THE BINATIONAL UFO PROJECT SOUTHERN CROSS IS BORN (FIELD AND THEORETICAL RESEARCH AND FIRST FIXED UFO CAPTURE STATION IN LATIN AMERICA)
By Carlos Ferguson
«We need to begin a kind of information search that takes into account the data of the UFO Phenomenon as if they were empirical observations, and that tries to start an investigation with the phenomenon itself, and we must do it now, before the new myth of extraterrestrial revelation replaces the belief in the rational acquisition of knowledge» (Dr. Jacques Vallée).
Dedicated to the Uruguayan colleagues Carlos Perez Lavagnini and Carlos Cantonett, who worked together for a joint work that we can now express.
PROLOGUE
For three years, together with some colleagues from Argentina and Uruguay, we have been preparing the details of today’s UFO Project Southern Cross.
With great joy, we can announce today to the public and the press, the culmination of the Research project and the establishment of the First Fixed Post for capturing the phenomenon in all of Latin America.
An initiative that goes from South America to the World, unlike what we are historically accustomed to.
Here are the details of it and its objectives.
OBJECTIVES
Among the main objectives of the UFO Project Southern Cross, we have:
A – Develop and promote field and theoretical studies and research from South America, in relation to reports of UFO phenomena (not only aerospace), generating a joint statistical work of the binational Casuistry, in constants and variables of those highly significant events and still without resolution.
B – Additionally, the establishment of Fixed Stations for possible capture of the phenomenon (later the initial one already in operation is detailed)
The current times, where from the Pentagon, NASA and other organizations, have awakened attention to these manifestations, also requires a study that transcends the national geography, for which, the experience that the members of Uruguay have had at an official level will be added, such as the great documentary archive and statistical activity of Argentine casuistry, which from South America (in the first instance), we can generate.
The theoretical references that are based for the project, start from the following works:
A – 6-layer model created by Dr. Jacques Vallée and Eric Davis
B – Psychodimensional Hypothesis by Lic. Angel Díaz (Río Ceballos – Argentina)
C – Approaches made by the two most important commissions in the world: Cridovni (Uruguay) and Geipan (France). With the first, in close contact because it is the oldest in America and the most important in the world along with the French one.
D – “Cometa” (France) and “Sturrock” (USA) reports
E – The excellent work of the HESSDALEN Project (Norway) over the years
This entire project is a private initiative and does not have support or funding from any state agency.

THE WHY
I will make a personal mention of how we got to this point.
Previously in 2012, we met with Mr. Manuel Vetrone, with whom we became friends after he offered us the possibility of a talk in Rancul (La Pampa).
Already in 2022, when he offered me the possibility of traveling to Montevideo, we were able to arrange a meeting already scheduled in advance with the members of the CRIDOVNI (UFO Reports Investigation Receiving Commission). They had already visited us at the conferences we organized in Mar del Plata (1993 – 1995 – 1997 – 1999 – 2001 and 2003).
Now we wanted to take a further step in establishing a binational study.
We held meetings with our great Uruguayan friends and managed to agree on a future agenda for joint work.
We were already seeing a discouraging panorama due to the direction that ufological news was taking on the networks, and it was necessary to be able to advance in an investigative project directed in another direction.
Thus, time passed and presented us with the following situations.
At the international level:
A – The Pentagon and NASA focused on opening the game with the subject, with positive and negative effects, but a step in the end, especially with NASA’s scientific study.
These organizations gave rise to the establishment of the AARO (All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office), who – like other organizations such as Uruguay’s own CRIDOVNI or France’s GEIPAN – have a percentage of Unidentified cases in their files (already on April 12, 2021, the Pentagon confirmed the authenticity of some images and videos).


At the local level:
A – The growing boom in Ufological dissemination has increased since the Pentagon. This has led to the appearance (or reappearance) of many who approach dissemination from a sensationalist point of view. From the official side, without any kind of concrete analysis and research of the phenomenon, unless it is biased and inconsequential.
B – In the Argentine case, a totally biased official approach since 2017, without following the turn that has taken place at a global level. With some colleagues we tried to revive the Argentine Ufology Network, but it was cut short. (QUOTE 1)
All this made us confirm the need for a change, added to what we always preach: joint work (even from some wills), can do more than any personal initiative.
For this reason, at the Montevideo meeting visiting the CRIDOVNI archives, the proposal of Colonel Ariel Sánchez Ríos also arose to conduct a joint study of his most notable cases with those of Argentina.

Personally, I was involved in the processing of information from 2,000 cases of landings and some of the conclusions. This statistical and qualified catalogue is the largest to date at a national level, and its compilation, preparation and constant inclusion are the result of more than 30 years of work without pause.
This processing began with the climatic aspects, the electromagnetic effects (in relation to position and distance), the time law, the physiological effects (burns, paralysis, sound, ocular vision, etc. There is much to work on in all this information. (QUOTE 2)
In addition, of those 2,000 Argentine cases, 78 have the ones with the highest score and quality.
On the Uruguayan side, there are 40 UFO episodes of quality and still Unidentified, enough to make a joint study.
It is important to be able to compare this data with that obtained in the vast experience of the CRIDOVNI of Uruguay.
Therefore, the project – still without a name at that time – had already been part of the agenda and dialogue between the parties for 3 years.
This is the first Binational initiative between Uruguay and Argentina, dedicated to the study and analysis of the UFO phenomenon, from an objective and methodological approach.
One area of work will focus on the most qualified unidentified phenomena events in both countries, to work on them jointly, with statistics and field studies with witnesses.
That is the main axis, since the complaints continue to occur (alternatively, as the phenomenon has shown throughout history), and research has decreased, due to the rise of disseminators without theoretical and practical study.
It is time to follow the times of the approaches and treatments that are being given to the subject in other countries.
Considering this, and basically; we will outline here the basic details of the project.

UFO PROJECT SOUTHERN CROSS
As I said at the beginning, the axis of the project covers two areas:
1 – FIELD AND THEORETICAL RESEARCH
Of events related to the UFO phenomenon, covering the field and theoretical areas.
The study and analysis of individual and precise UFO events, which the founding members deem appropriate, can be undertaken. This will be integrated into verifying general variables that the phenomenon seems to manifest.
In other words: the reports are always pieces of a larger puzzle and theoretical work is crucial, in addition to that which occurs on the ground.
The idea is to cover objectives that can be carried out in the short and medium term, as far as possible.
The idea is to hierarchize the Ufology discipline, and to recognize through a selective and precise study, diverse areas of the theory of the phenomenon.
The capacity and operational goal will be concentrated on determining elements of minimum certainty.
These are decided and carried out by the founding members and include treatment with some essential rules:
A – Cases reported in the press or not may be addressed.
B – The times and steps in the study that the case analyzed requires, contrast with the rapid avalanche of scoops from some. Throughout the investigative process, the case is open and there is no rush to report before concluding.
C – In cases that have not been reported in the press, confidentiality is essential and witnesses will always be preserved (a premise of Dr. Jacques Vallée that we prioritize).
D – Consultants in different technical and scientific or professional branches will be advised (see below).
E – The priority will not be the study of photographic or video images in general of the subject, but those that can be generated within the scope of the project itself with the instruments of the fixed stations.

2 – FIXED STATIONS
Even without analyzing external images, the Southern Cross UFO project will seek to capture the phenomenon.
This attempt is not new. Already in the late 70s, Gepan had a project of mobile stations.
Fixed stations carried out in other latitudes have been successful in some captures. Let us remember the “Starlight Project” (USA), and the one that continues to operate in Norway with notable results, called “Hessdalen Project” (born in 1983) (QUOTE 3)
We know from specific statistical studies that there are no areas “chosen” eternally by the phenomenon, but temporary incursions.
The latter have often generated confusion among some media or commercial interests in each place, believing they see a “favorite area” for UFOs.
So the possible capture of the phenomenon can be described as fortuitous.
There is another key factor to take into account for any possible capture: what was already discovered by Dr. J. Vallée several years ago: the phenomenon seems to have preponderance in less populated places.

From this point of view – and still hoping to have the desired fortune – we can announce today the establishment of the first fixed station.
The project includes the establishment of other fixed stations, and in this case it is the first in Latin America (that we have information on).
It is located at a strategic point in the province of La Pampa, on the outskirts of Rancul (a few kilometers away).
The initiative is entirely private and is linked to the project, with Manuel Vetrone as the manager.
The name chosen is particularly suited to the city: “RANCUL” (Registry of Non-Conventional Anomalies in Localized Location)
The technical details will be provided in due course. But basically it has to date:
A high-resolution planetary camera (8.30 megapixels), excellent in its sensitivity, and very low noise.
Geiger counter.
A gravitational, magnetic and electromagnetic field sensor.
32 ground cameras distributed for the possible capture of the phenomenon at low altitude or on the ground.
Among others.
Rancul offers unbeatable conditions for this first fixed station. We are talking about an area without light pollution (a strategic point 7 kilometers from the city). The nearest airfield is 43 kilometers away (Realicó).
This is the pioneer station, but others will come.

FOUNDING MEMBERS AND TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANTS
The UFO Project Southern Cross has Consulting members in different technical, scientific, etc. professional activities.
They do not necessarily have experience or specific interest in Ufology, but their contribution is key when required or proposed, since they may have competence in areas where Ufology is involved, directly or indirectly.
We have already covered several technical areas and activities:
Meteorologist – Geologist – Philosopher – Psychiatrist – Aviation – Vegetation and soil analyst – Communication – IT – Journalism – Photography – Electromechanical Technician, etc.
More will be added (some anonymous, as part of an «Invisible College»).
In all cases, the initiative is private and ad honorem, it is not funded by any state agency. The organizational chart first has its founding members, namely:

Colonel (F.A.U) (R) Ariel Sánchez Ríos – Captain (F.A.U) (R) Marcos Temesio

Carlos Ferguson – Lic. Manuel Vetrone – Alberto Brunetti
In addition to this, there are consulting members in different scientific and technical areas. Among them we have the honor of having the person who accompanied us in our consultancy to the Argentine Air Force from 2011 to 2017, Lic. Angel Díaz, a pioneer with extensive experience in the UFO subject.

Among some of the names that are part of this Consulting Panel we have:
Manuel Vetrone (Lic. in Communication)
Esteban Ierardo (Lic. in Philosophy, Teacher and Writer)
Angel Díaz (Lic. in Geology)
César Reyes (Studies in Law and Journalist in scientific topics)
Abel Santoro (Technician in Electronics and Electromechanics, who worked 46 years at the Argentine Institute of Radio Astronomy)
Héctor Sawiak (Professor of Religious Sciences and Philosophy – Bachelor of Education – Master in Educational Innovation – Student in Organizational Anthropology – Civil Pilot)
Pablo Omastott (Journalist and Announcer)
Adriana Ferreyra (Documentary and Archive Researcher, who owns the legacy of the pioneer Fabio Zerpa)
Marcela Comerio (Computing)
Juan Richieri (Photography and design)
Adrián Misantone (Professor of Biology and Natural Sciences, with a focus on Paleontology – Collaborator of the “Laboratory of Comparative Anatomy and Evolution of Vertebrates” directed by the prestigious paleontologist Fernando Novas)
We will go informing more to join (QUOTE 1)
The consultants are proposed by the founders and are incorporated according to the selection that can be made of them and their professions.

They are part of what we call taking advantage of the acronym of the previous Argentine Network of Ufology (RAO), but with the new significance of the name «Network of Advisors for Ufology» (Rao).

All the recommendations indicate that more than the number of people, it is their quality and desire to expand their studies, which can achieve more success.
For this reason, the Founding Council is the one that according to the conveniences and needs, can increase or suggest other collaborators.

The works seek to cover objectives that can be carried out in the short and medium term, as far as possible.
The idea is to hierarchize the Ufology discipline, and recognize through a selective and precise study, diverse areas of the theory of the phenomenon.

The main operational goal of the Southern Cross UFO Project is to focus attention on the study and analysis of the phenomenon (in the field and theoretically), for which its capacity and time will be concentrated on the search for elements of minimum certainty, and not on disputes or participations unrelated to the investigation itself.

SYMBOLISM OF THE LOGO
The Southern Cross constellation is the most famous in the Southern Hemisphere and has also served as a compass.
It is such an important constellation that several countries have it on their flags and it is present in many mythologies.
According to the Tehuelche, the Southern Cross represents the footsteps of a rhea in its flight to the south, and whenever it was wanted to be caught, it escaped the slightest presence of humans. This last gave us reason to include it given the elusive nature of the phenomenon until now.

In the logo we can also see the binationality, framed in the flags of both countries (Argentina and Uruguay) on both sides of the circle.
The South American continent in cosmic space, the passage of an unknown body orbiting it, and the “Southern Cross” constellation stand out in the whole.
The symbolism of South America also with the pioneering research achievements (Uruguay at an official level) and of Argentina in private research.
The text in Spanish (top) and English (bottom), prioritizing the above, and the contribution that we can make from the south of the continent to the world.
The logo was inspired by the one generated within the Official Commission of the Air Force (period 2011 to 2017), in which we were active participants in its creation, with the suggestions of the same.

DISSEMINATION
The priority of the project (already established), is not the immediate dissemination of any event.
We consider that the investigations and studies that are derived from them, do not correspond to the need to go out and give quick explanations or make media releases.
Therefore, only in some cases and at the opportune moment, a determined episode, both positive and negative, can be disseminated by the founders, and through the corresponding media.

CONCLUSION
J.Vallée’s words are key and alert us to the situation that Ufology is becoming. «We must do it now, before the new myth of extraterrestrial revelation replaces the belief in the rational acquisition of knowledge.» To do so, it is essential to put all our efforts into the avalanche of false information that is part of the direct or indirect cover-up scenario.
In the case of the Uruguayan colleagues, they have the invaluable training and systematic work that they have carried out in the official entity CRIDOVNI for 45 years.
This great experience is added to the private participation for the benefit of a specific project.
The rest of us can contribute our experience and great documentary archive, with statistical contributions. We will combine everything possible to obtain results.
The documentary analysis of the Cruz del Sur UFO Project has no time limits or media urgency, therefore; The works (theoretical and investigative) will be disseminated opportunely according to the progress of each of the lines of work.
Each of the participating members has our own individual activities and tasks, but now – additionally – we have a space where we can exchange documentation, material and even ideas, even with scientific or technical consultants who had no contact with Ufology.

With this achievement called the Cruz del Sur UFO Project, a channel has been opened that we have wanted to create for a long time and that today we can shape with the right people.
Regional Ufology has another space that we believe is more in tune with current times, this being an initiative that starts from South America towards the rest of the world, unlike what we are historically accustomed to.
We are very happy to take another step forward and to add these valuable wills.
Thank you to all who have joined and made this initiative possible.
Carlos Ferguson

The author Carlos Ferguson works in the Educational area in the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina). He is also a professor of artistic drawing and has been dedicated to researching the UFO topic for 48 years, when being a disbeliever, he had a close encounter no more than 35 meters away with a disc-shaped UFO. He was the first civilian advisor in Ufology for the Argentine Air Force (2011 to 2017). He has courses in Satellite Technology, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems. Author of 7 books and the largest collection of landing cases in Argentina, with classified events. He has also conducted studies on cases of pilots and UFOs in Argentina, as well as underwater objects and, more recently, on the physiological and electromagnetic effects on witnesses. Hundreds of talks and notes over almost 5 decades show him with a line of work adjusted to the parameters of statistics. He is dedicated to daily statistical work, but totally outside the environment of ufological participants, maintaining some selective contacts.
Partial or total reproduction is prohibited without the express authorization of the author.
Quote
QUOTE 1 = The failure to revive the Argentine Ufology Network was a lesson we learned and from which we drew the appropriate conclusions. It was clear that it was a mistake to involve people outside the investigation, within a field that does not prioritize fast news or sensationalism.
QUOTE 2 = The studies of landings in Argentina demanded more than 30 years of compilation and qualification. It is an open process that continues to grow in data and cases. From it, important conclusions can already be obtained, and more needs to be processed. From what has already been obtained, we were able to extract 10 primary studies that are published on this website, namely:
1 – From the hundreds of cases to those that there are no cases. The false pendulum of some private and official disseminators in Argentina
2 – The climatic aspect in the Argentine UFO case study
3 – The electromagnetic effects of UFOs on vehicles in Argentina, in relation to position and distance
4 – The time law in function of the Use of time, hours of sleep and flights.
5 – Sound and non-sound effects of UFOs in Argentina, in relation to distance
6 – The effects on the vision of UFO witnesses in Argentina in relation to distance
7 – The paralysis of UFO witnesses in Argentina in relation to distance
8 – The cutaneous effects of UFO witnesses in Argentina in relation to distance
9 – The statistical study of weeknights in UFO appearances
10 – The Distance – Strangeness relationship confirmed in the Argentine UFO case study

Quote 3 – web Project Hessdalen