Anomalous Phenomena - No 6 - 1993

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Anomalous Phenomena" (АНОМАЛЬНЫЕ ЯВЛЕНИЯ), issue number 6 from August 1993, published by the Kharkov Coordination Council of UKUFAS, focuses on organizational conflict within the Ukrainian Ufological Association (UKUFAS) and presents several UFO sighting reports. The magazine also includes a critique of a contactee publication and legal information regarding citizens' associations in Ukraine.

Organizational Conflict in UKUFAS: A Scientific Analysis

Authored by A.V. Beletsky, this section, presented as a report that was not read at a congress of the Ukrainian Ufological Association, delves into the reasons behind the conflict threatening UKUFAS. Beletsky applies concepts from philosophy and social psychology, beginning with the idea of systems and their development. He posits that the world is a complex system of systems, with each level serving as the basis for the next. All systems, he argues, develop through stages: emergence, formation, maturity, regression, and disappearance. For any system to exist, it requires matter, energy, and information. UKUFAS is presented as a system within the larger system of domestic ufology, and its members form smaller systems within it.

Beletsky discusses two primary types of interaction: contradictory (conflictual) and non-contradictory (non-conflictual). Contradictory interaction is characterized by opposition and mutual exclusion, while non-contradictory interaction involves mutual support, cooperation, and coordination. He asserts that contradictory interaction is the primary driver of change and development, leading to differentiation and the emergence of new qualities. Non-contradictory interaction, conversely, strengthens unity and interdependence, fostering the development of new systems. While non-contradictory interaction is preferable for society, the inherent differences and developmental patterns mean that contradictory interactions are unavoidable.

To manage these contradictions, human society has developed mechanisms like compromise, agreements, and deals. However, these only work if all parties are willing to cooperate and respect each other's rights and interests. Otherwise, conflict becomes inevitable.

Coordination vs. Subordination

This part of the analysis addresses the principles of coordination and subordination, which Beletsky identifies as central to the conflict within UKUFAS. Coordination, he explains, is the horizontal ordering of system components at the same level of organization, emphasizing equal interaction. Subordination, on the other hand, is vertical ordering, involving submission and co-submission between components of different levels, thus reinforcing differentiation and inequality. While subordination stabilizes a system, it also makes it rigid, inflexible, and unable to adapt to change, citing the collapse of the USSR as an example. Subordinate systems are also vulnerable to the loss of a key element. Coordination, characterized by non-linearity and probabilistic connections, allows for flexibility and adaptability. It involves the conscious harmonization of functions, goals, and objectives, aligning individual and group goals with the overall system's objectives. Beletsky states that UKUFAS was conceived with the principle of coordination in mind, aiming to balance the need for interaction with mechanisms to mitigate conflict and promote development, such as a democratic charter and collective leadership bodies.

He contrasts linear organizational structures (based on centralization and subordination) with matrix structures. The former, he argues, are inefficient and prone to bureaucratic bloat, while the latter, with their horizontal information flows, offer greater flexibility, resource utilization, and adaptability, making the system more resilient.

Beletsky criticizes the current leadership of UKUFAS for what he perceives as incompetent interference that has disrupted the development of national UFO research in Ukraine and doomed UKUFAS itself. He quotes A.N. Averyanov on the importance of understanding both general theories of societal development and specific laws governing a system.

Conflict in the Mirror of Social Psychology

This section shifts the focus to social psychology's perspective on conflict. Beletsky explains that social psychology views conflicts as a specific type of interaction, a manifestation of the dialectical law of unity and struggle of opposites. Conflicts, though often perceived negatively, are considered useful for the development of society and any organization, provided they don't lead to the system's destruction. A conflict is beneficial when it enhances efficiency, drives progressive changes, or helps achieve organizational goals.

For a conflict to occur, a conflict situation is necessary, involving an object of conflict and participants with incompatible goals and interests. An incident typically triggers the conflict. The indivisibility of the object of dispute is a key condition for a conflict situation. Large conflicts are often composed of numerous smaller, elementary conflicts.

Conflicts are categorized as objective if based on incompatible goals and interests of different organizations or their subdivisions, and not merely personal disagreements. They can be compromise-based, allowing for partial reconciliation, or antagonistic, where one party's success is another's absolute obstacle, often involving the struggle for existence. Antagonistic conflicts can be fundamentally irresolvable when they involve the defense of legitimate rights, interests, or universal values.

Organizational conflicts arise from specific organizational properties, structures, or interactions. Conflict is also viewed as a purposeful activity aimed at changing organizational characteristics, using organizational means, and resulting in changes to those characteristics. The article notes that conflict can be non-personal but organizational, and that organizations are dual in nature: instrumental (a tool) and subjective (involving living labor), which itself can be a source of conflict.

Determining factors for conflict include the opponents' perceptions of incompatible goals. Conflicts serve as indicators of potential future developments within an organization. They can be external (with the environment) or internal (within the organization), vertical (superior-subordinate), or horizontal (among peers). The deepest roots of long-term conflicts lie in contradictory human and organizational values. The article concludes that avoiding conflicts entirely is practically impossible, and attempts to suppress or ignore them are harmful. The only viable approach is to design mechanisms for identifying and managing conflict situations.

UFO-Fact: Observations by Nikolay Ivanovich Romanenko

This section details several UFO sightings reported by Nikolay Ivanovich Romanenko, an aviation engineer-electronic technician, from Crimea and Kharkov between August 1990 and October 1992. The observations include:

• A rotating orange ball observed over the sea near the resort town in Crimea in mid-August 1990.
• A ball emitting a bright, rotating beam seen between Dergachi and Kharkov in the summer of 1991.
• Three strange spots found on stereophotographs taken near Alushta, Crimea, in mid-August 1991.
• Observations near Popovka and Donuzlav Lake in July 1992, including a 'star' growing into a 'cloud' from which smaller objects emerged and disappeared.
• A cigar-shaped object observed near the Dynamo stadium in Kharkov in mid-October 1992, with visible lights and flashing edge lights.
• A luminous ball seen near the North Star in late October 1992.

Romanenko's background as an aviation engineer lends credibility to his observations.

Our Archive: Founding Conference of the Ukrainian Ufological Association (UKUFAS)

This section presents minutes from the founding conference of UKUFAS held in Kharkov on February 15-16, 1991. Key decisions and discussions included:

• Board Members: A list of proposed and elected board members was compiled, including A.V. Beletsky, V.S. Pokanevich, A.F. Pugach, V.I. Yanushevsky, V.M. Yakovenko, G.Ya. Leshchenko, V.N. Kirichenko, M.V. Shcherbina, V.S. Mantulin, S.V. Boltenok, and S.A. Kontar. The election was unanimous.
• Control and Audit Commission: A three-person commission was proposed and elected, consisting of E.A. Tereshchenko, N.N. Remyga, and P.I. Kutnyuk.
• Legal Address: After discussion, it was decided that Kharkov would serve as the legal address and headquarters for UKUFAS, as the president and vice-president were from Kharkov.
• Documents: The conference approved the association's charter and an appeal to the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine. The appeal, proposed by V.S. Mantulin and supported by others, aimed to inform the government about the increase in anomalous phenomena, possibly linked to unfavorable ecological conditions. Beletsky initially opposed the appeal but was outvoted.
• Membership: All conference participants were deemed members of the newly formed association.
• Closing: The conference concluded with thanks and congratulations.

Law of Ukraine "On Citizens' Associations"

This section continues the legal text, outlining further articles related to citizens' associations:

• Article 29 (Warning): Describes the process of issuing a written warning for violations not requiring mandatory penalties.
• Article 30 (Fine): Details the imposition of fines through court proceedings for gross or systematic violations.
• Article 31 (Temporary Ban): Explains the court's power to temporarily ban specific activities or the entire operation of an association for up to three months, extendable up to six months, to cease illegal activities.
• Article 32 (Forced Dissolution): Outlines the grounds for forced dissolution, including actions specified in Article 4, systematic or gross violations of Article 22, and continued unlawful activity after penalties have been imposed.
• Article 33 (International Ties): Addresses the ability of public organizations and their unions to establish international ties, join international organizations, and participate in international events not contradicting Ukraine's obligations.
• Article 34 (International Public Organizations): Governs the operation of branches, representative offices, and other structural subdivisions of foreign public organizations within Ukraine, requiring them to register as international organizations if they extend their activities abroad.

"Strange" Stories: Oneness with the Cosmos... or Contactomania?

This article critically examines a brochure titled "Oneness with the Cosmos" (Наедине с космосом) published by the "Osnova" publishing house at Kharkov State University. The authors, using pseudonyms Lev Georgiy and Ra Selena, claim to have received information telepathically from "Higher Civilizations." The reviewer points out numerous astronomical inaccuracies in the brochure:

• Misunderstanding of constellations as cohesive entities determining human fate.
• Strange geocentrism, where planetary positions and the Moon's relation to Earth influence stellar energy.
• Referring to constellations (e.g., Orion, Andromeda) as homelands for beings, rather than recognizing them as Earth-centric groupings of stars.
• Claims about lilac and violet stars, which are scientifically impossible.
• Incorrectly stating that black holes are born from stars, when the reverse is true (stars collapse into black holes).
• Predicting Jupiter's explosion into a second Sun, which is impossible due to its mass.
• Mischaracterizing Jupiter's potential explosion as a supernova.
• Asserting that Mars was once in Earth's orbit and that an ancient Inca civilization perished in a flood there.
• Confusing astronomical nomenclature, such as attributing the asteroid Ceres to the Sirius system.

The reviewer also notes the irrationality and religiosity of the "Higher Civilizations," who discuss a "Higher Mind" and divine punishment, and their apparent lack of understanding of basic astronomical and physical laws. The article concludes that these claims are likely a blend of astrological dogma, fantasy, and poorly understood popular science, rather than genuine extraterrestrial communication.

Peaks of Spirit: A Message to the Leader

This section presents philosophical reflections and guidance, continuing from previous issues. Key points include:

• Cooperation: Emphasizing that organizations can only succeed through cooperation, and that suppression or humiliation leads to destruction. True cooperation requires the art of thinking and imagination, which schools should cultivate.
• Strikes: Denouncing strike movements as destructive to production, advocating for rational discussion to resolve disputes. Cooperation is impossible amidst enmity.
• Spiritual Understanding: Suggesting that combining mechanical discoveries with spiritual understanding could lead to balance.
• Brotherhoods: Proposing "Brotherhoods for Cultural Communication" as a means for spiritual self-improvement, distinct from business cooperatives. These brotherhoods should be fostered by educational institutions and led by diverse mentors.
• Young Inventors: Encouraging young inventors to focus on improving life in all its aspects, not just mechanically, to achieve national prosperity.
• Possession of Things: Discussing the concept of owning things without possessiveness, viewing them as tools to be cared for and passed on. True creation comes from the spirit, and the pursuit of improvement is beneficial.
• Inheritance: Suggesting that instead of traditional inheritance, a trial period of use could be granted by the state, turning inheritance into a form of cooperation among worthy individuals.
• Money and Speculation: Condemning the pursuit of profit from money as impure and advocating for the exchange of goods. Speculation is identified as a disease of the current era, requiring a forceful evolutionary break.
• Charity: Advocating for the abolition of monetary alms, replaced by assistance through labor or goods. Unemployment should be eliminated by guiding people toward spiritual pursuits.

Information, Announcements, Advertising

This final section contains several items:

• List of Ufological Organizations in CIS Countries: A directory listing organizations, their leaders, and addresses across Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics.
• Announcement: The Kharkov Coordination Council UKUFAS announces the cancellation of the 2nd Regional Scientific and Technical Conference on Anomalous Phenomena scheduled for October 1993 due to unfavorable economic conditions in Ukraine.
• Acknowledgements: The editorial board expresses gratitude to readers Olga Bogdanovich and Viktor Yanushevsky for their moral and material support.
• Upcoming Issue Preview: The next issue will feature the continuation of "Organizational Conflict in UKUFAS," "Canadian UFO Observations," "Extraterrestrial Life Forms and Civilizations," and "Agni Yoga. A Message to the Leader."
• Funding Request: Information on the target funding for the next issue (300 rubles for Ukraine, 50 rubles for Russia and other ruble zone countries) and an offer to reprint previous issues.
• Editorial Policy: A note stating that the editorial board does not always share the authors' positions and that authors are responsible for the accuracy of their facts. Manuscripts are not returned or reviewed.
• Editorial Information: Details for the "Anomalous Phenomena" bulletin, including its founder (Kharkov Coordination Council UKUFAS), editor (A.V. Beletsky), editorial address, and publication details (non-periodical, Russian language, 1.5 author's sheets, 60 copies).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the analysis of organizational dynamics and conflict, particularly within the ufological community, and the reporting of UFO sightings. The editorial stance, as evidenced by Beletsky's articles and the critique of the "Oneness with the Cosmos" brochure, leans towards a rational, scientific, and philosophical approach to understanding anomalous phenomena, while also acknowledging the importance of social and psychological factors. There is a clear emphasis on critical thinking, accuracy, and the application of established scientific and philosophical principles. The inclusion of legal information suggests an interest in the formalization and regulation of citizens' associations, including those involved in research.