SUFOI Intern - 1997 05

Magazine Overview

SUFOI INTERN, May 1997. This internal newsletter from the Danish UFO organization SUFOI provides updates on the organization's activities, news, and events. It is sent out around the 15th of each month to SUFOI representatives.

SUFOI Headlines

The issue highlights several key news items: SUFOI's collaboration with an English SCI-FI channel, a Nordic abduction case that turned out to be a 'fizzer', the release of UFO-Vision issue number 5, and a record number of over 1,000 internet visitors to the SUFOI website in a single month.

Important Dates

Key dates for SUFOI members are listed: the SUFOI anniversary party on October 4th, a representative meeting on October 5th, and the SUFOI congress on November 1st.

Congress

An urgent request is made for members to inform PA of their plans for the congress.

Fat Pennen (Deadlines)

Deadlines for upcoming publications are noted: Next Intern is due on May 10th, and UFO-Nyt issue number 3 is due on July 2nd.

Observations

Nordjyske Observationer

Torben Birkeholm reports that few UFO observations have been received from North Jutland. The only notable sighting was a daylight observation of a black 'box with wings', but otherwise, the cases were not particularly remarkable.

Activities

SUFOI-Aalborg

The Aalborg group had no meetings in April but scheduled a new meeting for May 6th.

SUFOI-Copenhagen

The Copenhagen group took a break after an observation tour in April and planned an ordinary meeting for May 15th, followed by a large public event on May 27th.

SUFOI Engaged by English SCI-FI Channel

Per Andersen reports that the English science fiction channel SCI-FI visited Denmark on May 3rd to produce segments for their "Earch Scan" program. They interviewed Danish UFO witnesses, including those who saw the boomerang UFO over Nørrebro and Kent Rose from Glostrup. Filming took place around 'the little mermaid' but was moved to Kastellet due to disturbances. SUFOI received 1,000 DKK for their cooperation.

For Sale

Per Andersen lists several classic UFO-related books for sale from Erik Paludan's Antikvariat, including titles by Willy Ley, Donald Menzel, and Aime Michel.

Radio-Fuser

Torben Birkeholm discusses a DR-Nordjyllands Radio segment from March 26th, which included an interview with a man claiming to have flown in a UFO. Although the information was second-hand, the case was deemed interesting enough to investigate. However, the man's claims were reportedly dismissed by the police, and he was described as a 'confused person'.

UFO-Vision on the Street

SUFOI has released its new publication, UFO-Vision Nr. 5, a 100-page issue featuring articles on books, magazines, CD-ROMs, and more. Interested parties can order it from the expedition.

Internet News

Per Andersen reports a significant increase in visitors to www.sufoi.dk, reaching 4,514 on May 15th, an increase of 1,185 from the previous month. Lars Andersen is credited for the new website design. SUFOI is also considering registering www.ufo.dk to prevent others from doing so and potentially generate revenue through advertising.

Membership Lists

Following the 1997 subscription renewal, approximately 100 subscribers agreed to have their names and addresses included on a public membership list. This list has been sent to about 100 participants to facilitate contact and networking within their local areas. One reader, Carl Petersen in Viborg, has already initiated a meeting for UFO enthusiasts in the central Jutland region.

Picture Sales

Kim has established a collaboration with Illustreret Videnskab to sell images from the SUFOI Picture Library for their new section "Science & Mysticism." The first three images are featured in the latest issue. Lars Thomas is also connected to the editorial team of "Science & Mysticism."

New Actives on the Way

Per Andersen organized a meeting for active members of the Copenhagen group to discuss potential tasks such as archive management, report writing, alarm center duties, articles for UFO-Nyt, and PR. These roles will be further explored in the coming months.

Discussion with HC

A public meeting led to H.C. Petersen (founder of IGAP and SUFOI until 1962) stating that he owned SUFOI. He later apologized, clarifying that he only owned UFO-Nyt. This led to a discussion about an "assignment document" created when HC broke with SUFOI in the 1960s. HC claims ownership of UFO-Nyt and alleges SUFOI has breached the agreement over the years. He insists the document is in a bank box, while SUFOI cannot locate their copy and has requested a copy from HC.

Danish UFO Conference

SUFOI is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a major conference at Lyngby Storcenter on November 1st, 1997. The event will feature speakers from Denmark, England, USA, and Sweden discussing various UFO-related topics, including the "Meeting in the Forest," Danish UFO observations, crop circles, and the existence of UFOs. Only 250 tickets will be available for 190 DKK each, with pre-orders accepted.

Tage E. Breinhild Passes Away

News of the death of Tage E. Breinhild in mid-January is reported. He was known to many UK readers for his work in archaeoastronomy and contributed articles to UK publications. He passed away at the age of 57.

Media

Danish Press Battles for the Spiritual Consumer

This section discusses the increasing presence of spiritual themes in the Danish press. Articles in various magazines and newspapers cover topics like crystal healing, astrology, and New Age phenomena. Berlingske Tidende is noted for its strategic move to cover spiritual topics to attract readers interested in softer values. Cultural researcher Karen Schousboe compares this trend to the youth rebellion of the past, noting a shift from the dream of social growth to inner growth, with public sector employees being a key demographic.

Women's Magazines Lead the Spiritual Market

Women's and family magazines are at the forefront of this spiritual trend, featuring horoscopes, advice columns from natural healers and clairvoyants, and interviews with celebrities and ordinary individuals about their spiritual journeys. Some magazines are using spiritual content to establish niche markets, with "Hjemmet" taking a particularly extensive approach.

Dry Data

Membership statistics for 1997 show 660 members, a decrease of 16 from the previous year. Initial giro contributions for 1997 are listed, along with the balances of various funds and the treasury.

Email Addresses

A list of representative email addresses is provided for future reference.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on UFO and paranormal phenomena, with a strong emphasis on reporting observations, organizing events, and disseminating information through publications like UFO-Nyt and UFO-Vision. There is a clear effort to engage members and the public through conferences and online platforms. The editorial stance appears to be one of active investigation and reporting, while also navigating internal organizational matters and external media interest in the UFO subject. The coverage of the 'spiritual consumer' trend in the media suggests an awareness of broader societal shifts and their potential overlap with UFO interests.

This issue of Ugebrevet MANDAG Morgen, dated May 12, 1997, focuses on the growing interest in spirituality and the paranormal, alongside predictions for the IT industry and debunking of common UFO myths.

The Rise of Spirituality in Danish Media

The magazine highlights a significant trend in Danish media towards covering spiritual and paranormal topics. A survey presented in Table 1 shows that a large percentage of readers of women's and family magazines believe in psychic abilities, the sixth sense, and astrology. While belief in magic, angels, and spiritism is lower, it is still notably present, particularly among readers of 'Hjemmet'. The article notes that since the 1991 survey, there has been a shift in the market towards topics like angels and channeling, indicating spiritism's growing appeal.

Examples from recent magazines illustrate this trend: 'Ugebladet Søndag' features horoscopes and a clairvoyant's advice column covering a wide range of esoteric practices. 'Femina' includes health pages with topics like acupuncture alongside horoscopes. 'Ude og Hjemme' presents stories about living like Hindus and spiritual encounters in dreams, also including a horoscope. 'Hendes Verden' interviews individuals on soul, karma, and psychic abilities, featuring articles within a series titled "There is more between Heaven & Earth," alongside natural healing and horoscopes.

Even magazines with a more scientific or technological focus are engaging with these themes. 'I Form' incorporates spiritual elements into its aerobics. 'Illustreret Videnskab' approaches the topic with critical interest, featuring articles like "Critical Nostradamus Researchers: The World's Greatest Prophet Was a Nonsense-Head." 'Zoo Magazine' publishes an interview with Eik Skaløe, a deceased musician, channeled through a clairvoyant, discussing his music and potential reincarnation.

The trend is also evident in daily newspapers. 'B.T.' has introduced a clairvoyant advice column and covers spiritual topics with less detachment than before. 'Berlingske Tidende' has made spirituality a strategic advantage with its Saturday supplement "Eksistens," which covers a broad spectrum of spiritual and existential themes, aiming to attract a culturally interested audience, particularly women.

IT Predictions for 1997

An article titled "Spådom om EDB i 1997" (Predictions about IT in 1997) by Asbjørn Jørgensen and Kristian Halskov presents forecasts from Per Andersen, director at IDC, a Danish analysis firm. Among the predictions are:

• Mobile Tariffs: A sharp drop in mobile phone costs by the end of the year due to new market entrants.
• Apple: The computer company Apple might not survive 1997 as an independent entity.
• Internet Growth: The number of internet users is expected to double to 68 million in 1997.
• Internet Usage: The internet will be used for more than just email and browsing, becoming a global infrastructure for fax, voice, TV, and video.
• Push Technology: This technology will help manage the overwhelming amount of information online by automatically delivering personalized news.
• Microsoft vs. Netscape: Microsoft is predicted to become as dominant as Netscape in the browser market.
• Market Shift: Established IT companies will feel the market shift towards a consumer-dominated landscape, with some adapting and others failing.
• Intel: Intel is expected to change its strategy, focusing more broadly and producing cheaper processors for a new generation of consumer computers.

IDC's predictions are generally considered accurate, with Per Andersen noted as the new chief prophet for IDC Scandinavia.

Debunking UFO Myths

An article by Leif Ahm, "Aflivning af myterne" (Debunking the Myths), discusses two popular theories: that UFOs were involved in building the pyramids and creating crop circles. National Geographic's television program is presented as debunking these myths.

• Pyramids: The article argues against the idea that aliens built the pyramids. Archaeologists Zahi Hawass and Mark Lehner have found evidence of bakeries and burial sites for pyramid builders, suggesting a large, organized community project rather than slave labor or alien intervention. The construction, involving millions of stone blocks stacked to a height of 150 meters, is presented as a feat achievable by humans with advanced organizational skills.
• Crop Circles: While acknowledging the mystery of crop circles, which have appeared in Southern England since the 1600s, the article presents National Geographic's view that they are not alien messages. Experts Pat Delgado and Colin Andrews suggest they are formed by "invisible energies" or unusual wind phenomena. The article mentions an incident in 1990 where TV crews filmed crop circles appearing overnight, but found 'ouija boards' in the flattened crops, suggesting a prank.

Terence Meaden, a physicist, theorized that whirlwinds could become electrically charged due to chalky soil, causing the crops to react like hair being combed. The article also notes that crop circles have been observed in Denmark, with the 1995 Lolland incident being attributed to pranksters by Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI).

Reincarnation and Beliefs

Table 2, "Hver fjerde dansker tror mere eller mindre på reinkarnation" (Every fourth Dane believes more or less in reincarnation), reveals that 33% of women and 21% of men believe in reincarnation. This belief is particularly strong among younger women, with 40% of women under 30 expressing belief.

Cultural researcher Karen Schousboe views the current spiritual movement as a temporary trend, possibly ending around the year 2000, similar to the youth rebellion of the past. She suggests its lasting impact depends on whether it gains institutional power.

Data from Dansk Institut for Klinisk Epidemiologi shows an increase in the use of alternative therapies: 23% of the adult population had sought alternative treatment in 1987, rising to 33% in 1994, with the percentage seeking treatment within the last year increasing from 10% to 14%.

UFO Sightings and Organizations

An article from 'BT' dated April 19, 1997, features Egon Dalsgaard, who claims to have contact with extraterrestrial civilizations. Dalsgaard, who runs a shop in Kolding and is part of the organization I.G.A.P. (International-Get-Aquianted-Programme), states that 12-15 extraterrestrials are present in Scandinavia at any given time.

He describes observing triangular spacecraft, a recent development compared to older round ones, citing reports from Belgium where such craft demonstrated incredible speed. Dalsgaard believes these beings are here as part of a "help program," similar to human aid organizations. He asserts that authorities are aware of UFOs but conceal this information, possibly to prevent humans from discovering and utilizing similar energy technologies, which could disrupt economic interests.

Dalsgaard also claims that humanity is descended from these extraterrestrials, referencing the Bible (Ezekiel 1) as evidence of ancient visitations.

Another article from 'Randers Amtsavis' dated April 29, 1997, discusses a celestial phenomenon observed over Ebeltoft Vig. Initially thought to be an alien visitation, it was later identified by Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI) as laser projectors used for advertising. SUFOI criticizes Kurt Abildskov, a former UFO expert, for failing to distinguish between ordinary lights and UFOs, urging skepticism towards claims of alien visitations.

Film and TV Reviews

Frederik Lauesen reviews upcoming TV programs, expressing disappointment with the current offerings and hoping for good weather to avoid watching television. He highlights "Of Mice and Men" on DR 2 and "Die Hard 2" on TV 2 as potential viewing options. He also mentions "New York Blues" on TV 2 and a reportage on the Siersbæklund treatment collective. The review also notes the broadcast of Casper Christensen's radio show "Tæskeholdet" and films like "White Men Can't Jump" and "Platoon."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of the mundane and the extraordinary, from everyday spiritual beliefs and UFO sightings to technological advancements and debunking popular myths. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena and beliefs, presenting both proponents and skeptics, and offering explanations grounded in scientific or rational inquiry where possible, while acknowledging the public's fascination with the unexplained. The coverage reflects a broad interest in topics that challenge conventional understanding, from the spiritual and paranormal to the future of technology.