As I was making dinner last night, I heard on CBC Radio that the public hearings regarding the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project in Kelowna, BC will no longer be open to the public. Did I hear that right?
A public hearing not open to the public? Yes, I had heard correctly. Kelowna isn’t the first city to have its public hearings closed to the public. The officials are worried about safety. I guess the public’s halitosis regarding Enbridge is so toxic they are afraid the delicate constitutions on the Joint Review Panel will be offended.
So, what’s that got to do with food? Well, not very much. But it’s a sign, telling us how our government officials and elected members of parliament view public scrutiny. You can see by their actions, they are in love with this project! My shock over dinner got me to pull out this old post about food freedom, or the lack thereof. Learn and weep, as I have.
Food safety regulations are making it harder and harder for small producers to sell their products to the public. We are losing our traditional artisan processing methods in the name of food safety.
“Social libertarianism maintains that laws banning victimless acts have no rational or moral reason for existing, so they should be abolished. It also asserts that the harm caused by the prevention or prosecution of these activities is often far greater than any harm caused by the activities themselves, and would justify repeal of these laws on the same harm reduction grounds that were originally used to justify them.”
Wikipedia on Victimless Crime
When I first started this blog I never thought I would be talking so much about the politics of food. I had no idea of the powerful forces that control the food system. I never realized that farmers and ranchers face economic forces beyond their control. These forces make farmers discourage their children from farming and — in the end — the farmers give up and leave the land. As consumers, we are making choices every day about our food that will promote or slow this process.
The politics of food is about who is in control of your food supply. Unless you grow your own food, I can tell you right now, it isn’t you. Food politics could be about any food or food processing methods, but over the last few years I have closely watched the raw milk issue here in Canada.
Raw milk has become the whipping-boy for all food safety issues. I’ve had an education about the distribution of information and disinformation by following this one issue. I have become very disappointed with the mainstream media not getting the facts straight. Nor does the media stay with an issue long enough to really educate citizens about issues that will have far reaching implications.
I am not a disinterested person. I have my own cow and I want to drink her milk. At a minimum I want to maintain the legal right to drink raw milk and share it with my family members. I am concerned that it is written in BC law that raw milk is a “health hazard”. But what about people that want raw milk but don’t have appropriately zoned land or the skills to care for dairy animals? Are these people just fat out of luck? I’ve had people beg me to sell them raw milk. Should I continue to say no or become a lawbreaker?
I would feel better if government officials would stop pursuing cowshare or herdshare programs in the courts. Cowshare and herdshare programs are a way to cooperatively own a cow or herd so the owners can get a product not available for sale in Canada. I don’t understand why officials won’t allow individuals to contract directly with farmers. I can’t understand why the officials think they have a mandate to control this type of private contractual agreement. Furthermore, cowshare and herdshare programs are complicated for the farmer and expensive for the owners. These programs only involve a few thousand families in Canada and are a closed system, making them very safe. I resent that my tax dollars are going towards criminalizing and beggaring my farming friends. Doesn’t my society have better uses for tax dollars than dragging farmers through the courts for a victimless crime?
Over the years, I have pondered why the government even gives a damn about what my family chooses to drink. Is it their business what I have on my table? Apparently, it matters very much. The only answer that makes any sense to me is that the Canadian government has a monopoly on dairy production and sells quota — at a very dear price — to farmers.?This issue isn’t about food safety, its about the Government of Canada protecting its monopoly on milk quota. It’s about money and control, plain and simple.
The Government of Canada also promotes misinformation about raw milk, which is picked up and used by the mainstream media. The government uses tax dollars to criminalize and beggar people trying to help their neighbors acquire raw milk. Shame on you Government of Canada. The government’s deceit will become known and laws will be passed to stop the government from meddling in the households of the country.
Below is an index of my process of learning about the politics of food over the last few years. Most of the posts are about the raw milk issue in Canada. There is some information about regulations regarding slaughtering and supplements. There is some information about disturbing new trends involving regulations that would stop homemade treats being sold at school bake sales and how the government would like to control what’s in a homemade lunch your child eats at school.
Thomas Jefferson once said: “If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.” No government — regardless of how well intentioned — should have this kind of control over my household decisions.
Raw Milk
Let’s Talk About Raw Milk Safety
Raw Milk Contamination?
Michael Schmidt, Raw Milk Activist, Acquittal!
Canadian Government Appeals Michael Schmidt’s Acquittal
BC Supreme Court Gives Injunction Against Raw Milk
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick
Helping Michael Schmidt, Raw Milk Activist
Ontario Court Reverses Lower Court Decision for Raw Milk Farmer Michael Schmidt
Call to Action: Raw Milk and Food Freedom
Weston A Price Foundation Urgent Raw Milk Action Alert
Michael Schmidt Ends 37 Days of Hunger Strike!
Why do we love slavery?
Sallon Fallon on Nourishing Tradition Foods
Sally Fallon on Raw Milk
Extended Interview with Sally Fallon
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)
Homegrown Revolution
Slaughtering Regulation
Slaughtering in BC: Information You Need to Know
Regulations and Farmers
Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal
School Bake Sales and Homemade Lunches
School Food Fight
Funny Troubles
