Rencontres Ufologiques - 2013 08 07

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Les Informations du jour des Rencontres Ufologiques" from August 6, 2013, covers a range of UFO-related news and reports. It includes a bizarre incident involving a mysteriously suppressed YouTube video of a UFO in Japan, an announcement from MUFON France regarding their operational strategy and a call for volunteers, and several witness accounts of strange aerial phenomena in France.

Bizarre! UFO Video from Japan Mysteriously Suppressed on YouTube

The lead story details a video that reportedly showed a large, bright UFO flying near an aircraft over Japan. The video, sourced from "Le Quotidien du Peuple en ligne," generated significant attention on YouTube. However, the article notes that the video's display parameters were quickly changed from 'public' to 'private' without explanation, raising doubts about the incident's authenticity due to the lack of detailed information.

Communiqué from the National Directorate of Investigations of MUFON France

MUFON France announces the implementation of a new operational strategy for managing investigation files and training. The platform for managing investigation cases is almost ready, and distance training programs are under development. The technical aspects are operational, and work is underway on technical and pedagogical frameworks, aiming to standardize work in line with GEIPAN's requirements and develop the "Projet Licorne 2." They are seeking volunteer investigators, both internal and external to MUFON France, to test the new tools. Interested individuals are asked to contact the national directorate of investigations via email at dne[at]mufon-france.fr. Jean-Luc Lemaire is identified as the National Director of Investigations.

Besançon: Strange Lights in the Sky

This section reports on an incident in Besançon, France, where witnesses Christel and Patrice described seeing red lights in a constant-speed triangle formation, followed by about ten other lights. The phenomenon was silent. Despite attempts to photograph it, the lights reportedly became less intense, turned white, and disappeared one by one. The witnesses, described as not being "farfelus" (eccentric), insisted it was something clearly different from planes or Thai lanterns. They believe others may have witnessed the same phenomenon and are seeking an explanation.

Phenomenon Repeats

The article notes that similar phenomena have been reported online in recent weeks, often involving one to three yellow, red, or white balls forming a triangle. Examples include a sighting in Champagne-Ardenne of three luminous orange balls in a triangle and reports from June in Lyon and its surroundings. The article questions whether these could be cargo rockets, orbital stations, satellites, Zeppelins, new military drones, or something else, concluding that the mystery remains.

Message from Jan C. Harzan, New Director of MUFON USA

Jan C. Harzan, the new Executive Director of MUFON USA, thanks attendees of the 2013 MUFON Symposium, which was attended by over 700 people. He emphasizes the symposium's importance for networking and sharing experiences. He encourages attendance at the 2014 MUFON Symposium in Philadelphia (Cherry Hill, NJ). Harzan expresses his honor at being elected to manage MUFON as Director General starting August 1, 2013, and thanks Dave Mac Donald for his work over the past two years, which he states has put MUFON on a solid financial footing and expanded its reach to Europe. He also announces the formation of a new advisory committee composed of three former executive directors: John Schuessler, Clifford Clift, and David MacDonald.

Harzan shares his personal history with UFOs, dating back to his childhood in the 1960s when he and his brother developed a keen interest after seeing numerous reports in the media. He recounts a childhood sighting of a van-sized craft hovering silently, which solidified his belief in the reality of UFOs and their advanced technology. This experience led him to study nuclear engineering at UCLA, seeking to understand how these craft moved. He found that conventional education lacked answers and that specialized research groups might hold the key. After graduating, he worked at IBM but felt unfulfilled, eventually being convinced by two senior researchers that the main obstacle to understanding UFOs was not the phenomenon itself but human belief systems.

Now retired from IBM, Harzan works full-time for MUFON, seeking answers to important questions. He details his involvement with MUFON, starting in the late 1980s, attending monthly meetings, and eventually becoming the Director of Investigations for Orange County, CA, and Assistant State Director for California. He was involved in selecting Orange County as the site for the 2001 MUFON Symposium. He later served on the MUFON Business Council for 12 years, contributing to the development of MUFON's mission and objectives, and the deployment of CMS I and CMS II. His personal and professional agenda is "The scientific study of UFOs for the benefit of humanity."

The Evolution of MUFON is Rapid – Procedures and Notes Follow

This section calls for a person to help establish procedures and documents for MUFON France. The role involves managing and updating documents by service, theme, or order, and maintaining chronology and reference files. Interested individuals should contact MUFON France at [email protected].

Were there UFOs in the Sky over Champagne-Ardenne That Night?

This article details reports from numerous internet users who witnessed a strange phenomenon in the sky over the Champagne-Ardenne region on a Saturday night in early August 2013. The sightings, occurring around 1:00 AM, were often described as one to three stable yellow-orange balls that disappeared suddenly. Some witnesses offered interpretations, such as Damien (Reims) seeing three luminous orange balls in a triangle, and Marilyn (Aubrives) seeing a white ball that faded. Thierry (Charleville) described a glow that diminished to a red point. Omrii (Saint-Dizier) saw a large light like a "fireball," and Chou Choup (Fère-Champenoise) reported a long, flat, strange shape. Sara (Reims) suggested they might be Thai lanterns. Jean-Luc Lemaire, a regional ufologist, indicated a high probability that these were indeed Thai lanterns launched for a wedding or village festival. Police and air traffic control reported no unusual sightings. The article includes a link to a France 3 regional report on the incident.

Editions Aldane of Geneva Joins the Rencontres Ufologiques Site

Editions Aldane of Geneva, a publisher interested in unidentified aerospace phenomena (PAN), has joined the Rencontres Ufologiques site. The site will regularly feature updates on their publications, which are non-commercial. A brief biography of the publisher is provided, noting that Editions Aldane originated from GREPI (Groupe de Recherche et d'Étude des Phénomènes Insolites). The founders, Nathalie Stotzer, Alain Stauffer, and Daniel Benaroya, were inspired to start the publishing house after Shi Bo sought a Swiss publisher for his book. They have since published works by authors like Jacques Vallée and Aimé Michel.

The 18th Ufological Café of Mendoza Took Place on July 31, 2013

This section reports on the 18th Ufological Café of Mendoza, Argentina, which brought together researchers and enthusiasts of UFO phenomena and extraterrestrial life. The event featured notable participants, including Luis Emilio Annino, José María Tulián, Daniel Postizzi, Raúl Díaz, Faruk Alem, Oscar Ferreyra, and Martín Fuentes. The meeting included a remembrance of the visit by researcher Luis Reinoso, who is involved with EDOVNI and CEFORA, an organization working towards the declassification of official Argentine UFO documents. Reinoso also conducted a radio interview. The event also noted the upcoming 1st Ufology Meeting of Los Polvorines. The article highlights the presence of historical investigator Faruk Alem, who directed AMIFO and was instrumental in organizing past international ufology congresses in Mendoza, including one attended by Dr. Joseph Allen Hynek. Alem shared anecdotes, including his interactions with Hynek and his positive reception of Mendoza's wine. The report also mentions Daniel Postizzi, who shared photographic images from his research, including incidents possibly involving military personnel.

Bulletin of IDEFEH (July-August 1980)

This part of the report mentions Professor Victorio Corradi, a ufologist from Mendoza who has conducted numerous investigations. His interest in the extraterrestrial began with reading Ray Bradbury and Aimé Michel. He became involved in UFO research with the Peccinetti-Villegas case in 1968. Corradi directed the Instituto de Estudios de Fenómenos Extrahumanos Hombre Cósmico (IDEFEH) and discussed his use of the term "extrahumano" (extrahuman) instead of "extraterrestre" (extraterrestrial). The discussion touched upon incidents involving petrified sand, extraterrestrial biological entities, and chupacabras. Corradi proposed collaborating with the Café Ufológico de Mendoza for future online dissemination of his research.

Next Event Announcement

The issue concludes with an invitation to the "19th Ufological Café of Mendoza" on Wednesday, August 28, 2013, at Café Five Stars, Lavalle 45 (Galería Independencia), Ciudad de Mendoza, starting at 7 PM. Participation is free.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings, investigations, and related phenomena. It presents witness testimonies, official statements from organizations like MUFON, and reports on ufological events and research. There is an emphasis on the scientific study of UFOs and the pursuit of answers, as seen in the personal statements of Jan C. Harzan and the work of organizations like CEFORA seeking declassification of documents. The publication also highlights the international nature of ufology, with reports from France, Japan, and Argentina. While presenting various sightings, the magazine also includes potential rational explanations, such as Thai lanterns, but maintains an open stance on the unexplained nature of many phenomena.