What’s white and illegal and the subject of government raids?
It’s raw milk — unpasteurized — straight from the farm to your table.
For more than two decades, Michael Schmidt has been fighting the Ontario government — and others across the country — for the right to sell raw milk. Just last month his farm in Durham Region was the subject of another raid — the fifth standoff with ministry of natural resource and agriculture officials he can remember since his battle began in 1994.
After years of legal wrangling — he took an appeal of one of his provincial convictions all the way to the Supreme Court, which opted in 2014 to not hear his case — Schmidt said he’s fed up. He told a Queen’s Park press conference on Wednesday that his campaign isn’t a matter of questioning the value of pasteurization and the safety it provides, but allowing consumers the choice to make their own decisions...
At today's press conference.
More later today...
Facebook Event: "In response to the escalating government enforcement against dairy farmers providing fresh milk to their communities, community members are declaring and standing up for their food rights.
Enforcement over the past 21 years has included raiding farms and cow share programs designed to connect farmers to the consumers who want the products.
“It is the people who want the fresh milk who are leading this,” Schmidt says. “They have bought the cows, they have equitable ownership and rights. The government is saying that they cannot have the products on their own farm and from their own animals. The people are saying they are going to anyway and suffer the consequences. Now it is time for the government to change their aggressive and unlawful policy on raw milk.”"
Declaration of Food rights printed on the side of a refrigerated truck, ready to be signed later today at the Ontario Legislature Parliament Building, Toronto by Glencolton farm share holders.
"Declaration of Food Rights
In a spirit of humility, and with respect for the law of the land, we declare that it is the inherent right of all men and women to grow, and procure wholesome, unadulterated foods for the nourishment of body and soul. The undersigned respectfully declare that we will peacefully reject unjust laws and regulations that infringe on our basic human right.
We are willing to suffer the consequences rather than comply with laws and regulations that deny people the fundamental freedom to choose and be informed about their own foods. Together, we pledge to engage in the pursuit of fostering direct relationships between farmers and any individual.
In support of this declaration, we pledge our commitment to protect and secure these rights."
Here are two recent videos by Collective Evolution about the raids on the farm and the events that followed.
Video: by Canada Live. Criminal Persecution of Raw Milk farmer Michael Schmidt by OPP and Province of Ontario. The persecution of Michael has continued since the early 90's. Michael is a Lawful Moral man. The State is a legal amoral corporate entity. The State did not create cows! - Walking for Justice -
