Launch of safe water beer mat

The Safe Water Campaign for Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, which is based in Stroud, launched a beer mat in the Angel Cafe in Stroud on Thursday 19th April. The aim was to raise awareness about the dangers to our water supplies from possible fluoridation by health authorities.

Photo: Rob Mehta, Chair of the Safe Water Campaign in Angel Cafe

We have been working on this for a while. One of our members from Bristol who comes up regularly designed and printed the mat. We were lucky to get both Citizen and SNJ to turn up - I managed to avoid most of the photos they took. I also have to say I was useless at building beer mat towers - the photographer kept us at it and you will see from the photo we did manage a small one in then end - it makes me wonder how I could of wasted all those hours as a student....I could barely ger 3 mats to stay up.

Anyhow here were some of the quotes we gave the press:

Ali Poole, a Safe Water Campaign spokesperson who manages the group's blog site said: "Is it not my role as a mother to be responsible and make choices about my child's health? Fluoridating our water supplies takes away that choice. There are very real questions and concerns about the unacceptable safety and health risks."

Blog address: http://safewatercampaign.blogspot.com

James Christian, another group member said: "Why have so many other countries stopped fluoridating water supplies? The evidence against it is massive."

Philip Booth, Secretary of the group said: "The Government's own review admits fluoridation is not proven safe and calls for more research. We believe we should each have a choice about whether we are medicated or not. There are much safer ways to tackle tooth decay than fluoridation. We will be asking more pubs and cafes in the area to have these campaign beer mats to highlight our campaign."

The beer mat has information about the campaign and reads: "FLUORIDE in the WATER MEANS FLUORIDE in your BEER".

The group have also organised a talk for 10.45 a.m Saturday 28th April at the British School, Painswick Inn , Gloucester Street, Stroud entitled "Is our drinking water still at risk?" It includes Rissa Mohabir, a local homeopath talking about the effects of fluoride and Bernard Seward, a long term campaigner against water fluoridation. More info from Philip Booth on 01453 755451 or R.Mehta 47, Bisley Old Road, Stroud, GL5 1LY.