EN DIRECT

Magazine Overview

Title: EN DIRECT
Issue: 20
Date: August 1990

This issue of 'En Direct' is a newsletter for members of the SOS OVNI association, aiming to be a concise source of information and a platform for member participation. The editorial encourages readers to contribute and suggests the possibility of a forum-debate via mail in the future.

Association News

The association notes that some members are writing articles for the press about the association, reminding them to include contact details. SOS OVNI was able to briefly present its activities and contact information on the France Inter radio show 'Le téléphone sonne'. Christian Morgenthaler from the 'Ovni Nord-Alsace' group visited, and it's mentioned he will soon join the SOS OVNI network. The association has acquired new software for astronomical information and is considering its use for investigations.

Noteworthy Articles and Media Mentions

Paris Match: An article by Marie-Thérèse de Brosses in Paris Match (July 5, 1990) featured images of Belgian Air Force F16 jets pursuing UFOs.

L'Express: The magazine 'L'Express' (July 27 - August 2) published a cover story titled "Extraterrestrial Life: Why Scientists Believe It", partly dedicated to a recent bioastronomy colloquium at Val-Cenis.

Crop Circles: The summer season saw increased media coverage of the English crop circles phenomenon, with mentions of TF1's '20h00', 'Soir 3', and 'La science illustrée'. The researchers at 'En Direct' are taking a step back from this topic due to the intense activity and will revisit it in September.

Le Canard Enchaîné: The series "Les dossiers du Canard" featured "Le grand bazar du bizarre" in July 1990, discussing New Age, gurus, psychics, and UFOs, with a particular focus on Raël.

OMNI Magazine: The July 1990 issue of OMNI featured an article on Martin Cannon, who believes that government agencies have developed advanced mind manipulation techniques, and that UFO 'abductions' are a result of these experiments. Cannon suggests that neuropsychiatrists can induce sensations using electrodes, and that these experiences are constructed to deceive subjects.

France Inter Radio: In addition to 'Le téléphone sonne', France Inter's 'Bakélite' program on July 21 discussed UFOs, featuring interviews with Francine Fouéré, Martine Castello, Jean-Jacques Velasco, Guieu, and Wessler.

TREAT Institute: American psychiatrist Rima Laibow announced that her research institute 'TREAT' is offering a new reward in memory of clinician Dan Overlade. The award, worth 3000 francs annually, will be given to a researcher whose study contributes most to understanding unusual traumatic experiences (ETI), with scientific norms and originality required.

Science et Vie: The magazine 'Science et Vie' is noted for its frequent covers on UFOs and 'extraterrestrial intelligences', prompting a reflection from Michel Rouzé about the continued existence of ufologists playing on ambiguity.

Quest International: The "South African" crash case, revealed by Quest International, is described as explosive. The publication included a redacted fax from the American air force suggesting the object was not shot down but crashed due to component wear. The YUFOS is urged to publish its findings quickly to avoid accusations of sensationalism.

UFO Sightings and Cases

Trikala, Greece: On April 18, 1990, three objects emitting blue and red lights were observed over Trikala, Greece. Some described them as square, others as round, and they remained stationary for about fifteen minutes before disappearing.

Coarches-Saint-Nicolas, France: On the night of July 5-6, 1990, an explosion and tremor were felt near Bernay. A circular trace in a cornfield, approximately 20 meters in diameter with a central mound, was discovered. An investigation by the gendarmerie and SEPRA concluded it was a mine explosion from the last war.

TV Programs: Canal Plus was scheduled to broadcast "Le monstre qui vient de l'espace" on August 4, and La Cinq was re-airing the film "L'invasion des Cocons" on July 23.

Messages and Correspondence

Laurent Toupet: Is seeking information on unusual phenomena in Iceland related to Sagas and on 'men in black' cases in the US, Australia, and South Africa.

Review of Specialized Press

The issue lists several UFO-related publications from June and July 1990, including 'Just Cause' (USA), 'Notizie Ufo' (Italy), 'Mufon UFO Journal' (USA), 'Ufo Contact' (Denmark), 'Ufo-Nyt' (Denmark), 'Sufoi News' (Denmark), 'Le Sablier' (France), 'Cuadernos de Ufologia' (Spain), 'Northern Ufo News' (GB), 'Quest Journal' (GB), 'NUFOC journal' (Belgium), 'UFO' (Brazil), and 'Ufo Brigantia' (GB).

SUFOI: The publication 'Ufo-Nyt' is noted for its reach in Scandinavia. 'Le sablier' is described as hermetic, and 'Cuadernos de Ufologia' is praised as an exceptional Spanish-language review covering topics like Kenneth Arnold, UFOs in the USSR, landing site topology, the 'Naja' operation, and reader mail.

Jenny Randles: Is reportedly facing legal harassment from individuals, including Whitley Strieber, seeking large sums for damages, stemming from her comments on Strieber in a widely misrepresented article.

Quest International: Is noted for developing paranoia in its readers with its style of reporting.

NUFOC Journal: Is experiencing increased circulation, reaching 12,000 copies, and the Brazilian magazine 'UFO' is also mentioned with a circulation of 13,600 copies.

Special Section: "OVNI-PRÉSENCE" Recounts "The War of the Worlds" by Orson Welles

This section details an event on June 22, 1971, where a UFO reportedly landed in Aire-la-Ville, Switzerland, and an extraterrestrial emerged, filmed by TV. This is presented as a staged event related to Orson Welles' famous radio play "The War of the Worlds". The magazine 'Ovni-Présence' published a special issue commemorating the 75th anniversary of Welles' birth, analyzing the 1938 radio broadcast's impact, the resulting panic, and providing sociological and psychological analysis of the hysteria. 'Ovni-Présence' is described as a quarterly publication that studies UFO phenomena intelligently and impartially.

"IL COURT, IL COURT" (He Runs, He Runs)

This section contains several short, unrelated items:

• Courage: Praises the Swiss government for joining countries demanding urgent measures to protect whales, belugas, dolphins, porpoises, and narwhals.
• Apostolate: Quotes Eddy Merckx stating his willingness to do "apostolate by bicycle" if it serves the progress of love.
• Mission: Mentions Walter Gut's difficult job and the general Alexandre Kar's work.
• Canular (Hoax): Refers to 'OVNI-Présence' No. 43-44, which published Hadley Cantril's study on the collective hysteria caused by Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast. It also notes that 'OVNI-Présence' provides information on space unknowns, some demystified, others not.
• Presage: Describes how a minister, facing low attendance at a congress, hired people to applaud speakers, leading to his dismissal. The agency responsible for hiring these 'claqueurs' is mentioned as "A suivre..." (To be continued).

OVNI: The Saucer is Full...

Rennes Region: The article focuses on the GEPSI group in Brest, founded in 1982 by Renaud Marhic, which studies unidentified spatial phenomena. GEPSI aims to understand UFOs, considering both the possibility of genuine unknown phenomena with major implications for physics and the explanation of sightings through meteorological, psychological, or aeronautical reasons, leading to a sociological phenomenon.

Renaud Marhic's Stance: Marhic believes in a dual explanation: most sightings can be explained by natural phenomena or confusion, but a limited number of cases resist analysis.

• Key Cases Mentioned:
• The 1985 landing at Trans-en-Provence, studied by CNES and the gendarmerie, which showed ground modifications but was later cast into doubt by the presence of a drilling rig.
• Circular flattenings in English wheat fields, hypothesized by physicist Georges Terence Meaden as 'VORTEX DESCENDANTS' (electromagnetic whirlwinds), though some ufologists suggest they could be UFO traces.
• Recent Belgian observations described in official reports, showing aerial performances beyond the capabilities of the F117 stealth fighter.

Lexicon: Defines CNES (National Centre for Space Studies), F117 (stealth fighter), and OVNI (Objet Volant Non Identifié - Unidentified Flying Object).

Affiliation with SOS-OVNI: GEPSI is affiliated with SOS-OVNI, based in Aix-en-Provence. A joint investigation in Nort-sur-Erdre (near Nantes) in 1987 concerned a boy who claimed to have seen and recorded a UFO. The recording revealed similarities to audible shortwave emissions from a Soviet radar known as the "Caviar Grinder".

Research and Information: The GEPSI group, in collaboration with SOS-OVNI, is expanding its research beyond cases involving children. Renaud Marhic is a contributor to the SOS-OVNI publication 'OVNI-présence' and created the minitel server 3615 SOS-OVNI.

Maintaining a Cool Head: Despite the excitement surrounding the Belgian wave, the GEPSI president emphasizes the need for a rational approach. An anecdote is shared about observing a cigar-shaped green light in Brest at night, which the Navy confirmed was a powerful Lidar laser used for atmospheric studies from the ship 'Poincaré'.

Quimper

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Diversions (Faits divers)

This section contains brief, unrelated news items:

• The "Caviar Grinder": Refers to a Soviet radar known as "Trans-horizons" based in Romania, nicknamed the "Caviar Grinder" by radio amateurs, whose audible shortwave emissions were found to be similar to a recording from a UFO case.

From the TV

• Canal Plus: Scheduled to broadcast "Le monstre qui vient de l'espace" on August 4 at 8:30 PM.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of 'En Direct' revolve around UFO phenomena, media coverage of the paranormal, scientific investigations, and the activities of UFO research organizations like SOS OVNI and GEPSI. The editorial stance is one of encouraging member participation and providing a platform for discussion, while also emphasizing the need for critical analysis and a rational approach to UFO research, as exemplified by Renaud Marhic's balanced perspective. The issue also touches upon the broader cultural impact of UFOs and related phenomena, as seen in the discussion of Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" and the media's fascination with extraterrestrial life.