BUFORA Newsfile - No.13 - Apr 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NEWSFILE
Issue: 13
Date: April 1993
Publisher: BUFORA

This issue of UFO NEWSFILE delves into a variety of UFO and paranormal topics, featuring reports from across the UK and Europe, as well as international incidents.

European Parliament Debate on UFOs

The lead story, "UFOs drive a wedge between European socialists," reports on a controversy within the European Parliament in Brussels. Italian socialist MEP and physicist Tullio Regge proposed the establishment of a European centre to analyze UFO sightings. Regge, while not personally believing in aliens, suggested such a center could help control rumors and explore rare meteorological phenomena. However, Glyn Ford, leader of the Labour MEPs, dismissed the idea as 'crackpot,' arguing it would make the parliament seem unserious. Regge's report, commissioned in 1991, acknowledged that while most sightings might be hoaxes, some inexplicable ones remain. He anticipated significant criticism for his proposal.

International Sightings and Incidents

Shanghai Skies: A mysterious unidentified flying object, described as an orange man-shaped object, was observed for over an hour in Shanghai. Witnesses reported it moved and stopped, with a man's head emitting red light and a yellow aura, followed by green tendrils before disappearing.

Co Down Mystery: Residents in several towns in County Down reported seeing a 'red ball' or 'orange sphere' in the sky. Pharmacist John O'Callaghan captured a photograph of the object, describing it as a dome-shaped craft spinning and hovering. Kevin Woods, another witness, corroborated the description, noting its speed and color.

Forest of Dean Sightings: Villages in the Forest of Dean reported spooky shadows, bright beams, and flashing red lights from flying saucers. Terrified resident John Adolf Joachim reported a giant flying saucer swooping down on trees, hovering for hours, and claimed evidence of people vanishing from the Bream area.

Rochdale UFO Research Group: The group has seen a surge in applications following an advertisement. They are part of a larger network sharing information with Quest International. The group noted increased UFO activity in Scotland, partly attributed to the US Air Force's 'Aurora' spy plane.

Manchester 'Star': Tony Cross of the Manchester Astronomical Society clarified that an unusually bright 'star' seen over Manchester was likely the planet Venus, not a UFO.

Crop Circle Investigations: Dorset investigator David Kingston claims a crop circle in a barley field was not a schoolboy prank. He has collected samples for analysis of cell structure changes, noting that plants can be bent at 90-degree angles without breaking, which he believes is characteristic of genuine crop circles.

UFO Investigator Speaks: Jenny Randles, a leading UFO investigator, called for more research into a potential 'hidden invasion' by sophisticated aliens, suggesting that sightings might be influenced by science fiction imagery and that aliens might be using a more subtle form of contact.

Research and Personal Accounts

'Secret Life: Firsthand Accounts of UFO Abductions' by David M Jacobs: Martin Cropper reviews Jacobs' book, which details interviews with 39 alleged abductees. Cropper expresses skepticism about the methodology and the abductees' testimonies, questioning the consistency and the author's own apparent contradictions.

Research for Books: Philip Solomon, a BBC Radio astrologer, is researching books on UFO existence and reincarnation, seeking public contributions.

'The Old Straight Track' and Leys: The article discusses Alfred Watkins' theory of 'leys' – straight alignments of ancient sites. It touches on archaeological resistance and the mystical interpretations of these paths, linking them to tribal nomadic societies and 'song lines'.

'Alien' in the Headlights: A humorous account from Somerset where traffic police mistook a woman's fluorescent orange tam o'shanter hat for an alien glow.

Paranormal Research: John Spencer, author of 'The Paranormal: A Modern Perspective,' discusses how phenomena like UFOs, psychokinesis, and ESP may one day be understood scientifically, suggesting that modern accounts of alien encounters are akin to older tales of fairies.

Andy Roberts' Research: Author Andy Roberts, known for his books on ghosts and UFOs, discusses his 'Fortean approach' of skepticism and humor. He believes that while many experiences are genuine, they may have natural explanations or be influenced by cultural narratives, noting the shift from fairy tales to UFOs as a modern phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, from political debates surrounding UFO research to eyewitness accounts of sightings and abductions. There's a clear interest in distinguishing between hoaxes and genuine phenomena, with a healthy dose of skepticism applied to some claims, particularly those involving abductions. The publication also touches on the historical evolution of unexplained phenomena, suggesting a cultural shift from fairies to UFOs. The overall stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging research and the sharing of information within the UFO and paranormal community, while also acknowledging the need for critical analysis.