Stockholms UFO-Nytt - 2009 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: Stockholms UFO-nytt
Issue: 2009, Nr 2
Publisher: Stockholms UFO-förening (Stockholm UFO Association)
Content Type: Information bulletin about Unidentified Flying Objects.

Editorial and Cover Story

The cover of Stockholms UFO-nytt Nr 2/2009 features a striking image of clouds with a peculiar circular formation within them. The main headline is "Stockholms UFO-nytt," with a subtitle indicating it is the information bulletin of the Stockholm UFO Association concerning Unidentified Flying Objects, published in 2009, Issue 2. The issue includes a prominent article titled "Mot strömmen?" (Against the Current?), which discusses the closure of the English publication UFO DATA Magazine due to economic reasons. The author contrasts this with the Stockholm UFO-Nytt's reliance on member contributions and volunteer efforts, highlighting that their production costs are significantly lower.

The editorial, penned by Svante Lilja, the Chairman of Stockholms UFO-förening, expresses a positive outlook on the association's ability to produce its own information bulletin despite a small membership. He announces plans to renew the association's website to attract more members and mentions that the planned 30th-anniversary celebration had to be postponed due to new information revealing the association is actually turning 41 years old. A celebration is still planned, possibly coinciding with the launch of a new website. The editorial also notes the absence of a spring program due to the "Astronomy Year 2009," directing members to the programs of the Observatory and Cosmonova, with a fall program to be announced later.

Key Articles and Sections

"Mot strömmen?" (Against the Current?)

This article details the cessation of UFO DATA Magazine, an English publication, after four years. Its publisher, Russel Callaghan, cited economic unsustainability, with subscriber numbers plummeting from approximately 1,000 to 300. The article expresses hope that the magazine's website will continue. It contrasts this situation with Stockholms UFO-Nytt, which is not dependent on subscriptions and has lower production costs, estimated at around 3,000 pounds per issue for UFO DATA Magazine, thanks to volunteer contributions. The author suggests that UFO reports are essential for their publication. The article also touches upon the association's plan to update its website to attract new members and serve as its public face.

Presentation of the Stockholm UFO Association's Board 2009

This section introduces the board members elected at the annual meeting on February 25, 2009. The board consists of:

• Ordförande (Chairman): Svante Lilja, who works in the Stockholm City Education Administration and has been a board member since 2007.
• Kassör (Treasurer): Bernd Bartosch, a property caretaker.
• Ledamöter (Members): Jörgen Granlie, a long-time member of UFO-Sverige; Kaj Hahne, a police inspector who completed a field investigator course; and Agneta Halldén, a freelance journalist.
• Suppleanter (Substitutes): Mattias Mårtensson, former chairman of the association, and Stefan Roslund, a news translator for Sveriges Television.

Minutes of the Stockholm UFO Association's Annual Meeting

The minutes from the ordinary annual meeting held on March 18, 2009, are detailed. Key points include:

• The meeting was opened by Chairman Svante Lilja.
• The agenda was approved.
• Göran Norlén was elected meeting chairman and Agneta Halldén as secretary.
• Clas Svahn and Stefan Roslund were elected as minute adjusters.
• The board's activity report and treasurer's report were presented and approved. The treasurer's report showed a balance of 5,930 SEK.
• The board was granted discharge for 2008.
• Svante Lilja was re-elected as Chairman for 2009.
• Bernd Bartosch was re-elected as Treasurer for 2009.
• New board members elected include Chatarina Bergman, Jörgen Granlie, Kaj Hahne, and Agneta Halldén. Chatarina Bergman is noted as a new member aiming to revitalize the association's website.
• Mattias Mårtensson and Stefan Roslund were elected as substitutes.
• Göran Norlén was elected auditor, with the substitute auditor position remaining vacant.
• Clas Svahn and Göran Norlén were elected to the election committee for 2010.
• Göran Norlén was elected delegate and Svante Lilja as substitute delegate for the 2009 Riksstämman (National Meeting).
• The membership fee for 2010 was decided to remain unchanged at 150 SEK.
• Motions regarding a suitable meeting venue and a potential competition for a UFO poster were discussed. The venue issue was deferred to a future board meeting, and the poster idea was positively received, with potential support for printing from UFO-Sverige.

Activity Report for 2008

The association held its annual meeting in Barkarby on February 20, 2008. Other activities included a trip to Rösaring on April 19, a lecture by Clas Svahn on May 7 based on his book "Stora boken om naturfenomen" (The Big Book of Natural Phenomena), a video night on October 22 focusing on Hessdalen, and a traditional Christmas closing event on December 10. The information bulletin was produced as a standalone publication with three issues released in 2008. The association held five board meetings and had 33 paying members during the year.

Statutes of Stockholms UFO-förening

This section outlines the statutes of the association, detailing its non-political and idealistic mission to increase interest and information about UFOs. It states the association is affiliated with UFO-Sverige and aims to investigate and document UFO events in the Stockholm region, reporting them to the national organization. The statutes cover the organization's structure, including the board composition and election process, membership requirements and fees, the fiscal year (calendar year), the treasurer's duties, and the auditing process. It also specifies procedures for statute changes and the dissolution of the association.

"Apollo 20 - bluff eller verklighet?" (Apollo 20 - Bluff or Reality?)

This is the second and concluding part of an article by Curtis Peebles, originally published in the British magazine Magonia. It critically examines the claim of a secret Apollo project to investigate a crashed alien spacecraft on the far side of the Moon. The article analyzes the technical requirements for launching a Saturnus V rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, concluding that the base lacked the necessary infrastructure and capabilities for such a mission. It highlights inconsistencies in the alleged timeline, launch direction, and payload capacity, suggesting that the Apollo 20 story is likely a fabrication. The article also critiques the methods used by some UFO researchers, arguing that they sometimes accept claims without sufficient critical analysis and that the evidence presented for UFO phenomena often lacks the rigor required for scientific acceptance. The analysis suggests that the Apollo 20 narrative, as presented by Rutledge, is unsupported by credible evidence and contains numerous factual errors and logical inconsistencies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the Stockholm UFO Association's activities and membership. There is a clear emphasis on volunteerism and community effort in producing the publication and running the organization, contrasting with the commercial failures of other UFO magazines. The association appears dedicated to investigating and disseminating information about UFOs, while also engaging in social events for its members. The editorial stance is one of cautious optimism regarding UFO research and a pragmatic approach to organizational management. The article on Apollo 20 exemplifies a critical and evidence-based approach to evaluating extraordinary claims within the UFO field, suggesting that the lack of robust evidence is a significant barrier to acceptance, rather than a conspiracy by the scientific establishment.

Title: Stockholms UFO-nytt
Issue: nr 2/2009
Date: December 31, 2008

This issue of Stockholms UFO-nytt contains news items related to UFO phenomena, astronomy, and related topics, presented through press clippings and original reporting.

Content Summary

Crossword Solution

The first page features the solution to a crossword puzzle from a previous issue (nr 2/2008). It also includes a Swedish proverb: "Skriv förolämpningar i sand, men lovord i sten." (Write insults in sand, but praise in stone.)

News from the World

Tefat i Malpåse (UFOs in a Bag) - Hong Kong
UFO watchers in Hong Kong are protesting the delay of a ufology course at the city's largest university. Moon Fong, a member of the institute's leadership, stated that the delay was due to concerns that only UFO experts' opinions would be presented, but he believes the real worry was that ufology might become a major academic subject. Fong describes this as "pure oppression of ufologists."

UFO Sighted on Valentine's Day - Santiago, Chile
An unidentified flying object was sighted in El Huepe, a city 300 kilometers south of Santiago. Multiple witnesses reported seeing a mysterious fireball on Valentine's Day. The object then flashed as it crashed, burning a patch of ground. The report is attributed to METRO and dated 090223.

Large Asteroid Near Earth
At 14:44 Swedish time on Monday, a very large asteroid, designated 2009DD45, passed Earth at a distance of only 72,000 kilometers, which is one-fifth of the distance to the moon. Researchers estimate its size to be between 21 and 47 meters. The impact force of such an event is calculated to be equivalent to over 1,000 atomic bombs of the size used on Hiroshima. The asteroid passed at a distance similar to that of common satellites orbiting the planet. This report is by Anders Hellberg, dated DN 4/3/09.

Meteorite Found on Lolland
Fragments of a meteor that was observed by many people in southern Sweden, southeastern Denmark, and northern Germany on January 17 have been found on the Danish island of Lolland. According to lecturer Henning Haack from the Geological Museum in Copenhagen, the found fragment weighs about 30 grams, a stark contrast to the several tons the meteor was estimated to weigh upon entering the atmosphere. The discovery was made by a German meteorite hunter who interviewed witnesses and then searched for the impact site. The fragments will be displayed at the Geological Museum. This is the first meteorite found in Denmark since 1951. The report is from TT and dated DN 14/3/09.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine covers a range of phenomena, from UFO sightings and potential extraterrestrial encounters to astronomical events like asteroid flybys and meteorite discoveries. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these events, often citing press clippings from various news agencies, while also acknowledging the ongoing interest and study of ufology, as evidenced by the discussion of the Hong Kong university course. The inclusion of a crossword puzzle and a proverb suggests a broader interest in engaging the readership beyond just news reporting.