Awareness - 2002-03 - Vol 25 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: Awareness
Issue: 25.2
Volume: 25
Date: Summer 2002
Publisher: Contact International UFO Research
Country: England
Language: English

This issue of "Awareness: The Journal Of CONTACT INTERNATIONAL UFO RESEARCH" from Summer 2002, Volume 25, Number 2, offers a diverse range of articles on UFO phenomena, crop circles, and intriguing coincidences. The cover prominently features the headline "'MEN IN BLACK' WERE HERE. P4-5" alongside an image of the Metropole Building in London.

Editorial: "RODS", "SPIRALS" AND "BALLS"

The editorial discusses recent observations of anomalous phenomena captured on photographs and video. The editor, Geoff Ambler, recounts his own experiences with "spirals" captured on film since 1994, describing them as invisible to the naked eye but appearing as spiral tubes in photographs, sometimes with rapid motion. He also addresses "balls, orbs or spheres," often seen in damp conditions and potentially caused by water droplets, though some larger opaque ones remain unexplained. The editorial introduces "Rods," anomalies appearing on freeze-frame footage from home video cameras, particularly from sky-diving footage in Mexico, noting their incredible speed (6-7000 mph) and the impossibility of them being physical objects in certain contexts. The editor questions whether these phenomena are newly discovered due to technology, recent arrivals, extraterrestrial instruments, or have always existed. He emphasizes that these "UNIDENTIFIED" and "FLYING" objects form the basis of UFOs and that modern photographic and video evidence allows for better analysis than anecdotal accounts.

The editorial also notes that this edition includes a short history of the CIUFOR/Contact International organization.

News in Brief

This section covers several short news items:

• ASTEROID NEAR MISS? An asteroid, described as "the size of a football pitch," passed between Earth and the Moon on June 14th, 2002. The article notes the concern that it was not tracked in advance, drawing a parallel to the 1908 Tunguska event.
• ROYAL "UFOLOGISTS" UNVEILED: Research by Dr. David Clarke and Andy Roberts suggests that the late Lord Mountbatten of Burma and the Duke of Edinburgh were actively interested in UFOs in the 1950s. Mountbatten was part of a group of high-ranking military personnel who believed in "flying saucers." Prince Philip's interest was revealed by former equerry Peter Horsley, with reports suggesting that "flying saucer" reports sent to the Air Ministry were copied to him. Prince Philip was also reportedly involved in investigating a "flying saucer" sighting in November 1953.
• CROP CIRCLES SLOW ARRIVAL: The 2002 crop circle season started slowly, with the first formations appearing in mid-April but only two more before the end of May. Interest in rapeseed crops was low, but events accelerated through June, with around 20 formations reported. Notable reports include a large formation near Stonehenge on July 4th, described as a "toy windmill head," and hoaxes appearing around Avebury.
• OXFORDSHIRE CROP CIRCLES: Three large crop circle formations were reported in June 2002 near Garsington and Toot Baldon, including a "mandala" formation. Another formation on White Horse Hill comprised a coiled line of 25 circles, with radial lines suggesting a "winged insect" or "dragonfly" design.
• INTERNATIONAL UFO DAY: It was announced on local radio that June 24th was "International UFO Day," likely chosen to coincide with the Kenneth Arnold sighting in 1947. CIUFOR was not aware of this event but participated in radio discussions.
• "CHEEKY OXFORD": A guidebook detailing Oxford was criticized for containing outdated and inaccurate information about CIUFOR and OCCCS.

"SIGNS" (Film Review)

The first feature film involving crop circles, titled "Signs" and starring Mel Gibson, is about to be released. The trailers suggest an alien invasion linked to crop circles. The article humorously notes that since CIUFOR's annual review is called "Signs in the Fields," they might be entitled to royalties.

BRITAIN'S "MAN IN BLACK" IDENTIFIED

This article details the discovery by Dr. David Clarke and Andy Roberts of secret files indicating that Britain's War Office employed its own "Man in Black." He has been identified as Wing Commander Myles Formby, who worked in the top-secret "Room 801" at the former Metropole Hotel in London. Formby, who is still alive, admits to being the chief "Man in Black," chosen for his language skills and intelligence background from WWII. His appointment was likely due to Cold War fears of covert Russian activities rather than a search for extraterrestrials. A secret report from the Flying Saucer Working Party revealed no government cover-ups but showed dismissiveness towards UFOs and embarrassment in interviewing witnesses. Despite Formby's team recommending no further investigation by 1951, major UFO sightings in 1952 over Washington D.C. and an inquiry by Churchill kept the "Room 801" activities ongoing for several more years. The article concludes that covert tracking of UFOs by Defence or War ministries, previously denied, has been established, but they appear to have found nothing of interest to modern UFO researchers.

SUPER VOLCANO ERUPTION DUE?

This section discusses the potential threat of "Super Volcanoes," specifically mentioning a large magma area beneath Yellowstone National Park, USA, estimated to be 640,000 years overdue for an eruption. Such an event could bury half the USA in dust, destroy areas within 600 miles, and drastically alter the global climate. The article speculates that if Earth was previously colonized by extraterrestrials, traces of their existence might have been destroyed by such super-eruptions.

USA FIGHTERS INTERCEPTION

Reports indicate that two F-16 fighter jets pursued a mysterious blue object at "phenomenal speed" across Washington D.C., losing it near Waldorf, Maryland. The object was detected on radar, but military spokesmen refused to speculate if it was a UFO. A ground witness described it as a "light blue object" with a jet chasing it.

TRIANGLES STILL APPEAR

Although CIUFOR had not received "black triangle" reports recently, they continue to appear globally. The OVNI magazine notes American reports and a new "outbreak" in Belgium. These "manifestations" are typically black triangles with various lights beneath, and the article questions if they are secret technology or projections from the "cosmic joker."

AGONY CORNER: MMR - COVER-UP OF THE QUARTER?

This section raises concerns that the MMR combined vaccine may be causing increasing autism or bowel disease in children. It notes that while a small percentage of babies with weak immune systems are vulnerable, "big business" allegedly hides this problem to avoid the inconvenience of single vaccinations. The article also mentions that channelled information suggests human spirits are weakening, impacting immune systems, and questions the original testing of the MMR vaccine on babies with stronger immune systems.

2002 VISIT TO PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE

This article details a visit by a CIUFOR team (Geoff Ambler, Tony Broad, Mike Soper) to the Public Records Office (PRO) at Kew on May 2nd, 2002. They found security tight and the UFO files brochure outdated. The personal bleeper system for requesting files had been replaced by a card swiping method. The files studied covered up to 1971. The analysis of UFO sightings for May 1967 showed a small percentage of cases were "UNIDENTIFIED" or "UNKNOWN." The article includes interesting comments from files, such as those related to J.J.A. Hennessey, a regular inquirer to the MOD.

The authors appeal for more members to examine PRO files, as release stages are being reached for files covering the late 1960s and 1970s. They provide directions to the PRO at Kew.

MYSTERY SPIRALS REAPPEAR

By Geoff Ambler

This article expands on the editorial's discussion of "spirals." It recounts how globes/orbs were first observed on photographs in 1993-4, with "faces" and geometric shapes also emerging. The author's personal experiments since 1994 have captured "spirals" and occasional balls. He describes spirals as invisible to the naked eye but appearing as rapid-motion spiral tubes in photographs. He also mentions capturing a triple beam of several colors. The author notes that while successes are interspersed with long periods of no results, patience is required. He also discusses dowsing as a method to detect energy absorption on film, while acknowledging it as non-scientific.

The article presents results from various locations, including Perth, Australia, and St. Neclan's Glen, Cornwall. It also includes photographs taken at Cuddesdon Mill, Oxon, on May 28th, 2002, which show "energy forms" or "spirals" appearing in photographs, some with a white form in the foreground, a small white ball in the distance, or a full beam display that appears to absorb background light. The article notes that these phenomena are not visible to the naked eye and that some large, opaque examples have only been seen in the last two years.

"Coincidences" – are hidden forces acting?

Part 1 - by Geoff Ambler

Geoff Ambler shares several instances of remarkable coincidences. He recounts bumping into his son, Howard, on Glastonbury Tor unexpectedly. Another instance involved finding a stock book of stamps belonging to someone who lived near his boyhood address. The most bizarre series of events in 2002 involved his wife Anne trying to connect with old school friends via "Friends Reunited." This led to an email from Canada with "Frances Copeland" on it, which was puzzling as they knew a Frances Copeland. Further investigation revealed that the Canadian "Frances Copeland" was married to a John Mills and was related to Alan Copeland, Fran's husband in England. Ambler attempts to calculate the astronomical odds of such a specific connection occurring randomly.

Part 2 - by Frances Copeland

Frances Copeland recounts her own perspective on the coincidences. She remembers a childhood visit to Oxford with her parents and uncle to see her father's brother, a visit that was rare due to travel expenses. She finds it incredible that she remembers this event, which her husband Alan could not recall. She further elaborates on the "Copeland" connection, noting that many of her namesake's family live in Bognor Regis, where she spent childhood holidays, suggesting they might have unknowingly been near relatives. She also shares an interesting note about a newspaper article concerning a "lost kiss" on the Titanic, involving a young Irishman promised a kiss by Gladys, the daughter of a pub landlord named George Copeland.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Awareness magazine strongly focuses on unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings and crop circles, presenting them as subjects worthy of serious investigation. The publication appears to support the idea that there are "hidden forces" at play, as suggested by the "Coincidences" article, and encourages readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, acknowledging the limitations of current scientific understanding and the potential for new technologies to reveal previously unseen phenomena. There is a clear interest in historical UFO cases and government involvement, as evidenced by the articles on the "Man in Black" and the visit to the Public Records Office. The magazine also engages with contemporary issues, such as the MMR vaccine concerns, framing them within a broader context of potential cover-ups or overlooked risks. The overall tone is investigative and aims to inform readers about ongoing research and reported events in the UFO and related fields.

This issue of Awareness magazine, dated July 2002, focuses on the theme of 'Point Pleasant Disaster Prophecy,' with a lead article by Michael Soper. The magazine is published by Contact International UFO Research and priced at £2.80.

Point Pleasant Disaster Prophecy

Michael Soper's article explores the connection between seemingly disparate events, suggesting a 'scene chaining' phenomenon akin to Philip K. Dick novels. He posits that these 'fringe, scene changing' events can shed light on the true nature of the world. The article draws parallels between the Mothman events in West Virginia in 1966 and similar 'Owlman' sightings in Mawnan, Cornwall, UK, in 1976. These events involved sightings of a winged creature with luminous eyes. Specific Cornish Owlman cases are detailed, including sightings on April 17th and July 3rd, 1976, and other related incidents in July 1976 and August 1978. These are compared to the 1966 Point Pleasant sighting of a grey winged creature and a 1969 sighting in Vietnam of a winged black woman.

The article highlights the connection between the Point Pleasant events and the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967, which claimed 46 lives. It mentions that John Keel, author of 'The Mothman Prophecies,' spent time in Point Pleasant and received strange phone calls. The text suggests that the phenomena might be attempts to warn people of impending disasters, though the method is considered strange.

Further connections are drawn between locations in West Virginia and the Potteries region of the UK (Newcastle, Silverdale, Keele, Stoke, etc.), noting similarities in place names. The article also touches upon a UFO sighting on March 5th, 1967, involving a flying disc near Ohio, and a red UFO sighting near Malmstrom AFB on April 3rd, 1967.

Two key aspects of the phenomena are noted: the involvement of a 'physically large radar reflecting structure' (the Silver Bridge) and a search method that involves 'listening to superimposed conversations' rather than geographical location.

Reviews and Events

The DEATH OF UFOLOGY??? A personal view of UNCONVENTION 2002

This section reviews the 'Unconvention 2002' event held on April 6-7, 2002. The author, Lionel Beer, describes the event, noting the wristbands issued and the popularity of speakers like Jon Ronson and Philip Walton. He mentions Jim Moseley discussing his upcoming book 'Shockingly Close to the Truth!' and his past connections with figures like Gray Barker and Albert Bender. The review touches on the history of ufology, including the British Flying Saucer Bureau and the Roswell incident.

Lionel Beer also recounts a talk by Colin Bennett on 'Scepticism as Mystique,' which argued that skeptics can hinder progress and that 'sceptics hate bits that don't fit.' The author found the talk a good lesson, despite one audience member finding it boring. Colin Bennett's book 'Looking For Orthon,' a biography of George Adamski, is mentioned as available.

Other speakers at the convention included Robin Simmons on the 'Search for Noah's Ark,' Ken Campbell on Montanism and Gastromancy, and Doug Skinner, who discussed how 'Data Gets Damned' and the limitations of human senses. A documentary film, 'The Search For Mothman,' was also screened, linking the Mothman image to disasters.

Lionel Fanthorpe spoke on 'Mazes and Labyrinths' and 'The World's most Fortean Object' (the human brain). Graham Hancock presented his theories on ancient civilizations submerged by post-Ice Age sea-level rises.

MEGA PANEL EVENT - The Death of UFOlogy?

This panel event featured eight speakers, with the author noting a majority of skeptics. Speakers included Colin Bennett, Peter Brookesmith, Paul Devereux, Dave Clarke, Andy Roberts, John Rimmer, Judith Ja'afar, and Jim Moseley. The discussion covered the ET hypothesis, with panel members generally not accepting it. Judith Ja'afar highlighted the perils of hypnotic regression. The debate concluded without a definitive conclusion, described by the author as 'boring sociological-psychological clichés.'

WE ARE THE SCEPTICS MY FRIEND

An article by Malcolm Robinson details his experience attending a British Sceptic Society meeting on February 20th, 2002. He describes the atmosphere and the introduction of the new chairman, Nick Puller. The meeting coincided with the palindromic date 20:02/20.02/2002, and a discussion about Uri Geller's claims related to this date. The main speaker was John Wall, an engineer, who presented a skeptical evaluation of Graham Hancock's work and the 'Alternative History Movement.' Wall critiqued theories on ancient civilizations, the 'face on Mars,' and the pyramids of Egypt. Robinson notes the difference in approach between his own group, Strange Phenomena Investigations (SPI UK), and the Sceptic Society, finding the latter's public mockery of individuals unprofessional.

Robinson also mentions a discussion with Nick Puller about the 'Devon Case,' which Puller found unconvincing. He concludes that attending the skeptic meeting was a valuable exercise in 'peering over the garden wall.' The article provides details for the Sceptic in the pub meetings.

History of Contact International UFO Research (CIUFOR)

This section details the history of CIUFOR, founded in 1967 by the 8th Lord Clancarty. It outlines the group's evolution, its magazines ('Awareness' and 'UFO Register'), administrative changes, and the transition of leadership over the years. Derek Mansell played a key role in the 1980s, and later, a triumvirate of Geoff Ambler, Frances Copeland, and Michael Soper took over. The organization was renamed 'Contact International UFO Research' in 1996. Lord Clancarty's library was bequeathed to CIUFOR. The group currently holds informal meetings and has limited its conferences due to waning interest in the UFO subject.

Advertisements and Notices

The magazine includes advertisements for UFO books at bargain prices, with a wide selection listed from various authors and covering numerous UFO-related topics. There is also a notice from the editorial staff of Awareness welcoming contributions and details for ordering back issues. Advertisements for UFO and Space Age Publications and TEMS (The Travel and Earth Mysteries Society) are also present.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include UFO sightings, disaster prophecies, the Mothman and Owlman phenomena, and the role of skepticism in investigating paranormal claims. The magazine appears to present a balanced view, featuring both proponents of unusual phenomena and critical analyses from skeptics. The editorial stance, as expressed by the Editor, acknowledges the potential for 'forces' attempting communication but questions the methods employed, particularly in relation to disaster warnings. The publication actively solicits contributions and provides a platform for discussing a wide range of topics within the paranormal and Fortean fields.