Michael's Schmidt's urgent message:

On Wednesday, September 28, 2011, the Ontario government won its appeal against biodynamic farmer, Michael Schmidt. The appeal reversed the former ruling, which confirmed cow share members' right to obtain raw milk products. Justice Peter Tetley rejected Schmidt's argument that providing raw milk to cow share owners who are aware of any health risks was his legal right.

Schmidt has been fighting for the right to provide raw milk at his Grey County farm ever since it was raided by government officials in 1994. The recent ruling convicts Michael on 15 of 19 charges and reverses last year's lower court decision to acquit him of all charges. This latest judicial ruling basically endorses governmental interference of property ownership rights and violates basic human rights to food freedom.

Since this ruling, Michael has embarked on a hunger strike and faces imminent danger of another raid to his farm, as do other farms that participate in Cowshare Canada.

He feels that our movement is in great danger and we must act in unison now!

It is imperative that we organize to a much higher level. We need everyone in our movement to participate. We are asking:

1. Folks in the U.S. and Canada to write the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty. Send a fax to 416-325-3745 or Submit Your Message Online by email at  https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/feedback.aspx

2. US citizens to write letters and call local, state, and federal legislators in the U.S. and to write letters to Canadian members of the Provincial Parliament in Ontario and British Columbia listed below in this alert.  [Use sidebar link to find US legislators]

3. Canadian citizens to write letters to Canadian members of the Provincial Parliament in Ontario and British Columbia listed below in this alert.

4. Folks in the U.S. and Canada to write letters and call your local and state health officials. [Google your state/province and "health department" to locate your officials]

 CANADIAN CONTACTS

Legislative Building

Queen's Park

Toronto, Ontario  M7A 1A1

Fax:  416-325-3745
Send Online Message to Dalton at

Tim Hudak - Leader of the Opposition
(MPP -   Niagara West--Glanbrook)

4961 King St. E, Unit M1

Beamsville, Ontario   L0R 1B0

Tel:  905-563-1755  (or toll free at 1-800-665-3697)

Deb Matthews - Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
(MPP -  London North Centre)

242 Piccadilly Street, Main Floor

London, Ontario  N6A 1S4

Tel:  519-432-7339  
Fax: 519-432-0613

Andrea Horwath - Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP)
(MPP - Hamilton Centre)

20 Hughson Street South, Suite 200

Hamilton, Ontario  L8N 2A1

Tel:  905-544-9644      
Fax: 905-544-5152

(MPP - Lanark--Frontenac--Lennox and Addington)

105 Dufferin Street, Unit 1

Perth, Ontario  K7H 3A5

Tel:  613-267-8239      
Fax: 613-267-7398

Jack MacLaren
(MPP - Carleton--Mississippi Mills)

2 Beaverbrook Mall, Unit 102

Kanata, Ontario  K2K 1L2

Greg Sorbara - (also has Queen's Park Office)
 (Liberal MPP in Ontario - Vaughan)

140 Woodbridge Avenue, Unit AU8

Woodbridge, Ontario  L4L 4K9
Tel:  905-851-0440      
Fax: 905-851-0210

Queen's Park Office

Room 186, Main Legislative Building

Toronto, Ontario  M7A 1A4

Tel:  416-212-1022        
Fax: 416-212-1025

Larry Miller  - Chair of Standing Committee on Agriculture in Ottawa
(Federal Conservative MP for Grey)

1131 2nd Avenue East, Suite 208

Owen Sound, Ontario  N4K 2J1

Tel:  519-371-1059        
Fax: 519-371-1752

or

Room 510, Justice Building

Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0A6

Tel:  613-996-5191      
Fax: 613-952-0979

SAMPLE LETTER

An Urgent Appeal for Justice

Dear ___________,

Today, governments are pouring enormous resources into interfering with people's rights to their own property and to obtain the food they need for their well-being.  Governments that are truly concerned with justice are supposed to protect citizens' rights, not violate them.  We urgently demand an open, in-depth dialogue with government and health officials about these violations of food freedom and property ownership.

Increasing numbers of people consider it crucial to their health to obtain high-quality foods directly from organic, sustainable farms.   These foods often include raw dairy products, meat and eggs from free-ranging, grass-fed animals-foods of very dense nutrient value that cannot be found in grocery stores.

In states and provinces where the law bans the sale of raw milk, people enter into contracts to co-own a cow and board the animal with a farmer.  As owners of the cow, they are also the owners of the milk the cow produces, and are legally entitled to drink it because no sale of milk is involved.   These arrangements are called "cowshares."  

The most allergenic food in North America is pasteurized milk, so it is not an option for many families. Raw milk is not allergenic and actually cures asthma and allergies (huge international studies show this to be true). That is why we must be free to have that choice. That is why our lack of food freedom creates illness and pushes us all into food slavery.

These basic principles of justice must prevail:

--Food freedom is an inalienable constitutional right

--Rights to one's own property is a legally binding principle

--Cowshares are a legal binding contract of property ownership

--Access to foods from small farms is essential to the health and well-being of families who choose these foods

--Small sustainable farms are essential to the health of agriculture world-wide

--Governmental interference of property ownership rights along with violations to basic human rights of food freedom must end

--Government and health authorities must abstain from the infringement of rights and violence against cowshare programs.

Sincerely,

About the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund:

FTCLDF is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization made up of farmers and consumers joining together and pooling resources to protect the constitutional rights of the nation's family farms and the consumers who patronize them. Annual membership is $125 for Farmers and $50 for Consumers.   

   

Visit www.farmtoconsumer.org or call 703-208-3276   

 

Quarterly and monthly membership payment plans are available. Buyers clubs, CSAs, farmers markets, etc. can join as Affiliates for as low as $5 per member; ask for details. 

Donations to the Fund are not tax-deductible.