Causes
Freedom Of Choice
Dr Paolo Brogneri is a strong believer in Freedom of Choice and for fighting to maintain our liberties. With this in mind, he established the Freedom Alliance of South Africa.
Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to
choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom
- Victor Franki
The Minamata Treaty
In 2001, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme1 (UNEP) invited the Executive Director of UNEP to undertake a global assessment of mercury and its compounds, including information on the chemistry and health effects, sources, long-range transport, and prevention and control technologies relating to mercury. In 2003, the Governing Council considered this assessment and found that there was sufficient evidence of significant global adverse impacts from mercury and its compounds to warrant further international action to reduce the risks to human health and the environment from the release of mercury and its compounds to the environment. Governments were urged to adopt goals for the reduction of mercury emissions and releases and UNEP initiated technical assistance and capacity building activities to meet these goals.
The Minimata Convention is a global treaty which aims at protecting human health & the environment from anthropogenic emissions, releases of mercury and mercury compounds and the adverse effects thereof.
The Convention draws attention to a global metal that is naturally occurring and has broad uses in everyday objects and is released to the atmosphere, soil and water from a variety of sources. Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle has been a key factor in shaping the obligations of the signatories under the Convention.
The Minamata Convention is the first new global Convention on environment and health adopted for close to a decade. WHO considers mercury as one of the top ten chemicals of major health concern, which threatens the environment and health of millions. Mercury is known to be one of the most toxic substances on the planet more toxic than arsenic, lead and cadmium. Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment says there are alternatives to almost all of mercury’s current applications, such as newer, safer industrial processes and that all countries can play a role – as well as all of its citizens just by changing what we use and buy.
The UN Environment Global Mercury Partnership consists of stakeholders from governments, industry, NGOs, and academia who are dedicated to protecting human health and the environment from the impacts of mercury, and to reducing global environmental releases of mercury. It was initiated in 2005 by a decision of the UN Environment Governing Council, the Partnership played an important role in catalyzing global action on mercury and offering information, capacity-building, and awareness-raising in support of international negotiations to establish a legally-binding instrument on mercury.
The work to prepare the Minamata Convention on Mercury was undertaken by the Chemicals Branch of the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics who supported an intergovernmental negotiating committee. The mandate was to complete the negotiations before the twenty-seventh regular session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum in 2013. This mandate has been met.
Today, the Partnership is focusing its work on ensuring timely and effective implementation of the Minamata Convention.
Major highlights of the Minamata Convention include:
a ban on new mercury mines and the phase-out of existing ones
the phase out and phase down of mercury use in a number of products (eg batteries, lightbulbs & cosmetics) and processes
control measures on emissions to air and on releases to land and water
the regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
On the 10/10/2013 South Africa signed the Minamata Treaty. We are one of the now 128 signatories as at 18/5/17 when the required 50th of the countries ratified (55 countries as at 18/5/17) the treaty which means that on 16/8/17, 3 months after this required milestone was achieved the Minamata Convention on mercury entered into force and is part of international law and will be legally binding for all its signatories.
So What Does This Actually Mean?
It means that dentists will need to relook at their role in the mercury tangle:
they will need to educate themselves, -SAABP has both the knowledge and experience to share with fellow dentists, medical practitioners and the public
there will no longer be excuses to placing amalgam in patients’ mouths, - SAABP teaches about safe biological financially viable alternatives.
they will need to be trained on the safe removal of amalgam from patients mouths – SAABP has established protocols, on-line video training and hands on modules, plus created the necessary kits to aid dentists into changing their practices to biological studios effortlessly.
on how to protect themselves and their patients – using international protocols and requirements, SAABP has stream-lined the process by creating easy to follow protocols and ready to use packs, making transition for dentists easier.
they will need to educate themselves, -SAABP has both the knowledge and experience to share with fellow dentists, medical practitioners and the public
there will no longer be excuses to placing amalgam in patients’ mouths, - SAABP teaches about safe biological financially viable alternatives.
they will need to be trained on the safe removal of amalgam from patients mouths – SAABP has established protocols, on-line video training and hands on modules, plus created the necessary kits to aid dentists into changing their practices to biological studios effortlessly.
on how to protect themselves and their patients – using international protocols and requirements, SAABP has stream-lined the process by creating easy to follow protocols and ready to use packs, making transition for dentists easier.
and how to safely discard of the mercury so that it does not find its way into our sewerage systems –Camps Bay Dental Studio (info@campsbaydentalstudio.co.za ) has established the prototype practice with SAABP’S strategic partners: DRI and Wright Milners to ensure that all dentists have easy access and training to what is required
The public will be made aware of the Treaty and their rights as patients and as humans living in a signatory country via education through environmental journalists and health practitioners, radio and tv – all of which have been put in place by SAABP – this will put pressure on the dentists to commit to these changes – ensuring that they are ready, is part of SAABP’s mission.
and how to safely discard of the mercury so that it does not find its way into our sewerage systems –Camps Bay Dental Studio (info@campsbaydentalstudio.co.za ) has established the prototype practice with SAABP’S strategic partners: DRI and Wright Milners to ensure that all dentists have easy access and training to what is required
The public will be made aware of the Treaty and their rights as patients and as humans living in a signatory country via education through environmental journalists and health practitioners, radio and tv – all of which have been put in place by SAABP – this will put pressure on the dentists to commit to these changes – ensuring that they are ready, is part of SAABP’s mission.
It’s time to take a stand to save our bodies, our children and our environment.
A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day.
A string of such moments can change the course of your life.
- Chris Germer
Mercury Free Planet, Mercury Free Body
Mercury poisoning is the result of exposure to mercury, a heavy metal that’s seriously toxic to our health. Numerous studies have shown that high exposure to mercury changes and poisons the central nervous system, which can result in irritability, fatigue, behavioral changes, tremors, headaches, hearing and cognitive loss, hallucinations and even death.
Mercury exposure can also negatively affect the cardiovascular system, causing high blood pressure in humans and animals. Ideally, we would all have zero mercury internally present in our bodies. However, due to our diets, environmental exposure, choice of fillings and vaccinations, almost every single person in the world has at least trace amounts of mercury in his or her body. In September 2016, researchers published a first-of-its-kind study showing amalgam fillings significantly contribute to prolonged mercury levels in the body.
Other symptoms include: peripheral vision impairment, stinging or needle-like sensations in the extremities and mouth, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, and other impairments of speech and hearing.
The University of Georgia researchers also identified the magic number of mercury fillings it takes to increase levels in the bloodstream.
The results show that individuals with more than eight fillings had about 150 percent more mercury in their blood than those with none.
The average American has three dental fillings; 25 percent of the population has 11 or more fillings. According to Mayo Clinic Medical Laboratories, mercury is released from an amalgam filling daily by the simple and necessary act of chewing. The daily amount is said to be two to 20 micrograms a day.
Chewing gum causes the release of mercury from amalgam fillings “greatly above normal.” To make a concerning situation even more concerning, our mouth’s flora converts some of this mercury to oxidized mercury and methylmercury, which have been shown to then be incorporated into the body’s tissues. Elemental mercury toxicity (which usually occurs in the vaporized form) can cause: mood swings, nervousness, irritability, and other emotional changes, insomnia, headache, abnormal sensations, muscle twitching, tremors, weakness, muscle atrophy, and decreased cognitive functions. High exposures of elemental mercury can cause kidney malfunction, respiratory failure, and death. Organic mercury toxicity (most frequently in the methylmercury form from ingestion), causes neurological malfunctions, and especially in a fetus, impaired neurological development. Other symptoms include: peripheral vision impairment, stinging or needle-like sensations in the extremities and mouth, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, and other impairments of speech and hearing. Pts time to take a stand with us.
The Wound Is Where The Light Enters You
- Rumi
EMF
SAABP feels strongly about the EMF effects on environmental health, focusing on the biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), particularly non-ionizing radiation from sources like wireless devices, power lines, and electrical systems. Her work has been instrumental in understanding how EMF exposure can impact human health, especially concerning conditions such as electrohypersensitivity (EHS), neurological disorders, and immune system dysfunction.
Dr. Magda Havas is a leading researcher in the field of environmental health, focusing on the biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), particularly non-ionizing radiation from sources like wireless devices, power lines, and electrical systems. Her work has been instrumental in understanding how EMF exposure can impact human health, especially concerning conditions such as electrohypersensitivity (EHS), neurological disorders, and immune system dysfunction.
Key Findings from Dr. Havas’s Research:
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)
Dr. Havas has conducted studies demonstrating that individuals with EHS exhibit immediate physiological responses to EMF exposure. For instance, a provocation study using heart rate variability showed that exposure to 2.4 GHz microwave radiation from cordless phones affected the autonomic nervous system, leading to changes in heart rate and variability.
Oxidative Stress and Cellular Damage
Her research indicates that EMF exposure can lead to the production of free radicals, causing oxidative stress that damages cells and DNA. This damage is associated with chronic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurological impairments.
Immune System Disruption
Dr. Havas has highlighted that RF exposure interferes with immune system functionality, potentially leading to immune suppression or hyperactivity. This disruption can increase susceptibility to infections and autoimmune diseases, with children being particularly vulnerable.
Neurological and Cognitive Impairment
Her studies suggest that exposure to wireless radiation can lead to neurological issues, including headaches, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, attention deficit, and memory loss. Children exposed to continuous wireless radiation in school environments may suffer from impaired learning abilities, affecting academic performance and overall development.
Impact on Blood Cells
In her research, Dr. Havas observed that exposure to Wi-Fi radiation can cause blood cells to clump together, a condition known as rouleau formation. This aggregation impairs the blood's ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells and remove waste products, leading to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and heart problems.
Recommendations for Reducing EMF Exposure
Dr. Havas advocates for several measures to mitigate EMF exposure, particularly in environments like schools:
Replace Wireless Networks with Wired Connections: Hardwired internet connections significantly reduce RF exposure, creating safer learning environments.
Establish RF-Free Zones: Creating areas within schools that are free from wireless devices protects sensitive individuals and reduces overall exposure.
Limit and Regulate Use of Wireless Devices: Implement strict rules regarding the use of wireless technologies during school hours.
Awareness and Education: Inform parents, teachers, and students about RF radiation health risks and safer technology use.
Policy Advocacy: Advocate for updated, science-based safety standards and regulations that reflect current research findings.
Common Symptoms Of EMF Sensitivity
These can vary widely from person to person, but the most frequently reported symptoms include:
Neurological/Cognitive:
Headaches or migraines
Brain fog / difficulty concentrating
Dizziness or vertigo
Memory problems
Anxiety or irritability
Sleep disturbances (insomnia or restless sleep)
Cardiovascular:
Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
High or low blood pressure
Chest pain or tightness
General/Systemic:
Fatigue or chronic tiredness
Muscle aches or joint pain
Nausea
Heat sensitivity or feeling flushed
Tingling, burning, or prickling sensations on the skin
Sensory:
Eye strain or blurry vision
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Skin rashes or burning sensations
Hypersensitivity to light or noise
Onset & Triggers
Symptoms are often:
Worse near sources of EMFs (e.g. Wi-Fi routers, smartphones, fluorescent lights)
Improved in low-EMF environments (e.g. nature, remote rural areas)
Often appear suddenly and may worsen over time with increased exposure
Important Notes
EHS is not yet officially recognized as a medical diagnosis by most conventional systems, though many functional and environmental medicine practitioners treat it seriously.
Studies, including those by Dr. Magda Havas, suggest a biological basis for symptoms, such as changes in heart rate variability, oxidative stress, and nervous system dysregulation.
What Can Help?
People with EHS often manage symptoms by:
Reducing EMF exposure (e.g. turning off Wi-Fi at night, using wired connections)
Using EMF shielding materials
Supporting the body through detoxification, nervous system regulation, and nutrition
Seeking help from practitioners trained in functional or environmental medicine
May I always remember to fight for those who do not have a voice, educate and
empower those that I can, treat all with equality and heartfelt care, be kind even
at the most unkindly times.
- Healer's Art Quotes, BU Medical Campus
Say No To Water Fluoridation
There are very good reasons for not putting fluoride in the water supplies. It is a drug. If you wanted some to ingest, you'd have to get a prescription. And there are good reasons for why we don't purposely add any other drugs to our water.
As Dr. Connett says:
“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.
We don't use the public water supply to deliver medicine because it's a stupid thing to do. You can't control the dose. You can't control who gets it. [There's] no individual supervision. Of course it violates the individual's right to informed consent to medicine.
So, first of all, you start by saying this is a crazy thing to do, for most people. Then you say, what are the dangers? I spent 15 years pursuing the dangers, but then I woke up one day and said, if it doesn't work anyway; why would we take any risk at all? Why would we lower a kid's IQ by even a small few number of IQ points? Why would we run the risk of making our bones more brittle when we get old? Why would we run the risk of arthritis? Why would we run the risk of lowering thyroid function?
Why is it that the governments that fluoridate don't investigate any of the things that I have just listed, and yet spend most of their time attacking the methodology of the studies that have found harm in India and China and elsewhere? [The loss of credibility is], I think, the most rational explanation that I have come up with.”
The soul always knows how to heal itself.
The challenge is to silence the mind.
- Caroline Myss
Mission Statement Of IAOMT And Its Representatives
The mission of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology is to be the trusted Academy of medical, dental and research professionals who investigate and communicate safe science-based treatments to promote whole body health.
The South African Academy of Biological Practitioners (SAABP) is proud to be the African Continent Representative and Ambassadors of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) ,a global network of dentists, health professionals, and scientists who research the biocompatibility of dental products, including the risks of mercury fillings, fluoride, root canals and jawbone osteonecrosis. They are a non-profit organization and have been dedicated to their mission of protecting public health and the environment since they were founded in 1984.
The work of IAOMT and its international representatives is crucial because there is an alarming lack of professional , policy maker, and public awareness about dangerous dental products that are harming humans and the environment on a massive scale. To help change this dire situation, IAOMT members have been expert witnesses about dental products and practices before the US Congress, the US Food & Administration (FDA), Health Canada, the Philippines Department of Health, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, and other government bodies around the globe. Additionally, the IAOMT is an accredited member of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s Global Mercury Partnership and was involved in the negotiations leading to UNEP’s Minamata Convention on Mercury. Three decades later, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology has grown to over a thousand active members in North America, with affiliated Chapters in fourteen other countries, SAABP being the South African representative.
The years have been very fruitful, as the Academy and its members have chronicled and promoted the research that has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that dental amalgam is a source of significant mercury exposure and a hazard to health.
The IAOMT has taken the lead in educating dentists and allied professionals in risks of mercury fillings, safe mercury amalgam removal and mercury hygiene. It has also led the way in developing more biocompatible approaches in other areas of dentistry, including fluoride, endodontics, periodontics, and disease prevention. All this while maintaining the motto, “Show me the science!”
IAOMT are a trusted academy of allied professionals providing scientific resources to support new levels of integrity and safety in healthcare.
To heal is to touch with love that which was
previously touched by fear.
- Stephen Levine
The Fight Against GMO Foods
Non-GMO means non-genetically modified organisms. GMOs (genetically modified organisms), are novel organisms created in a laboratory using genetic modification/engineering techniques. Scientists and consumer and environmental groups have cited many health and environmental risks with foods containing GMOs. In genetic modification (or engineering) of food plants, scientists remove one or more genes from the DNA of another organism, such as a bacterium, virus, animal, or plant and “recombine” them into the DNA of the plant they want to alter.
By adding these new genes, genetic engineers hope the plant will express the traits associated with the genes. For example, genetic engineers have transferred genes from a bacterium known as Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt into the DNA of corn. Bt genes express a protein that kills insects, and transferring the genes allows the corn to produce its own pesticide. One of the main problems with genetic engineering is that the process of inserting genes into the DNA of a food plant is random; scientists have no idea where the genes go. This can disrupt the functioning of other genes and create novel proteins that have never been in the food supply and could create toxins and allergens in foods.
What Are GMO Foods?
Common genetically modified crops include:
Corn (e.g. Bit Corn)
Soybeans
Canola
Cotton
Sugar beets
Papaya (Hawaiian)
Alfalfa
Zucchini and yellow squash
They're engineered for things like:
Pest resistance (e.g., Bt toxin-producing plants)
Herbicide tolerance (e.g., Roundup Ready crops)
Longer shelf life
Improved nutrient content (though this is rare in practice)
How Are GMOs Linked To Cancer?
The direct link between GMO foods themselves and cancer in humans mostly centres on the chemicals used alongside GMOs, especially glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide, which is widely used on herbicide-tolerant GMO crops.
Glyphosate And Cancer
In 2015, the World Health Organization's IARC classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A)."
Some animal and epidemiological studies suggest a potential increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with chronic glyphosate exposure.
Legal cases (e.g., Dewayne Johnson vs. Monsanto) have further highlighted public concern and raised questions about regulatory oversight.
GMOs and Gut Health
Some researchers theorize that GMO-associated chemicals (like glyphosate) may disrupt the gut microbiome or intestinal lining, potentially increasing systemic inflammation—a risk factor for cancer.
Bt toxin-producing crops have raised concerns about chronic immune activation, though evidence in humans is limited.
Scientific Consensus:
Major health organizations like the FDA, WHO, and EFSA generally state that GMO foods currently on the market are safe to eat and not directly linked to cancer.
However, long-term human studies are limited, and some independent scientists call for more transparency, labeling, and longitudinal research.
Key Concerns Around GMOs And Health:
Overuse of glyphosate on GMO crops
Potential for unknown allergenic or immune responses
Ecological and biodiversity effects
Corporate control of seed systems
Bottom Line
There is clear evidence that eating GMO foods themselves can cause cancer - concerns remain—especially related to glyphosate exposure, gut health, and chronic low-level inflammation, all of which can play a role in cancer development.
Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers
within yourself that you have built against it.
- Rumi
Zero Waste
Zero Waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. No trash is sent to landfills or incinerators. The process recommended is one similar to the way that resources are reused in nature. The definition adopted by the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) is:
Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.
Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.
Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health
Zero Waste refers to waste management and planning approaches which emphasize waste prevention as opposed to end-of-pipe waste management. It is a whole systems approach that aims for a massive change in the way materials flow through society, resulting in no waste. Zero waste encompasses more than eliminating waste through recycling and reuse, it focuses on restructuring production and distribution systems to reduce waste. Zero waste is more of a goal or ideal rather than a hard target. Zero Waste provides guiding principles for continually working towards eliminating wastes.
Zero Waste is a goal, a process, a way of thinking that profoundly changes our approach to resources and production. Zero Waste is not only about recycling and diversion from landfills but about restructuring production and distribution systems to prevent waste from being manufactured in the first place. The materials that are still required in these re-designed, resource-efficient systems will be reused many times as the products that incorporate them are reused. Deconstruction can be described as construction in reverse.
