I received this Urgent Action Alert from the Weston A Price Foundation. They are requesting all Weston A Price Foundation members and people interested in food freedom to commence a letter writing campaign to mobilize against government interference with property ownership rights and food freedom. A sample letter can be found in the comment section of this posting:
Raw Milk Rally at the Legislature in Victoria, BC on November 23, 2011. Photo from Gordon Watson.
BACKGROUND
On Wednesday, September 28, 2010, 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 in 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 Cow Share Canada. He feels that our movement is in great danger and we must act in unison now!
Michael?s urgent message: “We must mobilize our forces throughout Canada and the US with an enormous public outcry. We need to put relentless pressure on legislators in both countries?national, state and local?and also on health authorities through a massive letter-writing and call-in campaign. ?We also need to organize face-to-face meetings whenever possible. Canada desperately needs US support in these matters, so we encourage all US members to send messages to key Canadian contacts as well.”
ACTION TO TAKE
It is imperative that we organize to a much higher level. We need everyone in our movement to participate. We need:
- At the very least, all members (US and Canada) should write to Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario. Submit an email or send a fax to 416.325.3745.
- 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 in this alert.
- Canadian citizens to write letters to Canadian members of the Provincial Parliament in Ontario and British Columbia listed in this alert.
- All need to write letters and call your local health officials.
Michael is depending on us to back up his brave efforts for food freedom!
CANADIAN CONTACTS
Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Legislative Building, Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON, M7A 1A1
T: 1.800.387.5559
F: 416.325.3745
Send an Email
Tim Hudak, Leader of the Opposition
Unit M1, 4961 King St. E, Beamsville, ON, L0R 1B0
timhudak@niagara.net
T: 905.563.1755
T:1.800.665.3697
Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
242 Piccadilly Street, London, ON, N6A 1S4
dmatthews.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
T: 519.432.7339
F: 519.432.0613
Andrea Horwath, Leader of the New Democratic Party, Hamilton Centre Constituency
Suite 200, 20 Hughson Street South, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 2A1
ahorwath-co@ndp.on.ca
T: 905.544.9644
F: 905.544.5152
Randy Hillier, Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington Constituency
Unit 1, 105 Dufferin Street, Perth, ON, K7H 3A5
randy.hillierco@pc.ola.org
T: 613.267.8239
F: 613.267.7398
Jack MacLaren
2 Beaverbrook Mall, Unit 102, Kanata, ON, K2K 1L2
jack@jackmaclaren.com
T: 1.877.780.5225
Greg Sorbara, Liberal MPP in Ontario Constituency Office
140 Woodbridge Avenue, Unit AU8 – Market Lane, Woodbridge, ON, L4L 4K9
gsorbara.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
T: 905.851.0440
F: 905.851.0210
Larry Miller, Federal Conservative MP, Chair of Standing Committee on Agriculture in Ottawa
1131 2nd Avenue East, Suite 208, Owen Sound, ON, N4K 2J1
millela1@parl.gc.ca
T: 519.371.1059
F: 519.371.1752
