Notizie UFO - No 29

Magazine Overview

Title: NOTIZIE UFO
Issue: 29
Date: December 1989
Publisher: Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (C.I.S.U.)
Country: Italy
Language: Italian

This issue of "Notizie UFO" marks the end of 1989 and includes membership renewal forms for 1990, with unchanged fees. The publication apologizes for delays in the release of the "Rassegna Casistica," "Notiziario Archivio Stampa," and issue No. 8 of the "UFO" magazine, which are expected in January. The circular emphasizes that these delays are typical of volunteer organizations and expresses gratitude for the readers' patience.

From the Secretariat

Received Material:

• Antonio Cuccu and Salvatore Cappai (Sassari): A 186-page report on a close encounter of the third kind case near Monte S. Antonio di Macomer (NU) on April 26, 1984. A summary will be published in the "UFO" magazine.
• Giampiero Donati (Novara): A new investigation report on an observation between Briona and Sologno (NO) in late January/early February 1989, involving a luminous object detaching a smaller one that fell to the ground.
• Corrado Guarisco (Fenegrò - CO): Investigated a mysterious trace found on July 15th near Appiano Gentile (CO).
• Massimo Staccioli (Ghedi - BS): Reported a sighting of a "blue-green light" in the sky over Roncadelle (BS) on October 12, 1989.
• Giorgio Pattera (Parma): Submitted reports on the "mini-flap" of late August in the Parma area and a night sighting on October 6, 1989.
• Matteo Chinellato (Venezia): Collected testimony from an amateur astronomer who observed a light in the sky on July 20, 1988, near Suvereto (LI).
• Biagio Liotti (Roccagloriosa): Investigated a close encounter of the third kind case in the pre-UFO era in Roccagloriosa (SA) in the summer of 1929.
• Giorgio Russolillo (Napoli) and Marcel Delaval (Ispra): Investigated two sightings reported on September 25-26 and November 19, 1989, near Ischia and Busto Arsizio (VA), respectively.

The secretariat also thanks numerous collaborators who provided local press clippings and information related to the "Soviet wave" of sightings.

The "UFO" Magazine:

The issue acknowledges the delay in releasing issue No. 8 of the "UFO" magazine, which will be sent in February. Due to editorial issues and a transition to postal subscription mailing, the issue will be dated "January 1990" instead of "December 1989." This issue is part of the 1989 subscription year, and subscribers for 1990 will receive issues 9 and 10 in June and December 1990.

CISU News

Board of Directors Meeting:

A meeting was held in Turin on October 28th with board members Alessandro Cortellazzi, Gian Paolo Grassino, Paolo Toselli, Maurizio Verga, and Edoardo Russo present. Roberto Farabone was absent due to health reasons. The board ratified Farabone's reappointment as President and discussed membership status and initiatives for the new year, including publications. New ordinary members for 1990 were approved.

Regional Coordination:

Giorgio Russolillo, the Regional Coordinator for Campania, has been active in connecting the secretariat with members in the region, handling subscriptions, material orders, and administrative issues. He also sent out circulars to ufologists in Campania to gauge interest and has recovered archives from inactive ufologists.

Computerized Network:

Activities related to the use of personal computers in ufology are ongoing. Maurizio Verga released the latest issue of "Computer UFO Newsletter." The secretariat can now convert data between Commodore, Apple II, Macintosh, and MS-DOS systems. Franco Sortino (Palermo) has transferred the Sicilian sighting catalog to "dBase III." Giovanni Ascione and Pasquale Russo are developing a "System" for managing ufological activities.

U-LINK: Telematic Ufology

U-LINK is presented as Italy's only UFO-BBS, operated by Stefano Innocenti in Rome. It is accessible daily via modem and offers a messaging system, a reserved area for CISU members, a questionnaire, and archives of information, including CISU publications, news on the computer network, interview transcripts, UFO software, and information on CISU activities and recent Italian sightings.

Local Outreach:

Several CISU members have been featured in newspapers and magazines, including Massimo Valloscuro (Terni), Gianni Favero (Moscow correspondent), and Stefano Innocenti. Conferences were held in Turin by Edoardo Russo and in Arezzo by Giuseppe Stilo. Alberto Lazzaro held a conference in Imola (BO) in conjunction with a CISU photographic exhibition.

CISU on TV:

CISU members have appeared on national television. Paolo Toselli was interviewed on the "Maurizio Costanzo Show" on November 21st, where he presented a serious perspective on ufology, earning praise from the host. The "UFO" magazine was featured on Raitre's "Uno su cento" on December 19th, with Claudio Zacchia representing CISU. The program highlighted CISU's serious and prudent approach to ufology. CISU photographic material was also used in the quiz show "Telemike."

Information

"Voronezh Effect" in Italy:

Following the reports of Soviet UFO sightings, Italy experienced a wave of sightings. A pensioner in Rome observed a stationary white light for three hours. In Parma, an elderly woman reported seeing a large, immobile light. A couple near Castel Fiorentino (FI) saw a luminous point.

Other Sightings:

• Prato (FI): Five luminous circles were observed, initially mistaken for laser lights from a concert.
• Prato (FI): A luminous, rotating ball with red and green lights was seen.
• Rovereto (TN): A fiery object falling from the sky reportedly caused a forest fire.
• Corno di Rosazzo (UD): A pink luminous disk was observed hovering.
• Busto Arsizio (VA) and Marcellise (VR): Sightings attributed to laser effects from nearby discotheques.
• Licata (AG): A bright spherical light was visible for over two hours.
• Parma: A round, bright light was observed, later identified as the planet Venus.

Congresses of Astrologers and Skeptics:

At the "International Congress of Astrology" in Riva del Garda, two ufological presentations were given by French researchers Michel Bounias and Pierre Guérin. The latter reiterated his criticism of what he calls "The new inquisition." The CISU has made these texts available. In contrast, a convention organized by the Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Affermazioni sul Paranormale (CICAP) at the University of Milan, which aims to combat belief in the paranormal, did not mention UFOs. Paolo Toselli noted a willingness for collaboration from some participants.

Opinion Polls:

In response to the Russian UFO sightings, two Italian weekly magazines commissioned polls. "Epoca" reported that 13% of 1000 people surveyed had never heard of UFOs. 48.5% believed in extraterrestrials, and 32% thought they might visit Earth. Regarding alien intentions, 65% responded "friendship or exchange," while 15.4% indicated "hostility."

Abroad

The Soviet Union UFO Wave:

Reports of UFO sightings in the Soviet Union, particularly following the Voronezh incident, have been significant. The issue summarizes key news from October onwards. A sighting in Omsk, Siberia, involved a luminous ball emitting beams of light that caused airport lights to go out. A tourist agency, "Stalker," was formed to organize visits to "the land of extraterrestrials" near Voronezh. The issue also notes the retraction of claims about physical evidence from the Voronezh landing site by a commission of scientists. A December 22nd report describes a UFO chase by Soviet police near Moscow.

UFO Wave in Belgium:

Belgium experienced a significant wave of sightings in December, starting on November 29th with a triangular platform observed over Ketienis-Eupen. Similar sightings occurred across eastern Belgium, causing a "UFO psychosis." The Belgian Air Force has opened an investigation. Over 350 testimonies were received by S.O.B.E.P.S. (the Belgian CISU). Explanations like American F-116 "Stealth" aircraft and RPVs were proposed but rejected by ufologists. A later incident involving a UFO near Diest was revealed to be a laser reflection from a discotheque.

CISU Activities

South Africa: UFO Shot Down?

Reports emerged in September about a "flying saucer" allegedly shot down by the South African Navy on May 7, 1989. The object was reportedly detected by radar, intercepted by two Mirage fighter jets, and crashed in the Kalahari Desert. Military and intelligence services allegedly recovered a 150-meter crater with melted rock and a 50-meter silver disk. Humanoid beings reportedly emerged from the object. American military personnel from Wright Patterson were said to have been involved in studying the disk. This announcement, denied by South African authorities, was met with skepticism in the British ufological community.

Lyon: Congress Announced for 1990:

The fourth "European Meeting of Lyon on the UFO Phenomenon" is scheduled for April 28-30, 1990, organized by the Association d'Etude des Soucoupes Volantes (A.E.S.V.). The A.E.S.V. manages the "S.O.S.-OVNI" hotline and the "Minitel" teletext service. Edoardo Russo of CISU is coordinating Italian participation.

Foreign Colleagues Visiting:

In October, British writer and ufologist Hilary Evans visited Italy, giving a conference in Ispra and spending time in Turin consulting CISU's library and archives. Several CISU members met with him. In November, Alejandro Chionetti, an American ufologist and editor of "UFO Press," visited Turin. He has investigated over 200 cases in Argentina and is well-connected with US ufology figures.

International Panorama:

• France: S.O.S. OVNI: Following Renaud Marhic's appearance on the TV program "Ciel, mon mardi," the "S.O.S.-OVNI" hotline received approximately 4,000 calls in five days. The French ufological association A.E.S.V. has renamed itself "S.O.S. OVNI."

CISU Services

Official Documents:

The External Documentation Service offers two historical American government documents: "Project Saucer" (USAF press release from April 27, 1949, detailing the first American study of flying saucers) and Peter Sturrock's "UFO Survey of Members of the American Astronomical Society" (1977). Both are available to CISU members.

Foreign Library Service:

A list of available foreign ufology books is provided, including titles by Waveney Girvan, J. Allen Hynek, V.J. Ballester Olmos, John Rimmer, Brad Steiger, Raymond Fowler, Budd Hopkins, Robert Boyd, Hilary Evans, and John Spencer. Prices are listed in Italian Lire.

New Books

Two new books are announced for early 1990: Jacques Vallée's "Confrontations," focusing on Brazilian cases where UFOs allegedly caused physical harm or death, and John Spencer's "Perspectives," which explores the problem of "UFO abductions" from a new perspective.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Notizie UFO" reflects a commitment to detailed investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena, both domestically and internationally. The CISU maintains a serious and scientific approach, distinguishing itself from more sensationalist or fringe elements in ufology, as noted by Maurizio Costanzo. The publication emphasizes the importance of documentation, research, and member contributions. There is a clear focus on providing accurate information, debunking misidentifications (such as Venus being mistaken for UFOs), and offering a platform for serious ufological study. The editorial stance is one of diligent inquiry and information dissemination, aiming to inform its readership about the latest developments in the field while also managing the practical aspects of running a volunteer organization.