Mike Hallowell: From Across the Pond (20)

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Resurgence of Interest in UFOs?
by Michael J. Hallowell

In my last column I bemoaned the fluctuating fortunes of the UFO movement in the UK, but ended on an optimistic note by announcing the launch of a new publication devoted to the phenomenon, the UFO Matrix Magazine. http://www.healingsofatlantis.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=520

Along with ex Ministry of Defence UFO anchor Nick Pope, Malcolm Robinson, Scott Corrales, Peter Robbins and others, I'll be hosting a regular column in the magazine; mine will be specifically devoted to the re-examination of UFO cold cases, and I must confess I'm enjoying getting back into the cut-and-thrust of things.

Maybe the gods were listening when I sounded off, however, for a number of further developments have taken place since which also indicate that interest in the UFO phenomenon is undergoing something of a renaissance on this side of the Atlantic.

Case-wise, there have been several intriguing sightings, not least of which was the shooting of some extraordinary footage taken from the car park of a service station in the West Midlands (Click here to view).

The footage shows a saucer-shaped craft hurtling through the ether with two RAF fighters in hot pursuit. The sighting took place in broad daylight and has even left a number of die-hard sceptics scratching their heads. Not only is the footage remarkable because of its content, but equally so because none of the usual debunkers seem to have stepped up to the plate to express any doubts about its authenticity.

Back in April 2009, a conference was held in Pontefract at which some extraordinary footage shot in Turkey was aired. Startling though the West Midlands footage was, it paled in comparison with that taken by a lifeguard in Istanbul (Click here to view). Regardless of their authenticity or otherwise – and I have no reason to doubt that they are anything other than genuine – the Istanbul and West Midlands footage has definitely stirred up the public's interest in the UFO phenomenon.

In July I'm speaking at a meeting at RAF Holmpton, near Hull, after which Philip Mantle, Nick Pope and I will be taking part in a skywatch on site. The first bit of the gathering is to be held in a bunker 80 ft under the base itself. This, I presume, is either because, a) it's convenient, or b) the organisers know something we speakers don't and the invasion of planet earth is about to begin right in the middle of my lecture. It would be just my luck.

I've also been asked to speak at next year's Weird 2011 conference as well as at other gatherings and convocations, and I must confess its refreshing to see the public dusting off their ufological gear and taking notice of what's going on in our skies once again.

Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but my gut instinct tells me that we are about to see a resurgence of interest in UFOs once again, and I'm heartened by the fact that some of the recent footage that's been taken is extremely difficult to explain away. This, of course, makes it equally as difficult for the governments of the UK and the USA to maintain their current stance of denial that nothing of "defence significance" is taking place in our skies. The $64,000 question, however, is whether this brings us any closer to seeing an official admission by the powers that be that we really are being visited by extraterrestrial life forms from goodness-knows-where.

We've been down this road dozens of times before, of course, and inevitably end up being disappointed. I wish I had a dime for every time an "official announcement" has been hinted at, only for the result to be a deafening silence. Still, I live in hope…

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