1979 03 00 OMNI - Oberg - UFO Update

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO'S AT THE UN
Issue: 32
Volume: 3
Date: July 1979
Publisher: OMNI
Price: $2.00
Author: James Oberg

This issue of OMNI magazine delves into the complex and often misrepresented involvement of the United Nations with the topic of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The article, titled "UFO UPDATE," by James Oberg, aims to clarify the actual events and motivations behind the UN's engagement, distinguishing between widely publicized claims and the more nuanced reality.

The UN and UFOs: A Political and Scientific Intersection

The article begins by addressing reports in UFO magazines and newsletters suggesting the UN had initiated a high-level effort to examine UFOs, a problem described by former UN Secretary General U Thant as "one of the most important problems facing the world." This perceived UN interest was reportedly fueled by the enthusiasm of a small Third World country and expert UFO testimony from various nations. However, Oberg clarifies that the UN's role has been exaggerated, and the motivations of the participants have not been fully or honestly represented.

Grenada's Initiative

The driving force behind the UN's consideration of UFOs was primarily the small Caribbean island nation of Grenada. Since gaining independence in 1974, Grenada's first Prime Minister, Sir Eric Gairy, a self-proclaimed "mystic" and UFO enthusiast, actively sought to bring the UFO issue to international attention. In July 1978, Gairy met with UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim. While this was a standard diplomatic courtesy, Gairy leveraged the meeting by inviting UFO experts and enthusiasts as part of his official delegation.

Among those present were leading UFOlogists Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Dr. Jacques Vallee, along with French UFO expert Dr. Claude Poher and former astronaut Gordon Cooper. These individuals were eager for official UN support and recognition for their UFO research.

The UN Presentation

On November 27, 1978, a Grenadan delegation returned to the UN, requesting time to address the UN Special Political Committee on the issue of UFOs. The committee, as per protocol for member states, placed the matter on its agenda. Lee Spiegel, a New York UFO expert known for his nightly "UFO news report," was commissioned by Gairy to organize an audiovisual presentation. Spiegel's goal was to present UFO material designed to impress delegates with the seriousness of the phenomenon, even admitting that the presentation might not be a "balanced picture."

Initially, Grenada proposed a special seven-man UN UFO subcommittee. This was later reduced to a three-man ad hoc committee tasked with assessing the impact of the UFO phenomenon on world society, rather than solving the entire mystery. The presentation, however, faced challenges from the outset. New York's first heavy snowfall of the winter significantly reduced attendance, and no delegation expressed any willingness to fund the proposed UFO project.

Despite the lack of financial commitment, Spiegel's presentation was considered successful, notably featuring Lawrence Coyne, who had a UFO encounter in 1973.

The UN's Response

The Special Political Committee ultimately adopted a "consensus" rather than a formal "resolution." This consensus recommended that the UN "take note" of Grenada's proposal, invite member nations to conduct their own research into "extraterrestrial life, including unidentified flying objects," pass Grenada's requests to the committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and allow Grenada to make another presentation the following June. While UFO specialists were moderately pleased that UFOs had been officially acknowledged by the UN, they recognized that this response fell far short of the "high-level UN UFO-study project" publicized in the UFO press. The silence from other UN delegations suggested that a formal UN UFO study was unlikely to be approved.

Grenada's Continued Efforts and the "Diaz Affair"

Grenada was expected to host the "Second International UFO Conference" in November, following the "First International UFO Conference" in Acapulco in April 1977, which was widely considered a fiasco. Disheartened by the UN's limited response and what some viewed as Grenada's exploitation of the UFO issue, experts began seeking sponsorship from other UN states, with France being a secret hope, though Bulgaria or Nepal were considered more realistic possibilities.

The article then recounts a famous story involving the UN and UFOs, originating from the UFO Education Center (UFOEC) in Valley Center, California. According to UFOEC, a 180-meter (600-foot) diameter spaceship allegedly settled over a mountain near Guadalajara, Mexico, in October 1976, causing electrical failures. Subsequently, a being claiming to be the spaceship's pilot reportedly appeared at a local doctor's clinic, seeking examination. The physician, identified as "Doctor Diaz," described the being as human-like but with white skin, stating that humans were low on the evolutionary scale.

Doctor Diaz was later brought to New York by UFOEC officials and introduced to Grenadan Ambassador Francis Redhead and a representative of the UN's Technology Applications Section. This event was sensationalized by the tabloid press, with headlines like "TOP UN PROBE INTO INCREDIBLE ENCOUNTER WITH SPACE BEING." However, the article reveals that no UN probe was ever launched. The UN official who politely encouraged the presentation later refused further comment. Crucially, "Doctor Diaz" turned out to be Charlotte Blob's husband, the director of the UFOEC, a highly improbable coincidence. Grenadan ambassador Redhead denied that the meeting had any official UN status, stating it was not sponsored by the UN. Suspicions were raised by the proximity of the sighting to a UFOEC branch office in Mexico and the witness's close relationship with the UFOEC director. The article notes that the UFO community largely accepted the story without question, or at least kept their skepticism private.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of OMNI magazine, through James Oberg's reporting, adopts a critical and investigative stance towards sensationalized UFO claims. The editorial stance appears to be one of debunking exaggerated narratives and seeking factual accuracy, particularly concerning the UN's involvement. The magazine highlights the political motivations behind Grenada's push for UN attention to UFOs and exposes the questionable nature of the "Diaz affair," revealing it as a publicity stunt rather than a genuine UN investigation. The underlying theme is the distinction between genuine scientific inquiry and the exploitation of the UFO phenomenon for political attention or personal gain. The magazine emphasizes the need for critical evaluation of UFO reports and the media's role in disseminating them.