BULLETIN

Magazine Overview

BULLETIN, Issue 5, 1st Year, dated October 25, 1986, published by Arbeider-Avisa, is a Norwegian magazine focusing on societal, cultural, and business topics, with a strong emphasis on UFO phenomena and related investigations in this issue. The magazine aims to provide an open forum for discussion and presents various reports, interviews, and analyses.

Astrology Debunked

The lead article, "Astrology is just a BLUFF," by Gudmund Løvø, presents findings from the Norsk Institutt for Vitenskapelig Forskning og Opplysning (NIVFO) in Trondheim. NIVFO asserts that astrology is not a science and that its popularity surges during times of crisis. A study involving 30 prominent astrologers showed they could not accurately match character descriptions to birth dates, performing no better than chance. NIVFO, affiliated with the American research institute CSICOP, aims to scientifically debunk paranormal phenomena and was previously involved in investigating the Hessdalen UFO hysteria, suggesting natural explanations for the lights.

UFO-NORGE and the Hessdalen Phenomenon

Odd-Gunnar Røed, chairman of UFO-NORGE, explains the organization's structure, which includes a central committee and regional departments. UFO-NORGE publishes two journals: "UFO" (Norwegian) and "Nordic UFO Newsletter" (English, for international distribution). Røed discusses various UFO theories, including natural phenomena, misidentifications, and more radical hypotheses like time-bending. He highlights "Project Hessdalen" as Norway's most UFO-haunted valley, where strange lights were observed starting in December 1981. The project involved international UFO conferences and scientific investigations using equipment like spectrofilters, magnetographs, and radar. A notable observation from the project was a light with a measured speed of 32,000 km/h.

International UFO Sightings and Reports

The magazine reports on several international UFO incidents. A Japanese jumbojet captain, Kenji Terauchi, observed three unidentified flying objects over Alaska on December 29, 1986. The largest was spherical (approx. 120m diameter) and the two smaller ones were cubic (approx. 40m diameter). They exhibited blinking lights and unusual movements, including circling the aircraft. Radar contact was inconsistent, with the aircraft's radar detecting them while ground radar did not. Another report details a sighting by Laila Eiren Bjelland (11) in Sandvoll, Norway, of a yellow light with a red tail, which she initially thought might be a UFO or helicopter. In Førde, Norway, Ann Sylvi Nyrud observed two strange lights in the sky on December 20, 1986, which she questioned as possibly being a satellite or Jupiter. An astronomer suggested Jupiter as a possibility. The magazine also mentions a "Tonning-film" from Hallingdal, Norway, capturing a luminous object with eight witnesses and video evidence, which was under investigation by FFI.

Other Articles and Features

The issue includes a brief mention of a "Cocoon" film available through UFO-Ramas and a note about ordering a new American UFO magazine. There's also a brief, unrelated item about a 13-year-old Italian girl, Beatrice Fuca, who reportedly had a near-death experience and described paradise before passing away.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and investigations, the debunking of pseudoscience like astrology, and the promotion of UFO-NORGE's activities. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into UFO phenomena, while also grounding reports in scientific investigation and critical analysis. The magazine encourages readers to report their own sightings and provides contact information for UFO-NORGE. The overall tone is informative and investigative, aiming to present a balanced view of the UFO topic.