OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: September 1989
Theme: Environmental Special, UFOs, Social Issues

This issue of OMNI magazine, dated September 1989, presents a dual focus on environmental concerns and extraterrestrial phenomena, alongside a section featuring children's perspectives on serious societal issues. The cover prominently advertises an "ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIAL" with a "16-PAGE ACTIVIST'S PRIMER TO HEALING AN AILING EARTH" and also highlights "KIDS SPEAK OUT ON DRUGS, WAR AND ILLITERACY." The price is listed as $3.50.

UFO Update: John Lear's Claims

The "ANTI MATTER" section features an article titled "UFO UPDATE" which delves into the controversial claims of John Lear, a pilot with extensive flying experience. Lear asserts that since 1947, the U.S. government has recovered at least 30 alien flying saucers and possesses approximately 30 frozen alien bodies. He alleges that some of these recovered craft have been secretly test-flown by U.S. government personnel under a program known as "Project Red-light," reportedly operating from Groom Lake, Nevada.

Lear further claims that the U.S. government has been engaged in business with "little gray extraterrestrials" for about twenty years. According to his sources, a deal was struck in the early Seventies where the U.S. promised to overlook alien abductions of humans and mutilations of cattle in exchange for advanced technology. Lear believes these activities were presented to the government as mere monitoring of developing civilization, when in reality, the aliens, whose digestive systems are atrophied, feed by applying a solution of hormones and enzymes directly onto their skin.

He states that human and animal body parts are processed in huge underground alien bases on Earth. Lear's intelligence sources suggest that New Mexico, referred to as the "Land of Enchantment," is home to three such bases, located near Dulce, Datil, and Sunspot. Witnesses reportedly describe seeing hundreds of large vats containing human body parts submerged in an amber fluid.

Lear expresses grave concern, stating, "We are in deep, serious trouble, and the public needs to know about it now." His assertions have made him a controversial figure within the UFO community. Leonard Stringfield, a UFO researcher, acknowledges Lear's claims but prefers a cautious approach, referring to such reports as rumors rather than facts. Walt Andrus of the Mutual UFO Network finds the material "way-out" but acknowledges its potential truth. Jim Moseley, editor of Saucer Smear, describes Lear as a "colorful character" who has leveraged his father's name, admitting he doesn't believe Lear's claims but finds them entertaining.

Lear himself claims to have personally witnessed U.S. government personnel "test an alien spacecraft" in March, marking his first direct encounter with what he terms the "alien force."

Environmental Special

The "ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIAL" section, comprising 16 pages, is presented as an "ACTIVIST'S PRIMER TO HEALING AN AILING EARTH." While the specific contents of this primer are not detailed in the provided scan, its inclusion signifies OMNI's focus on environmental issues during this period.

Kids Speak Out

Another significant feature is "KIDS SPEAK OUT ON DRUGS, WAR AND ILLITERACY." This section offers a platform for children to voice their opinions and concerns on critical social and global issues, suggesting a broader editorial scope beyond just science and the paranormal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of OMNI reflects a magazine that, in 1989, was actively engaging with contemporary concerns. The "Environmental Special" indicates a growing awareness and concern for ecological issues, positioning the magazine as a platform for activism and information dissemination on planetary health. The "UFO UPDATE" article, through the sensational claims of John Lear, continues OMNI's tradition of exploring fringe science, conspiracy theories, and the unexplained, often with a critical or investigative lens, as evidenced by the inclusion of differing opinions from other figures in the UFO field. The "Kids Speak Out" segment suggests an editorial stance that values diverse voices and addresses pressing social problems, aiming to inform and provoke thought among its readership across a range of topics from the speculative to the socio-political.