CENAP Infoline - no 042

Magazine Overview

This issue of cenap-intoline, number 42, dated July 27, 1996, delves into various UFO-related topics, including a large sect in Brazil, legal battles over media coverage, crop circle phenomena, and advancements in space technology.

UFO-Sekte-Wahnsinn: 30,000 Members Worship Aliens

The magazine reports on a peculiar sect in Northeast Brazil, the "Tal der Morgendämmerung" (Valley of Twilight), which boasts 30,000 members. These individuals worship "aliens" with green, almond-shaped eyes and adhere to the teachings of a deceased Indian chief named "Weißer Pfeil." The sect's members live according to strict rules, including abstaining from alcohol and making monetary donations. They refer to themselves as "Jaguar" and "Nymphen," and their daily rituals involve praying before images of their "spiritual leaders."

OLG-Entscheidung: WDR-Film Falls Under Freedom of Speech

A legal case involving the sect leader known as "Uriella" (Erika Bertschinger-Eicke, 67) and the West German Broadcasting (WDR) is detailed. The Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Karlsruhe ruled in favor of the WDR, stating that a critical film about the sect, "Gesucht wird... das Sprachrohr Gottes" (Looking for... the mouthpiece of God), is protected by freedom of speech. The court found that accusations of "charlatanism" and the question of whether "Fiat Lux" members were forbidden from using conventional medicine were permissible statements. The connection made in the film to the racial ideology of the Third Reich was also deemed a permissible expression of opinion. The sect leader has the option to appeal to the Federal Court of Justice.

Crop Circles Return: Heilbronn and Czech Republic Reports

The phenomenon of crop circles, which had been absent since 1989, has reappeared. The first report this summer comes from the Heilbronn region in Germany. Regional press and the radio station "Radio-Ton" covered the topic, with CENAP providing insights from their own field experiments conducted between April 24 and August 7, 1991. The CENAP representative was reportedly more impressed by the evidence than by the methods of MUFON-CES, whose employees allegedly could not measure any radiation and thus deemed the crop circles "fake."

In the Czech Republic, the UFO project "Záře" (Glow) investigated crop circle incidents in 1995. Vladimír Liška, a member of the project's leadership, stated that they visited three locations. Two cases raised suspicions of being fakes, while one near Prague appeared genuine. The project is analyzing plant and soil samples and has identified geomagnetic anomalies. However, they emphasize that these are not pictograms, which would require more complex patterns.

Science & Technology: Space Shuttle Replacement and Mars Missions

This section shifts focus to advancements in space exploration. A report from USA Today details NASA's plan to replace its aging space shuttle fleet by 2012 with a new generation of reusable spacecraft, the "VentureStar" (X-33). Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, known for building secret spy planes, won the contract to develop a half-scale prototype, with test flights planned for 1999. This new vehicle is designed as a "single stage-to-orbit vehicle," aiming to significantly reduce the cost of launching cargo and people into space from $10,000 to $1,000 per pound. The article also mentions a setback where a prototype X-CRV, intended for emergency landings, failed to deploy its parachute and crashed in Arizona.

Another article mentions NASA's ambitious goal of sending the first humans to Mars in approximately 20 years, emphasizing the need for improved radiation protection methods. The development of the "VentureStar" is highlighted as a key step towards this future.

MUFON-CES and UFO Sightings

A brief report from Bielefeld-Leopoldshöhe, Germany, dated May 9, 1979, describes a sighting by 20-30 people who heard a loud, deep humming and saw a 3-4 meter orange fireball about 200 meters above the ground. The report notes that the description on a card sent by a MUFON-CES member did not mention a saucer, suggesting it was an invention of the creators.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the intersection of belief systems, alleged paranormal phenomena, and technological progress. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, as seen in the WDR film's coverage and the skepticism towards some MUFON-CES findings regarding crop circles. There is a clear interest in documenting UFO sightings, cults, and the scientific and governmental responses to these phenomena. The magazine also highlights significant developments in space exploration, linking them to the broader human endeavor of reaching beyond Earth.