Readers write their politicians, part 17

Michael Schmidt speaks to the crowd at last week's "Milk and Cookies" rally at FDA headquarters in Maryland. Thanks to Kimberly Harke for the photo.

Now that Premier McGuinty HAS responded to the many emails, calls and letters urging him to meet with Michael Schmidt, it’s only courteous to take a few more minutes to pen a message of appreciation to Premier McGuinty and to our members of provincial parliament who’ve helped facilitate this long-sought meeting of minds. Today’s post includes letters and emails of exactly this type, in case you need ideas. Once again, please copy your correspondence to thebovine AT gmx DOT com. Thanks!

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November 7th,2011

Premier McGuinty ,MPP

Over the last weeks and days I am aware you have received many calls  and letters from around the world, including mine. People were not only asking but in some cases pleading with you to meet  with Michael Schmidt. I am disappointed it took so long. In-fact, it was the 37th day of his hunger strike when you finally met with him.

Raw milk crusader ends hunger strike after meeting with Ontario Premier

From Scott Dunn, QMI Agency, via the Toronto Sun:

Dairy farmer Michael Schmidt at a news conference at the raw milk blue bus in Vaughan, Ont. on September 17. Schmidt ended his hunger strike Friday after meeting with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty Friday. (Dave Thomas/QMI Agency). Click image for source.

OWEN SOUND, ONT. – Raw milk crusader Michael Schmidt ended his hunger strike after meeting with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty Friday.

“I never asked for a commitment from the premier,” said Schmidt said from Toronto. “We shook hands and (started) talking. That is enough for me to stop my hunger strike. That’s all what I was asking for.”

A word from Michael on today’s events

Greetings from farmer Michael Schmidt:

May I also add my voice of thanks to all of you who have sincerely rallied around the cause. It is not crucial what comes out of the press office from McGuinty what matters at the moment.

This moment of meeting McGuinty was crucial and more significant than he himself in fact imagines.

There was mutual respect, there was also the admission that he is no expert and has to rely on experts to make decisions. That itself has given us the opportunity to question the choice of experts and that it should be expanded to include those who have in fact experience how to produce raw milk for human consumption.

We will review our next steps. It was small step towards proper food rights and freedom of choice.

It was a huge step for McGuinty to in fact listen and show compassion.

It’s been a good week for food rights

David E. Gumpert, on the Complete Patient blog:

Farmer Michael Schmidt speaking at the Raw Milk Freedom Riders rally at the FDA headquarters in Silver Springs, Maryland, on Tuesday of this week. Thanks to Kimberly Hartke for the photo.

“It’s been a good week for the emerging Food Rights movement.

Today, day 37 of dairy farmer Michael Schmidt’s hunger strike, he met with Ontario’s premier, Dalton McGuinty. It seems Schmidt was meeting with the premier’s chief of staff this morning, when McGuinty decided to join in. According to one report, McGuinty reiterated Ontario’s opposition to raw milk. No matter. Schmidt can now toast his achievement with a tall cool one. (Actually, word is he had a few sips of soup at lunch to begin breaking his fast.)

Readers write to their politicians, pt. 15

It would seem that people’s letters have had an effect. See story above.

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Dear Premier McGuinty,

I am writing to urge you to meet with Michael Schmidt, who is now in his 37th day of a hunger strike to defend the freedom of Canadians to choose their own food responsibly. He defends the establishment of standards for the safe production of raw milk and is not asking for any concessions. A meeting with you, he says, will end his hunger strike while he awaits the results of your discussion.

Mr. Schmidt’s request is simple and reasonable. While I understand that you are reviewing his request, I emphatically encourage you not to wait too long: Mr. Schmidt seems prepared to die for his cause.

What’s happening at Queen’s Park while Michael Schmidt continues with his hunger strike for food freedom?

From Denis Langlois in the Owen Sound Sun Times:

Michael Schmidt speaking today at a rally in Vancouver.

“….”I am asking simply for dialogue. I’m not asking for any concessions,” Schmidt said Tuesday in a telephone interview while participating in a rally in Washington, D.C.

“My condition is there is a dialogue started to get advice on how we can move forward from this stalemate.”

Schmidt began his hunger strike on Sept. 29 to push for a “well-educated dialogue” with McGuinty “about the issue of food freedom and responsible food freedom choice.”

Schmidt said he is for the establishment of standards for the safe production of raw milk and has “no problem” with health unit inspectors keeping an eye on raw milk production.

Readers write their politicians, part 14

Still more letters to Premier McGuinty, urging him simply to meet with Michael Schmidt. Keep sending us copies of your correspondence with your elected representatives, and we’ll keep printing them. Send to thebovine AT gmx DOT com. Thanks!

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Liz Sandals

MPP, City of Guelph

Dear Ms. Sandals,

I am writing as a member of your constituency concerning the issue of raw milk, and the broader issue of food sovereignty in general.  You are probably aware of the case of organic dairy farmer Michael Schmidt and the hardship he has been going through in his efforts to supply educated consumers with responsibly and ethically produced raw milk.  Mr. Schmidt is currently on the 34th day of a hunger strike which he vows to maintain until Dalton McGuinty agrees to meet with him for an open and honest dialogue.  He has also stated that he is “willing to die if it’s necessary.”

Readers write their politicians, part 12

Raw milk friends at Michael Schmidt's blue bus in Thornhill earlier this month.

This is now day 33 of Michael Schmidt’s hunger strike for responsible food freedom. He started his fast on the 29th of September. We’re calling that day one. We hear that many people ARE calling McGuinty’s office with their concerns about his apparent unwillingness to meet with Michael on what may before too long become a life and death issue. Let’s hope the newly formed committee of MPPs from all three parties will help to turn things around. Thanks to the many readers who continue to send copies of their letters to The Bovine. We’ll keep publishing them. So send them in to us at TheBovine AT gmx DOT com.

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Esteemed elected officials of Ontario,

Greetings from a family-farm dairy in SE South Dakota (USA)! Please do not take this as another American attempt to meddle / dictate in Canadian affairs. We have the highest regard for the sovereignty of Canada and the province of Ontario and admire your government systems for their progressive nature on the whole.

Readers write their politicians, part 10

Protesters at the Queen's Park rally for raw milk last Tuesday.

We hear that Premier McGuinty’s office is receiving in the order of 200 to 300 telephone calls a day from people urging him to meet with Michael Schmidt. And no doubt the few letters we print each day on The Bovine are just a small sampling of what Canada Post is delivering to the Premier’s office. Once again, the next time you write to your elected officials on this matter, be sure to send a copy to The Bovine at thebovine AT gmx DOT com.

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Friday, October-28-11

Dear Mr. Dalton McGuinty,

Can you not even hold a dialogue with Michael Schmidt?

Readers write their politicians, part 9

More and more readers continue to write to Premier Dalton McGuinty to beseech him to begin talking, or as he says in his autoresponder “working together” with Michael Schmidt to bring some sanity to the subject of raw milk in Ontario. When YOU write to your elected representatives, please be sure to drop us a copy at thebovine AT gmx DOT com

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From Tuesday's rally at Queen's Park

Dear Mr. McGuinty,

Michael Schmidt is 28 days into his hunger strike and is now under a doctor’s care. Please speak with him. There is no harm in doing so. You will not lose face. In fact, many of we raw milk drinkers will raise a glass to applaud your decision. We only pass by in this world but once. We should not make people’s lives miserable for the wrong reasons.

There is a 1968 precedent for a similar situation involving Robert Kennedy and a farmer on a hunger strike: