Deep Respect

Church of Scientology Cuts Ribbon on Twin Cities Landmark Home in Minnesota’s Capital of St. Paul

2011-12-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Scientologists, guests, state and city officials assembled in downtown St. Paul, Saturday October 22, for the dedication of the new Church of Scientology Twin Cities. The Church stands at 505 Wabasha Street and was formerly home to the Science Museum of Minnesota. The acquisition of the 82,000-square-foot facility in the heart of St. Paul was necessitated by the meteoric growth of the resident Scientology community. The Church of Scientology Twin Cities is now the largest Scientology facility in the American Midwest and will serve parishioners from Wisconsin to the Dakotas.

Located just blocks from the State Capitol and St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Church is additionally adjacent to the famed Fitzgerald Theater and so forms an “historic square” of buildings in downtown St. Paul. The premises were carefully renovated to preserve its most memorable features, including the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Wabasha Street and the three-story atrium. Also faithfully preserved was the original 300-seat IMAX Theater, now to serve as the Scientology Chapel and community meeting ground for citizens of all denominations.

Just off the expansive reception is a Public Information Center presenting the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion as well as the life and legacy of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Information Center further provides an overview of the many Church-sponsored humanitarian programs. These programs include a worldwide human rights initiative, an equally far-ranging drug education and prevention campaign, global networks of literacy and learning centers and the Scientology Volunteer Minister program now comprising the largest independent relief force on Earth. The multimedia displays include nearly 500 documentary films.

In tribute to the import of the occasion, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, officiated at the ceremony. In pointing to the significance of the day, Mr. Miscavige cited all that new Ideal Churches of Scientology traditionally bring to their surrounding communities, pledging the Church's resources and support across a broad range of civic programs for the benefit of all citizens. Thus, by dedicating a new Church for Minneapolis and St. Paul comes the inauguration of a new partnership in Twin Cities.

Welcoming the new Church were St. Paul City Councilmember Dave Thune; Minnesota State Senator Sandra Pappas; Minnesota State Representative Rena Moran; and President of the Minneapolis Chapter of MAD DADS (Men Against Destruction Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder), Mr. V.J. Smith.

In his salutary address, City Councilmember Dave Thune said: “I’m so happy to see that the Church of Scientology has moved into this landmark building. I always hate to see buildings go unused and sit vacant, especially in my Ward! So let me say this: thank you for moving across the river to the best side of Twin Cities.”

President of the Minneapolis Chapter of MAD DADS, Mr. V.J. Smith, addressed the Church’s anti-drug initiative: “I want to thank you, because we’ve already given out thousands of your Truth About Drugs booklets that show the impact drugs have on a person. The Church of Scientology and the Foundation for a Drug-Free World provided those to make it easier for us to do our job. You gave us a resource... and we’re really excited to see this beautiful Church open up in our community.”

Minnesota State Representative Rena Moran spoke of the Church’s pervasive volunteerism: “I believe very strongly in community engagement. And that is why I’m especially excited about your Volunteer Ministers and so impressed by the work that they do. It takes a certain kind of heart to give unconditional help to people you don’t even know and may never meet again. Your volunteers seem to specialize in that. They’re reaching out, they’re engaged, they’re facing the needs in our communities—and proving that something really can be done about it.”

Minnesota State Senator and leading proponent for human rights and human trafficking legislation, Sandra Pappas spoke to the Church’s award-winning Human Rights education materials and its longstanding support of human rights in general: “At the core of this support is an educational campaign that delivers a clear and impactful presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That is certainly a credible endeavor that I think you should be acknowledged for, so thank you. …I am proud of my work and you should be proud of your work to educate others on what are human rights. Please continue.”

_________________

The Church of Scientology of Twin Cities is the newest of dozens of Ideal Scientology Church Organizations (“Ideal Orgs”) opened in the past five years. Ideal Orgs realize the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the religion and its Churches. Ideal Orgs not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their spiritual ascent, but they are also designed to serve as a home for the entire community and a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift citizens of all denominations.

The Church of Scientology of Twin Cities is the fourth Ideal Org to open in 2011, joining these new Churches:

Church of Scientology of Tampa opened March 13, 2011, in historic Ybor Square

Church of Scientology of Moscow opened February 26, 2011, in the Russian capital’s central Garden Ring, a mile from Red Square

Church of Scientology of Melbourne opened January 29, 2011, in a landmark estate in the cultural capital of Australia

Other new churches opened in the past two years include Dallas; Nashville; Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Pasadena; Seattle; as well as Malmo, Sweden; Rome, Italy; Brussels, Belgium; Quebec City, Canada and Mexico City, Mexico.

For a complete list of new Churches of Scientology, visit Scientology.org.

_________________

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 165 countries.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Scientology Activities

2011-09-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

^{^{In the tradition of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, who worked tirelessly at Ground Zero in the months following 9/11, Scientologists took temporary leave of their homes, families and jobs in 2010 to help rescue the lives and livelihoods of victims of natural and manmade disasters.
Bringing the disaster relief techniques that have made the Volunteer Ministers’ bright yellow tents and T-shirts a symbol of effective help at more than 200 disaster sites worldwide, in 2010 they provided physical and spiritual aid to victims and rescue workers at more than a dozen major disaster sites.}
Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

What is a Volunteer Minister

2011-09-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

^{^{^{"A Volunteer Minister is a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.
A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.
How does a Volunteer Minister accomplish these miracles? Basically, he uses the technology of Scientology to change conditions for the better — for himself, his family, his groups, friends, associates and for mankind."--L. Ron Hubbard}
^{^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion.}}}
Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

L. Ron Hubbard founded the Volunteer Ministers program

2011-09-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

^{^{I love the essay L. Ron Hubbard wrote about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program in 1976. It is just as pertinent today as it was then. Here's a quote from it:}
^{"A Volunteer Minister is a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.
A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.
How does a Volunteer Minister accomplish these miracles? Basically, he uses the technology of Scientology to change conditions for the better — for himself, his family, his groups, friends, associates and for mankind."--L. Ron Hubbard}
Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Who are the Scientology Volunteer Ministers?

2011-08-12T13:20:00.001-07:00

The Volunteer Minister (VM) program was launched more than thirty years ago, in response to an appeal by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Noting a tremendous downturn in the level of ethics and morality in society, and a consequent increase in drugs and crime, Mr. Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a VOLUNTEER MINISTER and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”

Accordingly, in addition to traveling to wherever disaster strikes, Volunteer Ministers work with public servants in their own communities, helping to improve conditions right at home. Their information and training centers are bright yellow tents open to the public at weekend events and fairs, where anyone may enroll on a course or seminar that is delivered right in the tent.

Extensive information displays present the full array of tools for resolving any situation—from rescuing failing students or getting addicts off drugs, to alleviating emotional trauma of physical injuries, salvaging troubled relationships or solving human conflicts.

Volunteer Ministers also deliver seminars to police, firemen and disaster relief organizations with local community programs as well as through Goodwill Tours traveling from city to city with their tents.

So whether manning a tent at home or in a village 10,000 miles away, Scientology Volunteer Ministers all live by the same motto: “Something Can Be Done About It.”

Because of their courage, compassion and training, they have become indispensable in times of greatest human need—traveling halfway around the world to help people who have lost everything in an earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, flood or the like.

This includes a corps hundreds strong at Ground Zero within hours of the 9/11 tragedy. It also includes more than 500 volunteers from 11 nations in Southeast Asia in the wake of the tsunami and over 900 Volunteer Ministers attending to victims in Louisiana and Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Likewise, during the Haiti earthquake disaster, the Church of Scientology and its parishioners flew in planeloads of much-needed medical and food supplies. In addition, they have brought in hundreds of medical professionals and Volunteer Ministers to help Haitians cope with their losses and rebuild their lives.

Volunteer Ministers have also trained and partnered with over 1,000 different groups, organizations and agencies around the world, including the Red Cross, FEMA, National Guard, Army Cadets, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Rotary Clubs, civil defense and disaster management agencies, YMCAs, police and fire departments of dozens of cities and towns and hundreds more national and regional groups and organizations.

^{---------

Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion}

David Miscavige Officiates New Scientology Church Gran Openings.

2010-07-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

In just the past three weeks David Miscavige officiated the grand openings of three new Ideal Scientology Churches—one in Mexico City (the first Church of Scientology in that country), in Pasadena, California and in Seattle, Washington.

All three churches are works of art. They are practical and comfortable but utterly gorgeous.

You really have to be there. I attended the Pasadena grand opening. To say I was impressed by this building and by the Scientologists who drove the project to put it there and those who joined staff there over the past few months is the ultimate of understatement.

If you can get there, go for a guided tour. Not just to check it out, but to see what there is there for you. Because the thing about these new Ideal Scientology Orgs, and that's the entire point David Miscavige made in the speeches at each of these three grand openings--they are there for you. And that "you" means anyone.>>

Freedom Magazine Exposes Lies on Scientology

2010-07-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

If you would like to know why the network that calls itself “the most trusted name in news” is the least trustworthy, Freedom Magazine brings you, in living color, what Anderson Cooper refused to show.

With the ratings for Anderson Cooper 360 in a free fall over the past year and rumors rampant he is bailing out for another network, CNN had one final act of desperation up its sleeve.

CNN became the latest media outlet to buy into the increasingly over-the-top, bizarre tales spread by four admitted liars leading a self-proclaimed “Posse” of expelled former Church of Scientology staffers. Their yearlong orchestrated campaign exploits the media to run stories which attack their former Church, attack their former friends and even attack their own families—parents, wives and children. It’s all part of an effort to aggrandize themselves and make money by promoting everything from their self-published rants to their perverted style of psychological counseling and “deprogramming.”

In doing so, the once-great network—that nearly 20 years ago set the standard for journalism during the Persian Gulf War—broadcast five nights of so-called reports on the Church of Scientology, becoming the mouthpiece for a criminal group of cyberterrorists. It used salacious, false allegations to try to salvage a program whose ratings have been so anemic that at times only about a half-million viewers tune in—roughly the population of a mid-size city.

Far from conducting an actual investigation, CNN was simply the latest stop on the “Posse’s” anti-Scientology media tour. There was literally no original reporting—just a regurgitation of long disproven allegations that sourced from the Internet, and which dozens of outraged Church officials refuted with statements sworn under oath. This should have raised the antenna of any seasoned journalist, especially one who portrays himself as a skeptic, as Anderson Cooper does.

Scientologists Gear Up for United Nations Day Against Drugs

2010-07-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Churches of Scientology around the world will host community drug education activities June 26 in recognition of the United Nations International Day Against Illicit Drugs and Trafficking. Steadfast drug education advocates for more than 20 years, Scientology Churches are inviting local police, officials, community leaders, parents and teens to toughen up their neighborhoods with youth-oriented drug education activities for both young and old.

“To bring about real demand reduction, people need facts they know are real and that’s been missing from most drug education programs,” says Rev. Bob Adams, spokesperson for the Church of Scientology International and a former National Football League player. “To resist a drug pusher, a peer or anyone else encouraging drug abuse, one’s knowledge about drugs has to be certain and firm.”

The Church’s community drug education programs have been conducted at a grass-roots level by both Scientologists and non-Scientologists since the mid-1980s. Adams says toughening up neighborhoods against drugs benefits everybody. “Today we are all affected by drug abuse in some way or another and it’s not just illegal street drugs and youth. Prescription drug abuse is also a huge problem. All of it directly relates to health, crime, and safety, and things people don’t immediately think of in relation to drugs, like success and economics. The truth is that today, if you’re not well educated about drugs, you are at risk.”

In addition to its anti-drug advocacy and community activation, the Church sponsors the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, the international provider of The Truth About Drugs education materials available in 20 languages. Based on authoritative surveys and studies, The Truth About Drugs series includes abundant first hand testimonials in a youth-friendly format: 13 pocket-sized booklets and short videos covering the most commonly abused drugs, a new documentary based on interviews with over 200 former addicts, which can be seen and ordered free, at www.drugfreeworld.org.

“The Truth About Drugs Documentary and booklets are upfront, poignant and real,” says Adams. “They empower youth, parents, educators, law enforcement, social workers and anyone else concerned because it’s not about scare tactics—it’s true life experiences with facts.”

The United Nations International Day Against Illicit Drugs and Trafficking was established in 1987 by UN resolution 42/112 to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving an international society free of drug abuse.

Tags: anti-drug, Scientology Churches, Social Activities

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Something more

2010-06-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

People who tell you to just look after yourself and forget the other guy are operating on a basic misconception.

This video points shows why.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology relgion}

Scientologist--Empowering Youth in Africa

2010-06-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this story about Tim Bowles. Tim received the Freedom Medal of the International Association of Scientologists for his human rights work. Here is an article form the Scientology press office on his work in western Africa to empower youth and bring peace and equity to the region.

Tim Bowles and friend in Kpando, Ghana.

Tim Bowles, the Director of International Development of Youth for Human Rights International, recently returned from West Africa where he is working to implement sweeping human rights reforms. Scientology Today interviewed him about the program and what inspired him to do what he is doing.

Scientology Today: Tim, you have been very active with Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), and have been concentrating recently on helping implement a YHRI program in Western Africa. What made you decide to take this project on, and why there?

Tim Bowles: I have held an abiding interest in assisting people in the most challenging areas of the world since my college days in the 1960s. I met Youth for Human Rights International President, Mary Shuttleworth, in early 2005 and agreed to volunteer on a few youth training projects. Traveling to assist the group with a regional conference in Ghana that year, I saw the need for broad human rights education in that region and this program developed from that realization.

Africa represents the worst and the best in humanity. West Africa particularly is the site of some of the most infamous atrocities since the close of World War II. Yet, for all the invitations the populace has had to descend into unrelenting hatred and retribution, I have found Africans intensely ready and willing to work for and secure survival for themselves, their communities and the continent's population as a whole.

While their desire and demand for change is obvious, they face enormous challenges. With all their natural resources, will the people of Africa be able to acquire the know-how they need to capitalize on them? Will they harness the greatest resource they have—the youth of their countries—through effective education programs? Will they be able to create and sustain the ethical, competent leadership and organization they need to actually pull out of the dwindling spiral of polarization, violence and destruction?

Some of the 30 high school level youth from Accra, Ghana, participating in this summer's Human Rights Leadership Project.

During my first visit in 2005 I was privileged to meet a group of committed African human rights activists. Together, we have been developing a West Africa leadership campaign dedicated not just to inspiring youth through human rights awareness but to training and equipping young people with the leadership tools necessary to play key roles in creating and sustaining just and prosperous societies in Africa over the coming critical decades.

Scientology Today: Can you describe the project that you are implementing there now?

Tim Bowles: Starting in March this year we began running a six-month-long youth leadership pilot project in the nations of Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The project is our first step in enabling young, able African men and women to make human rights a reality in their communities. By also involving prominent local proponents of human rights as speakers and instructors, we are training high school students on leadership, organization and human rights advocacy and connecting them with leaders who can greatly assist them in accomplishing their purposes. The competition involves 30 students in each country, divided into two teams of 15 each, who are creating public awareness campaigns on human rights abuses. They are documenting their work in writing and with photography and video footage. The competitions in each country will culminate in August, 2008 with large, public events, where the teams of young people will present the results of their work with the help and support of local leaders, educators and the press.

Scientology Today: How did you come to create this competition?

Tim Bowles: I created this project based on what I learned through five recent trips I made to the region between July, 2005 and July, 2007. With these tours, and the able help of my African program directors Sammy Jacobs Abbey in Ghana and Joseph Jay Yarsiah in Liberia, we significantly increased student community activism and won expanding support from government, civil society and media for the implementation of human rights education.

What we hope to gain from this six-month human rights project is major, long-term support for the establishment of this African leadership campaign as an innovative and product-oriented initiative to be implemented throughout the continent.

Scientology Today: What difference is Youth for Human Rights making in these countries?

Tim Bowles: This is our second year of competitions in each of these three countries. We have been able to reach thousands of young people across the region and inspire humanitarian purposes and diligence in them to an extent we never imagined.

There is not a single young person with whom we are working in Sierra Leone and Liberia who has not been deeply affected by the bloody struggles only recently concluded there. And they see that human rights education is vital to bringing an end to the destruction they have experienced.

Tim, delivering a workshop to students in Freetown, Sierra Leon.

As one young participant put it, "Sincerely speaking I now understand my rights and how to protect those rights. As a leader I promise to teach anyone his or her rights and to make human rights expand in the world, especially in Sierra Leone."

Strong leaders dedicated to tolerance, peace and real justice are the key to transforming the prevailing despair into overriding confidence and development in these countries.

Scientology Today: What do you see as the most important human rights issues in the world today, and do you feel YHRI is helping to handle these?

Tim Bowles: Whether we're talking about populations emerging from genocide and civil conflict such as in Liberia or Sierra Leone, or peoples simply being empowered to reach out and help themselves as in Ghana, the most important human right is education. And this is true in Europe, the United States and anywhere on Earth where people are oppressed and need tools to improve their lives. Having the opportunity and ability to learn is fundamental to constructing and sustaining a future worth living in. The education and training of young leaders based on human rights values is of course key to this. The young people with whom we are working see this, and many have chosen to research and do presentations on education rights as their topic in the competitions.

Scientology Today: What do you recommend for anyone who is passionate about human rights?

Tim Bowles: I welcome them to join us and advance what we are doing here into other countries of course. The best move for anyone motivated to help improve human rights conditions is to get out there, see the realities for himself or herself and, whether on our successful model or some other innovation, to construct creative ways to engage young people particularly in solving human rights abuse. Getting started with any community betterment undertaking is a "which comes first—chicken or egg" proposition. The "egg" is the resources: money and volunteer support necessary to carry out a bright idea. A human rights project needs to demonstrate results quickly despite minimal means. The resources necessary to building that project into something bigger will come with tangible products, however modest it may be initially. Youth for Human Rights International has created educational materials—DVDs, publications and a teachers' handbook—and these are available for anyone to use to make the subject of human rights real to young people.

Scientology Today: Is there something about the Scientology religion that you feel particularly aligns with human rights and with YHRI in particular?

Tim Bowles: The broad support of dedicated Scientologists in YHRI's worldwide campaigns comes from the common commitment our parishioners have to the establishment of human dignity and integrity. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 60 years old this year, is the first truly international proclamation of basic human freedoms in all of recorded history. The Scientology religion is based on the principle of human rights for all people, as shown in the Creed of the Church of Scientology, written by L. Ron Hubbard in 1954. Scientology is all about attaining and sustaining responsibilities and freedoms across the spectrum of life. Thus, it's no surprise that for decades Scientologists have been working and fighting for the establishment of human rights.

Scientology Today: How has your experience in Scientology helped you in accomplishing your own humanitarian goals?

Tim Bowles: Scientology of course places the highest value on communication as the means to achieve increased understanding between individuals, family members, community groups and cultures. I can attribute the success of this leadership project to the skills I have attained through my Scientology studies, which have enabled me to communicate and work effectively with peoples from all walks of life and, perhaps more importantly, to the confidence I now have. No matter how challenging the circumstances, persistence along humanitarian lines guarantees humanitarian results.

Scientology Today: Do you have any other message for our readers?

Tim Bowles: When I first went to West Africa I was troubled and almost embarrassed about being with people, particularly in the refugee camps, who have so little resources and often so little hope. How could I, one individual, help so many people in such desperate circumstances? But it is now clear to me how profoundly we are bettering the lives of the young people we reach and through their work we are bettering the lives of whole populations now and in the decades to come.

Video of what people think of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers

2010-06-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

I have a number of friends who went to Haiti as part of the Scientology team down there. They all came back saying it was brutal but the most rewarding think they have ever done. We have Scientology volunteers there from as far away as Australia and Russia, and many from the US. And there are now about 600 local Scientology Volunteer Ministers teams set up to work there. This is tremendous as there are so many hundreds of thousands who were traumatized by the earthquake, and many speak only Creole. Having local VMs makes it possible to help at the correct orders of magnitude.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers program was developed in 1976 by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. In the wake of 9/11, David Miscavige greatly expanded the scope of the program, which now includes Goodwill Tours throughout the world.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Dianetics Seminars

2010-05-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

On the 60th Anniversary of Dianetics there are more people learning and using Dianetics today than ever before. The Dianetics DVD, which walks you through the basics of Dianetics, is one of the reasons why. It is so easy to understand, and really helps in understanding the book.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Scientologists: How We Help

2010-05-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

The global devastation and human misery wrought by drug abuse, illiteracy and moral decay—to say nothing of natural and man-made disasters—is unmistakable. They threaten to rip the social fabric to shreds and in many parts of the world these societal ills have already caused irreparable damage.

What is conspicuously lacking in combating these virtually apocalyptic scenarios are effective solutions. To that end, in the course of his decades of research into the mind and spirit, L. Ron Hubbard developed methods by which to address the crises that threaten our world.

While to bring those solutions to bear, the Church sponsorship of permanent centers to act as “generation plants,” which thereby set in motion broad-scale movements in the name of morality, literacy, drug prevention and rehabilitation.

Further, and to realize Scientology’s greater humanitarian objective, the Church has made readily available, easily assimilated and rapidly distributable multimedia tools to raise awareness, educate and activate millions.

The result: the Church of Scientology’s revolutionary social betterment and humanitarian programs. They are utterly unique, indisputably cutting edge and most importantly—effective.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Providing Disaster Relief

2010-04-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

Scientology Volunteer Ministers have been involved in disaster relief efforts all over the world. This includes a corps hundreds strong at Ground Zero within hours of the 9/11 tragedy, more than 500 volunteers from 11 nations in Southeast Asia in the wake of the tsunami, over 900 Volunteer Ministers attending to victims in Louisiana and Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Rita and in the Haiti earthquake disaster, the Church of Scientology and its parishoners flew in plane loads of much-needed medical and food supplies. In addition they brought in hundreds of medical professionals and Volunteer Ministers to help Haitians cope with their losses and rebuild their lives.

Volunteer Ministers have also trained and partnered with over 500 different groups, organizations and agencies around the world including the Red Cross, FEMA, National Guard, Army Cadets, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Rotary Clubs, civil defense and disaster management agencies, YMCAs, police and fire departments of dozens of cities and towns and hundreds more national and regional groups and organizations.

Source: Scientology.org
^{More information about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Disaster Reponse actions: http://blog.volunteerministers.org

Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

California Scientology Volunteer Minister and Dentist Volunteered in Haiti

2010-03-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica, California, dentist Darrell Craig had no idea what to expect when he arrived in Haiti. “It was disaster beyond belief,” he said.

Assigned to General Hospital, he and Scientology Volunteer Minister Ayal Lindeman, who is also an EMT and LPN, tackled the night shift of the Critical Care Unit with “no supplies, very unsanitary conditions, too many patients and very little time.”

With two to four hours of sleep a day in the first week, they cleaned up the wards, searched for and located vitally needed supplies, and improvised tools to perform life-saving procedures, often in the dark because of power failures.

While in Haiti, Dr. Craig also examined the teeth of children at a local orphanage, and set up rudimentary medical clinics at a refugee camp and a nearby island, where he and two doctors treated wounds and the doctors did physical exams.

“I cried many times while I was there, but I feel I was able to contribute to the welfare of these people, even though far below what I would like to do and what they need,” said Dr. Craig. “I would do it all again in a minute. The Haitians are fabulous and resilient people and they will overcome this. And I will be ever grateful to have been a part of this phase of the rebuilding of their country.”

Haiti: Help Needed

2010-01-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers have put out a call for volunteers and donations to help with the Haiti relief effort. The Church of Scientology has already sponsored one charter flight into Haiti, filled with doctors, nurses, EMTs and Volunteer Ministers. It left JFK on Saturday and arrived in Haiti yesterday. The devastation in the country is horrific and anyone who can help really needs to do so now.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Scientology VMs in DC help Haiti survivors

2010-01-15T19:39:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA9.com) -- Family members looking for information about relatives in Haiti are rubbing elbows with people who want to help survivors at the Haitian Embassy in Northwest Washington.

...

About a dozens volunteers from the Church of Scientology came to the embassy today too.

"We can see these people are in big trouble," Ken Spliethof says. "We are here to help."

Blood letting in the Scientology ranks

2010-01-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

Newspaper article:

SCIENTOLOGISTS from the church’s national headquarters in Dundas lost a lot of blood over the last two weeks, but it was no accident.

Rather the members of one of the youngest religions were trying to help those who had been in road accidents during the holidays by donating blood.

Cyrus Brooks from the church led a group of almost 20 Scientologists, some of whom live at the Dundas base, to give blood at the Red Cross in Parramatta.

He said he was moved to action by the holiday road toll.

“You hear the holiday road tolls and it’s the sad part of the holidays,” he said. “I heard that over the holidays specifically, the supply of blood is very low. That was the kicker for me to get involved.”

Mr Brooks had to cajole some of his fellow parishioners to donate for the first time, but said they were happy they did.

“There was the apprehension of giving blood, the apprehension of the needle, but they felt really good about it,” he said.

“They realised it wasn’t going to kill them to donate, and it’s a gift you can’t buy.”

He said giving blood fitted in with the life that Scientologists are expected to live.

“It’s part of our faith that you contribute to society,” he said.

Scientology Volunteer Minister Returns to Kenya

2009-12-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

As Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was speaking to a regional forum on the economic and social ramifications of global warming Monday, Scientology Volunteer Minister David Dempster had just arrived back in Kenya to deliver a weeklong training session to Scout Leaders in Nairobi.

An active Volunteer Minister of the Church of Scientology of Tampa, Dempster first visited the country in September when he was asked to fly there to deliver a series of Volunteer Ministers seminars. Based on practical technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard, these seminars help people cope with the issues of a changing society.

For ten days, together with staff of the Church of Scientology Mission of Nairobi, Dempster delivered seminars to a wide variety of groups and organizations in the city of Nairobi and neighboring towns and villages. These seminars helped the attendees improve their communication and organizational skills as well as their ability to resolve problems.

Now back in Nairobi at the invitation of the Scouts of Kenya, Dempster is helping Scout Leaders accomplish their purpose for the entire country with courses aimed at developing good citizenship, character and self-reliance.

“It is a particular pleasure to work with this group and help them add to their scouting skills.”said Dempster. “These dedicated leaders are working hard to help their fellow Kenyans and improve conditions in their beautiful country.”

For more information about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, visit their web site at www.volunteerministers.org.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers India Goodwill Tour

2009-11-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

Nearly five years since the Indian Ocean tsunami crashed onto the shore of southeastern India, work continues to rebuild the region itself and the lives of those who survived. Key players in this phase of recovery are the Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

Within days of the tsunami, Scientology Volunteer Ministers arrived in the region from all over the world to work with the search and rescue personnel and provide help to those who lost loved ones, homes and property. And when others returned home, a group of French Scientologists stayed on and made Pondicherry their new home and the full recovery of the region their mission.

Towns and cities have emerged from the initial devastation, which, according to the Government of India, amounted to some $2.56 billion. Having completed the initial recovery phase, concentration has now moved on to “development”, and “Disaster Risk Reduction” (DDR) has become the primary concentration of aid to the area. High on the list of DDR priorities is establishing community-based programs that prepare local residents on how to survive in times of calamity.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers India Goodwill Tour arrived in Pondicherry in August to certify members of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers group and provide disaster preparedness training based on the Scientology Handbook. The members of this tour, who are experts in this technology, have already trained police, fire departments, health care and relief workers and volunteers throughout India.

The defining characteristic of a disaster is disorganization and chaos, and the Scientology Volunteer Ministers courses on the basics of organizing and communication enable people to quickly set up new communication systems and infrastructure. They become skilled at restoring calm and getting people operating as a team to overcome the immediate threat from the environment.

Once the initial panic of a disaster is over, those trained in this program can confidently take on the next order of business—the survivors themselves. They learn how to speed up recovery from injury. This unburdens otherwise overloaded medical resources who need to concentrate on life-threatening injuries. Those trained in Scientology Disaster Relief can also bring survivors through loss and trauma so they can get on with their lives, care for their families and participate in the relief effort themselves.

What enables them to do this is the “Scientology Assist“. Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, assists address the emotional and spiritual side of trauma, enabling the person to recover fully from injury, stress or shock.

For more information on the program, disaster response training and Goodwill Tours, visit the Scientology Volunteer Ministers web site.

Scientology Success Stories at "Seekers of Truth"

2009-11-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

I was very fortunate to find Scientology at a time in my life when everything was going downhill very fast. After attending to the first Scientology Seminar, I was able to turn things around. I now have a bright future ahead of me, I have a wonderful relationship with my fiancee, and the best job in the world at the Church of Scientology of Los Gatos.

Thanks to Al Guerrero for introducing me to Scientology and thank you Ron for your wonderful technology.

- A. Murillo - Los Gatos, CA

+ + +

After 14 months of suffering from a broken knee, unable to walk normally even after surgery due to constant pain, I had one Dianetics session and like a miracle the swelling disappeared before my eyes, the pain was gone and when I got up I was able to walk in a normal painless way. This happened in 1979, and for over 20 years I have a normal knee that bears a small scar, and feels like nothing ever happened.

- M. Villegas - Miami, FL

+ + +

The first miracle I witnessed using DIANETICS technology was in 1980 when I delivered a session to a 75 year old lady who had a chronic arthritis condition which got worse over the years. It got so bad that she was unable to walk. After her first session she stood up, forgot her cane and walked like a normal person!

My greatest gratitude to L. Ron Hubbard for giving me the knowledge and workable technology to help my fellow man.

- A. Shatria - Miami, FL

Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.

~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion

Church of Scientology: Drug-Free Marshals Promote Red Ribbon Anti-Drug Week

2009-10-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

The Drug-Free Marshals from the Church of Scientology Los Angeles pledged in hundreds of youth last Saturday to live a drug-free life in honor of the 21st celebration of Red Ribbon Week commemorating DEA (Drug Enforcement Agent) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.

Camarena was an 11-year DEA agent working under cover in Mexico on the way to breaking up a multi-billion-drug pipeline but in 1985 he was caught, tortured and murdered by Mexican drug traffickers. His death was an eye opener to the danger of drugs and the widespread dangers of the drug trade. In 1988, President Reagan and Mrs. Reagan along with the National Family Partnership coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week.

The new Drug-Free Marshal’s and their parents armed themselves with The Truth About Drugs booklets, which educate by telling what harm drugs actually do. The booklets are published by The Foundation for a Drug-Free World along with 12 other booklets that inform on the most commonly used drugs, i.e. marijuana, alcohol, heroin, crystal meth, prescription drugs, inhalants and painkillers. Thousand of these were given out to youth and parents so they could learn the dangers of these drugs.

“We need to educate our children regarding drug and alcohol abuse. Drugs are a large part of our children’s lives from school, television, or movies so if we don’t tell them the truth, you can be sure that the drug-dealers are selling them their lies. By early intervention we can prevent drug abuse, which also leads to violence,” said Edie Reuveni, President of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles. “Studies show a direct link between youth involvement in drugs and gang violence. As humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard said ‘When children become unimportant to a society, that society has forfeited its future’ so unless we educate them and take responsibility for them we all lose.”

The Drug-Free Marshal’s program, sponsored by the Church, was started in Los Angeles in 1993. Since that time more than 5 million youth worldwide have pledged to be drug-free and to help family and friends do likewise.

For more information about Drug-Free Marshals visit www.drugfreemarshals.org or call 323-953-3200.

The Truth About Drugs

2009-08-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

Global drug abuse has led to what can inarguably be described as a world awash in blood and human misery.

In reply, the Church of Scientology sponsors the largest non-
governmental anti-drug information and prevention campaign on Earth.

Global drug abuse has led to what can inarguably be described as a world awash in blood and human misery.

In reply, the Church of Scientology sponsors the largest non-governmental anti-drug information and prevention campaign on Earth.

It has been conclusively proven that when young people are provided with the truth about drugs—factual information on what drugs are and what they do—usage rates commensurately drop. By statistical survey, it has thus far prevented some 500,000 young people from recreational drug use… or worse.

There is still, however, much more to be done. Thus, the Church of Scientology offers its publications (which neither contain nor advocate any Scientology beliefs) to like-minded anti-drug coalitions, government institutions, civic groups and schools. This includes:

The Truth About Drugs series of 13 educational booklets—covering the major "drugs of choice" and presented in a way to educate on the serious ramifications of their abuse.

A study guide, activities manual and educator's classroom kit give teachers, law enforcement and community groups effective tools to educate youth and enable them to make correct decisions on this subject.

And a new series of documentary videos, totaling one and a half hours in length, to accompany and complement The Truth About Drugs series of booklets, with an individual chapter for every "drug of choice."

Overview of results:

More than 700 million people have been reached with The Truth About Drugs message, 491 million people in the last 12 months alone, through print, TV, radio, billboards, hand distribution of The Truth About Drugs booklets and the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Internet site (www.drugfreeworld.org).
Over 206 million people have viewed the Truth About Drugs Public Service Announcements in the last 12 months.
Just over 23 million The Truth About Drugs booklets have been distributed in 20 languages to at-risk youth and in drug hot spots throughout the world—3.6 million in the last 12 months.
Drug-Free Marshals have promoted to nearly 3.4 million children to live drug-free lives through their events and Drug-Free Pledge signings internationally.
Over 450,000 information mailings have been sent to groups and organizations concerned with the global drug problem, inviting them to order publications and implement the Truth About Drugs Education Program.
Over 350,000 people have visited the Drug-Free World Internet site in the last year and ordered more than 718,000 booklets.
The international Truth About Drugs campaign is active in 79 countries from Argentina to Zimbabwe, with 166 drug prevention groups in 130 cities worldwide.
Foundation for a Drug-Free World has partnered with 78 governmental, law enforcement and educational agencies and institutions internationally.

A new side of a special Church of Scientology: Celebrity Center International

2009-07-20T15:37:00.001-07:00

The Examiner today reports about "Unique L.A. destinations that offer the unexpected—a meal" and guess who is on the list? Celebrity Center International. Featured as one of "Three religion-related sites" the restaurant run by this special Church of Scientology is described as follows:

"At the Church of Scientology's Celebrity Centre International, 5930 Franklin Ave. in Hollywood, the seven-storey Manor Hotel (buit in 1929) includes the culinary award-winning Renaissance Restaurant, which is open daily to the public. The restaurant offers indoor, patio, and garden dining and serves a Sunday Brunch."
^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology relgion}

David Miscavige, Scientology Leader, speaks

2009-06-22T22:19:00.000-07:00

I've been a Scientologist for more than 25 years and of all of the breathtaking addresses from Scientology leaders that I have heard, this one is an all-time favorite I wanted to share. It is by David Miscavige:

"Contained in the body of Dianetics and Scientology are answers to those age-old questions — Who am I? What’s the purpose of all this? And, What happens when I die?

"The direct answers are: You are a spiritual being, distinct and separate from a body. You have lived lifetime after lifetime and will live again. You are seeking to survive for yourself, your family, group, mankind, the physical universe, and to survive as a spirit. And only when you have fully achieved that level of enlightenment can you truly understand the Creator." Mr. David Miscavige, August 7, 2004 in Hollywood, California speaking to over 2,000 leaders in the fields of the arts, entertainment, commerce and government.

Ethiopian Crisis Demands Immediate Action

2007-09-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

Doctor Without Borders is reporting a humanitarian crisis in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia:

Médecins Sans Frontières said 400,000 people, including thousands forcibly displaced when their villages were burned down, had little or no access to medicine due to a government-installed blockade.

MSF said that following an exploratory mission to Ogaden in July which revealed a "deeply precarious situation", repeated requests to work in the worst hit areas have been denied by both regional authorities and the government in Addis Abada.>>

Write to your congressman to report the humanitarian crisis in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia and demand pressure be put on those preventing aid to the people of this region. There are NGOs there trying to help but they are being prevented from saving lives.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Sarkozy calls for troop exit from Iraq

2007-08-28T00:04:00.000-07:00

(agencies)
Updated: 2007-08-28 10:42

PARIS -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday said Iraq's road to recovery begins with a clear timetable for the pullout of foreign troops as he outlined an assertive role for France in world hotspots.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy delivers a speech during a conference of 180 ambassadors at the Elysee Palace in Paris August 27,2007. [AFP]

Making his first major foreign policy speech since taking office earlier this year, Sarkozy recalled that France had opposed the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 but that it was now ready to help the international community find a political solution.>>more

Great to hear! I was concerned Sarkozy might be too tied into US policy as he's made it clear he is an ally. This is a relief!

Peruvian Disaster Relief

2007-08-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

Help is pouring in from around the world in the wake of last week's Peruvian earthquake. There is so much news of crime, hatred, conflict and brutality in the news, it tends to make you think the very wost of human nature. So today's news is refreshing to say the least.

If you search Google News for "Peruvian Earthquake donations" there is page after page of the work groups, agencies, churches and individuals are doing to raise funds for the earthquake victims.

The United Nations has pledged a million dollars in relief funds and, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, South Korea, the United States, France and Spain are among the countries sending aid, including medicine, water and food.

I know there is a Scientology Volunteer Ministers disaster relief team in the earthquake zone, and Scientology churches from all over the world are getting the word out that volunteers and help is needed.

What is it about disasters that brings out the best in people? And does it have to take a disaster for this to happen?

There were stories 3 years ago after the Indian Ocean tsunami, where warring factions in the Banda Aceh area of Indonesia suspended hostilities to work together to save survivors.

In Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health, L. Ron Hubbard describes this phenomenon. When I read that book, it was the first time I could understand what happens at times like this. But even more important, it was the first time I could understand why people aren't like that all the time.

I had the idea, as a child, that people were basically good but I had a hard time reconciling that with what I saw, not just on a social level but on a friend-to-friend, husband-to-wife bases as well. It was such a relief, when I read Dianetics to be able to figure that one out too.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Iraq Statistics Not a Point of Pride for Ongoing US Action

2007-08-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

Indybay carries a story today with statistics revealing the brutal truth of the effect of 4 years of military intervention in Iraq:

"The terrible violence in Iraq has masked the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Malnutrition amongst children has dramatically increased and basic services, ruined by years of war and sanctions, cannot meet the needs of the Iraqi people." Jeremy Hobbs, director of Oxfam International

" The agencies' report " Rising to the Humanitarian Challenge in Iraq" says although the appalling security situation is the biggest problem facing most ordinary Iraqis, the government of Iraq and other influential governments should do more to meet basic needs for water, sanitation, food and shelter.

"According to the report:
Four million Iraqis – 15% - regularly cannot buy enough to eat.
70% are without adequate water supplies, compared to 50% in 2003.
28% of children are malnourished, compared to 19% before the 2003 invasion.
92% of Iraqi children suffer learning problems, mostly due to the climate of fear.
More than two million people – mostly women and children - have been displaced inside Iraq.
A further two million Iraqis have become refugees, mainly in Syria and Jordan.">>more

What do you suppose would happen if we concentrated on actually helping the people of Iraq: working to bring about self-sufficiency, raising the standard of living through education, programs to promote industry, better farming and food distribution, programs to provide good water, housing programs. And why can't we see that this is the real war.

It reminds me of a quote from Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion:

"There is no national problem in the world today which cannot be resolved by reason alone. All factors inhibiting a solution of the problem of war and weapons arbitrary factors and have no more validity than the justified explanations of a thief or murderer."
^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Darfur -- The Latest in a Long Line of Disasters

2007-08-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

United Nations humanitarian agencies and their partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are launching an appeal for more than $10 million to deal with widespread floods in Sudan that have destroyed thousands of homes and inundated farmlands, towns and villages.>>more

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Dianetics -- 57 Years Old But Reads Like it was Written Yesterday

2007-08-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

Of course we all know how fast things change nowadays.

So it really struck me, yesterday, how interesting it is that L. Ron Hubbard wrote Dianetics 57 years ago, because it still resonates so much with what's going on it the world today.

I guess that stands reason, though, because his research and discovery were designed to encompasses life. And even though there have been lots of technological changes, the basics of life haven't changed. We may think we're a lot more liberated, more sophisticated and savvy. But when you fight with your partner, or someone cheats on you, when a kid feels abandoned by his parents, when teachers are authoritarian and unfair, when your boss acts like a creep-- these things are still with us. And if you haven't run into this and don't get bummed out by it, then maybe you're too numb to notice.

I went to the event about a month ago where David Miscavige described the release of new editions of all the basic books, and translated versions in 16 languages, but it wasn't until I started reading them myself that I realized the magnitude of the job they did.

These books are really beautiful, so much easier to read and the glossaries are amazing -- makes them so easy to read.

I'm reading Dianetics and I am getting much more out of it this time than the last time I read it.

These new editions are the best. You can order them online here:

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

Biased Journalism in the UK

2007-08-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

Another disturbing story out of the UK:

Prosecutors accuse Channel 4 of distorting footage of Preachers

By Jonathan Brown
Published 09 August

Channel 4 found itself engulfed in another row over an alleged fake programme last night after West Midlands Police complained to Ofcom about the editing of one of its documentaries.

Police had been asked to investigate the Dispatches film "Undercover Mosque", made by Hardcash Productions, in January because of concerns that it contained scenes that may have stirred racial hatred.

Shot at a number of mosques across Britain, including the Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham, it featured a preacher apparently praising the Taliban for killing a British soldier. Another was shown deriding homosexuals and non-believers. In its pre-broadcast publicity, Channel 4 described the programme as an extensive investigation revealing how a "chilling" message of "hatred and segregation" was being preached in UK mosques. But after viewing 56 hours of material, only a fraction of which made the final cut, a lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) claimed the editing process had "completely distorted" what speakers were saying and advised police to drop their criminal investigation. >> more

With all the real abuses in need to exposing, what malice could motivate this kind of religious intolerance. Are the media that interested in their ratings that they would foment hatred and potentially violence by this kind of irresponsible action.

Freedom of Press should carry with it responsibility to report accurately to the best of one's ability. This is all too familiar, a la John Sweeney of Panorama infamy.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion}

John Sweeney Looses It Live

2007-05-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

Do you believe this?

Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology religion

Liviu Librescu

2007-04-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

A fitting memorial on CNN to a real hero.

Liviu Librescu, 76, was a Holocaust survivor who, his son said, will be remembered as a hero. He "blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee," Joe Librescu told the AP. "Students started opening windows and jumping out." The elder Librescu, a professor at Virginia Tech, was recognized internationally for his research in aeronautical engineering, the head of the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department at Virginia Tech told the AP. He was born and received his advanced degrees in Romania.>>

Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the"http://www.scientology.org/en_US/religion/index.html">Scientology relgion

Running around the world

2007-04-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

I loved reading this story about Sunita Williams running the Boston Marathon in space:

Sunita Williams has qualified for this year's 111th running of the Boston Marathon. But on April 16, the Needham native who is a NASA astronaut will be situated 200 miles above the earth's surface -- so she'll run the 26.2 miles on a treadmill aboard the International Space Station.

The Boston Athletic Association issued Williams bib number 14,000 today. Race Director David McGillivray sent the bib electronically to NASA, which will forward it to Williams.

The 41-year-old Williams, who qualified for the marathon when she ran a 3:29:57 in Houston last year, will be harnessed to a specially designed treadmill with bungee cords.

Williams' sister, Dina Pandya, who will run the race the traditional way. "She said, 'I'll call you on Heartbreak Hill."'>>

I bet this is one race she'll never forget!

Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion

Celebrities Honor Psychiatric Industry Whistleblowers

2007-02-27T11:05:00.000-08:00

I read this press release about the people who were awarded last week by Citizens
Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and I was impressed.

It takes a very special person to put so much of his own career at risk to blow the whistle on corruption, especially when the people you are blowing the whistle on have the power to label you as "insane" and lock you away for the rest of your life.

But the trend toward the Brave New World take-your-drugs-and-feel-better society is frighteneing and a lot closer than you might think, and we all owe these people a debt for their courage. And the ARE being heard!

Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of theScientology relgion

Chuch of Scientology London Grand Opening

2007-02-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

This is an excellent web page on the keynote address given by Mr. David Miscavige at the grand opening of the magnificent Church of Scientology of London. Also included is great photos of the event. miscavige.rtc.org/london/index.html

Mr. David Miscavige

2007-01-31T06:21:00.000-08:00

This page gives a biography of Mr. Miscavige in many languages, as well as the content of speeches and presentations all over the world and other articles. www.scientologytoday.org/bio

A Leader

2007-01-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

Mr. David Miscavige is a true leader - effective, caring and gets the job done. This page illustrates his dedication to the revitalization of this world in achieving the aims of Scientology, a civilization without insanity, criminalty and war. www.scientologytoday.org/corp/rtc2.htm

John Travolta

2007-01-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of respect for John Travolta.

I've met him, and he is a kind, affable man, not impressed at all with his fame. Just a down-to-earth really nice person.

Mr. David Miscavige

2007-01-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

One man who deserves and gets great respect is Mr. David Miscavige, who an outstanding religious leader, accomplishing the aims of the Scientology religious movement. An interesting interview was done on Mr. Miscavige by the St. Petersburg Times. Here is the article on the interview.
www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart1.html

My Respect for David Miscavige

2007-01-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

I just watched (again) the Scientology New Years event and I have to say I am so impressed with what David Miscavige has done.

His determination the Aims of Scientology through to a done is an inspiration.

And those aims are:

A Civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights.

It might sound a bit outrageous that someone would even think to SET this as a goal. And for sure, without a technology of life you would not be able to accomplish it.

But just think - 50 years ago what do you think people would think if you were to say that you could sit in LA and post a message on a blog and someone in Pakistan could log on and see it as soon as you posted it. They'd say you were out of your mind. Right?

It is just technology that makes this possible. Is it so impossible that there could be a technology of the mind and spirit that we could resolve the factors that make war, insanity and criminality "facts of life?"

There is a wonderful new film - actually a remake of a wonderful OLD film. It's called An Introduction to Scientology and it is an interview L. Ron Hubbard gave in 1966.

When people find out I'm a Scientologist they ask me certain questions, and it's pretty interesting that 40 years later, it's the same kinds of questions people were asking in 1966. In the interview LRH answers these questions. And who better to answer them?

My Respect for L. Ron Hubbard

2007-01-02T00:17:00.000-08:00

After watching the new DVD of An Introduction to Scientology I am once more reminded what an absolutely incredible man L. Ron Hubbard was.

When I compare what he accomplished with his live to the accomplishments of 5 or 10 "ordinary" geniuses, he just leaves them in the dust!

By the way. If you haven't read Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health you really owe it to yourself to read it.

You can buy it online, or get it from any major bookstore or library.

I wouldn't call it "easy" reading. But it ain't hard either. It's written for the man in the street, not of "scholars" who are more interested in how things sound than what they mean.

From the day I read the first three chapters of this book my life changed. I changed it, but I did so thanks to L. Ron Hubbard.

Great News on Scientology Expansion from Down Under

2006-12-17T22:44:00.000-08:00

A survey shows that new and emerging churches are popular with young Australians and that ‘nature religions’ and Scientology are growing strongly. The survey was published in Professor Gary Bouma’s book, Australian Soul: Religion and Spirituality >>

Human Rights

2006-12-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

What do human rights really mean? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights laid out 30 of them. Each of the rights have been brought to life in video form. See them at youthforhumanrights.org.

Indonesia's Aceh looks for peace after landmark poll

2006-12-11T23:25:00.000-08:00

Looking to a lasting peace in Aceh...

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - A former separatist rebel appeared set on Tuesday to become the next governor of Aceh after a landmark election in the Indonesian province battered by decades of conflict and a horrific tsunami

Exit polls showed former rebel spokesman Irwandi Yusuf heading for victory after Aceh's first direct election for governor and other top posts on Monday. >>

Human Rights Heroes

2006-12-10T22:52:00.000-08:00

Human Rights Day is a time to reflect on all the people in the community, from the teachers, to the emergency response personnel, to the doctors, to the clergy, who dedicate their lives to helping others survive, do well and prosper.

And don't forget the moms and dads who work to guarantee the welfare of their kids.

When you look at it this way, there are an awful lot of people doing good.

But when we do this we can't forget the many millions whose lives and rights are abused every day.

And so we should all determine to do far more this coming year to make human rights a fact.

More on the Philippines

2006-12-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

GUINOBATAN, Philippines, Dec 8, 2006 (AFP) - Medical aid was rushed to squalid Philippine evacuation sites Friday amid dire warnings that poor sanitation could trigger an outbreak of disease among hundreds of mudslide survivors.

Babies and children sleep on the damp wooden floors of the elementary school turned into a temporary shelter for nearly 100 families in the township of Guinobatan in the eastern Bicol region, where entire villages were swept away by volcanic debris last week.

Yet these unfortunates are relatively lucky. When supertyphoon Durian hit last week, it created avalanches of volcanic mud that left more than 1,300 people dead or missing. >> Continued

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Coordinator has announced that anyone who would like to help will be trained in disaster relief techniques.

Volunteers are needed as are donations.

Visit www.volunteerministers.org for more information on how you can help.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Kolkata Call for a Moral Resurgence on World AIDS Day

2006-12-06T23:19:00.000-08:00

This was published on the Scientology Press Office site

Calling for compassion and an end to discrimination against those infected with HIV, the members of the West Bengal Scientology Volunteer joined other HIV/AIDS activists to draw attention to the need to confront and handle this pandemic.

Calling for compassion and an end to discrimination against those infected with HIV, the members of the West Bengal Scientology Volunteer joined other HIV/AIDS activists to draw attention to the need to confront and handle this pandemic.

With over one billion inhabitants, India is the second most populous country in the world. And with an estimated 5.7 million infected in India, there are more people living with HIV here than in in any other nation in the world.

Discrimination against persons who are HIV positive in their personal lives, employment, education and health care is a grave situation in India. The primary focus of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers on this issue is to provide moral support to people affected by HIV/AIDS and empower them to combat the stigma and intolerance in any sphere of their lives, while encouraging a more tolerant and humane attitude through the distribution of The Way To Happiness, a moral code based entirely on common sense.

Md. Khalil Ulah, who heads the team, wants to get a copy of The Way To Happiness into the hands of every one of the more than 13 million people of Kolkata.

In the 25 years since it was written by L. Ron Hubbard in 1981, 66 million copies of The Way to Happiness have been distributed in more than 90 languages.

For information on how you can contribute to this project contact:

The Way To Happiness Foundation
201 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA 90028
Phone: (800) 255-7906 or (818) 254-0600
Fax: (818) 254-0555
Email: info@twth.org

or the West Bengal Scientology Volunteer Ministers:

Mohammad Khalil Ullah
2/H/4 Hatibagan Road (3rd Floor),
Kolkata,
West Bengal,
India
Pin -700014.
Tel : +91 9830486950

International Volunteer Day

2006-12-05T23:30:00.000-08:00

Here's to the volunteer -- the person who is there to help his or her fellow man.

Today is International Volunteers Day.

L. Ron Hubbard's Personal Philosophy

2006-12-04T23:27:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite essays by L. Ron Hubbard is called "My Only Defense for Having Lived."

I think it is especially pertinent today -- International Volunteers Day -- as he expresses his views on contribution and helping others.

he only tests of a life well lived are: Did he do what he intended? And were people glad he lived?

People have often desired me to write an autobiography and while I would be perfectly willing to do so had I the time, I consider such a work, as I do myself, quite unimportant.

I have led an adventurous life and it would possibly be entertaining to read, but I doubt such a work would shed any background light on my researches and would not clarify my intentions or why I developed Dianetics and Scientology.

My motives have not been fame. I tried to give Dianetics, the entire work, to the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association in 1949 and the AMA only said “Why should you?” and the APA said “If it is important we will hear of it.”

I tried to avoid, until July 1950, saying I had personally done the research but then owned to it when I saw that unowned, it could be lost in its original form.

My motives have not included amassing great wealth. The royalties of the first book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, were given to the first Foundation. So it is not wealth.

Power has not been my motive. I only held office in organizations to insist upon correct usage of the work, and this having been achieved sometime since, I resigned all directorships and retained only an honorary post.

Further, one cannot have more power than he himself already has as a being; so power by reason of position I consider pointless and a waste of time.

My motives are so hard to understand because they largely omit me from the equation. And self-centered men are not likely to understand such a thing since they know they would not forgo fame, wealth or power and so conceive that another would not. >> continued

David Miscavige at New York City Grand Opening of the Scientology Church

2006-11-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a great speech, by David Miscavige. One of my favorites.

David Miscavige: Presentation at the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of New York

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Scientology Volunteer Ministers Video

2006-11-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

I just found this video on YouTube on the Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

Enjoy!

Opening Scientology Missions

2006-11-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

I am impressed when I hear of a Scientologist who takes it on to open a new Scientology Mission.

There is such need to get Scientology into the hands of the people who need it.

Check out the web site for the Scientology Mission of Lafayette, Louisianna.

David Miscavige

2006-11-02T00:24:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I attended the IAS Anniversary Event that was held in Los Angeles (a showing of the event that was held live in the UK last week).

I was once more impressed with the incredible leadership of Chairman of the Board of RTC, David Miscavige.

Mr. Miscavige began the speech with a very hard hitting statement about human rights violations being perpetrated in the name of "security" and recent US legislation legitimizing this flagrant disregard for international human rights standards.

I have been incensed by this administrations actions in this regard and was so happy to hear this.

We must do all we can to make human rights a fact.

Bono's latest AIDS campaign is in the red

2006-10-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Bono's latest AIDS campaign is in the red

Bono

Zoom | Photo Reprints

By DAVID YONKE
BLADE RELIGION EDITOR

"There are some things where the scale of the problem has you just in a spin. For me, and for others, I think you try on all fronts to fight this war. And I would be, personally speaking, in the blackest despair were it not for my faith in people and in God, and actually my faith even in people who don't believe in God."

- Rock singer Bono, speaking of the African AIDS crisis in a 2003 telephone conference interview with The Blade. Bono is seeing red. Not red as in raging, out-of-control anger. But red as in the symbol of emergency. And the red of precious lifeblood. The lead singer of popular Irish band U2 has been rallying forces in every corner of the world, from churches and government buildings to concert halls and farm fields, to join him in raising awareness and funds to fight the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Nearly 3 million Africans die every year from the immune-deficiency disease and an estimated 24 million people on the continent are living with HIV or AIDS. Bono and Bobby Shriver, who together in 2002 founded DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), have been rallying support for medical, educational, and financial aid to help the impoverished, disease-ravaged African continent. Their latest innovative effort to recruit support in the fight against AIDS involves an unlikely audience: American consumers. Buying an Armani designer jacket or an Apple iPod can now raise funds for African AIDS victims. "Shop until it stops," Bono said in promoting (PRODUCT) RED, the economic initiative launched in the United States Oct. 13. Originally launched in the United Kingdom in March, the first $1.25 million raised through RED was donated in May to the Rwandan Ministry of Health and, in September, $4 million went to AIDS programs in Swaziland.>>

Making a Difference in Society

2006-10-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

The IAS event is this weekend in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium (and at the FSO [Flag Service Organization] in Clearwater, Florida. Then next week it shows at most of the churches around the world.

If you are reading this message and you are a Scientologist you should definitely attend the event and the seminar, which is the whole following day.

I've heard from people who attended the event in England that the programs that are launched will handle the major points of social ruin and start society on an upward spiral -- something urgently needed.

David Miscavige

2006-10-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

I have great respect for David Miscavige and the work he has done to provide Scientology technology to all echelons of society.

We have some incredibly important problems that need to be addressed and handled.

And this weekend's activities in the UK are a key part of getting these handled right now.

Here's a copy of a posting on the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of London.

What a Day in London and What a Weekend! David Miscavige Dedicates New Church

"We are about to drive home the message ‘This is Scientology ‘ like you have never seen," said David Miscavige , chairman of the Church of Scientology (sic.) [David Miscavige is actually the Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center.]

So reports Robert Booth on Saturday in the Sunday Times - a story that got picked up internationally.

And Sunday’s grand opening was everything Mr. Miscavige promised.

The Scientology Press Office announces the news as follows:

With thousands of Scientologists, local residents and officials in attendance, the new Church of Scientology of London opened its doors.

Mr. David Miscavige , Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center and leader of the Scientology religion , stressed the historical importance of London. "This is the city L. Ron Hubbard himself [founder of the Scientology religion] selected as home to the first Scientology organization. This is also the city wherein he first defined the human spirit as an immortal being possessed of capabilities beyond anything predicted, and so arrived at the axiomatic truths on which the whole of Scientology is founded. Your early London organizations were also the original proving ground for the bulk of Mr. Hubbard’ s social betterment programs which are used to uplift neighborhoods just like this one."

The Scientologist

2006-10-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of respect for the individual Scientologist who takes on the responsibility of a Scientology Volunteer Minister and goes to help others when they really need his/her help.

The stories of several VMs are presented on a web site called "After the Tsunami."

One begins like this:

"One of the most important and powerful effects that I created was on my very first night in Nagapattinam here in India.

We were thrown into the chaotic activity of a place called St. Joseph’s Hostel. It was a place for housing many of the surviving from the Tsunami. Many who had lost their houses, children, mothers or fathers. Continued>>

Information on the technology they use to help others, developed by Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard, is available at the web site of the Scientology Handbook.

Buckmister Fuller

2006-10-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

section: Who is R. Buckminster Fuller ?

"For the first time in history it is now possible to take care of everybody at a higher standard of living than any have ever known.
Only ten years ago the ‘more with less’ technology reached the point where this could be done. All humanity now has the option to become enduringly successful.”

– R. Buckminster Fuller, 1980

This confident assertion was made in 1980 by the late R. Buckminster Fuller–inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician, poet and cosmologist. As early as 1959, Newsweek reported that Fuller predicted the conquest of poverty by the year 2000. >>

Albert Einstein

2006-10-17T18:29:00.000-07:00

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

Albert Einstein

How Stuff Works

2006-10-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine just reminded me of this terrific web site - How Stuff Works.

It presents factual information in a very simple way - not trying to overwhelm you with high-level information, but giving it in a way that is easy to assimilate.

They also post articles on the home page that are topical and relevant to current events.

For example, today there is an article How do scientists determine if a nuclear blast has occurred?

The Earth Organization

2006-10-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

I support the Earth Organization.

Here is some information on the group and some of their key issues.

The Earth Organization is an international, non-profit, conservation and environmental organization, founded by veteran South African conservationist and explorer Lawrence Anthony, who recognized that new solutions were necessary to reverse the dwindling spiral of life on Planet Earth.

What Makes the Earth Organization Different?

Earth Organization members, apart from their commitment to creating a healthy habitable Planet, use and disseminate [spread the word about] the Dynamics of Existence as a simple workable tool, that for the first time explains exactly how all life, including man, actually survives. The "Dynamics" provide a simple new way of looking at man in his relationship to his own kind, the Earth and the Plant and Animal kingdoms.

The Earth Organization believes that while defense of the environment and protection of species is vital, fast declining statistics demonstrate that this alone is not sufficient to turn the Planet around. It has become abundantly clear that another approach is also needed.

One of our major purposes therefore is prompting the realization about the Dynamics of Existence among the people of Earth.

Once in possession of this knowledge, we believe that everyone can become involved in creating and protecting the earth.

Why are Trees so important to us?

Trees provide us with oxygen to breathe and absorb carbon dioxide, which also cools the Planet down. Mankind's future survival on Earth is entirely dependent on the well being of our existing trees and the regeneration of forests.

Recycling: does it really help?

Recycling is a practical way of doing something positive about the refuse that is polluting the Earth. Everybody should recycle.

What is our standpoint on zoos?

Earth Organization members do not support the conditions under which many zoos keep animals; we support the closure of improper facilities, with little or no educational benefit, where caged animals are abused or simply “gawked” at.

What is an ocean dead zone?

A dead zone is an area in the ocean which does not have any life at all. There are now nearly 150 dead zones all over the world. Some dead zones are small, and some are huge - as large as 40,000 sq. miles. Dead zones are caused by excess nitrogen from fertilizer and sewage washing down rivers into the sea, triggering an explosive growth of plankton which uses up all the oxygen in the water. Because there is no oxygen, everything that cannot swim away dies.

Lawrence Anthony, the founder of the Earth Organization is an International Association of Scientologists Freedom Medal Winner.

Congratulations to Muhammed Yunus

2006-10-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

Muhammed Yunus, the architect of micro-credit, an innovative banking loan program that helps the poor afford everyday tools to better their welfare, and the bank he founded, Grameen Bank, have been awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

The bank he founded gives credit to those in poverty.

Upon hearing that he was awarded the prize, the Bangladeshi professor said this was great news for the whole nation.

Here's a terrific story about him on the Third World Travelor web site.

Youth for Human Rights

2006-10-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

I think the work that Youth for Human Rights is doing is really commendable.

With the Church of Scientology International they have produced a series of remarkable public service announcements.

I am rarely moved as much as I have been by these PSAs.

If you have any ideas on how these can be gotten into broader circulation, please let me know. They have been uploaded to YouTube and you can watch my favorite one here. It's the first video - We're all born free and equal.

Did I ever say?

2006-10-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

Did I ever say how much I respect my father?

He passed away some years ago, and he was far from perfect.

But he always tought us that there was more to life than the material.

That's not to say that he was a "free spirit." He got bogged down in the physical universe for sure -- house, car, career.

And when I came home with my choice of profession it was:

What-do-you-MEAN-you-want-to-be-an-actress-you-can't-support-yourself...

You know how it goes.

But he had a love of music, art, theater, film, writing... and he instilled that love in his children.

And I owe a tremendous amount to him for that.

Cesar Chavez

2006-10-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

"If you win non-violently, then you have a double victory, you have not only won your fight, but you remain free.": Chavez, Cesar Director of the United Farm Workers

Accident today

2006-10-08T22:18:00.000-07:00

As I was out taking a walk this morning I came across an accident.

Some poor woman saw an accident occurring right in front of her and swerved to avoid getting into a pile-up, but lost control and went careening across the street into the side of a bank on the opposite side.

By the time I got there she and one of the victims in the original crash had been taken to the hospital.

Which is all a propos to my saying I really respect the emergency response personnel in LA.

They are seriously efficient, and unflappable.

That's the kind of people you want to be there for you when you get into a tangle like the three cars today.

By the way, just a funny anecdote, a couple of years ago I was called for jury duty and the case was about a car accident. The judge asked the first set of prospective jurors to raise their hands if they had not been in an accident themselves. Only one did. And he had never had a license.

Tells you something about LA?

Passive Resistence

2006-10-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

Gandhi is credited with the implementation of passive resistance.

Although there are precedents, such as the early Christian martyrs, his was the first the use I know of, where passive resistance was used as a political force, or an agency to accomplish social change.

The Dalai Lama on Peace and Human Rights

2006-10-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.

True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace. The other phenomena mentioned above are similarly interrelated. Thus, for example, we see that a clean environment, wealth or democracy mean little in the face of war, especially nuclear war, and that material development is not sufficient to ensure human happiness.

Material progress is of course important for human advancement. In Tibet, we paid much to little attention to technological and economic development, and today we realize that this was a mistake. At the same time, material development without spiritual development can also cause serious problems. In some countries too much attention is paid to external things and very little importance is given to inner development. I believe both are important and must be developed side by side so as to achieve a good balance between them. Tibetans are always described by foreign visitors as being a happy, jovial people. This is part of our national character, formed by cultural and religious values that stress the importance of mental peace through the generation of love and kindness to all other living sentient beings, both human and animal. Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquillity. In that state of mind you can deal with situations with calmness and reason, while keeping your inner happiness. This is very important. Without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed or unhappy because of circumstances.

The Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1989

The Underground Railroad

2006-09-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

There is a really good site that gives the facts and myths about the Underground Railroad in quiz form. I started taking the quiz (and got about 80% so far on the questions).

Here's an example of one of the True or False questions:

Question:Nearly all runaway slaves managed to escape to safety in the North or Canada.

Answer: False-- Many fugitive slaves failed in their attempt to be free. Those closer to the North faired better because they didn't have as far to go. Why did they fail? Slave narratives explain that the runaways faced many dangers. For example, they traveled on foot through hills, meadows, woods and swamps they did not know. If they came across rivers, they needed to swim across or chance catching a boat. They had no maps, no suitcases, and the only food they had was what they found, such as wild fruit and plants. They always carried with them the stress of the possibility of being found by professional slavecatchers and sent back into slavery.

This would be a great site to use to teach kids about the Underground Railroad.

Self-Respect

2006-09-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

There's an interesting piece on the L. Ron Hubbard web site on the relationship between the lack of self respect and crime.

"There is not a criminal in the world, L. Ron Hubbard tells us, whose life of crime cannot be traced to a loss of self-respect. And if we were to ask that criminal what is meant by a loss of self-respect, we would inevitably hear the most pitiful phrase imaginable: 'one day I found I couldn’t trust myself.'"

The article goes on to describe how Mr. Hubbard's technology has been used to help rehabilitate the self respect of people caught up in prison system - notorious for the incredible rate of recidivism. Criminon, which uses these breakthroughs, has had tremendous success reforming criminals.

Philadelphia

2006-09-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia is known as the city of brotherly love. It was settled by the Quakers who proved their dedication to their belief in the integrity and value of all humankind by establishing and running the Underground Railroad, which smuggled thousands of slaves out of the South and to Freedom before the Civil War.

My Fellow Man

2006-09-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

The first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

However, it is one thing to say this, or publish it. It is another thing to live it.

In his essay "What is Greatness" L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, wrote:

"The hardest task one can have is to continue to love his fellows despite all reasons he should not.
"And the true sign of sanity and greatness is to so continue.

"For the one who can achieve this, there is abundant hope.

"For those who cannot, there is only sorrow, hatred and despair. And these are not the things of which greatness or sanity or happiness are made.

There is no quick, easy fix to achieve the ability to grant such importance and life to others. In fact all of Scientology ultimately puts the being in good enough shape that he/she can accomplish what Mr. Hubbard wrote in these few lines.

But every step you take in Scientology you become more able to live up to these ideals.

And, as the writers of the Universal Declaration so correctly put it, every man is worthy of being considered important, valuable, and precious.

If we all had or strove to have, this view of one another, there would be peace.

The Dalai Lama

2006-09-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

"Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free."

His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Freedom Magazine Human Rights Leadership Awards

2006-09-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

Three real humanitarians were awarded Human Rights Leadership Awards last night on Capitol Hill. It was the celebration of the 38th Anniversary of Freedom Magazine, and the mistress of ceremonies was Academy Award nominee Ms. Anne Archer.

Auditors

2006-09-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

This week was the celebration in LA and in Clearwater and England of "Auditors Day."

This is a day Scientology churches celebrate each year to honor auditors.

According to the Scientology glossary and auditor is:

... a person trained and qualified in applying Dianetics and/or Scientology processes and procedures to individuals for their betterment; called an auditor because auditor means one who listens.

The remarkable thing about Scientology and Scientology auditors is that they address the spiritual needs, purposes and lives of individuals while at the same time being a technology as invariable as any of the physical sciences.

That's remarkable because 1) it never happened before and 2) boy do we need a science that can help men, women, children and groups overcome their all-too prevalent tendency to act crazy!

What is war but group insanity?

And riots? Terrorism? Racism?

All group insanity.

Personal Integrity

2006-09-03T23:22:00.000-07:00

There is an excellent chapter in the Scientology Handbook dealing with the subject of self-respect and personal integrity. It is called Improving Conditions in Life.

The information in this chapter is really powerful. I've seen people totally turn their lives around with the use of this information.

Respect Begins With Self

2006-08-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

Remember: An important aspect of respect is respecting yourself. It may sound like a cliche, but if you can look yourself in the mirror and be happy with the person you see, you are well on the way to receiving respect from other people. If not, look no further.

Self-respect is possible. Read The Way to Happiness.

Don't Laugh

2006-08-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

I saw this very cute website with a great message - they are promoting to teach children to increase respect for others and they call it "Operation Respect." The website is called "Don't Laugh."

Well I'm not laughing - I think its great that they are doing this. Educating children at an early age to not be prejudice is important. Too many people grow up with a bias viewpoint and then can't think any different. This is how intolerance is bred.

Students Promoting to Respect Rights

2006-08-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

I was very pleased when searching around to find various school and universities promoting that one should respect the rights of others. Even a university in Newcastle, which is 100 miles north of Sydney in Australia has something to say about this on their site.

Respecting the rights of others

"Studying at University will bring you into contact with people from diverse backgrounds. You may be expected to work with other students as part of your course work, whether communicating in an online discussion forum, or participating in a group assessment.

"Inclusiveness aims to allow everyone, no matter what a person’s sex, race, age, nationality, gender orientation, sexual preference, marital status, political conviction, religious belief, disability, carer or family responsibilities, the opportunity to learn together and from each other.

"In particular, the University of Newcastle's Policy on Inclusive Language states that all communications at University should:

"Avoid images, expressions, or language constructions that reinforce inappropriate, demeaning or discriminatory attitudes or assumptions about persons or groups based on age, race, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, marital status, political conviction, religious belief, or disability, family responsibilities or carers’ responsibilities

"Use images, expressions and language constructions that positively reflect the richness of the social and cultural diversity of the University and its community, in acknowledging the range of lifestyles, experiences and values.

"Be aware that written communications that are derogatory of others may infringe defamation laws, and if they are derogatory of others in relation to race, they may breach racial vilification laws. See the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977"

Respect for People I Work With

2006-08-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

To hear some of my friends talkabout the politics and pressures at their jobs in LA, I realize how lucky I am to be working with people I respect and get along with.

I Respect the Nobel Laureates

2006-08-11T23:21:00.000-07:00

The men and women who have earned the Nobel Peace Prize are by and large worthy of respect.

I especially respect Nelson Mandela. He is a man of great integrity and courage.

There is a very beautiful web site called The Community. It's all about the Laureates and it is well worth a visit.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers like Steve Carlson

2006-08-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

I respect Scientology Volunteer Ministers like Steve Calrson, who drop everything and go to disaster scenes to provide help to people who really need it.

Freedom Magazine wrote an article on Steve (and I found a little piece about it when I was browsing through the site of the Church of Scientology of Tampa).

Just one more thing I like about Scientology.

Human Rights Advocates

2006-08-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

There are many people and groups working in the field of human rights. These are people I respect and admire.

One person who sets the standard in the field is David Miscavige. As Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center. As described on the RTC web site, Mr. Miscavige has been "the worldwide ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion ... for nearly 20 years...." and under his leadership the church's activities to improve society have dramatically increased.

The human rights education campaign, the Scientology Volunteer Minister program and the work Scientologists are doing to educate kids on drugs before they become "statistics" are three examples of this.

Mr. Miscavige gave a speech in which he described not only the social mission of the Scientology religion but an excellent description of the religious philosophy itself. The speech is called This is Scientology and an excerpt of it is online on the RTC web site.

Scientology Drug Education

2006-04-27T00:10:00.000-07:00

Those that dedicate their time to helping people with drug problems have my utmost respect.
This is not an easy vocation and requires immense patience to help people come through the most horrific experience, both physically and mentally.

A crucial thing is educating people on the dangers of drugs before it becomes a problem. Ensuring our children, teenagers and loved ones are aware of the havoc that can be wreaked.

The Church of Scientology International's website on drug education is very informative. They also have booklets on the subject.

David Miscavige Heralds the “New African Century” at Opening of New Home for Church of Scientology

2005-07-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

David Miscavige Heralds the “New African Century” at Opening of New Home for Church of Scientology

Saturday, November 2, 2003, the Church of Scientology of Johannesburg opened the doors of its new headquarters in Kensington, the hub of Scientology activity in South Africa. More than 1,400 guests and well-wishers — government and religious leaders, human rights champions, celebrities and professionals, church members and friends — came from all over Africa and from many countries to celebrate the landmark dedication.

Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Centre, capped the lineup of honored guest speakers, each of whom recognized South Africa’s Scientologists for their indomitable spirit and historical achievements.

“You don’t just represent the hopes and dreams of a continent, you represent the hopes and dreams of all civilization,” David Miscavige told the Scientologists and dignitaries attending the grand opening, “And, if South Africa dreams of a Rainbow Nation, then, Africa, here is your church — a church where, regardless of color, regardless of creed, regardless of social standing, you are welcome. “Because,” he concluded, “we are not white. We are not black. We are all one to another brothers of humankind.”

Read the rest of the article about the Grand Opening >>>

2005-07-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article I found the other day:

Spotlight on Scientology

With such visible celebrities as Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley devoted to the dynamics of ‘Dianetics,’ an explanation of the religious philosophy is in order.

JENNY HUNSPERGER Tucson Citizen

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes may get it, but many may not.
Here's what Jim Bennett, the Phoenix-based public relations representative for Arizona's Scientologists has to say.

Question: What is Scientology?

Answer: Scientology, which means "knowing how to know," is a religion based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard (1911-86). Scientology addresses man as a spiritual being and gives people tools to apply to their lives to improve conditions. Among these are the techniques for alleviating spiritual trauma contained in Hubbard's "Dianetics" books.

Related story:

There's no stopping Tom Cruise

Scientologists believe the "reactive mind" - that portion that works on a totally stimulus-response basis, not under the volitional control of the individual - exerts force and the power of command over one's awareness, purposes, thoughts, body and action. Through spiritual counseling called "auditing," Scientologists reduce and ultimately erase the power of the reactive mind.

The reactive mind is of no benefit to the individual and is a source of irrationality, fears and nightmares. Its eradication achieves the "state of clear" and brings to view the individual himself. It is a landmark step in the full recovery of one's true nature and in ultimately achieving full spiritual awareness and freedom.

The first Scientology church was established in Los Angeles in 1954, and today there are more than 5,100 Scientology churches, missions and groups in 156 countries around the world.

Q: How many people practice Scientology? How many in Arizona?

A: There are millions of people who use Scientology in their lives worldwide. It is difficult to have an exact estimate because the church is growing so fast that it is an ever-changing number. Locally, there are probably about 5,500 to 6,000 people who are connected to our church in some manner. We are having requests for our services and technology in unprecedented numbers this year.

The technology of helping people improve unwanted conditions is hitting an all-time level and the church is expanding at an unprecedented rate. We are growing bigger because we have solutions to the problems of the society and we believe that something can be done about it.

Q: What is it exactly that Scientologists believe in?advertisement

A: Scientology religious doctrine includes certain fundamental truths. Prime among them are that man is a spiritual being whose existence spans more than one life and who is endowed with abilities well beyond those which he normally considers he possesses. He is not only able to solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also to achieve new states of spiritual awareness he may never have dreamed possible.

Scientology holds that man is basically good, and that his spiritual salvation depends upon himself, his relationships with his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe. We also believe that through the spiritual salvation of the individual, Scientology seeks the ultimate transformation - "a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights." (from "Dianetics")

Like Scientology, all great religions have held the hope of spiritual freedom - a condition free of material limitations and suffering. Scientology believes that "something can be done about these unwanted conditions," and we work tirelessly toward those goals.

Q: What is Scientology's view on family and marriage (i.e. sex before marriage, gay marriage, birth control)?

A: Scientologists recognize marriage as a part of the second of the eight dynamics of existence and this
includes all creative activity, including sex, procreating and the raising of children. We consider the family unit to be of major importance to the stability of the society and the furtherance of the species of man. The fundamental belief of Scientology is that men and women are spiritual beings who live lifetime after lifetime. Our views are all based on that principle and not on the sexual orientation of a person's body or the body itself.

2005-04-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

Someone I should have added to this blog a long time ago, Mr Tom Cruise.

So what makes him worthy of a spot in "Deep Respect" is the deep respect he shows to others.

Yes, he's a movie star, yes, he's a great movie star - but I think anyone that sees what he does when he's not doing movies, and even when he is doing movies, will see that he is a very caring individual who puts his time and money into other people's well-being for the future.

I have some links that give some vivid examples of this:

MSNBC Interview covering Tom Cruise and Scientology

TOM CRUISE - SCIENTOLOGY - LAST SAMURI

Tom Cruise Scientology Blog

Award to Tom Cruise for Scientology achievements

More than a celebrity.

He is also the project co-founder of the New York Detox Center and he hosted an event for the first program graduates, honoring both their service to New York City and their successful detoxification.

2004-07-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

It is not likely you have heard of the sailing motor vessel, the Freewinds. See the virtual tour.

It is not a well-known fact, and being the people that they are, they don't crow about it -- but the people on this ship have done a number of a heroic things, as well as being very contributory to the their ports of call.
Providing entertainment, a venue, goodwill and even helping to educate local children on life at sea.

I am including some different things to look at here, giving you the specifics on their activities.

To me, these people warrant deep respect, in that they are helping others on a constant selfless basis.

Deep Respect

2004-05-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

Since the grand opening of the Advanced Organization in Los Angeles a few years ago, the expansion of Scientology in the Los Angeles area has greatly accellerated. This has a lot to do with Mr. David Miscavige's call to all Scientologists to really do something about their communities and society in the wake of 9/11.

As a Scientologist I, for one, have really taken that message to heart.

As David Miscavige put it in his speech honoring L. Ron Hubbard on his birthday in 2002, shortly after the World Trade Center incident occurred: Today, that message, and wish, has an unmistakable clarity for all of us.

"As Scientologists, we understand that 'survival' for 'us', can only be achieved if we bring survival for all.

'"Last year, when the “social veneer” was stripped away, our mission became more urgent than ever.

"Why?

"Well, if it wasn’t clear before, it is now:

"W have to work fast or, we could have an environment where it isn’t possible to free anyone.

The full text of David Miscavige's speech for 2002 can be read online here: David Miscavige Presents a Tribute to L. Ron Hubbard: March 2002

Biography - David Miscavige