Papers d'Ovnis - 2a epoca - No 01

Magazine Overview

Title: Papers d'OVNIS
Issue: No. 1, II Época
Date: January-February 1997
Publisher: CEI (Centro de Estudios Interplanetarios)
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish

This issue of Papers d'OVNIS, the bulletin of the Centro de Estudios Interplanetarios (CEI), presents a diverse range of topics related to UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena, with a strong emphasis on scientific investigation and critical analysis.

The Raëlian Movement: Messengers of Extraterrestrials

The cover story introduces the Raëlian Movement, detailing their beliefs about extraterrestrial creators known as Elohim who supposedly engineered humanity using DNA. The article traces the origins of the movement with Claude Vorhilon (who adopted the name Raël) and his encounters with Elohim. It outlines the movement's core tenets, including a reinterpretation of religious texts like Genesis, a call for pacifist and humanist principles, and the mission to prepare for the arrival of extraterrestrial spacecraft by building an embassy. The text mentions Raël's activities, the organization's structure with various levels of membership, and its international presence. It also touches upon the movement's unique approach to spirituality, which includes sensual learning and a rejection of traditional deistic religious practices. The article notes the movement's efforts to gain recognition and establish diplomatic relations with extraterrestrials.

History of a Defeat: Prologue to 'Phenomenon UFO: Analysis of Thirty Years of Observations in Spain'

This section features a prologue by Jordi Ardanuy to a republished work on UFO observations in Spain. Ardanuy reflects on the original work, co-authored with David G. López, which aimed to establish a systematic and falsifiable methodology for UFO research. He emphasizes the importance of reproducibility, allowing other researchers to verify or refute findings, thereby minimizing researcher bias. Ardanuy discusses the challenges of defining what constitutes a UFO and the difficulty of treating anecdotal evidence scientifically. He draws parallels with the development of scientific disciplines like electricity, where initial observations were refined over time through rigorous study. The author critiques the 'extraterrestrial hypothesis' as being too all-encompassing and unfalsifiable, comparing it to the seductive but ultimately misleading songs of sirens. He advocates for a data-driven approach, where the focus is on classifying observations consistently, even if the underlying cause remains unknown. The piece highlights the collaborative effort involved in the original study and laments the lack of continuation and the shift in ufology towards more speculative or religious interpretations.

UFOs and Sounding Rockets

This article by Joan Plana Crivillén addresses the common confusion between genuine UFO sightings and atmospheric phenomena caused by sounding rockets. It explains that during the 1960s and 1970s, spectacular luminous displays observed in the sky were often the result of scientific experiments involving rockets that dispersed chemicals to study the upper atmosphere. These phenomena, visible from great distances, could appear as clouds, spirals, or streaks of light in various colors (white, red, green, yellow, orange). The article details the types of chemicals used (barium, sodium, lithium, trimethylaluminum) and the altitudes at which they were dispersed (150-250 km). It cites specific instances in Spain and Brazil where such events were initially mistaken for UFOs, providing tables of rocket launches and their payloads. The author concludes that while many sightings have natural explanations, some cases remain unexplained.

Foreign Pilots Also Encounter 'UFOs' in Spain

This section, also by Joan Plana Crivillén, compiles reports of UFO sightings by foreign commercial and military pilots, both over Spanish territory and adjacent areas. The article presents a list of incidents with dates, times, locations, aircraft involved, and potential explanations. While many cases are attributed to known phenomena such as bolides, missiles, or weather balloons, a few remain unresolved, contributing to the ongoing mystery of UFOs.

Don Jeremías López, A Priest Among Extraterrestrials

Authored by Martí Flò and Carmen Tamayo, this piece profiles Don Jeremías López, a Spanish priest who became known for his writings that blended religious mysticism with extraterrestrial contact theories. The article describes López's background, his unconventional methods for attracting parishioners (including using American aid coupons), and his belief that extraterrestrials, like angels, could be benevolent or malevolent. It highlights his prolific writing, with titles that often combined religious and ufological themes, and his interpretation of biblical prophecies in the context of alien visitation. The authors note that López's work, while sometimes controversial, reflected a particular strand of ufological thought prevalent in Spain during the mid-20th century.

Other Countries, Other Bulletins

This section, compiled by Luis R. González, provides a roundup of recent ufological news and publications from around the world. It mentions articles from Argentine magazines like DESCUBRIR, discussing the demystification of UFO phenomena and investigations into alleged extraterrestrial landing sites. The author also reviews the 'Journal of the International Society for Contemporary Legend Research,' noting its focus on 'diabolical legends' and the spread of paracientific rumors. News about upcoming UFO-themed video games and a critical look at the Spanish translation of 'Flying Saucer Review' are also included. The section highlights skeptical viewpoints, such as the analysis of alleged Roswell debris as terrestrial metal and critiques of abduction research methodologies. It also mentions the launch of an interactive UFO encyclopedia in Spanish, 'Informe OVNI,' noting its selective inclusion of contributors.

Vicente-Juan Ballester: The UFOs According to...

This contribution by Vicente-Juan Ballester, a veteran UFO investigator, offers his perspective on contemporary ufology. Ballester distinguishes between 'propagandists' who profit from the UFO enigma and 'professionals' who pursue the subject out of intellectual curiosity. He argues that the latter group, often with established careers outside ufology, are more likely to conduct rigorous research and provide rational explanations for sightings, whereas the former tend to sensationalize and maintain mysteries to sustain their activities. Ballester emphasizes the importance of understanding the motivations behind individuals' involvement in ufology and suggests that this distinction is key to understanding the divisions within the field. He notes that professional investigators often face criticism from propagandists who fear their business model being undermined.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a critical and scientific approach to UFO phenomena. While acknowledging the existence of unexplained sightings, there is a clear emphasis on demystification, rational explanation, and rigorous investigation. The articles frequently contrast speculative or religious interpretations with evidence-based research. The CEI, as the publisher, appears to align with a skeptical yet open-minded stance, encouraging the study of UFOs while demanding methodological soundness and a critical evaluation of evidence. The inclusion of various international perspectives and publications suggests a desire to connect with a global community of researchers and to foster a more robust understanding of the phenomenon.

This issue of OVNI EN NAVA DEL REY, dated February 1997, focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena. It includes a detailed account of a sighting in Nava del Rey, Spain, and discusses the controversial Hale-Bopp comet, strange atmospheric phenomena in Australia, and a ufological dispute involving J. J. Benítez.

UFO Sighting in Nava del Rey, Valladolid The main article recounts an extraordinary UFO sighting that occurred on the night of December 24, 1996, near Nava del Rey, Valladolid, Spain. A local resident driving on a rural road reported being surprised by a powerful light that positioned itself directly above his vehicle at an estimated height of three meters. The light was described as intense but not blinding, making everything, including the witness himself, appear translucent.

The object was perceived as circular with clearly defined conical light edges. During the encounter, the witness felt an inexplicable sensation of being stopped, despite driving at approximately 80 km/h. He estimated the duration of this state to be about five minutes. He experienced no fear, only a sense of calm observation, even though he instinctively considered exiting the vehicle.

Suddenly, the phenomenon ceased. The object moved vertically upwards and then shot forward at an astonishing speed, disappearing in what seemed like a thousandth of a second. Following the object's departure, the witness discovered that his car's lights and dashboard had gone out, and the engine would not start. After some attempts, the lights suddenly returned, and the car started on the first try. The article notes that a similar event reportedly occurred minutes earlier in Navalmoral de la Mata, Cáceres.

The Hale-Bopp Nave Controversy This section addresses the widespread story circulating on the internet about the comet Hale-Bopp being accompanied by a spacecraft four times the size of Earth. The information was allegedly leaked from NASA, which had supposedly photographed the object multiple times. While some proposed astronomical explanations, others dismissed it as a fabrication. It was later revealed that the idea originated from the film 'Lifeforce' (1985), based on Colin Wilson's novel 'Vampires from Space,' where the comet was Halley but the companion ship was described similarly. Whitley Streiber, Art Bell, and Courtney Brown are cited as potential sources for spreading this 'fraud'.

¿DE NUEVO HILOS DE LA VIRGEN? (Are These the Virgin's Threads Again?) This article reports on an unusual increase in UFO sighting reports from Tasmania, Australia, during the weekend of November 2-3. Marlene Smith described finding clumps of a strange, whitish gelatinous substance on the pavement near Hobart. This substance is sometimes referred to as 'stars' slime' or 'virgin's threads'. Such findings have occasionally occurred after meteorite falls or supposed UFO incidents. In this specific case, the substance appeared after a stormy night, which was preceded by a yellow fireball falling from the sky.

Ross Dowe of the Australian UFO reports service indicated that microorganisms were found in the gelatinous substance. He suggested it might consist of fish eggs or marine larvae. Dowe also noted that while Kempton is inland, several instances of fish eggs falling on the desert have been recorded. He theorized that clouds could suck up marine eggs or similar objects from the sea and then deposit them inland. Other potential sources mentioned include trout hatcheries and fish farming industries. However, Dowe stated that their limited study resources meant the samples would be made available to other institutions with more capabilities. The source for this report is Fortean Times, issue 95 (February 1997).

OTRA POLÉMICA DE J. J. BENÍTEZ (Another Controversy for J. J. Benítez) This piece discusses a controversy surrounding alleged images of the UFO traces from Varginha, Brazil, published in the March issue of 'Enigmas' (released in February). J. J. Benítez, accompanied by two Brazilian investigators, reportedly discovered these traces in November. However, the specialized Brazilian press largely dismissed the findings, suggesting they were merely holes created by stakes. Benítez believes that these dismissals and criticisms directed at him are motivated by envy from some Brazilian ufologists who are unhappy about a foreigner making such a discovery. The article concludes that this opens up a new controversy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The magazine consistently covers reports of UFO sightings, unexplained phenomena, and alleged extraterrestrial encounters. It appears to present these accounts with a degree of seriousness, often citing sources and investigating potential explanations, while also acknowledging controversies and debunking hoaxes, as seen with the Hale-Bopp story. The editorial stance seems to be one of open inquiry into anomalous events, providing a platform for witness testimonies and expert opinions, even when they lead to debate and disagreement within the ufological community.