PROJETO RESGATE DA MEMÓRIA UFOLÓGICA BRASILEIRA

Magazine Overview

This document is a promotional and informational piece for the "Projeto Resgate da Memória Ufológica Brasileira" (Project Rescue of Brazilian Ufological Memory), covering the period 1957-1988. It is presented as a private, non-profit initiative driven by Professor Carlos Alberto Machado, a master in education and ufologist since 1982. The project's core objective is to preserve the history of Brazilian ufology, emphasizing that without memory, there is no history, and without history, there is no science.

Project Rationale and Objectives

The project was conceived out of concern that the bulletins from the now-extinct Sociedade Brasileira de Estudos sobre os Discos Voadores (SBEDV) of Rio de Janeiro, founded by the late physician and ufologist Walter Karl Bühler, might disappear into oblivion. These bulletins are widely regarded by Brazilian and foreign ufologists as the best Brazilian ufological publications to date (as of 2004). The initiative also addresses the issue that some libraries cited in these bulletins no longer accurately reflect their holdings due to neglect, loss, theft, disinterest, or lack of consultation.

To combat this, the Centro de Investigação e Pesquisa Exobiológica (CIPEX), led by its founder Carlos Alberto Machado, has undertaken the task of compiling and digitizing all bulletins published by SBEDV. The informative material covers nearly all relevant research on the subject spanning over three decades (31 years). It is anticipated that many of the most significant Brazilian cases, frequently highlighted by local and national media and often known internationally, are included within these bulletins.

Content and Format of the Bulletins

Originally, the SBEDV bulletins were produced using typewriters and then printed, some using stencil ink and most via off-set printing. Typically, photographs were attached to the first pages, numbered for easy reference and corresponding to the text which also included subsequent numbering. Beyond ufological information, the bulletins also contain social, political, philosophical, journalistic, didactic, and historical data, intended to aid scholars in interdisciplinary studies.

The SBEDV was noted as one of the few civilian ufological research entities that actively published its findings and managed its own finances, likely through member contributions, covering nearly the entire national territory. They possessed qualified personnel and adequate scientific equipment, producing work comparable to that of first-world countries, with several international ufological bulletins citing SBEDV in their annals. Dr. Bühler himself was known to personally investigate most cases, traveling extensively across Brazil in his Volkswagen "fusca."

While SBEDV's political or philosophical opinions may differ from CIPEX's, both groups are recognized for their commitment to serious research, as evidenced in their published works and presentations. Three classic cases reportedly researched by both entities include: Caso Navegantes, Caso Lança Chamas, and Caso Tasca.

The project's intention is not only historical preservation but also to assist future researchers—from high school students to post-graduates and professional ufologists—by providing relevant material for their studies, monographs, dissertations, or theses, and inspiration for writers.

Acquisition of Original Materials and Digitalization Process

Regarding the original SBEDV materials (letters, testimonies, reports, photographs, negatives, books, etc.), they were intended to be donated to the National Library of Rio de Janeiro after Dr. Bühler's passing. Recently, CIPEX, in collaboration with the GUG (Grupo Ufológico do Guarujá), led by Edison Boaventura Jr., managed to acquire a portion of the original material from the defunct SBEDV. Although Professor Machado did not meet Dr. Bühler personally, he received correspondence and some of the excellent bulletins, which inspired the creation of CIPEX's own bulletin and encouraged other groups to do the same, establishing a research methodology that is expected to endure.

The project's creators express certainty that Dr. Bühler would be proud to see his valued and rare bulletins preserved digitally for eternity, a format unavailable in his time. They appeal for continued collaboration in preserving this material as a heritage of humanity.

The digitized collection comprises 63 bulletins, totaling approximately 1,300 pages. CIPEX, through Carlos A. Machado, has also published books, including "Olhos de Dragão - reflexões para uma nova realidade," which explored the phenomenon popularly known as "Chupacabras" or "Intruso Esporádico Agressivo (I.E.A.)" between 1996 and 2004.

The digitalization process involved scanning pages into JPG and TIF formats (300 DPI for initial pages with photos, 100 DPI for text-heavy pages) and then paginating them using Corel (version 11) before outputting to PDF. Some page numbering discrepancies occurred due to original formatting issues. The final product is considered a faithful reproduction of the original, suitable for high-definition printing.

The index, part of the collection, was created by SBEDV itself in its final issue (174-181). The project acknowledges the crucial assistance from the documentation department of the Biblioteca Pública do Paraná, the Biblioteca do Setor de Ciências Exatas of the Universidade Federal do Paraná, and the private archives of researcher José Victor Soares.

CDs containing these bulletins have been donated to various Brazilian and international libraries (some with English summaries) and sent to interested researchers or groups, with recipients covering the symbolic cost of media and postage. The document stresses that for ufology to be recognized as a science, historical memory is essential.

Contact Information and Resources

Contact details for Carlos Alberto Machado (CIPEX) in Curitiba, Paraná, and J. Victor Soares (GENA) in Gravataí, Rio Grande do Sul, are provided. The document also includes a website address for further information: http://www.gepuc.hpg.ig.com.br. A list of libraries across Brazil where SBEDV bulletins can be consulted is also included, detailing addresses and contact information for various states and cities.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the critical importance of preserving historical documentation in ufology to establish it as a scientific field. The editorial stance is one of dedication to meticulous research, historical accuracy, and the dissemination of information for the benefit of future generations and the advancement of knowledge. There is a strong emphasis on the value of collective effort and the legacy of pioneers like Walter K. Bühler. The project advocates for an open and peaceful relationship between humanity and extraterrestrial intelligence, viewing the past research as foundational for future understanding and potential contact.