GEPO No 14 - GEPO Informations - No 14 - janvier 1979

Magazine Overview

Title: GEPO INFORMATIONS
Issue: BULLETIN N°14
Date: JANVIER 1979
Publisher: GEPO
Country: France
Language: French

This issue of GEPO INFORMATIONS, dated January 1979, is dedicated to the topic of UFOs, with a prominent cover headline asking, "PEUT ON CROIRE AUX OVNI ?" (Can we believe in UFOs?). It includes sections for VSI INFORMATION, GEPO INFORMATION, READING ADVICE, and brief news items.

Editorial: Can We Believe in UFO Phenomena?

The editorial reflects on the frequency of UFO observations, noting a significant increase starting around 1950, but also pointing out that reports existed even before this modern era. It questions what might be discovered about UFOs in the past, suggesting that while the number of documented observations might seem disappointing, they have managed to survive through centuries. The editorial posits that factors like wars, human folly, and jealousy may have obscured many past sightings. It contrasts the medieval public's tendency to interpret such phenomena as demonic with a more natural acceptance by peasants, who might have viewed a UFO with less immediate fear, attributing their apprehension to religious dogma.

In the present day, the editorial argues that modern media (oral, written, broadcast, and visual) allow for a clearer understanding of the question, granting more freedom for impartial judgment. However, it suggests a 'masterstroke' has occurred: instead of outright denial or fear-mongering, doubt has been sown. The consequence is that fewer people believe or dare to believe, and the subject has become a source of mockery. When a UFO is sighted, it is quickly categorized as normal, or the observer's sanity is questioned, leading to the dismissal of the experience.

The editorial concludes that it is difficult to judge objectively because people are not assessing the evidence with complete honesty, free from prejudice. It emphasizes the need to judge based on facts and honesty, stating that the problem exists in its purest form.

Correspondents and Organizations

The bulletin lists its permanent correspondents from various regions in France (AUDS/PYRENEES OR., ARCHE, LOIRE/ALLIER, VAR, PARIS/Ile de France) and Guatemala. It also details the structure and purpose of G.E.P.O. (Groupe d'étude du phénomène OVNI), which acts as a correspondent for GPUN (Groupe Privé Ufologique Nancéien) and CLEU (Commission Luxembourgeoise d'études Ufologiques), and is a delegate for CERPI (Centre d'Etude et de Recherche des Phénomènes Interplanétaires) in Belgium. The primary goal of GEPO is to gather information and build archives for a more in-depth study of the phenomenon.

GEPO Informations is published as information becomes available and is free for group correspondents. This special issue is reserved for specific groups: CLEU, CERPI, GPUN, and CNRS.

Recommended Reading

This section provides a list of recommended ufological publications for readers:

• L'ARGUS DES PHENOMENES SPATIAUX: A quarterly journal published by CERPI, praised for its interest, interviews, information, inquiries, and archives. Contact: CERPI, Mont St Lambert, 2 Bât 27, B1200 Bruxelles (Belgium).
• CHRONIQUES de la CLEU: Another quarterly journal that offers a comprehensive look at ufology, described as the 'Bible of the amateur ufologist.' It features recent information, observation catalogs, and varied articles on the UFO mystery. Contact: CLEU, BP 9, BELVAUX (Luxembourg).
• LITES: A Swiss journal from SLEPS, considered exceptional for its presentation and content. Contact: STP70, CH 1212 Grand Lancy 2, Switzerland.
• UFC OBEBL: This journal is noted for its high quality, comparable to a large-circulation magazine, with articles of good quality. Contact: BP 53, DOLLARD LES ORMEAUX, CANADA PQ.

A special mention is made of a recent event on the night of Tuesday, January 2nd, to Wednesday, January 3rd, where UFOs were observed in Italy and Milan, with numerous sightings reported in various locations.

New Year's Wishes and Statistics

Dominique DE TILS from Studios St Dominique sends New Year's wishes for 1979, hoping it will contribute to the discovery of truth. Jean Marie PASQUALINI (GEPO Var/V.S.I.), an amateur ufologist and researcher specializing in statistics, predicts that 1979 will be a significant year for UFOs, noting an important wave in Italy in January that could extend to France and Spain. His goals for 1979 include completing the 1978 UFO dossier, a new study of the BAVIC league, and studying waves of UFO recrudescence if time permits. He also extends his best wishes.

News Briefs and Sightings

Several recent sightings are reported:

• January 2, 1979 (Le Progrès): UFOs were filmed in New Zealand by an Australian TV crew. An object, described as oval with white lines, hovered above Christchurch and was filmed by the team. It was about 100 meters long and maneuvered at that altitude.
• November 1978 (Le Progrès): In Le Monastier/Gazeille (Haute-Loire), three people observed a UFO three to four times larger than a star. It performed a silent, sudden 180-degree turn and disappeared behind a mountain.
• November 1978 (Le Progrès): In Roanne (Loire), witnesses saw a luminous object that ascended in a zig-zag pattern, hovered, and then disappeared, leaving an iridescent light. A witness, Jean Luc Michault, filmed the phenomenon for eight minutes.
• December 1978 (Le Progrès): Following an article on December 4th, a follow-up on December 9th mentioned that the army, after initially denying a sighting, admitted the possibility of an experimental rocket launch from the Landes test site.
• December 1978 (Le Progrès): In Coraci près de Sallanches, Monsieur Dujardin regularly observed a brilliant crescent-shaped object rising vertically from his home each morning before disappearing.
• December 1978 (Le Progrès): In Péage-de-Roussillon, Monsieur Mabillon and his family witnessed a car-sized object with antenna-like rods that hovered near his vehicle before disappearing. Gendarmes also confirmed the strange phenomenon.
• December 29, 1978 (Le Progrès): In Pleven, Bulgaria, hundreds of witnesses saw two identical UFOs, appearing the size of the moon, hover at about 1000 meters before ascending vertically and disappearing.

Other Addresses and Contact Information

An additional contact address for the Loire region is provided for Patrick BERIET at CEMOCPI. The Service de Presse for GEPO is located at GEPO Ecole Publique, 42470 St Symphorien de Lay.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the nature of belief in UFOs, the historical context of sightings, and the modern challenges in objectively studying and reporting such phenomena. The editorial stance appears critical of how skepticism is manufactured to dismiss UFO reports, suggesting a deliberate effort to make the subject a source of ridicule rather than serious inquiry. The publication emphasizes the importance of collecting and archiving information for ufological research and promotes a network of correspondents and organizations dedicated to this pursuit. The issue also highlights the international scope of UFO sightings and the role of media in both reporting and potentially influencing public perception.