The Australasian Ufologist Magazine 6/2003 [antikvár]

Editorial THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH This year has already brought some big surprises, both good and bad. On the good side, our two day Interaatioiial Scientific Metaphysical Symposium. So far our international guesl speakers include Dr.Roger Leir (surgeon) and Peter Davenport, Steven Greer (to be confirmed), with a possibility of another two guest speakers. It will also include several Australian speakers, including Bill Chalker. After four years of hard work the 1800 freecall number is now accepted by both the Queensland and NSW police force. Doug Moffett, our AUFORN NSW State Director stated in a recent e-mail "After correspondence between myself and !he Police liaison officer for the "Police News "journal. / am pleased to announce the 1800 Hotline number will he in the March or April edition. The journal is distributed to every police station in NSfV. I am hopeful! there will be a brief editorial about the organi.iation as well. Not only should this supply more callins. but it is also a great boost to the credibility of AUFORN and UFO research in general. I feel sure the 1800 number will prove to be of great benefit lo both the police and the general reporting public. " Keith Basterfield is also working on informing all Country Police Stations in South Australia- Keep up the good work guys. AUFORN is also expanding into New Zealand Janice Knox, a subscriber to the Australasian Ufologist Magazine will be our first representative in your great country and will be going under the name of New Zealand UFO Research Network (NZUFORN). Stay tuned. As we get closer to the inevitable global war that so many past prophets have predicted, news of the Shuttle Columbia disaster came to light on the 2nd of February. It didn't come as a surprise to me, as 1 have been anticipating another shuttle disaster since the Challenger explosion fifteen or so years ago. It shows how dangerous science and the pursuit of truth is, but we all must go on. Setbacks happen. Deaths happen. But as they say 'The show Must Go On'. The following e-mail was the last sent by Astronaut Laurel Clark to her family on 3 February. Hello from 150 NM above the Earth Hello from above our magnificent planet Earth. The perspective is truly awe-inspiring. This is a terrific mission and we are very busy doing science round the clock. Just getting a moment lo type e-mail is precious so this will be short, and distributed to many who I know and love. I have seen some incredible sights: lightning spreading over the Pacific, the Aurora Austral is lighting up the entire visible horizon with the cityglow of Australia below, the crescent moon setting over the limb of the Earth, the vast plains of Africa and the dunes on Cape Horn, rivers breaking through tall mountain passe.s. the scars of humanity, the continuous line of life extending from North America, through Central America and into South America Mount Fuji looks like a small bump from up here, but it does stand out as a very distinct landmark. Magically the very first day we flew over Lake Michigan I saw Wind Point (Racine. Wl) clearly Haven't been so lucky since. Every orbit wc go over a slightlv different part ofthe Earth. Of course, much of the time I 'm working back in Spacelab and don't see any of it. menever I do get to look out. it is glorious. Even the stars have a special brightness. I have seen my 'friend" Orion several times. Taking photos of the earth is a real challenge, but a steep learning curve. I think / have finally gotten some beautiful shots the last 2 days. Keeping my fingers crossed that they 're in sharp focus. My near vision has gotten a little worse up here so you may have seen pics/video of me wearing glasse-t. ! feel blessed lo he here representing our country and carrying out the research of scientists around the world. All of the experiments have accomplished most of their goals despite the inevitable hiccups that occur when such a complicated undertaking is undertaken. Some experiments have even done extra .science. A few are finished and one is Just getting started today. The food is great and J am feeling very comfortable in this new. totally different environment. Il still takes a while to eat as gravity doesn't help pull food down your esophagus. It is also a constant challenge to stay adequately hydrated. Since our body fluids are shifted toward our heads our sense of thirst is almost non-existent. Thanks lo many of you who have supported me and my adventures throughout the years. This was definitely one to beat all. / hope you could feel the positive energy thai I beamed to the whole planet as ii'f glided over our shared planet. Love to all. Laurel How fortunate one must be to get into space and look down onto our lovely blue planet. To touch the hand of God! It makes the risks trivial. But as with all things, doubts have arisen as to the cause of the incident. Was it sabotage? Was it structual fatigue? Or was it something unimaginable. A meteorite hitting the shuttle! The following e-mail was received by Peter Davenport of NUPORC fi-om an eye witness to the shuttle break up. / spoke with you just minutes after the shuttle disaster on Saturday. You were kind enough to listen ((to me)) regarding the bright green light! saw running parallel with the shuttle prior to the shuttle i explosion. was there with my grandchildren watching for Columbia's re-entry we watched il from horizon lo horizon and / can't imagine having a better overall vantage point than the spot where we stood. I told you that I would send a detailed description of what 1 saw green light, explosion, sonic boom. .tVe now know that pieces of tile were being ripped off Columbia over the west coast, and of course that would he most people's explanation for the green light. I wi.sh I could rationalize the light away with the tile theory. I've tried. But / can't get my mind around this thing for .several reasons.