Day 7 – The GREAT HEALTH DEBATE – "Vegan vs. Whole Foods" – Starts at 8:00 PM EST/9:00 PM PST tonight – Feb 12th USA. More info http://tinyurl.com/4bm42p4.

Featuring Dr. Will Tuttle PhD and Sally Fallon .. The recording will be up for 24 hours.

Tonight, you can listen in to hear why Sally Fallon advocates the use of animal foods and raw dairy. In contrast, hear Dr. Will Tuttle explain the principles of a vegan diet.

Sally Fallon is the president of The Weston A. Price Foundation and author of "Nourishing Traditions." Will Tuttle is a vegan advocate and the author of "The World Peace Diet."

Click this link for Governor Schwarzenegger’s veto statement.

Many who have worked hard towards the passage of SB 201 have stated that the Governor’s veto was not entirely unexpected. There is much more to this story than just about what is best for consumers.

Click this link for the Letter of Response by Senator Florez

Here is link to a statement from the Mark McAfee,
the founder of the Organic Pastures Dairy.

It’s been a long, hard road for those wanting to preserve their freedom of choice to consume unadulterated, fresh raw milk. Regardless of your preference for animal-based foods, should it be THIS difficult to have guaranteed access to wholesome, live food in its natural state?

In a society where the food industry statistics show dramatically higher rates of problems associated with the consumption of certain “regular foods”, why is it that raw milk deserves such “special” attention? In many cases this can easily be argued as direct harassment.

Is There Something Wrong With This Picture?

Is it just me, or do you think there’s something wrong with this picture, too?
Here we have …..

1. ….. a legislative process in place which includes veto powers assigned to the Governor. Fine so far, except, ……. how do you really know who’s “pushing the pen” or who’s influencing the “pen pusher” ….. ultimately?
   
2. SB 201 has moved through the whole legislative process with almost unanimous legislative support.
   
3. There have been senate hearings mid year, enrolling UC Davis and other scientific experts testifying that HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plans and increased pathogen testing provide a better method of regulating raw milk than with using coliform limits.
   
4. The CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) refuses to testify at these hearings. What!!  …. Why!? (you’d think they’d be happy to contribute their views towards a workable solution).
   Click Here to view a copy of letter from Senator Florez to CDFA secretary A.G. Kawamura regarding this.
   
5. There is strong growth of significant numbers of the population who are passionate about consuming quality, fresh raw milk and voicing compelling anecdotal evidence to back up their choice.

…… yet the Bill gets rejected at the final barrier. Hmmmm.

Raw Milk vs Pasteurized Milk – Totally Different

Through all this, it has been made clear that raw milk is a totally different product than that of pasteurized milk, yet current laws subject them to the same testing procedures. Does this make any sense?

It’s like taking a picture frame
that fits a 3″x 4″ photo,
putting it over a 8″x 10″ photo
and declaring there is a problem
with the  8″x 10″ photo
because it doesn’t fit the frame.

On this point, check out this refreshing article about Dr. Mark E. Gebhart’s, M.D., April 3rd presentation on “Raw milk: a micro-biology primer.” (Dr. Gebhart is assistant professor of emergency medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio).

As Dr. Gebhart states …
“There is a science to medicine,
and also an art.”

For those new to the issues surrounding SB 201 CLICK HERE to access the short 9 minute video on the subject that I highlighted earlier in a June posting.

The Pains of Change?

Perhaps the frustrations that we currently feel throughout the many arenas of what we’d call the “natural health movement” are a result of the slow transition from the rigidity, fearfulness and often, myopic view of the status quo, to one of more openness, tolerance understanding and co-operation towards sustainability. A thought that doesn’t make things any easier, but it does give hope for the future

All that is needed is for awareness of these issues to continue to grow and for more of us to be willing to speak out through whatever channels are available. There are wonderful, passionate, dedicated people out there, working tirelessly towards a beautiful future. 

Despite the gloom and doom so prevalent in the media today, there are powerful, wonderful, positive things happening. 

Where To From Here for Raw Milk ?

1. As Senator Florez has stated, he will continue his legislative push when the new session begins in January.

2. OPDC and Claravale Dairy will continue with their joint lawsuit against the CDFA’s current standard.
   
3. Both dairies are now forced to cope as best they can under the current, challenging conditions. Your understanding and support is welcomed, should product shortages occur at any stage.

What Can You Do To Help?

For specific suggestions please visit the CREMA (California Real Milk Association) page CLICK HERE .

In support of continued education
and freedom of choice for Wholesome, Healthy Living.
Sven

It’s been a long road, but the final version of Senate Bill #201, “The Fresh Raw Milk Act 2008″, unanimously sailed through the Full Assembly on the 22nd of August ’08. 

A week later, the Senate voted 33 to 4 (unofficial ballot figures) in favor of the Bill. Thankfully, this is well in excess of the 2/3 majority needed to pass an ”urgency bill” of this nature.

The Final Big Push:
SB #201 now sits on the desk of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger awaiting his signature for it to become law.

However, It is not a time to become complacent,
the Governor still has the power
of veto.

His final decision on this is influenced by many other factors, both inside and out of his administration. Persistent and overwhelming support for the signing of Bill #201 is the best way to offset these other influences.

So, it’s important that Governor Schwarzenegger
hears your voice of support for Senate Bill #201
TODAY!!

Please do this by calling the Governor’s office at 916-445-2841 today. Follow the phone menu prompts and then leave a polite, short message urging the Governor to sign Senate Bill #201 into law.

Alternatively, (for California residents only), you can download and mail in a printed postcard to the Governor stating your support. CLICK HERE to download the postcard.

If you are new to the Raw Milk debate please review our post of June 23rd. as well as more in-depth articles accessed via the reference links below. 

Organic Pastures, 
Weston A. Price Foundation.  
Farm To Consumer Foundation. 

THANK YOU for your interest and willingness to take ACTION.

At present the SB #201 document is being “batted” back and forth getting the fine detail of the wording correct. You know, make a change, get it approved etc. Many of us would like to have seen this process over and done yesterday, but this “fine-tuning” is an essential part of the law making process.

So far, everyone seems happy with the way things are proceeding. It is expected that we will see the “Fresh Raw Milk Act, 2008″ go through its final stages sometime next month.

Once the final Bill is voted on and approved by the Senate, it will go to the governor’s office for signing. Because it is an “urgency bill”, it immediately becomes law at that time.

We know that Governor Schwarzenegger is an advocate of health and natural foods, however, this alone does not guarantee that the Bill will get signed into law. There is always the chance of veto.

It is important that the governor be aware of the strong support for the signing of SB #201. This means calling the governor’s office and letting your support for the Bill be made known.

Are you new to the Raw Milk debate? Then please review our post of June 23rd, as well as more in-depth articles accessed via the reference links below. 

Organic Pastures, 
Weston A. Price Foundation.  
Farm To Consumer Foundation. 

On June 25th the Assembly Agriculture Committee in California gave the “thumbs up” for Senate Bill #201, “The Fresh Raw Milk Act 2008″. 

What some have affectionately called the ”Safest Milk In the World” Bill, SB #201, is definitely off to a flying start.

We now await the third and final vote (coming soon); this time by the Full Assembly. …… stay tuned.

If you are new to the Raw Milk debate please review our post of June 23rd. as well as more in depth articles accessed via the reference links below. 

Organic Pastures, 
Weston A. Price Foundation.  
Farm To Consumer Foundation.