Itufor07

Magazine Overview

This issue of the "ITALIAN UFO REPORTER", Issue No. 7, dated July 1988, is a newsletter from the Italian Center for UFO Studies (C.I.S.U.) based in Torino, Italy. The publication is available by subscription or exchange. The issue is divided into two parts: an update on the Italian UFO scene in 1987 and English language abstracts from C.I.S.U.'s "UFO Information Review" (UFO - RIVISTA DI INFORMAZIONE UFOLOGICA) No. 5, a special issue on UFO abductions.

The Italian UFO Scene: 1987 Update

Authored by Edoardo Russo, this section details a rich year for Italian ufology, primarily focused on public education activities. The "First National UFO Information Week" was organized on June 24 to commemorate "40 years anniversary" of ufology. This event, modeled on MUFON, involved CISU members holding conferences, TV and radio programs, photo exhibitions, and interviews across Italy. At a central level, two press conferences were held in Milan and Turin, an international congress was sponsored, and a national opinion poll was conducted. This resulted in significant media coverage, including dozens of daily press articles, national and regional TV and radio broadcasts, and interviews, increasing public awareness.

The Turin Congress

The congress aimed to stimulate attention from the scientific milieu by presenting a "different" image of ufology. The theme was "Forty Years of UFOs: for a Scientific Approach to the Problem." Speakers included a professor of psychology from the University of Turin, an informatician from EEC Euratom laboratories, a Ph.D. from the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, a French professor of Philosophy, and an Austrian researcher from Salzburg University, alongside prominent Italian ufologists.

The Opinion Poll

A poll conducted by Gallup associate "Doxa" revealed a surprising decrease in belief in UFOs among Italians, dropping from one-third to one-fifth in the last ten years. For the first time, Italians were asked if they had ever seen a UFO, with 6 percent answering yes, equating to approximately three million witnesses nationwide. CISU had filed only ten thousand reports in forty years. This poll was notable as the first national UFO poll conducted on behalf of and paid for by a UFO organization.

Studies, Research and Activities

Beyond public education, CISU continued its research projects, including regional UFO sighting catalogues, research in library newspaper collections, and field investigations. New activities launched in 1987 included a catalogue of Fortean events in Italy, the "CISU Video Service," two new UFO Phone Hotlines, a "UFO-BBS" for telematic ufologists, and a CISU prize for the best paper and investigation report.

Publications

CISU enhanced its journal, "UFO Rivista di informazione ufologica," using Macintosh/Laser desk-top publishing. The organization maintained a busy publishing schedule, releasing two issues of "UFO," five issues of "Notizie UFO," six issues of the "UFO Newsclipping Service," and one research monograph. In 1987, only one UFO book was published in Italy: Gary Kinder's "Light Years," about Swiss contactee Bill Meier.

Sightings

The issue reports over one hundred UFO sightings collected in Italy during 1987, with a concentration in August. Notable cases include:

• August 6th: Three young men in Pordenone province were enveloped by a red light from a lens-shaped object, causing their car to stop. They saw the object hovering and emitting the beam. After getting back in the car, they found themselves 40 km away. They suffered conjunctivitis and nausea.
• August 18th: In Chions, Pordenone, two peasants witnessed a silvery disc descend and emit a blue light beam, causing two chickens to "disappear."
• September 15th: Three commercial flights above Vicenza observed a bright object crossing their route, leading the Ministry of Defense to issue a denial.

The article also notes the appearance of "laser beams" used for advertising or concerts, causing groups of circular lights.

The Lunatic Fringe

This section highlights a resurgence of contactee/cultist groups, particularly the Milan group "Le Pleiadi Arcadia," which gained significant public exposure on national TV, becoming a reference point for sensationalist media.

Abstracts of "UFO - RIVISTA DI INFORMAZIONE UFOLOGICA" Issue No. 5

This June 1988 issue was dedicated to the UFO abduction controversy, featuring translations from American journals. A long article by E. Russo is briefly summarized. Detailed abstracts are provided for two articles by P. Fiorino and G. P. Grassino on Italian abductions. Two other Italian contributions were comments by students on "Communion" and "Intruders."

Abductions in Italy: Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind

By Paolo Fiorino, this section states there are 34 known Italian abduction reports out of 382 CE-III cases in CISU files. However, 10 involve the same witness (Fortunato Zanfretta), 8 are hoaxes, and 5 are better classified as "on-board" experiences. Public awareness of abductions began in 1978 with the Zanfretta case, though the Italian press had reported on the Hills', Pascagoula, and Walton cases earlier. The Calolzo di Cadore abduction/hypnosis affair in 1986 received significant media attention. A distinction is made between recent abduction reports and earlier CE-IV reports from the '60s and '70s.

1954: The First Case

Reported in Naples newspapers on December 13, 1954, a 57-year-old peasant claimed to have been "kidnapped" by two individuals for 48 hours, experiencing weightlessness. An investigation by Umberto Telarico in 1974 found little more than the press story. The man reportedly lived in a confused state afterward.

1933: A Precedent?

An article from "La Nazione" on March 2, 1933, describes a peasant in Favorino being seized by a "man" and taken to the top of a tall tree.

1978-79: The Year of the Humanoids

Several CE-III cases occurred during the 1978-79 wave. Two sheer abductions are detailed:

• The Zanfretta Case: The well-known case is mentioned as detailed elsewhere.
• Lusiana (Vicenza): On January 18, 1979, a wood-cutter's car stopped, and he encountered two meter-tall humanoids from an orange ball. He was invited on board a small room with electronic gadgets and a screen, and the beings attempted to undress him.

Some Possible Abductions?

Potential or hidden abduction cases with missing time include:

• February 23, 1978 (Sesto Fiorentino): A couple experienced radio interference and a "warm, violet light" with "four shapes."
• September 21, 1978 (Cosenza): A young man saw an illuminated area, an ovoid object, and humanoid beings.
• December 8, 1978 (Milanere, Torino): Two young men sighted a blue-white light; one disappeared and reappeared later, suffering from conjunctivitis.

A Singular Case

This case, obtained entirely under hypnosis, involved a 16-year-old UFO buff who photographed strange traces. Under hypnosis, he recounted being approached and touched by a "human shape" and sucked into an airborne "object" through a "vertical tunnel." He described a round room with "persons" and a woman, and was taken to another room where he could see the UFO land.

Conclusions

The abduction situation in Italy is summarized as rare, with limited media attention (except for Zanfretta), few detailed investigations, and rare use of hypnotic regression. However, typical abduction features from other countries are reported.

The Zanfretta Case History: An Unsolved Riddle

By Gian Paolo Grassino, this section details the first two abductions of Fortunato Zanfretta, which began on December 6, 1978. The case is described as complex, involving conscious memories and hypnotic recalls.

The First Encounter

On December 6, 1978, nightwatcher Fortunato Zanfretta encountered four "torch-lights" and a "3 meters tall monster with a ugly face." He was pushed and fell, then saw a yellow triangle-shaped object take off. The event was published in local newspapers and amplified by the media and ufologists.

Hypnosis

Under hypnosis on December 23rd, Zanfretta described being taken into a bright room by giant entities and fitted with a helmet. The humanoids were described as green-skinned with yellow triangular eyes and pointed ears. This was the first of many hypnosis sessions.

The Second Abduction

On December 28, 1978, Zanfretta reported losing control of his car, which sped by itself. He then saw a strange light outside. Upon investigation, his car was found hot, and giant footprints were visible. A new hypnosis session revealed he was taken on board, examined, and asked questions by beings who claimed to be from a lost people in the galaxy.

The Aftermath

The Zanfretta case continued for two years with more encounters, some published, others rumored. His accounts became more fantastic, including telepathic contacts and descriptions of a subterranean base. The promised "proof" was allegedly destroyed, and the experiences ceased in 1981.

A Difficult Evaluation

Despite a book and numerous articles on the case, reaching a conclusion is difficult due to poor information quality and sensationalism. The special climate surrounding Zanfretta, including media attention and pressure, may have influenced his accounts. The first two encounters are considered the most significant ufologically, as external influences were minimal.

The Abduction Phenomenon in Historical Perspective: Twenty Years of Studies of UFO Kidnappings

By Edoardo Russo, this article provides an overview of CE-IV studies for the Italian reader, covering the rebuttal of contactees, CE-III reports, the "age of abductions" since 1975, experimental studies, psychological testing, and European skepticism. It questions whether abductees might become the contactees of the future and the role of ufologists.

"Communion" Special Feature

My Experiences with the Visitors

This is a translation of an article by Whitley Strieber from the MUFON UFO Journal. It includes an editorial synthesis of the "Communion" story, a review of media and public reactions, Strieber's attitude towards ufology, and future perspectives.

What is Hypnosis?

An editorial box explains hypnotic regression and its uses.

Yesterday's and Today's Strieber: An Interview with Danilo Arona

By Paolo Toselli, this interview features Danilo Arona, a science-fiction writer and reviewer, discussing Whitley Strieber's books, particularly "Communion." Arona suggests that Strieber's work, while presented as a true story, is a powerful fiction novel, drawing from a "mysticism well" and American cultural tendencies. He compares Strieber's narrative to Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" and Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters."

UFO Abductions: A Comparative Study of Case Histories

By Thomas E. Bullard, this is a translation of an article from the "International UFO Reporter."

"Intruders" Special Feature

An editorial article details recent developments, including the Davies family experiences, public reactions, and a critical look at American ufology and CSICOP.

Intruders: UFO Abductions

By Budd Hopkins, this is a translation of an article from the "MUFON UFO Journal."

Abductions and Folklore: An Anthropological View of the UFO Kidnappings

By Bertrand Méheust, this is a translation of a chapter from the book "UFOs: 1947-1987."

Intrusion or Communion?

By Franco Ossola, this article compares Budd Hopkins' "Intruders" and Whitley Strieber's "Communion." Ossola finds Hopkins' work to be a factual report, while Strieber's is more literary and introspective, focusing on "inner" entities rather than physical aliens.

Who's Who in Italian UFology

This section presents Italian ufologists, featuring Paolo Fiorino. Fiorino, who lives in Turin, became interested in UFOs in 1971 and joined CUN. He is a founding member of CISU and Director of the Humanoid Study Group. His position statement is "agnostic," with a particular interest in CE-III cases, suggesting connections to religious apparitions and emphasizing the importance of the witness and environment.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the state of ufology in Italy in 1987, with a focus on public education and research, and a deep dive into the controversial topic of UFO abductions. The issue presents various abduction cases, investigations, and interpretations, including the complex Zanfretta case. There is a clear effort to present a scientific approach to ufology, as evidenced by the speakers at the Turin Congress and the critical evaluations of abduction accounts. The publication also engages with international UFO literature through translations and abstracts. The editorial stance appears to be one of rigorous investigation and critical analysis, acknowledging the complexities and challenges in understanding UFO phenomena, particularly abductions, while also promoting public awareness and scientific inquiry.