Vimana - 1977 No 7

Magazine Overview

Title: VIMANA
Issue: NR. 7
Publisher: Västerås Tvärvetenskapliga Förening (VTF)
Date: February 24, 1977

This issue of VIMANA, the contact organ for the Västerås Interdisciplinary Association (VTF), covers several key events and topics relevant to the organization and its members. The primary focus is on the VTF's annual meeting, a lecture on acupuncture, and a presentation on space exploration. It also includes information on UFO-Sverige and organizational matters.

Annual Meeting (Årsmötet)

The VTF held its ordinary annual meeting on February 24th. While membership representation could have been larger, the meeting was well-attended. Members had access to the agenda, activity report, financial report, and auditor's report prior to the meeting. The composition of the board for the upcoming year was established:

• Ordförande (Chairperson): Jan Eriksen
• Vice ordförande (Vice Chairperson): Sten-Erik Gustafsson
• Sekreterare (Secretary): Tove Eriksen
• Kassör (Treasurer): K-E Karlsson
• Övriga ledamöter (Other Members): Agneta Andersson, Lars Sköld, Lars-Ove Boudin, Curt Eiric Amolds, and Erland Mille
• Suppleant: K E Levin
• Revisor 1977 (Auditor 1977): Leif Olsson and Bengt Joelsson

A nominating committee was formed, consisting of Lars-Åke Eriksson, Sten-Erik Gustafsson, and Seija Ala-Rahnasto (convener).

The new statutes, previously presented at a member meeting and approved, underwent minor adjustments to sections § 5 and 9. After these adjustments, the revised statutes were approved and replace the previous ones. Existing members can obtain a copy of the new statutes by visiting the association's premises or at a future member meeting.

Lecture on Acupuncture

On December 8, 1976, the VTF hosted Lars-Olof Berglöf, who gave a lecture on acupuncture. Berglöf, who practices acupuncture and chiropractic in his daily work, discussed the ancient Eastern method, which has a 5,000-year history and is well-proven, particularly in China.

Berglöf explained that acupuncture involves 12 pathways, or meridians, in the body, with approximately 7,000 points. Specific points are targeted with thin needles made of gold, silver, or stainless steel. The goal is to harmonize the energy levels of different organs, creating balance within the body and improving well-being for patients suffering from various ailments.

He drew a comparison between Western and Eastern medical philosophies. Western medicine, he suggested, is like troubleshooting an appliance by checking the device and then the cord. Eastern philosophy, however, delves deeper, examining the wiring leading to the wall socket.

The lecture generated significant interest, indicating that acupuncture warrants further research and broader acceptance as a healing art.

VTF Library

At the VTF's annual meeting, it was decided to allocate a sum of money for purchasing books to be made available at the association's meeting place. Through voluntary contributions from members, a collection of both non-fiction and science fiction books already exists. The association encourages members to contribute more books to enrich the collection, which currently has some books gathering dust. Members are asked to bring books to the meeting place on their next visit. Lists will be maintained to track ownership.

In addition to books, interesting magazines and other reading material are also welcome. The association aims to enrich its collection through these contributions.

Lecture on Space Exploration

On January 23rd, Eugen Semitjov visited VTF and Västerås for the first time, marking the start of the spring season. The lecture, held at Zimmermanska skolan's aula, was nearly full, with attendees listening to a presentation titled "The Future in Space" accompanied by unique slides.

Semitjov shared that contrary to some media reports, the US space program is not being cut back but is entering a new phase focused on space shuttles. He presented photographs from the development and testing phases, as well as conceptual drawings illustrating the shuttles' diverse applications. These reusable spacecraft can be launched into orbit, operate in zero gravity, and are equipped with robotic arms for tasks like satellite repair. The spent fuel tanks are designed to burn up in the atmosphere upon re-entry.

He described the re-entry process, where the shuttle's underside, protected by heat-resistant material, glows red hot. Upon landing, the shuttle glides on its wings onto a designated runway.

The presentation included fascinating, sharp, and beautiful images from the Viking series on Mars, including a striking sunset. Conceptual drawings of future Mars colonization were also shown, reinforcing the idea that the future in space is well-founded.

Semitjov also discussed plans for "space sails"—enormous sails spanning kilometers that would use solar radiation pressure to travel through the solar system. He highlighted new perspectives on energy supply, envisioning large space stations capturing solar radiation and transmitting it wirelessly to Earth with minimal loss, offering an alternative to oil and nuclear energy. Furthermore, serious plans exist for relocating a growing population to large space stations, creating self-sufficient communities with artificial gravity maintained through rotation.

The lecture concluded with a Q&A session, following a film about a moon landing and life aboard a spacecraft in zero gravity. Semitjov's contribution was deemed highly successful in supporting VTF's mission: ACTIVATE, RESEARCH, INFORM.

UFO-Sverige National Assembly

The annual national assembly of UFO-Sverige was held in Malmö on March 19th. The event began with internal proceedings at 10:00 AM, followed by a public session at 2:00 PM in the Malmö City Hall, which has a capacity of 500 seats and was filled.

The public was shown a new slideshow compiled by the Köpings UFO-förening, after an opening address by UFO-Sverige's chairman, Torvald Berthelsen, and founder, Carl-Axel Jonzon.

Following the film, editor and author Bertil Falk discussed teleportation and the Philadelphia experiment, illustrating interesting aspects with slides.

Professor Martin Johnson presented on the UFO phenomenon from a scientific viewpoint.

The remainder of the session featured a panel discussion with the organizers and invited speakers, where the audience could ask questions, both pre-written and spontaneous. Some questions led to heated debates.

Key outcomes included the Köpings UFO-förening being re-elected as the central organization for UFO-Sverige for another year, recognized for its commitment and initiative. The assembly urged other UFO organizations to emulate Köpings' example.

A significant issue discussed was the financial aspect of UFO-Sverige, particularly the costs associated with printing and publishing the magazine UFO-Information. Carl-Axel Jonzon emphasized the importance of member contributions, especially voluntary subscriptions, for the magazine and the organization. He also noted the difficulties in producing the magazine, as he largely handles it alone with minimal assistance. The magazine is produced entirely on an honorary basis, with no compensation for the many hours of work involved.

The assembly concluded at 7:30 PM, with work and efforts continuing for another year until the next assembly in Stockholm.

Questionnaire (Enkäten)

VTF distributed a questionnaire with the publication of Vimana 6, aiming to gauge members' interests and priorities. Unfortunately, the response rate was even lower than on the previous occasion, with only about 20% of members returning the completed surveys. This provides insufficient data for determining the association's future direction.

The association urges members who have not yet submitted their surveys to do so, emphasizing that their input is crucial for the organization to consider their wishes. New survey forms are available at meetings or by writing to VTF, Box 13024, 720 13 Västerås.

Membership Fees 1977

• Ordinary membership fee: 50 kr
• Membership fee (pensioners or students): 15 kr
• Subscription: UFO-Information: 45 kr

Voluntary contributions are gratefully accepted.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of VIMANA highlights the VTF's engagement in diverse fields, including organizational management, scientific lectures (acupuncture, space exploration), and the broader UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting interdisciplinary knowledge, encouraging member participation, and supporting research and information dissemination in these areas. The emphasis on voluntary contributions and the challenges faced by organizations like UFO-Sverige in funding their activities suggest a community-driven approach to pursuing their respective goals.