Repas Ufologiques - 2009.01

Magazine Overview

This issue of "INFORMATIONS MENSUELLES DES REPAS UFOLOGIQUES" for January 2009 focuses on the activities and upcoming events of ufological groups across France. The publication aims to inform the public about the UFO phenomenon and foster discussion.

New Year's Greetings and General Outlook

The issue begins with New Year's greetings and best wishes for 2009 from the Repas Ufologiques organization. It highlights that 2009 will offer opportunities to meet various figures in ufology and parallel sciences. The organization encourages members and the public to contribute by suggesting speakers or topics for their meetings.

Chapter Updates and New Initiatives

The Repas Ufologiques chapter in Saint-Dié will be closing due to the former organizer's inability to continue and the lack of a successor. However, new chapters are planned to open in Nice and Clermont Ferrand in 2009, with the latter being directed by Luc Cotte.

GEIPAN Leadership Change

A significant announcement is the retirement of Jacques Patenet, the head of GEIPAN, on December 31, 2008. Patenet is credited with fostering a more open stance towards independent ufologists and ufological groups. He will be succeeded by Yvan Blanc, who is currently a project manager for the Herschel program at Cnes, focusing on the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. Patenet will assist in the transition for a few months.

Media Engagement

Repas Ufologiques actively engages with the media. Jean-Luc Rivera recently participated in two media events in Paris. The magazine "Esplanade" from La Défense is preparing an article on Repas Ufologiques, for which Jean-Luc Rivera has provided an interview and Laura Houeix, the head of editorial, has received photo documents for illustration. The goal is to improve public understanding of the phenomenon.

Aljazeera TV "Children" Episode

Aljazeera TV's "Children" channel recorded an episode on "Extraterrestrials" featuring Jean-Luc Rivera. The segment, approximately 6 minutes long, involves a child asking questions about UFOs, with Rivera, a specialist, responding on behalf of Repas Ufologiques. This is noted as a first for the Arab television channel, which has previously worked with Japanese television to disseminate UFO-related images globally.

"Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace" Feature

Véronique Cohu, a journalist for "Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace" (DNA), published an article on December 15, 2009, about Repas Ufologiques, specifically mentioning the Strasbourg and Colmar chapters. Christian Comtesse, a 55-year-old ufologist with forty years of experience, is interviewed. He emphasizes the preference for the term "PAN" (Phénomène Aérien Non identifié - Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) over "UFO" and discusses the challenges ufologists face in being taken seriously. Comtesse initiated the first ufological meals in Alsace in 2004, with Michel Padrines taking over in Colmar in 2007.

Upcoming Repas Ufologiques Meetings

Several Repas Ufologiques meetings are scheduled across France:

• Marseille: Two meetings are planned. On January 3rd, Bernard Falque de Bezaure will discuss the origin of UFOs in ancient writings and the formation of peoples. On January 31st, Guy Tarade will speak about the Ark of the Covenant and other subjects.
• Montpellier: A meeting on January 16th will review 2008 and discuss perspectives for 2009 for the OVNI Languedoc association. An exposé on Jean-Pierre Petit will be presented, followed by a debate.
• Jurassiens (Lons le Saunier/Montmorot): On January 2nd, Robert Zirolo will be the guest speaker, discussing his articles for the L.D.L.N. revue, which explore the nature of the UFO phenomenon and the possibility of confrontation with non-human intelligence.
• Bordelais: The meeting on January 9th will feature discussions on the UFO dossier.
• Colmar: On January 16th, a special meeting will focus on the Taennchel site and the famous statuettes found there, including a debate on the book "OVNI Investigation" and a book signing. An expedition to the Taennchel site is planned for March 14th.

"OVNI Investigation" Book

Michel Padrines, an author on the unusual and the UFO phenomenon, will be speaking at the Repas Ufologiques in Paris on January 6, 2009. He will discuss his new book, "OVNI Investigation," which examines historical documents for evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations on Earth. The book traces the work of authors like Robert Charroux and Erich Von Daniken.

Taennchel Statuettes

The issue includes an image of statuettes discovered at the Taennchel archaeological site in Alsace. The statuettes depict a figure resembling a "flying disc" with two appendices, which could be interpreted as light rays or feet of an "engine." The white outlining around the "flying disc" and the symbol above it were added by the gendarmerie.

G.E.E.P.P. Initiatives

The Groupe d'Études Expérimentales des Phénomènes Parapsychologiques (G.E.E.P.P.) in Toulouse, led by Yves Lignon, is launching a national survey on clairvoyance and is collecting testimonies from individuals who have used the services of psychics, mediums, or fortune-tellers.

G.E.E.P.P. Profile

The G.E.E.P.P., also known as the Laboratory of Parapsychology of Toulouse, comprises academics, doctors, engineers, and journalists. Their primary objective is to apply experimental methods to parapsychological phenomena and to coordinate research efforts nationally and internationally.

Christian Comtesse's Reflection Group

Christian Comtesse is launching a reflection group to assess the state of ufology in France and to brainstorm ways to improve it. He invites interested individuals with ideas to join the group.

Yves Lignon Video on Dailymotion

A video of Yves Lignon's conference in Châlons-en-Champagne from October 2005 has been viewed over 700 times on Dailymotion. The Repas Ufologiques website also hosts numerous other videos.

Guy Tarade Exhibition

The "Guy Tarade" Ufological Exhibition, which has already traveled over 5000 km, is moving from Brest to the Repas Ufologiques in Rennes, with Laurent Duval handling the transfer. The exhibition showcases documents related to ufology dating back nearly 60 years.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the organization and activities of local ufological groups (Repas Ufologiques), media outreach, significant figures in ufology, and specific UFO-related research and events. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting ufology, encouraging public engagement, and facilitating the exchange of information and research within the community. There is a clear emphasis on serious investigation and a desire to inform the public accurately about the phenomenon.