Awareness - 1989-90 - Vol 16 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: AWARENESS
Subtitle: JOURNAL OF CONTACT INTERNATIONAL
Issue: 1
Volume: 16
Date: 1989-90

This issue of *Awareness*, published by Contact International (U.K.), presents a diverse range of articles and reports related to UFO phenomena. The magazine aims to provide information and analysis for those interested in ufology, featuring contributions from various investigators and researchers.

Editorial

The editorial welcomes readers to a new volume and discusses the upcoming printing of the edition along with the latest UFO Register. It mentions that most member subscriptions are due and outlines the subscription process, confirming the price remains unchanged at £6 for 1989-90. The editor notes a low level of UFO activity in the Oxford area but highlights national headlines, such as the American Space Shuttle 'Discovery' being tracked by a UFO, causing a power failure. The editorial also touches upon the 'sunspot theory' and its potential correlation with UFO activity, referencing the 11-year cycle and the recent aurora borealis as possible indicators. It concludes by mentioning ongoing research into the 'rings in cornfield' phenomena and invites members to share any additional facts.

Ufological Illusions - Planetary Guide 1989

Authored by G.E. Ambler, this section provides a monthly guide to the positions of the brightest planets in the solar system for 1989. The purpose is to assist investigators in eliminating erroneous UFO sightings by helping them identify celestial objects. Venus and Jupiter are highlighted as the brightest planets for the year. The guide details the visibility and general movements of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, along with their magnitudes. A yearly table is included, listing planets and Sirius by month, their direction seen, time seen, and magnitude. A comparative brightness scale is also provided, with negative values indicating greater brightness.

Aids for Investigators!

This section introduces a 'Points System for UFO Reports' designed to help quantify the strength of a report before extensive investigation. The system, inspired by a police points system, assigns points based on categories such as time, place, witness, source, entities, behavior, effects, and situation. A higher score indicates a stronger sighting. An example is given where a midnight sighting by an untrained observer merits six points, while a landing with traces by a trained observer merits thirteen points.

M.I.Bs or Men in BLUE Suits

Written by Michael Soper, this article explores the phenomenon of 'Men in Black' (MIBs) or 'Men in BLUE Suits' appearing in UFO reports. It describes a recurring humanoid figure, often a blond male of Scandinavian origin, who descends from the sky to interact with witnesses. The article recounts cases from Sheffield and Ranton, highlighting the blond hair, 'cerulean' or blue suits, and compassionate demeanor of these figures. It raises the question of whether these sightings suggest a Nordic base of operations for UFOs and notes similarities in cases separated by decades, such as the Loch Raven Dam and Pont-la-Dame cases.

Eduard Meier - Appraisal

Authored by Margaret Fry, this piece offers an appraisal of the Eduard Meier case, focusing on the authenticity of his photographs and contacts. Fry acknowledges that much of the information is second-hand but argues for the genuineness of some of Meier's photographs and contacts. She critiques the experts who examined Meier's photos, suggesting they lack understanding of real poverty and the challenges faced by Meier's family. Fry also discusses the rural setting of Meier's village and the vigilance of its inhabitants. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of maintaining a grounded, common-sense approach when studying UFO contacts, as scientific proof may be elusive due to the alien nature of the phenomena.

UFOs Historical Sightings 1900-47 Part II

This section, compiled by Data Research, presents a chronological list of historical UFO sightings from 1900 to 1947. The early reports, particularly between 1909 and 1914, predominantly feature cigar, torpedo, or airship-shaped objects. The article notes the size of early airships and suggests that many sightings might be misidentified actual airships rather than 'phantoms'. The list includes numerous specific incidents with dates, locations, and brief descriptions of the objects observed.

UFO Reports

This section features UFO reports submitted by members of Contact International. It includes several detailed accounts:

• E. Dawson-Craven (Christchurch, Dorset): A saucer-shaped object, dull orange-red in color, was observed at sunset near Los Boliches, Spain, described as 'waggling' as it followed the coastline.
• Kevin (Dyfed, South Wales): A gigantic yellowish-white light was seen heading towards the witness at tremendous speed, making a whizzing noise and leaving scorch marks on a hedge.
• G.R Stewart (Earls Barton, Northants): A light was observed approaching, hovering for two minutes, and then shooting off at great speed.
• Pierre Hervieux (Sainte Adresse, France): A detailed account of the 1944 American troop disaster in Lyme Bay, where German motor torpedo boats attacked landing craft, resulting in heavy loss of life. Hervieux notes that this incident, code-named 'TIGER', was not widely known but has gained attention due to anniversaries.
• Derek Mansell (West of England): Reports from Seaton, Cornwall, including a strange flashing light observed for 1.5 hours, and another report of a large elongated bright green object seen from an airliner near Cyprus.
• Mr. and Mrs. Taylor (Downderry, Cornwall): An elderly couple observed a square-shaped object moving low over the sea.
• Mr. Taylor (Trerulefott, Cornwall): A large, silent shape swooped low over a service station.
• D. Mansell (Seaton Cornwall): A beam of light came down from the top of a hill and rotated, observed for ten minutes.
• Mr. Jinks (Lake District): A huge shape with three large white lights flew low over him while night fishing.
• Cornwall (10.1.89): A motorist observed a silver-grey, flat-bottomed, dome-topped UFO remaining stationary over the sky.

Letters to the Editor

Brian Burden of Bocking, Braintree, Essex, writes in response to an article on 'Cover-ups'. He discusses the potential economic implications of public knowledge of UFOs and references a secret meeting in 1953 concerning the utilization of neutronic energy derived from an interplanetary saucer. Burden also touches upon the JFK assassination and the 'Men in Black' phenomenon, modifying his earlier opinion on their identity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the analysis and investigation of UFO sightings, the potential for misidentification of celestial objects, the role of 'cover-ups' in suppressing information, and the exploration of historical UFO events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging members to contribute their findings and observations while maintaining a critical and analytical approach. There is a clear emphasis on providing practical tools for investigators and presenting a wide range of evidence, from contemporary reports to historical records. The magazine also seems to foster a sense of community among its readers and contributors, evident in the 'Letters to the Editor' and 'Members UFO Survey' sections.

Title: UFO BRIGANTIA
Issue: Vol.15 No.3, Part 2 (1989)
Publisher: Independent UFO Network (IUN)
Description: This bi-monthly magazine, consisting of 32 illustrated A4 pages, is aimed at serious researchers of the UFO phenomenon. It features articles on various aspects of UFOs, including cover-ups, earthlights, controversial topics, archive cases, current investigations, and book reviews.

MYSTERY FIREBALL OVER OXFORDSHIRE Part Two

This section details witness reports of unidentified flying objects sighted in Oxfordshire. Several witnesses reported sightings on Monday, November 21st, 1988, around 5:15 PM. Descriptions varied, including a white ball shape that disappeared, a bright green light falling from the sky, and a ball-shaped object with a white light tail moving diagonally. Another witness reported seeing a green object with a yellow tail travelling at great speed on November 21st around 9:45 PM. A sighting on December 5th, 1988, described a bright object in the sky that appeared as a flash of light and a ball shape before fading.

The article notes that while initial reports from Mr. Nicholas and Mr. Churchill on November 14th were similar, there was a significant time difference. The reports from November 21st were also similar to each other and to previous reports, but with a discrepancy in reported colors ranging from green, yellow, white, orange, blue, and red. The author suggests this could be due to atmospheric layers, different viewing angles, or individual eyesight defects, posing the question of whether witnesses are color blind.

Five witnesses were traveling by car on four parallel roads, and their reports corroborated those from Bicester and Stoke Lyne. However, the times of these sightings varied from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

Post Script: London Sighting

A previous report from Vol.15 No.3 detailed a sighting by a young lady amateur astronomer in Kensington, London, on January 5th, 1988. The object was described as a flat saucer shape, grey green with pink blobs, resembling a 'swimming jellyfish'. Policemen also witnessed the object. Initially, it was suggested that the object might have been misidentified as Jupiter by Patrick Moore. However, an investigator named Mike Wootten later reported that the witness was a novice who had just bought a cheap telescope, and that a cheap lens could distort point sources into blurred shapes, especially when pointed at a bright planet.

The "Soviet Union" Cover-ups 1989 Part 2

This article by G.E. Ambler discusses alleged cover-ups in the Soviet Union, suggesting that many significant events from 1917 onwards were suppressed. It questions why natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes were not fully reported to Western news sources, while Stalin's purges were obviously covered up. The author posits that the supposed Soviet threat of missile attacks in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including Khrushchev's belligerent speech, was largely an exercise in propaganda, with the USSR capable of launching only a few missiles against the USA. Large military displays were allegedly staged to create an impression of immense military power.

The article also touches upon the recent earthquake disaster in Armenia, where badly built tenement flats collapsed. It suggests that architects and builders may have been aware of the dangers of the region but chose to ignore them, leading to disastrous consequences. The full story of the alleged execution of the last Czar, Nicholas II, and his family in 1918 is also mentioned as coming to light with the publication of facts discovered in official archives in 1979 but suppressed.

The Great Electro-Magnetic Field "Cover-Up"

This section explores whether authorities are covering up startling facts about the harmful effects of electromagnetic fields. Three alarming situations are highlighted:

1. Electrical Appliance Failures: A television program, 'The Cook Report', visited homes in southern England where electrical appliances, TV sets, and light bulbs were repeatedly blowing, indicating huge surges in electric voltage. These isolated cases were near secret defense establishments, with no rational explanation found.
2. Cancer Link: An investigation linked cancers to proximity to electrical power-lines, noting a higher-than-expected number of people contracting severe cancers who lived directly beneath or very close to power cables. Some affected individuals were in their thirties or forties.
3. Cot Deaths: In January and February 1989, a large number of cot deaths (ten within seven miles) occurred near the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, Hants. This occurred during a cold winter period. While it's suggested babies might not have been kept warm enough, this is deemed unlikely given the wealthy area and centrally heated homes. A remarkable explanation suggests that electro-magnetic waves from airport radars, trains, electricity pylons, and secret defense establishments combine to 'fuse' a baby's brain and cause death. Scientific tests by Roger Coghill detected a huge pulse of electro-magnetism over the cots of deceased babies, a pulse not present elsewhere in the homes. This indicates 'hot-spots' of electro-magnetic energy, and it is unfortunate that babies' cots may have been situated on these points. A diagram illustrates a possible 'hot-spot' generation scenario involving airport radar, secret establishments, and railway lines.

The article expresses concern that no government funds are allocated to investigate these suspicious events, noting that the increasing range of electronic equipment adds to the hazards. It concludes that the country would grind to a standstill if airports, power stations, and similar utilities were closed down.

OBITUARY: Walter Raymond Drake

Walter Raymond Drake, a ufologist and author, passed away on April 1st, 1989, at the age of 76. He was known for his books, including 'Gods and Spacemen?', published in 1964 by Ray Palmer. Drake was acquainted with Erich von Daniken and was a speaker at the 2nd Ancient Astronaut Conference. He studied about twelve languages and found publishers in various countries. His writing style is described as having a snippet from BUFORA JOURNAL March 1980: "We descend not from ape-men, but from glorious Celestials from the stars. Today we use only a fraction of our potential brain-power. My friends, we are more than men, we are the Sons of the Gods'." Drake also wrote plays, science fiction novels, and poetry. He contributed to 'BEYOND THIS HORIZON', an anthology published in conjunction with the BTH Festival in 1973. He was known for mailing off gratis copies of his books to readers who had difficulty with foreign exchange. He is survived by his widow.

UFO BRIGANTIA Subscription Details

Details are provided for subscribing to UFO BRIGANTIA, with rates for the UK (£7.00 for one year), Europe (£8.00), and the USA ($15 for surface mail, $20 for air mail). Other overseas rates are the same as the USA. Subscriptions should be sent to Martin Dagless, 19 Bellmount Gardens, Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS13 2ND, England. Cheques, postal orders, and money orders should be payable to Martin Dagless.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, including sightings, investigations, and controversial theories. It aims to disseminate research and investigations to provide an overview and perspective on UFOs, without holding a particular viewpoint on their nature or origin. The publication appears to be critical of official explanations and highlights potential cover-ups by governments and authorities, particularly concerning unexplained events and technological advancements. There is a strong emphasis on witness testimony and the analysis of reported incidents. The magazine also features book reviews and promotes related publications and services within the ufology community.