Back to School 2012
Water
continued from page 1
– in adults as well as children.”
Almost any substance can be unsafe at
high levels, advocates point out. Take Vita-
min D, for example. It’s essential to our
health, yet an overdose can kill you.
None of this sways fluoridation opponents
who are taking to the streets - and the Inter-
net — to press their concerns. They held
rallies outside City Hall Aug. 21 and 22. A
petition on the website Change.org has
gained more than 2,000 signatures. And
they say they will launch an initiative peti-
tion to ban fluoridation.
Opponents say the mineral is a toxin that
can damage health, and putting it in our
water amounts to medicating us without
consent. They also raise red flags about the
impact on our environment.
“We have some of the best drinking water
in the country. Don’t mess with it,” says
Kim Kaminski, executive director of Ore-
gon Citizens for Safe Drinking Water, one
of several anti-fluoridation groups in Ore-
gon. “If we really want to protect children’s
teeth there are much better ways to achieve
that goal without putting toxic waste into
out drinking water. The problem is not fluo-
ride. The problem is that people don’t have
access to dental care.”
Advocates point to statistics showing that
Oregon’s dental health is at crisis point.
Toothache is a leading reason for children –
especially poor children of color—missing
school days. More than 35 percent of Ore-
gon children have untreated decay,
compared to 15 percent in Washington. And
one in five have rampant tooth decay, which
is seven or more untreated cavities.
Jim Smith, a dentist who volunteers for
Mission of Mercy and Give Kids a Smile,
sees hundreds of people who don’t have
access to affordable dental care. And he vol-
unteers in Vancouver, Wash., where the
water contains fluoride, as well as in Ore-
gon where it does not.
“There is a big difference across the river
with how extensive cavities are, and in what
percentage of kids have rampant tooth
decay,” he says. “There’s a big difference
on both sides of the water and the difference
‘It’s very difficult to
change people’s
behavior. We’re doing
all we can in those
areas’
is fluoride.”
Health policy nonprofit, Upstream
brought together the “Everyone Deserves
Healthy Teeth Coalition,” 60 different
groups that support the fluoride plan.
Just about every health group in the state
has signed on, including the Oregon Med-
ical Association, OHSU, Kaiser and
Legacy. Social justice groups backing fluor-
idation include: The African American
Health Coalition, the Urban League of Port-
land, the Coalition of Communities of
Color, the African Women’s Coalition, the
Latino Network, and OPAL Environmental
Justice.
The issue has divided Portland, but not
along the usual right-left faultlines. Occupy
Portland along with some grassroots social
justice and environmental advocates
oppose the plan. So do some conservatives
and libertarians along a host of national and
international activists who say they will
seek to ban fluoridation with a statewide
initiative.
They have two years to collect 29,786
signatures, which must be handed in four
months before a vote, which could come in
either May or November 2014.
Arguments against fluoridation focus on
the dangers of too much fluoride. Excess
fluoride has been linked to health risks such
as loss of bone, kidney impairments, thy-
roid and endocrine disorders.
Opponents point out that we now have
fluoride toothpastes to protect our teeth.
Hundreds of foods also contain some fluo-
ride: from apple and grape juice, sodas and
cookies, to wine and pot pies.
“How much is too much?” asks Mireaya
Medina, a lifelong Portlander, now working
in the social justice field. “I’m not sure it
prevents cavities because that’s about peo-
ple having adequate access to healthcare
and dental care.”
Medina is concerned about the impact of
fluoridation on people with osteoporosis or
kidney disease. She notes that a substantial
number of people say they are sensitive to
fluoride and suffer from stomach problems,
rashes and other ill effects. She wonders if
corporate interests are behind the push to
add fluoride to our water. And she says gov-
ernments shouldn’t add chemicals to our
water without asking us if we want them.
“I don’t know if fluoride is the answer—
especially being forced on people. I would
say it’s a larger issue that we should be
demanding equal access to quality, afford-
able medical and dental care for everyone.”
So why don’t we just focus on brushing,
flossing and going to the dentist?
Jim Smith says teeth brushing campaigns
and information are already underway, but
there are a lot of reasons why people don’t
go to the dentist. Dental care is expensive
and many parents don’t have time or energy
to practice the best dental hygiene.
“It’s very difficult to change people’s
behavior,” he says. “We’re doing all we can
in those areas.”
Shopping
Autism
continued from page 7
continued from page 7
Gap is offering 30 percent
off until Aug. 29. Kmart is
taking off 20 percent until
Aug. 19.
SUPPLIES
Wal-Mart is pricing 100
items, ranging from lunch
bags to notebooks, at 88
cents throughout August.
Bring in an old binder to
Staples, and the office
supply store with give you
$2 off a new one. Staples
is also selling a discount
card for $10 that will give
Page 8 The Portland Skanner August 22, 2012
Jim Smith
you 15 percent off school
supplies until Sept. 15. It’s
only worth it if you expect
to spend more than $70.
But check the restrictions
first: You can’t use it on
pricier items like calcula-
tors and flash drives.
And every week until
Labor Day, Office Depot
is selling a select number
of products for pocket
change. You can find scis-
sors for 8 cents and pocket
folders for a penny.
personnel. Go to the source
of a rumor and have a con-
versation. Not everything
on listservs, Facebook, and
in emails is accurate. Do not
jump to judgment. Parents’
only goal should be to
ensure that everyone works
collaboratively on behalf of
the child.
The ultimate goal is to
promote a successful expe-
rience for children and
parents. By proactively and
positively working with the
school, challenges can be
minimized and trust built.