UFO Notizie - No 58

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NOTIZIE
Issue: 58
Volume: 1/98
Date: October 1998
Publisher: Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici (CISU)
Country: Italy
Price: £. 2.500

This issue of UFO NOTIZIE, the official publication of the Centro Italiano Studi Ufologici, provides a comprehensive update on the organization's activities, recent UFO sightings, new publications, and media coverage of the phenomenon in Italy and abroad during 1998.

CISU Activities and Events

The magazine opens with news from CISU, detailing the assembly of its members held in Florence on May 31, 1998. During this meeting, the 1997 activity report and financial statements were presented and approved, along with the budget for 1998. A new board of directors was elected, with Edoardo RUSSO as president, supported by Paolo TOSELLI and Maurizio VERGA.

Prior to the assembly, on May 30, Florence hosted the 13th National Ufology Convention, themed "The '78 Phenomenon: Twenty Years Later." The convention featured presentations by various researchers, including Renzo CABASSI, Paolo FIORINO, Goffredo PIERPAOLI, Edoardo RUSSO, Giuseppe STILO, Paolo TOSELLI, and Maurizio VERGA. Discussions covered aspects of the major Italian UFO wave of 1978, including the media's role, the wave's evolution, the Adriatic flap, landing cases, traces, photos, and humanoids. The event aimed to assess the progress of the 'Project '78' and identify future research directions.

CISU also announced changes in contact information for some of its local representatives. Giancarlo D'ALESSANDRO moved to Milan, Giorgio RUSSOLILLO's new address is in Naples, and Giuseppe VERDI returned to Sicily.

New Publications and Resources

Bibliocat Update: A year after the release of "Bibliocat," a comprehensive ufological bibliography, CISU has published "Biblio-Ufo-97." This 28-page update includes new book releases, as well as amendments and corrections to existing entries in Italian ufological literature. It is available for 5,000 lire (4,000 for CISU members).

"UFO and Nazism" Monograph: The eighteenth monograph in the CISU's "Documenti UFO" series, titled "I miti UFO-nazismo" by Giuseppe Stilo, examines alleged Nazi flying saucers, links between contactee phenomena and far-right groups, the UMMO case, and recent cover-up revelations. This 28-page booklet costs 5,000 lire (4,000 for members).

UFODATANET: Since June 1, CISU has been operating UFODATANET, its third national Internet site, managed by the National Coordination of Study Projects. Directed by Renzo CABASSI and Marco PIRACCINI, the site (www.ufodatanet.org) features sections on ongoing study projects, cataloging, analysis, and articles.

Regional Websites: In addition to national sites, two regional Internet sites have been launched: one for Sardinia, directed by Antonio CUCCU and curated by Gian Mario PALA (http://www.vtg.it/ufo), and another for Puglia, directed by Lello CASSANO and curated by Gianni MALANGA (http://www.ghostbbs.ml.org/utenti/CISU/). These sites offer regional case studies, news, and information on CISU activities.

Agorà BBS Discussion Area: The historical discussion area on the Agorà BBS, previously accessible via World Wide Web, is now directly available as a newsgroup (news.agora.it, group: agora.discussioni.ufologia).

EuroUfoList: Since March, CISU has promoted EuroUfoList, a telematic circular (mailing list) connecting European ufological associations and scientific researchers.

Annuario UFO 1997/98: The first issue of a new annual ufological publication, "Annuario UFO 1997/98," was released in January. This 96-page, color publication aims for wide distribution and features articles on key events of 1997.

New Magazines and CD-ROMs: The issue notes the appearance of "Terzo millennio," a new monthly magazine on mysterious and paranormal topics, and a CD-ROM titled "UFO" from IPM, which repackages existing content.

Media Coverage and Public Outreach

The magazine details extensive media coverage of UFO-related topics across Italian television and print media from January to April 1998. This includes:

• Television Programs: Numerous programs featured UFO discussions, interviews, and documentaries, including "Disney Club," "Maurizio Costanzo Show," "TG Generation," "Inviato speciale," "Tema," and various news reports. Films like "Roswell" and "Independence Day" were also broadcast.
• Newspaper and Magazine Articles: Articles appeared in "Il giornale dei misteri," "PC pratico," "Neural," "La Nazione," "La Padania," "Corriere di Rimini," "Il Tirreno," "Gazzetta di Parma," "Il Messaggero," "Gazzetta di Mantova," "La Provincia di Como," "Corriere di Como," "Il Punto," "Città di Milazzo," "Focus," "La Repubblica," "Chip," and "La Stampa."
• Piero Angela's "Viaggio nel cosmo": The issue expresses disappointment with Piero Angela's segment on UFOs in his documentary series, describing it as dismissive and aligning with cover-up proponents by featuring Philip Klass.
• Local Outreach: CISU representatives engaged in various local outreach activities, including interviews, conferences, and participation in radio programs.

Notable UFO Sightings and Incidents

"Il fenomeno '78 vent'anni dopo" Convention: This convention focused on the 1978 Italian UFO wave, with discussions on its characteristics and impact.

Filmed UFO in Salerno (January 15, 1998): A UFO was filmed in Vietri sul Mare, described as pencil-shaped, initially moving slowly before accelerating.

UFO Film in Lazio (January 20, 1998): A family filmed a luminous object moving slowly, ascending, and then horizontally near Cassino and Cervara.

Viterbo Photos (December 1997, reported later): Photos of a daytime object were taken by a young man in Viterbo.

"New Flap in Italy" (February 11, 1998): A large number of people across central-northern Italy observed a bright, descending luminous object, likely a meteor.

"The Wednesday Bolide" (February 18, 1998): A similar phenomenon to the February 11 sighting occurred, with hundreds observing a yellow-green light with a bluish tail.

"Ghost Photo" in Naples (February 17, 1998): A police officer accidentally photographed an oval object.

Porto San Giorgio Sighting (February 26, 1998): Several witnesses observed a fluorescent, cigar-shaped object rotating in the sky for two hours.

"Flying Humanoid" in Lombardy (March 8, 1998): A farmer in Rho reported seeing a white, pear-shaped object hovering over a field.

"UFO Invasion over the Midwest" (March 27-28, 1998): Numerous reports of strange lights and objects were received from Indiana and Kentucky.

Aztec, New Mexico: Following the success of Roswell's 50th-anniversary events, Aztec announced a similar convention for May 25, commemorating a controversial "crashed flying saucer" incident from 1948.

Roswell Case Developments: The issue mentions ongoing legal actions related to the Roswell incident, including a lawsuit filed by Peter Gersten against the U.S. Army regarding documents.

April Fools' Pranks: The Discovery Channel Canada announced a fictional secret project called "Snowflake" involving flying saucers, and radio host Art Bell reported false news about imminent official UFO revelations.

International News

Roswell Trademark: The municipality of Roswell, New Mexico, is considering registering its name as a trademark due to its association with the UFO crash.

Prince Charles and UFOs: An anecdote about Prince Charles encountering a former schoolmate who claimed to be an extraterrestrial is mentioned.

Dario Fo's Nobel Prize Speech: Italian Nobel laureate Dario Fo reportedly joked about being an extraterrestrial during a roundtable discussion.

Phoenix Politician's UFO Stance: Former Phoenix city council member Frances Emma Barwood announced her candidacy for Secretary of State, including investigating UFOs in her platform.

Barry Greenwood Resigns from CAUS: Ufologist Barry Greenwood resigned from the association CAUS after 13 years, reportedly due to the return of former director Peter Gersten.

New UFO Flap in Arizona (March 1998): Dozens, possibly hundreds, of people observed orange lights in the sky over Phoenix.

Roswell Polemics: The ongoing dispute between ufologists Kevin Randle and Don Schmitt regarding their research on the Roswell case is highlighted.

Notable UFO Books: Two significant books are mentioned: "Dizionario tematico di ufologia" (Thematic Dictionary of Ufology) published in Spain, and "UFO e ufologia - I primi 50 anni" (UFO and Ufology - The First 50 Years) published in Great Britain.

American Ufologists: Budd Hopkins was hospitalized for a heart attack but reportedly recovered quickly.

Jim Dilettoso Controversy: An investigative report in the Phoenix New Times criticized ufologist Jim Dilettoso for alleged false claims and lack of credentials.

Senator Steve Schiff's Death: The passing of New Mexico Senator Steve Schiff, who had pushed for an investigation into the Roswell incident, is noted.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on a wide range of ufological activities, from scientific research and data collection to public outreach and media analysis. There is a clear emphasis on documenting sightings, publications, and the public's engagement with the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, critical evaluation of information, and a desire to inform the public about ongoing developments in ufology. The magazine also highlights the challenges faced by researchers, including media skepticism, the spread of misinformation, and the commercialization of the topic. The recurring theme of "UFO cults" and the distinction between serious research and pseudo-religious movements is also addressed, particularly in relation to the Vatican and Monsignor Balducci's statements.

Title: NOTIZIE UFO
Issue Date: October 1999
Volume: 1999
Issue Number: 11

This issue of 'Notizie UFO' presents a collection of curious and recent news items related to UFO phenomena, focusing on reports from late March and April 1999, with some retrospective elements.

Other Curious News

The section "Altre Notizie Curiose" (Other Curious News) highlights several intriguing reports that initially seemed like late April Fools' jokes but proved to be more substantial.

Mars Global Surveyor and Cydonia

Starting March 28, an announcement stated that the Mars Global Surveyor probe would fly over and photograph the 'Face on Mars' and other alleged Martian structures in the Cydonia region with greater detail than previous missions. While initial news and circulating images suggested the operation was successful, they reportedly did not corroborate the existence of artificial constructions, leading proponents of the artificial structure theory to claim a NASA conspiracy. This was referenced in UFO Updates and Current Encounters.

Vatican and UFOs

On April 4, the American television program 'Sightings' sensationally announced that the Vatican had admitted the extraterrestrial nature of UFOs, citing theologian Corrado Balducci. However, it was soon discovered that this was a recycling of old interviews from Balducci, previously published by the Italian contactee magazine 'Nonsiamosoli,' and did not represent a new official stance. This was reported in UFO Updates and discussions on it.discussioni.ufo.

Apollo 11 and Moon Landing

Another sensational announcement claimed a NASA scientist had confirmed the manipulation of Apollo 11 radio transmissions during the Moon landing to conceal the presence of alien spacecraft on the lunar surface. This turned out to be a distortion of statements made by Professor Dino Dini during a documentary on Swiss Italian Television in January 1997. This was covered in UFO Updates.

The Ufological Conversion of Sarah McClendon

Sarah McClendon, an 88-year-old veteran journalist and White House correspondent, has become a prominent ally for those advocating for UFO secrecy to be lifted. Her column is widely followed, and she has publicly supported calls for the U.S. government to reveal all its knowledge on the UFO issue. This advocacy began with a press release and continued through interviews and conferences, as noted in UFO Updates.

Ribera Abducted by Aliens?

In Spain, Antonio Ribera, a leading figure in Iberian ufology, revealed his own abduction experience. The seventy-eight-year-old writer recounted an event from 1930, when he was 10 years old, involving the appearance of a large green light and a small humanoid being in his room. He shared this in an interview with the April issue of 'Enigmas,' admitting that while his memory might be partial, it was likely a genuine alien abduction experience that influenced his lifelong dedication to ufology. This was also mentioned in Enigmas and a collaboration with Javier Sierra.

Abduction Experiences in the US and Europe

Numerous ufologists in the United States have reportedly admitted to personal abduction experiences. Some authors, including Budd Hopkins, suggest that an preoccupation with UFOs might be a symptom of a 'UFO abduction' syndrome. In contrast, such personal accounts from researchers are rarer in Europe, with Juan José Benitez being an exception, having reported his own experiences the previous year.

Betty Hill Criticizes Abduction Researchers

Betty Hill, a key figure in the history of abduction cases due to her 1961 experience with her husband Barney, is featured in an interview with English writer and ufologist Peter Brookesmith, published in 'Fortean Times.' Hill openly accuses American ufologists of fabricating UFO abduction cases by misusing hypnosis. She argues that instead of aiding recall, hypnosis can create false memories in highly suggestible states.

Hill's Book and Criteria for Abduction Cases

Betty Hill, who self-published a book in 1995 detailing her experiences and subsequent ufological activities after her husband's death, has personally investigated numerous abduction cases. She has developed indicators she believes are crucial for distinguishing genuine abduction cases from fabricated ones, which she feels researchers are irresponsibly multiplying. This was reported in Fortean Times.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently reports on UFO sightings, alleged alien encounters, and government secrecy surrounding the topic. It also delves into personal experiences of abduction and critiques the methods used in ufological research. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting diverse viewpoints and news within the ufology community, while also critically examining claims and reports, as seen in the debunking of certain sensational announcements and the inclusion of Betty Hill's critical perspective.