UFO POTPOURRI

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 366
Date: October 2, 1992
Headline: UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS: THE MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

This issue of UFO POTPOURRI delves into the scientific and medical aspects of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), advocating for greater international cooperation and research while highlighting the work of private organizations.

UN Proposal and Inaction

The article begins by recounting a 1978 proposal by prominent UFO researchers to the United Nations to establish an international clearing house. This body would coordinate scientific research into UFOs and inform the UN Secretary-General about findings. The UN General Assembly responded favorably by adopting Decision 33/426, but unfortunately, no action was taken to implement this decision, leaving it dormant.

Rise of Private UFO Organizations

In contrast to the UN's inaction, UFO activity has continued unabated globally. This has led to the growth of numerous private, non-governmental UFO organizations that have stepped in to fill the research void. Examples cited include the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies, the Australian Centre for UFO Studies, the Joint USA-CIS Aerial Anomaly Federation, and the British UFO Research Association. While these groups are functioning well and are respected, the absence of a UN agency is noted as a significant loss.

The Nature of the UFO Problem

The UFO phenomenon is described as touching the lives of many people, engendering puzzlement, fear, and sometimes harm. It is considered of significant scientific and technological interest, carrying implications about the existence of intelligences beyond our own. The evidence is characterized as both intriguing and frightening.

Reported UFO Incidents and Effects

Reports of UFO activity detail incidents where UFOs exhibit extraordinary capabilities. These include flying circles around high-performance jet aircraft, shutting down sophisticated electronic systems, causing electrical power blackouts, stopping automobiles, upsetting animals, damaging plants, and inflicting medical injuries on humans. The article contrasts these reports with skeptics who dismiss them as mistaken observations, a view not shared by those who have experienced these encounters.

Scientific and Expert Endorsements

MUFON is highlighted for its extensive network, boasting an Advisory Board of 173 Consultants with doctorates and 154 Research Specialists with Master's degrees in relevant fields. These individuals reportedly disagree with skeptics and possess evidence to support their views. Other private organizations also have similar boards and are convinced of the evidence's importance.

Dr. Jacques Vallee, a noted scientist, is quoted from the MUFON 1992 Symposium Proceedings. He states his conclusion that a genuine UFO phenomenon exists, is physical, and unexplained. He views it as an opportunity and challenge for science and speculates, though without proof, that a non-human intelligence might be involved.

Retired NASA scientist Dr. Richard Haines is also cited, noting that reports of anomalous aerial objects continue to be made by pilots from airlines and air forces worldwide, as well as private and experimental test pilots. Dr. Haines possesses a personal collection of nearly 3,600 pilot sightings.

Russian Cosmonaut Paval Popovich, speaking at the 1992 MUFON Symposium, suggested that the influence and effects of UFOs on people and the environment, as well as their behavior and genesis, should be subjects of special research.

Professor Hermann Oberth, associated with the German V-2 rocket, is quoted as being satisfied with the hypothesis that UFOs are flying machines not built by humans, as current human technology cannot produce craft capable of speeds exceeding 42,000 miles per hour, as measured by radar.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek, described as the world's foremost UFO expert, is credited with expanding scientific horizons. His perspective, expressed in 1966, suggests that 20th-century science might suffer from "temporal provincialism" and arrogance, failing to consider future scientific vantage points.

Call for UN Action

The issue is framed as one of the most important of the century, with the scientific study of UFOs potentially affecting the future of humanity. The article reiterates the importance of the United Nations aggressively implementing its Decision 33/426 of December 18, 1978. This decision called for the establishment of a UN agency or department to undertake, coordinate, and disseminate research results on unidentified flying objects and related phenomena.

Representation and Conclusion

John F. Schuessler, representing the Mutual UFO Network, Inc. (headquartered in Seguin, Texas, but with a worldwide scope), expresses his pleasure in urging the United Nations to take the next crucial step in resolving this problem by implementing the agency authorized by Decision 33/426.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent nature of the UFO phenomenon, the scientific and technological implications it presents, the perceived inaction of governmental bodies like the UN, and the vital role of private research organizations in advancing understanding. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of treating UFOs as a serious scientific subject requiring dedicated research and international cooperation, advocating for the UN to fulfill its earlier commitment.