Just Cause - 1993 12 - No 38 - New Series

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: NUMBER 38
Date: December 1993
Publisher: Lawrence Fawcett
Editor: Barry Greenwood
Address: CAUS, P.O. Box 218, Coventry, Ct. 06238
Rates: $15 US, $20 Foreign

This issue of "Just Cause" magazine, published by Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS), addresses two primary matters: the ongoing release of previously classified information by the US government and the perceived trend of 'junk UFOlogy' in research. The editorial highlights the public's continuous exposure to withheld facts, drawing parallels to the Cold War era, and criticizes the sensationalism that often overshadows truth in popular media, including UFO research.

Editorial: Two Matters at Hand

The editorial begins by referencing a statement by Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary regarding a "Secret" folder containing an analysis of a television news broadcast, which she found unsurprising. This leads into a broader discussion about the continuous revelations of long-withheld facts, such as radiation experiments conducted on unsuspecting citizens. The editor contrasts this with the UFO field, noting that while credible UFO literature from the past contained numerous accounts of military encounters with unidentified flying objects, details of these events have largely remained hidden, with only a few gun camera films (a 1953 Luke AFB film and a 1952 Osceola, Wisconsin film) entering the public domain. The editor questions the whereabouts of other documents and sequences related to these encounters, suggesting that significant information still resides within government archives.

The second point of the editorial addresses a trend observed in European UFOlogists' newsletters: the increasing stereotyping of American UFO research. The editor notes that attention given to close encounters is proportional to the numerical count of the CE (Close Encounters), with the implication that even more extreme categories might emerge. The editorial expresses skepticism about the established reality of even the first kind of close encounter, yet criticizes self-appointed authorities in UFOlogy who lecture and make definitive declarations about UFO origins and purposes. The editor argues that few arguments in this subject have been conclusively decided and that restraint is necessary until more definitive evidence is available.

The editorial criticizes the culture's reward for sensationalism over truth, likening it to a preference for "junk food, junk television and junk entertainment," and extending this to "junk UFOlogy." An example cited is a national talk show that presented a newcomer to UFO research who claimed to have photographed a structured alien spaceship at Groom Lake, Nevada (Area 51), when the image was clearly an out-of-focus light source. The editorial laments that skepticism is often expressed by attacking a person's character rather than the information itself, and notes that even skeptics with only "two years" of experience are presented as authorities.

Document Hints at Explanation for Russian UFO Wave

This section reports on a declassified cable from the Department of State, dated June 30, 1987. The cable suggests that Soviet authorities constructed an SDI research station near the Radio-Physics Institute in Stavropol, focusing on electromagnetic methods for shooting down satellites. The resulting microwaves could be detected by scientists at the Radiophysics Institute. The area also reportedly has the highest number of UFO sightings in the USSR, which the source attributes to these SDI experiments.

The article notes that the message lacks detail for full evaluation but suggests significant implications if true. It raises the possibility that US SDI testing during the Reagan administration might have been responsible for some UFO reports, drawing a parallel to the passive manipulation theory suggested for the July 1952 UFO wave. The idea is that it might be preferable for the population to believe they are seeing flying saucers rather than knowing the true nature of the aerial phenomena observed. The report emphasizes the need for restraint, as strange aerial activity is often immediately attributed to alien origins by the UFO community, potentially overlooking other causes.

New UFO Secrecy Book in Spanish Released

A brief announcement is made about a new, large-format book published in Spanish, titled "OVNI: Toda La Verdad!" (UFO: The Whole Truth!). The book, by Harry Lebelson and Bette Rush, summarizes UFO secrecy controversies over the past fifty years. While not explicitly endorsed, the authors' intent to cover a broad spectrum of discussion is noted, and the book is described as a visual delight with unusual and little-seen material. Contact information for the publisher is provided.

EBOLs (Expanding Balls of Light)

This section, spanning several pages, details numerous reports of a phenomenon identified as EBOLs (Expanding Balls of Light). These are described as great expanding balls of light, resembling nuclear explosions, seen over a wide spread of years, typically by ship personnel or pilots.

Marine Observer: July 1965 - Mediterranean Sea

On July 6, 1964, after sunset, observers on the m.v. Great City witnessed rings of distinct color differentiation appearing on the western horizon. These expanded, became lighter, and merged. Later, a yellow disc appeared, superimposed on a blue-green shadow, rapidly diffusing and disappearing within minutes. The disc was estimated to be 32' in diameter at an altitude of 10-15°.

Marine Observer: July 1973 - Western North Atlantic

On September 25, 1972, the m.v. Adelaide Star observed a large luminous area above the horizon that increased in size and altitude, eventually becoming indistinguishable. The sky in the area was lighter than the surroundings.

Marine Observer: April 1971 - Caribbean Sea

On June 30, 1970, the m.v. Port Phillip observed a small semicircle of light on the horizon that rapidly expanded upwards and outwards, blotting out stars, and slowly faded over 9 minutes.

Marine Observer: April 1971 - N.W. Providence Channel

On June 30, 1970, the m.v. Orita observed an expanding halo of white light in the sky, vanishing after 5 minutes. A comet-like object was seen at the center, which also vanished. A local resident suggested it might be a rocket from Cape Kennedy burning up.

Marine Observer: April 1971 - North Atlantic Ocean

On June 30, 1970, the m.v. City of Wellington observed an unusual semi-circular arc of milky-white light that expanded to fill the horizon and then faded. The observer concluded it was a freak glow auroral display, but noted its low latitude made this unlikely.

Marine Observer: April 1971 - Western North Atlantic

On June 30, 1970, the m.v. Crystal Gem reported a football-sized, mushroom-shaped, halo-like object that was rapidly expanding. It had a milky-white, incandescent, and gaseous appearance and seemed to be disintegrating.

Marine Observer: April 1971 - Western North Atlantic

On June 30, 1970, the m.v. Beaverpine observed a brilliant pearly-white light expanding rapidly from the horizon, appearing as a vast, expanding bubble or explosion. The phenomenon was discernible until it reached the zenith.

Marine Observer: April 1971 - Western North Atlantic

On June 30, 1970, the m.v. Trefusis observed a circular cloud about the size of a full moon, which took the form of a halo with a comet-like center that burst into three pieces and disappeared. The observer theorized it might be a large meteor exploding in the atmosphere.

Discussion on EBOL Explanations:

The article discusses various explanations for EBOLs, including meteors, undersea volcanic activity, seismically-released methane, Soviet SDI beam weapon experiments, and auroras. It references Dr. Richard Haines's work and William Corliss's sourcebooks, which catalogued numerous cases. A notable example is the Japan Air Lines flight 36 incident on April 9, 1984, where a pilot reported a cloud resembling a nuclear explosion expanding rapidly at 33,000 feet. Explanations involving meteors were challenged by researchers who noted the mushroom shape and the energy required.

Southern domed auroras are considered a rarity, and while auroras are a possible explanation, the duration, expansion into a sphere, lack of solar activity, and southerly locations of some EBOL reports mitigate against this. The article also mentions a phenomenon described in a Science article as a "Jellyfish' Flash," which involves light shooting from storm clouds but occurs in a fraction of a second, differing significantly from EBOLs.

Phenomenon Bermuda 1949:

A declassified U.S. Air Force Intelligence report titled "Phenomenon Bermuda 1949" is discussed. A B-29 aircraft crew observed a mysterious red glow on the water's surface near Bermuda on January 24, 1949. The glow was described as a dark red mass, 1 to 1-1/2 miles wide, with phosphorescent red light rising to 2,500-3,000 feet. Two columns of white light were also observed. The phenomenon illuminated the water and surrounding clouds. Despite the presence of auroral activity in the area, the observation on the water's surface was considered unusual. P.H. Wyckoff, Chief of the Air Materiel Command's Atmospheric Physics Laboratory, concluded that no valid natural or man-made explanation could be found for this phenomenon.

Inclosures:

The report includes references to several enclosures, including news articles like "Dr. Gordon Quits, Charges Slight," "Northern Lights Are Seen Here," and "Record Imports of Over 17 Million last Year," as well as a sketch of the atmospheric phenomena witnessed by Captain Mattatall and his crew.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are government secrecy surrounding unexplained phenomena, the critical analysis of UFO research methodologies, and the documentation of unusual aerial events. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims ('junk UFOlogy') while advocating for a more rigorous and evidence-based approach to understanding UFO phenomena. The magazine appears to be a platform for reporting on documented sightings and declassified information, encouraging critical thinking and restraint in interpretation, particularly when dealing with phenomena that defy easy explanation.

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: 11
Date: November 9, 1993
Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of JUST CAUSE focuses on the ongoing investigation into Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and related phenomena, with a particular emphasis on government information and satellite data. The publication expresses a commitment to uncovering unreleased government information on UFO phenomena and highlights new projects launched to this effect.

Article: Follow-up Report on Solar Particles and Vela Satellites

The issue begins with a follow-up report by Wyckoff on June 15, 1949, which entertained the possibility that a glow observed was indirectly caused by a stream of "solar particles" ejected from an intense solar flare. However, the mechanism for the production of the red glow with white beams remained unknown and of great interest. The report also notes that possible hard evidence for EBOLs (Extra-Terrestrial Biological Objects) could be found in data collected by Vela satellites.

Vela satellites, launched by the United States in 1963, were designed to monitor adherence to the 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty by identifying the flash of exploding nuclear weapons. The magazine references a discussion of the Vela story in "CLEAR INTENT" (pgs 97-98), highlighting that Vela sensors were triggered hundreds of times by unknown signals, termed "zoo events" in a 1980 White House report. An "Ad Hoc Panel Report on the September 22 Event" in 1980 noted that some "zoo events" had characteristics associated with nuclear explosions, though they could be distinguished from actual nuclear signals by their time histories. This is compared to an observation by Charles McDade on page 4 of the issue, describing a nuclear-like outburst with no other consequences.

The article poses the question of whether a percentage of these Vela satellite "zoo events" are detections of EBOLs, suggesting it's a reasonable hypothesis given the descriptions of the phenomenon. However, it notes that Vela satellite data is classified, preventing confirmation of any EBOL events detected by Vela.

The publication reiterates its long-standing point that reports of high-strangeness aerial phenomena were not only classified at the time of the event but often remained so for decades, citing the Bermuda report being hidden for 43 years. They maintain that such reports, including those of flying saucers and UFOs, remain classified and could contribute positively to scientific knowledge.

Final Notes

The "Final Notes" section reaffirms the commitment to uncovering unreleased government information on UFO phenomena and mentions new projects underway. The magazine plans to explore the issue of gun camera films more extensively, addressing the serious problem of film deterioration that plagues the film industry. This deterioration means that silver nitrate-based films can turn to dust over decades, potentially leading to the loss of stored gun camera footage of UFOs.

The publication also corrects a previous assumption about the earliest evidence of government interest in strange aerial phenomena, which was thought to be in 1915. They state that they have pushed this date back significantly and will reveal more in the coming year.

Support from subscribers and exchange magazines is appreciated. The magazine reminds its exchanges that their address is: Box 176; Stoneham, Mass. 02180, as they cannot keep track of them otherwise.

Letter to the Editor: Canary Islands Sighting Corroboration

A letter from Luís António Tapia Godinho, Civil Engineer from Aveiro, Portugal, dated November 9, 1993, responds to a report in the last issue of "JUST CAUSE" about a peculiar sighting of a huge ball of light in the North Atlantic observed by a ship's crew. Godinho found the report interesting because the characteristics of the phenomenon reminded him of another event he was aware of.

After searching his files, Godinho found a similar phenomenon that occurred in the Canary Islands (Spain) on June 22, 1976, approximately a hundred miles north of the ship's position. He notes that "some, perhaps, thousand of witnesses" saw the phenomenon, which also included the appearance of UFOs from the center of the light ball, described as having a spiral within. This event also included a "fantastic CE3" (Close Encounter of the Third Kind) for a few people on one of the islands.

The only minor discrepancy between the two reports (the ship sighting and the Canary Islands sighting) was the direction of the sightings. Godinho expresses no doubt about the reality of the phenomenon on that peculiar night, given this corroboration of details. He suggests filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the US services responsible for satellite monitoring, such as VELA satellites, as such a significant display would not have been missed by the surveillance system.

He recalls the widespread announcement of the Vela detection of an anomalous double flash over the ocean south of South Africa in 1978, which was suspected to be a secret nuclear experiment conducted by South Africa jointly with Israel. Godinho offers to provide more details from his records if desired.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent mystery of UFO phenomena, the potential role of government secrecy in obscuring information, and the use of scientific and technological means (like satellites) to investigate these events. The editorial stance appears to be one of active pursuit of truth, advocating for the release of classified information and highlighting the importance of historical UFO reports for scientific understanding. There is a clear skepticism towards official explanations that dismiss unusual aerial phenomena and a belief that such events warrant serious investigation.