Most people familiar with the Science of Identity Foundation know of its member's political activism in the area of opposition to lesbian and gay rights. Some would know about their anti abortion positions and activism.
People keeping an eye on SIF are probably less familiar with its efforts and success in fighting fluoridation of drinking water in Hawaii.
As background, readers should know that Hawaii has some of the worst dental statistics in the nation. Tooth decay among Hawaii children is 100% higher than the national average.
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www.healthysmileshawaii.com]
The success is that in January 2004, Honolulu City Council passed Bill 66 which banned water fluoridation on the Island of Oahu. (The ordinance does not apply to military bases. Drinking water is fluoridated on all Hawaii military bases.)
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the.honoluluadvertiser.com]
I had heard on the radio that Mike Gabbard, who was a Honolulu City Councilman at the time, had introduced Bill 66. But it looks like it was introduced by another councilman, Rod Tam.
There are anti water fluoridation articles on the Down To Earth website.
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www.downtoearth.org]
There were anti water fluoridation pamphlets in all the DTE stores that I have visited.
And, of course, word went out on a weekly radio program that is run by a member of the cult.
I have wondered why the cult would be so interested in promoting bad dental health. I suspect that it might because of karma. If someone is prorone to tooth decay, that might be because of their karma from a previous life. Having fluoride in the water, to prevent or reduce that tooth decay, would interfere with that karma.
I would be interested in comments from others who are familiar with the cult's teachings (and Hindu fundamentalist teachings, in general).
I believe that Mike Gabbard set up a non-profit called "The Healthy Hawaii Coalition" to fight against fluoridation, among other things.
Right now water fluoridation is banned only on Oahu. But cult members and others are gearing up for an effort to get it banned on all the islands.
Just for the record, there was no fluoridation of public drinking water anywhere in Hawaii, except at military bases, before Bill 66 was enacted. There was no serious discussion of even enacting legislation to fluoridate Hawaii's water at the time Bill 66 was enacted.
Of the 50 largest cities in the U.S. only four do not have fluoridated water, including Honolulu.
Dr. Mark Greer, who is the Division Chief of the Dental Division of the Hawaii State Department of Health, is a proponent of water fluoridation. As you can imagine, he is a target of derision of SIF cult members.