UFO Lokal Information - 1988 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO Lokal Information, published in 1988 as Nr. 3 by Enköpings UFO-förening, is a Swedish-language magazine focused on UFO phenomena and the activities of local UFO associations. The cover features a stylized graphic of a UFO and a hand-drawn map of Sweden, suggesting a focus on national UFO events and locations. The magazine serves as a platform for members to share their thoughts and information, aiming to benefit other UFO associations.

Editorial and Content

The magazine opens with an editorial note from Arnold, who reflects on the summer break and the need for material from local associations for the publication. He expresses a desire to publish content from AFU's magazine and reacts negatively to some points made by 'Anders' regarding the organization. Arnold defends the organization of the Riksstämman in Enköping, refuting claims of a 'children's party atmosphere' and highlighting the efforts to provide value to the audience. He acknowledges that the presentations were adapted for a broad audience and notes positive feedback on the content of the talks. He also laments the low attendance and the delay in publishing their own magazine, which might have attracted more visitors. Arnold concludes by emphasizing the need for unity and cooperation within the organization, likening internal strife to playing cards with only kings.

Meeting Protocols and Organizational Matters

The issue contains detailed minutes from several meetings:

UFO-Sverige Board Meeting (June 11, 1988)

This meeting, held in Enköping, was attended by Christer Nordin, Barbro Magnusson, Birgit Sälgström, Gudrun Andersson, Roland Östlund, Mats Nilsson, Jörgen Granlie, Roger Ersson, Arnold Idebring, and Carl-Anton Mattsson. Key discussions included:

• New Agenda: A new item, 'economy,' was added.
• Protocol Adjustments: Carl-Anton Mattsson and Barbro Magnusson were appointed protocol adjusters, and Roger Ersson was appointed to take minutes.
• Economy: Carl-Anton Mattsson reviewed the financial situation in the absence of treasurer Eva Andersson.
• Previous Minutes: A supplement was added regarding Gudrun Andersson and Birgit Sälgström leaving early due to time constraints.
• Planning Conference: Loy Solli from Sundsvall expressed positivity towards a planning conference in spring 1989, with May 20th proposed as a preliminary date.
• UFO Reports: Heikki Virtanen would assist Stig Aggestad with UFO report compilations.
• ICUR: The board decided to wait regarding membership in ICUR due to its current limited activity.
• Riksstämman 1989: Information and invitations for the 1989 Riksstämman in Stockholm would be included in UFO-Aktuellt nr 4, 1988.
• Upcoming Conferences: Christer Nordin reminded attendees of planning conferences in Ostersund and Sala on October 15th.
• New Film Project: Christer Nordin discussed a new film project with Nadia Roguljic, who requested an advance of 10,000 SEK. The board rejected this, requesting to see the results of her work first. Eva Andersson was tasked with writing to Nadia to explain their position. Gudrun Andersson and Birgit Sälgström reserved their position on the video still film concept and its financial implications.
• Press Clippings: AFU requested UFO-Sverige to cover a larger portion of press clipping costs. The board agreed that UFO-Sverige would cover 60% of the costs starting August 1, 1988.
• Correspondence: A letter from Berndt Berglund was discussed, clarifying that 'Bokförlaget' (Nyköpings Tvärvetenskapliga Bokförening - NTBF) is not affiliated with UFO-Sverige but has supported it financially and in marketing. NTBF's activities should be reported at their own annual meeting.
• Sales Material: Karl-Olov Pettersson offered embroidered patches and decals for sale. UFO-Aktuellt back issues were also available.
• Further Styrelsekurs: Berndt Berglund suggested another board training course in Ludvika on November 19-20.
• UFO Case Report: Jörgen Granlie reported an interesting UFO case from Enköping on May 13th, a close observation of a disc-shaped metallic object, which will be featured in UFO-Aktuellt.
• Other Matters: Borgny Tingstedt expressed dissatisfaction with the return of her image and text material, which had been used in UFO-Aktuellt. Håkan Ekstrand, Mats Nilsson, and Jörgen Granlie were tasked with addressing this.
• Rikslotter (National Lottery): The rules for selling national lottery tickets were reviewed, and the board found them too cumbersome with too little economic return and a short sales period (6 months).
• Next Meetings: The next board meeting was tentatively scheduled for September 10th at Stig Aggestad's, with another on December 3rd.

Mellersta UFO-distriktet Board Meeting (May 7, 1988)

This meeting, held in Gävle, included:

• Agenda: The agenda was finalized, with additions for study activities and a world congress.
• Justers: Birgit Sälgström and Berit Bergqvist were chosen as adjusters.
• Substitute: Owe Lövgren was appointed substitute.
• Tierpsmässa: Roland reported on the upcoming Tierpsmässa (October 6-9, 1988). UFO-Sverige and Gävleborgs UFO-förening would participate. Gävleborgs UFO-förening would have free exhibition space. UFO-Sverige was to bring the Köpings exhibition and sell books from Nyköpings Bokförening. A working group was formed for the fair.
• Registration: Mats reported on UFO-Sverige's registration with various authorities, including the patent office for UFO-Aktuellt and the County Administrative Board. Individual associations need separate permits.
• Styrelsekurs: Roland discussed the board training course in Björsjö (April 23-24) and proposed a follow-up course on November 19-20 in Västerbergslagen.
• Statutes: District statutes were approved with amendments, including a revised age limit of 15 years and a clarification that liquid assets go to the associations.
• Lottery: The possibility of starting a national lottery (e.g., travel lottery) was to be investigated by Christer Nordin with the Stockholm police.
• Economy: Roland reported that out of 5 associations in the district, only 2 had paid membership fees.
• Correspondence: No correspondence was received.
• Statistics: Bernt mentioned that Gudrun had spoken with Ludvika Tidning about UFO report statistics, which was good PR for UFO-Sverige.
• Clippings: Bernt suggested creating small A-5 sized magazines from newspaper clippings to sell for economic contribution.
• Courses: Roland discussed the responsibilities and rights associated with running an association, noting that many are unaware of the legal aspects. Bernt suggested courses on topics like field research psychology, technical English, and astronomy, proposing UFO-Sverige organize a three-subject course.
• Planning: District planning was proposed for October 30th, with a board meeting in Sala prior to the UFO-Sverige planning conference.
• Congress: Bernt suggested planning to attend the World Congress in 1991, possibly in Denmark, and the need to save money and study technical English and astronomy.
• Other Questions: Using Gevalias UFO advertising at Tierpsmässan would provide free coffee. UFO-Sverige needs to develop materials for schools. Roland will write a report for Intern-UFO about the experimental district.

Letters and Personal Contributions

A handwritten letter dated August 28, 1988, from 'Arnold' (likely the same Arnold from the editorial) addresses the upcoming autumn season and the start of new association meetings. He expresses hope for a relaxing summer and renewed energy for UFO work. Arnold emphasizes the need for UFO-Sverige associations to increase their PR efforts and be more visible, stating that the existence of UFO objects is undeniable. He warns against trivializing their work and highlights the importance of environmental issues and the threat of nuclear war. He also calls for greater unity and collaboration within the UFO movement.

Another handwritten letter, possibly from the same author, discusses the UFO phenomenon's potential to create a global revolution and increase international cooperation for planetary protection. The author acknowledges that UFO-Sverige's practical aspects are not yet at their peak, but hopes the magazine's publication schedule will improve. They stress that everyone is responsible for the magazine's quality and encourage associations to be more active. The author mentions their own association meets monthly and has dedicated members and external support. Their goals include increasing membership, promoting the magazine, and engaging with schools.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently emphasizes the importance of organizational structure, communication, and active participation within the UFO community. There's a clear focus on practical matters such as finances, event planning, and information dissemination through publications like UFO-Aktuellt and this local newsletter. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting a serious and unified approach to UFO research, encouraging proactive engagement with the public, and fostering collaboration among different associations. The need for effective public relations and a clear, factual presentation of information is a recurring theme.

This issue of AFU Newsletter, issue 31, published in 1988, focuses heavily on the phenomenon of Soviet rocket launches and their connection to numerous UFO sightings reported in Sweden. The magazine features detailed accounts, witness testimonies, and analyses by Swedish ufologists, aiming to demystify these events and provide explanations based on known space activities.

Soviet Rocket Launches and UFO Sightings

The lead article, "Raketskott lurar (annu) svenske ufologer" (Rocket shots trick Swedish ufologists), by Anders Liljegren and Clas Dvahn, explores how Soviet rocket launches, particularly the Meteor 2 satellite launch on October 6, 1969, were often mistaken for UFOs. These launches, occurring in the early morning, created spectacular light phenomena visible across Scandinavia, leading to numerous reports. The magazine details how organizations like BICOFF and UFO-Sweden, under leaders like Thorvald Berthelsen, became adept at identifying these as rocket launches.

Several specific cases are presented:

• 1969 Meteor 2 Launch: Observed across Scandinavia, including Finland and Sweden, this event was initially reported as a UFO. Even Brake, a civil engineer specializing in Soviet spaceflight, confirmed it was a rocket launch.
• Police Incident (1970 or 1971): A police officer, referred to as MBO, reported a bright, disc-like object hovering low over a forest during a search operation. The object emitted intense light and then disappeared. Another officer, BEB, corroborated a similar experience, recalling a bright light that moved and appeared saucer-like.
• 1972 "Teleskiv" near car: Anders Liljegren reported on a case where a couple observed a bright, disc-shaped object near their car. The object hovered, then ascended rapidly. This was also identified as a Soviet satellite launch.
• 1976 Rocket Launch: A light phenomenon near the Swedish-Finnish border was identified as a rocket launch from Arkhangelsk.
• 1977 "Jellyfish" over Petrozavodsk: A phenomenon observed in the Soviet Union was also seen in Sweden and is discussed in relation to rocket experiments.
• 1984 "Green Cloud" Phenomenon: A light phenomenon observed over southern Sweden, similar to one seen from a Soviet domestic flight, is discussed.
• 1985 Soviet Aircraft Incident: A Soviet aircraft was reportedly escorted by a bright light phenomenon, which is analyzed in relation to rocket stages.

UFO Research and Organizations

The magazine also touches upon the state of UFO research in Sweden. It critiques the publication UFO-Aktuellt for its sensationalism and lack of rigorous sourcing, particularly regarding the use of images. The article "Bilder som lurar läsaren?" (Pictures that trick the reader?) by Anders Liljegren questions the relevance and authenticity of some images used in UFO publications.

There is a discussion about the internal workings and challenges of UFO-Sverige. The annual meeting in Enköping had low attendance, and there's a concern about declining public interest and the need for new members and fresh ideas. Clas Svahn criticizes UFO-Aktuellt for its low expectations of readers and highlights the importance of transparent financial reporting, suggesting UFO-Sverige adopt a model similar to AFU's in reporting contributions.

UFO-Sverige's New Information Film

The issue announces the completion of UFO-Sverige's new 30-minute information film, available for purchase. It also provides contact information for ordering and distribution.

Planning Conference and Future Outlook

A planning conference is announced for October 15th, to be held in two locations: Östersund for the northern part of the country and Sala for the southern part. The organizers express concern about a general lull in UFO reports and a decrease in public interest, urging members to come forward with concrete proposals to improve the organization's activities and attract new members. The need for more active engagement with the press and local radio is emphasized.

Specific Sightings and Analysis

• Högsäter Light Phenomenon: An amateur astronomer observed an unusual light phenomenon consisting of points in an oval formation, described as weaker than stars. The astronomer is seeking contact with others who may have witnessed the same event.

UFO-Sweden's Exhibition Services

UFO-Sverige offers exhibition services, with a rental fee of 100 SEK per week and 15 SEK per day, plus shipping costs. They also offer rental of three models of known UFO cases for discussion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the identification of many reported UFO phenomena as Soviet rocket and satellite launches. The magazine adopts a critical yet investigative stance, aiming to provide rational explanations for sightings while acknowledging the existence of unexplained cases. There's a strong emphasis on rigorous research, proper sourcing, and the challenges faced by UFO organizations in maintaining public interest and credibility. The editorial stance appears to favor scientific explanations and transparency in reporting, while also encouraging continued investigation into genuinely puzzling cases.