En Direct - No 07 - juillet 1989

Magazine Overview

'EN DIRECT', issue number 7, dated July 1989, is a French-language magazine focused on UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena. The issue begins with a letter to members, noting a current lull in UFO activity but encouraging members to promote the association and the publication. It announces that 'EN DIRECT' is expected to be published bi-monthly (end of July and end of August) and wishes readers a good vacation.

Association News and Updates

The magazine welcomes new members: Pierre ARNAUD, Jean-Paul DACOSTA, Gérard COENCA, Eric BILLOIS, and Jean GAUTHIER-PARDE. It also appeals to members to share their opinions and feedback, reminding them that the publication relies on their contributions. A significant portion of the next issue is promised to be dedicated to press clippings from 'LYON 1989'. The upcoming issue of 'Ovni-Présence' (OP), a related publication, is also mentioned as being scheduled for July.

Noteworthy Items

SETI Protocol and Extraterrestrial Life

A review of the 'OVNI' page in 'OMNI' (June 1989) raises crucial questions about the legal framework applicable to potential extraterrestrial contact. It discusses the 'SETI Protocol', a document drafted by Michael Michaud of the US State Department, which aims to provide guidelines for such scenarios and is being presented to international scientists and politicians.

Unusual Energy Ray Discovery

Another item from 'OMNI' (June 1989) reports on a potentially groundbreaking discovery by scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Hawaii and Germany. They are said to have found an energy ray that strikes Earth, violating known laws of physics. Physicist Darragh Nagle explains that the energy originates from Hercules X1, a double neutron star located 15,000 light-years away. The ray is described as 1000 times more powerful than the most potent terrestrial accelerators and carries stable, neutral particles. Researchers are withholding publication due to the astonishing nature of the phenomenon.

Other Mentions

An article in 'Science & Vie Junior' (July-August issue) is noted for discussing the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. Readers interested in photos shown by Patrick Chassagneux at 'LYON 1989' are directed to the June issue of 'Ciel & Espace' for information on Hydro and Photometeors.

Cinema and Television

The magazine briefly touches upon recent cinematic releases with UFO or sci-fi themes, including 'Alien Seed' (described as a story about a girl who is 'teleported' and experiences a 'missing time' period, discovering she is pregnant despite being a virgin), 'STAR TREK' (the fifth installment), and 'M.A.L. (Montre Aquatique en Liberté)' / 'Deep Star Six'.

Several television programs are highlighted:

• 'Les aventuriers de la quatrième dimension' (Canal Plus, June 10th, 09:15) is described as a story about a craft discovered in Nebraska in 1957, hidden by Eisenhower, and its engine found 30 years later.
• 'Dr Who' episode 'La planète diabolique' (Sunday, June 11th, 06:34) is mentioned.
• 'Biggles' (Canal Plus, June 14th, 21:00) is presented as a time travel story.
• 'Le promeneur de l'éternité' (M6, June 12th, 20:35) is noted for its theme of a mummy being an E.T.
• 'Le privé de l'espace' (La Cinq, June 24th, 20:30) features an E.T. detective.
• Canal Plus is planning a special evening on July 21st for the 20th anniversary of the moon landing, covering various related topics.
• 'Aliens (Le retour)' (Canal Plus, July 14th, 23:00) is announced for its first broadcast.
• 'Mutant (Forbidden World)' (Canal Plus, July 8th, 00:00) is about geneticists decimated by a mutant.

UFOs in General

The section 'Les ovnis dans tout ça?' (UFOs in all this?) inquires about an RR3 event reported in Russia in June, asking readers for any press clippings. It also includes a letter from Thierry Rocher confirming a sighting on March 27th, 1989, and offering copies of the book 'Le Barrage de la peur' for 6 francs. Bruno Mancusi reports on a six-month sales test for 'Ovni-Présence' (OP 41) in Swiss kiosks.

Specialized Press Review

A list of specialized magazines is provided, with their addresses available upon request from the editorial staff. These include Italian publications like 'Notizie UFO' and 'Giornale dei Misteri', French 'Les cahiers rationalistes', Swiss 'Schweizerisches bulletin für parapsychologie', and Italian 'Gabbiola' and 'Nonsiamosoli'. 'Notizie UFO' is described as the Italian counterpart to 'EN DIRECT' for CISU.

Cover Story: 'Le cousin de E.T.'

The cover features a cartoon titled 'Le cousin de E.T.' (The cousin of E.T.). The article on page 4, attributed to Philippe Poyen, discusses the alleged presence of extraterrestrial 'petits gris' (grey aliens) on Earth for nearly 40 years, describing them as a problem of universal immigration. It recounts a narrative, attributed to Jimmy Guieu, about UFOs crashing in the New Mexico desert after World War II, leading to contact between American forces and surviving aliens. These aliens, described as rat-faced and grey-furred, supposedly exchanged technological knowledge (transistors, semiconductors) for the cession of four underground military bases. The situation reportedly deteriorated when the aliens began mutilating cattle and abducting humans, allegedly to obtain enzymes necessary for their digestion due to a 'genetic regression'. The article details a failed military attempt to dislodge the aliens from a base and mentions the US government's strategy of controlled information leaks. It also touches upon the possibility of extraterrestrials seeking to interbreed with humans, citing a case in Brazil. The article concludes by suggesting that the 'Star Wars' defense initiative might be aimed at dislodging these aliens from US soil.

Communication: E.T. calls Switzerland

This section highlights 'Ovni-Présence', a new quarterly publication from a Franco-Swiss association, described as critical and well-written, focusing on field investigations and deciphering testimonies. It mentions a Swiss opinion poll indicating that 5.4% of Swiss citizens have seen a UFO, and one in three believes extraterrestrials may have visited Earth. The poll also reported 123 UFO sightings in 1988, an increase from 120 in the previous year, with a significant number occurring in the Tessin region.

Swiss UFO Reports (May 1989)

Two articles, one from 'Veteran Suisse' and another from 'Seniorama', both dated May 1989, report that one in twenty Swiss citizens has seen a UFO, and one-third considers extraterrestrial visits possible. They also note the increase in reported UFO sightings in 1988 (123) compared to 1987 (120), with 91.1% of the 1988 sightings occurring in Tessin.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO sightings, extraterrestrial encounters, and related scientific and cultural phenomena. There's a strong emphasis on investigative journalism, with references to specific cases, researchers like Jimmy Guieu, and international organizations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting information from various sources, including scientific reports, witness testimonies, and media coverage, while also acknowledging the skepticism and secrecy surrounding many of these events. The issue highlights concerns about potential extraterrestrial threats and the role of governments in managing information about them.