En Direct - No 01 - janvier 1989

Magazine Overview

"EN DIRECT" is a new monthly newsletter from AESV, with its first issue dated January 1989. It is designed to inform AESV members about association activities and UFO-related news in a concise, telegraphic style. The publication aims to complement "OP," which targets a broader public with longer lead times. Membership in AESV includes a subscription to "EN DIRECT."

Association Activities and News

The association's recent months have been marked by a significant postal strike, which caused considerable delays in the publication and distribution of "OP," mail reception, and the organization of events in Lyon. The AESV bureau has decided to grant the editorial team of "OP" greater autonomy, with an annual review, to ensure more regular publication. A general assembly also decided to update the association's statutes, including modifications to the headquarters and bureau, which are currently under debate before being officially filed.

Renaud Marhic, a member of AESV and co-founder of GEPSI, has been mandated by the bureau to undertake actions to enhance AESV's representativeness and finances. These actions include contacting the media, participating in conferences, salons, and exhibitions, and seeking advertising for "OP." Marhic is negotiating with TF1 producers, will attend the "Parapsy" salon in February, a UFO evening at Puy du Fou in March, Lyon encounters in April, and the "Salon de la Crédulité" in May. He is also scheduled for work meetings in Aix during the latter half of January.

Yves (secretariat) and Dominique (treasury) are nearing completion of an account update dating back to 1983. This update is expected to lead to cost savings through VAT recovery on "OP" (currently AESV receives 4% VAT while spending 18.60%), applications for proportional commission (for sending "OP" at a lower cost per copy), moving the bank account from CCP to Crédit Mutuel, seeking subsidies, and implementing revenue-generating services. The update is ongoing.

Regarding the encounters in Lyon, few updates are available due to the strikes, but a record participation is anticipated. Members interested in assisting with the Lyon encounters on April 29-30 and May 1 are encouraged to contact the association.

Noteworthy Items

"A noter" (Notes)

• An anonymous American group, "Justice for military personnel" (JMP), has accused the CIA of sacrificing military lives for UFO technology clues. JMP claims to represent deceased victims and demands government transparency.
• The original script for Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast was sold for $143,000 at Sotheby's in New York.
• Numerous UFO-related video cassettes, including genuine documents, are now available worldwide in VHS or BETAMAX formats. A list can be obtained from Ufo audio/video Clearinghouse in Yucaipa, USA, for $2 plus a pre-addressed envelope. Note that without a multi-standard TV, documents will be in black and white.
• An "OVNI evening" organized by the Association culturelle du Puy du Fou (Vendée) will take place on Friday, March 3, featuring a presentation and slideshow by Renaud Marhic.
• The "Science et Illusions" festival, described as an international confrontation of critical science and unverified convictions, is scheduled from May 12 to 21.
• The third European Lyon Encounters will be held on April 29-30 and May 1.
• "Parapsy 89" will take place in Paris from February 11 to 19, 1989.
• An article by Jimmy "Vincent" Guieu in "Le Monde Inconnu" issue #100 discusses "petits gris," criticisms, warnings, and advertising.
• For information on the "contactee" movement in West Germany (RFA), issue #68 of "L'Echo des Savanes" (4th quarter 1988) is recommended, featuring insights from Walter and Kohler of CENAP.
• President Reagan has allocated $6 million for the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program before leaving office.
• Singer Etienne Daho will perform at the Zenith from January 20 to 26 as part of his "Tour martien" to promote his album "Pour nos vies martiennes."
• A man in Florence, Italy, accused his wife of being an extraterrestrial spy from the Andromeda constellation and murdered her on December 31. The couple had met in a psychiatric hospital.

Books

• New books available from AESV include "Le rayonnement" by Michel Jeantheau, "Les OVNI face à la Religion" by Jean-Pierre Rémy, and "Les Extraterrestres" by Jean-Bruno Renard.
• "Communion" by Whitley Strieber, a bestseller in the USA recounting personal experiences, is now available in paperback from J'ai Lu.

Cinema

• "Alien Nation" (ET cop teams up with human cop) is released on video in the USA.
• "They Live," a new film by John Carpenter, where an ET supports Reagan's presidential campaign, was released in the USA on October 28, 1988.
• "Incident at Raven's Gate" (strange ET phenomena on a farm) was released in Australia.
• "Earth Girls Are Easy" (three unattractive ETs are taken in by a manicurist) was released in Great Britain.
• "Remote Control" (ETs manipulate humans via a fake SF film) is released on video in the USA.
• "Communion" (film based on Whitley Strieber's book) is currently being filmed in the USA.
• A film about Travis Walton's 1975 abduction in Arizona is also in production in the USA, though its title is not yet known.

Television

• The TV series "V" is being re-broadcast daily on Antenne 2 during December.
• "V" is also being re-broadcast in five episodes on La Cinq during December.

Messages, Mail

This section invites readers to send in their messages, letters, testimonies, critiques, announcements, and declarations.

UFOs in the Picture?

• The November 1988 issue of "OMNI" reported that from January to March 1988, numerous police officers in Belleville, Wisconsin (USA), and other witnesses saw formations of flying lights.
• On December 20, 1988, three fireballs were observed over Paris. The event was reported on French television (La Une) and radio (France Inter), with the SEPRA (formerly GEPAN) attributing the phenomenon to the re-entry and disintegration of satellite debris. This explanation was also published in "Libération."
• Also on December 20, 1988, anonymous testimonies received by SOS OVNI reported a fireball sighted by children in Nice at 9:50 AM during recess.
• On December 21, several young people in Blanquefort (33) observed a fireball with a trail. This sighting was reported by the newspaper "Sud Ouest" and FR3 Bordeaux Aquitaine.
• On December 22, the FR3 "19/20" news program reported a UFO sighting (possibly on the same day) in St-Germain-de-Marencennes (17) by about twenty witnesses. The object was described as a small red sphere or circle that passed between the spokes of a bicycle wheel being repaired by one of the witnesses.

UFO Press Review

Addresses for the following publications can be obtained from the editorial office:

• Bulletin du CUB, #4, June 1988.
• CUB Hors série, Catalogue du Finistère, May 1988.
• Contact OVNI (CEOF), #11, July-August-September 1988.
• CENAP Report (RFA), #6.88, #148; #8.88, #150; #9.88, #151.
• Northern UFO News (GB), #133, September-October 1988; #134, November-December 1988.

A CUB issue #4 is noted as interesting, containing information on "Nort sur Erdre." The CUB special issue is a 283-page compilation of sightings in Finistère from 1920 to 1988. Northern UFO News #134 includes an article on a comet observed by hundreds on October 27th over Great Britain.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this inaugural issue of "EN DIRECT" are the internal workings and activities of the AESV association, alongside a comprehensive overview of recent UFO and UAP sightings reported globally, with a particular focus on France and the USA. The editorial stance appears to be one of information dissemination, providing members with timely updates on both organizational matters and the broader field of ufology. The inclusion of media reviews (books, films, TV) suggests an effort to connect UFO phenomena with popular culture and scientific inquiry. The newsletter adopts a direct, factual tone, aiming for clarity and conciseness, as indicated by its title and stated purpose.