Good News

I just found out about the new Scientology videos up on the Scientology site!

Here's a tip to go a watch them.

And I'm following my own advice. By. See you once I've watched them myself!

Labels: Scientology, video

It's Ron's birthday -- March 13th.

Every year Scientologists pay tribute to LRH on the anniversary of his birth.

Now that I've been reading his books and listening to the lectures he recorded (called the Basics) my admiration for Ron has increased by leaps and bounds.

Labels: L. Ron Hubbard

There's a group I really love, called Youth for Human Rights International. It was founded by Mary Shuttleworth, an educator who is committed to helping kids live decent lives, and to the full implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For the past 7 years she has been traveling the world promoting this initiative.

Last year she was also awarded the International Association of Scientologists Freedom Medal Award for her work.

Last weekend, the Tampa Bay chapter of this group held a human rights "walkathon" (I guess you can turn just about anything into a "-thon" if you want to) to promote human rights.

Here's a little piece on that:

Youth for Human Rights of Tampa Bay, Florida, held its 2nd Annual Human Rights Walkathon at North Straub Park to promote human rights. With over 350 people from all walks of life in attendance it was an all around good time. They were joined by the Red Cross, Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Community Tampa Bay, the St. Petersburg Islamic Center and the Nation of Islam.

Sponsors for the event included the Vinoy Hotel, Telemundo TV, the Belleair Country Club and the Admiral Farragut Academy, as well as the Sunscreen Film Festival. Jamba Juice had a tent and gave away free drinks to support the event.

The participants circled the park, gaining a new wristband each time they successfully completed a lap helping them to keep track of their laps. The person with the most wrist bands won the prize. Afterwards speakers inspired the crowd including Anna Rodriquez, founder of the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Mary Shuttleworth, President of Youth for Human Rights International and Iman Wilmore Sadiki from the St. Petersburg Islamic Center.>>

Labels: human rights, kids

Costa Rica, Christmas 2007. It was an exciting, colorful and action packed weekend when the Costa Rica Cycling Federation was the main attraction for the Christmas weekend and staged several cross country cycling racing events. Amidst the ongoing activities which attracted thousands of attendees was The Way to Happiness, namely President TWTH Costa Rica Yadira Orias who presented the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize and current President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, a personal copy of the book The Way to Happiness.>>

Labels: L. Ron Hubbard, The Way To Happiness

The Scientology Press Office features an article today of how the Church of Scientology of New York is helping a group of men from Nepal to bring human rights reform to their country.

He is using the booklets and videos published by Youth for Human Rights International.

Look at those kids. Aren't they magnificent!

They are elementary school children from Taiwan, and they are taking the Drug-Free Marshals pledge.

Back on my soap box, I guess, but here's a personal story.

My younger sister was always so bright and capable. I admired her so much when we were growing up. She started drinking when she was 11 and started smoking dope when she was 13.

Of anyone I know, she probably posessed more talent and potential. And although she was a bit withdrawn and shy she had a really good disposition. But drugs changed all that.

One day I realized that she had really become vicious. I couldn't trust her any more and she absolutely refused to let me help her. And so that was that.

But even people who do make it and succeed in their careers -- they aren't exempt from the destruction of drugs. Just look how many artists are wrecked by alcohol and drug abuse.

Every time I go to a Scientology event and hear David Miscavige urge Scientologists to do more to help their friends and their communty I think of people like my sister, and how wonderful it would have been if someone had gotten to her before her "cool" friends did.

Labels: alcohol, David Miscavige, drugs, Scientologist, Scientology

I really admire the Scientologists in Taiwan who are working to help kids stay off drugs

At the Scientology New Years event, David Miscavige spoke about the incredible impact this team is having on school-aged kids, turning them away from drugs before peer pressure to take drugs gets them.

The Say NO to Drugs team swears these kids in as Drug-Free Marshals. As a Marshal, each kid takes responsiblity to help his friends stay off drugs too. So they not only help themselves, they help their friends too.

What a tragic waste drug addiction is. I'm sure if you know an alcoholic or a drug addict you know what I mean. It's not a pretty picture. They not only ruin their own lives, they ruin yours too. And it is so much harder to help them than if you get to them before the wreck their lives.

If you are in the position of having someone who needs help with a drug or alcohol problem, check out the Scientology Handbook. I know people who have gotten friends of family members withdrawn from drugs just by using what's in that book.

Labels: anti-drug, David Miscavige, drug prevention, drug-free marshals, drugs, Scientologist, Scientology, Taiwan

Did you know that there are over 87,000 Scientology Volunteer Ministers now? With all of them out in their own areas, helping people with the information in the Scientology Handbook, that's a lot of help, and a lot of people feeling a whole lot better!

One think I love about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program is its unconditional help. Anyone can benefit from it. There are no requirements at all. It's free. It's simple. And it works!

Here's a good description of the Volunteer Ministers program from Mr. David Miscavige on the Scientology Volunteer Ministers web site.

Labels: David Miscavige, Scientology, Scientology Volunteer Ministers

I just had dinner with a friend who arrived back from Berlin this afternoon.

She went to attend the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of Berlin

I wanted to hear all about the grand opening, and it was even better than I thought it would be!

There were 5300 people there! Even though it was COLD outside, there were thousands of people who waited for hours to be able to get to tour the building.

Everyone was so pumped!

Over 600 people brand new to Scientology toured through the public displays.

She told me she absolutely loved Berlin, the city, the people, the neighbors, the people at the local stores, the cab drivers -- everyone was so friendly.

She said she wouldn't have traded this for anything!

It's a whole new era for Scientology!

Great News about the Church of Scientology of Berlin!

Wow. What a fantastic weekend!

The Church of Scientology of Berlin opened with 5000 in attendance!

Imagine, it was only on New Years Eve that David Miscavige announced the church, which was a huge surprise to everyone attending, and told us that the grand opening was going to be on the 13th of January, and here it was two weeks later and 5000 Scientologist made it there!

I'll tell you. I was impressed!

But I was even more impressed by the church. It is such a gorgeous building, and those displays. You have to see them to understand what a wonderful inovation they are, because you can bring anyone to the church and in a couple of hours they will understand enough basic Scientology principles to understand not only what Scientology is but what it can do for them and what they can do for others by using Scientology to help them.