Les Rencontres Ufologiques

Magazine Overview

This issue of Les Rencontres Ufologiques, published by La Fédération Francophone d'Ufologie, focuses on recent meetings and events within the ufology community, particularly those related to OVNI Grenoble. The content spans reports from meetings held in April, May, and June 2013, alongside tributes and updates on ufological organizations and publications.

OVNI Grenoble Meetings

33rd OVNI Grenoble Meeting (April 4, 2013)

Twenty-seven people attended a conference by François-Marie Périer, a poet, traveler, photographer, and translator, on the subject of extraterrestrial contact throughout history. Périer presented a reinterpretation of ancient myths, architecture, language, and iconography, suggesting that some representations, lacking orthodox explanations, might refer to possible extraterrestrial contacts. He used a large slideshow with over 200 images to illustrate his points, citing the recurring presence of reptilian figures in iconography as potential evidence. Périer emphasized the need for a pluralistic approach and acknowledged that there might not be a single explanation. He also drew parallels between these ancient representations and contemporary accounts from contactees, as well as touching upon topics like hollow earth theory, abductions, and different extraterrestrial races. The intervention was rich in examples, with Périer's personal reflections being less prominent but potentially to be developed in future meetings.

34th OVNI Grenoble Meeting (May 2, 2013)

Twenty-one attendees participated in a monthly meeting of OVNI Grenoble to discuss the documentary "Sirius" by ufologist Steven M. Greer, known for his Disclosure Project. The documentary, released in April 2013, quickly gained attention for its analysis of 'Ata,' a 15 cm skeleton discovered in the Atacama Desert in Chile in 2003. The specimen was acquired by Dr. Greer, and initial analyses suggested it was human. However, the film's release generated speculation about new conclusions. Subsequent analyses, including X-rays and DNA testing, confirmed 'Ata' was human, possibly a 15-week-old fetus or a mummy of a child between six and eight years old. The report notes that it was not a hoax, but also not an alien. The documentary also addressed spirituality, with Greer proposing a fifth category of close encounters where UFO phenomena manifest more freely to people in meditation groups. It also touched upon free energy, with Greer claiming that UFO contacts led researchers to develop new energy sources, and that the state silences those working on them, though these accusations are not substantiated. The debate following the film was passionate and at times heated, especially when the author of the report offered criticism, which was met with resistance from some attendees who questioned his right to critique Greer's work.

35th OVNI Grenoble Meeting (June 6, 2013)

Thirty-one people attended a meeting featuring Joseph Tarricone, a painter and contactee from Grenoble. Tarricone, an octogenarian and former Caterpillar manufacturing controller, is a passionate space artist. He has exhibited his work in Grenoble and has been featured in local and national press. Tarricone shared his UFO observations, including a possible sighting of a 'yoyo' in the sky in the late 1930s and a sighting in 1954 at St Nizier above the '3 pucelles'. His most significant observation occurred on September 2, 1967, in Grenoble, where he saw a plate-shaped light at an altitude of 2,000 to 2,500 meters. The object stabilized, transformed into a blueish aurora, and projected a light beam onto him, implanting an image of a diamond-shaped emblem symbolizing four races in his mind. Two days later, he sent letters to NASA and the Soviet agency about his emblem and a message to stop the Cold War. He believes his emblem was 'copied' for the 1975 Soyuz/Apollo mission. Tarricone also mentioned that his personal problems were resolved after his 1967 encounter and that his 'prayers' have been answered. He predicted UFO sightings in September 1973, which were followed by celestial phenomena, though he identified a bolide. Later that evening, two circular objects created a diamond pattern in the sky, which his friends witnessed. He also mentioned other observations in the early 1970s near Vaulnaveys-le-Haut, possibly leaving traces, and his sister's sighting of a mother ship in 1978. He noted that an independent witness in Corenc reported a similar observation, published in an old LDLN issue.

Other Content

Tribute to Lucien Clerebaut

The issue includes a heartfelt tribute to Lucien Clerebaut, the founder of Sobeps (Société Belge d'Étude des Phénomènes Spatiaux) in Brussels, who passed away on July 3, 2013, after surgical interventions. Clerebaut founded the review Inforespace in 1972, which became a significant publication in the field. Sobeps was dissolved in 2007 due to a decline in membership and articles. The tribute highlights Clerebaut's coordination of the 1990 Belgian UFO wave and his management of international media attention. His successor, Patrick Ferryn, founded a new association, COBEPS. Clerebaut was 70 years old, and his funeral was scheduled for July 9, 2013.

OVNI Paris Meeting (July 2, 2013)

A report from Francine Cordier details a meeting in Paris OVNI hosted by Guy Loterre, attended by over 60 people. The evening included technical setup, a meal, and presentations. Comic book author Jean-Yves Brouard presented his UFO-themed series, "Mission Kimono." Nikos provided ufological news. Francine Cordier gave a presentation on research methodology, UFOs, and crop circles, and discussed the "dossiers de SO" publications, which condense research from the "ufo scepticisme" forum. The forum's name has evolved to "Ufo scepticisme," and it publishes "dossiers sceptic Ovni." Patrice Seray, initiator of the "dossiers de SO," will present them in Paris later.

Publications and Reviews

The issue lists several publications from "Editions Ecrit-Vain," including:

• "Les OVNIs font leur show" (dossiers de S.O n°1) by Patrice Seray, summarizing two years of investigations into strange lights in the south of France.
• "Des OVNI comme s'il en pleuvait!" (dossiers de SO n°2) by Thibaut Alexandre, examining the increase in UFO reports in the Aisne, Ardennes, and Marne departments in 2009.
• "OVNI LUEURS SCEPTIQUES" (dossiers de S.O n°3) by R. Alessandri, J.M. Abrassart, and P. Seray, analyzing solid UFO cases and discussing "The War of the Worlds" broadcast and the Mc Minnville photos.
• "Sur la trace des OVNI" (dossiers de SO n°4) by Tim Printy, J.M. Abrassart, F. Cordier-Seray, and P. Seray, covering various topics including psychological hypotheses, the RB47 B case, and the Golfech incident.
• "Crop Circles: Le rapport VECA" by Gilles Munch, a report on crop circles updated after 20 years.

Website Information

The issue provides contact information for the "Les Rencontres Ufologiques" website, encouraging readers to submit information, articles, and meeting details to [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, extraterrestrial contact, historical interpretations of phenomena, documentary reviews, and the activities of ufological organizations and researchers. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various perspectives from different speakers and researchers, while also acknowledging skeptical viewpoints and encouraging critical analysis, as seen in the debate surrounding the "Sirius" documentary and the "dossiers de SO" publications.