HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1980-07-17, Page 4'age 4
Citizens News July 17, -1980
Tanya Bedard enjoyed the barbecue Friday
Where will we g
We were insulated. We read about it, we saw it on
television. But we never really felt it. The mile -long
lines, the frustration, the insatiable thirst made
worse by partial relief, the violence, the hoarding,
the black markets, the profiteering - the disease
didn't spread to. Canada. Our prices went up,
holidays had to be re -arranged, but our fuel and psy-
chic shields held against the financial and
emotional impact.
The tension in Iran, the Middle East and other
countries has fanned the fear of a United States se-
quel to - and a Canadian premiere of - the 1974
drama. Eyes which in the past watched a lift-off
from Cape Kennedy are now glued to rocketing gas-
oline prices. The good life is in question. It is anopen
secret that the United States, that bellweather of
affluence and consumption with only six per cent of
the world's population, uses more than twice as
much energy as the combined total used in South
America, the rest of North America and all of Asia,
except Japan. But the flickering realization that
fossil fuels are in fjnite supply has burst into full
flame. It is time for basic questions.
The energy crisis is a deception. What we are
really facing is a fuel shortage. And, at that, a lack
of one kind of fuel -oil. Energy abounds. But it is not
the kind suited to private ownership or to metering
by governments or multinational corporations. The
et our energy?
amount of solar energy that falls on the United
States in 12 hours is more than that nation uses in an
entire year.
What do we need energy for? How much of what
kind of energy do we need? To maintain our lives in
the style to which we have grown accustomed, we
need approximate 58 per cent of our energy in the
form, of heat (most of which is low temperature
heat) ; 34 per cent in the form of liquid fuels; and 8
per cent in the form of electricity. If fixation and
pre -occupation with the oil question would ease,
realization might spread that, solar energy is
eminently well-suited and technologically capable
of providing most, if not all, of the needed heat.
Farming and forestry wastes are now being con-
verted to liquid fuels in many of the less developed
countries. and wind and water can carry the burdeli
of generating electricity. Undoubtably such soft, en-
vironmentally sound, energy sources need develop-
ment. But given the risks of nuclear power and the
morally questionable practices which we might
have to resort to in order to keep the oil flowing to
North America. the effort seems worth it. And it
has begun. They are already more than 200,000 solar
buildings in the United States alone. It seems that
many communities, businesses and people would
rather switch than fight for oil.
rubbished Each Wednesday Ry J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd.
Member: -
Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association
News Editor - Tom Creech
Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385
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Ramblings
By,
TOM CREECH
As we head into theseason of bal,tournaments and
special events, the battle for the'beer drinker's dollar
moves out into the open.
.. Bottle openers, banners, medals, free public ad-
dress systems, mugs and people; dressed in white shoes
and two piece summer suits signify that summer is
really here.
In past years, our -friends who brought you beer
commercials which featured semi -naked ladies cavor-
ting under the shadow of a hot air balloon, enjoying the
"good life" have given way to those people who say
"you gotta have heart" whileconsuminga calorie reduc-
ed beer.
Yes that's right,our friends from Labatts are
nowhere to .be found in this portion of south-western
Ontario.
In year's gone by the beer available at the Grand
Bend's reknown burgerfest has always beeen "Blue";
this year "Canadian" reigned supreme. -
Overseeing' this year'sbed race from a brewery
standpoint was local --Molson's rep Ernie
Charrette. respendeht ig his white shoes, white pants
and blue blazer.
Our friends from the Montreal-based brewery also
had a very high profile at the Stanley Steamers slo-
pitch tourney thispast week in Varna. , You name it
and the boys from the red and white trucks are giving
it out.
Why did all of a sudden Labatts - drop
completely out of the picture in terms of promotional
activities for this: area?
Speculation has it that Labatt's believe they have
this -market sewn up so why spend funds if you don't
have to.
On the other hand it could make Molson's believe
that this is a market where they can make some in-
roads.
Whatever the case may be, Molsons are being
accepted quite well by the. local groups.
Whether this will transfer into increased sales of
products made by Molson's only the marketing experts
know for sure.
Any honest drinker will tell you that after a couple
they all taste the same anyway. -
When it comes down to the nutty gritty, people buy
beer (or almost any product) which satisfiestheir ego.
•
Talking, about image builders, the storm which
passed through this area about an hour before this
column was written Tuesday was an impressive dis-
play put on by Mother Nature.
A combination of high winds and lots of rain
reminded the writer of ,the scenes from the torential
monsoon always -featured in a second rate picture
about either Burma or India.
In Exeter the hydro was out for on1a short period
of time -but as this was written, the lights were not
shining in either Zurich or St. Marys.
Fortunately. no real damage in Exeter was
reported although about three businesses did lose
large windows.
Needless to say, the members of the farming com-
munity would n& too pleased with the high winds as
some of the crops would be very adversely affected.
* * *
As stated in the story on the Hay township secon-
dary plan meeting, found elsewhere in this newspaper,
members -of the township council are faced with some
very difficult decisions over future land a in Hat/.
As anyone who attended the Friday , sleeting will
attest to. both the pro and con forces have some good
arguments in their favor. It is unfortunate that
someone will be on the losing_ side.
Don Geiger brought up what.this writer considered
to be the most important point of the evening; that the
Hay farmer who farms within two kilometres of
lakefront already has much of his land in the restricted
agriculture zone.
Is this really necessary in light of the mostly
seasonal nature of the housing along the lakefront?
Could not restricted agricultural zones along a
seasonally populated lakefront be watered down,
providing that all present and future property owners
are aware of this fact? - -
One of the bask questions is that why should the
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