Subj: [*STAR*] Defence Department on alien alert Date: 99-03-01 00:03:00 EST From: UfoContat@aol.com Sender: owner-starfriends@esosoft.com Reply-to: starfriends@esosoft.com To: starfriends@esosoft.com Friday, February 26, 1999 Defence Department on alien alert 2 scientists urge PM to regulate messages sent by UFO fanatics Robert Fife National Post Two Defence Department scientists are urging Jean Chretien to help avert an alien invasion prompted by unregulated message traffic sent into space by UFO fanatics. Yvan Dutil and Stephane Dumas, who work as astrophysicists at the Defence Research Establishment in Valcartier, Que., have written the prime minister to ask him to regulate communications with extraterrestrials. The two scientists, who are themselves attempting to contact extraterrestrial life, are concerned that inexperienced UFO fanatics could inadvertently invite an alien invasion. "Sooner or later, messages carelessly designed might put Earth at risk," they wrote in an e-mail sent to Mr. Chretien and Art Hanger, the Reform party Defence critic. "For example, UFO cultists could send a message through space asking extraterrestrials to come and rule Earth." Contacted yesterday at the Valcartier research establishment, Mr. Dutil said he and his colleague believe it is time the federal government got involved in regulating extraterrestrial communications. "The main proposal is if you want to send something in space, the message should have to be checked out," he said. "It is not stupid to do this since [these communications] may imply danger so you have to be careful. It is like playing with dynamite." Mr. Dutil stressed that the Defence Department is not involved in his and Mr. Dumas' plans to communicate with extraterrestrials. Peter Donolo, the prime minister's usually voluble communications director, was almost speechless when told of the request of the government scientists to regulate "amateur" message traffic. "Come on, this is insane," he blurted out and then added: "We are not aware that fraternizing with aliens from outer space is a problem." Mr. Hanger said he just cannot believe the Defence Department has allowed the two scientists to "play around with these kinds of fantasies. "I don't know if they have talked to any moon people lately but it is obvious they are living in a fantasy world," said Mr. Hanger, who wondered "if they are going to converse in both of Canada's official languages." Mr. Dutil said he and Mr. Dumas are involved in a project called Encounter 2001 where they hope to communicate with extraterrestrial civilizations using a transmitter in the Ukraine that is 100,000 times stronger than an ordinary TV. Mr. Dutil said he and his partner's interest in the project is "purely scientific" and they got involved because they wanted to limit the risks to Earth by establishing proper communications and rules in dealing with aliens. "There is a concern, for example, you have a religious group that believes in extraterrestrials as God and they want to call God to come here and who knows what might happen? If there is advanced civilization in space and they receive this kind of message they may come here and still play God," he said. Chan Tysor, president of Houston-based Celelstis Inc, a company that sends cremated remains into space, told the National Post yesterday that he is participating in the Encounter 2001 project with the two Canadian scientists.