Stockholms UFO-Nytt - 2010 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: Stockholms UFO-nytt
Issue: Nr 3/2010
Publisher: Stockholms UFO-förening
Date: December 2010 (cover date implies this, with a specific sighting on Dec 8, 2010)
Language: Swedish

This issue of Stockholms UFO-nytt, the information bulletin for the Stockholm UFO Association (Stufo), covers a range of topics including a recent atmospheric phenomenon, the internal state of the organization, and a detailed case study of a historical UFO sighting.

Cover Story: Atmospheric Phenomenon

The cover features a photograph of Stockholm City Hall with a striking halo effect and two "sun dogs" (parhelia). The accompanying text explains that this phenomenon was visible on the morning of Wednesday, December 8, 2010. The photo was taken from Klarabergsviadukten at 10:21 AM using a Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro U8i mobile phone, and the photographer is identified as Svante Lilja. The editors express a wish for a photo that resembles their logo, featuring three UFOs behind the City Hall tower, but present the halo phenomenon as a substitute.

Editorial: "Ett år har gått" (A Year Has Passed)

Kaj Hahne, the Chairman of Stufo, reflects on the past year. He notes that not much has happened within the association, with attempts to gather members at "Himlavalvet" (Heaven's Vault) proving unsuccessful and overall activity levels being low. He contrasts this with the broader interest in UFOs globally, citing the high visitor numbers to their website and frequent articles in Aftonbladet. Hahne acknowledges that many sightings are explainable, such as the balloon incident over Manhattan or condensation trails mistaken for missile trails. He highlights the rapid pace of scientific discovery, mentioning dark matter and dark energy, and the increasing accessibility of information and computational power through the internet and personal devices. However, he notes that as the universe reveals more secrets, more questions arise.

Hahne also discusses the role of UFO-Sverige as the critical and scrutinizing umbrella organization in Sweden, stating that while some may not feel at home there, it is a leading organization with valuable contacts. He mentions the collaboration with Norway and activities at AFU in Norrköping. He reiterates that no definitive proof of the origin of UFOs has been found, and while most observations are explainable, some remain peculiar and warrant further research. He calls for members to contribute by collecting and submitting basic material for researchers.

Finally, Hahne announces that the board has proposed changes to Stufo's statutes due to outdated regulations, such as the absence of conscription in Sweden. He encourages members to review the proposed new statutes and provide feedback via email to [email protected].

Contents

• The table of contents lists the following articles:
• Debatt: Har Stufo någon framtid? (Debate: Does Stufo have a future?)
• Observationer i Stockholm med omnejd (Observations in and around Stockholm)
• Normantonfallet (The Normanton Incident)
• Bilagor: Stockholms UFO-förenings stadgar (Appendices: Statutes of the Stockholm UFO Association)
• Förslag till nya lokalföreningsstadgar (Proposal for new local association statutes)

Debate: "Har Stufo nån framtid?" (Does Stufo Have a Future?)

This article delves into the challenges facing the Stockholm UFO Association. The board discussed the association's future during a meeting on November 24, 2010. A key issue is the lack of a permanent physical location, a problem also faced by other local groups. The example of Sala-Enköping is given, where a biodynamic association and a UFO group jointly rented a cabin that the municipality is now selling for an exorbitant price.

The author emphasizes that association work relies on volunteer effort, and without active participation, organizations will cease to exist. This is not unique to UFO groups but affects all associations that do not require direct physical presence. Even sports clubs are experiencing declines.

Within Stufo, it appears that all active members are already on the board, which is seen as an unsustainable future. Despite the website receiving visitors, there is little contact from members with the board. An attempt to recruit members by sending out mail to UFO-Sverige members in the Stockholm area yielded only one response.

The article questions the necessity of local UFO associations, especially in an era where most discussions and information gathering occur online via the internet, Facebook, YouTube, and Wikipedia. The author contrasts past activities, such as lectures with drawings and slide shows, with the current online environment. He suggests that Swedish youth are more skeptical than their American counterparts, citing statistics that 80% of Americans are convinced of alien visitation and 2.9 million people claim to have been abducted.

However, the author notes that the US has a more religiously oriented culture that supports direct contact with aliens, unlike Sweden. He states that Stufo cannot replicate the methods of US organizations like MUFON due to economic limitations. The article poses the question of what Stufo can offer beyond social gatherings, suggesting the creation of DVDs, though AFU already does this. Stufo is seen as competing with UFO-Sverige, which offers organized activities, courses, and follows up on research. AFU, described as potentially the world's largest UFO archive, is receiving a significant amount of material from England.

The article concludes with a plea for members to actively contribute to Stufo's survival, echoing John F. Kennedy's famous quote: "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country."

Observations in Stockholm and Surrounding Areas

This section discusses changes within UFO-Sverige regarding field investigators. Previously, the "Rapportcentralen" (Report Center) issued district reports, but local districts seem to be fading. The remaining members are not active, leading to reports being left unaddressed for years.

A reorganization has occurred where active "fundare" (investigators) are grouped into four nationwide teams. Each team is led by one person who assigns observations to suitable individuals, who do not necessarily need to be part of an organized local group. The Rapportcentralen filters out common "light dots" and other easily explainable phenomena. The new system is expected to work better, with positive results already seen in Stockholm. Reports are being reviewed for quality assurance by a specialized group of experienced individuals.

In Stockholm, three observations have been handled under the new principles:
1. A young woman on Lidingö reported seeing a craft multiple times. Due to the timing, it was easily identified as regular aircraft.
2. A report of a bright object seen for about an hour, which then moved at high speed. The investigator determined it was Jupiter, which disappeared behind a building, followed by a plane heading to Bromma. The witness mistook the planet for the object.
3. A more complex case from the summer involved a witness who initially contacted Rymdbolaget (the Swedish Space Corporation) before being directed to UFO-Sverige. The witness had not noted the date or time, but it might be related to an observation made by the author.

The author observed a small, high-altitude reflection above contrails from planes at 8,000-10,000 meters. This reflection was visible for a few minutes before disappearing behind a building. A theory suggested it could be space debris, like a solar panel from a satellite rotating to create reflections, but this could not be confirmed.

Another report involved a witness and his wife who live near Sollenkroka. The husband heard a splash and saw a meter-sized, square object with a metal frame floating down and hitting the water. The object then sank about 50 meters from him. Later, two objects washed ashore that matched his description. The material is described as lightweight, possibly canal plastic, partially melted, and sooty, suggesting exposure to heat. The author speculates it could be insulation or the back of a solar panel, but without a reference panel, it's hard to confirm. The objects had no markings, and the witness heard only one splash, seeing the second object sink. The weather was clear and calm.

The Normanton Incident

This section details a significant case from ufologist Philip Mantle's career. The incident occurred in the summer of 1979 in Normanton, West Yorkshire, UK. Mrs. Westerman and her six children reported seeing a UFO land in a nearby field. They also observed "humanoids" in a neighboring field.

Mrs. Westerman initially hesitated to report the sighting, but eventually recounted the event. Her eight-year-old daughter first noticed a strange object on the field. The object was described as matt grey, resembling a Mexican sombrero, and about the size of a large Volvo. Three tall figures, dressed in silver suits, were seen near the object. The figures pointed at a dark instrument on the ground. The family approached the object but were stopped by a fence. The figures then entered the object, which lifted vertically, hovered, and then ascended rapidly.

The children's accounts, interviewed separately, corroborated their mother's story, with the children recalling seeing the object land. They described it as a silver, disk-shaped object with a band around it, hovering a few hundred meters above power lines before landing. The "men" were very tall, wore visors covering their faces, and had silver suits without zippers or seams. They wore gloves and wedge-shaped boots. Their movements were slow and precise.

Philip Mantle and Mark Birdsall interviewed the witnesses and found them credible. The witnesses did not use terms like "spaceship" or "flying saucer" and wished to remain anonymous. The incident lasted between five and ten minutes. Mantle and Birdsall could not find any rational explanation for the event, concluding that either the witnesses were telling the truth, or they were lying, and no evidence of deception was found.

Statutes of the Stockholm UFO Association

This section provides the official statutes of the Stockholm UFO Association:

§ 1. Objective: The association is apolitical and ideological, aiming to increase interest and information about UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects). It is affiliated with UFO-Sverige and aims to investigate and document UFO events in the Stockholm region, reporting them to the national organization.

§ 2. Organization: The association is led by a board of an odd number of members, with a chairman, treasurer, and other board members elected at the annual meeting. The board must meet at least quarterly.

§ 3. Membership: Membership is obtained by paying the annual fee. Students, conscripts, and pensioners pay a reduced fee. Membership is open to individuals aged 14 and above, with exceptions possible. Members joining in the latter half of the year pay half the annual fee. Membership ceases upon request, or if the annual fee is not paid by the end of the first quarter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the challenges of maintaining an active UFO organization in the modern era, the importance of credible witness testimony, and the detailed investigation of specific UFO cases. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena while also emphasizing the need for critical analysis and evidence-based research. There is a clear call for active member participation to ensure the survival of the Stockholm UFO Association.

This document contains scanned pages from what appears to be a Swedish UFO magazine or newsletter, with the most prominent date being February 22, 1999, and a reference to a 2010 article. The content includes bylaws for a local UFO organization, scientific news related to extraterrestrial life, and descriptions of atmospheric phenomena.

Bylaws for Local UFO-Sverige Chapters

The first section details the bylaws for a local chapter within the Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige (National Organization UFO-Sweden). It outlines various regulations and procedures:

• Membership and Expulsion: Members can be expelled by a 5/7 majority vote of the board if they work against the organization's aims. The expelled member can reapply after one year plus the remaining time of the year they were expelled. Annual fees are decided at the general meeting and apply from the next fiscal year.
• Fiscal Year: The fiscal year, like the calendar year, is the same as the calendar year. The board is responsible for the annual report and financial statements. The general meeting decides on the board's accountability.
• Treasurer's Duties: The treasurer manages the organization's accounts and must record each transaction as soon as possible. The organization's postgiro account can be signed by the treasurer and chairman. Other accounts are signed by the treasurer.
• Accounts Review: The organization's accounts are to be reviewed by two auditors elected at the general meeting. Audit documents must be provided to the auditors one month before the ordinary general meeting.
• By-law Amendments: Proposed by-law changes from the board or a member must be approved by a subsequent general meeting to be permanently incorporated.
• Annual Meeting (Årsmöte): This is the highest authority of the organization and must be held by the end of February. Members must be notified at least 8 days in advance.
• Dissolution: Dissolving the organization requires a 2/3 majority decision at two consecutive meetings, with at least two months between them, one of which must be a general meeting. Remaining assets are to be used to promote the goals stated in Section 1.

Bylaws for X-köpings UFO-förening

This section provides specific bylaws for the X-köpings UFO-förening (X-köpings UFO Association), affiliated with UFO-Sverige:

• Name: X-köpings UFO-förening.
• Mission: To be a non-profit association affiliated with UFO-Sverige, working within the framework of the national organization's goals. Its overarching aim is to study and work with the UFO issue from a scientific perspective.
• Activities: The association will gather UFO enthusiasts in the X-köpings region who want to seriously and objectively study or research unidentified flying objects (UFOs). It will receive, investigate, and document UFO reports. It will conduct and promote research to gain knowledge about UFOs, foster a scientifically oriented, knowledge-based discussion about UFOs, counteract uncritical thinking and unjustified skepticism, and stimulate interest in the UFO issue in the X-köpings region.
• Membership: Membership is granted to individuals who support the association's mission and have paid the membership fee. The age limit for membership is 15 years.
• Annual Meeting: The annual meeting must be held by the end of February, with written notice sent at least three weeks in advance. The agenda includes opening, verifying the call, approving the agenda, elections (chair, secretary, scrutineers), reviewing the annual report, auditor's report, board accountability, setting membership fees, approving the activity plan, motions, by-law amendments, electing the board, auditors, and delegates to the national assembly, and closing.
• Board: The board is elected by the annual meeting and serves as the decision-making and executive body. It must consist of at least five members, including a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer, and other members. Board members are elected for one year. The board is quorate when a majority of its members are present, with the chairman having the casting vote in case of a tie. Minutes must be kept for board meetings. The board presents an annual report and the auditors' report to the annual meeting and decides on potential member expulsions.
• Accounts: The organization's accounts are managed by the treasurer and cover the calendar year (fiscal year).
• Signatories: The chairman and treasurer are authorized to sign for the organization, individually.
• Auditing: The organization's accounts and the board's management of activities are to be audited by an auditor elected at the general meeting, along with a deputy auditor.
• Exclusion: A member can be excluded if they do not follow the organization's mission or bylaws, or if their behavior damages the organization's reputation, by a board decision.
• By-law Amendment: Members can submit proposals for by-law changes to the annual meeting. The board will provide an opinion on the proposal at the meeting. Amendments require a 3/4 majority vote at the annual meeting.
• Dissolution: A decision to dissolve the organization is made at the annual meeting. Upon dissolution, the organization's documents and assets are to be handed over to the national organization.

News Articles

• Britons Believe in Aliens: A survey by the Royal Society in the UK found that nearly half of Britons believe in aliens, and about 80% believe research should focus on finding a vaccine for cancer. One-third of respondents prioritize the search for extraterrestrial neighbors.

• Aliens Could Be Made of Arsenic: Researchers in California have discovered a bacterium that can live on arsenic. This discovery, made by astrobiologist Felisa Wolfe-Simon at Nasa, could aid the search for extraterrestrial life and potentially be used for arsenic remediation on Earth. The bacterium is named GFAJ-1.

• Fantastic Spectacle: A halo phenomenon occurred over Stockholm, creating a bright halo around the sun for over an hour. Halo phenomena are caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere and are often difficult to see. They are sometimes mistaken for UFOs. A historical depiction of a similar event in Stockholm from April 20, 1535, is mentioned, known as the 'Vädersolstavlan' (Weather Sun Painting) by Urban Målare.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to have a strong focus on UFO research and related phenomena, advocating for a scientific and evidence-based approach. The inclusion of bylaws for a UFO organization highlights the structured and organized nature of such groups within Sweden. The news articles bridge the gap between public interest in UFOs and scientific discoveries, such as the arsenic-eating bacteria, and natural phenomena that can be mistaken for UFOs, like halo effects. The editorial stance seems to be one of serious inquiry and scientific investigation into the unknown, while also grounding discussions in factual reporting and established scientific principles.