Awareness - 1996-97 - Vol 22 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: AWARENESS
Issue: 22:2 (Conference Issue)
Date: November 1997
Publisher: Contact International
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of *Awareness*, the journal of Contact International UFO Research, is dedicated to its 1997 Conference Issue. It features a range of articles and reports covering UFO sightings, abduction experiences, crop circles, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

Editorial: RIPE FOR TAKEOVER?

The editorial, by an unnamed author, begins by reflecting on the intense media coverage surrounding the death of Princess Diana, suggesting that controlling a few "marketable" media stars could lead to global population control. It posits that intelligent aliens observing Earth might perceive this phenomenon and consider a similar strategy. The editorial also touches upon conspiracy theories surrounding the Diana crash and notes a recent lull in UFO reports following the mid-Summer "Roswell" celebrations, with a decline in conference attendances. It speculates that the re-emergence of sunspot activity might herald a new bout of UFO activity and suggests that crop circles, continuing for 18 years, might be a form of long-term alien communication.

Contents

The magazine includes sections on News in Brief, Conference 1997 Report, Australian Abductions - Part 2, Sighting Summaries, International Skywatch, Fishing in the Net, Astronomy Notes, Seeing Through the Smokescreen, Crop Circle Report 1997, and Reviews/Poem.

Contact International Council

The issue lists the key personnel of Contact International, including Founder President 8th Lord Clancarty, President J. Bernard Delair, Vice President Geoffrey Ambler, Chairperson Linda Dellow, Secretary Frances Copeland, and various editors, administrators, and librarians.

News in Brief

• Faked Moon Landings: The article discusses ongoing controversies surrounding the Apollo missions, particularly the claim that astronauts would be harmed by radiation in the Van Allen Belts. It cites measurements from the Gemini 11 mission suggesting radiation levels were safer than a chest X-ray. The authenticity of Moon surface photographs is also questioned.
• "Men In Black?": This section comments on the blockbuster film, suggesting it's a spoof on the original concept of "Men In Black" who warned UFO witnesses. The film's premise of hunting aliens in human shape is dismissed as "tosh" for the younger audience, though its special effects are acknowledged.
• "CONTACT" Film: The article clarifies that the film "CONTACT" is not related to the Contact International organization.
• Probes Galore: NASA's space probes to Mars are mentioned, with the new survey expected to confirm whether the "Martian Face" and other features in the Cydonia region are artificial or natural. The quality of existing 1976 pictures is expected to be surpassed by 1997 technology.
• Cassini Mission: The nuclear-powered "Cassini" mission to Saturn is discussed, with concerns about the plutonium on board and the potential for contamination if it crashed.
• Fred Passey: The death of Fred Passey, former Chairman of Contact (UK), is reported. He is remembered for his contributions in restoring Contact to an orderly outfit in the mid-1970s.
• East Anglian Update: This section revisits the events of October 5th, 1996, when two UFOs were seen hovering over The Wash for about 10 hours. It mentions that GCHQ was alerted and that reports came from numerous Lincolnshire villages.
• Blimp for Sale!: An unmarked white airship, Skyship 600, tested by the army since 1993 for silent surveillance in Northern Ireland, is mentioned as being available for sale.

Conference 1997 - Exeter Hall Kidlington

This section details the second CIUFOR conference held on Sunday, October 26th. It notes that the audience was smaller than in 1996 but still adequate. Several speakers were scheduled, with Brian James' talk being replaced by Robin Cole due to a car breakdown. The smooth running of the event is attributed to various council members and volunteers.

Synopsis of Lectures:

• Robin Cole (Circular Forum, Cheltenham): Replacing Brian James, Robin Cole discussed the history of UFOs, his own experiences, and the media's portrayal of UFOs. He presented historical evidence of strange aerial phenomena and discussed theories about the origin of UFOs, including higher life forms and alien knowledge. He also commented on the prevalence of alien motifs in merchandise.
• Ananda Sirisena (Milton Keynes): A specialist on Martian features, Ananda discussed the "Face on Mars" and the "Cydonia" photographs, asserting that the "face" was not an optical illusion and that a second sequence of photos showed the features remained.
• Graham Birdsall (Leeds, Editor of UFO Magazine): Graham Birdsall presented a talk titled "That the Evidence for UFOs is Overwhelming," covering various incidents including the Roswell recovery, the Mantell air crash, the "Lubbock Lights," analysis of "Project Blue Book" reports, pilot sightings, and the Rendlesham Forest incident. He also mentioned frightening descriptions of alien creatures from Varginha, Brazil, and posed the question of whether human history extends beyond Earth.

Sighting Summaries

This section provides brief accounts of UFO sightings from various locations:

• 2 May 1997 - Stanton Harcourt, Oxon: A bright ball of white-green light, about 4' off the ground and the size of a football, was observed.
• Autumn 1996 - Prestatyn, N Wales: A family observed a bright pulsating light within a cloud formation over the sea.
• 15 May 1997 - Bicester: A yellow-orange object, moving slower than a meteor but faster than a comet, was seen.
• 13 January 1997 - Didcot, Oxon: A dense black, roughly elliptical object, estimated to be at least 3km long and at a minimum height of 20km, was observed.
• 4 June 1996 - Warden Hill, Gloucs: A roughly circular-shaped object with a serrated edge, orange in colour and pulsing, was seen. The witness's video malfunctioned afterward.
• 29 April 1996 - Churchdown, Gloucs: A massive triangular object with a bright light at each corner and a bright red light in the centre was observed hovering low over a house.
• 2 March 1997 - Celle, Germany: Two craft, possibly "The Boomerang" variant, were observed moving slowly and then speeding off with extreme velocity, making a noise similar to Harrier jump-jets.
• 15 February 1995 - Newent, Gloucs: A large bright object, as wide as the motorway and descending to about 50ft above the road, was seen. The witness later experienced flashbacks suggesting an abduction.
• 20 April 1997 - Guildford, Surrey: An object initially cigar-shaped, then a four-pointed cross, and finally a crescent, was observed.
• 11 June 1996 - Gotherington, Gloucs: A creature described as "evil looking," about 5 ft tall, with large ears and pig-like skin, was encountered in a roadside ditch. This description is compared to the Mothman and "Goatsucker" creatures.
• 29 November 1996 - Mevagissey, Cornwall: Two police officers observed a definite elongated triangle-shaped craft with greenish-white lights, which hovered and then accelerated rapidly to over 1000mph.

Australian Abductions Part 2

This section continues the account of "Viv," detailing an experience on June 29th, 1997, where marks were found on his arms and new scars on his ear lobes after an apparent attack. The magazine requests any advice on this case.

Fishing in the Net

• Sedona, Arizona USA: A pulsing round light was videoed, appearing as a flat oval with blue, yellow, and red colors. Another report mentioned a spinning, hovering object with different colored lights.
• Lakeland, Florida USA c 1968: Mr & Mrs McMullen observed a disc-shaped UFO with two occupants, which caused TV interference and an ammonia smell.

International Skywatch Report

This report details CIUFOR's participation in an International Skywatch weekend on Round Hill, Wittenham Clumps, Oxon. Despite some weather issues, the event involved local media interest and observations of "skyflashes," fireworks, and the Russian space station Mir. The report also mentions potential abduction experiences from previous skywatches.

Puerto Rico UFO Story

This section details a growing UFO phenomenon in Southwest Puerto Rico since 1967, including a giant UFO sighting over Ramsey Air Force Base and an incident on December 28th, 1988, where F-14s were seen to merge with a large UFO. It also mentions explosions and tremors in the Laguna Cartagena area in May 1987, leading to the area being acquired by the government.

Spanish Air Force Secret Documents

A translation from the German Press Agency reports that the Spanish Air Force has released numerous secret documents on UFOs from the seventies and eighties, including 83 "Top Secret" reports. These documents include accounts of inexplicable incidents witnessed by the former Spanish Prime Minister Suarez and pilots reporting strange lights and radar signals.

What Do Aliens Look Like, And Where Do They Come From?

This section discusses the uncertainty surrounding the nature of UFOs and aliens, acknowledging that while many ufologists argue UFOs are spacecraft operated by intelligent aliens, definitive proof is lacking. It notes the wide variety of descriptions of alien beings encountered in reports, with some described as looking very human.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, alleged alien encounters, and the broader implications of these phenomena for humanity. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, acknowledging the complexities and controversies within ufology while also highlighting the need for critical analysis and the potential for misinterpretation of events. There is a consistent emphasis on reporting witness accounts and investigative findings from various sources, including official reports and personal testimonies. The magazine seems to advocate for continued research and public awareness regarding unexplained aerial phenomena and related topics.

This issue of "ASTRONOMY NOTES" for December 1997 to February 1998, authored by Brian P. James, focuses on celestial observations for the winter months and delves into various UFO-related topics, including crop circles and historical cases. The magazine also features a news report on unexplained lights in Arizona and reviews several books on the subject of UFOs and extraterrestrial contact.

Astronomy Notes: Winter 1997-1998

Brian P. James provides guidance for observers in Britain and Western Europe during the winter months, noting the longer nights and richer celestial displays. He highlights the visibility of planets, with Mercury being difficult to observe, Mars being challenging and soon to disappear from view, and Venus being exceptionally bright in the southwestern sky, reaching its brightest magnitude on December 11th. Venus will be visible for about two hours after sunset before becoming a morning object in January. Uranus and Neptune are also mentioned as being in the southwestern quadrant but not visible to the naked eye. Jupiter is noted as the second brightest planet, visible with binoculars, which can reveal its Galilean moons. The article also points out that the phase of Venus changes as it moves towards the sun, and its crescent phase is when it appears brightest.

The issue also includes a star chart for 9:00 PM on January 15th, identifying Sirius as the brightest star. It warns that atmospheric conditions can distort the appearance of stars like Sirius and Vega. Arcturus will rise in the northeastern sky, and Spica will be visible in the southeast by the end of February. Three meteor showers are noted: the Geminid (December 9th-14th), the Ursid (December 17th-24th), and the Quadrantid (January 1st-4th), with advice to also watch for sporadic meteors.

Arizona Report: Strange Lights in Sky

An Associated Press report from March 15th, 1997, details strange bright lights observed over northern and north-western Arizona, which generated numerous phone calls. A Phoenix man videotaped what appeared to be nine lights hovering above the desert. The Arizona National Guard stated they had no official explanation, with one spokesperson suggesting military flares from a training exercise, and another suggesting residents of Prescott had misidentified a formation of five military aircraft as a UFO. The report concludes that UFO enthusiasts were not convinced by these explanations.

Seeing Through the Smokescreen

Michael Soper examines controversial UFO reports from the past 50 years, including the Maury Island case of 1947, the Gulf Breeze photographs, the 'Majestic Twelve' scenario, a 1996 'UFOs making a crop circle' film, and the 'Alien Autopsy' film. Soper discusses the Maury Island incident where Harold A. Dahl and his son witnessed an annular craft and six others, noting that while initially dismissed as a hoax, recent witnesses corroborate the events. The 'Majestic Twelve' scenario involves a panel that investigated the UFO phenomenon, with a document detailing alien bodies from a UFO crash. Soper points out the difficulty in verifying evidence due to the focus on personalities and the lack of direct physical proof. He also discusses the 'Alien Autopsy' film, noting that pathologists agree the instruments and methodology are from the 1940s, and an ex-army photographer confirmed the camera work was standard. The film is considered either genuine or a very expensive hoax.

Crop Circle Report 1997

Geoff Ambler reports on the 1997 crop circle season, with approximately 150 formations reported across England, particularly in Wiltshire and Hampshire. He notes the geographical distribution and the increase in formations in Germany and Denmark compared to 1996. The report details ten significant British crop circle events of 1997, including:

1. April 20, Barbury Castle: A 300ft wide formation in oil-seed rape, described as a 'circular saw' with 6 standing crescents.
2. May 4th, Barbury Castle: Ten circles in 3 rows with interlocking pathways, resembling 'The Tree of Life'.
3. June 1st, Winterbourne Bassett: A geometric design in green barley, a triangle inside a circle.
4. June 9th, Stonehenge: A raised hexagon inside a circle with tree-like creations and tiny circles.
5. July 11th, Alton Priors: A circle with 12 overlapping rings, known as the 'Torus Knot'.
6. July 13th, Bishop Cannings: A 5-pointed star formation in wheat.
7. July 14th, Cley Hill/Westbury White Horse: A hexagon with criss-crossing pathways.
8. July 23rd, Silbury Hill: Fractal designs with 6 stars and tiny circles.
9. August 1st, Echilhampton: A flattened circle with a standing square and a lattice of tiny boxes.
10. August 8th, Milk Hill: A fractal design identical to the Silbury Hill one, with an additional raised centre.

Ambler notes that while hoax claims are common, opinions are subjective. He also discusses the 'Cosmic Joker at Work?' section, examining formations like the 'smiley face' at White Horse Hill and a 'swastika' at Bledlow Ridge, suggesting that the 'circle making energy' might be present.

Year by Year Comparison

The article provides a comparison of crop formation appearances in England from 1980 onwards, noting their concentration in Wiltshire and Hampshire. It details the types of formations and their spread over the years, from 1994 (large 'thought bubbles') to 1995 (multi-tiny circle formations) and 1996 (DNA strands, 'Julia Set'). The 1997 season is characterized by precision-built geometric and fractal designs.

Reviews

Alien Contact: The First Fifty Years by Jenny Randles: Reviewed by Geoff Ambler, this 142-page book is praised for its beautiful printing and excellent accounts of significant cases, including details of 1948 crash cases. It is noted for its critical stance on the Adamski photographs and its focus on strong cases while omitting fakes.

Where is Everybody? by Edward Ashpole: Reviewed by Michael Soper, this 216-page book (£7) discusses the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the 'Immortal Network' concept. It is noted for its balanced approach to questions about life in the universe and its critique of blind dogma. The review mentions Robert Jastrow's views on extraterrestrial intelligence and the political handling of data from the Viking project.

Quest for Contact by Andy Thomas and Paul Bura: Reviewed by Geoff Ambler, this paperback chronicles attempts to establish contact with 'Devic beings' believed to be 'circlemakers'. It details the frustrations and eventual success of a crop circle appearing after a meditation in 1995.

Other Content

The issue also includes a poem titled "I DO BELIEVE" by Bobby Dichins, and a section on "Mysterious Shining Objects Over Crop Formations" by Brian P. James, which describes an observation of what turned out to be a tethered silver balloon, highlighting how perspective can be deceiving. Advertisements for video researchers, UFO publications, and back issues of "Magazines from Vol 18" are also present.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the UFO phenomenon, crop circles, and related mysteries, often presenting evidence and theories that challenge conventional explanations. There is a clear interest in historical cases and ongoing investigations, with a tendency to question official narratives and explore possibilities beyond mainstream scientific or governmental understanding. The reviews suggest an editorial stance that values well-researched accounts and critical examination of evidence, while remaining open to unconventional hypotheses. The recurring theme is the persistent nature of these phenomena and the human drive to seek truth, even when faced with skepticism or attempts to dismiss evidence.