12 —Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 2, 1975 Food policy termed ‘insane and suicidal 9 SELINSGROVE - Howard Ruff’s words and phrases came across the meeting hall like a steady stream of missies, each of them exploding in the audience’s ears as though they were bombshells, Ruff, a controversial and nationally known lecturer and author, was addressing several hundred persons gathered on the Susquehanna University campus for the Pennsylvania Natural Food Convention. A gifted speaker, Ruff warned the public, including a number of notebook and camera toting reporters, that this country’s agricultural policies are leading us towards destruction. Aware of natural and normal complications and problems involved in food production, Ruff charged that our government is compounding the situation, describing it as “as item of stupidity so monumental, it can only be a plan.” Ruff, who has written a book on famine in the U.S., and how to prepare for it predicted that severe food shortages could hit “the land of plenty” within the next three years - possbily even next year. “You would have to be insane to hope I’m right; I would give anything but my family and religion to be wrong,” he stated emphatically. Following are his reasons for the gloomy forecast. Weather changes and increasing vulnerability of plants to diseases headed the list of natural causes for reduced productivity. Ruff noted that the planet’s climate patterns are changing and this would have serious reprecussions in the Earth’s food production capability. The increased susceptibility of plants to diseases is due to the refinements in breeding, according to Ruff, and because of fewer varieties. “Years ago,” Ruff explained, “one variety of a crop might be struck by disease, while dozens of other strains were resistant. Today, with large acreages of fewer varieties, much greater losses can be expected.” The noted speaker, who has appeared on several television talk shows, boldly stated that the United States’ food policy is “insane and suicidal,” and sharply criticized the government for its “monumental stupidity.” Ruff did not agree with the 1972 grain sale to the Soviet Union, and is equally critical of the sales being made this year. He also attacked the foreign aid and food stamp programs, saying that: “if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day; if you teach him how to fish, you feed him SELINSGROVE According to Don Johnson, an ex pert on environmental sources of power, more energy falls on a forty-acre farm in a day than the farm can use in an entire year. The soft-spoken Johnson delivered his ideas on power to several hundred persons gathered here on the Susquehanna University campus last week for the Penn sylvania Natural Foods Convention. He has an impressive record in the energy field, with 15 years of research ex perience in fluidics, thermodynamics, and environmental sciences. He has also acted as a consultant to several large corporations and the U.S. Navy. An inventor as well as researcher, Johnson has recently developed an unusual windmill which he says has an ef ficiency factor of 85 percent and a unique energy storage system. A model of it was on hand at the conference, and of special interest to scores of persons who were in at tendance. “We live in an abundance of energy,” Johnson told the group which sat in a large, circular, air-conditioned hall while beautiful, sunny weather bathed the countryside. He pointed to solar energy and wind power in particular, claiming that neither could be exhausted. “We cannot destroy the energy that is there,” he said persuasively. “The same solar energy which covers your farm also covers your neighbor’s. Just think of the pnergy which is flowing over your land I’’ 1 ’’ Since he is already involved in building windmills, he talked for some time on its applications and the mcO’a'jscablr forces of wind currents. “ It’s just a matter of h<-w to get it,” he said. He also emphasized that the wind could be harnessed at any number of points without using it up “The wind blows as strong two diameters Derstler promoted LANCASTER - Donald E Derstler has been named assistant vice president and regional mortgage loan coordinator by National Central Bank, according to an announcement made today by J. Barry Myers, bank executive vice president and regional ad ministrator Derstler joined the bank in 1965 as a management trainee and has worked in the mortgage field since that time He is a graduate of J P McCaskey High School in Lancaster and has com- By; Dieter Krieg Energy By Dieter Krieg pleted the National Mor tgage School at Ohio State University in addition to several professional banking courses conducted by the American Bankers Association He is a member of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lancaster Board of Realtors, the Homebuilders Association of Lancaster and Associated Builders & Contractors. Derstler is also a member of Lancaster Elks Post 134 and a member of St Johns Lutheran Church. for a lifetime. ’ ’ He added that to give aid and food where it is really needed is fine, but to do it blindly is disastrous. The “no reserves” food policy being pursued by the U.S. in recent years is a step towards famine, in Ruff’s opinion. In continuing his reasoning behind the potential for famine and hunger in the U.S., Ruff pointed to the degree of unemployment and social unrest in some of the nation’s major metropolitan areas. He observed that states are beginning to run out of unemployment funds and this trend is likely to continue. He cited New York City as an example and added that Los Angeles, Detroit, and Cleveland are other “bellweather cities.” “When the funds run out,” Ruff predicted, “the riots will start and food markets will be raided.” He said our supermarkets only have a five-dav supply of food on hand, and it wouldn’t take long for it to disappear if a run on food was started. “The unemployment funds are a finger in the dike,” Ruff told the attentive group, “and when they run out there will be a lot more unrest.” Ruff sarcastically stated he had a “flawless method of economic forecasting,” and revealed his secret method to the audience, claiming anyone could be as accurate as he is. “Just check on what the government is predicting," he said, and predict exactly the opposite.” Adding some humor to the lecture, Ruff told of a quip attributed to Harry Truman: “If you take all the economists in the country and lay them end to end, they’d still all be facing in different directions!” Another factor which would help bring about food shortages is the depency farmers and food distributers have on transportation, Ruff pointed out. He predicted that in times of unrest, major strikes could cut food supplies, cause spoilage, and create disastrous con sequences. Admitting that a relatively few number of people take him seriously - “Half will think I’m crazy, and only one in twelve will do something about his food supply,” - Ruff granted that the nation’s food picture looks promising and even superfluous. But he stressed that if people panic, and run to the grocery store, the effect could spread like fire and the shortage could thus be created. “Once such a panic has started, it is too late to prepare for a food shortage,” he advised. Ruff backed up his commentary with a story which appeared in the “National Observer” which claimed conditions in agricultural planning and policy are ripe for in abundance, hut elusive behind the blades as it did when it hit,” he said. “We have been plugged into the spiderweb of electricity for so long, we’ve reached the point where we’ve forgotten about other energy sources,” he announced. “We live in a society of waste, not abundance,” he continued, adding that an energy crisis poses a threat to the world’s food supplies and that the same causes are responsible for food and energy shortages. The nationally - known authority on environmental energy asserted that power from the wind or sun is free, and brushed aside notions by other scientists that solar and wind power could not be used efficiently. He claimed mlj 'i X -*Sh, Don Johnson, noted authority on environmental energy, discusses plans for windmills, solar panels, and hydraulic air compressors with interested bystanders. a world-wide famine within three or four years which would see half a billion people starve or die of malnutrition. “That’s more than all the people which died or were killed in wars, plagues, and accidents since 1700,” Ruff revealed. According to his fast-moving narration, he is convinced the food shortages will occur. He is also convinced that the figures are so plain, that the govern ment is ignoring them, and that the path we’re on is a deliberate one to destruction. He blames the govern ment's give-away food programs, both at home and abroad, in creating a feeling of dependency rather than productivity and self-sufficiency. India’s development of the atom bomb was of particular concern-to Ruff. He pointed out the nation has failed to feed its population adequately, but has found the technology, money, and resources to build the awesome tool of death. Ruff, who has had opportunities to meet with government officials from all over the world, said he once encountered an Indian embassy official whom he questioned about the “A” bomb. The official allegedly answered: “We have it so that when starvation arrives, and we demand food, our demands will be credible.” “Government caused inflation, and inflation caused recession,” Ruff continued, while expressing his disbelief in government news releases which claim the economy is improving. Ruff entertained the idea that Washington bureaucrats are intentionally trying to paint an improved economic picture to maintain social order. In reality, however, the situation is deteriorating further, Ruff ob served. In commenting on solutions to the problem, Ruff was sharply opposed to any government controls on food. “You wouldn’t want the people who gave us Viet Nam, Watergate, and the Post Office to control your food, would you?” he asked the crowd which responded with a ripple of laughter. He advocated that people store their own food in their own pantires, away from “some bureaucrat in FDA (Food and Drug Administration). “Buying food when it is plentiful is socially useful,” the speaker advised. “Buying it when it is scarce, and hoarding it, is wrong.” He suggested people should stock up while there is still plenty, rather than panic when it is too late. “When you have been warned, I believe you have a responsibility to warn your neighbor. My security depends on being around people who are also secure,” the lecturer and author concluded. he has had success in harnessing the sun and wind for home use, and that reliable energy storage systems could be linked up with these devices. Johnson startled the audience when he announced a third source of power - supposedly known to man 700 years ago, but never utilized to a high degree - the “hydraulic air compressor.” This system incorporates nothing but water and air to create air pressure which in turn is used to perform work. This concept does not rely on heat, as would steam pressure, but is reportedly the closest thing to a perfect energy machine. Johnson claimed that 100 years a number of hydraulic air compressors were in use in this area, but they gradually disappeared when elec tricity and gasoline engines made their debut. One such power system is still in operation in Canada to operate the locks at a canal, Johnson revealed. The scientist’s proposals sparked considerable interest among the audience, who later surrounded and showered him with questions. Among the group were electricians, dentists, architects, farmers, stock brokers, computer scientists, reporters, educators, and bankers. Johnson fielded all questions in the dedicated manner of a teacher - leavmg nothing unexplained, and furnishing drawings and figures. He advised anyone who had the means to collect wind or solar energy to do so. A native of Arizona, Johnson has a partner and fellow scientist managing his environmental energy technology in the East. He noted that anyone wishing information on solar, wind, or hydraulic air compressor power could do so by writing to: Gerald Rennerts, Box 187, Downseville, N.Y., 13755. " x '’ Youths named regional winners YORK—The 4-H Regional Dress Revue Competition was held Thursday, July 31 at the Holiday Inn, East' York. Regional winners in the Lancaster Farming area are listed below. Senior Winners: Karen Weaver, Adams; Marcy Bomberger, Lan caster, Sally Garber, Lan caster and Julie Hartranft, Lancaster. These 4-Hers will compete for state honors at Penn State August 11-13. Senior Semi-Finalists Becky Piper, Adams; Lisa Weaver, Adams; Carol Zopp, Adams; Maureen Doyle, Lancaster; Suzanne Martin, Lancaster and Carol Myers, Lancaster. Junior Winners Lynn Farlow, Lancaster, Wendy Bowman, Lebanon and Debbie Piper, Adams. Junior Semi-Finalists Kathy Hastings, Lan caster; Beth Power, Perry and Beth Rutter, York. Use the Farm Calendar
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