En Direct - No 02 - Fevrier 1989

Magazine Overview

"EN DIRECT" is a newsletter, issue number 2, dated February 1989. It is presented as a supplement to "Ovni-présence" and is edited by Perry PETRAKIS. The publication aims to provide readers with numerous small pieces of information that might not be shared through other channels. The editorial notes a decrease in UFO sightings for the month but anticipates increased coverage in the mainstream press during the summer. It also mentions the upcoming issue number 41 of "OP" and seeks news from some readers.

L'association en vrac (Association Miscellany)

This section details several developments and planned events related to the association and ufology in general.

• Collaboration with François Bourbeau: Renaud has established an agreement with Canadian ufologist and TV presenter François Bourbeau. Bourbeau will contribute to "Ovni-présence" by writing pages on recent Canadian UFO observations and promoting the magazine on his cable TV channel. This initiative aims to support the Canadian ufological community, which has been without a dedicated magazine or group since the cessation of UFO-Québec and CCUQ.
• Upcoming Events in Lyon: Jean-Claude Ribes, Director of the Lyon Astronomical Observatory, and Jean-Bruno Renard, Director of the UER of Sociology at the University of Montpellier, are scheduled to give presentations in Lyon. The organizers hint at other surprises.
• Meteorological Phenomena and UFOs: Patrick Chassagneux, a meteorologist with the national meteorological service (Direction Rhône-Alpes), will discuss meteorological phenomena such as parhelia, antelies, temperature inversions, ball lightning, lenticular clouds, luminous clouds, and auroras, which can be mistaken for UFO sightings.
• Magonia Editor Visiting Lyon: John Rimmer, editor of the British magazine "Magonia," will be visiting Lyon.
• Radio France International Collaboration: Fruitful contacts have been made with Radio France International, with the aim of having the station produce a program from the third European UFO Encounters of Lyon.

A noter (Notes)

This section covers various news items, articles, and media mentions related to UFOs and related topics.

• New Forms of Religiosity: The emergence of "soucoupique" (flying saucer-themed) sects, distinct from ufology, is discussed as a precursor to new forms of technocized beliefs. An article by Jean-Bruno Renard in "Notre histoire" (issue 53, Feb. 1989) explores this phenomenon, suggesting it reflects modern messianic trends and will likely be studied by future historians of religion.
• "Science Frontières" Festival: The sixth "Science Frontières" festival in Puy-St-Vincent, organized by Jean-Yves Casgha, took place from January 23rd to 28th, featuring guests like Michel Cazenave, Jean-Michel Arnold, Rémy Chauvin, and others.
• Media Coverage by Filipacchi: Following an article in "L'Echo des savanes," the magazine "Newlook" (issue 66, Feb. 1989) published a piece by J.Y. Casgha titled "Les intelligences extraterrestres." This article, appearing in the "Anti-matière" section (credited to OMNI), revisits Casgha's previous themes with a familiar, albeit reheated, style.
• "Transcending Science" Article: The article "Transcending science" by Dennis Stacy in "OMNI" (Vol. 11, No. 3, Dec. 1988) is recommended for English speakers. It attempts to explain mystical experiences (abductions, near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences) through physiology. It references Michael Persinger's theory that electromagnetic stimulation of temporal lobes might induce such phenomena, citing experimental results with a solenoid helmet.
• Hypnagogic Hallucinations: The same issue of "OMNI" includes an article on hypnagogic sleep hallucinations.
• NASA's Interest in UFOs: "OMNI's" UFO page (Dec. 1988) discusses NASA's interest in the phenomenon, reportedly initiated by Frank Press under President Carter. Despite efforts to find something significant, David Williamson, NASA's "Mr. UFO," admitted that "(...)we have never discovered anything non-terrestrial."

Messages, courrier (Messages, Mail)

This section solicits specific types of UFO-related reports for a working list, to be sent to Eric Maillot in Monthermé.

• Criteria for Reporting: Cases are requested if they involve: 1. Effects on the eyes lasting more than a day, or medical consultation, or multiple affected witnesses. 2. Alterations to vehicle paint. 3. Detected radioactivity on a witness or trace. 4. Ground traces meeting specific conditions (analysis performed, effects on animals/humans). 5. Skin reactions (erythema, redness, burns) without direct contact, if examined by a doctor, multiple witnesses are affected, or there is photographic evidence.

Du côté du cinéma... (From the Cinema...)

This section lists upcoming and current science fiction films with UFO or alien themes:

• Steven Spielberg's "ET II: Ufos are coming wednesday" is in production, with Eric Sykes directing the initial scenes in London.
• "Dark Angel", produced by Marc Damon, is filming in the USA.
• "Cocoon II" is set for release in the USA.
• "The Borrower" is in production.
• "Communion" will be directed by Philippe Mora.
• "Aftershock", featuring a ninja and an alien, is in production.

...et de la TV (...and on TV)

This section highlights television programming related to UFOs and science fiction:

• A current advertisement, seen across all channels, is inspired by Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," showing household appliances vibrating when a light enters a house.
• On Saturday, January 28th, the series "Sixième sens" will feature an episode titled "Loin de ce monde" on "La Une est à vous."
• Also on January 28th, Canal Plus will broadcast "Les visiteurs d'un autre monde," featuring a flying saucer landing on a stadium field.

Les ovnis dans tout ça ? (What about UFOs?)

This is a specific sighting report:

• Fireball Sighting: On January 25th, a fireball traversed the atmosphere vertically over the Oregon coast, continuing along the Pacific and disappearing near Mount Washington (USA). Witnesses described it as intensely luminous, making it impossible to look at directly. The fireball, estimated to be twice the diameter of the Moon, was visible for approximately five seconds.

Revue de la presse spécialisée (Review of the Specialized Press)

This section lists addresses for obtaining specialized UFO and paranormal magazines upon simple request. It then reviews several publications:

• Ufo Brigantia (GB): Praised as one of the world's best magazines, its issue No. 35 includes an article by Jenny Randles on a 1957 mini-saucer crash, which Randles believes was a hoax. It also features a comparison by David Clarke between alien abductions and Celtic folklore.
• Ufo Nachrichten (RFA): Noted for being "delightfully cultist."
• Vimana (F): A special issue on "haunted houses" is mentioned.
• Cuadernos de ufologia (E): Highlighted for featuring top signatures and containing over 100 pages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance of "EN DIRECT" appears to be one of disseminating information broadly within the ufology community, acting as a hub for news, event announcements, and media monitoring. The publication seems to encourage detailed reporting of physical effects and sightings, while also acknowledging the growing media interest and the potential for misidentification of natural phenomena. There's a clear interest in the sociological aspects of belief systems, including the rise of UFO-themed cults. The magazine also actively engages with international ufological publications and events, aiming to connect different facets of the field.