Rencontres Ufologiques - 2013 07 19

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Les Informations du jour des Rencontres Ufologiques" from July 2013 focuses on UFO phenomena, investigations, and related topics, including government surveillance and paranormal research. It highlights upcoming events, new appointments within UFO organizations, historical sightings, and contemporary issues.

Key Articles and Features

The UFO Phenomenon at the 6th Astronomy Festival of Tautavel

The 6th Astronomy Festival in Tautavel, France, scheduled from August 8-11, 2013, is noted for its inclusion of UFO-related content. The festival, which attracts visitors interested in celestial observation, will feature the Geipan (Groupe d'Études et d'Informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non Identifiés) representing the UFO phenomenon. A conference-debate animated by Xavier Passot is scheduled for August 8th at 9:30 PM at the Théâtre du Millénaire. Contingency plans are in place for inclement weather, with a potential move to the auditorium of the congress palace.

MUFON France Confides Regional Direction to Franck Boitte

MUFON France has appointed Franck Boitte as the new Regional Director for the Pays de Loire region, making him the eighth regional director. Boitte brings extensive experience as an investigator, having encountered hundreds of witnesses of Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (UAP). He was part of the Sobeps group and played a significant role during the Belgian wave of UFO sightings, interviewing around 150 witnesses. Born in Brussels on January 10, 1940, Boitte became interested in the phenomenon during the 1954 European wave. He corresponded with Marc Thirouin of the Ouranos Commission and met Georges Adamski in 1963. In July 1972, he joined Sobeps. Boitte holds a degree in commercial engineering and a license in computer science. He has worked as an accountant and an IT analyst for a German multinational. Now retired, he resides in Vendée. MUFON France is expanding its national network under the direction of Jacques Patenet, with many regions already covered and new cases under study.

OVNI66 Joins MUFON-FRANCE

Pascal Guillaumes, responsible for the OVNI66 network, has agreed to manage the departments of Aude, Ariège, and Pyrénées-Orientales for MUFON FRANCE, following contact with Jacques Patenet. OVNI66 will maintain its independence while contributing to a universal database of unexplained PAN/UFO cases. Guillaumes believes this collaboration will enhance methodological approaches to investigations and case descriptions, viewing the universal database as an ideal tool for comparing characteristics of unidentified aerial phenomena worldwide.

Book Review: "Les Phénomènes Paranormaux"

The magazine reviews the book "Les Phénomènes Paranormaux" from Éditions « Milan », part of the "Les archives de l'histoire" collection. This richly illustrated work covers a multitude of subjects related to the paranormal, including astrology, telepathy, ghosts, and past lives. It aims to differentiate between legend, charlatanism, and genuine expressions of little-known gifts. The book is described as a broad overview of scientific exploration into domains once considered supernatural. The review notes that while the book does not directly concern UFOs/PANs, its author, Yves Lignon, is a known speaker and researcher in the field. Lignon is a mathematician and honorary professor at the University of Toulouse-II, founder of the Laboratory of Parapsychology of Toulouse, and author of "Enquêtes scientifiques au cœur de l'étrange." The review also mentions Lignon's other recent publication, "LA VIE.... ET APRÈS."

The UFO Phenomenon in Ancient Times: A 1810 Sighting

An article details a sighting reported in The Times of London on October 29, 1810. On September 22, 1810, between 5 and 6 PM, a luminous meteor appeared as a large globe of fire over the commune of Brezeau. It moved for nearly fifteen minutes, causing terror among the inhabitants who feared their houses would burn down. The object was accompanied by a loud, frightening noise, described as the roar of a rapid chariot or wind-driven rain. It stirred up thick fog and dust, and even appeared to suck water from a river, which then fell as rain. The object hovered over the village before transforming into a column of fire and ascending into the sky. The phenomenon lasted for three-quarters of an hour and covered a distance of half a league. The article provides context for the locations mentioned, including Waly and Brezeau (potentially a misspelling of Brizeaux).

A Phenomenon Observed in Ardèche

A round, red object was observed moving silently over the Eyrieux valley in Ardèche and heading towards Livron-sur-Drôme on the evening of July 14, 2013, around 10:36 PM. A family from Beauchastel witnessed the event. Daniel Praneuf, a former military member with experience in flying, estimated the object's altitude to be between 500 and 600 meters. The family observed the object for nearly a minute and noted a "curious sensation of acceleration." A photo was taken, and the source is cited as http://www.ledauphine.com/ardeche/2013/07/16/un-ovni-vu-dans-le-ciel-ardechois.

Echelon and Prism: When America Listens to the World!

This section discusses the extensive US surveillance programs, Prism and Echelon, which have been monitoring global communications since the late 1980s. The article notes that the Prism affair has led to legal action in France, with two human rights associations filing complaints against companies like Google, Yahoo!, and Apple. It mentions Russia's response to eavesdropping by re-equipping with typewriters. The revelations by Edward Snowden are highlighted, detailing how NSA (National Security Agency) uses Prism in conjunction with the Upstream Program. The article criticizes the political and journalistic world for only recently discovering these practices, which have been known to specialists for a long time. It references Jean-Claude Sidoun's 2005 book "Ovnis, guerre froide, le grand jeu," which exposed the massive investments in intelligence agencies like NRO, CIA, and NSA, and described Echelon as a titanic system for global eavesdropping. The article details the significant budgets and personnel involved in Echelon in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It also points out that European authorities had requested explanations in the late 1990s, and a report by Duncan Campbell in 1988 revealed the vast network of listening and electromagnetic interception covering the planet, primarily targeting European Union states.

Jean-Pierre Troadec provides a focus on Echelon and Prism. Echelon is described as a codename for US intelligence services' interception of commercial telecommunications satellites, and by extension, a global system of interception of private and public communications involving the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand under the UKUSA treaty. Prism (US-984XN) is an electronic surveillance program by the NSA that targets individuals outside the US, supervised by the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). The concept of "Black Programs" is also introduced, referring to top-secret research programs, including stealth aircraft like the F117A, with mentions of Area 51 and its potential connection to the development of stealth technologies and the housing of "remains of unidentified flying objects."

RIO54 UFOlogical Cafe Meetings

An announcement is made for the next meeting of the RIO54 UFOlogical Cafe, scheduled for Thursday, August 1, at 6:30 PM at the Café de la Subasta in Buenos Aires. The cafe is described as Argentina's first UFOlogical Cafe, where people gather monthly to discuss UFOs. The report mentions the July 4th meeting, which included new participants Roberto Marino and Javier Bertolotto. The discussion at the cafe covered various topics, including personal experiences, the possibility of subterranean bases, and the characteristics that define a UFO. Participants debated whether an object's behavior must violate physical laws to be considered anomalous and discussed the role of belief systems in observation, referencing John Keel. The conversation also touched upon historical sightings, such as the 1897 wave of "flying objects" resembling dirigibles in the US, and the concept of "ajenidad" (otherness) in human beliefs regarding phenomena. The possibility of alien civilizations with vastly different cultural perspectives was raised, drawing a parallel between an entomologist and an ant. The discussion also included a case of "phantom submarines" sighted in the South Atlantic.

Naval Encounters and UFOs

Javier Stagnaro shared information from the Fundación Histarmar website about Operation Golfo Nuevo in May 1958, where the Navy attacked an unidentified submersible. During this operation, luminous spheres emerged from the sea, and a wedge-shaped mark was found on the beach, suggesting an object that left by air. The article speculates about the possibility of a German U-boat remaining hidden after World War II. Daniel Postizzi recounted an anecdote from a retired radarist on the Fragata Libertad, where a red ball of light entered the ship, moved through various compartments, and then disappeared. Andrea Pérez Simondini expressed joy at having located and interviewed Roberto Wilkinson, a Navy pilot who observed unidentified objects near the Comandante Espora Naval Air Base in 1962.

Cafés Ufológicos Expanding

Rubén Morales expressed satisfaction with the growth of UFOlogical Cafes across Argentina and the recent second meeting of the Café Ovni in Valencia, Spain. He hopes for more such cafes to emerge globally.

Closing Remarks and Next Meeting

The July meeting of the Café Ufológico concluded with discussions, investigations, anecdotes, and reflections on various UFO-related topics. Attendees were entered into a raffle for magazines, books, and DVDs. The next meeting of Café Ufológico RIO54 is scheduled for Thursday, August 1, at 6:30 PM at the Café de la Subasta, Río de Janeiro 54, Buenos Aires.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the investigation and discussion of UFO phenomena, historical cases, and related anomalies. It emphasizes the importance of rigorous investigation, witness testimony, and the sharing of information through various platforms like conferences and cafes. There is a clear interest in connecting UFO sightings with broader themes of government secrecy, surveillance, and the potential for non-human intelligence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to engage with the subject matter critically and to contribute to the collective understanding of these phenomena. The publication also highlights the expansion of UFO research networks and organizations within France and internationally.