SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEER MINISTERS

 The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Corps is an embracive program of the Church of Scientology to provide community service, disaster relief and emergency response. Created more than 30 years ago by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, the program has expanded to over 200,000 Volunteer Ministers worldwide who have served at 161 disaster sites, including Ground Zero after 9/11, the Southeast Asia tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, Haiti and Japan.

Volunteer Ministers have trained and partnered with more than 1,000 different groups, organizations and agencies including the Red Cross, FEMA, the National Guard, and police and fire departments. The Volunteer Ministers Corps motto is “Something can be done about it.”

In addition to assisting people in need in their own communities, Scientology Volunteer Ministers have helped hundreds of thousands in major cities around the world and in far flung outposts.  Our 18 Continental Volunteer Minister traveling centers (marquee yellow tents) and have toured through 170 countries covering over 300,000 miles, including a Volunteer Ministers barge traveling on the Amazon River, two centers traveling throughout Western and Central Africa and a traveling center in the outback of Australia.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers also routinely work side by side with other emergency response and relief organizations helping to save lives and bring order to disaster zones. 

In 2001, more than 800 VMs responded to the World Trade Center disaster and provided spiritual and practical aid to emergency workers for many weeks.  They have also been an integral part of rescue and salvage efforts at the sites of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and fires. 

More than 500 VMs from 11 nations served in relief efforts in Southeast Asia, India and Sri Lanka in 2005
after the Tsunami.  Their work was reported on by international media including CNN, The Economist, Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.

The service of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers has been recognized by politicians, police, military, other relief agencies and civic authorities.  A mayor in Louisiana whose city had been hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 said, “I was very happy when more than 900 of your Church Volunteer Ministers arrived in my city from all over the world and became a major force in bringing physical and spiritual help to those in need.”

For more information on the Scientology Volunteer Ministers click here.

Scientology Video: Why we help

CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY HAMBURG CELEBRATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Musicians representing five diverse cultures perform a concert in the new chapel of the Church of Scientology of Hamburg

The Church of Scientology Hamburg hosted a Concert for Diversity in their new chapel March 9, featuring artists from five different nations.

The eclectic mix of genre and style spanned the cultural landscape from Iran to Nigeria, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Germany. Each of the seven groups or artists brought to the audience their unique sound and expression, and the finale where they performed together capped the evening.

The theme of the event was the role of the artist in bridging cultural differences and bringing about a better world, as expressed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard: “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.”

The Church of Scientology of Hamburg newly opened its doors in a dedication ceremony on January 21, 2012, attended by 1,500 Scientologists, guests and dignitaries. The grand opening marked the culmination of the transformation of the seven-story Church into an Ideal Church of Scientology to better meet the needs of Hamburg’s growing Scientology congregation and the community at large. The renovation and grand opening was part of a program to open Ideal Scientology Organizations around the world to fulfill L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the religion. They are designed to provide all Scientology religious services to their parishioners and to serve as a home for the entire community and a meeting ground of cooperative efforts to uplift citizens of all denominations.

Scientology Video: Why we help

Scientology Disaster Response in Thailand

Scientology Volunteer Ministers are providing relief in Bangkok, Thailand, where flooding has affected some 3 million people.

Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology Mission of Bangkok are working with other relief organizations to cope with the needs of those at a temporary shelter at Chon Buri College where more than 4,000 evacuees were moved to two weeks ago where they cooked and distributed food and provided Scientology Assists.

Teams of Volunteer Ministers also packed some 5,000 food boxes and delivered them by boat to those stranded by the floodwaters.

To join the response team, fill out the disaster relief form on the Volunteer Minister website.

Scientology Video: Why we help

L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Contest

L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Contest

This week is the 26th annual Writers of the Future Contest. Writers of the future is my personal favorite when it comes to Sci Fi and Fantasy anthologies. The stories are just so much better than you find these days in magazines.

I also think it's great that L. Ron Hubbard created this anthology and contest to give young (and not-so-young) writers and illustrators a start in a very competitive industry, where the door is so often nailed shut to new talent.

From their press release:

Founding Chairman of Challenger Center for Space Education is Keynote Speaker at Writers of the Future Awards Ceremony

June Scobee Rodgers to Address Winners of L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest at Festive Gala

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- June Scobee Rodgers, Founding Chairman of Challenger Center for Space Science Education, will deliver the keynote address to winners of the L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest, the Contest judges and several hundred attending guests this Saturday night at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Challenger Centers have the purpose to carry on the educational mission to utilize the excitement of space to inspire and motivate our nation's school children to take interest in mathematics, science and technology. Scobee Rodgers will address the evening's attendees on the vital role played by writers and illustrators of science fiction as the dreamers of a new tomorrow which will inspire the next generation of scientists.

It is not only as the founding Chairman of the Challenger Space Centers that she will be addressing the audience. She is also a published author. And, as the 25th anniversary approaches of the Challenger 51-L Teacher in Space mission, commanded by her late husband Astronaut Dick Scobee, she says that she is pleased to launch a new project, ''A series of novels that I developed with Writers of the Future judges Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson, called Star Challengers.''

The highlight of the ceremony will be the announcement of the year's two Grand Prize winners who will each receive $5,000 and release of the annual anthology L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers and Illustrators of the Future, Volume 26 (Galaxy Press, 2010). Also being released is a special coffee table book edition of L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future: The First 25 Years, a photographic retrospective of the 25 years of the contest and containing over 1,000 images.

The Writers of the Future writing contest (www.writersofthefuture.com) was initiated by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983 to provide a means for aspiring writers to get a much-needed break -- its winners have gone on to sell an impressive 31 million copies of their works combined. Due to the success of the Writing Contest, the companion Illustrators of the Future Contest was created in 1988.

For more information about the award or the ceremony, go to http://www.writersofthefuture.com.

Publish Post L. Ron Hubbard - Artist

How does one know that they are a spirit?

^{It is a matter that each individual must examine for themselves. Scientologists believe Man is more than a mind and body and that it is he, himself, the spirit, who can control the mind and the body.}

^{"You may have been taught that the mind is a very difficult thing to know about. This is the first principle of Scientology: It is possible to know about the mind, the spirit and life."—L. Ron Hubbard}

Volunteer Scientologists to be Recognized at Historic Fort Harrison

Volunteer Scientologists to be Recognized at Historic Fort Harrison

August 9, 2010 (FPRC) -- Clearwater – A Volunteer Awards Ceremony will be held in the historic Fort Harrison to honor the over 800 Scientologists in Tampa Bay who have donated over 300,000 volunteer hours to raise funds for the needy, rehabilitate inmates in Florida’s prisons, tutor children, and to spread the message of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights and that a Drug Free Life is More Fun. Pat Harney, the Public Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization will be presenting the awards. She said, “In 1961, L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology wrote: ‘…a being is only as valuable as he can serve others.’ This is an ideology that Scientologists internationally practice, including those here in the Tampa Bay area and I want them to know that they are appreciated for the tremendous work they are doing to raise the standard of living of the people of Tampa Bay and throughout Florida.” Harney continued, “Participation in Scientology volunteer groups, however, is not just limited to Scientologists. People of all faiths are welcome to volunteer, and most of our programs count a wide range of community volunteers.” Here is a partial list of the volunteer groups established and led by Scientologists in the Tampa Bay area>> A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists. — Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

New Film: Problems of Work

David Miscavige released a new Scientology film in July. The Church of Scientology has been in the forefront of an entirely new genre--the book on film. The book on film Mr. Miscavige released in July is The Problems of Work by L. Ron Hubbard. Most everyone, no matter where they live, has been affected by what has been euphemistically called the "economic downturn." Lot's of people lost their jobs, their savings, pensions... . Security seems to be something our parents or grandparents had, not what's available for us. Even though this book was written in the late 1950s the information in it is as pertinent today as it was when first released. The film is so well done, and so true to the book, not just that it's a word-for-word rendition of it but also the tone, acting, music... everything adds to and complements the information. And the best thing about it is that it's real, and helpful, and a pleasure to watch. And it rocks when it comes to using it. Works like a bomb! First time I ever read it I was pretty burned out. Didn't know what I wanted to do. Hated the jobs that I was getting. I read the book and somehow there was so much truth it my whole attitude toward work changed. I actually started to enjoy it, something I'd never done before. You can get the book at any Scientology church. Scientology Video: Why we help

What are they doing to our kids?

This article on Scientology Against Drugs blog really got to me. With what psychs are doing to kids and teens in our schools and right under our eyes is frightening!

In the last four weeks: Have you had trouble sleeping, that is, trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early? Have you had less energy than you usually do? Has doing even little things made you feel really tired? Has it often been hard for you to make up your mind or to make decisions? Have you often had trouble keeping your mind on your schoolwork/work or other things? Have you often felt grouchy or irritable and often in a bad mood, when even little things would make you mad? Have you gained a lot of weight, more than just a few pounds? Have you lost weight, more than just a few pounds?

These are a few of the questions being asked to adolescents in a mental health screening program used in schools across the nation. If a child answers ‘yes’ to these or a set number of other equally inane questions, they’re considered likely to be depressed-or worse.>>

Scientology Video: Why we help

Scientology questions?

The Scientology site has a section to answer questions on the subject. It's the Scientology FAQ.

There are a lot of "opinions" about Scientology from people who, frankly, know nothing about it. (we all know people who are experts-in-their-own-mind on many subjects).

One the other hand, if you really want to find out about something, the sensible thing is to go to the primary source. In this case, to find out about Scientology, check out the Scientology FAQ.

Since the forming of the first Church of Scientology in 1954, the religion has grown to span the globe. Today, more than 8,500 Scientology Churches, missions, related organizations and affiliated groups minister to millions in 165 countries. And those numbers are constantly growing; in fact, Scientology’s presence in the world is growing faster now than at any time in its history.

As the only major worldwide religious movement to emerge in the twentieth century, Scientology generates immense public interest.>>

Scientology Video: Why we help

MEET A SCIENTOLOGIST

Scientologists come from diverse lands, cultures and backgrounds. They are doctors, educators, inventors, athletes, actors, musicians, students, photographers, business owners and more.

To understand how practicing Scientology has impacted their lives, it is best to hear directly from them. So we present the opportunity to "Meet a Scientologist" with a series of short documentaries profiling the lives and careers of Church members.>>

Scientology Video: Why we help

Help for Haitian Student

Getting his life back: Haiti quake survivor who got prosthetic leg in New Haven is following new career path

By Amanda Pinto, Register Staff apinto@newhavenregister.com NEW HAVEN — Five months ago, Ralph Gedeon was lying trapped beneath a pile of rubble when the engineering college he attended in Port-au-Prince toppled in the 7.0 earthquake that hit the island nation. His leg was crushed and several organs were failing when his father, after digging for a day and a half, rescued Gedeon from the tumbled remnants. Miraculously, on Sunday, the earthquake survivor stood on two legs — one of them a prosthetic — and packed his bags as he prepared to leave the Sister Ann Virginie Grimes Rehabilitation Center on Chapel Street. Gedeon’s progress is a miracle, and seeing him walk brings tears to the eyes of Dr. David Gibson, an orthopedic surgeon who teaches at the Yale School of Medicine and is affiliated with the Hospital of Saint Raphael. “This is what you do it for,” he said. “It is really heartening to see him walk.” But for Gedeon, who will now begin outpatient treatment in Rockland, N.Y., walking is only a part of his positive journey. When he eventually returns to his home country, he will have a permanent prosthesis that will even allow him to play soccer, and he’ll have an engineering degree that will enable him to help others injured in the earthquake, said Ayal Lindeman, the emergency medical technician, nurse and Scientology volunteer minister who was on a mission in Haiti when he met Gedeon, 22. Gedeon will also take classes at Rockland Community College, and will likely receive a scholarship from the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading to continue studies in engineering, Lindeman said. He will switch his concentration from electrical to mechanical engineering so he can focus on creating and improving orthotics and prosthetics to help Haiti’s thousands of amputees, Lindeman said. Gedeon has come quite a long way for a man who contemplated accepting death rather than enduring an amputation that could have left him shunned in Haiti, where amputees are degraded, Lindeman said. After Gedeon was rescued, his father, Raphael Gedeon, told Lindeman ‘I love my son, but I cannot condemn him to this life.’ At that moment, Lindeman thought of the motto on the back of his mission jacket, ‘Something can be done;’ he called his friend Gibson and promised Ralph Gedeon a leg and a life. Now Gedeon has had nine surgeries, his care has been provided at no cost by St. Raphael’s and a prosthetic donated by a manufacturer. He has been tutored, free of charge, in English. He used a cane to walk from the rehabilitation center Sunday, but routinely lifted it as he waved and joked with the small crowd of well-wishers who gathered to see him off. Of his ability to walk, Gedeon smiles and simply says, “We’re progressing.” “(I thought I would walk) because Ayal promised me, and second, I’ve seen people walking (on prosthetics) in the movies,” he said. He said his leg, which is still healing, is a bit uncomfortable, but he was full of smiles and hugs for the group—which included Marie and Marc Roseme, housekeepers in the facility who are originally from Haiti— who bid him an emotional goodbye. His father, who arrived in the U.S. Friday, said through a translator Sunday that he was at a loss for words for what his son has accomplished, and for the generosity bestowed upon him. “I don’t have an expression that would fit,” he said. “Just thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Scientology Video: Why we help

Scientology Book Helps People Cope

The book Self Analysis by L. Ron Hubbard is a Scientology book that helps people get a grip on their lives. In it, Ron says, "Probably the most neglected friend you have is you. And yet every man, before he can be a true friend to the world, must first become a friend to himself." The book has exercises you can do by yourself, or you can "twin-up" with a friend or anyone interested in improving his/her life and go back and forth, asking the questions in the book. The most remarkable things happen: You start to feel more energetic, more optimistic, you can think on your feet faster, you start to be able to come up with smart solutions to problems that were sticky or "impossible" before. It doesn't have to take long -- a half hour a day is enough to make a difference. Scientology Video: Why we help

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.

Scientology Video: Why we help

Scientology-sponsored Youth Group Brings Truth about Drugs to Los Angeles Thai New Year Festival

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles chapter of the Drug-Free Marshals, sponsored by the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles, joined the festivities of the Songkran Festival, the celebration of Thai New Year, getting kids to pledge to live drug-free lives.

Located just blocks from the heart of Thai Town, the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles joined this year’s Songkran Festival, the celebration of Thai New Year, by helping neighborhood children avoid the tragedy of drug abuse. Scientology volunteers distributed copies of The Truth About Drugs drug-education booklets and “swore in children” as Drug-Free Marshals, a program that encourages youth to pledge to live drug-free lives and help their friends and family do the same.

Thai New Year, celebrated each year in April, is a time of renewal, marked by lighthearted fun and enthusiasm. Several blocks of Hollywood Boulevard were closed to traffic and filled with hundreds of booths, offering a variety of Thai products including food and beverages, clothing and gifts. There were also booths from community programs including the Drug-Free Marshals.

“Every 12 seconds another school-age child experiments with illicit drugs for the first time,” said Noelle North, Outreach Program Coordinator for the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles. “Our aim with the Drug-Free Marshals is to reach children with the truth about drugs before they succumb to peer pressure or pro-drug false propaganda.”

The Drug-Free Marshals program was founded by the Church of Scientology International in Los Angeles 17 years ago. The non-denominational program has been adopted by individuals and organizations throughout the United States and in many other countries as well.

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

Church of Scientology–Final Judgment of European Court of Human Rights Defend Religious Freedom

On March 8, 2010, the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of religious associations of the Church of Scientology in Surgut and Nizhnekamsk became final.

March 13, 2010—On March 8, 2010, the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of religious associations of the Church of Scientology in Surgut and Nizhnekamsk became final.

On October 1, 2009, the European Court of Human Rights delivered the judgment in the cases NN 76836/01 and 32782/03 in favor of the churches of Scientology of Surgut and Nizhnekamsk.

The final judgment of the European Court found a violation of rights of the applicants by the Russian Federation, in particular, violation of the provisions of Article 9 of the Convention (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) in the light of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association).

The court found that “the restricted status afforded to religious groups under the Religions Act did not allow members of such a group to enjoy effectively their right to freedom of religion, rendering such a right illusory and theoretical rather than practical and effective, as required by the Convention.

“The applications for registration as a religious organization submitted by the first and second applicants as founders of their respective groups… were denied by reference to the insufficient period of the groups’ existence. Finally, the restricted status of a religious group for which they qualified and in which the third applicant existed conveyed no practical or effective benefits to them as such a group was deprived of legal personality, property rights and the legal capacity to protect the interests of its members and was also severely hampered in the fundamental aspects of its religious functions.

“In the instant case the Russian Government did not identify any pressing social need which the impugned restriction served or any relevant and sufficient reasons which could justify the lengthy waiting period that a religious organization had to endure prior to obtaining legal personality.”

President of the Church of Scientology of Nizhnekamsk, Mr. Emir Ramazanov, stated, “the judgment of the European Court not only raises the standards of the protection of freedom of conscience and freedom of association to a new level in Russia and in Europe, but also confirms that the European standards guarantee the protection even when injustice comes from national laws.”

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. Scientologists believe that Man is an immortal spiritual being and basically good, and that the spiritual potential of Man can be restored (i.e., man can be salvaged) within one lifetime. The first church was opened in the United States in 1954. Now Scientology has over 8,300 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups and millions of members in 165 countries. In Russia there are over 40 churches and Mission of Scientology, from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.

Nevada Scientology Volunteer Minister Planning to Return to Haiti

Donna Cooper’s story of wanting to join the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Haiti relief effort appeared in her hometown paper, the Pahrump Valley Times , in January. Donna has returned from Haiti but is planning to go back in April with her 17-year-old daughter. Donna, mother of 8 and soon to be great grandmother, retires in 16 days. She is a veteran of the Scientology Disaster Response in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Donna mainly worked at the Volunteer Ministers compound at the Port-au-Prince Airport, where she cooked for those who were working in the hospitals. “The doctors were great,” she said. “They slept on the ground in sleeping bags just like the rest of us. They didn’t ask for special favors. They were friendly, cheerful, and never complained about anything. We didn’t have a kitchen—just a couple of two-burner hotplates. One day I grabbed two big bags of rice, 33 cans of Healthy Choice soup, four cans of peas and cooked them all together. Everyone loved it. People were so easy to please. I did laundry too, especially for the doctors and nurses, because they simply had no time to do it themselves.”

Church of Scientology Distributes Drug Abuse and Addiction Facts Internationally

Members, friends and allies of Scientologists and Church of Scientology missions and churches in countries around the world are carrying out an all-out international effort this month to do something effective about drug abuse and addiction in their communities.

Treating April as “Drug Information Month,” volunteers distribute copies of 13 separate drug education booklets, which give simple and direct facts about drugs. These free booklets cover the effects of drugs such as marijuana, alcohol, prescription drugs, cocaine, heroine, crystal meth, crack, painkillers, LSD, Ecstasy, and Ritalin (known as “kiddie cocaine”), and show how these substances destroy a person’s health, creativity, family and relationships.

Scientologists distributed over 3,000 drug facts booklets in Hamburg, Germany, and thousands more in Berlin and Dusseldorf. Volunteers in Cagliari, Italy helped several hundred people learn the truth about drugs, many of whom asked for more booklets to pass on to their friends.

Teams in Marseilles, Angers, Clermont, Bordeaux, Nice and Lyon, France passed out more than 10,000 booklets. In Paris, volunteers went right to the most notorious neighborhoods in the city, passing out booklets to at-risk teenagers and youth while local police quietly stood by to guard against retaliation from drug dealers. “Our booklets were in such high demand,” said one of the volunteers. “We had teachers coming up to us to ask for copies for their students, two medical doctors wanted them for their waiting rooms and a professor liked them so much he grabbed some booklets and joined us.”

In Amsterdam, where the sale of so-called “soft drugs” is legal and “coffee shop” is a code name for a hash bar, volunteers passed out over 500 drug education booklets. In Auckland, New Zealand volunteers handed out some 1,200 copies at a marketplace.

Countless lives are lost to drugs. Newspapers and TV news shows spotlight the famous artists who die from drug overdose, but most people have experienced personally the loss of a friend or family member through drug abuse. Many of those who resort to selling sex are supporting their habits. Our prisons are full of men and women who are there because they dealt drugs or are drug addicts who committed crimes to support their habits. Governments, nonprofit organizations and private individuals spend billions every year in an attempt to combat this tragedy. Scientologists and Scientology churches, missions and groups partner with people from all faiths, professions and walks of life to do something effective to counter drug abuse. For more information visit the Scientology video channel at www.scientology.org or www.youtube.com/ChurchofScientology

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Restore Hope in the Land of Dreams

In a very quiet way, day by day, Scientology Volunteer Ministers on the Outback Goodwill Tour help people overcome the barriers to their happiness and renew the dreams of the people of dreams—the indigenous people of the Australian Outback.

The plagues that dominate indigenous Australian culture are drug and alcohol abuse and illiteracy. In 2005, the reading levels of less than half of third year Aboriginal students and only 31 percent of fifth year students met national standards. While only 5 percent of Australia’s 10-17-year-olds are Indigenous, they make up 40 percent of all young people in the nation’s juvenile justice system. A report released in June 2009 found that Indigenous Australians are 13 times more likely to end up in jail than the rest of the population. The report found a clear link between drug and alcohol abuse and the high number of incarcerated Indigenous people.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour tackles these problems in villages and camps on a one-on-one basis, using Study Technology, the Answers to Drugs Booklet, and Scientology Assists—”spiritual first aid” that helps establish the person’s communication with his or her body to overcome the pain and discomfort often associated with withdrawal. This spiritual technology, developed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, is making a difference in the lives of these people, one person at a time.

Alice Springs is a cultural meeting place for the 60,000 Indigenous Australians of the Northern Territory. An additional 2,000-3,000 Indigenous people pass through 18 outlying town camps and thousands visit the Todd dry riverbed, a sacred site that runs through the town. Volunteer Ministers have introduced hundreds living in the city and camps and those making the spiritual trek to the city to technology to help with drug addiction, literacy, ethics and morality.

An elder from Alice Springs heard about the Volunteer Ministers on the “bush telegraph” (in other words, by word of mouth) and how much their Scientology Assists had helped people. When she encountered the volunteers she had them train her to give Assists and she now uses them regularly with her own friends and family. A Lutheran pastor from Hermannsburg heard about Assists and he too is now delivering them—and has taught 30 others this technology.

With their motto “Something can be done about it,” the Goodwill Tour reaches hundreds of people each month, and through training them in these tools for better living, reach out to an entire culture.

For more information on the Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours visit the Scientology Volunteer Ministers website at www.volunteerministers.org.

Article by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

Twenty-seven years ago, L. Ron Hubbard wrote an article for Freedom which contained a striking analysis of how and why riots and civil unrest occur amongst minorities in the United States.That article, which follows below, is as meaningful today as it was in 1969.

iots are not always caused by economic depravation. The bulk of American riots are caused by injustice.

Only the wealthy can afford justice. It may say there must be justice in the Constitution but it can only be obtained in upper courts.

The little fellow doesn’t have a hundred thousand dollars to fight the unjust actions of those in power.

Until there is justice for the little people, not just for the rich, there will be riots. And these riots can easily swell into complete raw red revolution.

A Black can be innocently standing on a street corner, can be grabbed, beaten, thrown in jail, and worked at hard labor all on some imaginary charge. It may say it can’t be done in the law books, but where’s his $100,000 to take it high enough for action.

I have seen a Filipino university professor hauled in for nothing, his jaw broken, held without bail, all because he was a Filipino in a white US community (Port Orchard, Washington).

I have seen jails full of men who could not even say what the actual charge against them was—but they worked like dogs every day as convict labor.

As a minister, going amongst the people, I have witnessed enough injustice to overturn a state only waiting for a spark to ignite the suppressed wrath into revolution.

Until justice applies to all, until a person is really assumed innocent until proven guilty, until it no longer costs a tenth of a million to get to an upper court, the government is at risk.

They may be very big, their sweat may have no odor, their arrogance may put them above all others, but the leaders of a nation who for one instant tolerate injustice to their poorest citizens today should have heads ready for the basket. Another 1789 is boiling up, only waiting for one big spark to flash across the Western world.

Injustice is not something in which any man with power should ever trade. It is not just a sin. It is suicide.

New Scientology Church in DC

The newest ideal Scientology church opened on Saturday--the Founding Church of Scientology of Washington DC. What a milestone! David Miscavige dedicated the new building. It is HUGE! And it is SO BEAUTIFUL!