What are the most significant memories of the last three years?

Michael:
          The awakening of people to the danger of losing 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?

MS:
          The phrase "if you control the food, you control the people." comes to mind.

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 are “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 the magical transformation for me: 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 number of Ministers of Health. You, so far, survived three different Governments, first the NDP under Bob Rae 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 are 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. Sooner or later the end result will be 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 tomorrow's 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 France will raise more and more 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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