CCHR
Scientology issued corrections on October 15th to a press release last week which contained a typographical error in a web site URL. The original URL has been taken by a Scientology critic and points to the Operation Clambake web site. "In the news release, 'CCHR Florida Awards US Dept. of Justice, Florida Catholic Conference Representative,' issued on Friday, October 12, by Citizens Commission on Human Rights over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the second sentence of paragraph six should read 'www.psychassault.org' rather than 'www.psychassualt.org' as originally issued inadvertently." Message-ID: dcimst06kk6vi5lrkog46gf5u21hsr7scd@4ax.com
China
China Daily reported on October 18th that an entry in a sculpture symposium in Hangchun, China uses a quote from L. Ron Hubbard. "The recent Fifth China Changchun International Sculpture Symposium reflects the city's best wishes for tomorrow. With a theme of 'Friendship, Peace and Spring,' the symposium drew the attention of many top artists. About 415 artists from 75 countries and regions submitted 1,662 sculpture proposals. Of them, 89 sculptors were selected to create their sculptures during the symposium. "Laury Dizengremel, a French sculptor residing in Britain, presented her impressions of contemporary Chinese society through a foreigner's eyes. One side of her sculpture, 'East Meets West,' features several carvings of Chinese faces. On the other side of the sculpture, she put three more faces, that of herself, another sculptor and a girl. Above these faces, she carved a message in English and Chinese that reads: 'On the day when we can fully trust each other, there will be peace on Earth. - L. Ron Hubbard.' "'The overall message is that trust among people is the driving factor that will bring us the lasting peace we need in the world,' Dizengremel said. 'I chose Hubbard's quotation because he was a great humanitarian and philosopher who first visited China when he was 17, traveled the world thereafter and offered a great many insights into the minds of people.'" Message-ID: 1c2ustcpc69jpmck8p2m6d7jlafcngde9r@4ax.com
Narconon
The Associated Press reported on October 16th that security has been tightened at an ammunition factory in Oklahoma following Tom Cruise's fly-by on his way to visit the nearby Narconon facility. "The Army has requested restrictions on air space and state officials have canceled part of an annual deer hunt in the latest moves to improve security at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. The plant, which is also the Defense Department's largest explosive storage facility, recently changed the design of its security badges after two of them were stolen from a contractor's truck. "A plane carrying actor Tom Cruise flew over the plant in late September because authorities said the pilot may have mistaken a half-mile long cement pad for McAlester's airport, which is nearby. Cruise came to the area to tour a drug treatment facility with ties to the Church of Scientology, which he supports. The plant was put on lockdown until officials investigated the incident." This is Gloucestershire reported on October 15th that Narconon is denying links to Scientology while trying to set up operations in Dryborook, England. "A drug rehabilitation charity which may set up shop in a Forest of Dean village has denied being anything to do with a controversial religious group. The charity Narconon admitted it had expressed an interest in buying the Euroclydon Nursing Home in Drybrook, but has denied links with the Church of Scientology. Noel Nile, director of drug education for Narconon, has now spoken out in an effort to allay fears about the organisation, which he describes as 'an international charity.' "He said: 'It is non-religious and its sole purpose is to work towards a drug-free society. As such, it enjoys the highest drug rehabilitation, currently 70%, and uses no substitute drugs in its programme.' He said the organisation's drug education programme has been used in schools throughout the UK and was well respected. "But he did admit the drugs rehabilitation programme used by Narconon was developed with the research of one L. Ron Hubbard - the same Mr. Hubbard who founded the Church of Scientology in 1954. And on the Church's own website Narconon is in fact listed as a group 'affiliated' to the Church of Scientology. "News that the old people's home could become a drugs rehabilitation centre has appalled not only people living close to the home but also councilors and village traders. Vice-chairman of the parish council, Colin Smith, said he was totally against a drug rehabilitation clinic in the village. He said: 'This is definitely something we can do without, and people living locally will be horrified at this news.' Council chairman Mabel Beech was also concerned. She said: 'Such a development will add to the problems we already have in Drybrook.'" An anonymous author on October 17th released a description of conditions in Narconon from the perspective of a former staff member. "Narconon claims to have a 80% success rate. In the 7 months I was involved with one of 2 Narconon facilities in California, over 80 people attended and graduated from the program. I personally know that 71 of them relapsed. Many who relapse return to Narconon, where they are put on a degrading and punishing 'ethics cycle' where they are forced to perform manual labor in order to 'make up damage' to the Narconon facility and rejoin the group. Relapsed addicts who return are not only put to work, but subject to even more intense efforts to get them to join the Co$ and be brainwashed by the Narconon 'counselors.' The facility, only licensed for a little over 32 patients by the State of California, had almost 50 because of all the relapsed graduates who returned. "The facility was overcrowded and in violation of fire and health codes. Pressed for time, the kitchen staff would defrost meat in the bathtubs while the bathroom was still in use by students. Whole rooms had nothing in them but beds from wall to wall, cramming students in. There was minimal staff supervision because staff members were totally outnumbered. On-site drug use was rampant and students were constantly getting high in the facility or in the surrounding neighborhood after escaping unnoticed. To deal with the lack of space at the actual facility, students were placed in temporarily rented apartments that were far from staff supervision. State authorities were unaware of these ad-hoc facilities and no license had been granted for them. "Many Narconon graduates at facilities world-wide go on to work at the facility. This is often because the upper-level Scientologist counselors who run the facilities convince them they can't afford to go out in to the world or they will inevitably return to drug use. Their only chance at sobriety is to work 6 days a week, 12 hours a day with minimal contact with family, vacation time, free time or personal time at Narconon. Narconon, the 'counselors' say, saved their life, so the patient must 'repay their debt' by working for Narconon. They are paid $50 a week to start, and raises come only after they pass through various courses given at the local Co$ organization. 'Counselors' have no formal training when it comes to first aid, drug abuse treatment, medicine, counseling. "Addicts and their families pay over $22,000 to go to Narconon after being convinced through deception and lies that the program will save their life or that of their addicted love one. A significant portion of this $22,000 goes to the Co$ as payment for classes staff members are required to take. Furthermore, thousands of dollars out of that $22,000 goes to purchasing books from the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), itself an arm of Scientology and the 'publisher and copyright owner' of the books Narconon uses (books that are all LRH's teachings). "Narconon 'students' are subject to an unproven, quack medical practice of the purification-rundown, where they sit in a sweltering sauna for hours on end, taking harmful doses of vitamins, minerals and niacin. Never in my time at this Narconon facility was there every a licensed medical professional on staff, apart from a registered nurse who had gone through the program herself. This nurse relapsed 3 times during the course of my employment at the facility. Both students and staff members were constantly getting kicked out or fired because of drug use, inappropriate sexual conduct between staff members and students, or being deemed 'suppressive' by hardcore Co$ staff members. "We would lie about insurance coverage. We would tell people we knew for a fact that their insurance carrier would cover our program when in fact, such carrier had never agreed to cover the Narconon program. We would lie about our success rate, basing the statistics of a 70%-80% success rate on decades old studies done by obscure European research firms. We would constantly hear of graduates relapsing when their families would call mere days after the students graduation, devastated that they had already returned to drug use. "When I left Narconon in an argument with my bosses because of my gradually becoming more and more aware of what a criminal conspiracy Narconon was and is, I was threatened by these Scientologist bosses of mine. For weeks after I left they tracked me down and left threatening messages on my answering machine." Message-ID: 3bce94ed.1600557@news.xs4all.nl Message-ID: 3bcdf89f.4515577@news.xs4all.nl Message-ID: 3bce7732.2402012@news1.tninet.se
John and Claire Swazey
John and Claire Swazey posted their Suppressive Person Declare this week. They have been Scientologists and contributors to the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup. "John and Claire have been associating with SPs for more than 2 years and have continued to do so despite clear Church policy. They have not been availing themselves of the true source data but have been getting false data from the SPs they have been associating with. As of May 2001 they went beyond associating with them and started assisting them in their attempts to attack the Church by spreading Black PR. They have publicly disavowed Scientology and Church management using a broad public medium and have violated the trademarks of the church and the laws of the land. "Claire has broadcast entheta about Church management and Scientology, and associated with SPs using a broad public medium for more than 2 years. On the 29th of April 2001 she publicly disavowed the Church of Scientology and Church Management using a broad public medium, as well as giving enemy lines about Senior Management terminals. "Claire has also been associating with a Church staff member feeding him entheta and false data about the Church resulting in his no longer wanting to work as a staff member in the Church. "Claire and John are guilty of the following suppressive acts: PUBLIC DISAVOWAL OF SCIENTOLOGY OR SCIENTOLOGISTS IN GOOD STANDING WITH SCIENTOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS. ENGAGING IN MALICIOUS RUMOR MONGERING TO DESTROY THE AUTHORITY OR REPUT OF HIGHER OFFICERS OR THE LEADING NAMES OF SCIENTOLOGY OR TO 'SAFEGUARD' A POSITION. CALCULATED EFFORTS TO DISRUPT CHURCH SERVICES OR THE FLOW OF PUBLIC UP THE BRIDGE THROUGH THE CHURCHES. ACTS CALCULATED TO MISUSE, INVALIDATE OR ALTER-IS LEGALLY OR IN ANY OTHER WAY THE TRADEMARKS AND SERVICE MARKS OF DIANETICS AND SCIENTOLOGY. FAILURE TO HANDLE OR DISAVOW AND DISCONNECT FROM A PERSON DEMONSTRABLY GUILTY OF SUPPRESSIVE ACTS. IT IS A HIGH CRIME TO PUBLICLY DEPART SCIENTOLOGY. "Any certificates or awards which may have been given to Claire and John Swazey are hereby canceled. Any membership agreements they may have signed are also hereby canceled and they have no right to use the Dianetics and Scientology marks in any manner whatsoever. Should they come to their senses and recant they are to do the steps A to E. Their only terminal is the International Justice Chief via the Continental Justice Chief. "WUS JUSTICE CHIEF APPROVED BY INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE CHIEF" Message-ID: 3bcf6bc7@news2.lightlink.com
World Trade Centers
Messages from Scientology to members about their efforts in the wake of the September 11th tragedy at the World Trade Centers continue to be posted to a.r.s. "If you've ever wanted a prospect-rich environment of monied top-drawer Corporate America clients who need AND WANT your help, here it is. Tired of beating your brains out with small-think Mom & Pop shops? Dreamed of playing in the Big League? If I'm ever asked again, 'How do I get my consulting practice going?' or 'How do I attract more clients?', my first response is going to be, 'Did you got to New York?' "We'll cover your immediate expenses. This is the defining moment in time for you and all of us. So, swallow hard as anything that stops you now on this one is Enemy. Recognize it as such, rise above it and get your butt on a plane to New York or spend the rest of your life wishing you had. "ML, Harrison Quigley Deputy Chairman PCA Int'l "From: 'Lynn Irons' lynnirons@hotmail.com "This is like the front and we are consumed with PT production but like in any war, we need some back up and some fresh troops. We, in the WISE Sector, are responsible for the catastrophe here in New York. The NY event is a motivator. We, all of us, have not taken enough responsibility to handle the breeding grounds of poverty and illiteracy that would spawn the likes which created this destruction. "Right now we have reaches for LRH admin tech from two multi-billionaires - real reaches, both with huge numbers of staff. We have to produce what is wanted and needed by the public immediately while doing establishment actions to put something here that can deliver what is wanted and needed. We need a little mest as well. Here's the list: "1. HCA starter package. 2. Personnel Testing Software 3. $5,000 petty cash 4. Consultants to help handle the current reaches 5. Some reges 6. Some PRs to distribute OECs to VIPs and handle the press 7. Project I/C to get lots of guys on Consultant Training 8. Admin terminals "People here are definitely higher toned than most places I have ever been, very high literacy level and a real respect for competence." The Northwest Signal from Ohio reported on October 15th on local volunteers who went to New York following the disaster. "Ohioans were among the ministering to the spiritually wounded but unbroken souls of New York. Dianetics 'assists' are techniques employed by the volunteer ministers to get the individual back in control of his mind and his environment. They were used at Ground Zero to handle distraught rescue workers and are now being used for the family and friends of the victims. 'It is a real wake up call. We must do something to help,' said volunteer minister Jack Via from Columbus, Ohio. 'Currently, we are manning the phones to reach family members of the Cantor Fitzgerald missing employees.' "Via said the volunteers are using communication skills that a volunteer minister of the Church of Scientology is trained to deliver so the families can comfortably confront the administrative details that need to be addressed by them. The volunteer ministers for the World Trade Center relief effort are working out of the Church of Scientology of New York in midtown Manhattan. Hundreds of Scientologists have come from as far away as London and Italy, as well as Los Angeles and San Diego to help out in the relief effort. And still hundreds more have been individuals off the street who have heard the Church of Scientology is the one group in town that will not turn away their offers of help. "The church has put into the community more than 800 volunteer ministers since the day of the tragedy and continues to accept applications of those who wish to learn how to truly help others." Ananova reported on October 16th that Scientology celebrity Isaac Hayes is planning a concert to honor firefighters who lost their lives in New York. "Isaac Hayes is to host a UK concert to honour firefighters killed and injured in the New York terrorist attacks. The charity concert is an annual event organised by the L Ron Hubbard Foundation and the Church of Scientology. It will be held at L Ron Hubbard's home in East Grinstead, Surrey, on Sunday, October 21. The concert will also feature performances by Emmy Award Winner Carl Anderson and film composer Mark Isham. Proceeds will go to the New York Fire Department Relief Fund, plus two local charities." A Scientology press release on October 18th publicized volunteer ministers' work in New York. "Shalon Goss is blond, pretty, and an aspiring artist. However, she will also tell you that she is very much a minister. Goss, 20, from Los Angeles is part of a group called the 'Scientology Volunteer Ministers' who recently have showed up in large numbers to assist in the World Trade Center relief effort. 'Being a Volunteer Minister is an amazing thing,' said Goss. 'We have L. Ron Hubbard's technology to help. To know you have this technology and not use it is a crime.' "One way that Volunteer Ministers give aid at Ground Zero is by using Hubbard's 'assist' technology. These are simple procedures employed by the Volunteer Ministers to get an individual to confront and handle physical difficulties by addressing spiritual trauma. Goss, who is studying to be a photographer, dropped everything and came to New York in the wake of the terrorist strike on the World Trade Center. 'You can't leave it up to the person next door,' Goss said. 'You can't think that you can't make a difference just because you are an individual.' "In the first week after the strike on the World Trade Center, over 825 Scientology Volunteer Ministers donned their trademark bright yellow shirts and made it down to Ground Zero administering thousands of the Hubbard assists to the rescue workers. These included people of all ages from as far away as Florida, California, and even London, England." LA Weekly reported in its October 19-25 issue on Scientology's response to the terrorist attack. "The Scientology-fronted Citizens Commission on Human Rights' professed role is to alert the citizenry to the dangers of psychiatry - its big picture windows in the old Yale Electronics store on Sunset Boulevard are dominated by posters depicting a man undergoing painful electric-shock treatment. Since the beginning of this month, CCHR has been trying to associate the September 11 attacks and their aftermath with evil shrinks. "While CCHR's press releases sound a reasonable tone by denouncing the over-prescribing of psychiatric drugs, they then move to uncertain ground by pointing out that Osama bin Laden's lieutenant, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, is an Egyptian psychiatrist and that African-embassy bomber Ali A. Mohamed is a psychologist. Jane's Intelligence Review calls Al-Zawahiri a former pediatrician and nowhere in the growing mountains of reports about al Qaeda is Mohamed described as anything but a former U.S. Army sergeant who trained bin Laden's militia. From there, CCHR makes the jump that Al-Zawahiri and Mohamed (who has been in prison since 1998) 'are capable of using drugs and other mental techniques to create suicide bombers convinced of the glory of sacrifice and dying.' In other words, the hijackers' meds made them do it, not Allah." Message-ID: r2ulstc4hjt96qt89pathvc1jv2m3c8390@4ax.com Message-ID: 9qhd1q$pkk@netaxs.com Message-ID: 3bcf435d.2709719@news.xs4all.nl Message-ID: 9qmrv8$305@netaxs.com Message-ID: 9qp3op$gs4@netaxs.com
New Zealand
The Evening Post in Wellington, New Zealand reported on October 19th that Scientology's CCHR branch is helping prepare a lawsuit against a mental health hospital which allegedly mistreated patients in the 1970s. "Former Lake Alice child patients who say they were abused and tortured at the mental institution in the 1970s are preparing to lodge criminal complaints with the police. Psychiatric watchdog, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, said yesterday it was helping former patients who wanted to file criminal charges against staff who administered electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and painful drugs as punishment. "The Government last week said it had paid out $6.5 million in compensation and apologised to 95 former patients for treatment they received at the child and adolescent unit, near Marton, between 1972 and 1977. Commission director Steve Green, of Auckland, whose organisation was founded by the Church of Scientology in 1969, said the Crown had finally acknowledged 'torturous events'. He was helping three former patients who wanted to file criminal complaints. "Central Districts police commander, Superintendent Mark Lammas, of Palmerston North, said he had spoken to an Auckland man who said he would make a formal complaint. Mr. Lammas, whose district covers the now-closed hospital, said he expected some correspondence from the man in the next two weeks. When the complaint was received, police would consider it on its merits. "Another former patient, whom The Evening Post agreed not to name, said he planned to lodge a complaint against former staff and particularly psychiatrist Selwyn Leeks. He said staff had committed serious crimes and they should be 'locked up.' "But Dr. Leeks has been defended by Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Auckland University, John Werry. 'I don't want to condone what took place but from what I knew of him, I find it hard to believe that he is cruel or malicious.' Prof. Werry said, however, that the practices described in Sir Rodney's report were 'as unacceptable then as it is now.'" Message-ID: 3bd29b9b.1152689@news.xs4all.nl
Protest Summary
Keith Henson reported on a protest at the Toronto org on October 13th. "About 1.5 hours starting at 1 pm. Gregg reported that a woman threatened to have him arrested if he picketed in front of the 'chapel' because about 7 long term members were hiding there. Gregg continued to picket and told them to go for it. No cops came by. As usual I plus an unknown person were across the street. We had the usual collection of people coming by to tell their Scientology stories and among us we gave away about 200 Xenu flyers." Keith Henson and "Kaeli" reported another protest in Toronto on October 20th "It was Kaeli, Zeratul, Gregg and me plus we had a mystery guest (from Europe) taping the our protest. We picketed from about 1 to 2:30 then wondered off for a late lunch. As usual I was up the street a ways. Flyer distribution was brisk, I ran through 125 or so. Several people stopped to talk. The cult hid as usual, though some of the usual suspects were seen." "When Gregg began speaking, a woman shut the Org door in order not to hear Gregg speak. Zeratul and I were on sign duty and continued walking around the Org. I noticed that a dark haired woman with long curly hair was on a cell phone, looking at us, then handed the cell phone to the Isaac Hayes wannabe, who was still staring at us with a grin on his face. At 1:45 pm we noticed two mounted police officers coming up the street and blocking off the connection to Yonge Street. They ignored us. "At around 2 pm, during the picket, an antiwar protest came up St. Mary street. We decided that we did not want to be associated with any political or even anti-war movement. So we stopped picketing, but stayed nearby the Org anyhow. As soon as the protest dispersed, it was noticed that the body routers were outside again, handing out flyers. We came back to our picketing positions again. Near the end of the picket, the three of us stood together, talking, when Al Buttnor came back again with a camera. I suddenly asked him, 'Hey Al! Feel up any children lately?' He took off going north on Yonge Street, leaving the new president of the Org, a woman, standing alone to face us with her camera." "Barb" protested in San Diego on the day of their publicized Dianetics workshop on October 14th. "The 'Church' of Scientology spent around $10,000 to have inserts placed in all the San Diego papers last Wednesday, advertising a 4 hour 'Dianetics Workshop' to relieve people of their anxieties over terrorism as well as any spare cash. "Richard of Riverside joined me today, the other possible attendees were no-shows. My sign said, 'WARNING! SCIENTOLOGY PROFITING FROM TERRORISM' and Richard's said, 'SCIENTOLOGY, BAIT AND SWITCH FRAUD.' Unfortunately, the only people I saw walking into the org today were Scientologists. A rather grim young man out in front handed out ads for the Dianetics book and some full color, slick paper brochures. This was to counter our presence, with our Xenu fliers, an insert, 'Scientology Hurts People,' a rather lengthy one 'Would you want a cult in your town? TOO LATE!' and some 'Ron the War Zero' brochures. "The workshop was scheduled for 12:30, so we got there at 11:30. At one point a hefty blonde came out with a cell phone stuck to her head. Shortly thereafter, a police cruiser arrived. I showed them the flier invoking terrorism to sell their books, and both cops agreed that that sort of advertising was rather despicable. I gave them some fliers, and Richard asked if they'd been called by the org. Yes, they had. They stopped to make sure we kept things peaceful. Now two more cops know about their wretched scam! "The phone research place across the street had some folks taking a smoke break outside, so we crossed over and handed them fliers while the clam boy glared at us. We put in an hour, just to warn any innocent raw meat who might happen to arrive for the Dianetics workshop, but it looked like the only interested parties already belonged to the cult." Message-ID: 167f6d0e.0110141234.4a5a1a65@posting.google.com Message-ID: 3BCA0DA3.BB9D5FE3@home.com Message-ID: 3BD25DB7.3B1D1B2E@klis.com
Switzerland
APA reported on October 12th that a court in Lausanne, Switzerland has denied Scientology's request to lift restrictions on distributing leaflets in public. "The Scientology cult may deliver its papers to the public on the streets of Lausanne only to a limited degree. On Friday, the Swiss Federal Court rejected the request to continue activity pending the outcome of an appeal. In 1998, Lausanne permitted the cult to distribute its papers on public land only on one day a week. In addition to that, Scientology may set up a stand on St. Francois Square only twice a month." Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1011019072606.116B-100000@darkstar.zippy
A.r.s. Week in Review is put together by Rod Keller ©
This collection is organised for WWW by Andreas Heldal-Lund.
Only edits done by me is replacing word encapsuled in * or _ with bold and underscore, and made links into HTML.
