SUFOG Newsletter No 078

Magazine Overview

This issue of the SUFOG NEWSLETTER, number 78, dated April 1997, is published by SUFOG and focuses on UFO-related news and research. The editorial section, written by Steve Gerrard, addresses the recent mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult in California, linking their beliefs to UFOs and the Hale-Bopp comet. It also reports on a crop circle formation discovered at Barbury Castle, Wiltshire, on April 20th, 1997, noting its size and the potential for electromagnetic properties.

Editorial: Suicide Sect Went On UFO Odyssey

The editorial highlights the tragic suicide of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult on March 27th, 1997. These individuals reportedly believed that a '2nd object' following the Hale-Bopp comet was coming to collect their souls. Days before their mass suicide, cult members visited a famous UFO site in the Nevada desert, known as the ET Highway, to search for a spaceship that would transport them to immortality. The article mentions that the cult's headquarters contained a ledger detailing their month-long odyssey, which included visits to casinos in Las Vegas and drug dens across the Mexican border. They allegedly purchased phenobarbital pills in Tijuana for their suicide. The editorial expresses concern about 'Cult' groups, noting the prevalence of over 2,000 such groups in America and over 500 in the UK, warning that exiting these groups can be difficult.

Crop Circle Formation Found at Barbury Castle

This section reports on a crop circle formation discovered on April 20th, 1997, at Barbury Castle in Wiltshire. Details are scarce, but it is described as a circle with extensions, approximately 200 ft in diameter, found in an Oil Seed Rape crop. Lucy Pringle of the C.C.C.S. has reportedly investigated the formation. Two other formations are mentioned, one in Littleberry Green, Essex, and another in Sussex, with no further details provided.

Everton Ramblers Lecture 25.4.97

This section details a talk given by the newsletter's editor, Steve Gerrard, to the Everton Ramblers group on April 25th, 1997. The talk, attended by over 80 people, included a slide presentation and reports from the New Forest area. The event raised £7.50 for SUFOG funds. The editor offers to give talks to other groups and invites suggestions for speakers for SUFOG members.

What the Press Had to Say in November 1995

This section provides an extensive list of newspaper articles from November 1995 related to UFO sightings and related topics, categorized by regional and national newspapers. Titles range from 'John is reaching for the stars' and 'Sighting changed our lives' to 'Mystery as UFOs land in Fargate' and 'I've seen a UFO villager tells police'. National newspaper headlines include 'Giant UFO sent my whole life into orbit!' and 'UFO've been framed'. Magazine articles from November 1995 are also listed, such as 'Look, up in the sky' and 'Invasion of UFOs?'.

Forthcoming Lectures for 1997

This section lists upcoming lectures and events for 1997. Two lectures on 'UFO ABDUCTIONS AND IMPLANTS: THE PROOF' by Derrel Sims and Dr. Leir are scheduled for June 7th in Bournemouth and June 13th in Andover. A lecture at the Civic Centre, Southend, on July 5th, will feature speakers Busty Taylor, Robert La Mont, Maria Ward, Steve Gerrard, and Roy Lake.

Skywatch Dates

Four skywatch dates are provided for 1997: June 14th at Cheesefoot Head Car Park, July 18th, August 23rd, and September 27th at locations to be decided. Attendees are advised to phone the editor to confirm the skywatch is proceeding, and there is mention of potentially visiting local crop circles.

Press/Tv/Radio Matters Over The Past Month : 15th March - 15th April 1997

This section reviews media coverage from mid-March to mid-April 1997. It includes a two-part look at Budd Hopkins' book 'Witnessed' concerning the abduction of Linda Cortile, a report on the Galileo probe finding carbon and nitrogen molecules on Jupiter's moon, and the Pentagon's announcement that UFOs are not alien spacecraft and that the US Air Force had stopped recording UFO sightings. Professor Stephen Hawking and other scientists are quoted as warning against advertising our location to aliens. A Daily Mail article reiterates the Pentagon's stance that UFOs do not exist.

Researchers Unearths Strange Circle Powers

This article discusses research into crop circles, suggesting they possess a strange electromagnetic power that can alter water properties. Lucy Pringle, a researcher from Petersfield, buried water samples at crop circle sites in Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Sussex. Testing revealed anomalies in the water, which are believed to be caused by electro-magnetic fields. The research suggests that this is an area requiring further investigation.

Television and Radio Programs

This section lists various television programs and radio programs from March and April 1997 related to UFOs, including 'The Why Files UFO Special', 'Sightings', 'Alien Autopsy', and 'Roswell Autopsy'. A radio program on April 2nd discusses the Pentagon's statement that UFOs do not exist and that the search has been abandoned. It mentions the closure of Project Blue Book due to a lack of conclusive findings and the reasons for its closure: no threat to US security, no evidence of advanced technology, and no proof of extraterrestrial vehicles.

UFOLOGY PROVES IT'S POINT!

This article by Malcolm Robinson discusses a mock court case held on March 21st, 1997, organized by Grampian Television, to debate the reality of UFOs. The case presented arguments for the existence of UFOs, citing numerous sightings and witness accounts, including those of Garry Wood, Colin Wright, and SPI members. The opposing side, led by arch sceptic Steuart Campbell, argued that there was no concrete evidence for alien visitation and that UFO phenomena could be explained by natural phenomena. The article notes the heated debate among the jury and audience.

Magazine Reviews

Several UFO-related magazines are reviewed:

• Phenominal News (Scotland) No 5 Winter/Spring 96/97: A smaller magazine featuring articles on Knights Templars, 'sick building syndrome', and an interview with Malcolm Robinson.
• Malta UFO Research No 5 1997: Includes an article on a new anti-gravity device, the Hale-Bopp controversy, and alleged alien photographs.
• The Goblin Universe no 5 1997: A small magazine with articles on 'sick building syndrome', alien insurance scams, and haunting incidents.
• The Caller No 1 April 1997: The newsletter of the Jersey UFO Research Team, featuring discussions on Hale-Bopp and a 'Zone Talk' by Ian R.Gould.
• Intelligence: Vol 3 No 1 1997: Published by the British UFO Studies Center, it includes articles on the Moon Landings enigma, the Fife 'Landing', and mentions a list of worldwide contacts including government agencies. It also touches on technology related to stealth bombers and NASA's commissioned research on tinned beans for astronauts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include UFO sightings, crop circles, the alleged connection between UFOs and cults, government reports on UFOs, and the ongoing debate about the reality of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance, as expressed by Steve Gerrard, is one of cautious skepticism towards cults and a focus on reporting UFO-related news and research, while acknowledging the public's interest. There is an emphasis on the importance of critical evaluation of evidence and the need for further research into unexplained phenomena.

This issue of the SUFOG NEWSLETTER, spanning pages 11-16, covers a range of topics related to UFOlogy and crop circles, with a focus on media coverage, official responses, and public engagement. The publication date appears to be around June 1997, based on event announcements.

TV Courtroom Debate and Verdict

The newsletter begins by detailing a TV courtroom debate where arguments swung between 'supporters' and 'skeptics' of UFOlogy. Robinson emphasized the need to recognize the importance of UFOlogy due to emerging cases. The debate culminated in a jury verdict which declared the reality of the UFO phenomenon 'PROVEN' by a vote of 9 to 3. This verdict was met with applause from UFOlogy supporters, though it was noted that many viewers expressed disbelief or disappointment. The presenter asked Garry Wood to share his UFO abduction experience, which was supported by his friend Colin Wright, who also shared a double abduction experience. Sceptics attempted to explain away UFOs as misidentifications, but Malcolm Robinson challenged them to study the data, to which they admitted they had not.

The debate grew heated, with tempers fraying. As the program neared its end, both Mr. Robinson and Mr. Campbell were asked to give a summing up. Campbell stressed that UFOs were not misidentifications of ordinary objects. The debate raged on, and the public's strong belief in UFOs was highlighted, with 86% of callers feeling UFOs were a reality. The program concluded with members of SPI and UFOlogist Eric Morris celebrating the victory for UFOlogy.

Parliamentary Questions and Ministry of Defence Stance

The newsletter includes a section detailing parliamentary questions posed by Mr. Redmond to the Secretary of State for Defence, Mr. Soames. These questions focused on reports of encounters by Royal Air Force pilots with unidentified flying craft since 1966, the reasons for withholding such information, and the RAF's practices regarding investigating UFO sightings. Mr. Soames consistently responded that the information could only be provided at disproportionate cost and effort, or referred to previous answers. Questions were also raised about the significance of reported UFO sightings on specific dates and over RAF Shawbury, with Mr. Soames again deferring to previous responses.

Further questions addressed the scrambling of Belgian F-16 aircraft in March 1990 to investigate unidentified flying objects, and Mr. Soames stated that the Belgian authorities did not notify adjacent countries and there was no evidence of radar contacts within the UK air defence system. The newsletter editor, Steve Gerrard, commented on the evasiveness of MPs and the cost associated with obtaining information.

Crop Circles and Hoaxing Allegations

The 'Wheatear's Column' discusses the phenomenon of crop circles, noting that over three years, the author had investigated many formations, finding a significant extent of hoaxing. The author expresses a keen interest in crop circles for the current year and plans to conduct nightwatches and flights over formations, using image intensifiers to detect shy hoaxers. The column mentions the 'big three' formations from the previous year: DNA helix at Alton Barnes, Stonehenge, and the Windmill Hill triple spiral.

There is a discussion about the 'Snowflake' formation near Olivers Castle, which was filmed with balls of light. The author, George Wingfield (editor of The Cerealogist), is mentioned as having evidence that John Lundberg and Rod Dickinson, identified as crop circle hoaxers, were connected with the Roswell Santilli Alien Autopsy film. It is alleged that another hoaxer, Rob Irving, may also be involved. The newsletter suggests that the 'Snowflake' formation and its filming might be a hoax, with Paul Mann and Adrian Dexter potentially involved in its creation. The article also references a previous formation called the '3 crescents' or 'torcs' from 1994.

The author expresses concern about the apathy towards UFOlogy and crop circle research, urging readers to engage more actively. The idea of a nightwatch around the Avebury area is proposed for the summer.

Guest Speakers and Group Meetings

The newsletter announces upcoming events for the Southampton UFO Group. A group meeting is scheduled for June 15th at Woolston Community Centre. Additionally, starting June 29th, the group will host guest speakers every four months. The first speaker will be Mr. Roy Lake of the London UFO Studies Group, with lectures taking place at Woolston Community Centre. The ticket price is £5, and refreshments will be available. Readers are encouraged to book tickets early due to restricted numbers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing debate surrounding the reality of UFOs, the challenges in obtaining official information from the government, and the prevalence of hoaxing in the crop circle community. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocating for greater public awareness and engagement with UFO phenomena, challenging official secrecy, and critically examining evidence, particularly in the context of crop circles. The newsletter encourages active participation from its readers to 'shake' the status quo and 'open the doorways to the higher worlds'.