Awareness - 1995-96 - Vol 21 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: AWARENESS The Journal of CONTACT INTERNATIONAL
Issue: Volume 21 Number 3
Date: November 1996

This issue of Awareness magazine, dated November 1996, presents a comprehensive "Conference Report" from Contact International, detailing lectures and discussions on various aspects of the UFO phenomenon. The cover highlights "Major Paranormal Events In Reading?", "UK Sightings", and "1996 Crop Circles", promising "THE TRUTH IS IN HERE...".

Editorial

The editorial, written by "THE EDITOR", critiques the film "Independence Day" for its simplistic and fear-mongering portrayal of aliens, contrasting it with the more nuanced "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". The editor expresses concern that such films might foster a perception of aliens as hostile, contributing to a "FEAR"-dominated view of ufology, rather than one based on evidence. The editorial also announces the success of Contact International's first advanced-booked conference held on September 29th at Exeter Hall, Kidlington, which was well-attended and financially successful, paving the way for a 1997 conference. Thanks are extended to the committee, particularly Brian James.

News in Brief

The "News in Brief" section covers several diverse topics:

• Life on Mars?: Discusses a rock found in Antarctica in 1984, believed by American scientists to have originated from Mars, potentially containing microscopic life.
• Victorian Melodrama!: Reports on "Dr Armen Victorian" (Henry Azadehdel) being sued by British Telecom for unpaid bills, noting the complexity of the case.
• School Projects: Highlights a significant increase in young people inquiring about the UFO subject for school projects, suggesting a potential rise in Ufology studies.
• Independence Day Premiere: Details Contact International's presence at the premiere of the film "Independence Day" in Oxford, where they displayed material and distributed leaflets.
• Nick Pope Not Unique?: Mentions the openness of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) UFO monitoring section during Nick Pope's tenure (1991-94) and contrasts it with the usual jaded responses. It reveals that MOD official Anthony Davies had stated the MOD filed 1497 UFO reports in 12 years, with 139 unexplained, and that no scientific program on UFOs had been undertaken by the British government.
• Syndrome Nightmare Resumes: Discusses the MOD's admission of injecting Gulf War Task Force members with untested drugs and the spraying of living quarters with organo-phosphorus insecticides.
• New Hot-Line: Announces a new telephone number (01869 320989) for reporting UFO sightings to Contact International.
• Vice-Chairperson Change: Notes that Ray Hunt is stepping down as Vice-Chairperson, with Linda Dellow assuming the responsibilities. Mark Maynereid has also stepped down as computer expert.

Conference 1996 - Synopsis of Lectures

This section provides summaries of the presentations given at the Contact International conference:

• Ray Hunt: Discussed Controlled Airspace from his perspective as a commercial pilot, focusing on air safety implications of UFOs.
• Brian James: Reviewed recent sightings in the Oxford area, highlighting a "Wheatley Triangle" known for UFOs, crop circles, and paranormal events.
• Matthew Williams: Presented on covert government operations, conspiracies, and cover-ups, including his investigation into the secret RAF complex at Rudloe Manor. He also discussed the "Alien Autopsy" film and "Freedom of Information Acts", concluding that government orders from 1965 advised to "play down UFO sightings". A video of an "implant" removal was also shown.
• Nick Pope: Spoke about his 3 years as UFO desk controller at the MOD (1991-94), detailing how his outlook on UFO reality changed. He estimated 90% of UFOs are explainable, but 10% are not, citing cases like Rendlesham Forest and Belgian triangles. He stated he did not believe in a cover-up in Britain but acknowledged MOD secret projects were tested in defined areas. He also discussed the influence of films like "Independence Day" and "The X-Files" on public interest.
• Roy Lake: Engaged the audience by inviting them to share their personal UFO experiences, covering a range of sightings and encounters.
• Roy Dutton: Presented a scientific analysis of UFO trends, monitoring data since 1967. He identified patterns in UFO orbits, human links, and proximity to roads, and proposed a model for predicting UFO arrival times. He linked events like the Valentich disappearance and the Mantell plane crash to his model and noted that Area 51 had reported UFO events aligning with his findings.

Sighting Summaries

This section details numerous UFO sightings reported to Contact International:

• 19th Century: An elderly man recounted his grandfather's sightings of large silver cigar-shaped objects skimming the sea.
• 1970s - Cricklewood, London: A witness described a disk-shaped object with a revolving central section and dark bands, moving vertically.
• July 1976 - Kettering, Northants: A witness camping saw a bright silver, conical object hovering and spinning.
• 18 Oct 1995 - Bicester, Oxon: Two bright white lights were observed hovering and moving.
• 23 July 1995 - Pensacola Beach, Florida, USA: A witness saw a flickering light that separated into two lights performing mirror-manoeuvres.
• 14 July 1995 - Garcon Point, Pensacola Beach, Florida, USA: Multiple witnesses reported orange, spinning lights in a triangular formation.
• 31 July 1995 - San Carlos De Bariloche, Argentina: An Argentine Airlines flight encountered a strange mass of light near its plane, coinciding with a city-wide power blackout.
• 10 August 1995 - Banbury, Oxon: A witness reported unusual loud bird-song-like noises, swishing sounds, and flickering lights, with no visible object.
• 27 October 1995 - Banbury, Oxon: Two female witnesses saw a large grey and black 'bus-like' object with windows, described as nothing more than an airship.
• 3 August 1995 - Thame, Oxon: Witnesses surveying a crop formation saw a bright red light that vanished.
• 19 January 1995 - Benson, Oxon: Two witnesses saw two fast-moving white objects leaving trails.
• 20 January 1995 East Hagbourne, Oxon: Witnesses observed a fast-moving object with flashing lights, described as a vague disk outline, which moved in a half-circle and then flew off at high speed.
• 8 July 1993 - Rhoneigr, Anglesey: A witness saw a grey, soundless object followed by a golden ball, both flying out of sight.
• 16 August 1993 - Prestatyn: Two witnesses reported seeing an egg-shaped object with broken top, white with green streaks, falling slowly, followed by a bright fiery red/orange ball.
• September 1993 - Conway Estuary, Gwynedd: A witness saw a giant shiny silver coin-shaped object standing on its edge, stationary for over 20 minutes.
• September 1993 - Rhos-on-Sea, Clwyd: A retired man reported seeing an oblong, silver 'flying bedstead' with a trellis-like pattern.
• November 1992 - Ruthvin, Clwyd: A farmer's wife saw an odd object resembling a jelly mould with scalloped edges, with small, bright silver oval objects circling above it.
• 25 December 1995 - Heathrow Airport: A radar controller reported 3 'unidentifieds' approaching the airport, described as large white glowing balls accompanied by smaller ones, which moved at high speed.
• early September 1987 Hook Norton, Oxon: A family saw a large boomerang-shaped craft, dark grey or black, with bright white and red lights, and a glowing red light following.
• 3 July 1996 - High Wycombe, Bucks: Four schoolgirls saw a very bright white lens-shaped object speeding across the sky with no sound.
• 18 May 1996 - Kidlington, Oxon: A witness saw a bright triangular light with a white glow that turned red as it moved away very fast.

Paranormal Events in Reading?

This section details a curious event experienced by a married couple from Reading since May 1996. The family experienced phenomena including channelled messages from spirits and alien beings, poltergeist activity, and gym equipment moving on its own. The channelled messages indicated a major event, possibly the apocalypse, was expected on October 12, 1996. The alien messages suggested they were on Earth to 'speculate', with one experience involving an alien 'coming through' the wife, G, who felt her body was "too small" for the entity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include UFO sightings, government involvement and secrecy regarding UFOs, and the impact of popular culture (like films) on public perception of the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical analysis, questioning sensationalism and promoting a more evidence-based approach to ufology, while also acknowledging the importance of public interest and the need for effective communication and investigation within the field. The magazine actively promotes its own conferences and publications as sources of information and discussion.

This issue of "Awareness" magazine, dated October 1996, delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena, with a primary focus on a purported cosmic event on October 12, 1996, and extensive coverage of UFO sightings and crop circle formations.

The Cosmic Event of 12 October 1996

The issue begins by addressing a family in Reading who received channelled messages predicting a significant, potentially apocalyptic event at 7:15 am on October 12, 1996. The date coincided with a significant solar eclipse in the UK and an alignment of planets. The author, Brian P. James, investigated the astronomical significance, noting that eight planets were in the morning sky, with the Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars in approximate alignment. He also investigated the location in Reading, finding that energy lines detected on October 6th were significantly reduced in strength.

Astronomical Significance?

The date of October 12, 1996, was indeed the date of a major solar eclipse in the UK. The article presents planetary positions for 6:15 am GMT on that date, showing various celestial bodies below the horizon or in specific positions. The author notes that Mercury was slightly off the main line of alignment, and Jupiter, Pluto, and Mars formed another rough line.

Skywatch on 12 October

Despite not expecting an apocalypse, the author conducted a skywatch from Prospect Park in Reading. The weather was mixed, with nimbostratus cloud to the northwest and breaking altostratus to the southeast. At 7:15 am, nothing unusual was observed. Later, at the specified location, no abnormal destruction was found, and the energy lines were weaker than previously detected.

Conclusions

Personally, the author experienced nothing unusual, though he noted a possible 'portal' on intersecting energy lines. He was unable to confirm the claims made by the channelers.

Astronautical Sightings?

Authored by Frances Copeland, this section details numerous reported sightings of Advanced Space Craft (ASC) by astronauts and pilots. It highlights that while not widely publicized, many sightings have filtered through various sources. Major Gordon Cooper, a Mercury Astronaut, is featured prominently. He reported seeing a glowing greenish object approaching his capsule during his final orbit in May 1963, which was tracked by radar. Cooper also recounted a sighting of unidentified crafts in Western Germany in 1951. He later advocated for a UN panel discussion on UFOs and ETs in 1985, calling for a coordinated program to scientifically collect and analyze data on encounters.

Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin are reported to have seen UFOs shortly after their Moon landing in Apollo 11 in July 1969. An exchange between NASA and Apollo 11 crew, allegedly intercepted by radio hams, included the astronauts describing "huge" and "enormous" objects, which was then cut off by NASA monitoring.

Further accounts include James McDivitt and Ed White observing a metallic object with long arms during a Gemini spacecraft pass over Hawaii in June 1965. James Lovell and Frank Borman also reported seeing an unidentified spacecraft during their record-breaking 14-day Gemini flight in December 1965, which Gemini Control attempted to dismiss as a booster rocket.

Maurice Chatelain, former Chief of NASA Communications Systems, confirmed that Armstrong had reported seeing two UFOs on the rim of a crater and believed some UFOs might originate from our solar system. He stated that such encounters were common knowledge within NASA but were subject to absolute silence.

Donald Slayton, a Mercury astronaut, claimed to have seen UFOs in 1951 while testing a P-51 fighter, describing a disc-shaped craft that moved at high speed and disappeared suddenly. NASA pilot Joseph A. Walker also detected and filmed UFOs during his X-15 flights, but the films have not been released.

A newspaper report from March 1989 mentioned a UFO tracking the shuttle Discovery, which allegedly locked onto the shuttle's controls, causing a power loss. The crew's conversation was reportedly picked up by radio hams.

The section concludes by noting that despite NASA potentially being a civilian agency, many of its programs are defense-funded, and astronauts are subject to military security regulations, with the National Security Agency screening films and communications.

Crop Circle Report 1996

Authored by Geoff Ambler, this report details the crop circle phenomenon in 1996, noting it was a strong year after a less active 1995. Key formations mentioned include:

• East Field, Alton Barnes (June 17th): An "awesome 'DNA'" formation consisting of 89 circles in two interwoven strands.
• Stonehenge (July 7th): A gigantic formation shaped like a curl or "bass clef," scientifically analyzed as a "Julia Set," made of 151 small-medium circles. A notable anecdote claims an aircraft pilot saw the formation appear in broad daylight in a matter of minutes.
• Windmill Hill, Avebury (July 29th): A "triple armed spiral" in wheat, made of up to 194 circles, with sharp raised centers in the larger circles.

The report highlights Wiltshire as a major center for formations in 1996. Other notable formations include a 4160-foot long formation at Etchilhampton, a "caterpillar" and "shield" formation at Liddington Castle, and a controversial "snowflake" design at Oliver's Castle.

Internationally, the report mentions over 50 crop circles in Holland and activity in Austria, Denmark, and Finland. In the United States, a large 93 ft single circle at Paulding, Ohio, drew significant attention, and a large system of overlapping rings was reported at Chehalin, Washington.

The Stonehenge Prophecy

This section recounts an incident on February 14th, 1996, where an individual named "Mr. H" reported being mentally compelled to travel to Stonehenge, believing a significant event was to occur there around April 4th (the date of a Total Eclipse of the Moon). An investigation confirmed the travel details, but nothing significant was noted on April 4th. A later crop circle at Stonehenge on July 7th is mentioned in relation to this prophecy.

Oliver's Castle Video

A young student claims to have videoed a crop circle pictogram being formed at Oliver's Castle on August 11th. The footage, inspected by the writer, reportedly shows lights moving above the field and the formation appearing rapidly. Detractors suggest the camera might have only focused on the area where circles emerged.

Metamorphosis

This section discusses the increasing complexity and size of crop circle formations since 1980, using a chart to illustrate the rise in components and length. It notes that by 1996, formations could involve up to 194 components and reach lengths of 4160 feet.

Book Review: UFO THE GOVERNMENT FILES

Peter Brookesmith's book is reviewed by Lionel Beer. Beer finds the book disappointing, noting its focus on US involvement and a lack of detail on UK government files. He criticizes the book for its perceived apology for official cover-ups and debunking of witnesses.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of UFO sightings, extraterrestrial encounters, government secrecy, and the unexplained. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation into these phenomena, presenting reported evidence and personal accounts while acknowledging skepticism and the potential for hoaxes. There is a clear interest in documenting and analyzing events that challenge conventional understanding, particularly concerning space exploration and anomalous aerial phenomena.