CdU Addenda - no 2

Magazine Overview

This issue of Addenda nº 2, a supplement to Fundación Anomalía's communications, dated January 13, 1996, focuses on UFO/UAP phenomena, research, and related cultural aspects.

Avistamiento de Alhama de Murcia (13/1/1996)

This article by Carlos González Cutre details a reported UFO sighting in Alhama de Murcia on January 13, 1996. The case was published in the magazine "Año Cero" and involved an report from the local police and a video filmed by Tele Alhama. The primary witness, José Ferro, is described as a known contactee from Vigo with a reputation for vivid imagination, which initially made the author skeptical. The video was obtained with difficulty and sent to Vicente Juan Ballester Olmos for analysis. A police officer who intervened in the case stated that he observed no movement, only what appeared to be a star. The police report itself documented Ferro's claims of aerodynamically impossible movements and a rhomboidal shape with lights, which the officer did not witness. The camera operator, Juan Ponce, stated the light was static and that any perceived movement in the video was due to camera zoom magnification. He suggested the object was Venus and found Ferro not credible. Upon consulting an astronomy manual, it was confirmed that Venus was visible in the western sky after sunset on the date of the sighting, aligning with the observation's direction and time (around 19:30). The author concludes that, lacking definitive video analysis and considering the unreliable witness, the event was likely an observation of the planet Venus, amplified by an interested and non-objective witness.

Tres Fenómenos Aéreos Destacados en Canarias

This section by Ricardo Campo highlights three aerial phenomena observed in the Canary Islands around the end of 1995, suggesting potential explanations for two of them.

• May 7th (approx. 22:10): A large spherical object, appearing the size of a football, followed by a large flare and glow, was seen from various locations in Tenerife, La Palma, and Gran Canaria. Local press reported the observation, which was witnessed by numerous people.
• July 4th (21:59): The Russian space station Mir and the American space shuttle Atlantis were visible from Tenerife after separating. While reduced to two small luminous points moving in parallel, some witnesses reported seeing two "luminous balls" or "energy balls."
• August 12th (after 23:30): At a festival in Frontera, El Hierro, approximately 2,000 people witnessed mysterious lights. One was reddish and central, surrounded by four or five white intermittent lights, located above Pico de Malpaso. Witnesses reported slight movement from left to right, and the lights were visible until 02:30 on Sunday, August 13th, before ascending and disappearing. A local Tenerife television station filmed the phenomenon for about 10 minutes. The article notes similarities to the 1989 Belgian UFO wave associated with stealth aircraft, but also suggests the possibility of a hoax involving a luminous object attached to balloons. The Guardia Civil had also received reports of "luminous balloons." Carmelo Padrón observed the outline of a balloon with intermittent lights and noted that when the individuals manipulating it realized they were being watched, they cut the cable, causing the "strange apparatus" to ascend. He commented, "People believe more in UFOs than in balloons."

El Dr. Craig Rememora el Informe Condon

This commentary by V.J. Ballester Olmos reviews Dr. Roy Craig's book, "UFOs: An Insider's View of the Official Quest for Evidence." Craig was a member of the University of Colorado's UFO project (1966-1968), directed by physicist Dr. Edward U. Condon. The book is described as a collection of anecdotes and findings from surveys commissioned during the project. The Condon Report was initiated due to public relations concerns for the U.S. Air Force regarding UFOs. The "O'Brien committee" recommended further investigation of select cases, leading to the University of Colorado's contract. Craig's book is presented as a personal memoir rather than a deep academic analysis, offering humorous anecdotes and a simple style. It touches upon cases like the Michalak encounter, sightings of Venus, and alleged UFO photographs. Craig also discusses the internal conflicts within the Condon project, particularly concerning Robert Low's memorandum which suggested the project aimed to find evidence against the reality of UFO observations. Craig did not join the "rebellion" of other project members who opposed this stance. The review highlights the book's discussion of the project's studies, including social aspects, photographic analysis, physical evidence, and radar analysis, noting that some cases remained unresolved. The Condon Report's final recommendations concluded that UFO research was not a defense issue and did not represent a significant scientific advancement, thus recommending against further government funding. The reviewer also discusses Whitley Strieber's book "Communion" and its influence on abduction narratives, as well as Elaine Showalter's "Hystories," which explores the psychological and cultural aspects of mass hysteria and UFO abductions, drawing parallels to female sexual fantasies and anxieties.

Hystories por Elaine Showalter

This review by V.J. Ballester Olmos discusses Elaine Showalter's book "Hystories: Epidemics and Modern Culture." The book examines collective hysteria and psychological phenomena, including UFO testimonies, and their connection to Western culture's anxieties. It covers topics such as chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple personality disorder, and recovered memories. The review highlights the chapter on "Extraterrestrial Abduction," where Showalter posits a "Law of Showalter": the stranger the stories, the more impressive the experts. She analyzes the abduction of the Hill couple as a foundational case, suggesting it was an example of "folie à deux" (shared fantasy). The review notes the influence of Hopkins' "Missing Time" and Jacobs' "Alien Encounters" on the ideal abduction narrative. Showalter also points out the sexual component in abduction narratives and the high percentage of female witnesses, drawing parallels to stories of childhood sexual abuse. The reviewer agrees with the Freudian interpretation of abduction phenomena as having a psychological basis.

Fundación Anomalía Initiatives

The magazine also details various initiatives by Fundación Anomalía, including:

• Premio Internacional "Zurich": A prize for international research on UFO phenomena, with a reward of 250,000 pesetas, requiring unpublished theoretical contributions or research representing rationality and scientific methodology.
• Premio "Ricardo Caruncho": A prize for unpublished research on UFO incidents occurring in Spain, with a reward of 100,000 pesetas, emphasizing rationality and scientific methodology.
• Beca "Universitas": A grant of 150,000 pesetas for the best university research project in Spain that addresses UFO phenomena from a natural or social science perspective.
• Premio "Cuadernos de Ufología": A prize recognizing an individual or entity that has significantly contributed to the diffusion of UFO studies from a rational and scientific perspective.

It also lists numerous individuals and companies that have supported Fundación Anomalía and mentions ongoing projects such as the third edition of "Cuadernos de Ufología," a thematic dictionary of ufology, a website, and the development of a "Documentary Base of UFO Culture."

Donor Information

The issue includes information for potential donors, outlining two categories: "Donante Colaborador" (Collaborator Donor) with an annual fee of 3,700 pesetas, and "Donante Benefactor" (Benefactor Donor) with an annual fee starting from 10,000 pesetas. Benefits for donors include receiving the organization's informative organ, information on activities, discounts on publications, and tax deductions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the analysis of specific UFO/UAP sightings, the critical examination of UFO research methodologies, and the cultural and psychological aspects of UFO phenomena. Fundación Anomalía's editorial stance clearly favors a rational, scientific, and evidence-based approach to the study of UFOs, as evidenced by the criteria for their prizes and the critical reviews of books and cases. The organization also emphasizes the importance of preserving UFO-related information and promoting research through grants and publications.