[All] Fwd: Michael Schmidt Interview

Wed Jan 20 12:41:32 EST 2010

FYI --  background re: Michael Schmidt Verdict on Jan 21.

Robert

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Judith McGill" <jlmcgill at rogers.com>
> Date: January 20, 2010 8:16:46 AM GMT-05:00
> To: "Judith McGill" <jlmcgill at rogers.com>
> Subject: FW: interview
>
> Interview of Michael with Michael
>
> MS.
>          After three years of uncertainty, tomorrow is decision day  
> for you. Looking back,
>          What are the most significant memories of the last three  
> years?
> Michael.
>           The awakening of people to the danger of loosing our food  
> freedom. I have watched with amazement how people have taken on this  
> issue passionately and whole heartedly.
> MS.
>           You mean the raw milk issue?
> Michael
>            No, no, the issue of food freedom. The freedom to choose  
> the food we as individuals think is good, is healing, is  
> strengthening us.
>          I once had a talk with Sally Fallon about her book  
> Nourishing Traditions, which sparked a food revolution beyond her or  
> anybodies imagination. The timing was right, the need was there, and  
> Sally’s intuition was there. We are on the verge of a massive change  
> in regards to our relation ship to our food. This is not a rebellion  
> this is a powerful evolution in the consciousness, to realize that  
> food actually matters in relation to our spiritual development.
> MS
>           It comes to mind the term if you control the food, you  
> control the people.
> Michael
>            Yes, at the moment most people think in terms of the  
> physical control of food. I actually refer to the inner quality of  
> food, which has an immense impact on our inner well-being which  
> means spiritual well being and our mental awareness. The biggest  
> danger we are facing is actually that the food we “allowed’ to eat  
> is dead food, either through genetic manipulation or because of the  
> way it is grown or processed.
> MS
>           Getting back to the raw milk issue, why do you think this  
> is, according to David Gumpert’s book, the driving force behind the  
> emerging food rights battle on this Continent?
> Michael
>           I am trying to understand that myself. Personally I can  
> relate to that without a problem. I have been a dairy farmer all my  
> life and milk always played a central role in our bio-dynamic farm.  
> Milk was never a commodity for me, Milk represented for me the  
> magical transformation: from soil to grass to cow to milk. Milk is  
> the ultimate reward of the art of Agri-culture. Milk is nourishment,  
> milk is healing, milk is medicine but only if you do not destroy the  
> inner qualities. Instinctively people can relate to milk as the  
> central food item, which represents real nourishment.
> MS.
>          You have been confronted with that issue for 16 years. You  
> survived at least 5 Ministers of Agriculture and Food in Ontario,  
> and the same amount of Ministers of Health. You so far survived  
> three different Governments, first the NDP under Bob Rea then the  
> Conservatives under Mike Harris and now the Liberals under McGuinty,  
> who was the best or worst.
> Michael
>          I think Government itself means nothing. It is the  
> bureaucracy which survives most Governments and which calls the  
> shots. There is so much mumble bumble going on that you have a  
> really hard time taking them serious at all. I remember when Noble  
> Villeneuve was asked right after he took on the agricultural  
> portfolio in Ontario if he would look at the raw milk issue. He said  
> “if people demand it, I will make sure that we address this issue. I  
> had a one to one meeting with him 6 months later, he was already  
> “told” what he can do and what he cannot do. At least the  
> Conservatives turned a blind eye to the issue, which helped us to  
> rebuild our farm. Do not forget that at the moment the only support  
> we have are the Conservatives in the Ontario Parliament. Thanks to  
> Bill Murdoch who tabled a private members bill to form a taskforce  
> which would look into the raw milk issue.
> MS
>           How broad is the public support.
> Michael
>            It is immense. The raw milk issue has turned into a  
> rights issue. It affects so many people, it is a property rights  
> issue, which brought thousands of Ontario Landowners on our side.  
> Thousands of farmers are on our side burdened by crippling  
> regulations, consumers around the world are rallying for our cause  
> and of course our core group of incredible devoted cow and farm  
> share members. I think the support is much bigger than I can even  
> imagine.
> MS.
>           The ruling is tomorrow, what do you expect?
> Michael
>            I have been asked this question so many times and every  
> time I say at the end it does not matter. If you look at this issue  
> as a process, which initiates change, than this ruling is only a  
> stepping stone for further change. It is similar to the situation in  
> Wisconsin, where so many people came together and it propelled the  
> raw milk movement to a different level of determination. It really  
> did not matter, that the judge would not acknowledge Max Kane’s  
> concerns. What mattered was, that this event was a galvanizing  
> point. With Mark from California, Tim from Wisconsin Sally Fallon  
> and David Gumpert and many, many more passionate activists, we  
> become suddenly a force widely recognized and for sure feared. We  
> all are in this out of a deep inner conviction to contribute  
> something to this world, which goes beyond the bottom line  
> philosophy. We feel we actually can change something for the better.
> MS.
>           You still did not say what you expect the outcome will be.
> Michael
>            If you are a pessimist then you expect the denial of our  
> rights, which on the other hand will propel this movement even  
> further into a strong presence.
>           If you an Optimist than you hope for a ruling in our  
> favour, which is good too. I decided that I can live with either one  
> of them. The end result will be sooner or later the recognition of  
> our inherent rights. The question to ask is; what are they going to  
> do. Locking me up is political suicide and again will garner even  
> more support. I have been in jail for another rights issue, I know  
> what to expect. Fear is your worst enemy, courage your best friend.  
> Let’s celebrate tomorrows ruling as a wonderful milestone in this  
> important battle.
> MS
>          What lies ahead?
> Michael
>           The forming of Raw Milk Alliances across the country, the  
> United States, England and soon Francewill raise more and more the  
> awareness, that we have a real momentum for change. Corporate food  
> politics versus local Agri-culture.
>          It is all about the awareness for our future our children’s  
> future and the future of our planet.
>         Yes, as Farmers and Consumers united we will stand. We will  
> always stand our ground
> MS
>          Thanks Michael that you have taken the time to address  
> these issues.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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