Regulators on the march in Ontario — meeting 2 pm Thursday April 28th

Via Margo McIntosh, on Facebook:

I just received this plea today and am asking that everyone who lives in Southern Ontario who can possibly come out to this meeting please come.  We have to stand up to these people who threaten to take away our food rights and not give us free choice in issues of our own health!

Today, April 21, 2011 (Maundy Thursday in the middle of Passion Week, and the day when Christ had his last supper with his disciples), I stood in the middle of my farmers driveway before 5 government officials. They wanted to talk to my farmer, it was in his best interest, could he be reached? where was he? they just wanted to talk.

They arrived with no notice, no forewarning. They were armed with paperwork (the Milk Act, the risks of unpasteurized milk, the consumer protection act). OH MY! This was an assault from the faceless dictatorship, my choice to drink raw milk was threatened, my toe nails clattered against my steel toes, my stomach churned, and I STOOD.

Although it was 5 against one, I spoke for my farmer, my right and my cows. I told them to leave, I would forward their message.  I remained standing and overheard that they were going to another farmer. The last tires had spun away. I ran to fetch the phone and call the other farmer. The thoughts racing through my head came quickly. Farmers threaten public health? Farmers can’t  choose their farming methods? My food choices are threatened?

I didn’t get to the other farmer in time- 4 men “talked” to a Mennonite farmer’s wife. Scare tactics, ambush, intimidation…and they call me a radical? My farmer was at the milk testing laboratory in Guelph at the time I stood in the driveway. How ironic. My farmer was having milk tested, he cares about the safety of what he produces, he doesn’t buy the government propaganda

A meeting has been arranged-farmer to officials. The farm is private property and in consideration of this , the meeting will take place at the farm gate, this Thursday, April 28 at 2 pm. I will be urging everyone to attend. I think its important that we all stand up for food rights, our right to choose, and the opportunity to oppose the faceless dictatorship.

In further consultation with Michael Schmidt, we are inviting all interested parties (cowshare members, raw milk drinkers, the Ontario Landowners Associations, the National Farmers Union) to attend Elbon Shady Haven (8700 Sideroad 9, Arthur Township) for a strategy meeting. Please show up and have your voice counted at 11 am on Thursday. Michael Schmidt and Paul Noble will be available both before and after the meeting with the officials.

For the farmers who produce the food educated consumers are demanding, we the consumers need to stand up and have our choices recognized, we need to support our farmers in every way we can. On a daily basis, these heroes sacrifice sleep, family, social acceptance and are  shunned from mainstream agricultural venues. It is so small an action for me to forsake a days pay and travel to my farmer-to stand by his side, to add my voice to his, to stand in solidarity amongst those whose values are akin to mine.

Please give care full consideration and prayerful regard to attending this important meeting. Come and be “so grateful for all your farmer does to make real food available in this world. It is the most important work. Be brave-hearted to face the challenges that inevitably come our way as we walk the path of Truth, Beauty and Health. At times it is the hardest work, but it is the only work worth doing. ”

NEW (April 28th): Clarification from Michael regarding the times:

We will start meeting the press around 11 o clock and officially supposed to meet the investigators around 2 pm. However they left a message that they will not come to meet us now.

This situation has been quietly building up in the last 3 months.

I did not react publicly because I wanted to see how far they dared to go.

Originally I had planned issuing a press statement at Queens park on April 12. 2011 but decided to wait.

This will now happen today.