Papers d'Ovnis - 2a epoca - No 31

Magazine Overview

Title: Papers d'Ovnis
Issue: Nº 31
Date: Enero-Marzo 2003
Publisher: Centro de Estudios Interplanetarios (CEI)
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish

Articles and Content

Los Casos de Logroño y Arrúbal (28 y 29 de noviembre de 1974) This article by Juan Carlos Victorio Uranga revisits two UFO sightings that occurred in Spain in late 1974. The author suggests that the sightings, particularly the one near Logroño on November 28th, might have been misidentifications of the planet Jupiter, which was particularly bright at the time. He notes that the media, especially the newspaper 'La Gaceta del Norte,' was extensively covering UFO news around that period, potentially influencing public perception. The Arrúbal sighting on November 29th, involving ten children, is also analyzed, with the author positing a similar explanation involving Jupiter and the cloudy conditions.

Las Abducciones Extraterrestres Reclaman una Revisión William J. Cromie's article questions the validity of alien abduction claims. It discusses research conducted by Harvard University psychologists, led by Richard McNally, who used hypnosis and emotional response measurements to study alleged abductees. The findings suggest that the 'memories' of abduction could be psychologically generated, similar to responses from individuals who have experienced severe trauma. The article highlights the commonalities between abduction experiences and phenomena like sleep paralysis and hallucinations, suggesting that 'dreaming with eyes wide open' might be a more plausible explanation than literal extraterrestrial encounters.

Gran Bretaña Desclasifica los Documentos Secretos Sobre OVNIs This section reports on the British government's release of previously classified UFO files. The publication is part of the UK's freedom of information initiatives. Among the released documents is the 'Rendlesham File,' concerning a well-known case from 1980. The article notes that these steps are aimed at increasing government transparency and the public's right to know.

Piden la Desclasificación en Ecuador This article details efforts in Ecuador to declassify information related to UFO phenomena. The Ecuadorian ufological community, led by the Club de Observación Galileo, has pushed for the creation of a commission (CEIFO) to be attached to the Presidency. The initiative aims to establish a multidisciplinary commission to investigate UFO cases transparently and make the findings accessible to the public.

Noticias This section provides brief updates on various UFO-related news items.

Encuesta Sobre el Movimiento Ufológico Español Ignacio Cabria García presents a survey aimed at understanding the current state of the Spanish ufological movement. The questionnaire, designed for a doctoral research project, seeks to gather information on the activities, beliefs, and trends within the UFO community in Spain.

Los Suicidios de Terrassa de 1972 al Cine Martí Flò reports on the filming of 'Platillos Volantes,' a film directed by Oscar Aibar. The movie is based on a real-life incident in Terrassa in 1972, where two textile workers committed suicide, leaving notes claiming they were called by extraterrestrials. The film aims to blend drama and comedy, exploring the social context of the era.

Clones Extraterrestres This short piece, authored by Martí Flò, briefly touches upon the concept of extraterrestrial clones.

Otros Países, Otros Boletines Luis R. González provides a brief overview of ufological news from other countries.

Adiós al Concorde This article reflects on the Concorde supersonic aircraft, drawing parallels between its disappearance from service and the elusive nature of UFOs. It recalls a 1973 incident where scientists aboard the Concorde reportedly observed a UFO during an eclipse. The piece also mentions a children's novel, 'Ovni 54-40,' which features the Concorde and a UFO encounter.

Congreso Internacional Ovni de Nevada de 2003 This section announces the 12th International UFO Congress held in Laughlin, Nevada, in February 2003. The event brought together numerous UFO researchers and featured film festivals and public conferences on topics such as X-planets, abductions, and antigravity technologies.

CEIFO: Proyecto de Desclasificación en Ecuador This article elaborates on the Ecuadorian initiative to declassify UFO information. It outlines the proposed structure and objectives of the CEIFO commission, emphasizing transparency and public access to information. The project aims to investigate 20 key cases and establish a web presence for public engagement.

Crean el Premio Antonio Ribera a la Investigación Ovni This piece announces the creation of the Antonio Ribera award for UFO research, established in Paihuano, Chile. The award honors Antonio Ribera, considered a father of Hispanic ufology. The first recipient was Chilean journalist Camilo Valdivieso Rizzo. The article also mentions the Second Encounter of UFO Investigators and the first Latin American tribute to Ribera.

Sexto Simposio Internacional Ovni de La Serena en Chile This section reports on the Sixth International UFO Symposium held in La Serena, Chile, in February 2003. The event included an Expo Ovni and attracted ufologists from around the world.

OVNIS: Aclarando Conceptos This section addresses confusion surrounding UFO research, reproducing an anonymous letter that criticizes the lack of 'real' investigation in areas like Tivissa. The author of this section, Enrique Rubio, distinguishes between serious scientific investigation and what he terms 'pseudoscience' driven by excessive enthusiasm.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO sightings, alleged extraterrestrial encounters, and government secrecy surrounding the topic. There's a clear interest in investigating and analyzing reported phenomena, often with a critical eye, as seen in the articles questioning abduction claims and the nature of UFO evidence. The publication also highlights efforts towards transparency and declassification of information by governments. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging research while also promoting critical thinking and distinguishing between scientific investigation and speculative theories.

This issue of "Papers d'Ovnis" from January-March 2003, titled "Clones extraterrestres" (Extraterrestrial Clones), delves into the controversial claims surrounding human cloning and UFO phenomena. The magazine features articles by Martí Flò and Luís R. González, exploring the scientific, ethical, and societal implications of these topics.

Clones Extraterrestres by Martí Flò

The lead article by Martí Flò details the sensational announcement made by Brigitte Boisselier, spokesperson for Clonaid (a company linked to the Raelian sect), on December 27, 2002. Boisselier claimed that the first cloned human baby, a girl named Eva, had been born via Cesarean section in Florida. Eva, weighing 3.2 kilos, was reportedly a clone of her 31-year-old mother, conceived from an egg and an adult cell of the same woman. The article notes that the mother was married to a sterile man, and Eva was named after her.

Further developments included the January 2003 announcement on French television of a second cloned baby, a girl born through natural birth to a lesbian couple in Northern Europe (later specified as Holland). Clonaid also suggested that three more births were expected in Asia.

The international reaction was swift, with demands for independent scientific certification of the claims. Michael Guillen, a former ABC science reporter and physicist, was presented as an independent investigator tasked with verifying Eva's clone status. However, doubts arose as Guillen had reportedly attempted to sell the story to television networks weeks before the birth, proposing a TV project about human cloning and seeking to be both producer and presenter. Several major networks, including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and HBO, had rejected his offer.

Guillen himself later refused to supervise DNA tests on the alleged cloned baby on January 7, 2003, citing the possibility of a hoax. On the same day, a claim emerged from Peru about the intention to clone Jesus Christ using DNA from the Shroud of Turin, a project named "Second Coming."

Claude Vorilhon, the founder of the Raelian sect, expressed satisfaction with the cloning announcements on January 20, 2003, in Montreal, stating that regardless of their veracity, they served to make the Raelian sect known worldwide. In late January, the Museum of Science in London requested to borrow Clonaid's RMX-2010 human cloning machine for an exhibition titled "Advance or Fraud." The machine, valued at $9,000, was advertised as "optimized" for successful cloning, but the museum was denied permission to dismantle it to examine its differences from other machines used with limited success in animal cloning.

Amidst these events, another cloned baby birth was announced in Japan. Meanwhile, the "Movimiento Raeliano de España" distanced itself from Clonaid's alleged clonings.

Antecedents

Clonaid was founded in the Bahamas in February 1997, the same year Scottish scientists announced the cloning of Dolly the sheep. Boisselier maintained that her company had a philosophical link but no economic ties to the Raelian movement. Rael himself defended human cloning before a US Congress commission in March 2001, and Boisselier committed in writing to cease further research. Subsequently, officials from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected Clonaid's laboratory in Syracuse, New York.

In July 2001, the FDA threatened to close the Syracuse laboratory. Boisselier responded by threatening to take the FDA to federal court if they persisted. Although human cloning is not illegal in the US, any protocol involving humans requires agency approval. At that time, it was reported that another laboratory existed outside the US with five scientists.

The Bahamian government soon prohibited Valiant Venture's research, prompting Rael to seek a new location for his laboratories. In January 2002, Rael expressed willingness to establish a laboratory in Mexico, where cloning research was not prohibited by law. Accompanied by Raelian bishops David Turcotte and Norma Toral, he began discussions with politicians and legislators, including Deputy Francisco Patiño, who supported human cloning.

In July 2002, Clonaid Korea announced the implantation of a cloned human embryo in a South Korean woman with the aim of producing a cloned human. The company's spokesperson, Guak Kyong Tae, stated that US and Korean scientists had implanted the embryo three months prior in a 20-year-old woman. In December 2002, Clonaid announced plans to establish a laboratory in southern Brazil, in Rio Grande do Sul, with an estimated birth of the first Brazilian human clone by late 2003 or early 2004.

Brigitte Boisselier, 46, is described as a guide-bishop of the movement, a molecular biology specialist with French and North American doctorates in analytical chemistry, and an MBA from Insead. She wears the feather collar of the Order of Rael's Angels, a subgroup where women vow to "consciously place their beauty at the service of their creators and their prophets." Boisselier joined the Raelian movement in 1993 and was dismissed from Air Liquide, where she had worked for 12 years, upon discovery of her involvement and commitment to human cloning research.

Other Countries, Other Bulletins by Luís R. González

This section reviews various UFO-related publications and their content, offering a critical perspective on ufology.

Fortean Times

Fortean Times, issue 151 (October 2001), contained little on UFOs, apart from brief news items on sightings and an incident involving a UFO and a military training jet in Turkey. It also featured an article on the Ica stones. Issue 152 (November 2001) focused on the September 11th attacks, including false prophecies and conspiracy theories. A UFO-related report discussed a small English town, Bonsall, which had reportedly become a UFO hotspot. An article by James Easton presented skeptical findings on recent UFO sightings.

Skeptics UFO Newsletter

Issues 69 and subsequent numbers of Skeptics UFO Newsletter are discussed. Klass, the editor, is mentioned for his analysis of MJ-12 documents and claims about a crashed saucer in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and two UFOs captured in California. Budd Hopkins' attempts to revive the Linda Cortile case are also noted.

Skeptical Inquirer

Volume 25, issue 5, is a special issue dedicated to the relationship between science and religion. Despite ufology increasingly resembling a religion, it received minimal coverage. Volume 25, issue 6, and Volume 26, issue 1, contained no UFO-related content. Volume 26, issue 2, featured an article on "Mothman" following a film release, with Joe Nickell offering skeptical explanations involving birds.

Robert Sheaffer is noted for his criticism of Steven Greer's "Disclosure Project." The rest of the magazine focused on Bigfoot.

La Nave de los Locos

This publication's special issue was dedicated to "Philip Klass: Skepticism with Name and Surname." It included an interview with Klass, his ten UFOlogical Principles, and discussions surrounding his figure. It also featured an interview with Klass conducted by Agostinelli in Washington and notes from Klass explaining Arnold's theory of flying saucers as meteors and clarifying details about Peter Gersten.

Issue 10 (July 2001) included an interview with Keith Thompson, who compared ufology to the myth of Sisyphus. It also presented an investigation by Martin Kottmeyer on the cultural influences behind the "Gray" alien stereotype and Dennis Stillings' work on animal mutilations and their connection to atomic testing.

Issue 11 (September 2001) analyzed two recent UFO documents: the Sturrock panel and the Planeta report. It also included a debate between Bertrand Meheust and Auguste Meessen regarding UFO movements, and a linguistic analysis by M. Godelieve van Overmeire challenging the idea that the Ummite language was based on Chinese.

MUFON UFO Journal

MUFON UFO Journal reached its 400th issue, featuring an article on similarities between abductions and shamanism based on interviews with eleven abductees in Perth, Australia. Walter Andrus presented the case of a woman healed by two entities after falling from a ladder. Dan Wright questioned whether alien visits were related to food contamination causing infertility. Jenny Randles continued her commentary on BUFORA's moratorium on hypnotic regressions, citing the case of an abductee describing mechanical stairs inside a UFO.

Issue 401 commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Betty and Barney Hill abduction, including a photograph of Betty Hill showing a stain on her suit. Kathleen, Betty's niece, recounted her experience and later became a ufologist. The issue also covered presentations from the July 2001 International Symposium, where skepticism was notably absent.

Other Publications and Cases

The article mentions "Papers" and its coverage of the Rendlesham incident, satanism, and ritual abuse. It also references "Missing Time" by Budd Hopkins and "Michelle Remembers."

The Skeptic

Volume 14, issue 2, posed the question "Would we be better off being stupid?" It included an article on the dangers of mobile phones but had limited UFO content. A brief article by Steuart Campbell argued for a meteor hypothesis to explain a 1995 British Airways UFO incident. A favorable review was given to Jenny Randles, Andy Roberts, and David Clarke's book "The UFO That Never Were."

Volume 14, issue 3, contained no UFO references. Volume 14, issue 4, focused on debunking sightings of large felines in the British Isles.

BUFORA's Strange Times

BUFORA's magazine, "Strange Times," covered topics like vampires and the mystery of James Dean's death. UFO articles were largely debunking, including a case from Livingston in 1979 attributed to an anti-tank vehicle prototype.

Magonia

Magonia transitioned to Spanish. Issue 76 featured an article by Diego Zúñiga on the "Friendship" island case. The magazine also included articles on monsters and vampires. Peter Rogerson's book reviews were highlighted.

Issue 77 was dedicated to Martin Kottmeyer's "Head Hunt," examining humanoid encounters since 1947.

INFOR-ESPACE

Issues 102 and 103 of INFOR-ESPACE were received. Issue 102 included obituaries for Pierre Guerin and Michel Figuet, and an article by Jean Sider debunking the idea of Nazi flying saucers. Auguste Meessen offered a physical explanation for some UFO movements.

Issue 103 featured a debate between Bertrand Meheust and Auguste Meessen, and a linguistic analysis by M. Godelieve van Overmeire regarding the Ummite language.

EJU-FOAS Volume 2 (2)

This volume included an article by Australian authors on the correlation between UFO experiences and fantasy tendencies. It suggested that reporting UFO experiences is linked to belief in the paranormal and intuitive dimensions.

A brief note from MUFON Germany denied a decrease in reported UFO sightings, contrary to claims by the British Flying Saucer Bureau.

The main article was a two-part study by Michael Hall and Wendy Connors on flying saucers and military intelligence during the Cold War. The volume concluded with a report on a humanoid encounter and possible abduction in Romania.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents a dual focus on the controversial and often sensational claims within ufology and the more grounded, skeptical analyses of these phenomena. There is a clear effort to cover a wide range of publications and cases, from alleged alien abductions and cloning to historical UFO sightings and purported government cover-ups. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting information from various sources, including those with strong skeptical viewpoints, while also acknowledging the persistent interest and ongoing research within the UFO community. The magazine seems to encourage readers to critically evaluate the evidence and claims presented, rather than blindly accepting them.