CFMR - MERCURY NEWS - Year 2000 Review

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CFMR - MERCURY NEWS

January 2001 - Year 2000 Review

Congratulations For A Job Well Done

In June of last year, CFMR advised you of gross inaccuracies on the ADA web site pertaining to mercury dental amalgam and it's harmful effects. We encouraged those affected by dental mercury to contact the ADA and to make them aware of your positions regarding these inaccuracies. You sent almost 300 letters to the ADA expressing your concerns and views.(These letters can be viewed on our web site,) Throughout the course of last summer and into the Fall, numerous telephone conversations between myself and Washington Attorney, Jim resulted in a letter being sent on our behalf dated November 22, 2000, to the ADA.

We are happy to report that as of January 2, 2001, as a result of this letter and your efforts that the ADA has entirely revamped the ADA web site. There is currently no reference to mercury anywhere on the ADA site.

So give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done and take a moment to realize just how powerful you are in effecting change. Then, take a look at the Petition to Ban Mercury Fillings Everywhere with 2,000 + signatures. Think about how to turn these 2,000 signatures into 20,000 or 200,000 signatures and how you might be able to use these signatures to create change in your area. How many people (reporters maybe) can you get this petition to in your area? How many others can you encourage to sign the petition? How many ways can you find to use the power of these signatures, to further public awareness as to the dangers associated with the continued use of mercury fillings?

By the way, do you have any media contacts that would be interested in knowing that the ADA is no longer promoting the virtues of mercury on their web site?

It is imperative that the momentum of this success carry us forward to further greater successes.

A Call to ADA Members

As a result of potential legal action and a barrage of letters from concerned citizens, the ADA recently completely revamped their web site. While the public portion of the web site as of January 2, 2001, now contains no references to mercury, what we still are not sure of, is what the ADA is saying to dentists in the "members only" section of their site. In this regard, we would appreciate one of the ADA Members on our distribution list providing to us a copy of the 'members only section' of the ADA site as soon as possible for legal review.

Canadian Class Action Lawsuit

A conversation between Wayne Obie and the partners of Himelfarb Proszanski this afternoon confirmed that as of today a date still has not been established for hearing the motion for certification of the lawsuit initiated by CFMR and filed on March 31 under the Class Proceedings Act against Health Canada and manufacturers of mercury dental amalgam - ston & ston and Denstply. As soon as a date has been established, or other information regarding this legal action is available, the information will be posted on CFMR's Distribution List. If you are interested in participating in this legal action or wish to obtain detailed updates regarding this lawsuit as it becomes available, please send an e-mail to CFMR-subscribeegroups