Awareness - 1995-96 - Vol 21 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: AWARENESS
Subtitle: The Journal of CONTACT INTERNATIONAL
Issue: Volume 21 Number 2
Date: Season 1995-6 (Issue date likely 1995 or early 1996)
Publisher: CONTACT INTERNATIONAL
Country of Publication: England
Language: English

This issue of Awareness Magazine, published by Contact International, delves into UFO sightings and related phenomena primarily within the United Kingdom. The cover prominently features "U.K. Sightings" with four illustrated examples of reported encounters from Bicester (March 1994), Bristol (January 1995), Guildford (April 1995), and London (February 1996). The tagline "THE TRUTH IS IN HERE..." suggests a commitment to investigative reporting.

Editorial

The editorial, penned by "The Editor," addresses the polarized nature of public belief regarding paranormal events, particularly UFOs. It highlights the dichotomy between those who readily accept paranormal explanations and those who seek rational ones. The editorial emphasizes Contact International's mission to uncover facts and sift through misinformation. It discusses a recent UFO event in Abingdon, Oxon, involving a blue-green beam, where over 70 witnesses were contacted. While half believed it was paranormal, the other half suspected a man-made laser effect. Investigations confirmed a laser demonstration from a local business park, illustrating how UFO sightings can be confused with mundane events. The editorial also touches upon crop circle investigations, noting a tendency for farmers to dismiss paranormal causes and the difficulty in substantiating claims. A UFO sighting by youngsters in Kidlington, Oxford, is mentioned, where a debunker suggested it was an illuminated airship. The editorial also references the Ministry of Defence's stance on UFOs, contrasting it with the forthcoming book by Nick Pope, "Open Skies Closed Minds," who is slated to speak at the Contact International conference.

Contents and Key Articles

The magazine features a comprehensive table of contents, listing various articles and sections:

• Editorial: (Page 1)
• News in Brief: (Pages 2-3) This section covers several brief reports:
• CLANCARTY LIBRARY: The relocation of books to Tony Broad's house in Abingdon is noted, with details on how to access them.
• ABINGDON LASER "UFO": A detailed account of the May 21st, 1996 incident, including witness testimonies and the eventual identification of a commercial laser demonstration. It highlights the potential for confusion and the development of erroneous "flaps."
• "SPOOKY SATURDAY NIGHT": An announcement about a new late-night paranormal program on Thames Valley FM, featuring Michael Soper.
• MAZE PUZZLE: The solution to a previous maze puzzle was "Betty Andreasson."
• PSYCHIC SURGEON GETS "BEAMS": Mentions remarkable colour photographs of "beams" appearing in Kindred Spirit magazine, similar to those taken by Contact International photographers, associated with psychic surgeon Stephen Turoff.
• Sighting Summaries - Data Research: (Pages 4-8) This extensive section details numerous UFO sightings across the UK and beyond:
• 1982 - Kidlington, Oxon: A DC-10 aircraft was accompanied by a silvery white spherical object.
• July 1984 - Cowley, Oxford: A cluster of red, orange, yellow, white, and blue lights formed a formation and moved anti-clockwise.
• 31 March 93 - Southport: Two oval lights were observed moving slowly across the sky, followed by reports of inexplicable lights crossing the sky near the M62 and M57.
• 22 February 1994 - Leeds: A bright light with a halo descended at Hawksworth Moor, blinked out, and vanished.
• 9 March 94 - Bicester, Oxon: A large oval-shape cluster of bright lights with a dark amber or red glow was observed.
• 19 June 1994 - Tenerife, Canary Islands: A bright cylindrical object, silvery to the naked eye and gold through binoculars, travelled across the sky.
• 1 January 1995 - Bristol: A light green coloured object with a rim and domed top/bottom was observed for an hour, moving slowly.
• 18 April 1995 - Guildford, Surrey: A very large red rectangle was seen behind distant hills.
• 24 April 1995 - Ascot, Berkshire: Three teenagers reported a "classic flying saucer" making a groaning noise.
• July 1995 - Sutton Coldfield, Leicestershire: A large vertical bar of bright amber light was seen stationary in the sky.
• 8 July 1995 - Cholsey, Oxfordshire: A densely black, oval-shaped object with pointed ends was observed floating south-west.
• 9 October 1995 - Hanslope / Milton Keynes, Bucks: Two very bright lights, widely spaced, were seen on a flat-bottomed object.
• 16 February 1996 - London: A "hat-shaped" object, silvery grey with multiple coloured lights, was observed spinning and emitting beams.
• 4 March 1996 - Cumnor, Oxford: A dark triangle shape was observed behind two bright lights.
• Welsh Sighting Summaries: (Pages 9-10) Investigated by Margaret Fry:
• 21 December 92 - Bodfari, Denbigh: A ball-shape object was seen, followed by a blue/green triangle descending with sparks, and later a white triangle.
• 17 January 93 - Trefnant, Clwyd: A self-lit helmet-shaped object with square windows and a scanning searchlight was observed.
• 29 January 93 - Bodfari Moel Parc, Clwyd: A very bright yellow object with darker orange lines was seen positioning itself on top of a TV mast before vanishing.
• 31 March 93 - Rhos-y-Rhandir, Welshpool: Two large, bright lights travelling in line abreast with trails were observed.
• 31 March 93 - Molefre, Abergele: Two large lights emitting blue beams were reported.
• 16 June 94 - Anglesey: A witness reported a strange cloud with a low rim beneath a dome, which changed shape and caused physical distress.
• INVESTIGATION REPORTS: (Pages 6-7)
• 21 February 1995 - Arnold, Notts: A black triangle sighting was investigated and concluded to be the Nottinghamshire police helicopter.
• 5 October 1995 - Westbury, Northants: A black triangle sighting was investigated, with the witness concluding it was not a conventional aircraft.
• A REMARKABLE UFO OBSERVATION FROM 1972: (Pages 11-13) By Brian P. James. This detailed report recounts the sighting of an unidentified object by Mr. A. W. Thornton. The object was described as elongated and pear-shaped, defying known physics, with no sound. Thornton's investigation involved measurements and calculations, suggesting a speed of 45mph and a height of 2636ft. He concluded it was a flying piece of hardware controlled by an intelligence, possibly from a "mothership."
• THE LLATS PHENOMENON IN UFOLOGY DEFINED: (Pages 14-15) By M.C. Soper. This article explores the psychology of perception in UFO sightings, introducing the LLATS concept (Look, Look Again, Then See). It categorizes visual perception into subliminal, unispectral (one glance), and multispectral (many glances), arguing that initial impressions can be misleading and that the unispectral experience is particularly prone to fantasy or misinterpretation.
• READER'S TESTIMONY: (Pages 15-17)
• My Story by Vaunda Hoscik: A personal account of alleged contact with extraterrestrial beings, including experiences of paralysis, telepathic communication, and receiving numbers and symbols.
• KETTERING EXPERIENCE: (Page 17) By Mrs Jean Holding. A report of a strange aircraft hovering low in the sky over Kettering.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, their investigation, and the psychological aspects of perception. Contact International positions itself as a fact-finding organization, aiming to distinguish between genuine unexplained phenomena and misidentifications or hoaxes. The magazine emphasizes detailed witness testimony and investigative reports, often providing analyses that attempt to rationalize sightings or highlight the difficulties in doing so. There's a clear stance against sensationalism and a focus on rigorous research, as evidenced by the Abingdon laser incident's debunking. The LLATS article introduces a psychological framework for understanding how humans perceive and interpret unusual events, suggesting that our initial impressions are not always accurate. The inclusion of personal testimonies, like Vaunda Hoscik's, adds a different dimension, exploring alleged direct contact and communication with non-human intelligences. The magazine appears to maintain an open yet critical approach, encouraging reports while also scrutinizing them for accuracy and potential explanations.

This issue of Contact magazine, dated 1996, focuses on UFO phenomena, crop circles, and the potential implications for human understanding and government response. The cover prominently features the "1996 CONFERENCE" hosted by Contact International, with speakers like Roy Dutton, Nick Pope, Roy Lake, and Matthew Williams discussing UFOs, ET hypotheses, and secret bases.

Crop Circles and the DNA Statement

The article "SIGNS IN THE FIELDS 17TH YEAR - THE DNA STATEMENT?" by G.E. Ambler discusses the emergence of crop circles in British fields, noting the slow start likely due to cold weather. It highlights a massive glyph of 89 circles in Alton Barnes, Wilts, appearing in mid-June, which is 648 ft long and made in barley, leaving a strong impression. The article points out that the double chain formation resembles the chemical structure of DNA, suggesting a message about human existence, limitations, or a call for humanity to change its ways. It also mentions other formations in rapeseed and barley across various locations in the UK, including Girton, Sollom, Denton, Silbury Hill, and Garsington, emphasizing the complexity and effort involved, which lends credence to their authenticity.

The Triangular UFO Enigma

Another significant section, "THE TRIANGULAR UFO ENIGMA," by Bill Foley and Geoff Ambler, details a surge in reports of distinctive triangular UFOs, particularly over Belgium in 1990 and subsequently in Britain. The article notes the similarity in descriptions from unrelated witnesses across different locations. It presents data from the UFO Register of Contact International, showing a consistent number of triangular UFO reports over several years. The issue includes extensive tables of reported sightings from 1994, 1995, and 1996, detailing dates, locations, and descriptions of these craft, often described with "bright lights" or "flashing lights."

The article discusses the nature of these sightings, noting they occur during darkness and are typically silent, contrasting them with known aircraft like the Harrier. It raises questions about whether these are secret aircraft or of non-human origin, and questions the official "NO DEFENCE SIGNIFICANCE" statements from authorities. The possibility of these craft being tested technology is also considered, with one report suggesting a triangular object converted to a single point source or performed individual maneuvers.

Government Response and Secrecy

Several articles touch upon the perceived lack of transparency and official acknowledgment regarding UFO phenomena. "A DEADLY CONCEALMENT" by Derek Sheffield reviews Timothy Good's book, highlighting how the public and government officials have been misled. It mentions cases of UFOs appearing over sensitive sites, landing and leaving radioactive traces, and even allegedly destroying missiles. The article criticizes the official response of "NO DEFENCE SIGNIFICANCE" and suggests a deliberate policy of deception.

"UFO'S - NO DEFENCE SIGNIFICANCE?" by Brian P James discusses the shift in the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) response from positive engagement to a more dismissive stance, focusing only on "defence threats." It references a 1961 evaluation by SHAPE which concluded that while UFOs were technologically superior, they posed no military threat. The article questions this conclusion and suggests that governments may be aware of alien presence but choose not to disclose it.

Another piece discusses the Puerto Rico events involving US Navy F-14 Tomcats and alleged UFOs, suggesting these might have been maneuvers with friendly forces rather than a hostile encounter. The author expresses a personal view that military forces are aware of the true nature of these craft and that governments may also be aware of the "non-threat scenario."

Reviews and Advertisements

The issue includes a review of Timothy Good's book "BEYOND TOP SECRET," described as a revised and augmented version of "Above Top Secret," containing new evidence about a "cover up." Advertisements feature books on UFOs and the unexplained from "Midnight Books" and "UFO AND SPACE AGE PUBLICATIONS." There is also information about "Contact International UK" and their services, including an investigator and co-ordinator for Wales.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unexplained phenomena of crop circles and UFO sightings, particularly triangular craft. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official government explanations and a belief in a potential cover-up or lack of transparency regarding these events. The magazine seems to advocate for continued research and investigation into these phenomena, suggesting that they represent a significant, possibly non-human, presence that warrants serious attention. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and witness accounts while questioning official narratives and encouraging readers to consider the possibility of extraterrestrial involvement.