Sussex Circular - 1995 no 42

Magazine Overview

SC, The Monthly Magazine of Crop Circles and Beyond, issue 42, dated June 1995, priced at £1.00. The cover features the stylized 'SC' logo and highlights articles on 'Latest National Formations', 'Is Dowsing A Litmus Test..?', 'First Sussex '95 Circle Survey', and 'Trouble Brews From Oklahoma'. The magazine is edited by Andy Thomas and published by SC.

Latest National Formations

This section provides an update on recent crop formations across England. It notes a shift in distribution away from Wiltshire, with formations appearing more widely. Several formations are detailed:

• Knoll Down, Beckhampton/Cherhill: A large formation in barley, approximately 250ft across, featuring a continuous spiral with nine rings, appearing on May 28th. It was already trampled by visitors.
• Dundry, Bristol: A ringed circle adjoined by a small circle with a curved pathway in oilseed rape, the main circle being about 30ft in diameter, seen on May 20th.
• Chibolton, Wiltshire: Three faint overlapping rings in oilseed rape, spotted from the air at the end of May.
• Northwest of M25/M23 junction, Surrey: Several shapes in two fields of barley, including a circle with 'crucifix' arms, a circle with a bar, a circle with an arrow, and other unidentified designs.
• Kings Worthy, Hampshire: A faint configuration of two interlocking circles in rape.
• Between Loughborough and Market Harborough, East Midlands: Vague rumors of a formation spotted from a train, with no details known.
• Bratton: A spiral galaxy-type formation in young wheat, appearing around June 13th.
• Near Stonehenge: A circle about 46ft diameter with a semi-circle/crescent moon shape about 67ft in length, reported to have crop bent over and woven. The exact location is being kept secret.
• Alfriston, East Sussex: A large configuration of four standing rings with four huge spiral arms, approximately 250ft across, appearing on the weekend of May 27/28th. It was featured on ITV Meridian and the farmer threatened legal action against trespassers.

The editorial notes that there is no formation at Hove, despite a BBC report erroneously captioning one as such.

Dowsing Dilemma

This article by Andy Thomas critically examines a proposed document within the Centre for Crop Circle Studies (CCCS) titled 'Procedures for the 1995 Season'. This document suggests dowsing as the sole reliable 'litmus test' for assessing the genuineness of crop formations, proposing that two Council dowsers would decide the authenticity of formations, and that local branch convenors or even inexperienced dowsers should be able to produce accurate results.

The author argues that dowsing, while capable of working, is a subjective phenomenon and cannot be used as a failsafe test. He points out that only one dowser correctly identified a sample in a competition, and that statistical chance could explain this. The document's proposal that information on formations designated as hoaxes by dowsing would be doctored to non-availability is deemed 'entirely unacceptable' and 'unconstitutional', as all information should be available to members. The article also criticizes the suggestion that past formations should be re-assessed by dowsing their residual energies.

While acknowledging that the document was intended as a proposal for discussion, initial reports suggest some of its policies are already in place, which is seen as a worrying development that could damage CCCS's credibility and pollute information channels.

Letters

• Judith Newman, Bognor Regis, West Sussex: Discusses the concept of crop formations as 'medicine' for the Earth, relating clockwise circles to healing energy and anti-clockwise circles to releasing negative energy. She draws a parallel with scorpion venom being used as a homeopathic remedy and the appearance of 'scorpion' formations, suggesting they might be a warning about the release of scorpion venom into the countryside.
• Anonymous: A press cutting from the Daily Mail details a debate over plans to test a virus made with scorpion venom in a cabbage field near Oxford, intended to kill caterpillars. Opponents, including Professor Stephen Jones, expressed concerns about the virus escaping and affecting other insects, birds, and animals. Professor David Bishop, leading the research, stated the risk was minimal, affecting only specific caterpillar types.

Reports - Hot Rods

• Nigel Tomsett and Barry Reynolds report on the dowsing competition at the Sussex Cerealogical Bonanza. Forty-nine people participated. Nigel Tomsett congratulates Mr. A Cooper for winning a subscription by correctly dowsing the Alton Barnes stone. He notes that only 14 out of 47 participants (29.8%) got the correct answer, which is only slightly above the 25% expected by chance.
• Barry Reynolds further analyzes the competition results, concluding that nothing beyond statistical chance occurred. He questions why more 'experts' don't step forward to prove their abilities officially, especially given CCCS's new focus on dowsing.

Formation Surveys

Sussex Crop Formations '95: 1) Southease

This detailed survey by Barry Reynolds and Martin Noakes describes a double-ringed circle with a semicircular grapeshot formation in oilseed rape, appearing on May 8th, 1995. The formation was laid clockwise and resembled an RAF roundel. Measurements of the circular elements revealed interesting relative ratios: the Outside Inner Ring diameter was double that of the Circle (99.2% accurate), and the Inside Outer Ring diameter was 2 2/3 times that of the Circle (99.9% accurate). The Inside Inner Ring was approximately 1 1/2 times the Circle diameter (102.5% accurate), and the Outside Outer Ring was approximately 4 times the Circle diameter (103.2% accurate).

The survey notes that the northern edge of the OOR and the southern edge of the OIR butted up against tramlines, causing inaccuracies in measurements. The five circular elements are described as being bound by six-fold geometry, which can be applied to the scale of music, corresponding to the diatonic scale. The formation's geometry suggests ratios of 1, 1 1/2, 2, 2 2/3, and 4, corresponding to 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12-fold geometry and the diatonic scale.

Electrostatic readings by Nigel Tomsett and Debbie Pardoe revealed a 'hot-spot' on the northern edge. A bent rape stem, initially bent at 90°, bent further to 180° as it dried, and eventually achieved a 540° bend, suggesting cell stretching and contraction.

Mediawatch - Oklahoma Blues

This article by Andy Thomas discusses the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing and its connection to conspiracy theories, particularly concerning the Waco siege. The author questions the rapid deduction that the bombing was a revenge mission and criticizes the media's portrayal of groups like the Branch Davidians and the Aum Shinri Kyo sect as inherently evil or misguided.

It highlights a video called 'Waco: The Big Lie', which suggests the Branch Davidians were systematically murdered by the state, citing alleged use of torture techniques, flamethrowing tanks, and the sealing of exits. The article notes that this video was featured on BBC Newsnight, which described the Waco video as "bunk" but acknowledged the fears of those who see implications in alleged connections with the Oklahoma incident.

The author expresses concern that legislation is being drawn up in the US to restrict 'minority groups' and that this could extend to organizations like crop circle and UFO groups, which are sometimes labeled as 'cults'. He suggests that the media and authorities can marginalize such groups by creating fear and ignorance, drawing parallels with the unnecessary criticism of films like 'The Last Temptation of Christ'. The article also touches upon the controversy surrounding David Icke's views and how they are being misconstrued as anti-Semitic and far-right.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the phenomenon of crop circles with a critical and investigative approach. There is a strong emphasis on detailed surveys and data collection, as seen in the Southease formation report. The editorial stance is skeptical of simplistic explanations and highlights potential flaws in established research methods, particularly regarding dowsing. The magazine also demonstrates a keen interest in the broader societal implications of unexplained phenomena, including conspiracy theories, government actions, and media influence, as evidenced by the 'Oklahoma Blues' article. The publication appears to advocate for open access to information and a balanced perspective, cautioning against paranoia and the suppression of dissenting views.