LANDSSTYRENYTT

Magazine Overview

This issue of LANDSSTYRENYTT, dated May 9, 1986, leads with the somber news of the passing of J. Allen Hynek, a pioneer in UFOlogy, on April 27th, following complications from brain surgeries. The magazine reflects on Hynek's contributions and his later interest in astral projection.

The issue then transitions to a collection of recent UFO sightings reported across Norway, presented as "KLIPPENE" (The Clips). These reports are drawn from various local newspapers.

UFO Sightings Reported:

• Ramnes (Tønsbergs Blad, March 1st): Four luminous objects with sharp red lights were observed over Søndre Reine. They moved silently, split into two groups, with two heading towards Kongsberg and the other two moving eastwards and stopping.
• Flesberg (Laagendalsposten, April 1st): Arne Lande reported seeing a large, moon-sized object with a yellow-golden light moving at high speed over Flesberg on Maundy Thursday. It descended diagonally towards Kollkinnåsen, where it appeared to explode or crash, leaving behind sparks and shooting stars. Lande noted the object moved much faster than a typical aircraft and heard no sound, possibly due to distance.
• Modum (Drammens Tidende og Buskerud Blad, April 10th): A skier observed a bright, sun-like object that stopped, then rotated 90 degrees and moved slowly towards Snaukollen. Another, smaller light was seen moving faster with a distinct buzzing sound, unlike the silent main object.
• Stod (Trønderavisa, April 10th): Torbjørn Asklund observed an object with a yellow, orange, and red tail moving horizontally over the horizon.
• Stod (Trønderavisa, April 11th): The same object was reportedly seen again.
• General (Astrofysisk Institutt): Rolf Stabell, manager and assistant at the Astrofysisk Institutt, suggested that sightings might be the planet Venus, which is currently very visible in the evening sky, or satellites. He explained that Venus appears as a bright disc and exhibits phases like the moon. Stabell also emphasized the immense distances to other star systems, making interstellar visits highly improbable, though he did not rule out the existence of life on other planets.
• Haga (Sunnhordland, April 14th): An object was seen four times, all at 10:10 PM. On Thursday evening, an object from Bømlo moved towards Huglo, changing color from sharp white to red.
• Fodnesåsen (Oppland, April 15th): Mysterious lights were observed moving slowly over a hill known for UFO activity. These lights were described as moving like stars and sometimes appearing in a checkered pattern.
• Ramnes (Tønsbergs Blad, March 1st): Frank Ås reported seeing four luminous objects with sharp red lights, two of which split off and disappeared towards Kongsberg, while the other two stopped. He was certain they were not aircraft or helicopters.

UFO-NORGE Landsmøte 1986

The issue also details the UFO-NORGE Landsmøte held at Grand Hotell in Horten. The event saw fewer attendees than expected, possibly due to the timing near May 17th and Pentecost. A delegation from the newly formed VIDYA organization in Drammen also attended.

Key points from the meeting included:

• Presentations: A presentation on phenomena at Carleton Moor in North Yorkshire, England, and a lecture by Johannes Rimås on the hidden talents of gravity.
• Organizational Matters: Odd-Gunnar Røed presented the annual report, noting changes in the magazine's format from A4 to a larger A5 size, which helped improve the financial situation. The committee aims to publish four issues per year, but faces challenges with timely content submission. The need for new, younger members to take over responsibilities was highlighted.
• Committee Changes: Roar Wister and Per Ottesen were welcomed as new members to the committee.
• Financial Situation: The organization faced significant expenses, including a deficit of approximately 30,000 kroner from "Brosjyresentralen" and the absorption of the membership list from "Fremmedvitenskapelig Informasjon." To manage these costs, the organization took out a private bank loan of 20,000 kroner, which members helped to repay.
• Newsletter: The newsletter will now be available for purchase internationally, with different prices for Norway, Europe, and the rest of the world.
• Department Reports: Reports from various departments indicated a generally quiet period, with the Vest department having a surplus of 8810 kroner. Efforts are being made to increase subscriptions to cover expenses.
• Public Outreach: Plans include monthly advertisements in local newspapers encouraging people to report observations, starting with a trial in Fædrelandsvennen.
• International Representation: For the first time, a representative attended a conference in Leeds, England, to discuss UFO-NORGE and the Project Hessdalen.
• Meeting Resolutions: The committee was re-elected without opposition. Rules and regulations were read and adopted. It was agreed that press clippings would be copied and sent to department leaders, who would then contact witnesses and submit reports to the central office.

The Landsmøte concluded with a summary of Timothy Good's lecture on government secrecy regarding the UFO problem in the USA, England, and other parts of the world.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings across Norway, presenting them as factual accounts from witnesses and local news sources. There is a clear interest in documenting these phenomena and encouraging public participation through reporting. The publication also engages with the scientific community's explanations, such as identifying sightings as astronomical objects, while maintaining an open stance on the broader UFO question. The organizational aspects of UFO-NORGE are also a recurring theme, highlighting the efforts and challenges of running such a group.