Cosmology Newslink - No 21

Magazine Overview

Title: COSMOLOGY NEWSLINK
Issue: Number 21
Date: FEBRUARY 1979
Publisher: Edward Harris (Editor & Publisher)
Type: Monthly Magazine

Introduction and Editorial

The magazine begins with an "INTRODUCTION & INFORMATION and Editorial" section, stating that the information presented is believed to be from reliable sources and that the views expressed are those of the magazine's policy. It defines cosmology as the science of the universe and explains that the title 'Cosmology Newslink' was chosen to encompass all cosmological events. The publication, CNK (Cosmology Newslink), was founded by Edward Harris in 1972, making this its seventh year of publication. The copyright notice states that as an amateur periodical, material from other sources is used for wider dissemination, with credit given and free advertising offered. Apologies are extended for any inadvertent infringement of rights.

The editorial staff is listed as voluntary: Edward Harris (Editor & Publisher), Mike Milton (Information), Christine Wazli (Art), Ed. O'Hares (News clippings), Gene Duplantier (Information), Bob Bloomfield (News clippings), Rita Harris (Collating), and David Prockter (Information), with thanks to exchange journals.

A "SHORT EDITORIAL" notes that the current issue has shrunk due to a mistake by the carrier. It also mentions an unusual story about 15 men sent into an extinct volcano who never returned, suggesting the 'Hollow Earth Theory' is still relevant. The editor also mentions having lost a letter from a correspondent in Spain and making contact with Malaysia.

House of Lords UFO Investigation

The main cover story, "HOUSE OF LORDS UFO INVESTIGATION," details a debate held in the House of Lords on January 18th. The article, sourced from the Daily Express, reports that Lord Clancarty, chairman of the UFO movement 'Contact', alleged that governments worldwide have covered up UFO activity. He stated that UFOs have been increasing since the war and urged the government to inform the public of what it knows, emphasizing that most incidents are not hostile and that humanity has not been invaded from outer space. He warned of potential panic if mass landings were to occur without public preparation.

Lord Clancarty called for the Ministry of Defence to give a broadcast interview to discredit cover-up theories and for an 'intra-Governmental study' on UFOs. He also suggested the House of Lords establish a UFO study group.

Lord Trefgarne, a qualified pilot, confessed to not being a believer in UFOs, questioning the authenticity of available photographs. Lord Kimberley, a Liberal spokesman, warned that 'war in space' was becoming a reality. Lord Davies of Leek, a Labour peer, drew a parallel between belief in angels and belief in UFOs, noting that millions have seen UFOs.

The magazine's editor adds a commentary, noting that the debate has 'hot up in Britain' and questioning how long it will be before UFOs are finally recognized, as in France.

The Backlash from the House of Lords UFO Debate

This section critiques the press's reaction to the House of Lords debate. The article praises the Daily Express for its sensible coverage while criticizing the Daily Mail for a dismissive comment: "DOES the House of Lords know something we dont know?" The Daily Mail's commentary is characterized as implying that their Lordships were discussing UFOs while the Commons was focused on more pressing issues like strikes and shortages, framing it as a distraction. The article satirizes the Daily Mail's perspective by imagining a conversation between 'Little Green Men' discussing peerages and social climbers, and referencing characters from the TV show 'Doctor Who' and 'The Daleks'.

The editor expresses frustration with the Daily Mail's perceived snobbery and dismissiveness, hoping the editor has a personal 'close-encounter' that would scare him.

A footnote explains the terms 'Daleks' and 'Dr. Who' for international readers, describing Daleks as creatures in protective metal bodies and enemies of Dr. Who.

The section also mentions a 'Playful Daily Mail' article about UFO sightings for 1978-1979 and a 'SEEING THINGS' piece from the Daily Mail on January 9th, 1979, noting that few sightings are made by amateur astronomers.

CNK's Interruption and Other Sightings

CNK interjects with its own commentary, agreeing that while some observations might be misidentified phenomena, it is also possible that strange objects are indeed UFOs and are being automatically dismissed as natural phenomena by astronomers. CNK advises astronomers to be certain before dismissing an observation.

Several other news clippings detailing UFO sightings are presented:

• Daily Mirror (October 30, 1978): A family in Abbey Wood, South London, claimed to be followed by a UFO twice in three days.
• Sunday Mirror (November 26, 1978): A mysterious triangular light over London Heathrow Airport hovered for 20 minutes, described as too fast and erratic to be an aircraft. Heathrow's air traffic control reported no radar contact, but a coordinator for British UFO action noted multiple sightings in the area.
• Daily Express (November 16, 1978): A flying saucer reportedly landed in Kuwait and reappeared in the skies.
• News of the World (December 17, 1978): An engineer in Southern France reported being followed by a UFO after seeing it above a road.
• News of the World (December 24, 1978): John Day reported a close encounter with beings in a green mist, described as 7ft tall with pink eyes, communicating telepathically.
• Newsman Herald (January 3, 1979): A 10-year-old boy in Chelmsford saw a strange machine zooming towards his house.
• The Sun (January 6, 1979): A case involving 'Little Green Men and Mrs H's Mince Pies' where three small beings with wings visited a housewife, took mince pies, and left in a spacecraft.

CNK consistently attributes many of these sightings to the planet Venus, often with a sarcastic tone, questioning what else they would blame if Venus didn't exist.

New Zealand UFO Debate and Venus Identification

This section compiles reports from various newspapers (Daily Mirror, The Sun, The Guardian) regarding UFO sightings in New Zealand. A TV crew filmed what they described as an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The objects were described as twenty-five mystery objects, oval-shaped and glowing, with a very bright white light.

David Mabin, head of New Zealand's Mount John Observatory, identified the objects as almost certainly the planet Venus, explaining that Venus is currently at its brightest and can appear to move at the same speed as an aircraft due to distance. American UFO expert Phillip Klass agreed that the object was likely a celestial body, possibly Venus.

However, the magazine's editor, Edward Harris, expresses strong disagreement with this explanation. He argues that meteors do not hover over power stations and criticizes Sir Bernard Lovell, director of the Jodrell Bank radio astronomy station, for dismissing sightings as 'pure science fiction' and 'space rubbish'. Harris questions how Lovell could identify a meteor without a radio signal and implies that scientists are either covering up facts or that facts are unavailable.

CNK's commentary sarcastically suggests that there are now multiple 'planets Venus' and questions the scientific explanations, particularly regarding the New Zealand sightings and a vague image shown on British TV, which was suggested to be a poorly resolved image of Jupiter. CNK challenges the explanation of the 'Jupiter' photo, questioning the magnification required and suggesting it might not be Jupiter at all.

Fighter on Standby for UFO Chase

This section reports on a full-scale alert by the Royal New Zealand Air Force due to radar blips indicating an unidentified flying object north of South Island. A Skyhawk jet fighter was put on standby. A TV news team from Melbourne claimed to have film of a UFO showing a group of 25 oval-shaped, glowing objects. The pilot of the aircraft reported that Wellington ground radar picked up 11 unidentified blips tracking the aircraft. The pilot confirmed the objects did not seem to be aircraft, noting their incredible acceleration.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Throughout the issue, a recurring theme is the alleged government cover-up of UFO information and the dismissal of sightings by official sources, particularly astronomers. The magazine consistently champions the existence of genuine UFO phenomena, often challenging scientific explanations that attribute sightings to known celestial bodies like Venus or Jupiter, or to natural phenomena like meteors. The editor, Edward Harris, takes a strong stance against what he perceives as dismissive attitudes from authorities and the media, particularly criticizing the Daily Mail for its perceived snobbery and the Daily Mirror for its consistent attribution of sightings to Venus. The publication positions itself as a voice for ufologists and those who have had unexplained experiences, advocating for a more serious and open investigation into UFOs. The magazine also highlights international UFO reports, indicating a global interest in the subject. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards official explanations and a firm belief in the reality and significance of UFO phenomena.

This document is a notice from the magazine CNK, dated February 1979. It functions as a 'Last Notices' section, providing updates on the publication's status, distribution methods, and future plans.

Distribution and Stockists

The editor expresses gratitude to Willets of Dunmow and Dark They Were and Golden Eyed of London for stocking CNK. However, the magazine states that some issues will not be available in shops if their quality does not meet the publisher's usual standard.

Publication Schedule and Postage Costs

CNK is posted out sporadically. This means that some readers will receive their magazines on time, while others, particularly overseas readers, may experience delays of up to two months. The publisher regrets this inconsistency but states it is a necessary measure to cope with the "terrible cost of high postage rates." To manage these costs, issues are dispatched in "two bunales" and some future issues will be posted without envelopes to reduce weight and further cut costs.

Free Copies and Advertising

The magazine will also send out free copies and exchange magazines to some readers as a thank you for their past support. However, the editor notes that this cannot continue forever without advertising support. Readers who received CNK for free in one month of 1979 may not receive another. The publisher will use a "blue contact booklet" to send out free samples in a "lucky dip" arrangement.

Future Plans and Closure

Subscribers who have renewed at the "cheap rate" will receive a bonus. The final five issues of CNK are planned to be in "COLOUR and fully lithographed." The magazine's closure is anticipated in December 1979. The editor aims to publish one issue per month to avoid going "bankrupt."

Editorial Closing

The editor concludes by expressing hope that the reader will enjoy the current issue and signs off from "CNK 37, The Close, Dunmow, Essex, England, C6 1EW."

The copyright notice indicates "CNK copyright February 1979 (c) Published in England."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary themes revolve around the logistical and financial challenges of publishing a small magazine in the late 1970s, particularly the impact of postage costs. The editorial stance is pragmatic and transparent, openly communicating these difficulties to the readership while outlining strategies for continuation and eventual closure. There's a clear emphasis on managing resources and maintaining a connection with loyal readers through occasional free issues and future premium content.