14^th Annual International UFO Congress Convention and Film Festival

Onboard the flight, I was pleased to see Ann Andrews who was attending the Congress as an invited speaker along with her husband Paul and son, Jason who was to deliver his first-ever lecture presentation.

(Ann & Paul Andrews)

A four-hour wait at Cincinnati airport for the connecting flight to Los Vegas’s McCarran Airport awaited us and we whiled away the time taking advantage of the cheaper prices at the nearby Burger King. The connecting flight to Las Vegas took four hours and spanned several time zones but we eventually arrived at 6pm local time feeling rather tired and jet lagged, finally, a Tri-State Shuttle transported us to the Flamingo Hotel, a rather splendid pink-themed complex in Laughlin, situated on the banks of the Colorado River some 100miles south of Las Vegas.

At this time of the year, the temperature is a pleasant 20-25 degrees although there was a mini heat wave at the time pushing the temperature up to a hot 28c.

Having attended the Congress previously in 2001 as an invited speaker, I knew I was in for a treat, as this event has to be one of the highlights of the year for any self-respecting Ufologist.

This years speaker line was to be no exception with some heavyweight PhD educated lecturers including: Richard Boylan, Len Horrowitz, Tom Valone, Michael Salla but I was also anticipating UK experiencer 21 year old Jason Andrews first ever lecture presentation.

It was good to see organisers Bob and Terri Brown again both in fine health especially after Terri’s recent illness.

The vending area, which is adjacent to the main lecture hall is crammed with merchandise of all kinds.

From a simple alien key ring to the most obscure book or videotape, everything that a Ufologist might desire is catered for and available – at a price.

(Tim Crawford UFO TV)

The main lecture hall is situated on the 2^nd floor of the Flamingo and is truly grand with an estimated capacity of around 2000 two large projection screens adorn either side of the main stage area offer a stunning view of the presentations.

All of the lecture presentations were videotaped and amazingly, available to purchase on DVD just 60 minutes after each lecture ended.

The British contingent was a lot smaller than I remembered during my last trip with maybe only 20 UK delegates present but there did seem to be delegates representing all corners of the globe. On Sunday after the obligatory registration, Astronomer Thomas Van Flandern kicked off the proceedings with a cracking presentation focusing on recent NASA photographs from Mars that seem to show highly anomalous surface features, some of which look remarkably like areas of vegetation.

He also touched upon his research as editor of the Meta Research Bulletin, which specializes in reporting anomalies and evidence that does not fit in with standard theories in celestial mechanics.

Monday morning saw Donald Ware deliver a broad lecture on the rising consciousness of World leaders. As a Director of the International UFO Congress, Don was a participant in the sixth and last State on the World Forum held at the New York Hilton in conjunction with the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.

It is a sign of changing times in Ufology that Ware, as a Director of IUFOC, was invited to be among the participants when they were limited to

50. Ware also described the integral Governance initiative that followed the conference, a new effort to help resolve the 20 most serious problems of the world. Ware’s lecture tied in the UFO enigma with the growing need of an ever-expanding global population.

Next up was UK Crop Circle Researcher and Author, Freddy Silva. Freddy is one of the world’s foremost experts on Crop Circles, consciousness and sacred space and best-selling author of “Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles”. He has also directed the DVD documentary “Stairways to Heaven: The Practical magic of Sacred Space”. His lecture connected a myriad of seemingly unconnected fragments, revealing a picture that is stranger than fiction: that crop circles contain measurable energetic properties, which influence the rhythms of the human body, its brainwave patterns, even consciousness itself. His lecture was a reminder of where we come from and a signpost to where we are headed.

After a short lunch break, it was time for author, Bruce Moen to take centre stage. Bruce Moen is an Engineer turned afterlife explorer, author and teacher, living in Denver, Colorado.

He is the Author of “Voyages Into the Unknown”, “Voyage Beyond Doubt”, “Voyages into the Afterlife” and “Voyage to Curiosity’s Father”, that recounts his experiences and “The Afterlife Knowledge Guidebook” that teaches a simple system of exploration beyond physical reality.

Moen described his experiences exploring beyond physical reality within the space we call the Afterlife then exploring beyond the afterlife within a place that Pioneer and author, Robert Monroe described as the gathering. It was here that Moen first made contact and communicated with beings from other planets within our universe and areas beyond it.

Communication with these beings led to an understanding of what we humans call the Earth Changes.

This was a challenging and thought-provoking presentation that left me pondering the nature of the soul and the possible existence of an afterlife.

The final speaker for the day was Tom Valone, Ph.D., a physicist and licensed professional engineer with over 30 years experience, is also a former patent examiner, research engineer, CEO and currently an author, lecturer and consultant on future energy developments.

His lecture was titled: Researching the energy technology of UFOs. Valone stated that magnetism is the only force in nature not directly harnessed for energy usage.While some UFO stories include permanent magnet-powered craft, building the practical replication is very often elusive.

Such projects include the N-Machine (hormopolar generator) and the Searl Effect generator (SEG), as well as the Paulsen Mu Disk. The latest Brady Motor project fits the Paulsen description and may be leading to free energy from magnets.

The findings of a Brady magnetic motor reproduction and test results were also presented, along with an overview and history of promising designs.

At 7pm, the first of the film festival entrants was screened: “Aerosol Crimes” This non-profit documentary by world-renowned chemtrail researcher Clifford Carnicom investigates the aerosol phenomenon and examines related environmental and health concerns.

It contains expert and anecdotal accounts, extraordinary footage and reasoned speculation as to the possible motives. This was a must-see film for anyone who loves and is concerned about our beautiful world…and its blue skies.

After a short intermission, “The Phoenix Lights” – Long Version was screened. This groundbreaking documentary based on the bestselling book, “The Phoenix Lights…A Skeptic’s Discovery that We Are Not Alone”, stars Arizona’s own eyewitnesses, military, former Phoenix Vice Mayor, University based scientists and experts in the field. It was produced by local physician and author, Lynn D. Kitei, M.D. in collaboration with Steve Lantz Productions.

Also shown was the documentary “Cannock Chase – UFO Hotspot” produced by Graham Allen of the Staffordshire UFO Group and explores the events and sightings that took place over a 24-hour period back in August 2004, events that are still unexplained to this day.

In between the film festival screenings, I managed to attend an experiencers gathering hosted by author and therapist, Barbara Lamb. This was a time for individuals to share their own personal experiences with other like-minded individuals who understand and identify with these aspects. As the press were barred from these meetings, I will only add that I felt honoured to be in the presence of these many brave individuals who are at the very forefront of extraterrestrial contact.

(Airline Pilot Jim Courant a regular visitor to the congress)

Tuesday morning heralded the arrival on the stage of Rudy Schild, Ph.D. Dr Schild is first and foremost a research astronomer who has several important discoveries related to gravitational lensing of distant quasars by galaxies. The discoveries consist of time delay, microlensing, the nature of dark matter and the nature of quasars themselves. Despite being a heavyweight academic, Schild’s presentation was delivered in a manner that even the layman could understand.

He asked the question: “what if I stop disbelieving the UFO reports and do what all the scientists do – trust the observations and distrust the Popes and High Priests who think that they are smarter.” Dr. Schild described how the phenomena reported for UFO’s and alien abductions seem to be describing an important element in the universe that Einstein evidently overlooked.

Rudy also explored the mathematics implied by these observations and provided tantalizing glimpses into a new view of our cosmology and our universe. A truly mind-expanding lecture!

After the break, it was the turn of a joint lecture delivered by Dr.Simeon Hein and Ron Russell. This was to be a departure from the UFO theme.

Resonant Viewing (RV), or Remore Viewing, as it is more commonly known, is a systematic set of procedures that allow you to transcend your conscious mind and gain access to your intuitions, subtle senses and perceptions.

Rob and Simeon began with a short history of remote viewing and an introduction to what it is and how it works. They then gave a brief overview of the Uniview RV system: an abbreviated viewing protocol developed at the Institute for Resonance that can be taught in a short time with good results.

There then followed a practical test involving all the delegates that involved attempting to target several concealed images.

(Jim Marrs)

Veteran speaker Jim Marrs followed and gave a presentation centred on his latest book: “Inside Job: Unmasking the 9/11 Conspiracies”. His journalistic findings, backed by massive research data from independent investigations by hundreds of researchers, have prompted honest thinkers from across the political spectrum to conclude that the tragic 9/11 attacks were an inside job.

Marrs provided a compelling case of the Bush administration’s hidden role in failing to prevent the attacks and that powerful State officials must have had foreknowledge of the planned attacks.

Sean David Morton is another seasoned speaker, film-maker and director of The Prophecy research Institute and publisher of the internationally distributed Delphi Associates Newsletter.

His lecture presented excerpts from Future Prospects of The World According to the Bible Code by Joseph Noah. The Bible Code brings a final warning to mankind. We have caused the current sickness of the Earth and it must repair itself to accommodate the coming “Golden Age”. Morton stated that the coming Earth changes can be either gradual or abrupt and catastrophic in nature.

If we don’t change the way we deal with each other, it will probably be the latter. The Bible Code tells us exactly what we must do to survive. This was a chilling warning indeed.

Wednesday evening, I attending the “Meet the Speakers Party” held in the main conference room. This was an informal gathering of attendees and lecturers and was thoroughly enjoyable, probably helped by the free alcohol. Suffice it to say that the following morning, many people were nursing rather sore heads!

Despite the effects of the previous night’s excesses, I was eager to attend the first-ever joint presentation of Ann and Jason Andrews from the UK.

Ann’s first book “Abducted” was a best seller around the world and is, in my opinion, one of the best first-hand accounts of alien abduction ever written. Ann delivered the first half of the lecture covering events from the first book and also touching on more recent events that are chronicled in her new book: “Jason”.

Then Jason took to the stage and after a nervous opening, gave an incredibly inspired first hand account of his on going experiences and contact with ETs.

The presentation ended with both Ann and Jason getting a standing ovation from many of the delegates. For me, this was one of the highlights of the week.

Following the break, it was the turn of UK abductee Steven Jones to give a brief account of his very detailed multiple abductions and how his views have changed over the course of months. Not having heard him speak before, I found it a fascinating account coming from a person with no obvious motive not to tell the truth. His interaction with the so-called Transgenic Children, helping and allowing him to come to terms with his experiences and transform his outlook.

Later in the evening, I watched the screening of “Cereal Wormholes” a documentary on the crop circle enigma produced by Finnish Researcher and computer animator, Martin Keitel. The film brings together some of the best-known experts in the field discussing some of the most classic formations to have appeared in the fields of Wiltshire including the (in)famous Chilbolton Face formation. The documentary also contains some of the best computer generated animations I have ever seen from an independent film. Highly recommended.

(Miles Johnson)

On Friday morning, it was time for Brazillian researcher A.J. Gevaerd and Dr. Roger Leir to present their findings from their ongoing research into the famous Varginha incident of January 20^th 1996. AJ presented some new developments including an interview with a physician who actually treated one of the captured alien beings. Leir talked about 23 year old Marcolli Chereze, a military policeman who captured the second creature, physically placing it in his motor vehicle.

Immediately after, Chereze’s health began to deteriorate and he subsequently died two years later. A rare fatality connected to alien-human contact.

That evening, the highlight of the film festival was the screening of the movie: “What the Bleep Do We Know?” starring Marlee Matlin. The movie is part documentary, drama and animation with elaborate visual effects. The protagonist, Amanda, played by Matlin, finds herself in an Alice in Wonderland experience when her daily, uninspired life literally begins to unravel, revealing the uncertain world of the quantum field hidden behind what people consider to be normal, waking reality.

This independent film hit the $10 million mark in box office receipts at midnight on New Year’s Eve (in 2004, only “Fahrenheit 911” and “Supersize Me” had larger grosses). The film is a fantastic rollercoaster of mind-boggling images and concepts that captivates and enthrals the audience. This is a must see movie.

The final day of the congress seemed to arrive way too soon for me but featured, arguably, the strongest speaker line-up. First on at 8.30am was Mexico’s very own Jaime Maussan.

In the write up literature, it stated that this was going to be the best presentation of his career so there was going to be a lot of hype to live up to. Maussan kicked off with footage from the recent Mexican Air Force Narcotics team filmed on March 5^th 2004 depicting several UFOs flying in formation.

This footage created quite a stir when it was released and I remember viewing an, albeit brief news report on Channel 4’s seven o’clock news programme some time ago.

Next up were two segments of video footage shot again in Mexico by two separate video cameras. One was filming in normal mode and the other in the infrared spectrum. The startling point being that the UFO is only visible on the infrared camera indicating that the craft has apparent stealth capabilities. Most extraordinary!

The next few clips shown had the audience in stunned silence. The first video was shot as recently as January 2005 and showed what has to be the most spheres ever in a video – there appeared to be several hundred in a small segment of the sky. Other videos depicted fleets of spheres flying in definite formation and at high speed. These videotapes generated spontaneous applause from the stunned audience.

By the end of his presentation, Maussan, quite deservedly, got a standing ovation from the audience. This was one lecture that definitely lived up to the hype!

Next up was Ph.D. behavioural scientist, associate professor and clinical hypnotherapist Dr. Richard Boylan. Since 1989 Boylan has conducted research into human encounters with the Star Visitors.

This has led to his current focus, creation of the Star Kids Project and working with these hybrid children with advanced abilities and their families.

The main focus of Boylan’s talk centred around his association Colonel Steve Wilson and his work with Project Pounce at S-4, Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada, how he got there and what he learned and did as head of Project Pounce.

The make up of Project Pounce was unique and his responsibilities and descriptions of the levels at S-4 corroborate with that a sentry from Level Two told another Air Force Colonel, 15 years ago, about Level Two and it’s contents.

Boylan also described the secret academy where disc pilots and support personnel are recruited and trained and how they spend their careers afterwards to maintain the secrets.

This was a presentation filled with insights into the workings of the very secret Nellis Air Force Base.

The final speaker of the day was Dr. Nick Begich, eldest son of the late U.S. Congressman from Alaska, Nick Begich Sr.

He co-authored with Jean Manning, the book “Angels Don’t Play This HAARP: Advances in Tesla Technology”, as well as his latest book “Earth Rising 2 – The Betrayal of Science, Society and the Soul”. He is well known in Alaska for his own political activities. He was twice elected President of both the Alaska federation of Teachers and the Anchorage Council of Education.

Manipulation of the mind, emotions and physical health of people through new applied technologies continues to draw the attention of military planners around the world.

Dr. Begich presented startling advances in this area of technology for both military and private sector uses including demonstrations, background and forecasts of development of these areas of science as they affect our society and individual freedom. Dr.Begich’s presentation clearly demonstrated that the US Military continue to use covert and potentially harmful technologies to control and influence individuals with its ongoing HAARP research project in Alaska.

This had been a fascinating final day with a host of new and startling revelations, not all, admittedly directly related to the UFO subject but nonetheless of equal importance.

The final event of the evening was the EBE film awards banquet, which was a time to say farewells to old and new friends alike. Among the diners at my own table was BBC documentary make Louis Theroux, who had attended the congress to gather information for a forthcoming book he was writing on the UFO subculture. I was also honoured to engage Dr. Boylan in conversation regarding his work with the new breed of humanity, the Star Kids, now emerging on this planet in ever increasing numbers.

So there we have it – the 14^th annual International UFO Congress is an event that is unique and, as such, anyone that has even a remote interest in Ufology should try and attend at least once in their lives. I hope to see you there in 2006!

© Christopher Martin 2005