Ekstern - 1980 No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: EKSTERN
Issue: No. 4
Year: 1980

This issue of 'Ekstern' focuses on a detailed account of a UFO encounter and includes reporting on a parliamentary debate regarding UFOs. It concludes with an announcement of the magazine's cessation.

The Higgins Encounter: A Brazilian UFO Sighting

The primary article recounts an extraordinary event that occurred on July 23, 1947, just 29 days after Kenneth Arnold's famous sighting. Topographer Jose C. Higgins was working west of Goio Bang Colony, in northeastern Brazil, when he heard a high-pitched, whistling sound. Looking up, he saw a strange, circular airship descending. Higgins described it as a 'strange circular airship with protruding tubes, like on medicine capsules.' The workers with him fled in fear, but Higgins remained to observe.

The object, approximately 45 meters wide (excluding its meter-long tubes) and about 4.5 meters high, landed softly about 45 meters from him. It rested on bent, metallic stilts that further compressed upon touching the ground. The craft appeared to be made of a gray-white metal, distinct from silver. Higgins approached the object and noticed a thick glass window or porthole. Through it, he saw two beings staring out, described as alien-looking.

One of the beings turned as if to speak to someone inside, and Higgins heard noises from within. A door opened beneath the craft, and three individuals emerged. They were clad in transparent suits that completely enclosed their bodies, including their heads, and seemed to be filled with air. On their backs, they had a metal box. Through the transparent material, Higgins could see they wore blouses, short pants, and sandals, made of a material that resembled shiny, colorful paper rather than fabric.

The most striking feature of the beings was their large, round eyes, which lacked eyebrows. They had no beards, their heads were round and hairless, and their legs were long in proportion to their bodies. They were estimated to be about 2 meters tall. Higgins noted that they all looked very similar, like triplets or at least sisters or brothers. One of the beings pointed a tube, made of the same metal as the ship, at Higgins. They spoke to each other in a language Higgins did not understand, but he perceived them as friendly.

Despite their large size, the beings moved with surprising agility. They formed a triangle around Higgins, and the one holding the tube gestured towards the door. Higgins saw a small room inside with another door and a tube extending from its inner section. He also observed several round lights around the lower part of the protruding tube.

Higgins attempted to ask where they intended to take him, using words and gestures. They seemed to understand and drew a diagram on the ground: a circle within seven smaller circles. The being then pointed to the sky, then to the craft, and finally to the outermost of the seven circles. This was repeated several times.

Feeling threatened, Higgins desperately sought a way to escape. He realized he could not fight them due to their size and numbers. He noticed they avoided direct sunlight and moved into the shade. He then took out his wallet, showed them a photo of his wife, and gestured emphatically, trying to convey that he wanted to take her with him and would fetch her so she could join the trip.

The beings did not try to stop Higgins. He walked away into the forest, where he found a good hiding place to observe them. To his surprise, once they were alone, they began to behave like children, jumping and playing with stones of considerable size. After about half an hour, and a thorough examination of the surroundings, they returned to their ship. The craft ascended with a whistling sound and flew north, disappearing into the clouds.

Later, Higgins told the press, "I will never know if they were men or women." He added that despite their unusual characteristics, they were beautiful and appeared very healthy. Higgins recalled hearing two words: 'Alamo' and 'Orque,' which he speculated might refer to the sun and the seventh circle in the diagram, respectively. He questioned whether it was a dream, but the presence of his workers at the beginning of the event convinced him it was real.

The article speculates that the aliens' suits might indicate they could not survive in Earth's atmosphere or that they used them for experiments. Their agility and jumping abilities could suggest they came from a planet with lower gravity than Earth.

All the workers who were present confirmed in writing that the UFO descended from the sky, causing everyone except Higgins to flee in panic.

UFO Debate in the British House of Lords

Another section reports on a debate in the British House of Lords concerning UFOs. Lord Strabolgi, a spokesman for the authorities, stated that the British government and the Ministry of Defence were not involved in any secrecy regarding UFO phenomena and had nothing to hide.

The debate was initiated by the Earl of Clancarty, who sought to draw the government's attention to the increasing number of UFO sightings and landings worldwide. He proposed that the House of Lords establish a study group to thoroughly examine all aspects of the controversial UFO issue.

Editorial and Final Announcement

The magazine concludes with a statement from the editors. They acknowledge that 'Ekstern' has been an unusually thin magazine but found it interesting. They announce that this is the final issue of 'Ekstern,' stating that its abrupt arrival and departure mean a transition to something much better, hinting at a 'New Year's surprise.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of 'Ekstern' leans heavily into detailed eyewitness accounts of UFO phenomena, presenting the Higgins encounter as a significant case. The magazine also engages with the governmental and political aspects of UFOs, as evidenced by the report on the British parliamentary debate. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into UFOs, presenting evidence and reports without overt skepticism, while also acknowledging the strangeness and potential implications of such events. The final announcement suggests a forward-looking perspective, promising new developments beyond the current publication.