Nsrkontakt - 1990 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: NÄR KONTAKT
Issue: Nr 1-90 (December 1990)
Publisher: Västra Sveriges UFO-Förening
Focus: UFO phenomena and related topics, primarily for members in Western Sweden.

Editorial and Content

From the Chairman (Roald Lundgren)

The chairman, Roald Lundgren, opens the issue by wishing members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. He expresses gratitude for the contributions received, including letters, gifts, and positive feedback, which he states are warming. The organization currently has over 70 members but has room for many more, and he encourages increased activity. He touches upon the idea of sharing a cup of coffee and engaging in hobbies, emphasizing that hobbies can unite families and satisfy curiosity about what thousands have seen and heard.

Lundgren highlights an article on page 18-13 (likely a typo and referring to pages 13 and 18) and an experiment on page 5. He recounts a meeting on November 2nd at the Norwegian Seamen's Church in Gothenburg. Despite a low turnout (42 cancellations due to other events like grave decorating and family visits), 32 members attended. The event featured Clas Svahn, vice chairman of UFO Sverige, who presented slides and shared information. The meeting also included a video presentation by Nadja Roguljic, followed by coffee and cake. Four members won paintings donated by Järnboden in Kungälv, and a large basket was won by the former chairman of the now-defunct Gothenburg UFO Association. He also recommends 'Blå Boden Köket' in Ytterby for its 'Kalles Cash' concept with low prices and encourages readers to check page 20 for member benefits.

Editorial Team and Membership

The editorial team consists of Roald Lundgren, Mikael Lundgren, Angela Samuelsson, and Thor Sörensen, along with others who contribute to the magazine. The membership fee for 1990-91 is 95 SEK, with a reduced rate of 50 SEK for those under 18. Payments are to be made via postgiro to account number 38 74 40 - 1. The editorial address is VÄSTRA SVERIGES UFO-FÖRENING, Box 149, 442 22 Kungälv. Readers are encouraged to call the provided phone number (0303-129 16) with any questions.

UFO and Fate (Göran Eklund)

This article explores the concept of UFOs and their connection to fate. It posits that while UFOs are not always flying saucers, reports of unexplained aerial phenomena date back thousands of years, including luminous discs and non-terrestrial craft. The author questions whether these reports are mere nonsense, imagination, or mass hypnosis, suggesting that the UFO question remains relevant and perhaps should be reframed as a 'UFO problem'.

The article then presents a series of striking coincidences between the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy:

• Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846, Kennedy exactly 100 years later.
• Lincoln was elected president in 1860, Kennedy in 1960.
• Both were succeeded by men named Johnson (Andrew Johnson and Lyndon Johnson).
• John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, was born in 1839; Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy's assassin, was born in 1939.
• Both assassins came from the South and were shot before trial.
• Booth fled to a warehouse after the assassination; Oswald fled to a warehouse and then a theater.
• Lincoln told a guard he believed people wanted to kill him; Kennedy expressed similar sentiments to his wife and advisor.
• Both were shot on a Friday, in the back of the head, with their wives present.
• Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater; Kennedy was shot in a car made by Ford Motor Company (a Lincoln).
• Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy who advised against going to the theater; Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln who advised against traveling to Dallas.

The article concludes by posing the question of whether these are mere coincidences or a matter of fate.

UFO and Blue Light (Thor)

Thor, writing to the members, reflects on his previous article about UFO-spotting equipment, suggesting that black and white film is best and that a medium telephoto lens is superior to a zoom. He promises to do all the 'dark room work' and emphasizes that only genuine sightings will be accepted, not fake pictures.

He shares experiences from his time in the USA in the 1960s, where UFO discussions were often held in small, private groups. He mentions that blue light or blue luminescence was considered to have a positive effect in UFO contexts. He suggests an experiment: placing a blue light bulb in the bedroom and leaving it on overnight.

He expresses hope that 1991 will bring more information about 'those out there' and wishes everyone a Happy New Year.

The Mystery is Solved! It Wasn't a UFO, but a Russian Rocket (Nya Nerland, 1990-10-15)

This article reports that the mysterious light phenomenon observed in the Härnösand region on the night of September 29th has been identified as a Russian rocket launch. Sven Grahn from Rymdbolaget (Swedish Space Corporation) confirms that the description of the phenomenon is typical for intercontinental ballistic missile launches. He points to factors like a strong, spotlight-like light with a colored point, followed by a blue or green cloud, and a long observation time despite the object being hundreds of miles away. These factors strongly suggest a rocket launch, especially since Soviet military exercises often occur around 03:30.

Clas Svahn, vice chairman of UFO Sverige, agrees that there is no doubt about the cause. He notes that similar observations have occurred for about twenty years, and similar phenomena have been observed in fields in China and India.

Was it a UFO? (Various Newspaper Clippings)

This section compiles several newspaper clippings reporting UFO sightings:

• Bohusläningen (1990-10-13): Two schoolgirls from Ed reported seeing a round, bright light ball in the sky, described as being as large as three moons but much closer, and much brighter than a spotlight. The light disappeared after five to six seconds, followed by two loud bangs. Other reports of similar lights and bangs in Dals Långed and Håbol are mentioned.
• Ölandsbladet (1990-10-16): A 34-year-old man from Kalmar reported seeing a colossal, green, cigar-shaped object, about 300 meters long, over the alvar near Kastlösa. The object, described as a 'mothership' to smaller UFOs, emitted several smaller objects and remained stationary for a considerable time.
• Örnsköldsviks Allehanda (1990-10-03): Roger Sjöberg from Domsjö reported seeing a strong light over the treetops around 03:35. He initially thought it was a helicopter spotlight but noted it was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, and he heard no sound. Jan Andersson from Gullänget reported seeing a green-blue light in a curve, which he initially thought was the Northern Lights but realized was too early in the season. Both witnesses described the phenomenon as resembling fog or smoke. The article notes that similar sightings have occurred in the Övik area, Timrå, and Härnösand, with no natural explanation found by aviation authorities.
• Nya Norrland (1990-10-02): Lennart Bergman from Gothenburg questions the origin of mysterious crop circles, referencing reports from London and China. He wonders if there's a reasonable explanation.
• Ölandsbladet (1990-10-23): This clipping discusses UFO circles, mentioning theories of whirlwinds or pranksters but finding them unlikely given the perfection and consistency of the patterns. It notes similar phenomena in wheat fields for hundreds of years and mentions a case in Torsebro, Sweden, where circles were green and the crops never matured, with the owners believing UFOs were responsible.

Video Films (Clas Svahn)

Clas Svahn reviews two UFO-related video films marketed by Virgin Vision in Sweden and distributed by UFO-Sverige:

• "UFO - det olösta mysteriet" (UFO - The Unsolved Mystery): This American TV production (originally titled "UFO-Coverup? - Live") is described as being of good technical quality with a serious tone. It features interviews with witnesses, skeptics, and UFO researchers, as well as spectacular images and footage. Topics include the Gulf Breeze incident, alleged alien abductions, crashed craft, and the US government's involvement. It also touches upon Soviet UFO cases through interviews with researcher Sergej Bulantsev. The review notes that the Swedish translation is rushed and lacks accuracy. A significant portion of the video features anonymous agents 'Falcon' and 'Condor' discussing alleged alien presence in 'Area 51' and an 'ET' writing a book. While the content is described as exciting, the reviewer cautions consumers to maintain a critical mindset and question the evidence presented. The video concludes with brief statements from skeptics James Oberg, David Williamson, and Herbert Spiegel, with Williamson's concluding remarks being particularly thoughtful: "We don't know what it is. Having open minds and waiting for physical evidence is probably the best scientific advice one can give. Until then, try to find ways to evaluate it."

• "Pyramidernas gåta" (The Mystery of the Pyramids): This Swedish-subtitled video explores archaeological mysteries of the Giza pyramids but does not delve into theories about extraterrestrial builders. It is described as well-made and engaging, with approximately 50 minutes of content. Actor Omar Sharif and Egyptologist Mark Lehner provide commentary. The video aims to explain the construction of the pyramids and temples with curiosity and sensitivity rather than providing definitive answers. It includes footage from inside the Sphinx's passages and Cheops' pyramid, and a brief unexplained electrical light failure during a segment on Tutankhamun's tomb adds to the mystery. The reviewer finds the video rich in imagery and a good example of popular archaeology.

UFO-Aktuellt News

A brief note mentions that Västra Sveriges UFO-Förening has released its first issue of "Närkontakt," a 20-page A4 magazine. The publication features clippings and an editorial by the chairman. The organization has 61 members and is growing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings and unexplained aerial phenomena reported primarily in Sweden. It aims to present witness accounts, investigate potential explanations, and foster a community for UFO enthusiasts. While presenting various cases, there's an underlying encouragement for critical thinking and the pursuit of evidence, as highlighted in the review of the "UFO - The Unsolved Mystery" video. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, acknowledging both unexplained events and the possibility of natural or man-made explanations. The inclusion of historical parallels, such as the Kennedy and Lincoln assassinations, suggests an interest in broader patterns and mysteries beyond simple sightings. The magazine also serves as a platform for promoting the UFO-Sverige organization and its activities.

This issue of "Närk kontakt" (Contact) from October 5, 1990, delves into the complex relationship between UFOs, dreams, and reality. It features a mix of personal testimonies, research insights, and historical accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena. The magazine also includes travel information for Egypt and discusses societal trends.

UFOs: Dreams and Reality

The issue opens with a vivid description of a dream from 1979 involving a silvery oval UFO that lands, interacts with the environment, and is then buried. This is followed by a reported observation from 1985 in Överlida, Sweden, where a woman witnesses a white object transform into six white squares that hover and then disappear. The article connects these experiences to the idea of 'square thought patterns' representing the limitations of human collective thought and the need for personal transformation.

Personal Encounters and Observations

Several personal accounts of UFO sightings are detailed:

• Birgitta's Radar Sighting: A flight attendant named Birgitta recalls seeing a large object on a radar screen approaching her plane at high speed. Years later, her seven-year-old son, Markus, claims to have seen a UFO land, which prompts Birgitta to reconsider her own experience.
• Harry's Triangular Sighting: An older man named Harry recounts seeing a hovering red-brown equilateral triangle with black rings in its corners in the 1950s. He only came to understand the phenomenon years later after reading books on the subject.
• The Author's First Contact: The author describes witnessing a film on a US television broadcast in 1978 showing an unidentified light object interacting with a plane. Despite the sensational nature of the event, it was met with silence in the following day's news.
• Göran's Telepathic Encounter: Göran recounts an experience at a 50th birthday party where he felt an overwhelming sense of unease. He then saw a disc-shaped craft with a green-blue metallic sheen and triangular windows. The craft communicated telepathically, stating "We exist, we exist. You can tell others about our existence." The experience lasted less than a minute but took two years to process.

UFO Research and Organizations

The magazine highlights the efforts of UFO organizations in Sweden, such as UFO-Sverige, which aims to investigate, document, and inform about UFO cases. Barbro Magnusson, chairperson of Nyköping's cross-disciplinary UFO association, emphasizes the need for a neutral approach to UFO phenomena and calls for more holistic scientific research, criticizing the current state of research as being 'at zero'. She notes that while most UFO observations can be explained, about 20 percent remain unexplained.

UFO Windows and Flaps

UFO-Sverige uses terms like 'UFO windows' (locations with regular reports) and 'UFO flaps' (locations with reports over a short period) to categorize sighting areas. The article mentions Dalarna as a 'UFO flap' between 1985 and 1987, and Norrdellen as a 'UFO window'.

Hessdalen Project

The issue discusses the Hessdalen phenomenon in Norway, detailing two research projects conducted in 1984 and 1985. These projects involved sophisticated equipment like radar, seismographs, and spectroanalyzers to study the unexplained lights observed in the area. Despite the cold conditions and challenges in photographing the phenomena, the projects gathered data that indicated the presence of unusual aerial events.

Historical UFO Cases

Several historical cases are presented:

• Antarctic 'Phantom Submarine' (1962): An American icebreaker in Antarctica witnessed an object emerge from thick ice, ascend rapidly, and disappear. This event, part of 'Operation Deep Freeze', was reportedly kept secret by the US Navy.
• 'Phantom Submarines' in the North Atlantic: A retired naval officer recounts seeing a 'phantom submarine' during World War II that was fired upon but remained undamaged, demonstrating incredible speed and maneuverability.
• Sognefjorden Submarine Hunt (1972): A large-scale naval operation involving 30 warships and aircraft was conducted in Norway's Sognefjorden to track a 'foreign submarine'. The speed required for the object to cover the distance in the given time suggests it was not a conventional submarine, leading to speculation about 'phantom submarines' manned by extraterrestrial beings.
• Australian and New Zealand Sightings (1965): 'Foreign submarines' were reported in the waters around Australia and New Zealand, leading to a naval pursuit that proved unsuccessful.

Travel and Societal Trends

Egypt Travel Offer: The magazine includes a travel advertisement for a trip to Egypt in May 1991, detailing costs and itinerary, including visits to Cairo, the Pyramids, and the Egyptian Museum. It also provides practical information about Egypt, such as currency, climate, food, and local customs.

Growing Superstition in Sweden: Bertil Wikdahl writes about an increasing trend of superstition in Sweden, citing the popularity of astrology, Tantra-Yoga, and UFOlogy. He criticizes these beliefs for lacking empirical evidence and being antidemocratic.

UFO Organizations and Literature

The issue lists contact information for UFO-Sverige and mentions its quarterly publication, 'UFO-Aktuellt'. It also highlights the Västra Sveriges UFO Förening, which focuses on UFO events on the west coast of Sweden. The AFU (Archive for UFO Research) in Norrköping is described as Europe's largest center for UFO literature and reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent mystery of UFO phenomena, the challenges in conducting scientific research on the subject, and the importance of personal testimony. The magazine appears to advocate for open investigation and a holistic approach to understanding UFOs, while also acknowledging the skepticism and misidentifications that often surround such reports. The editorial stance seems to be one of encouraging further research and open-mindedness towards unexplained aerial phenomena, while also grounding some discussions in factual reporting and historical context. The inclusion of travel information and commentary on societal trends suggests a broader interest in contemporary issues beyond just UFOs.

This issue of UFO-Aktuellt, titled "Fattimlen 1 Höst" (The Firmament in Autumn 1), is dated October 20, 1990. It covers astronomical events and UFO-related phenomena.

Astronomical Observations

The magazine provides details on planetary visibility for the autumn season. Venus is noted as the brightest celestial body after the sun and moon, being in superior conjunction on November 1st, with its disk fully illuminated. It will be visible as an evening star in late December. Mars is at its brightest on November 27th, visible in the southeast in the evenings, located in the Taurus-Oxen constellation. Jupiter rises later in November and increasingly so in December. The issue also lists prominent meteor showers occurring in November and December, including the Leonids, Andromedids, Geminids, and Ursids, explaining that meteors are remnants of comets.

The lunar phases for November and December are also provided: New Moon on November 17th, Full Moon on December 2nd, Waning Crescent on December 17th, and another Full Moon on December 31st. The text encourages observation of the night sky, noting that satellites are best seen around 7 PM and that "space junk" is most visible after sunset and before sunrise.

Celestial Objects and Stellar Evolution

On a clear night, the brightest planets are visible, followed by prominent fixed stars such as Sirius (Canis Major), Vega (Lyra), Arcturus (Boötes), and Capella (Auriga). The constellation Orion is mentioned, with its red star Betelgeuse highlighted. Betelgeuse is described as an enormous red supergiant, 300-400 times the diameter of our sun and located 470 light-years away. The article explains that such massive stars, once blue giants, evolve into red supergiants as their hydrogen fuel depletes, undergoing further fusion processes. Their eventual death is a massive supernova explosion, leaving behind a dense mass where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape, forming a black hole. Light passing near such a star's gravitational field is also bent.

In contrast, our sun is described as a yellow star with a calmer, slower burning process. It is predicted to age and become a red giant, but not as large as Betelgeuse, and this transformation is estimated to occur in about 5.5 billion years.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The issue features a report on a UFO-hunting expedition in Bergslagen, Sweden, organized by the Riksföreningen Luftrumsbevakning (National Association for Airspace Surveillance). Despite spending a night on a mountain with advanced equipment, no UFOs were observed during that specific event. However, Paul Hellberg, a planning manager, states his conviction that UFOs exist and are not malevolent, but he avoids going into the woods alone due to witnessing "scorched clothes and organically dead ground parts" which he attributes to "enormous energies."

Elin Henriksson from Stora Skedvi recounts an experience from September 2, 1990, at 10 PM. She saw a bright light near Mörtaberget that moved silently towards her house, then veered off towards a neighbor's house before disappearing southwest. She also observed two intensely blinding lights with a red lamp in the middle. The report notes that her drawing of the phenomenon is detailed.

Gudrun Andersson, from the Västerbergsdals UFO-förening, collects and compiles UFO reports from across the country. She mentions that about one in ten cases defies explanation. When asked why she is involved, she states her long-standing interest in astronomy.

Book Reviews

The magazine includes reviews of several books related to UFOs and paranormal phenomena:

• "Mysteries of Our Time" by Janet & Colin Bord: This is the twelfth book by the British author couple, and the first to be translated into Swedish. It covers a wide range of unexplained phenomena, including alien sightings in China and the Soviet Union, Bigfoot, lake monsters, poltergeists, objects falling from the sky, and Fortean phenomena worldwide. The review includes quotes describing encounters with orbs and a serpentine creature.

• "Intruders" by Budd Hopkins: This Swedish translation of Hopkins' book is presented as potentially convincing skeptics about the reality of UFOs. It details his twelve years of research and focuses on alien abductions. The review highlights the case of Kathie Davis, who recounted her abduction experience under hypnosis, suggesting ongoing genetic experiments by extraterrestrial beings on humans, possibly dating back to ancient times. The book is described as a well-documented and convincing account of abductions.

• "Breakthrough" by Whitley Strieber: A new, lower-priced edition of the Swedish translation of Strieber's book is announced. Further details were provided in a previous issue of UFO-Aktuellt.

Books can be ordered from Nyköping's Tvärvetenskapliga Bokförening.

Advertising

Advertisements include:

• "Tanka miljövänligt med muffar" (Tank environmentally friendly with mufflers) promoting a price reduction on fuel at Kvantum.
• "HELMERS Glas & Porslin" (HELMERS Glass & Porcelain) in Djupvik, Tjörn, advertising tableware and decorative items.
• "Rondo Kemiska" (Rondo Chemical) in Göteborg, offering discounts on clothing items.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings and encounters, presented with a degree of seriousness and a desire to investigate and document these events. The editorial stance appears to be open to the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation and influence, encouraging readers to report their own experiences. The inclusion of astronomical information suggests an interest in the scientific context of these phenomena. The book reviews indicate a focus on well-researched and documented accounts, aiming to provide evidence and analysis for the existence of UFOs and related mysteries.