British Columbia Man Faces Six Months in Jail for Growing Food

[HeartofShadows]

Just in case anybody hints that this wouldn't happen in America there is a similar story of an elderly woman who is facing jail time in Michigan for the same thing.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/07/...garden.php

Well so much for being independent from society..
I guess I'll starve since I can't afford vegetables..

Quote:Last week Colleen brought us the story of a woman in Michigan who is facing jail time for planting a garden. Sadly, this type of heavy-handed by-the-letter enforcement of bylaws exists at the same time as people embrace urban agriculture as a viable source of high quality nutrition. A man in Lanztville, British Columbia is facing a similar battle with the local government after converting his 2.5 acre "residential" lot from a gravel pit into a thriving organic farm. His refusal to "cease all agricultural activity" could land him six months in jail.

Acting on a single complaint from a disgruntled neighbor the regional district sent a letter to Dirk Becker giving him 14 days to "remove the piles of soil and manure from the property." The quoted bylaw states that property owners will ensure their property doesn't become or remain "unsightly". Specifically this refers to "the accumulation of filth, discarded materials or rubbish, which includes unused or stripped automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, vessels, machinery, mechanical or metal parts." Admittedly, it can be argued that, to some a manure pile could be considered "filth". But, considering how Becker regenerated his 2.5 acres (see photo above) this characterization is an insult.

The original letter asking Becker to stop agricultural activities arrived in September, 2010. Since then, there has been a huge public outcry in support of his activities, including a decent showing of 75 people at a support rally last night. Despite this, the municipality has recently hired a law firm to pursue the matter. Becker received a couriered letter in early June, once again asking him to stop growing food or they will proceed with legal action against him. What this could amount to, according to Becker, is a judge ruling that he is "in contempt" of the district bylaw and he could be sentenced to six months in jail.

I tell ya they are actually sending people to anally pounders prison..
For growing food on their own property..

[UnschoolShqiponjë]

In-fucking-sane. I know I am an anarchist but I think that even statists can agree with me when I say the government needs to be reminded that it is supposed to fear the people... not abuse them.

[SoulRiser]

What... the... fuck?

I don't even know what to say. That's just completely asinine.

[HeartofShadows]

(10-10-2011 04:28 PM)UnschoolShqiponjë Wrote:  In-fucking-sane. I know I am an anarchist but I think that even statists can agree with me when I say the government needs to be reminded that it is supposed to fear the people... not abuse them.

Usually I try to look at all points of view and conflicts but this right here is just dumb as hell and anybody who sides with the government on this one is a fucking sheep(I hate using this term but its what fits). I remember reading an article on the economic collapse that pointed out these insane laws and joked that in the future I guess that the only farms will be from corporations but I guess that's the point.

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archive...permission

So much for hard work and rising yourself up.

[Miller0700]

Dumb and insane. People are getting busted for stupid stuff nowadays.

[Aya]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/08...93516.html

Old news is old. Charges were dropped against that woman. It should also be noted that this woman lives in a very standardized suburban neighborhood. One where every house pretty much looks just like the last. It's likely she lives in a home owners association, which are neighborhood organizations that have legal authority to tell you what you can and can't do to your property.

Just something to keep in mind. Had she bought house more rural environment no one would've cared, and she likely would've been able to purchase more land to cultivate.

[Liquid]

Good to know that it worked out for the woman in the US.

The guy in BC has a better chance than she did, since Canadians have more common sense than Americans do.

[HeartofShadows]

(10-11-2011 01:25 AM)Ayliana Wrote:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/08...93516.html

Old news is old. Charges were dropped against that woman. It should also be noted that this woman lives in a very standardized suburban neighborhood. One where every house pretty much looks just like the last. It's likely she lives in a home owners association, which are neighborhood organizations that have legal authority to tell you what you can and can't do to your property.

Just something to keep in mind. Had she bought house more rural environment no one would've cared, and she likely would've been able to purchase more land to cultivate.

Thank goodness and fuck the home owners association.
I fucking hate those bastards.

[gore goroth]

[HeartofShadows]

(10-12-2011 04:08 PM)gore goroth Wrote:  

Nice video although the guy dressing like a terrorist kind of makes it a bit humorist(jk). But still I knew about the shit they put in our food.
Had a guy I knew and his family move back to Asia 2 years ago and they didn't change their eating habits at all but they all lost 50 to 60 pounds because they weren't eating that shit we eat.