UFO-Malmos nyhetsbrev - 1998 No 1

Magazine Overview

This is the first issue of "UFO-Malmös nyhetsbrev" (UFO-Malmö's Newsletter), dated January 1998. The newsletter covers recent UFO reports, summaries of member meetings, and news from the national UFO organization, UFO-Sverige.

New Reports

The newsletter begins with a report published in Sydsvenska Dagbladet on November 9, 1997. A person living in a small village described seeing a UFO while walking their dog. The object, described as having two red lamps and a blue light, hovered above them, circled them, and then flew away. The observer had no other explanation for the sighting. UFO-Malmö sent a letter to the newspaper's observer but received no reply.

A second report is from a woman in Degeberga who, on November 8, 1997, at 3:30 PM, observed an object with her brother, sambo, and two friends. Using binoculars, they saw something that was not a regular airplane or bird. A sketch provided resembles a male sex organ with stripes. The object was described as bright, moving slowly downwards, then suddenly moving sideways as a bright streak. No exhaust gases were observed. The sky was blue and the sun was shining. Later, two similar objects were seen moving from left to right.

Meeting Report from November 24, 1997

Fourteen people attended the meeting. The agenda included reviewing the November 1997 newsletter and discussing the two reports within it. A suggestion was made that Dan Persson's observation might be a Stealth overflight. A report form was to be sent out with the next notice. Elfriede, previously mentioned, shared her UFO experiences and was questioned by members, particularly Kent Ekholm. The group reviewed recent issues of Rapportnytt and UFO Aktuellt, finding the new reporting format difficult to assess. Specific past reports were identified, such as M 01/97 as Sirius, M 04/97 as RPC, and M 268/96 as a bolide entry into the atmosphere, identified by Tora Greve who observed it from Oxie observatory. Göran Vigstrand was absent due to illness, so Kent Ekholm's account was discussed instead. Ekholm's perspective aligns with the Hessdalen group's theory that some phenomena might be geological. This theory is also favored by the UFO-Malmö chairman.

Sightings from the Past

Two past sightings are recounted:

• In the early morning hours during winter, 22 years prior, outside Eslöv, Kent saw a white light hovering for a minute before moving away without sound. Three people were in the car.
• In early autumn 1968, Kent and some youths in Bunkeflostrand saw a red sphere that changed color to green and then blue before disappearing upwards. The incident was reported to Kvällsposten, and many people claimed to have seen it.
• The day after the red sphere sighting, a large V-shaped object with lights that turned on and off sequentially was observed in the dark. It appeared to be a gigantic object, with only the lights being visible.

These accounts are attributed to Tora Greve and Olle Nilsson.

Tibetan Evening with Anders B. Johansson

Three members of UFO-Malmö attended a lecture by Anders B. Johansson, Ph.D., at Planetstadens Bokhandel in Malmö. The lecture was on Tibetan astrology, but the author was more interested in meeting Johansson, who is reportedly associated with the Sirius embassy and now lives in Gothenburg. Only eleven people attended the lecture. While Johansson's account of his trip to Daramsala and meeting the Dalai Lama was interesting, his subsequent blending of ancient Egypt, Mayans, Sirians, and theosophy was not. The author notes that Johansson's guru was Alve Holmqvist, who sparked his interest in occultism. The author discovered a familial connection to Holmqvist, which led to Johansson treating him with great respect.

The author's impression of Johansson is that he is a kind but gullible person who believes everything he reads and mixes various topics. He seems to have read extensively about New Age esotericism but not original sacred texts or direct translations, relying instead on secondary sources and interpretations from figures like von Däniken, Sitchin, and Blavatsky. Johansson was unaware of the Indological Institute in Bombay and Harvard. He advocates for a broad spiritual path, which the author contrasts with the focused approach needed for effective action, likening it to a laser beam needing to be narrow to penetrate material.

Johansson's lecture fees are now within the range recommended by Skånes Bildningsförbund. The author criticizes the broadness of his lectures, which can go on indefinitely, aligning with his "broad spectrum" ideology. Johansson seems to have adapted to the Swedish esoteric scene, understanding that Swedes cannot afford American fantasy prices. He expressed disappointment that astronomers and skeptics like UFO-Sverige are not open to New Age. The author countered that astronomers focus on theories and observations, while ufologists focus on observed phenomena, not speculation about extraterrestrial life. The author emphasizes that personal beliefs should not interfere with scientific research.

The author concludes that Johansson does not think scientifically, despite his Ph.D. The principle of testing beliefs experimentally, even religious ones, is highlighted, suggesting that even astronomer Gunnar Larsson-Leander would be astonished by such a stance.

News from UFO-Sweden

UFO-Malmö received documents from UFO-Sweden that were not fully covered in meetings due to lack of member interest. The newsletter presents a summarized version.

UFO-Sweden held a board meeting on October 5, 1997, in Norrköping. Chairman Clas Svahn urged members to promote the name UFO-Sweden in their field work. For 1998, UFO-Sweden plans a basic course and a level-three course for field investigators. Håkan Blomqvist will send out targeted mailings to older field investigators to encourage them to attend the new basic course. At least three UFO-Malmö members are interested and plan to travel to Norrköping if the course is held there. Irre Bredin visited Hessdalen with a group and interviewed local observers.

As of October 5, 1997, 202 reports had been received. The postgiro account for Rapportnytt is closing, and funds will be transferred to 505060-4.

The newsletter addresses the past conflict between UFO-Sweden's former treasurer, Dag Blomqvist, and the national organization. UFO-Malmö had paid too much for UFO-Aktuellt during the Place of Miracles fair due to Blomqvist's complicated routines. Tora Greve also did not receive an invoice for "Fakta om UFO," only a demand for payment with accrued interest. UFO-Sweden's debt to UFO-Malmö remains.

At an extraordinary board meeting on October 22, 1997, new individuals were appointed to manage finances until the 1998 national assembly. Eva Andersson will handle bookkeeping and administrative routines, and Jörgen Granlie will be the treasurer. New statutes and an ideological program for both the national organization and local chapters are available. The core ideology of UFO-Sweden is to study and work with the UFO issue from a scientific perspective. Their activities include gathering UFO enthusiasts for serious study, receiving and investigating reports, promoting research, fostering scientific discussion, discouraging uncritical thinking and blind faith, stimulating interest, maintaining international contacts, disseminating information to the public and authorities, training field investigators, and publishing a journal.

The organization faces challenges due to the religious responses generated by UFO phenomena, which have led to the emergence of quasi-religious groups that are often conflated with serious organizations in the media, thus damaging the subject's status and hindering research.

UFO-Sweden's Perspective on UFOs

In popular and sociological contexts, UFOs are often equated with extraterrestrial spacecraft, a notion for which there is currently no scientific evidence. UFO is broadly defined as any atmospheric phenomenon that appears mysterious to an observer. From UFO-Sweden's research perspective, a UFO is the residual set of reported observations that remain unexplained after investigation by experienced investigators. UFO research is conducted by amateur researchers who have attempted to influence military and civilian authorities to initiate UFO research. UFO-Sweden explicitly states it is not part of the New Age movement.

UFO-Sweden's stance is based on the "kämhypotesen" (core hypothesis), which posits that there is a core of UFO reports representing unknown phenomena and craft. The sheer number and unusual nature of these reports warrant further scientific research. The national organization's archives contain hundreds of Swedish UFO reports that support this hypothesis. These reports can be broadly categorized into:

1. Luminous spheres and other light phenomena.
2. Object-described, seemingly solid objects/craft.
3. Beings, sometimes observed in conjunction with categories one and two.

Strict boundaries between categories are not always clear, and reports often overlap. These three types of UFO phenomena are reported continuously worldwide, indicating a genuine mysterious phenomenon worthy of serious research.

No Swedish doctoral dissertation has yet been written on UFOs. UFO-Sweden is currently the sole organization in Sweden possessing the data for such research. The strong media presence, popular culture impact, and use by extreme political and religious groups make the subject an important area of study, both as a myth and a mystery. UFO-Sweden has increasingly established itself as a serious organization trusted by the public, media, and authorities. The national organization aims to maintain this profile and establish UFO as a respected research area through extensive collaboration with researchers and interested parties internationally. A well-established and serious national organization increases the possibility of obtaining state funding and attracting sponsors. With increased financial and human resources, UFO-Sweden can establish a central office to serve its members and the public. The journal UFO-aktuellt can become a reliable source of information and a forum for broad debate. Financial resources can also be allocated to specific research projects. With these prerequisites and collective expertise, UFO-Sweden has significant potential to contribute substantially to increased knowledge about UFO phenomena.

Statutes of UFO-Malmö

UFO-Malmö has received a template for standard statutes for local chapters within UFO-Sweden. The statutes define the name as UFO-Malmö and its objective as an ideal association affiliated with UFO-Sweden, working within the framework of the national organization's goals and ideological program. The overarching goal is to study and work with the UFO issue from a scientific perspective. Activities include gathering UFO enthusiasts in Malmöhus county for serious study, receiving and documenting reports, conducting research, promoting scientific discussion, discouraging uncritical thinking and blind faith, and stimulating interest in the Malmö region. Membership is open to individuals who support the association's goals and pay dues, with an age limit of 15 years. The statutes outline procedures for the annual meeting, including agenda items, elections, and the approval of financial reports and plans. The board, consisting of at least five members, is the decision-making body and is elected annually. The statutes also cover financial management, signing authority, auditing, member exclusion, statute amendments, and dissolution of the association.

The newsletter notes that the organization has operated somewhat informally, but with its growth, a more structured approach to bureaucracy may be necessary.

Extract from UFO-Sweden's Planning Conference Minutes (971122)

• Field investigators will now receive RapportNytt for free. A proposal to charge all members SEK 120/year has been made. Members who have not attended a course will be removed from the list of investigators.
• A proposal for a common website for local chapters will be presented, with a fee of SEK 100/year.
• A new report form is being developed and is expected to be ready by the end of the year.
• Cooperation with UFO groups outside UFO-Sweden is encouraged. Information about a contact person in Landskrona, potentially interesting for religious historians, has been shared with SUFOI.
• Problems with report dissemination were raised by Irre. Efforts are being made to immediately follow up on reported incidents, but collecting all report forms can be challenging, even when people agree to fill them out.

These extracts and comments are by Tora Greve.

UFO-Malmö Calls for a Meeting

A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, 1998, at 7:00 PM at Pizzeria Stella in Limhamn, following the Christmas holidays. The address is Gamla gatan 25. The nearest bus stops are those going to Dragörbåten, and bus number 10 is also an option. Attendees are urged to be on time as the restaurant closes at 9:00 PM. Those wishing for something other than pizza, pasta, or coffee should inform Tora Greve by phone (040-15 56 91) before Monday. At the meeting, the January issue of the newsletter will be distributed, mail will be reviewed, including recent issues of Rapportnytt and UFO-Aktuellt, and members may share experiences. The meeting will conclude with a meal.

The board wishes everyone welcome.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently emphasizes a scientific approach to UFO research, as stated in the UFO-Sweden ideological program. It distinguishes itself from New Age beliefs and religious interpretations, focusing on empirical evidence and investigation. The organization aims to be a credible source of information, countering misinformation and uncritical thinking. There is a clear effort to professionalize the organization, as evidenced by the discussion of statutes, financial management, and structured reporting. The newsletter also highlights the challenges of public perception and media portrayal of UFO phenomena, which often conflate serious research with sensationalism or fringe beliefs.