Church of Scientology Sponsors Red Ribbon Week Forum on Strategies to Reduce Drug Demand

Jesse Morrow, Social Reform Director of the Church of Scientology
National Affairs Office in Washington, D.C., introduces those attending
the first annual anti-drug forum of the Truth About Drugs.

Honoring Red Ribbon Week and its message of prevention and education, The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office in Washington, D.C. co-hosted the first annual anti-drug forum of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World on October 22.

Held in Chestnut Hall in the new National Affairs Office in Fraser Mansion at Dupont Circle, the forum focused on effective strategies to reduce the demand for illicit drugs. It was chaired by Jesse Morrow, Social Reform Director of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office.

Red Ribbon week is a national drug prevention and education week, held in the last week of October each year to honor the memory of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was tortured and killed in 1985 by drug traffickers while working undercover in Mexico.    October is also National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, as designated in 2011 by President Obama.

The panel featured John Redman, Executive Director of Californians for Drug-Free Youth (CADFY), the group that created the first statewide Red Ribbon Week Campaign in 1985; Peggy Sapp, President of the National Family Partnership (NFP), the organization that initiated the first national Red Ribbon Week and sponsors the campaign; Courtney Bennett, Community Organizer for Wards 5 & 6 of the DC Prevention Center; and Imani Walker, Executive Director of the Rebecca Project for Human Rights.

The consequences of drug abuse affect everyone at all levels of society, whether or not they or their friends or families are directly involved. For example, drug abuse kills more than 37,000 Americans each year, more than the number of annual traffic fatalities. Teen deaths from drugs doubled in the first decade of this century. This year, the National Drug Control Policy Office reported that illicit drug use in America contributed to $193 billion in crime, heath-related costs and lost productivity.

In his presentation, Redman pointed out that much of the public discourse on legalization misrepresents the issue. He debunked myths that promote drugs as harmless, showing they are far more potent now than in the 1960s and 1970s.

Bennet’s presentation concerned synthetic marijuana, far stronger and more dangerous than marijuana. She covered its accessibility, the alarming effects of its use and its increased popularity among D.C. youth.

“Any successful drug prevention endeavor must include factual drug education at its base to empower individuals with the knowledge to decide for themselves,” said Morrow, “Once they have that knowledge, they make the right choice.”

The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, opened Sept 12, 2012, at Fraser Mansion at Dupont Circle, was established to promote solutions to society’s greatest challenges. The historic building is configured to host a wide range of functions, from human rights symposiums and drug education workshops to panel discussions, press conferences and awards ceremonies.

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Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The planet has hit a barrier which prevents any widespread social progress—drugs and other biochemical substances. These can put people into a condition which not only prohibits and destroys physical health but which can prevent any stable advancement in mental or spiritual well-being.”

The Church of Scientology sponsors one of the world's largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention campaigns. 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 drop commensurately.

 
^{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, are the aims of Scientology.~~~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}

Meet a Scientologist - Barbara Schneider's Happy Ending

Scientologist Barbara Schneider is a model, TV personality, paramedic, Scientology counselor and mother of four who didn’t anticipate how well things would turn out 18 years ago when things went wrong.  

Born and working as a paramedic in Lugano, Switzerland, in the early 1990s a failed relationship left her desperate to get away.

“I went to a travel agent and told him I needed a change,” she says. “I wanted to be someplace far away and on the sea.”

The next thing she knew, she was flying to Majorca with her 3-year-old son. Once there, she was paying a friend a visit at a hotel when a man directed her ‘right this way for the audition.’  She tried to tell him that was not why she was there, but he insisted, and she ended up being cast as co-host of a TV show.

Despite the change in scenery and an exciting new job, a year and a half later, Schneider was still suffering.

“My twin sister Elena could tell I was unhappy,” says Schneider. “She had been a Scientologist since we were 16 and she was convinced Scientology would help me.”

Agreeing to give it a try, she received some Scientology spiritual counseling and was amazed—the upset vanished.

Schneider relocated to Clearwater, Florida—the spiritual headquarters of the Scientology religion.  It was there that she met and married husband Roberto. 

A Scientology auditor (religious counselor), she credits the skills she has gained from her training for her success as a mother and in so many other aspects of her life.

“I don’t know how I would raise a family in the world today without what I’ve learned in Scientology,” she says.

She is tremendously proud of how self-reliant and responsible her children are.

“My kids have a very good life but they work hard for it,” she says.  “It’s not automatically—‘Oh, you’re 16 so here’s a car.’ They earn what they get by studying hard and doing well in school. Even with my little one who’s only four, she loves contributing to the family.  She helps me around the house.  We make it a game and she’s proud of what she does.”

Schneider’s commitment to helping others extends beyond the family.  A Scientology Volunteer Minister, she traveled to Port-au-Prince in January 2012 with her three sisters and several close friends to help in the wake of the Haiti earthquake. 

 “We are all mothers and the children there really touched our hearts,” she says. “We took on helping more than 100 children who were living on the streets, orphaned or separated from their parents. We built tents, turned an old school bus into a cafeteria, cooked and served their meals, arranged medical care, and tutored them.  Where possible, we helped them find their families.  My sisters stayed on for months and made sure the children would be cared for when they left.”

Involved with helping others since she was a child, Schneider finds being a Scientology auditor (counselor) enormously gratifying.

“What I like most is to touch someone’s life with a bit of magic—that’s what I really love to do,” she says, “to inspire them, bring out the best in them, so they can see solutions on their own and go ahead and resolve their problems and be happy.”

To meet more than 200 Scientologists and hear their stories, watch the “Meet a Scientologist” videos at www.Scientology.org. 

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The popular “Meet a Scientologist” profiles on the Church of Scientology International Video Channel at Scientology.org now total more than 200 broadcast-quality documentary videos featuring Scientologists from diverse locations and walks of life. The personal stories are told by Scientologists who are educators, teenagers, skydivers, a golf instructor, a hip-hop dancer, IT manager, stunt pilot, mothers, fathers, dentists, photographers, actors, musicians, fashion designers, engineers, students, business owners and more.

A digital pioneer and leader in the online religious community, in April 2008 the Church of Scientology became the first major religion to launch its own official YouTube Video Channel, with videos now viewed more than 7 million times.

^{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

Meet a Scientologist—Jim Brewer on the Olympics, Then and Now

Jim Brewer (number 11) on the U.S. Men’s
1972 Olympic Basketball Team

Former NBA center and member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team of 1972, Jim Brewer reflects on competing in the Munich Games and the direction his life has taken since then.

For Jim Brewer, of Maywood, Illinois, the Olympics represents more than the thrill of seeing great athletes perform at their best. Forty years ago at the Munich Olympics, Brewer was a member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team. What began as the happiest moment in his life was marred by frustration and sorrow.

“The Olympics are humanity at its best,” says Brewer. “The whole world is there in one place and all the athletes treat each other with respect.”

Munich, however, also brought Brewer face to face with tragedy and injustice, when 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team died at the hands of terrorists.

And, on a personal level, he was brought up short by a decision that turned the men’s basketball final into what is often referred to as “the most controversial game in international basketball history.” The U.S. team, thrilled with their 50–49 win in the last three seconds of the game, ultimately lost the gold medal to the Soviet Union. Because of unauthorized interference from the scorers’ table, those last three seconds were ordered replayed twice and, in the end, the Soviet team took the game 51–50.

Graduating from University of Minnesota the following spring, Brewer went on to play nine years in the NBA including a championship season with the Los Angeles Lakers. But success didn’t bring him everything he had hoped for—there was something missing in his life.

“I just was not satisfied,” he says. “My career was OK, but for me personally, things were just kind of so-so.”

He began reading self-help books and in 1979 he came across Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health by L. Ron Hubbard.

“That book made so much sense to me—the way it explained about the mind, the body and the spirit,” he says. “I saw that something could be done about any problem a person might have.”
In the back of the book he found the address of the Church of Scientology Detroit. He enrolled on courses, read more books, received Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling) and trained as a Scientology auditor (counselor).

“I was very eager to learn how everything was done and see why it worked so well. I just wanted to know it all. And everything I have looked at and experienced in Scientology has been positive,” he says.
His advice to young athletes or anyone who wants to succeed in life is simple.

“The beauty and the joy of living comes from working toward something,” he says. “Just make sure it’s a purpose that’s meaningful to you and something that you enjoy working toward, because you can’t really fail if you continue to pursue those goals in sport and in life. There’s always something to get you closer to what you are trying to accomplish.”

As to his own formula for success:

“I try to think for myself,” says Brewer. “At a very young age, I was doing what everybody else did and what people expected of me and I didn’t feel so good about it all the time. But I think when you look into things for yourself and make decisions based on what you think and keep counsel with yourself, that makes you a lot happier.”

For Brewer, thinking for yourself includes making decisions about recreational and psychotropic drugs. Knowing that athletes are role models for youth, Brewer volunteers with a Scientology-sponsored drug education and prevention program, conducting seminars in Chicago and Texas. He also worked on a program for Milwaukee kids identified as “at risk” by that city’s police department.

“Drugs are demand driven,” he says. “Kids are sold the wrong information—that they should drink and try recreational drugs—they don’t really understand what the effects are. If they know the effects of these substances and where drugs will lead them, they won’t try them, or, if they do, when they understand the down side they will quit. With the largest proportion of the U.S. prison population stemming mainly from drug use and sales, we owe it to our young people to get the word out to them. And that’s what my involvement comes from—just wanting to see things get better.”

To meet Scientologists from all walks of life and learn what they are doing in their communities, visit the Scientology website at www.scientology.org.

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The popular “Meet a Scientologist” profiles on the Church of Scientology International Video Channel at Scientology.org now total more than 200 broadcast-quality documentary videos featuring Scientologists from diverse locations and walks of life. The personal stories are told by Scientologists who are educators, teenagers, skydivers, a golf instructor, a hip-hop dancer, IT manager, stunt pilot, mothers, fathers, dentists, photographers, actors, musicians, fashion designers, engineers, students, business owners and more.


A digital pioneer and leader in the online religious community, in April 2008 the Church of Scientology became the first major religion to launch its own official YouTube Video Channel, with videos now viewed more than 7 million times.
 

^{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

Tampa Leaders Honored at Scientology Open House

 The Church of Scientology of Tampa honored five civic leaders August 4 at a special open house held in honor of International Day of Friendship. The Church presented awards to Shannon Edge, Maria Asuncion Lopez, Sam Mobley, Dr. Wallace Reyes, and Pastor Essie Sims for their work to make a difference in the Tampa Bay community.

Shannon Edge has served as director of the Neighborhood and Community Relations Office of the City of Tampa since 2003. Her office works with Tampa neighborhood and civic associations and provides a liaison between residents and city government, helping people resolve issues, find information and connect with city agencies that offer the services they need.

Maria Asuncion Lopez is president of the Hispanic Alliance of Tampa Bay and founder and president of Voz y Acción de Puerto Rico, a nonprofit organization established to improve community interaction. Maria also heads LPNet—the Latino Professionals Network—which creates career, educational and social opportunities for Hispanic professionals.

Sam Mobley, president of the Eastern Heights Neighborhood Association, secured a Hillsborough County neighborhood grant to upgrade community facilities and regularly leads anti-drug marches through East Tampa to bring police attention to suspected drug dealers, making the neighborhood safe for local families and unsafe for criminals.

Ybor City historian Dr. Wallace Reyes conducts tours of local historic buildings, thus helping to preserve the heritage of the city by educating residents and visitors on the history of the region.

Pastor Essie Sims, Senior Pastor of Telling the Truth Ministries, is chairman of East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership, which provides activities and opportunities for East Tampa youth such as midnight basketball and dances through the East Tampa Have a Safe Summer events program. His work with the National Football League Youth Education Town (NFL YET)—an educational and recreational center operated by the Boys and Girls Club of America on behalf of the National Football League—provides activities and opportunities for East Tampa youth.

During the awards presentation and throughout the day, the Church of Scientology Tampa introduced those attending the open house to The Way to Happiness, a nonreligious moral code written by L. Ron Hubbard and based entirely on common sense. The booklet and brief informational videos that illustrate its precepts provide a roadmap to a happier life through compassion and understanding, virtues essential to accomplishing the purpose of International Day of Friendship—to foster friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals to inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
To learn more about the Church of Scientology Tampa, visit their website at
www.scientology-tampa.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

Church of Scientology Amsterdam Sponsors 2nd Annual Anti-Drug Marathon

Former drug addicts carry out 350 km (217 mile) run to raise awareness on the danger of drugs

Volunteers from the Church of Scientology of Amsterdam joined former addicts in a two-week 350 km (217 mile) anti-drug marathon through Holland to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs. The team kicked off their cross-country journey August 2 in the town of Den Helder with the mayor joining them for the first kilometer of the run.

Along the route, the runners are distributing booklets and flyers presenting factual information on the effects of drugs. The former addicts on the team know all too well the damage drugs cause—how drugs can lead to stealing, prostitution and other criminal activities. They also have firsthand knowledge of longterm physical, emotional and mental consequences of using drugs.

"It all seems so innocent at first," says one of the former addicts, "but if I had known how drugs would destroy my life I would absolutely never have started. If I can prevent even one youth from suffering the horrors of addiction through this marathon, then I'm happy."

According to a recent study, there is twice as much cannabis use among Netherland teens age 15-16 as the European average. The purpose of the marathon, co-sponsored by the Say No to Drugs—Say Yes to Life Foundation, the Church of Scientology, and Narconon, is to decrease teen drug use by raising awareness of the dangers of drugs.

For more information on the drug education and prevention initiative of the Church of Scientology, visit www.Scientology.org.

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The Church of Scientology sponsors the world's largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention campaign. 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 drop commensurately.
 

^{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 Added to the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy

For the first time, the Scientology religion is included in the Diccionario de la Lengua Española de la Real Academia Española (Dictionary of the Spanish Language of the Royal Academy of Spain) or DRAE, the most authoritative dictionary of the Spanish language. Produced, edited, and published by the Royal Spanish Academy since 1780 and now in its 22nd edition, it defines Scientology religion as a “religious movement originating in the United States, which aims to promote awareness through certain introspective techniques.

Dictionary additions such as this one require the consensus of the 22 Academies of the Spanish Language which represent all Spanish-speaking nations throughout the Americas and the Philippines. Members of the Academy are chosen from among the most prestigious Spanish artists and scientists. As with their French counterpart, the Académie Française, members of the Royal Spanish Academy are elected for life by their peers.
“We are pleased that our Church is now represented in this dictionary, as anything that makes greater knowledge and understanding available benefits society as a whole,” says Ivan Arjona-Pelado, President of the National Church of Scientology Spain.
Scientologists have been practicing the religion in Spain since the 1960s. The Spanish Ministry of Justice officially recognized Scientology as a religion in 2007.
The National Church of Scientology Spain is located at Santa Catalina, 7 in the heart of Madrid.
“The opening of our new Ideal Scientology Organization in 2004 and the expansion of its public information center and seminar and conference rooms in 2011 have made it possible to introduce scholars and civic and community leaders to our religion,” says Arjona-Pelado. “This makes our technology and social betterment programs even more broadly available.”

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Ideal Scientology Organizations (Orgs) realize the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the religion. They not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their ascent to greater states of spiritual awareness and freedom, each is 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 Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has today expanded to more than 10,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 nations.


^{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 the Scientology religion}

Philosopher, humanitarian, author, artist, educator and administrator—L. Ron Hubbard served us in a myriad of ways. In turn, he is quite literally viewed by millions worldwide as Mankind’s greatest friend: by those now literate, by those now drug-free, by those who used his work to reclaim their honor and self-respect, by those who enjoy newfound prosperity, morality and the unmatched joy of artistic creation. 

Yet what Mr. Hubbard ultimately provided in the name of uplifting humanity is found in the more than 75 million words of recorded lectures, books and related writings comprising the totality of Dianetics and Scientology. If this profile has barely touched upon those subjects, he nonetheless ensured that greater legacy is available to all who would avail themselves of it. True, this road to eternal freedom demands some commitment, some determination. But he never expected one to walk it blindly or without inspection. Rather and very simply:

“This is the track of knowing how to know. Travel it and see.”

SCIENTOLOGY OPEN HOUSE PROMOTES PEACE

An interfaith forum at the Public Information Center of the Church of Scientology of Berlin at Otto-Suhr-Allee 30-34 brought members of diverse religions together in one common endeavor: to promote peace in the Middle East through communication and cooperation.

The tone was set with a viewing of the video “Respect the religious beliefs of others,” a public service announcement that illustrates one of 21 precepts of The Way to Happiness, a nonreligious moral code based wholly on common sense. More than 100 million copies of The Way to Happiness booklet have been passed hand-to-hand since 1981 when L. Ron Hubbard crafted it to fill the moral vacuum in what he described as “an increasingly materialistic society.”

One of the guests discussed a project to create an atmosphere of dialogue and understanding in Israel and his “All Country Peace Café” where people of all faiths can meet and talk over their differences. He shared his insight into grassroots actions among Jews and Muslims to promote peace.

Ms. Sabine Weber, Public Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology Berlin who hosted the open house spoke of the more than 2 million Hebrew and Arabic copies of The Way to Happiness that have been distributed in the Middle East, most of them in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip—that the booklets provide a moral guideline that transcends religious and ethnic boundaries. Ms. Weber pointed out the very virtues highlighted in the booklet as promoting happiness, such as kindness, tolerance and compassion, are essential to resolve the decades-long violence in that region and anywhere else where conflicts rage.

The presentation ended with the airing of another The Way to Happiness public service announcement—“Try To Treat Others As You Would Want Them To Treat You”— positive direction for people of all faiths who wish to live in harmony.

Those attending spanned the religious compass, and all agreed that working together is the key. As one guest summarized it, “It is people, not government, that will bring about positive change and peace.”

For more information on the Church of Scientology Berlin, visit their website at www.scientology-berlin.org. For more information on The Way to Happiness visit The Way to Happiness website at www.twth.org.

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The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has today expanded to more than 10,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 nations.

^{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}

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

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.”

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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.

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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

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

"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

^{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?

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.

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.>>

^{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}

Freedom Magazine Exposes Lies on Scientology

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.

^{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 Gear Up for United Nations Day Against Drugs

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

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

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.

^{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}

Video of what people think of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers

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

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}