En Direct - No 09 - septembre 1989

Magazine Overview

"EN DIRECT" N° 9, published in September 1989, is a French-language magazine focused on ufology and unexplained aerial phenomena. It serves as an organ for the AESV (Association d'étude sur les soucoupes volantes) and aims to inform readers objectively about UFO-related news, research, and events.

Association News and Activities

The editorial letter addresses the readers, emphasizing the importance of certain dates and the magazine's commitment to providing objective information. It highlights the association's ongoing efforts despite challenges. Several points are mentioned:

• International Contacts: The association has been contacted by Boris Chourinov, who claims to be a leading Soviet ufologist, and epistolary exchanges are underway. They are also collaborating with Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos from Spain for information on RPVs (Remotely Piloted Vehicles) for a future book.
• Media Engagement: SOS-OVNI participated in a one-hour broadcast on Radio France-Provence to explain its functioning and activities.
• New Member: Richard Varrault, a former key figure in ufology, has joined the association.
• Call for Support: The association expresses feeling alone and requests active member support to maintain its operations. They highlight the need for financial contributions to cover the 800f/month rent for their fully equipped office in Aix-en-Provence, which serves as a secretariat, archive, and drop-off point. They propose a collective payment of 30f/month per person. Additionally, they seek volunteers for watch duty (via the SOS-OVNI network) and for roles such as typists and translators.
• General Assembly: The next annual general assembly will be held in Aix-en-Provence on Saturday, October 7, 1989, at 8 PM. Agenda items include the 1988 financial results, the review, the organization of the Lyon meetings, association actions, and the examination of a new name and statutes. Attendance is highly encouraged, and contact information is provided.
• Media Buzz: The previous issue of "EN DIRECT" generated significant media attention, and the results are awaited.

Notable Mentions and Reports

• OMNI Magazine Feature: A feature in OMNI magazine (August 1989) focuses on Elmwood, Wisconsin, USA, a village with a 20-year history of UFO sightings. The article recounts experiences of residents, including Doris Wheeler, whose husband reported a UFO encounter in 1974, and Mayor Larry Feiler, who notes numerous sightings. Businessman and ufologist Tom Weber estimates 300 observations and is seeking $50 million for a landing area.
• Reader Correspondence: A reader, Laurent TOUPET, is seeking investigation reports, press articles, and testimonies about UFOs in the Cher department (France) and any documents concerning UFO sightings in Iceland that might relate to the Sagas.
• Urgent Contact: Virginie Frappa is asked to contact the secretariat.

Book Reviews and Publications

The magazine lists several new publications related to ufology and crop circles:

• "Circular evidence" by Colin Andrews and Pat Delgado (Bloomsbury Press, 1989).
• "The circles effect and its mysteries" by Terence Meaden (self-published, 1989).
• "Controversy of the circles" by Paul Fuller and Jenny Randles (Editions de la BUFORA, 1989).
• A new book in Spain: "Los OVNIS y la Ciencia" by Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos and Miguel Guasp (Plaza & Janes Editores, 1989).
• "Ultra Top Secret" by Jean Sider (Editions Axis Mundi, November 1989).

Television and Cinema

• TV Programming: The fall television season includes the return of "Futurs" on Thursdays at 11:05 PM starting September 7th. "Predator" (a film about an ET shuttle ejecting a capsule near Earth) aired on Canal Plus on September 8th at 11 PM. "Ciel, Mon mardi!" returned to TF1 on September 13th around 10:35 PM.
• Cinema Releases: Films mentioned include "Martians go home" (filming completed in the USA), "Les passagers de l'angoisse" (Stranded), a low-budget film about aliens, "Possession ou la nouvelle guerre des mondes" (the fourth installment of a TV series), and "Bad girl from Mars" (a B-movie whose filming has just ended).

UFO Sightings and Cases

• Canary Islands Event: On the night of June 24-25, 1989, approximately 10,000 people in the Spanish Canary Islands (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) searched the sky for UFOs after a national radio announcement of an "incredible event." The search was in vain.
• Soviet Sighting: According to the Soviet newspaper "Prizyv," mysterious objects were observed over the village of Konantsevo (Kharovsk region) on April 24th and on several subsequent occasions. The object was first seen flying over the village school.
• Spherical Object: A spherical object, with an occupant visible inside, was observed to land in a field 500 meters from a school, where it was seen by students.
• Carpentras/Montélimar Sighting: On Tuesday, March 21st, several people observed a luminous zig-zagging trail in the sky, particularly above Le Teil, between Carpentras and Montélimar.

Review of Specialized Press

The magazine lists several specialized ufology publications available, with their addresses obtainable from the editorial office. These include:

• Gabbiola (Italy)
• Il Giornal dei Misteri (Italy)
• Ruh ve Madde (Turkey)
• Mufon UFO Journal (USA)
• Focus (USA)
• Notizie UFO (Italy)
• CENAP Report (West Germany)
• Northern UFO News (Great Britain)

It notes that the Mufon UFO Journal was finally received after five years of effort. The review also mentions a memorandum from the FBI concerning Jim Lorenzen (former director of APRO) and a complaint against him for extortion and threats against the President. Bill Moore's publication is described as potentially containing disinformation, with 17 pages of justifications where he allegedly admits to having collaborated with American secret services and that rumors of "little grey aliens," secret bases, and human experimentation might be unfounded.

GEPSI and UFO Investigation Methodology

The article "Les soucoupes volantes doivent montrer patte blanche" (UFOs must show their true colors) discusses the GEPSI (Groupe d'étude des phénomènes spatiaux inexpliqués) and its approach to UFO investigation. Renaud Marhic, president of GEPSI, explains that they focus on collecting fewer, but more serious and verifiable, testimonies. They aim to avoid creating testimonies by conducting thorough investigations that include multiple phases to prevent influencing the witness. Marhic states that most cases are explainable by meteorological conditions, military aircraft, or civilian observations, with only 1-5% remaining unexplained.

The Collective Imaginary and UFOs

Renaud Marhic reflects on the social phenomenon of UFOs, suggesting that they represent a modern manifestation of the "magical" or "irrational" that society has tried to suppress. He posits that UFOs are a new form of folklore, a living mythology. He believes that contemporary collective imagination shares commonalities with that of our ancestors and that UFOs are more than just a fleeting aspect of a dying magical dimension, offering insights into ourselves. He concludes that it would be extraordinary if humanity were the only form of life in the universe.

Science or Myth: UFOs in Switzerland

This section, titled "Science ou mythe: Qui a vu un Ovni?", explores the phenomenon of UFO sightings in Switzerland. Ufologists in Switzerland had lamented a lack of sightings compared to other European countries and the USA. A survey conducted on 1117 people revealed that 4% had never heard of UFOs. Among the remaining 96%, the majority (61.3%) attributed sightings to known phenomena like satellites or aircraft. Nearly as many (59.9%) considered them unexplained natural phenomena. 52.2% believed they were inventions or hallucinations. Notably, 22.8% thought they were extraterrestrials, and 12.5% suggested they were secret human-made flying objects. Only 5.4% reported seeing something unusual, and 1.5% were firmly convinced they had seen a UFO.

The research, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, was led by Jean-François Mayer. The findings are presented in the review "Ovni-Présence."

A photo of a UFO taken in Saas Fee, Switzerland, in 1975 is presented, with claims that computer analysis revealed no signs of tampering.

Ufological Lexicon

A "PETIT LEXIQUE UFOLOGIQUE" (Small Ufological Lexicon) is provided, defining various terms and categories used in ufology:

• LN (lumière nocturne): Night observation, witness more than 200 meters from the UFO.
• DD (disque diurne): Daytime observation, more than 200 meters away.
• RV (radar visuel): Visual observation confirmed by radar, more than 200 meters away.
• RR (rencontre rapprochée): Observer less than 200 meters from the UFO. Four types of RR are detailed:
• RRO: No effect on the observer or environment.
• RR1: Temporary effects on the subject (sweating, trembling, sleep) or environment.
• RR2: Lasting effects observable at the landing site (ground traces) or on the witness (burns).
• RR3: Observer sees humanoids but has no contact with them.
• RR4: Observer is abducted by humanoids into the saucer for medical examinations and tissue sampling.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes an objective approach to UFO phenomena, distinguishing between explainable events and those that remain mysterious. It emphasizes the importance of rigorous investigation and credible testimony, as exemplified by the GEPSI's methodology. The publication also highlights the cultural and social aspects of UFO beliefs, framing them as a modern manifestation of the "irrational" or "magical." The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to contribute their observations and support the association's work, while also acknowledging the need for critical analysis and avoiding sensationalism. The magazine actively engages with international ufological developments and promotes a network of researchers and enthusiasts.