UFO Rama - No 103

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-RAMA
Issue: Nr. 103
Date: September 2007
Type: Monthly bulletin on ufology from Italy and the world.
Publisher: Not explicitly stated, but contact information suggests a base in Catanzaro, Italy.
Country of Publication: Italy
Original Language: Italian

Editorial

The editorial, titled "L'ESTATE APPENA CONCLUSA SI E' RIVELATA UNA DELLE STAGIONI PIU' INTENSE DEGLI ULTIMI ANNI SOTTO IL PROFILO UPOLOGICO...", highlights that the just-concluded summer was one of the most intense in recent years for UFO sightings across Italy. The entire peninsula, from north to south and east to west, experienced a wave of sightings that filled newspaper headlines and tested investigative capabilities. The editorial asserts that the reality of the extraterrestrial phenomenon continues to manifest massively worldwide, demonstrating that UPO (Unidentified Flying Object) phenomena are not declining, even after 60 years.

In contrast, the editorial notes that SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) research appears to be in crisis. It suggests that SETI might lose the famous telescope from which the Arecibo message was sent in 1974, the first serious scientific attempt at interstellar communication. The high costs of military spending often lead governments to cut expenses deemed "non-essential." The editorial provocatively states that while governments might be able to shut down radio telescopes that have identified dozens of signals of possible extraterrestrial origin, they will never be able to silence the voice of the Rete-UPO, which has been advocating for the "right to know" the truth about UFOs for ten years.

Articles and Reports

This issue features several articles reporting on UFO sightings from various locations in Italy, often drawing from local newspapers:

Argenta: Un clic ai dischi volanti

An article from "La Nuova Argenta-Portomaggiore" (August 14, 2007) reports on a UFO photographed by an amateur over Argenta. The photograph, taken by an friend of ufologist Franco Chendi, was featured on the Italian news program "Studio Aperto." According to Chendi, the photograph, which has a relatively high resolution, shows a spherical shape with a metallic structure and a ring, possibly caused by turbulence. The article suggests this is evidence of UFOs being present even in this region.

Bolzano: «Due Ufo»

An article from "Alto Adige" (date not specified, but context suggests August 2007) recounts the experience of a carabiniere (police officer) who witnessed two UFOs, one larger than the other, in the sky over Bolzano. He described the event as magnificent and extraordinary, lasting about a minute and a half to two minutes before the objects disappeared. He initially mistook them for aircraft but noted their unusual movement.

San Lorenzo: non solo stelle cadenti

An article from "Gazzetta di Parma" (August 15, 2007) reports on a strange optical phenomenon that illuminated the skies of Langhirano during the night of San Lorenzo. A video amateur managed to capture what appeared in the sky, described as more than just shooting stars.

Gli Ufo ad Alghero

An article from "Alguero.it" (July 27, 2007) reports that a good number of people in Alghero witnessed an unidentified luminous object in the sky around 11:30 PM. The luminous trail was clearly visible to those walking along the Lungomare. The article notes that while the sighting's reality is debated (suggesting possibilities like collective hallucination, heat effects, or alcohol), it has sparked a desire among residents to know if extraterrestrial life exists.

Valpolicella: Strange Lights

Two articles from "L'Arena" (July 15 and August 15, 2007) report on UFO sightings in the Valpolicella area. The July 15 article mentions numerous reports of strange lights, described as colored points that danced in the sky, seen between July 6 and 8. The August 15 article details an encounter by two cousins, astronomy enthusiasts, who saw a V-shaped formation of luminous objects and two others in a boomerang formation above Balconi.

Montecchio Maggiore: UFO over Romeo's Castle

An article from "Il Giornale di Vicenza" (August 7, 2007) reports a sighting in Montecchio Maggiore where about twenty luminous points were observed at high altitude. The Italian Air Force stated that these were not their aircraft.

Isola della Scala: Filming a UFO

An article from "L'Arena" (August 12, 2007) features a seventeen-year-old from Isola della Scala who claims to have filmed a UFO above his house. He described it as not being a falling star and that it moved back and forth.

Senigallia: Fast-Moving Object

An article from "Corriere Adriatico" (August 14, 2007) reports on a strange object seen by a student on vacation in Senigallia. The object reportedly reflected light and moved very quickly.

Gagliano: UFO Sighting

An article titled "Avvistato UFO a Gagliano" reports that Sabrina, a photography enthusiast, inadvertently captured an unidentified object after some time. The article implies the object disappeared quickly.

Space and Science News

Atlantis Shuttle Computer Malfunction

An article from "La Repubblica" (June 15, 2007) reports that the Atlantis shuttle, docked at the International Space Station (ISS), experienced a 36-hour computer failure that affected the station's oxygen and water flow systems, as well as its orientation. The cause remains unexplained, possibly electrical, but the computers eventually restarted.

NASA Announces Shuttle Computer Sabotage

An item from "Televideo.Rai.it" (July 27, 2007) reports that NASA announced the sabotage of a computer destined for the International Space Station, scheduled to be taken by the Shuttle on August 7. A supplier was suspected and detained. NASA clarified that the sabotage would not have endangered the astronauts' lives.

Mars Probe Phoenix

An article from "Corriere della Sera" (August 5, 2007) discusses the launch of the Phoenix Mars Lander from Cape Canaveral on July 25, 2007. The probe is expected to reach Mars on May 25, 2008, and its 90-day mission will focus on analyzing the red planet's polar ice layers for signs of life or favorable conditions.

Arecibo Telescope Facing Closure

An article from "Corriere della Sera" (September 10, 2007) reports that the world's most powerful radio telescope, located in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, risks closure due to a lack of funds. After more than 30 years of operation, the massive instrument, comparable in size to 26 football fields, which has captured signals from pulsars and quasars billions of light-years away and provided the first direct image of an asteroid, may cease to function.

UFOs in Great Britain

A brief report from "Metro" (July 27, 2007) mentions that in Great Britain, possibly in Stratford-upon-Avon, about a hundred witnesses filmed five round lights that moved for over half an hour in the sky.

Book Review

La Cometa di Nostradamus

This section reviews the book "La Cometa di Nostradamus" by R.W. Welch. The book reportedly translates Nostradamus's prophecies about the third millennium, including a war against Christian Europe and the impact of a giant comet. The review states that the prophecies, translated directly from original French, reveal content previously considered a mystery and announce unpleasant future events. The book is 320 pages and costs €14.00.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Recurring themes in this issue include the prevalence and persistence of UFO sightings globally, with a particular focus on recent events in Italy. The magazine contrasts the ongoing UFO phenomenon with the perceived decline in scientific efforts like SETI. There is a strong undercurrent of skepticism towards official explanations and a clear advocacy for transparency and the public's "right to know" the truth about UFOs, as championed by the Rete-UPO. The editorial stance is one of unwavering belief in the reality of the extraterrestrial phenomenon and a critical view of governmental priorities that may hinder scientific investigation.