Sussex Circular - 1994 no 33

Magazine Overview

Title: SUSSEX CIRCULAR
Issue: 33
Date: September 1994
Publisher: Centre for Crop Circle Studies (Sussex Branch)
Country: UK
Price: £1.00 (Single Copy)

This issue of Sussex Circular, the magazine of the Centre for Crop Circle Studies (Sussex Branch), delves into the ongoing debates surrounding crop circles, particularly focusing on the role of skepticism and alleged debunking campaigns. The cover features a prominent circular logo with the number '33' and the date September 1994, along with a graphic of a figure with a shovel. The magazine is edited by Andy Thomas.

Editorial and News

The editor, Andy Thomas, opens with a quote from Scott Frost about certainty. He addresses the magazine's usual policy of not covering hoaxing extensively, but makes an exception this month due to Marcus Allen's investigation into the motivations behind a campaign to debunk crop circles. Thomas notes that this is not to reinforce the idea of widespread hoaxing, but to show how a select group promotes the concept. He also mentions a large petalled flower formation at Froxfield, claimed by Julian Richardson, and a humorous anecdote about Adrian Dexter.

Thomas then touches upon popular culture, referencing the science fiction series 'Babylon 5' and 'The X Files', both of which feature paranormal themes and government conspiracies. He also discusses the film 'Roswell', noting that while it aimed to reveal truth about the alleged UFO crash, authorities instead released a statement confirming a cover-up but attributing the found object to a US spying device rather than an alien craft.

The editorial concludes by looking ahead to future issues, promising a new look for the magazine and a November issue dedicated to the results of their 1994 crop circle survey.

Sussex Crop Formations 1994

The magazine details several crop circle formations from 1994:

• SUSSEX 1994/05 - 'The Kebab's Revenge': Located in Sompting, West Sussex, this wheat formation was spotted on July 16, 1994, and formed around July 14. Described as 'Kebab II' due to its resemblance to a previous formation, it featured a complex layout with multiple circles, paths, and swirls. Notably, a section of the crop was covered in a grey 'dust' and red dots. The formation later mutated, adding more circles and a 'grid', but was harvested before further study. Speculation linked it to comet fragments crashing into Jupiter. It dowsed well.
• SUSSEX 1994/10: Also in Sompting, West Sussex, this wheat formation consisted of three circles, formed around July 29, 1994. The circles were precisely aligned north-south and were located near the site of the 1992 'Captain Scarlet' formation. The article notes the trend of large circles with trailing 'tails' in 1994 formations.
• SUSSEX 1994/11: Located at Camp Hill, Amberley, West Sussex, this formation of two circles was reported but not surveyed as the field had been ploughed after harvest. It was situated near the South Downs Way footpath.

Features: Behind the Hoaxers

This extensive article by Marcus Allen investigates CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), an organization he describes as dedicated to debunking and ridiculing paranormal claims. Allen traces CSICOP's origins to Paul Kurtz in 1976, funded by large American foundations and the CIA, aiming to promote liberalism during the Cold War. He highlights CSICOP's manifesto 'Objections to Astrology' and its publication, 'The Skeptical Inquirer'.

Allen criticizes CSICOP's methodology, claiming their studies did not follow accepted scientific procedures and that results were altered to fit preconceived views. He cites the 'Mars Effect' study and the hounding of Professor Jacques Benveniste as examples of CSICOP's damaging influence. He notes that since 1981, CSICOP has had a policy of not conducting scientific experiments, contradicting its stated objectives.

The article details CSICOP's structure, likening it to Cold War organizations used to mask activities, with a small core team and a large list of advisers to enhance public profile. Allen suggests that CSICOP's influence was promoted by those close to the US government and published in mainstream science magazines, but other scientists observed its growing and potentially hidden influence.

He discusses James Randi's funding and his attacks on spiritual matters, and mentions Uri Geller's legal victory against Randi. Allen points out CSICOP's sustained campaign against alternative medicine and its ties to multinational drug companies and government bodies like the FDA. He questions the clandestine meetings of powerful figures within organizations like the Trilateral Commission and their influence on policy implementation.

Allen notes that while crop circles were not initially part of CSICOP's paranormal pantheon, Dr. David Fisher wrote an article in the British and Irish Skeptic in 1990, concluding that all crop circles could be made by tricksters. This article appeared before the launch of 'The Cerealogist' and 'Sussex Circular'. Fisher also challenged cerealogists to distinguish genuine circles from hoaxes.

The article criticizes the UK Skeptics and CSICOP for dismissing the phenomenon with contempt, suggesting a hidden agenda. It outlines nine points of CSICOP's strategy, including demanding scientific methodology while ridiculing results, belittling those who deviate from orthodoxy, demanding peer review, offering no assistance, heavily publicizing hoax explanations, using associates for expert viewpoints, adopting a protective stance towards the public, encouraging mistrust, and countering attacks.

Allen also discusses a 1991 article by Peter Williams in 'The Cerealogist' and a Channel 4 'Equinox' program that depicted the Wessex Skeptics hoaxing a crop circle to discredit researchers. He mentions the 'Doug and Dave' hoax and the involvement of 'MBF Services'. The article details how the Wessex Skeptics faced difficulties when caught faking a circle without permission. The arrival of Jim Schnabel from the US, with significant funding and a commitment to debunking, is highlighted.

The 'Schnabel tapes' incident is described, where a taped conversation suggested Schnabel's links to a secret organization with ties to the CIA and the Vatican. Schnabel's reaction at the Quest Conference is noted, where he dismissed claims as hoaxes, which Allen interprets as confirmation of his involvement. The article lists groups associated with Schnabel, including the CIA, Vatican, and Trilateral Commission.

Allen concludes this section by noting the British government's awareness of public interest in crop circles by 1990 and reports of the Royal Family's interest. He mentions high-level meetings and the army's monitoring of fields, with reports of military helicopters flying low over crop circles.

Reports: Glastonbury Symposium 1994

Andy Thomas reports on the Glastonbury Symposium 1994, describing it as a central event for the crop circle community in the absence of a larger CCCS conference. He notes the event's atmosphere, influenced by the 'New Age' movement.

Thomas recounts talks by various speakers:

• Professor John Searle: Presented developments in his 'anti-gravity' discs, though his concepts were difficult for some to grasp without an astrophysics background.
• Michael Glickman: Gave a heartfelt address on the crop circle phenomenon, dismissing hoaxers and setting a positive agenda. He shared inventions inspired by crop circle geometry.
• John Sayer: Discussed the recurring significance of the number 23 in his life and shared anecdotes about apparent healing effects and Pat Delgado.
• Jim Lyons: Spoke about 'subtle energies'.
• Michael Hesemann: Presented photographs, but exceeded his allotted time.
• Andy Thomas: Briefly discussed the Birling Gap formations, suggesting they were rook damage, a claim met with audience dissent. He also mentioned Colin Andrews' claims about a 'galaxy' formation at Avebury being tampered with by a shadowy intelligence group and an attempted arson at a crop circle sample testing lab in America.

Thomas also recounts an incident where unidentified helicopters were seen harassing his team, and a video showed one helicopter pursuing a ball of light. He mentions Colin Andrews' claim that the 'galaxy' formation at Avebury had its middle cut out by the farmer on orders from a shadowy intelligence group.

Reviews

• Sheldrake the Heretic: Andy Thomas reviews the BBC 2 series 'Heretic', focusing on biologist Rupert Sheldrake and his concept of Morphic Resonance. Sheldrake proposes that organic life is surrounded by energy fields that transmit race-memory. Thomas notes that while scientists often dismiss this, Sheldrake challenges conventional views on species development, questioning how instinct works and how flocks of birds or shoals of fish move in unison. The article touches on Sheldrake's belief in interconnectedness and his Christian faith, contrasting it with a purely mechanistic view of evolution. Thomas suggests that Sheldrake needs to provide a more accessible definition of Morphic Resonance to gain wider acceptance.

Countdown to... The Sussex Cerealogical Bonanza 1995!!!

A brief announcement for an upcoming crop circle conference, the Sussex Cerealogical Bonanza 1995, scheduled for April 29th, 1995.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are crop circles, the debate between genuine phenomena and hoaxing, and the role of skeptical organizations like CSICOP. The magazine appears to lean towards investigating the crop circle phenomenon as potentially genuine, while critically examining the methods and motives of those who seek to debunk it. There's a clear skepticism towards CSICOP's agenda and a willingness to explore alternative explanations and scientific methodologies, even if they are outside the mainstream. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider different perspectives while demanding rigorous investigation.