UFO Rama - No 060

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-RAMA
Issue: Nr. 60
Date: August/September 2003
Content Type: UFOlogy Bulletin

Editorial

The editorial highlights a hot summer marked by widespread fires in Italy, but also by numerous agro-glyph (crop circle) appearances and unusual aerial phenomena, particularly in Sardinia. It also notes increased extraterrestrial activity, including UFO sightings, and mentions the first space wedding and the growing normalization of the idea of living in space. The editorial expresses a sense of cosmic immensity and the preparation for a future 'great contact' with intelligent life.

Articles and Reports

"Un imprenditore avrebbe addirittura avuto un «incontro ravvicinato»" (An entrepreneur reportedly had a 'close encounter')

This article details UFO sightings in central Dalmatia, specifically around Zara, Ugljan, and Pago, during the week of July 2003. Multiple reports describe a single, very bright, unidentified object moving at high speed and performing impossible maneuvers. One notable account comes from a local entrepreneur who claims the luminous object, described as a button-shaped craft about twenty meters in diameter with an octagonal dome, blocked his path while he was driving. The object allegedly emitted a strong magnetic field that disabled his cell phone for three hours before disappearing. Similar 'close encounters' were reportedly experienced on Ugljan. The area is noted for recurring strange phenomena, including scorched circles and mysteriously aligned stones, which ufologists have interpreted in various ways.

"E l'ufologo di Pago assicura: «L'oggetto ritornerà presto»" (And the ufologist from Pago assures: 'The object will return soon')

Josip Portada, a well-known ufologist from Pago, comments on the recent sightings, asserting that the mysterious object was likely at an altitude of no more than 5,000 meters, making it visible to the naked eye. He is confident that the object will reappear soon.

"Ancora UFO nei Paesi dell'ex-blocco sovietico" (More UFOs in the Countries of the former Soviet Bloc)

This section briefly mentions UFO sightings in the former Soviet bloc countries, with a specific mention of Croatia (Varazdin).

"La Puglia si conferma una Regione ricca di avvistamenti ufologici..."

This short piece introduces a report about a UFO sighting in Manfredonia.

"Manfredonia: «Ho visto un ufo» Avvistata una navetta sul golfo"

This report from 'La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno' details a UFO sighting over the Gulf of Manfredonia. Around twenty witnesses reported seeing an unidentified flying object. The article highlights that while witness accounts are numerous, the credibility is further bolstered by a police report detailing a 'close encounter' with the mysterious flying object.

"CELEBRATO IL PRIMO MATRIMONIO SPAZIALE" (The First Space Wedding Celebrated)

This article reports on the historic first wedding ceremony conducted in space. Russian astronaut Yuri Malenchenko, 41, married his American fiancée Gave Dmitriev, 27, via a video link while he was aboard the International Space Station (ISS), approximately 240 miles (386 km) from Earth. The ceremony took place at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and was made possible by US laws that permit the legal recognition of unions even when one spouse is not physically present.

"Oggetto non identificato avvistato dalla stazione ISS" (Unidentified object sighted from the ISS station)

NASA is investigating an unidentified object spotted by astronaut Ed Lu from the International Space Station (ISS). Lu photographed the object, but the images do not provide enough information to determine its trajectory or origin. Florida Today suggests it might be a piece of the space station itself. NASA has involved the US Strategic Command for further analysis, recalling a similar incident involving a small object near the Columbia shuttle before its tragic final mission.

"Viaggio nello spazio in classe turistica" (Space travel in tourist class)

This brief note mentions that the USA has presented its first program for a season of tourist-class flights aboard the Soyuz spacecraft to the international space station for the period 2004-2005.

"Gravi responsabilità della NASA sarebbero emerse dalle indagini della Commissione..." (Serious responsibilities of NASA would have emerged from the Commission's investigations...)

This headline suggests that investigations into NASA have revealed serious responsibilities, though the details are not provided in this snippet.

"Veglia la figlia tre anni in attesa degli alieni" (She watches over her daughter for three years awaiting aliens)

A story from Kazakhstan about a mother who preserved her 27-year-old daughter's body for three years, hoping for resurrection by aliens. The mother, a nurse, managed to mummify the body and keep it hidden from acquaintances.

"SETTE ASTEROIDI PER ASTRONAUTI SHUTTLE" (Seven asteroids for Shuttle astronauts)

Seven asteroids will be named after the astronauts who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia mission on February 1, 2003. The International Astronomical Union approved the naming of these celestial bodies, which orbit the Sun between Jupiter and Mars. The Columbia disaster was attributed to a flaw in its heat shield, causing fatal overheating.

"Paura in Sardegna per missili lanciati e finiti fuori obiettivo" (Fear in Sardinia for missiles launched and ending off-target)

This article reports on several incidents in Sardinia where missiles, identified as older Hawk anti-aircraft missiles, have gone off-target. One missile landed in a vineyard, another hit the shoreline, and a third reportedly narrowly missed a civilian aircraft. Pacifist groups claim five such incidents have occurred in two months, while the military downplays the severity. General Carlo Landi, commander of the Salto di Quirra experimental and joint training range, described the situation as an 'unforeseen sequence of failures'.

"Missile impazzito finisce tra i campi" (Crazy missile ends up in fields)

Another report from Sardinia details a missile launched from the Perdasdefogu military polygon that went off-course, landing in fields and causing a fire. The missile was intended for sea impact but veered towards land.

"Davvero molto inquietanti questi episodi..." (These episodes are truly very disturbing...)

A short commentary expressing concern over the missile incidents.

"Pilota denuncia: «Un missile ci ha sfiorato in volo»" (Pilot reports: 'A missile grazed us in flight')

ENAC and the police are investigating a report by an Alpi Eagles aircraft commander who claims a missile flew towards his Fokker 100 as he was landing in Naples, passing just below and grazing the aircraft. The incident was reported to air traffic control and brought to the attention of government officials.

"Al poligono militare di Salto di Quirra Legambiente protesta contro i rischi che corre la popolazione della zona" (At the Salto di Quirra military polygon Legambiente protests against the risks to the local population)

Environmental group Legambiente protested at the Salto di Quirra Interforce Polygon in Sardinia due to concerns about the risks to the local population. The group suspects that depleted uranium projectiles may be used at the polygon, citing an unusually high number of cancer cases in the area.

"LIBRI" (Books)

"IL MISTERO DELLE 13 CHIAVI" (The Mystery of the 13 Keys) by C. Morton and G. L. Thomas is reviewed. The book explores the enigma of 13 crystal skulls, said to originate from Atlantis and other planets, which were brought to Earth to subjugate humanity by the year 2012.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO sightings, unexplained aerial phenomena, and related topics. There is a clear interest in reports from Italy, particularly Sardinia and Dalmatia, and a willingness to explore even the most unusual claims, such as close encounters and extraterrestrial contact. The editorial stance appears to be one of openness to the possibility of advanced technologies and extraterrestrial intelligence, while also acknowledging the potential dangers and mysteries associated with these phenomena. The inclusion of missile incidents, while not directly UFO-related, touches upon themes of military technology, potential accidents, and public safety, which can overlap with broader concerns about unexplained events and government secrecy.