Canada’s Bill C-18 bad news for farmers as well as for all “persons” who eat food

“Persons” whose status as persons is purely legal (ie corporations) on the other hand may very well be in favour of this. But we elect our representatives to represent the living, breathing and eating kind of people. Thanks to the Green Party of Canada for warning us about this bill. From their news release:

OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada is concerned that Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act, which was debated for the first time on Monday, will actually restrict farmer’s ability to grow crops in Canada.

By forcing a stricter regime of intellectual property into the growing process in the form of Plant Breeders’ Rights, this bill will restrict the ability of farmers to engage in the age-old practices of saving, storing, cleaning, and treating their own seed.

“At a time when farmers are struggling, what this bill gives with the right hand is only a small piece of what it takes away with the left. It installs a very limited farmer’s privilege to store one year’s worth of seed only after taking away the currently implicit farmer’s privilege to store as much seed as they see fit,” explained Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich–Gulf Islands.

Amish girl forced into chemotherapy?

From David Michael, on the Journal of Natural Food and Health:

“Early in October 2013, the entire nation heard about how Sarah Hershberger, a 10-year old Ohio Amish girl with leukemia (now recovered), is being forced into a two-year unproven experimental chemotherapy study by Akron Children’s Hospital (ACH). It was just learned the parents, Andy and Anna Hershberger, took their significantly recovered daughter out of the United States before the court ruled that a hospital-affiliated, attorney-nurse, Maria Schimer, was made the medical guardian to make sure Sarah will get her treatments.

New Zealand to be “Lord of the Seeds”?

From InvestmentWatchBlog.com:

New Zealand coat of arms via Wikipedia. Click image to go.

“I was shocked to learn from a friend on the weekend that a new Food Bill is being brought in here in New Zealand.  The new bill will make it a privilege and not a right to grow food.

I find two aspects of this bill alarming.  The first is the scope and impact the new bill has, and secondly that it has all happened so quietly.  There has been VERY little media coverage, on a bill which promises to jeopardise the future food security of the country.

You have the right to remain silent, and film the proceedings — Karen Selick

Canadian Constitution Foundation litigation director Karen Selick, writing in the National Post:

That’s “Ur-Papparazo”, Ron Galella, in the football helmet, stalking his celebrity prey. Marlon Brando (left) had previously punched him in the face during a prior encounter. Galella was the subject of the recent documentary “Smash his Camera”. Photo copyright Ron Galella.

What have cops got against cameras these days? Increasingly, people are getting arrested, charged or even assaulted by police officers, merely for attempting to take photos or videos of officers at work. Often, police simply command people to stop photographing. Scared into thinking they must be breaking some law, citizens comply.

When Polish visitor Robert Dziekanski died after being tasered at the Vancouver airport in 2007, police seized the now famous video made by witness Paul Pritchard, who had to hire a lawyer and threaten court proceedings to get it back.

Raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt on “Lawyer or no Lawyer” at the Rights Workshop in Wisconsin on March 1st

From the Vernon Herschberger rights workshop — learning to deal with fear

David E. Gumpert, on the Complete Patient blog:

Michael Schmidt with Vernon Herschberger and Max Kane at the Food Rights workshop.

“If Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger goes to jail Friday, he can take comfort that his farm will be well tended to.

First, there is his family, including his wife and nine children. “I would not do what I am doing without having my family behind me,” he told about 60 supporters crowded into a “Rights Workshop” organized by his food club members and the Raw Milk Freedom Riders.

Then there are his members, and indications are that many of the 150 or so members would be willing to pitch in to help the Hershberger family. “There are a lot of farmers here who can help Vernon milk his cows,” one member told the attendees at the workshop. 

Raw milk farmer Vernon Herschberger — the tragic reality of human kindness

Michael Schmidt on the Vernon Herschberger situation:

Raw milk farmers Michael Schmidt and Vernon Herschberger in Wisconsin last winter.

Vernon Hershberger no doubt is struggling deeply with the consequences of putting his moral consciousness above fearful obedience to an unjust law.

I am not worried about Vernon. Vernon has the strength, the will and the inner moral standing to challenge authorities.

Backyard chickens should “fly the coop”, local editorial writer suggests

From Crystal Crimi in the Northumberland News:

U.S. government encourages backyard chickens, circa 1918

“It’s time for the chickens to fly their backyard coop in residential Campbellford.

After months of dealing with the Bacher family and the seven hens they keep in their Doxsee Avenue backyard, the municipality is taking them to court for a zoning violation. If successful, the charge comes with a maximum fine of $25,000 — that’s a lot of eggs.

But not enough to make the Bachers give up their hens. They’re fighting the charge with the pro bono services of Belleville lawyer Karen Selick — the same woman who represented Michael Schmidt, an Ontario dairy farmer convicted last fall for offences relating to selling raw milk. 

Vernon Herschberger v. DATCP raw milk fight goes nationwide — Rally is planned at the State Capitol, Mar 1, 2

From Richard S. Gubbe, in the Rock River Times:

Vernon Herschberger with raw milk fans. From Proverbs 31 blog. Click image to go there.

“Vernon Hershberger had a big week last week as his fight for small-farming independence has gained national attention. His schedule this week is packed, while the fight for raw milk supporters will reach the State Capitol building with a rally Feb. 22.

Rights workshop to teach farmers how to respond to attacks by government

From David E. Gumpert, on the Complete Patient blog:

Constitutional expert Michael Badnarik, who will be speaking at the special Rights Workshop in Wisconsin March 1. Photo via The Complete Patient blog.

“Farmers and food club managers who come under attack by government enforcers are often at a loss about what to do next.

Will they invite government retribution if they try to publicize what has happened?

What do they tell food club members?

Should they hire a lawyer or represent themselves?

Should they comply with what the regulators are demanding, or resist?

What protections do they have under the law, and under the U.S. Constitution?