Svsvaren - 1979 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: SVAVAREN
Issue: 1/79
Date: February 9, 1979
Publisher: UFO-CENTER KARLSKOGA
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of "SVAVAREN" serves as the official organ for UFO-CENTER KARLSKOGA, a newly formed organization dedicated to the study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). The cover prominently features a call to action, inviting individuals to join in investigating these phenomena.

Formation and Meetings of UFO-Center Karlskoga

The magazine details the establishment and early meetings of UFO-Center Karlskoga. The inaugural meeting was scheduled for February 9, 1979, at the library's K-Center hall in Karlskoga. The program included an exhibition, a presentation of the association, a film screening of "UFO-Sveriges stillfilm" with sound, annual meeting proceedings, and a panel debate.

Protocols from two key constituent meetings are included:

Constituent Meeting - December 14, 1978

This meeting, held on Thursday, December 14, 1978, saw the interim board's chairman, Owe Lewitzki, welcome attendees. Kerstin Danielsson was appointed secretary, and Owe Lewitzki and Monica Ståhlberg were chosen to approve the minutes. The agenda followed that of a previous meeting from April 26, 1976. Discussions included the potential use of TBV's local or the Radioclub's premises. The name "UFO-Center Karlskoga" was debated due to criticism from UFO-Sverige but was ultimately retained. Gudrun Strömberg was tasked with investigating the need for tax registration. Membership proposals included individual, family, and honorary memberships, with no age limit for entry. A proposal was made to set the membership fee at 25 kronor for 1979. The meeting frequency was suggested to be once a month, with the possibility of extra meetings. The publication of the magazine "Svävaren" was planned with at least four issues per year, and the possibility of writing articles for newspapers to generate income was discussed. The first annual meeting was tentatively set for January, possibly in week 4, with the chairman to investigate venue availability. Kerstin Danielsson was assigned to draft the agenda for this meeting. The composition of the ordinary board was also discussed, with proposals for chairman, secretary, treasurer, material manager, librarian, and other board members.

Constituent Meeting - January 25, 1979

This meeting, held on Thursday, January 25, 1979, also welcomed attendees by chairman Owe Lewitzki. Kerstin Danielsson was appointed secretary, and Mats Carlsson and Acke Svensson were chosen to approve the minutes. The chairman had contacted the Radioclub's chairman, Olle Larsson, and it was agreed that the organization could use their premises on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until their own local was secured. Cooperation with the Radioclub was also agreed upon. Gudrun Strömberg reported on the necessity of registering with the tax authorities. The library hall was booked for the first annual meeting on February 9, 1979, from 7 PM to 11 PM. Kerstin Danielsson presented a draft agenda for the annual meeting, which was accepted. The composition of the ordinary board was further discussed, with Owe Lewitzki as chairman, Carl-F Micu, Gudrun Strömberg, Jörgen Stenkvist, and Kerstin Danielsson as ordinary board members, and Acke Svensson and Björn Karlsson as deputies. Per Löfström was proposed as auditor, and Lars-Ove Danielsson as deputy auditor.

Activities and Plans

Discussions also covered the organization's activity plans, including astronomical observations, following space projects, collecting interviews, gathering newspaper clippings, organizing photo evenings, discussion evenings with guest speakers, photography, developing an information program, study trips to observatories and UFO-Sverige, field research courses, building equipment, discussions on ancient mysteries, parapsychology, religions, cosmology, and life philosophies, establishing a library, and holding music evenings with space music. The issue also included a proposal for the statutes of UFO-Center Karlskoga, outlining its name, affiliation with UFO-Sverige, goals (objective study of UFOs, broadening knowledge in astronomy, engaging youth), and activities. Membership is open to anyone supporting the goals, with an annual fee determined by the annual meeting. The organization is neutral in politics, religion, and race. The fiscal year aligns with the calendar year, and the annual meeting is held in February. The statutes also detail the election of the board, chairman's term, and meeting frequency. Changes to statutes or dissolution require a two-thirds majority at two consecutive meetings, one of which must be the annual meeting.

Article: What Happened at Vikern?

This section reports on a mysterious incident at Lake Vikern in Gyttorp, Sweden, in January 1976. A circular area of ice, approximately 35 meters in diameter, showed signs of deformation. An anonymous eyewitness described seeing a dark, round object, like a "round cheese with sharp edges," about 1.20 meters high, with associated lights, on the night of January 21. The following morning, the witness observed the damaged ice and began to suspect a UFO. Information chief Gudmar Johannes, repairman Tore Buske, factory chief Sven Rosell, and security chief Rune Sundgren investigated. Rosell proposed a theory involving a crack in the ice, water bubbling up during a mild period, and subsequent refreezing, which could explain the crystal formation. Sundgren favored a gas theory, suggesting that gases from the lake bottom rising through a crack could have affected the ice. Despite these theories, no definitive natural explanation was found, leading to speculation in Gyttorp about a possible UFO visit.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the establishment and organization of a local UFO research group, the protocols of its foundational meetings, and a specific UFO sighting case. The editorial stance appears to be one of active investigation and open-minded inquiry into UFO phenomena, encouraging public participation and information sharing. The organization aims for objectivity and a broad approach, encompassing astronomy and related scientific fields.

This issue of Karlskoga Kuriren, dated January 31, 1979, features a prominent article titled "Flygande tefat - javisst, men det finns mer!" (Flying Saucers - Yes, but there's more!) which discusses the formation of a new UFO organization in Karlskoga. The magazine also includes a critique of theories about the moon's origin and climate change, as well as reports on UFO sightings and investigations from various locations.

Critique of Theories on Moon's Origin and Climate Change

The issue begins with a critical analysis by Ragnar Forshufvud regarding a theory about the moon's origin and recent climate changes in Sweden. Forshufvud dismisses the idea that the moon was ejected from Earth due to insufficient peripheral velocity. He also questions a claim that recent climate changes in Sweden are explained by a shift in Earth's axial direction. Furthermore, he scrutinizes a chapter on chronology, deeming its assumptions and conclusions hasty. He specifically challenges the dating of Siberian mammoths and criticizes the citation of sources, particularly regarding a flood catastrophe mentioned by Schaeffer, which he claims was actually caused by fire.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

Australian TV Films UFO: The issue reports on an incident on New Year's Day where an Australian TV reporter, Quentin Fogarty, filmed a UFO in New Zealand. The object was subsequently pursued by a Royal New Zealand Air Force jet and detected on radar. Captain Bill Startup, the pilot of the aircraft used by the TV team, described the object as a bright white light that performed complex maneuvers.

Venus as a Possible Explanation: Mabin, head of the Mount John Observatory, suggests that many UFO sightings might be misidentifications of the planet Venus, which is particularly bright at this time.

CIA Documents and Extraterrestrial Bodies: Two retired US Air Force colonels have reportedly testified under oath about seeing dead extraterrestrial bodies retrieved from a crashed flying saucer. These claims stem from documents released by the CIA, which were obtained through a court order following a request from UFO observers.

British Airways Encounter: An article details an incident where the crew of a British Airways flight reportedly encountered a 'flaming blue spaceship' over Yugoslavia, which flew alongside their plane for fifteen minutes.

Pentagon Report on UFOs: A Pentagon report released in Washington has sparked debate. It details observations of unidentified flying objects near sensitive nuclear facilities in Montana, Michigan, and Maine during November 1975. These objects were described as helicopters, planes, or simply 'unknown objects' that were brightly lit and moved rapidly, sometimes flying very low over the ground. The report also mentions an incident in 1976 near Tehran where two Iranian F-4 Phantom jets encountered a similar object, causing an electronic weapon system to malfunction.

Glassy Object Found in Ohio: The issue includes a report by Elaine Ganley about Edward Lunguy, who found a 13-pound glassy black object in Ohio in July 1972. Lunguy claims he saw an orange ball hovering in the sky before it exploded. Robert Oldrieve, an investigator with NASA's Lewis Research Center, considers this one of the best UFO cases with tangible evidence that can be analyzed.

UFO-Center Karlskoga

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to the establishment of a new UFO organization in Karlskoga, Sweden, named "UFO-center Karlskoga." The organization officially started its activities on February 9, 1979, with Owe Lewitzki as its chairman. The group aims to investigate UFOs, promote astronomical observations, and engage the community, particularly youth, in related activities. They plan to collect reports, study historical local newspapers for UFO-related articles, and organize discussions on topics such as astronomy, parapsychology, and cosmology. The organization emphasizes that UFO does not solely mean 'flying saucer' but refers to any unidentified flying object.

Several articles and announcements detail the formation and activities of UFO-center Karlskoga, including meeting schedules, program outlines, and membership information. The group held its first meeting at the library's K-center hall, featuring an exhibition, a presentation of the organization, a UFO-Sweden film screening, and a panel debate. The membership fee for 1979 was mentioned.

Specific Sightings Reported in Karlskoga:

• A motorist reported seeing a gray-black object flying very low over treetops about 4 km west of Karlskoga on a Thursday morning.
• The issue also references a previous sighting by Owe Lewitzki's family and two other families of two oval objects with a faint red glow moving across the evening sky.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO phenomena, scientific skepticism, and the formation of local interest groups. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various UFO reports and investigations while also including critical analyses and scientific counterarguments, such as the explanation of Venus as a potential UFO. The magazine encourages public participation in reporting sightings and engaging in the study of UFOs through the newly formed UFO-center Karlskoga. There is a clear distinction made between the general term UFO and the more specific 'flying saucer'. The tone is informative, aiming to cover both the sensational aspects of UFO reports and the more grounded scientific and investigative approaches.