by BETTER FARMING STAFF
Eight people have joined Durham, Ontario area dairy farmer Michael Schmidt in the hunger strike he began Sept. 29 to protest his recent conviction on charges related to the distribution of raw, unpasteurized milk. The Bovine, a blog supporting Schmidt's efforts, reports that a separate group in Toronto is on a rotational fast in support of Schmidt’s “Hunger Strike For Responsible Food Freedom.”
The Sept. 28 verdict, written by Justice Peter Tetley of the Ontario Court of Justice, reversed a 2010 decision made by a justice of the peace who acquitted Schmidt of the same charges. It is unclear what the decision means for the future of Schmidt’s farm, a cow-share operation in which raw milk and related products are provided to about 150 shareholders. Raw milk from the farm is not sold commercially.
A second legal battle looms for Schmidt in B.C. He has been served with contempt of court charges that threaten a $55,000 fine that stem from his involvement in Our Cows Inc., a Chilliwack, B.C. cow share that authorities attempted to shut down last year.
Operator Alice Jongerden was charged with contempt for distributing raw milk, considered a hazardous substance under provincial health laws. Schmidt stepped in and figured out how to keep milk flowing to members by relabeling products as cosmetics “not for human consumption.”
According to an Oct. 10 news release issued on Schmidt’s behalf, the eight fellow hunger strikers include Max Kane and Vernon Hershberger, both of Wisconsin, and Alberta farmer Bernie Cosgrove. Five others do not want to be named, the release said.
The release quotes Schmidt as asking the Ontario and B.C. governments to legalize the sale of raw milk and cow share operations. “This objective also includes the end of the current prosecutions of cow shares which meet proper production standards," he states.
In an Oct. 9 entry on The Bovine Schmidt noted that he is only drinking water and lemon juice and has lost 20 pounds since he started. BF
Comments
hunger strike wont work, remember the farmer thet picketed queens park, slept in a car for weeks when Ontario farmers were protesting. It did not work
About 30 years ago, farm activist, Allan Wilford, went on a hunger strike while, I believe, in jail in Stratford - while some may say the results were inconclusive, this activism got Wilford into law school, and, the last time I had contact with him, he was practising law in the Grey/Bruce area.
On the other hand, considering that over 60% of Canadians are overweight, and about a quarter of us are obese, (my suspicion is that farmers are overweight and/or obese in even greater percentages than the general population) we should all be going on a hunger strike.
Stephen Thompson, Clinton ON
Wow, I'm SOOO glad there's an expert on obesity and overweight commenting here. Hunger strike should work eh? Hmmm.. lots of people I know that have tried to lose weight have had semi starvation diets that mimic the effects of complete starvation, but eventually they gained it all back.
Unsigned comment modified by editor in accordance with guidelines
the point of the strike is not to lose weight, the author's comment was simply to point out that we in Canada tend to over indulge and a fast here and there certainly doesn't hurt anyone! it makes us realize how little we actually need to survive :)
That comment about farmers probably being more overweight than the general population was totally uncalled for. The farmers I know work hard and their bodies reflect that. Hunger striking has nothing to do with weight-loss.
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