Northern UFO News - No 92

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 92
Volume: FEBRUARY 1982
Publisher: Northern UFO Network (NUFON)
Country: UK
Price: £2.80 (1982 subscription rate)

This issue of NORTHERN UFO NEWS, published monthly by the Northern UFO Network (NUFON), explores radical theories surrounding UFO phenomena, focusing on the concepts of consciousness and synchronicity. The editorial section, titled "Flotsam on the shores of consciousness?", delves into the idea that UFOs might be products of the human mind or a collective consciousness, drawing parallels with Jungian psychology and the theories of Lyall Watson. The magazine also features a series of "Low Definition Investigations" and "Medium Definition Investigations," detailing numerous UFO sightings and encounters reported across the UK.

Editorial: Flotsam on the shores of consciousness?

The editorial argues for the exploration of radical theories in the study of the paranormal, suggesting that even seemingly heretical ideas can lead to scientific breakthroughs. It highlights the growing "UFOs emerge from the consciousness" school of thought, acknowledging its opponents but emphasizing its contribution of imaginative concepts. The editor posits that synchronicity, as described by Jung, is a crucial element in understanding these phenomena, citing the correlation between the movie "Close Encounters" and real-life events. The editorial references previous issues from 1977-1978 and the work of Lyall Watson in "LIFETIDE" and "MIRACLE VISITORS," which propose that reality can be collectively willed into existence and that Earth possesses a planetary consciousness.

The editorial then connects these theoretical discussions to recent events, particularly a wave of synchronous animal sightings and mutilations. It recounts the discovery of two surgically decapitated bears in Essex, a sighting of a bear on Hackney Marshes, a sighting of a giant pig near Banbury, and the mutilation and decapitation of 25 sheep in Rossendale. The editor questions whether these are mere coincidences, given their occurrence in areas with recent UFO activity.

News and Reports

CENTRAL TV UFO Fiasco: The issue reports on a controversial publicity stunt by CENTRAL TV for a new station, which used a vague similarity between its logo and a spherical UFO. This led to confusion and even legal trouble when an invented witness was revealed to be a magistrate. The article criticizes the stunt, especially its lack of clarity and its potential to mislead the public.

• Correspondents and Book Sales: Several individuals are mentioned seeking contact or offering items of interest:
• Phil Taylor (Liverpool) is a radio ham interested in UFOs.
• Derek Kendall (New Zealand) has invented a UFO board game and is seeking a backer.
• Vicente Ballester Olmos (Valencia, Spain) is looking for a copy of "Investigation Standards" from NUN issue 56.
• Tom Lind (USA) is selling rare old UFO books and US periodicals.

BUFORA CONFERENCE 1982: Information is provided about the upcoming BUFORA conference in Edinburgh on March 13th. The event includes a symposium on the 1979 Livingston CE2 case, with discussions on landing, time loss, traces, and attack by metal spheroids. Jenny Randles is scheduled to discuss investigation methods, and Allan Hynek will speak on ufology and science.

• ELSEWHERE OF NOTE: This section highlights various publications and events:
• Kevin McClure is assisting with journal abstracts for "COMMON GROUND."
• "SCOTTISH UFO BULLETIN 4" features articles on UFOs and government, and news of a UFO/Space/Sci-fi conference at Wembley arena in August 1984.
• "SIGAPS PEGASUS" has begun publication, including a paper linking the Fatima miracle with UFOs.
• "PROBE" magazine continues with exposes on IFOs and an article on UFO landing nests.
• The issue notes a trend of fewer UFO books being published in 1981 and anticipates this continuing in 1982.
• Several books are reviewed or mentioned: Berlitz & Moore's "THE ROSWELL INCIDENT," Ron Story's "UFOs & THE LIMITS OF SCIENCE," Janet & Colin Bord's "ARE WE BEING WATCHED?", Bill Startup's "KAIKOURA UFOs," and a "UFO STUDY" from Hales.
• The Pugh & Holliday book on the Welsh wave and D. Scott Rogo's "UFO ABDUCTIONS" are also mentioned.

Commentary and Investigations

COMMENT ON EDITORIAL 90: Nigel Mortimer (W Yorks) shares his experience of unconsciously looking for similarities with his own sighting (a close encounter in Otley, Nov 1980) in UFO reports. He describes three separate reports of a large glowing object in W Yorks, where the object was seen from stationary cars by most witnesses.

Paul Wilson (N Yorks) discusses the challenges of creating a usable classification system for UFO reports. He argues that coding reports can reduce the information quanta available and suggests that multiple, independently applied classification systems might reveal hidden trends.

Hilary Evans (London) proposes that understanding UFOs requires looking at UFO behavior and associative factors, such as power-line connections and geological faults, rather than solely visual features. He advocates for a computerable database of reliable sightings, similar to Paul Wilson's URD system, to identify recurring patterns.

• Low Definition Investigations:
• 81-44 (June 21, 1981): Two teenagers in Shaw, Greater Manchester, observed a large, glowing object descending from the sky, moving erratically for 25 minutes.
• 81-49 (Dec 5, 1981): A woman, her husband, and brother in Mottram, Derbyshire, observed a large, twinkling object hovering for 30 minutes before vanishing.
• 81-50 (Dec 6, 1981): A man in Washington, Tyne & Wear, saw two bright green lights moving very fast, larger than aircraft lights.

• Medium Definition Investigations:
• 81-45 (Aug 9, 1981): A woman and her daughter on holiday in Rhyl, Clwyd, witnessed a strange, charcoal grey, jellyfish-like object with flashing lights that moved in a Z pattern.
• 81-46 (Oct 10, 1981): Two men near Huyton, Merseyside, observed a large, luminous, elongated cigar-shaped object with lights on the side, which ascended the bank of the motorway.
• 81-48 (Nov 20, 1981): Jenny Randles' mother (Mrs R) observed a stationary object, initially fish-finger shaped and then sprofed flames, near the M62 in Greater Manchester.
• 81-51 (Dec 6, 1981): A man and staff member in Stranraer, Scotland, saw a large oval object descending from low cloud, displaying multi-coloured lights, and hovering for over an hour.
• 81-47 (Nov 4, 1981): A couple near Scammenden Dam, West Yorks, observed a bright white ball of light approach, stop, and then shoot off at high speed. They reported feeling "calm and very peaceful."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the exploration of unconventional theories in ufology, particularly the role of consciousness and synchronicity in understanding UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded and encourages the investigation of even speculative ideas, provided they are grounded in observation and analysis. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of rigorous investigation methods, as highlighted by the contributions from various investigators and the discussion on classification systems. The magazine also seems to maintain a critical view of media sensationalism, as evidenced by the critique of the CENTRAL TV UFO stunt. The publication aims to connect seemingly disparate events, such as animal mutilations and UFO sightings, under a broader framework of unexplained phenomena.