UFO Notizie - No 57

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NOTIZIE
Issue: 57
Date: February 1998
Publisher: Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU)
Country: Italy
Price: £. 2.500

This issue of UFO NOTIZIE, a circular informative bulletin from the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU), announces significant changes and updates within the organization and its publications. It details recent activities, reports on UFO sightings, and covers various news items related to ufology.

Reorganization of CISU Publications

The lead article, 'DALLA SEGRETERIA' (From the Secretariat), announces a major reorganization of CISU's periodicals starting in 1998. The association's publications will be consolidated under a single masthead, 'UFO'. This umbrella title will encompass the 'Rivista di informazione ufologica' (Ufological Information Magazine), the 'rassegna UFO Forum' (UFO Forum Review), and this circular, now renamed 'UFO Notizie'. The aim is to have a combined total of eight distinct issues per year, supplemented by the twelve numbers of the 'Notiziario Archivio Stampa' (Press Archive Newsletter). This consolidation will be reflected in a new graphic design. A significant change is that 'UFO Forum', previously reserved for discussions among local representatives and ordinary members, will now be sent to all CISU members. It has evolved from an internal discussion organ into a technical publication with specialized articles.

Membership and Fees

For the 1998 membership renewal, members only need to pay the amount corresponding to their chosen category, as modified by the last assembly. Specific fee amounts are mentioned for ordinary, supporting, and distinguished collaborators (£. 40,000, £. 60,000, or £. 150,000), with a separate module for ordinary members. The 'Campagna adesioni '98' (Membership Campaign '98) is not required. A form is included with the circular to summarize recent publications.

CISU Assembly and National Conference

The issue reports on the annual assembly of CISU members held in Bologna on November 23, 1997. The assembly reviewed and approved the 1996 economic report and the 1997 budget, and elected the association's board of directors for 1998. The newly elected board includes Antonio Blanco, Edoardo Russo, Paolo Toselli (re-elected president), Giuseppe Verdi, and Maurizio Verga. Key decisions included sending 'UFO Forum' to all members, setting new membership fees, resuming the 'Rassegna casistica' (Case Review) publications, and establishing an 'Alberto Lazzaro Prize' for the best article or investigation received annually from 'collaborator' category members. The new board also approved the admission of seven new ordinary members.

Previously, on November 22, 1997, the 12th National Ufology Conference was held in Bologna. The theme was 'Ufology as Research Activity - Catalog and Study Projects within CISU'. The conference involved a round-table discussion among curators and other members, focusing on ongoing cataloging and study projects, their experiences, difficulties, proposals, and perspectives. A new project for cataloging radar cases was suggested.

Board Meeting in Milan

A board meeting took place in Milan on February 1, 1998, attended by board members Edoardo Russo, Paolo Toselli, Maurizio Verga, and Giuseppe Verdi, along with several other members. The meeting decided to convene the general assembly in Florence on May 31 for the approval of the 1997 report. The 13th National Ufology Conference is scheduled for May 30 at the same venue, with the theme 'The '78 Phenomenon Twenty Years Later'. This conference will be a study meeting and closed to the public. Renzo Cabassi was confirmed as the coordinator for projects, and Paolo Fiorino retained his role in public relations.

New Projects and Publications

New Project: UFO and Radar: A new cataloging and analysis project has been initiated to compile all Italian radar-visual or radar-only cases, collect all sources for each case, analyze the data, and gather relevant international literature on UFOs and radar. The project coordinator is Goffredo Pierpaoli, a physics graduate and teacher with specific experience in the field. Regional and provincial catalogers are invited to submit cases and documents. A dedicated file for this project has been opened in the Central Archives, containing photocopies of published texts on the subject.

UFO Forum: As decided at the Bologna assembly, starting with the March 1998 issue (No. 9), the quarterly journal 'UFO Forum' will be sent to all CISU members, not just local representatives. It will now accompany the ufological information magazine and the 'UFO Notizie' circular.

Three New Monographs: Two new monographs from the 'Documenti UFO' series were published at the end of 1997: 'Il caso Arnold' by Roberto Raffaelli, a detailed analysis of the famous 'first sighting' (36 pages, £. 8,000), and 'Altreriviste '96' by Giuseppe Stilo and Paolo Toselli, a collection of seventeen articles by CISU members (64 pages, £. 12,000). Both were sent free to 'distinguished' members for 1997. A third monograph, 'Area 51 tra mito e realtà' (Area 51 between Myth and Reality) by Roberto Raffaelli and Giuseppe Stilo, was released in February 1998 (24 pages, £. 4,500).

Local Dissemination Activities

The issue lists various local outreach activities by CISU representatives in Italy during late 1997. These include newspaper articles mentioning CISU and its website, conferences held by members in different cities, and interviews published in local and national media.

Sightings (Avvistamenti)

This section provides brief updates on UFO sightings reported between October and December 1997, without extensive commentary:

• Savona (October 3): A UFO sighting led to the discovery of a deflated meteorological balloon.
• Roman Coast (October 9): Multiple witnesses observed a luminous, egg-shaped object with multicolored lights.
• Sardinia (October 19): Witnesses reported a white trail descending and then a cluster of intense lights.
• Marina di Montemarciano (October 28): A luminous green object was seen hovering vertically over a refinery.
• Chioggia (October 30): Micro-interruptions in electricity coincided with the appearance of a very bright object.
• Teramo (November 13): A satellite signal suggested an aircraft or ship in distress, but searches yielded no results.
• Siena (November 24): Motorists observed a strong light emitting a blue beam.
• Siracusa (November 15): Two teenagers photographed a dark, irregularly moving object.
• Terni (December 14): A bright white, then celestial, then green object was observed moving horizontally.

Specific Cases and Reports

New Type of IFO (Unidentified Flying Object): The issue describes a new type of spectacular celestial phenomenon, characterized by sudden, bright flashes resembling camera flashes, which move rapidly across the sky. Astrophiles identified these as flashes from the new Iridium telecommunications satellites. An IT program has been developed to predict these satellite passages.

'Clan dei Pescaresi' Convicted of Fraud: Three individuals from Pescara were convicted of aggravated fraud for convincing an elderly man that an 'extraterrestrial doctor' could cure his ailments, extorting over 600 million lire. These individuals were known for similar scams dating back to the 1950s.

'Negativists Under Attack': The Italian translation of Carl Sagan's book 'The World Infested by Demons' is mentioned. Sagan attacks paranormal beliefs, including UFOs and alien visitors, aligning with the views of organizations like CICAP (Italian Committee for the Control of Paranormal Claims).

New Video Cassettes: A video cassette titled 'UFO - Verità Nascoste' (UFO - Hidden Truths) is released, featuring translated US documentaries on topics like Roswell, Rendlesham, SETI, and alien autopsy. Another film, 'Ombre aliene' (Alien Shadows), about a family persecuted by NASA for witnessing a UFO, is also released on video.

British Military UFO Secrets: A new book, 'A Covert Agenda' by Nicolas Redfern, is published in Great Britain, alleging that at least seven UFOs have crashed in the UK, with the British government allegedly making agreements with the Soviet Union in the 1960s to manage UFO sightings. A specific RAF unit at Rudloe Manor is said to be involved.

Chilean Air Force Opens to Ufologists: The Chilean Air Force announced the formation of a joint commission of military personnel and civilian ufologists to investigate UFO phenomena. The commission, CIFAE, will have access to all data collected by Chilean military bodies.

Appeal in the Area 51 Case: An appeal hearing was held in San Francisco regarding a lawsuit filed by former employees of the Groom Lake base (Area 51) who claim contamination from toxic substances. The lawsuit, initially lost, alleges illegal dumping of toxic military waste at the base.

Terrestrial Flying Saucer: A revolutionary flying saucer-shaped vehicle, propelled by a laser and measuring only 15 cm in diameter, was tested in New Mexico by the US Air Force. It is designed to generate plasma using laser energy, achieving speeds of Mach 5.

UFOs Again in the European Parliament: Two British MEPs have submitted questions to the European Parliament regarding the recognition of extraterrestrial hypotheses for UFOs and the violation of European airspace by unidentified objects.

Clinton Wanted the Truth About UFOs?: Former associate Webb Hubbell claims that US President Bill Clinton wanted to know if UFOs existed and had appointed Hubbell to investigate the Kennedy assassination and UFOs.

Deaths of Gaddis and Takanashi: The issue notes the passing of Vincent Gaddis, a prominent American author of mystery and science fiction, known for coining the term 'Bermuda Triangle' and popularizing the 'Philadelphia Experiment'. It also reports the death of Jun-Ichi Takanashi, a pioneer of scientific ufology in Japan.

New Alarms for Glows Over the USA and Greenland: Reports of a large glow illuminating the night sky over Greenland led to a search by the Danish Air Force, hypothesizing a meteorite impact. A similar phenomenon, a flash and a red-orange light ball, was observed over several US Midwest states, also attributed to a large meteor.

Appeal to the Brazilian Government: Ufologists worldwide appealed to the Brazilian Minister of Defense to release military data on UFOs and establish a study commission within the Air Force.

Radio-TV Listening Center

A list of national television programs that discussed UFOs between September and December 1997 is provided, based on data collected by Paolo Toselli. This includes mentions on shows like 'Maurizio Costanzo Show', 'Misteri dell'Universo', 'I fatti vostri', 'Cronaca in diretta', and 'La macchina del tempo'.

Foreign Films and TV Series

Several films and TV series with ufological themes that aired during the period are listed, including 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind', 'Stargate', 'X-Files', 'Dark Skies', and 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'.

Foreign News

The True Photos of the Roswell Alien?: Anticipation is high for the release of what is claimed to be the original color photo of the Roswell alien, promoted by the organization FreeNet.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings, research initiatives, and the organizational activities of CISU. There is a clear emphasis on scientific investigation and the dissemination of information, while also acknowledging the broader cultural impact of the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various cases and perspectives, including skeptical viewpoints (e.g., the Iridium flashes, Sagan's critique) alongside reports of unexplained phenomena. The publication serves as a vital communication channel for the Italian ufological community, covering both domestic and international news.