Did Aliens Land in Brazil in 1996? The Story of Moment of Contact
The Tale of the Most Compelling Encounter of the Third Kind in Human History by James Fox
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Moment of Contact – The Tale of the Most Compelling Encounter of the Third Kind in Human History by James Fox – 9.5/10
Moment of Contact is an exploration of an extraterrestrial encounter and series of events in 1996 when citizens of Varginha, Brazil, reported seeing one or more strange creatures and a UFO crash. A number of locals, including a group of three girls had a close encounter with a being described as about 4 feet tall, with brown oily skin, a large head and huge red eyes.
The documentary by James Fox is profoundly captivating as it delves into one of the most intriguing and controversial UFO incidents in history; Fox describes the doc as his magnum opus and the result of over a dozen trips to Brazil and multiple decades of investigation. The film meticulously examines the sequence of events where several citizens reported sightings of strange creatures and a UFO crash, bringing together eyewitness accounts, expert analyses, and compelling evidence to build a comprehensive narrative. This essay summarizes and analyzes Moment of Contact, highlighting the most convincing reasons why aliens may have landed in the small city of Brazil a few hours South of San Paulo in January of 1996. Here are the most compelling facts and scenes from the documentary that make it a must-watch:
Marco Chereze's Mysterious Death: One of the most striking elements of the documentary is the story of Marco Chereze, a Brazilian military officer. Eyewitnesses testify that Chereze made contact with one of the creatures and then became infected with some type of skin disease. Thereafter, his condition worsened and he is recorded as dying a few days later from an unknown infection with enigmatic neurotoxins in his system. This is a top piece of evidence because it is hard to explain his mysterious death coupled with the fact the eye witnesses say he made contact with the creature. This unexplained death raises significant questions about what he encountered and underscores the dangers involved.
Eyewitness Testimonies of the Three Girls: The documentary features in-depth testimonies from three girls who witnessed the creature from a distance of about 10 feet. They describe the being as approximately 4 feet tall with brown oily skin, a large head, and huge red eyes. The title of the doc comes from the moment Katia locked eyes with the creature and allegedly engaged in some form of telepathic communication in which the alien relayed that it was feeble and needed help. There is also a photograph of what is said to be the creature’s footprint, with three toes, in the muddied ground at the site of this encounter. Interestingly, weeks later, men in black showed up and offered a brief case of hundreds of thousands to the mother to get the daughters to retract their statements and say they were lying and that they could relocate. Despite this offer by government officials to remain silent, the mother of girls refused, believing that the world deserved to hear this incredible story. The three girls lacked a financial motive from this event and they all offer the same first hand testimony – that they saw an alien creature in broad daylight 10 feet away before running away.
The Overwhelming Smell: Dozens of witnesses reported a pervasive, egregious smell that lingered in the city for months. The hospital where the creature was supposedly taken was evacuated for an extended period due to this unbearable odor. The lack of any alternative explanation for the evacuation and the smell adds another layer of mystery to the incident. The sheer number of witnesses who testify to this otherworldly odor may be the single piece of evidence that solidifies the notion that something otherworldly transpired. “Everyone talks about the stench. Thousands times more powerful than a skunk that fills your nasal cavities and doesn’t leave”. Fox says it was this unanimous testimony regarding this pungent stench that solidified to him that this event was no hoax.
Military Presence and Blockade: Local residents spoke of a significant military blockade in Varginha during the week of January 20, 1996. Witnesses noted that such a military presence was unprecedented and had never occurred before or since. The mayor of Varginha, and other locals, are on record confirming the military's presence, lending further credibility to the incident. There’s no other explanation as to why the national military had such an ubiquitous presence in the small city of Varginha during that fateful week.
Eric Lopes' Confrontation: James Fox's team tracked down Eric Lopes, a high-ranking Brazilian military officer involved in the case who was supposedly alongside Chereze when he touched the creature. When the film crew arrived at his remote home, Lopes, unprovoked, warned them off his property at gunpoint, stating, "if you’re here to talk about 1996 get off my property." This reaction suggests a deep desire to keep certain details hidden, and offer the unambiguous perspective that something profound happened in 1996 that he is not allowed to talk about. Additionally, Fox met with Jose Carlos Perrera of the Brazilian air force who offered to talk about other UFO cases in Brazil like the Colares case in the 70s but said he would terminate the interview if he asks about Varginha. It’s worth noting that Fox claims after the interview he pleaded with him to talk and he said nothing until he gets in the car and looks James in the eyes and says “it happened” before driving away. Whether or not we can believe this detail, it’s clear that certain military officials with knowledge of the case had been approached and briefed by government officials and warned to keep quiet about the case, or else…
U.S. Air Force Involvement: The documentary suggests that the United States Air Force intervened, taking the creature without authorization from the Brazilian military. This alleged action, followed by a complete silence on the case, hints at a potential cover-up and international intrigue.
Varginha's UFO Statue: The city of Varginha has erected a large UFO statue in its center, symbolizing the event that many locals believe occurred just outside their city. This statue stands as a public acknowledgment of the incident and the impact it has had on the community.
Community Testimonies and the Mayor's Concession: Fox begins his investigation by walking the streets of Varginha with a poster asking about the 1996 incident. The overwhelming response from locals, who sincerely believe a UFO and alien creature landed in their town, is astounding. The sheer number of witnesses makes it difficult to dismiss the event as mere conspiracy. Additionally, the mayor of Varginha openly supports the investigation as he believes this event occurred, asking how he can assist in uncovering the truth.
Suppression of Hospital Workers: Over 50 hospital workers were reportedly threatened with arrest for treason on the basis of national security if they spoke about the incident. The doctor who conducted the X-ray was told that "this never happened," further indicating a coordinated effort to suppress information.
Emotional Impact on Witnesses: One of the most powerful moments in the documentary is when a witness is brought to tears upon returning to the crash site. His emotional reaction highlights the profound and lasting impact the incident had on those who experienced it; such a visceral response is hard to fake and seems genuine by all accounts.
The Varginha UFO incident has garnered significant attention from both mainstream media outlets and UFO enthusiasts alike as the case's presence in renowned publications such as The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal underscores its credibility and the widespread interest it has generated. The wealth of eyewitness accounts and expert analyses compiled in the film creates a persuasive narrative that challenges even the most skeptical viewers – the string of anomalies surrounding the incident, such as Marco Chereze's mysterious death after allegedly touching the creature, the evacuation of the hospital due to an overwhelming smell, and the unprecedented military presence in the small city, all lack satisfactory alternative explanations. These peculiar events, coupled with the unwavering conviction of the witnesses and the ongoing impact on the Varginha community, make it increasingly difficult to dismiss the possibility of an extraterrestrial encounter. As Fox's documentary highlights, the idea of aliens interacting with Earth, while extraordinary, may be more plausible than the complete absence of extraterrestrial life. The Varginha case, with its extensive documentation and compelling evidence, serves as a powerful contributor to the broader discourse on UFOs and the potential for alien contact.
While the possibility of an elaborate misinformation scheme cannot be entirely ruled out, the confluence of factors presented in "Moment of Contact'' makes a strong case for the reality of the Varginha incident, ultimately leaving viewers to ponder the profound implications of this remarkable event.As an initial skeptic, the combination of the extensive publications and first-hand testimonies with the fact that the only thing crazier than aliens interacting with earth is no aliens existing at all, has made me a believer. Moment of Contact is a must-watch documentary for anyone interested in UFOs and extraterrestrials encounters as it is the best documented encounter of the third kind (one in which contact with an actual being is said to have transpired); for those of you still unconvinced, 108 mins of James Fox’ decades-long investigation awaits you.
Author’s Note: My interest in the possibility of alien existence began a few years ago when one of my professors at Johns Hopkins, that I grew particularly close with, told me that she believes in aliens because her older brother had worked in the US Air Force for decades, and that the common belief among Air Force officials is that UFOs with technology ‘not from this world’ have been observed time and time again.
Varginha UFO Crash: Alien Contact, Government Denial and Coverup
The North American Air Defense Command, known as NORAD, was established in 1958. It was to provide early warning and defense against Soviet bombers and missile launches. But it wasn't long before NORAD would be monitoring skies around the entire planet. Early in the morning, on January 13th, 1996, NORAD contacted Brazilian Air Defense to report an object entering the Earth's atmosphere about 200 miles Northeast of Sao Paulo. When asked what type of object, NORAD said it was "unidentified". A few minutes later, it crashed somewhere near the town of Varginha. The Brazilian Army and Air Force quickly scrambled to get to the crash site before any civilians did. But they were too late. The craft was seen -- and the beings driving the craft: we're gone. Over the next few days, a series of events would unfold that would change the lives of the people in Varginha forever. Well, at least the lives of the people who survived. – Sources
If you’re interested in reading the most compelling facts that support the case in detail, see my essays on Moment of Contact and JRE 1976; this essay will summarize those viewpoints but mainly focus on analyzing the counter case – that it may actually have been an elaborate hoax.
The video begins by setting the stage with NORAD's detection of an unidentified object entering Earth's atmosphere and subsequently crashing near Varginha. This initial report from a reputable military organization lends credibility to the extraordinary events that followed. As the Brazilian military rushed to secure the crash site, the video highlights the fact that they were too late to prevent civilian witnesses from observing the craft and its occupants. This detail is crucial, as it suggests that the incident was not merely a military matter but one that directly involved the local population. The eyewitness accounts of the alien beings – an encounter of the third kind – is what makes this case so unique + extraordinary as it raises questions about the nature of the crash and its implications for human-extraterrestrial contact.
The video then delves into the series of events that occurred in the days following the crash, focusing on the experiences of specific individuals who played key roles in the incident. The story of the three young women who encountered the alien beings, the mysterious deaths of Marco Chereze and the fireman due to unknown toxic substances, and the hospital lockdown all contribute to a sense of escalating tension and mystery surrounding the Varginha incident. These accounts, coupled with the reports of an atrociously lingering smell and the strict non-disclosure agreements imposed upon hospital staff, paint a picture of a concerted effort by authorities to control the flow of information and maintain secrecy around the event.
The involvement of the United States Air Force, as mentioned in the video, further complicates the narrative and suggests a broader international dimension to the incident. The alleged attempts by "Men in Black" to silence witnesses, such as Donna Luisa, the mother of the three girls, and the threatening behavior of Eric Lopes, raise troubling questions about the extent of the cover-up and the lengths to which authorities were willing to go to suppress information about the Varginha incident. Perhaps one of the most poignant moments in the video is when Marco de Souza, a key witness, breaks down in tears while recounting his experiences. This raw emotional display underscores the profound impact that the Varginha incident had on the lives of those directly involved and adds a human dimension to an otherwise extraordinary tale.
The Counter Case – Is the Varginha Case an Elaborate Hoax?
The counter case presented in the Why Files video (17-22 mins) raises important questions about the credibility of the Varginha UFO incident. While the initial narrative of the event is compelling, the skeptical perspective highlights several inconsistencies and alternative explanations that challenge the alien encounter theory.
One of the primary issues with the Varginha case is the lack of physical evidence. The entire story hinges on eyewitness testimonies, which, as the video points out, have been inconsistent and contradictory at times. The fact that some witnesses have been compensated for their interviews (WSJ reported the girls wouldn't give an interview for less than $200) casts doubt on their motivations and the reliability of their accounts.
The case of the three girls who reportedly saw the alien creature is particularly problematic. The video reveals that in their original report, the girls described the creature as a demon, not an alien. This discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of their testimony and suggests that their perception of the event may have been influenced by the popular fascination with the chupacabra in Brazil at the time. Furthermore, the possibility that the girls might have mistaken Luis Antonio de Paula, a local mentally and physically disabled man who lived exactly where they saw the creature known for crouching and looking at objects, for an alien cannot be dismissed outright; The Why Files posits that the huge storm and flood (that is said to have taken down the UFO) could have caused De Paula to be covered in mud and resemble a demonic figure while crouched outside his home (the weather conditions also make it unlikely anyone saw the three toed alien footprint in the mud like the mother claimed). Additionally, the girls claimed they wouldn't mistake him for an alien because they knew him, but in the original report they said they actually didn't know him…one of their versions of the story is wrong.
Inconsistencies in witness accounts extend beyond the three girls. The mother's conflicting statements about the alleged visit from the "Men in Black," initially implying a promise of future payment and later claiming the presence of a briefcase full of cash, undermine the credibility of her testimony. Moreover, the timeline of events presented by some witnesses, such as the couple who reported seeing the UFO over their farm a week earlier, does not align with the official narrative – TWF begs the question, how could you get the date wrong if you saw the most important thing you’ve ever seen? The counter case also offers alternative explanations for other key elements; For instance, Marco Chereze's death may have been the result of a pre-existing cyst on his arm becoming infected, rather than exposure to an unknown toxic substance. Additionally, the 1000-page Brazilian military report, which allegedly states that Marco was not even working on the night of the incident and that the military vehicles in the area for a training exercise further undermines the alien encounter theory.
Similarly, the hospital wing closure, which has been attributed to the presence of alien beings, could have a more mundane explanation; the video proposes that the hospital was closed to create a sterile environment for new cardiology equipment delivered by the military in stainless steel boxes. Also, the Brazilian government claims the alien sightings in the hospital were actually a misidentification of a dwarf couple who was pregnant.
The Counter to the Counter – That’s The Whole Point of a Coverup
However, it is important to acknowledge that the counter case is far from conclusive, and that many of these counter points are likely the result of the Brazilian government and military altering records after the fact to cover up the incident. It is crucial to understand that in the event of a real UFO crash and subsequent cover-up, the military and government would likely go to great lengths to provide alternative explanations and discredit witnesses to maintain secrecy – which is exactly what we are seeing. The fact that Chereze died with 8% of unknown toxic substances in his body remains a compelling detail that suggests an extraordinary cause behind his death, not just a mere cyst.
Furthermore, of course they are going to claim Chereze was not working the night of the incident and that the military was in town for a training exercise – they had to come up with something – but the idea that there was a large national military presence in Varginha for a training exercise for the first time ever, coincidentally at the same time of the alleged UFO crash, is beyond fishy and likely a deliberate attempt to obscure the truth.
Similarly, it makes sense that they would find alternate reasoning for the hospital wing to be closed down; the explanation that the hospital wing was closed for the installation of new cardiology equipment and the claim of a pregnant dwarf couple being misidentified may be a convenient cover story to conceal the presence of alien beings. In my mind, the counter claims of Chereze dying of a cyst, not working the night of the incident, the hospital closure due to new cardiology equipment and the military’s presence as a result of a training exercise, hold no weight as those are exactly the type of claims to be made when trying to cover up such an event. Furthermore, the persistent and unexplained smell that lingered in the area for an extended period, a phenomenon commented on by dozens of witnesses, is a significant factor that the counter case fails to address or provide any alternative reasoning. Likewise the statements from local doctors, government officials and military personnel who believe the event occurred, despite pressures to remain silent, add significant weight to the alien encounter theory that cannot be undermined. The sheer number of witnesses/believers and the consistency of certain key elements in their stories suggest that there may be more to the Varginha incident than mere misidentification or hoax.
While the flip-flopping of witness testimonies and the possibility of mistaking the local retard Luis Antonio de Paula for an alien creature, raise valid concerns, they do not negate the entire story as eyewitness accounts, especially in highly stressful and unusual situations, are known to be subject to inconsistencies and errors. Ultimately, the case remains open, and the testimony of individuals like Eric Lopes could be the key to confirming the presence of extraterrestrial life. Until Lopes or other high-level witnesses come forward with definitive evidence, the debate surrounding the Varginha UFO incident will likely continue, with both believers and skeptics presenting their arguments as the truth about the Varginha incident remains elusive due to ongoing government secrecy. The counter-arguments put forth in the video, while important to consider, do not debunk the possibility of an alien encounter, especially when viewed in the context of a potential government cover-up. The final statement, "Brazilian government is learning from the best," implies that the cover-up tactics employed in Varginha are part of a larger pattern of government suppression of information related to UFO incidents worldwide.