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The Prosecution of Raw Milk Farmers in Canada
Press releases from: Kimberly Hartke re: Michael Schmidt and from: Alice Jongerden of "Home on the Range" raw milk dairy in Chilliwack B.C. - Canada
Date: 9/7/2010 10:28:44 PM ( 14 y ) ... viewed 48070 times For Immediate Release (From Kimberly Hartke)
Michael Schmidt on Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom
Across Canada and U.S. Supporters Have Joined Michael On This Strike
(Toronto – October 10, 2011) Michael Schmidt has been fighting since 1994 for the right of men, women and children in Ontario to drink raw milk. He is the founder of Cow Share Canada, which provides health standards for raw milk production, and which lays down some of the most stringent hygiene standards.
Over the last 17 years he has made every effort to co-operate with the authorities to find a solution for the legalization of raw milk in Ontario and Canada. Yet, despite this, his farm was raided in 1994 and again in 2006 (25 armed officers stormed in and terrorized the entire farm family.)
Acquitted on all charges by Justice Kowarsky in 2010, the Province of Ontario subsequently decided to appeal the acquittal and Justice Tetley found Michael guilty September 28 2011 on 15 of the 19 charges.
In addition, Fraser Health in British Columbia has filed to find Michael in contempt of court and impose a $55,000 fine (case to be heard November 2nd 2011).
On September 29, in the face of continued persecution by the Provincial governments for his "crime" of believing that informed consumers should be able to choose what they eat and drink, Michael Schmidt started the Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom.
Michael Schmidt has stopped consuming any food and now only drinks water. His demands are simple.
"I respectfully ask that the Ontario and BC governments agree to a constructive dialogue on how we can provide a framework to enable people to make real choices about their food and what they eat, beginning with raw milk and the implementation of a framework that grants legal standing for cow share operations in Ontario and BC. This objective also includes the end of the current prosecutions of cow shares which meet proper production standards."
Farmers around the country who believe, as Michael does, that people and not governments, should choose the food they consume, have joined the raw milk fight over the years. These farmers are in real danger today and many of them risk losing everything.
Currently eight people have joined Michael on this Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom:
-Max Kane, Wisconsin (in court many times for his work supporting raw milk farmers)
-Vernon Hershberger, Wisconsin (raw milk farmer also a victim of several Government raids)
-Bernie Cosgrove, Alberta (farmer)
-And five others who do not want to be named are participating in this Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom.
There is also a large group in Toronto who are on a rotational fasting in support and respect to Michael Schmidt and others on this Hunger Strike For Responsible Food Freedom.
The movement is growing. More people in Canada and the US are joining every day. And they are determined that the government will not tell them what they can eat.
For up to the minute info and posts from Michael Schmidt and supporters visit:
http://thebovine.wordpress.com/
to: newsmedia
(The following is unedited)
from: Alice Jongerden
prosecution of farmer for contempt of court
Four months after getting a Supreme Court Order that I "Cease and desist packaging and distributing raw milk for human consumption" officials from Fraser Health Authority visited our farm to obtain evidence with which to charge me for breaching it. The trial for civil contempt of court is set for 10 am September 14th 2010 at the LawCourts in New Westminster. Guy McDannold of Staples McDannold Stewart will prosecute. File 124618 New West. Registry
the charge arises from the Public Health Act Transition Regulation section 7, which is officialdom's attempt to outlaw raw milk intended for human consumption on the basis that it's hazardous to the Public Health. We find it suspicious why this regulation took effect 2 years after I started caring for other people's cows, ie their PRIVATE property. - with no good reasons other than to abuse the court process to shut down our private cowshare. Part of Fraser Health's strategy was trying to convince the public that someone became ill from drinking milk from our dairy, even though there wasn't one. Fraser Health stooped so low as to tamper with the milk they sampled in order to fabricate results and mis-lead the public into thinking our milk was bad. Ironically, even after they'd been instructed by Nick Losito, head of Vancouver Coastal Health how to take a proper sample, they disregard that
the protocol spelled-out in the Milk Industry Act --why?
On July 9 2010 Health Inspectors George Rice and Emily McGuire entered the property, walking past several sharemembers working at the farm, and past the 'Private Property - No Trespassing' sign. They entered in order to determine if a health hazard was happening but without the requisite warrant to search. They took a picture of a jar of milk labelled 'Not for Human Consumption' and NOT FOR SALE, as well as a picture of a sign on the fridge outlining to all members of the cowshare why their property = our milk = is not for human consumption.
Inspector Rice asked if I was aware of the order, and I told him that I was not only aware of it, but obeyed it in its entirety. I will be representing myself in the trial and will be supported by many people outside the Court.
Alice Jongerden
http://www.homeontherangefarms.com
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