El Ojo Critico - No 02

Magazine Overview

EL OJO CRITICO, issue number 2, dated July 10, is presented as an independent circular informative publication focusing on supposed anomalous phenomena. The cover features a quote from Kepler: 'Science will always be a search, never a real discovery. It is a journey, never a arrival.'

Interview with Jose Me Oliver

The issue opens with an extensive interview with Jose Me Oliver Cabasa, President and Co-founder of the Astronomical Association of Sabadell, Director of the astronomical magazine Astrum, Professor of Astronomy at the Science Museum of Barcelona, and author. He addresses the possibility of extraterrestrial life, stating that while no one can definitively say Earth is the only inhabited planet, there's no scientific reason to believe otherwise, as life is a natural phenomenon that could arise on other planets with suitable conditions.

Oliver discusses the discovery of microorganisms in meteorites and hydrocarbons in comets as potential indicators of life's beginnings. Regarding alien visitation, he deems it impossible with current physical knowledge, as exceeding the speed of light would lead to infinite mass. Conversely, he acknowledges that while current space exploration is limited, the future might see humans venturing further, though interstellar travel remains a distant prospect.

He strongly criticizes astrology, calling it a 'patraña' (hoax). He explains that its principles are based on apparent celestial positions, not real ones, distinguishing it from astronomy, which is a physical science. While acknowledging the Moon's gravitational influence, he dismisses astrological claims involving planetary positions, deeming them ignorant given the vast distances involved.

Experiment on Future Predictions with Spanish Psychics

This section details an experiment designed to rigorously test the predictions of known psychics. The methodology involved creating a questionnaire of 10 questions related to politics, economy, and social life, and having three Spanish psychics—astrologer Joaquin Teixidor, cartomancer Adela Cano, and vidente Trinidad Pastrana—answer them in writing before a televised recording. Their predictions were to cover the following six months.

The results are presented in a table, comparing the responses of the three psychics on various topics, including the political future of Felipe González and the PSOE, Manuel Fraga's prospects, the marriage of Boyer-Preisler, political conflicts in Spain, the British Royal Family, potential catastrophes, unemployment and the economy, the Thyssen family's health, the Persian Gulf conflict, and the AIDS epidemic. The article notes coincidences and contradictions among the predictions.

News Briefs

Several short news items are included:

• Another End of the World in the USA: A report from Miami-based contact group 'Contacto-i2' warns of a radioactive cloud from meteor impacts on Jupiter, advising followers to shelter for 14 days and prepare for extraterrestrial evacuation.
• The Virgin of the Millions Returns to Denia: This piece discusses a reappearance of the seer Antonia Alvarez from Denia, who was previously accused of defrauding devotees of 500 million pesetas. It questions the outcome of her trial.
• A Doctor from Zaragoza Abused Patients After Hypnotizing Them: Concha Hernández filed a complaint against a doctor in La Puebla de Alfindén for alleged sexual abuse during consultations, with 16 other women coming forward with similar accusations. The doctor was suspended by health authorities.
• The Hermandad Rama on Trial: The article describes the Hermandad Rama as a sect involved in extraterrestrial contact, led by Miguel Coppa, who claims to be an incarnated extraterrestrial. The sect allegedly used the youth magazine 'Semanal Joven' as a front. The group mixes UFO beliefs with satanic themes.

'Soy un Ignorante!' (I am an Ignorant!)

This personal reflection by Carlos Fernandez expresses his feeling of ignorance regarding 'new energy sources' discussed by psychics and 'oscurendos' (occultists). He humorously contrasts concepts like 'astral energy' and 'vampirizing energies' with his basic understanding of physics, questioning the transformation of energy principles and expressing a desire for academic institutions to make such knowledge more accessible.

'Duelo' Ballester/Benitez on Tele-5

This report details a 'duel' between J.J. Benitez and Vicente Juan Ballester Olmos, recorded for the Tele-5 series 'Otra Dimensión'. The debate centered on the declassification of UFO reports by the Spanish Air Force. Benitez argued the reports were manipulated, while Ballester defended their authenticity. The article notes Benitez's aggressive stance, accusing Ballester of being on the military's payroll. It also mentions a tendentious article in the newspaper 'Alerta' that allegedly sought to discredit Ballester.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of science, pseudoscience, and anomalous phenomena. It features interviews with experts and researchers, investigative reports on controversial topics like UFOs and sects, and experiments testing psychic abilities. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting information from various perspectives while often highlighting skepticism towards claims lacking scientific validation, as seen in the interview with Jose Me Oliver and the 'Soy un Ignorante!' column. There's a clear distinction drawn between scientific astronomy and astrological practices.