Papers d'Ovnis - 1a epoca - No 06

Magazine Overview

Title: Papers d'OVNIS
Issue: Número 6
Date: Juny 1994
Publisher: Centre d'Estudis Interplanetaris
Language: Catalan (with Spanish articles)

This issue of "Papers d'OVNIS" focuses on the European Parliament's engagement with the UFO topic, historical sightings, and scientific perspectives on the phenomenon. The magazine is the bulletin of the Centre d'Estudis Interplanetaris (CEI), a long-standing organization dedicated to the study of UFOs.

Editorial: El CEI es también «más que un Club»

Joan Crexell, in the editorial, reflects on the enduring significance of the Centre d'Estudis Interplanetaris (CEI) after thirty-six years. He acknowledges periods of splendor, crisis, and decline, attributing some member attrition to the perceived 'silence' of the UFO phenomenon in recent years, lack of concrete proof, or aging membership. However, Crexell emphasizes that for the current members, the CEI is more than just a club; it's a part of their lives, built on years of history and friendships. He defends the value of the CEI's physical presence, its archive, and its library, which represent thousands of hours of work. He stresses that the CEI remains open to all interested in the UFO phenomenon, regardless of location, and is willing to collaborate, but always under the CEI's banner, without competing with others.

Cover Story: El Parlamento Europeo no discutirá un informe sobre el tema OVNI

The cover headline announces that the European Parliament will not discuss a report on the UFO topic. An accompanying graphic illustrates the increase in the number of deputies in the European Parliament from 1994, showing figures for various member states like France (567), Spain (64), Germany (99), Italy (87), Greece (25), Belgium (16), Denmark (24), Portugal (25), Luxembourg (31), Netherlands (87), Ireland (15), and the United Kingdom (81), with a total of 518 deputies before 1994.

Article: «Un límite de la ciencia»

This article discusses an essay by Ramon Pascual, a Physics professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, published in "La Vanguardia." Pascual addresses the scientific community's stance on frequently debated topics like UFOs and extraterrestrial contact, which often appear in media, especially television. He notes the tendency to mix UFOs with contactees, paramedicine, and parapsychology, a trend he attributes to media sensationalism rather than the scientific community's intent. Pascual advises scientists to avoid engaging in debates where they are likely to be misunderstood or lose credibility, advocating for a personal criterion and avoiding demagoguery. The article's author agrees with Pascual's stance but adds the challenge of engaging the scientific community on the UFO phenomenon, which was famously termed the 'greatest scientific problem of our time' by Professor James E. McDonald. The author highlights the difficulty in getting the scientific community to take UFOs seriously due to their often frivolous and sensationalist presentation.

Article: Retirada la propuesta de Tullio Regge

This article details the withdrawal of a proposal by MEP Tullio Regge to create a European Center for UFO Observations. The proposal, submitted in December 1993, was intended for discussion in the European Parliament. Regge, a physicist and noted Italian scientist, was known for his skepticism towards the paranormal, including UFOs. The article criticizes Regge's report for its superficiality, confusion, and reliance on explained cases, while ignoring unexplained ones. It argues that Regge's research was biased, focusing on anti-paranormal sources. The author points out Regge's lack of knowledge about global UFO cases and his tendency to attribute UFOs to conspiracies or political manipulation. Despite the withdrawal, the article expresses hope that a similar proposal might be presented again in the new legislature, urging for a more thorough and well-advised approach.

Who is Tullio Regge?

Tullio Regge is described as a prominent Italian scientist, born in 1931, a professor of relativity at the University of Turin, and a recipient of international awards. He has written for "La Stampa" and is a declared skeptic of the paranormal, actively participating in the Italian Committee for the Control of Paranormal Claims (CICAP).

A Ufoseptic resolution proposal

The article analyzes Regge's report, stating its ultimate goal was to discredit the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs by focusing only on explained cases. It criticizes the report for its superficiality and contradictions, such as linking Belgian UFOs to Spielberg's film and then claiming they were triangular.

Article: El Parlamento europeo y los OVNIS

This section provides the official text of the European Parliament's resolution proposal (B3-1990/90) regarding the creation of a European Center for UFO Observations. It outlines the rationale, including the widespread public interest in UFOs, the need for reliable information, and the prevalence of paracientific beliefs. It proposes considering the French SEPRA (Service d'Expertise des Phénomènes de Rentrées Atmosphériques) as a valid interlocutor within the EU for UFO matters and suggests potential funding mechanisms.

Exposition of Motives (from the Regge Report)

This section, likely part of Regge's report, discusses the historical context of UFO observations, dating back to Kenneth Arnold in 1947 and the Condon Report ('Blue Book') in 1966. It examines several hypotheses for UFOs:

1. Military Secrets: Deemed unlikely to explain phenomena for long periods, as technology quickly becomes public.
2. Extraterrestrial Civilizations: The most popular hypothesis, but challenged by the lack of evidence from space exploration (Venus, Mercury, Mars) and the logistical difficulties of interstellar travel. It also dismisses the idea of extraterrestrials using propulsion systems like MHD.
3. Super-technologies: Acknowledges that extraterrestrials might possess advanced technology, but this argument is difficult to refute scientifically.
4. Role of Media: Highlights how media often sensationalizes UFO reports, mixing them with unrelated phenomena and contributing to public confusion. It mentions the UMMO case and the Belgian sightings as examples of potential manipulation.
5. Various Explanations: Discusses the work of SEPRA in France, which analyzes UFO cases. SEPRA attributes about 1% of sightings to hoaxes, 20% to rational explanations, and 40% to incomplete data. The remaining 40% remain uncertain, with the possibility of unknown atmospheric phenomena. It also mentions Venus appearing as a UFO at sunset, probe reflections, and anomalous ice cloud reflections.
6. Relationship between Spectacles and Appearances: Notes coincidences between UFO waves and popular media events, citing Orson Welles's 'War of the Worlds' broadcast and Spielberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' as potential influences.
7. Analogy with Massive Religious Phenomena: Draws parallels between UFO sightings and Marian apparitions, suggesting a shared psychological or sociological basis.
8. Recent Belgian Wave: Details the triangular UFOs and radar contacts observed in Belgium in late 1989, referencing the SOBEPS organization. It explains why military radar might not have intercepted them due to light pollution and automatic filtering of signals.
9. Unknown Atmospheric Phenomena: Suggests that some luminous objects with high speeds and accelerations might be linked to unknown atmospheric phenomena, such as ball lightning.

Article: Sobre l'OVNI de Barcelona de 1704

This article revisits the UFO sighting in Barcelona on Christmas Day, 1704, previously mentioned in issue number 3. It presents a new account written by Francesc de Castellví, a Catalan military man and historian. Castellví's "Narraciones históricas" (Historical Narratives) from 1700-1725, housed in the Austrian National Archives, are cited. The article focuses on Castellví's description of four "omens" or "presagios" preceding significant events. The most relevant to UFOs are the third and fourth:

• April 3, 1704: A bright globe was observed in Barcelona at 2 PM, described as having an opaque exterior and a blood-red center, emitting intense light and causing a loud noise, differentiating it from artillery fire.
• December 25, 1704 (Christmas Day): A terrifying phenomenon was observed over Barcelona, described as a fiery globe that moved slowly, emitting a splendor that surpassed sunlight, followed by a dense, dark cloud. This phenomenon lasted for a considerable time, appearing to move towards the earth before ascending and disappearing. The event was accompanied by a prolonged, thunderous noise. The article notes that four hours later, in Terrassa, black stones described as 'calcined in the center' fell.

Castellví interpreted these events as divine warnings of impending conflict and misfortune, particularly a bloody war in Aragon and Catalonia. The article's author, Joan Crexell, confirms that this account corroborates previous information and adds the April 3rd sighting and the falling stones in Terrassa, suggesting that these stones might be worth investigating further if preserved in the Terrassa Museum.

Collaborations and Contributions

Papers d'OVNIS is open to contributions from CEI members and anyone interested in UFO studies. The article mentions a meeting of collaborators for "Cuadernos de Ufología" in Puerto de Navacerrada, Madrid, where the continuity of the publication and the creation of a Ufological Foundation were discussed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the institutional approach to UFO research (or lack thereof) by bodies like the European Parliament, the critical analysis of UFO reports and hypotheses, the historical perspective on sightings, and the role of media and public perception. The CEI's editorial stance, as expressed by Joan Crexell, is one of dedication to the study of the UFO phenomenon, emphasizing the importance of the organization's history, community, and resources, while remaining open to collaboration and committed to serious investigation, even in the face of public skepticism and media sensationalism. The magazine actively promotes a critical yet open-minded approach to UFOs, distinguishing between well-documented cases and speculative theories or hoaxes.