Facebook with Fine Gael's Kate O'Connell TD deleting questions on Fluoride

March 4, 2016

Today March 4, 2016 there was a post on Facebook from Dawn Kelly accusing Fine Gael's Kate O'Connell, TD of deleting her questions and comments over O'Connell's post ridiculing anti fluoride arguments in Dublin City Council. What is interesting about this controversy is that it highlights the issues of Fluoride in our drinking water. It also shows how advocates of fluoride manipulate the facts. In this case it is a Fine Gael newly elected TD Kate O'Connell, shown in the video below arrogantly dismissing and belittling fellow Councillors who dared voice concerns about Irish Government's policy of fluoridating drinking water.

Kate O'Connell,  Fine Gael TD won seat in Dublin Bay South, Feb 2016 election.  She was elected to Dublin City Council in 2014 for FG. — Kate O'Connell, Fine Gael TD won seat in Dublin Bay South, Feb 2016 election. She was elected to Dublin City Council in 2014 for FG.

Ms O'Connell, in the video below, seems to assume a rather doctrinaire attitude, waving away the opposition as irritants and alluding to her profession as a chemist to emphasise her credentials. It is a bit like Oppenheimer saying that nuclear tests are not harmful to humans. What the actions of O'Connell also highlight is once again an example of political parties reneging on elections promises. Read the Irish Independent article link below.

Dawn Kelly's Statement

Kate O'Connell TD has just BLOCKED me from her page!
Last night, I commented on her video about water flouridation. I asked some reasonable questions and shared this link. FG back in 2001 promising to ban flouride in drinking water. http://www.independent.ie/…/fg-election-promise-to-ban-fluo…

Instead of responding she deleted my comments. So, this morning I asked again . Instead of her responding she has blocked me from commenting on her page and again deleted my comments.

What a totally outlandish way for an elected member of government to behave. A newly elected one I might add. If you can't answer simple questions who exactly are you supposed to represent. I am furious that she thinks this is an appropriate way to behave.

Dawn's deleted question
"It's me again. You deleted my comments last night. But to remind you ...... I asked your to back up what you said about Fluoride not being harmful. You also go against your own party's stance, (see Independent article) There have been many studies carried out on the toxicity of water fluoridation and it's harmful effects. i also asked you to reply without being patronising or condescending as you have been in the comments on this thread. Instead you chose to hit delete. I find it hard to believe that this video is for anyone's 'Entertainment' as you put it. This is a serious health issue and should not be made light of. I am most interested in you explaining why your party, back in 2001 made an election promise to ban fluoride from drinking water based on medical grounds. Are you telling me that your party is misinformed and doesn't know what they are talking about? Do you mean to say that you know better? Do you know better than the rest of the EU and many other countries who have banned this practice. I understand that you are a pharmacist and while I respect that you will have more knowledge than some others on that panel, there are many, many others around the world who I am sure would be happy to debate with you on the topic if you were willing to listen. I find your complete denial of the harmful effects of fluoride baffling."

The 'For Your Entertainment' video on O'Connell's facebook thread

Dublin City Council row over Fluoride in drinking water. Kate O Connell, FG councillor 'For Your Entertainment' facebook post.

50 Reasons To Oppose Fluoridation

See http://fluoridealert.org/articles/50-reasons/

In Europe, only Ireland (73%), Poland (1%), Serbia (3%), Spain (11%), and the U.K. (11%) fluoridate any of their water. Most developed countries, including Japan and 97% of the western European population, do not consume fluoridated water.

In the U.S., about 70% of public water supplies are fluoridated. This equates to approximately 185 million people, which is over half the number of people drinking artificially fluoridated water worldwide. Some countries have areas with high natural fluoride levels in the water. These include India, China and parts of Africa. In these countries measures are being taken to remove the fluoride because of the health problems that fluoride can cause.

Irish Water urged to give details of chemicals in supply

March 2, 2016

An environmental group has called on Irish Water to publish, on customers’ bills, a breakdown of chemicals present in its water supply.

Friends of the Irish Environment [FIE] pointed out Irish Water and the Environmental Protection Agency had already admitted high levels of trihalomethanes is piped to homes of 10% of the population.

In some cases the level of the toxin is up to three times the figure considered safe by the World Health Organisation.

FIE, making a call for more public information, said it was not happy with Irish Water’s response to the issue, after the utility said it was developing a national plan for trihalomethanes.

Trihalomethanes are compounds that occur when organic materials in water react with chlorine which is added as a disinfectant for drinking water.

“Irish Water, the EPA, and the Health and Safety Authority have tried to convince the public that it would be dangerous and irresponsible to stop chlorinating to avoid the risk of the disinfectant by-product created, the more than 60 chemicals classed as THMs, trihalomethanes,” FIE said in a statement.

FIE said that Ireland was criticised by Europe in 2002 for the levels of contamination of drinking water.

“Ireland chose to disinfect its water by the use of chlorine, in spite of the commission warning them privately that chlorine was not really suitable for Ireland because two of the biggest threats biologically and chemically to Irish water are not addressed by chlorine — cryptosporidium and THMs,” the group said.

“Consumers should not be fooled by authorities who say that dangerous disinfectant by products like THMs are inevitable if our water supplies are to be protected.

“Irish Water customers are paying the price now for the refusal of the Irish State to listen to good advice in 2002, instead taking the “cheap and easy” way out,” the group said.

Original article: Joe Leogue, Irish Examiner, March 02, 2016

UN backs rights-based approach to small-scale fisheries

February 27, 2016

UN expert explains goal is to combine cutting edge research with local knowledge, practices

Multinationals competing to meet global demand for seafood must not displace small-scale fisheries, Dr Rebecca Metzner said, and new UN voluntary guidelines aim to promote a sustainable approach. File photograph: Getty Images

The strategy of Blue Growth can only be sustainable if it involves and respects the rights of “blue communities” living on coastlines, UN fisheries governance expert Dr Rebecca Metzner has said.

Blue Growth is the long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors.

Multinationals competing to meet global demand for seafood must not displace small-scale fisheries, Dr Metzner said, and new UN voluntary guidelines aim to promote a sustainable approach.

The guidelines, outlined by Dr Metzner in Galway on Thursday, have been endorsed by the EU, and underpin equitable community access to marine resources as a human right.

The guidelines, endorsed in 2014, aim to promote “responsible fisheries and sustainable social and economic development” for the benefit of current and future generations.

“Small-scale fishing involves about 90 per cent of all such activity the world over, and it is important to protect this sector as a community resource,” said Dr Metzner, who is United Nations chief of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Food and Agriculture Organisation.

At a public meeting in Galway and subsequent visit to the south Galway shoreline, Dr Metzner heard about the specific concerns of the inshore sector and seaweed harvesters.

The seaweed harvesters fear loss of access, following sale of State seaweed company Arramara to Canadian multinational Acadian, which is seeking licenses from Clare to Mayo.

The challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss make protection of local knowledge and associated practices even more important, Dr Metzner said.

She explained that a goal of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation is to combine modern “cutting edge” research with local knowledge and practices.

Dr Metzner said aquaculture or fish farming was required to “fill the gap” left in demand for seafood worldwide, and managing shared access was a challenge which the guidelines seek to address.

She said she was aware of the recent withdrawal of plans for a 15,000 tonne fish farm in Galway Bay, and said any such plans must involve stakeholders from the outset.

However, stakeholders should work together in advance of any such plans and map where the best shellfish beds are, areas which need specific protection and where conflicts are playing out or can occur, she said.

People who know about fisheries and can facilitate dialogue are crucial, she said, as legal challenges to decisions already taken can waste time and cost money that communities do not have.

Dr Metzner’s visit is hosted by Coastwatch Europe and by NUI Galway (NUIG) geography school and Ryan Institute.

Ms Karin Dubsky of Coastwatch said there was a belief that most small-scale fishers and communities were “not on the radar” of national and regional decision makers.

Dr Kevin Lynch of NUIG said the issues around traditional coastal activities required an integrated approach, and several NUIG post-graduate students are working on a number of projects in this area to influence best practice.

Article by Lorna Siggins Irish Times Feb 25, 2016