Ontario raw-milk farmer Michael Schmidt is into day 22 of his hunger strike to protest a government raid on his farm Nov. 21. And he is now trying to figure out how best to end the strike, short of his original goal of obtaining a promise from Canadian authorities that they won’t raid his farm again.
On his web site entry this morning, he states: "Today is my 21st day without real food. I never ever thought I could still function the way I do. However, the strain on the body is becoming noticeable and I have to realize that this will not go on forever. My body will have limits."
I have to admit I misjudged the intensity of the Ontario government’s opposition to raw milk, when I predicted the government would cave. Perhaps I should say I misjudged the extent of its support of the existing dairy interests in favor of factory farming and pasteurization.
Schmidt’s political challenge to Ontario’s enforcement ran into a wall Dec. 7, when the Ontario parliament decided to shelve a member’s proposal to establish a committee to explore the raw milk issue. I had thought that debate would provide the establishment its opening to throw him a bone so he could end his strike. Nothing doing.
Yet the transcript of the debate, which Schmidt’s site links to, is worth reviewing. At least it’s a debate, as opposed to people talking past each other. The debate is about a seemingly harmless proposal to simply explore further the pros and cons of raw milk, and it is notable for putting aside, even if momentarily, the emotional overlay of the issue. As you read through it, though, you realize that the emotions are barely contained below the surface. The member in favor of the inquiry explains that farming conditions have improved since pasteurization became widespread 70 years ago, and the opponents maintain that pasteurization works and so, if it’s not broken, why fix it.
I think Schmidt can end his strike simply based on the fact that he inspired a debate to take place. His courage speaks for itself.
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