Tag Archives: International Association of Scientologists

Year in Review: International Association of Scientologists Awards Japanese Activist for Helping Secure the Rights of Victims of Coercive Psychiatry

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Each year, the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) presents the Freedom Medal to humanitarians whose work materially forwards the Aims of Scientology. These aims, as set forth by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, are: "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights." On behalf of the IAS, Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige presented this year's award to Japan's Yuzura Ogura for exposing destructive practices in the field of mental health and protecting victims of coercive psychiatry.

Since 2007, as Executive Director of Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Japan, Ogura has led his organization in a series of campaigns to expose psychiatric abuse and protect patient rights. He began with a massive educational campaign to raise awareness about psychiatry, bringing the CCHR Psychiatry: An Industry of Death traveling exhibit to 50 cities across the nation.

In a classic example of the need for the UN and WHO's recent guidelines to eliminate all forms of coercion in the field of mental health, CCHR Japan uncovered a shocking scene of abuse and cover-up in psychiatric hospitals. This included whistleblower footage of the brutal assault of patients in a Kobe City facility. Ogura brought this evidence to the city council, which petitioned national parliament for legislation to criminalize such abuse. CCHR Japan continued exposing abuse in city after city, culminating in 2022 with the government passing legislation providing legal protection to whistleblowers and mandating that anyone discovering patient abuse must report it immediately.

Ogura and his team also exposed the danger of psychiatric drugs that have been shown to increase violence and suicidality. Coupled with the often fatal side effects of these drugs was the dangerous practice of psychiatric "polypharma." This is the practice of prescribing multiple drugs to handle the frequent serious side effects of psychotropics. He educated MPs and teamed up with a medical professional to raise awareness of the issue. Media began running stories on the hazards of psychiatric drugs, including an exposé on national television. Finally, the Ministry of Health issued 66 black box warnings - the strictest and most serious type of warning that can be placed on a pharmaceutical product.

In the land where the proverb "See no evil: Hear no evil. Speak no evil" originated, under Yuzuru Ogura's leadership, CCHR Japan shattered the silence and exposed the psychiatric industry's crimes, ensuring the humane and decent treatment of his fellow citizens and setting an example for other nations that psychiatry can indeed be brought under the law.

For more information visit the website of Citizens Commission on Human Rights or watch documentaries on the Scientology Network, including:

Psychiatry: An Industry of Death

Making a Killing: The Untold Story of Psychotropic Drugging

Therapy or Torture: The Truth About Electroshock

Or contact the nearest Scientology Church or Mission or CCHR International to find or begin a new chapter of CCHR in your community.

Inspired by visionary and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, Citizens Commission on Human Rights was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology as an independent, nonprofit charitable mental health watchdog. Dedicated to eradicating psychiatric abuses and ensuring patient protection, CCHR has helped to enact more than 180 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive mental health practices.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv/watch/series/cchr-documentaries/psychiatry-an-industry-of-death.html

https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/

https://www.scientology.org/2023-celebrating-the-ias/

https://www.scientology.org/2023-celebrating-the-ias/#cchr

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO

https://www.scientology.tv/watch/series/cchr-documentaries/psychiatry-an-industry-of-death.html

https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/

Each year, the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) presents the Freedom Medal to humanitarians whose work materially forwards the Aims of Scientology. These aims, as set forth by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, are: "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights."

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

How Two Humanitarians Are Protecting Millions of Mexican Youth from the Allure of the Cartels

MEXICO CITY, Mexico /ScoopCloud/ -- As we review Scientology accomplishments of the past year, the awarding of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) Freedom Medal always looms large.

Each year, Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige presents this award to persons whose stellar accomplishments have materially advanced the purpose of the IAS: "To protect the Scientology religion and Scientologists in all parts of the world so as to achieve the Aims of Scientology as originated by L. Ron Hubbard:

"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."

And none are more deserving than Salomon and Lucy Dabbah - IAS Freedom Medal Winners for 2023.

For more than a decade, these two Scientologists have waged a counter-offensive to save youth from becoming victims of Mexico's drug cartels.

"We could see society decaying and knew we needed to do something," said Lucy. Never simply waiting for someone else to solve things for them, they made drug education and prevention their personal mission. As Salomon put it, "you are the one who makes the change."

They began by enlisting the help of fellow Scientologists to distribute the Foundation for a Drug-Free World's Truth about Drugs booklets in high-traffic locations such as sports events and at popular tourist spots. They organized sending out 180,000 copies of The Truth About Drugs through a catalog mailing by one of Mexico's top health and beauty companies.

Realizing the need to form partnerships to create greater impact, they shared the Drug-Free World booklets and public service announcements with the head of a leading transportation advertising firm, who broadcast these youth-friendly videos three times an hour, 19 hours a day throughout the metro system serving some 5 million people a day. They also reached millions with massive Drug-Free World billboards on underground train platforms and station waiting areas.

The Dabbahs brought the campaign to the regional commander of Mexico's Auxiliary Security Forces, who authorized Truth About Drugs workshops to train more than 2,200 officers on the program. Next, they trained Mexico City school safety police and provided seminars and workshops to more than 4,000 federal police officers. Working with law enforcement the Drug-Free Mexico team distributed nearly 200,000 Truth About Drugs booklets.

But the Dabbahs always believed education was the best solution, so they next focused on bringing the Truth About Drugs into classrooms. They brought the Drug-Free World curriculum to a representative of the Ministry of Education for the State of Mexico, who authorized a pilot training program of 2,400 secondary school teachers. The two-day workshop was the largest Drug-Free World training program ever held.

These teachers have educated more than 2 million students with the Truth About Drugs curriculum. With this and the other training programs the Dabbahs have seen to, some 8,500 teachers now use this program in their classrooms. The Dabbahs are also responsible for placing Truth About Drugs booklets in the hands of some 2.5 million individuals. And the Ministry of Education of the State of Mexico has now mandated the Drug-Free World curriculum to be taught in every school and university in the state.

Foundation for a Drug-Dree World is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug-free. Through the support of Scientology Churches and Scientologists, the Foundation offers its drug education resources free of charge to anyone wishing to use them to educate others about drugs.

Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard noted the role substance abuse plays in the disintegration of the social fabric: "Research has demonstrated that the single most destructive element present in our current culture is drugs."

Watch Drug-Free World public service announcements and The Truth About Drugs-Real People, Real Stories documentary on the Scientology Network, or episodes of Voices for Humanity to see how other humanitarians have adopted the program. Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and streaming at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps, and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

Contact your nearest Church of Scientology for whatever assistance you need to join the Truth About Drugs movement and help youth and adults make the self-determined decision to live drug-free.

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard and Mr. David Miscavige is the religion's ecclesiastical leader.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

https://www.drugfreeworld.org

https://voicesforhumanity.tv

https://www.scientology.org/scientology-today/events/ias-event-2023.html

MULTIMEDIA:

https://www.scientology.tv/documentaries/they-said-they-lied.html

https://www.scientology.tv/documentaries/the-truth-about-drugs.html

As we review Scientology accomplishments of the past year, the awarding of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) Freedom Medal always looms large. Each year, Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige presents this award to persons whose stellar accomplishments have materially advanced the purpose of the IAS.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

New Interactive Timeline on Scientology.org Shows What Scientologists Mean When They Say ‘Our Help is Yours’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- At the 39th anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS), Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige briefed the 7,000 members and guests gathered at Saint Hill in the UK on the magnitude and impact of humanitarian and social betterment activities supported by the IAS over the past four years.

On the morning of the second day of the IAS 39th Anniversary weekend at Saint Hill in the UK, a standing-room-only crowd of IAS members was briefed on the launch of the next phase of IAS-supported global humanitarian initiatives.

These humanitarian and social betterment campaigns:

* Protect individuals from coercive and abusive practices in the field of mental health

* Bring human rights to life with the world's most far-reaching education and public information initiatives

* Increase tolerance and understanding with The Way to Happiness, the common-sense guide to better living by L. Ron Hubbard. This nonreligious moral code helps create a safer and more compassionate world for all

* Combat drug abuse and addiction by empowering children, youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug-free

* Provide indiscriminate help no matter where, no matter when through the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by Mr. Hubbard. While the world went "on pause" during the pandemic, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers did not. They answered the global call at every cataclysmic natural disaster, demonstrating courage and compassion time and again.

The International Association of Scientologists is an unincorporated membership organization open to all Scientologists from all nations, formed in 1984 at a time when the religious freedom of Scientologists was imperiled. Delegates from Scientology Churches the world over assembled at Saint Hill Manor, L. Ron Hubbard's home in the UK from 1959 to 1966.

The purpose of the IAS is: "To unite, advance, support and protect the Scientology religion and Scientologists in all parts of the world so as to achieve the Aims of Scientology written by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard."

The Aims of Scientology are:

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

Watch a video of an overview of these Scientology-supported activities or see it all at Scientology.org/2023-celebrating-the-ias

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

https://www.scientology.org/2023-celebrating-the-ias/

MULTIMEDIA:

https://www.scientology.org/2023-celebrating-the-ias/

VIDEO:

https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/

At the 39th anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS), Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige briefed the 7,000 members and guests gathered at Saint Hill in the UK on the magnitude and impact of humanitarian and social betterment activities supported by the IAS over the past four years.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Church of Scientology International Honors Those Who Served After the 9/11 Terror Attacks

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The Church of Scientology International honors the rescue workers and the Scientology Volunteer Ministers who served them. The unsung heroes who responded to the attacks at Ground Zero 20 years ago on September 11 brought hope and renewed belief at a time when an affirmation of the basic goodness of Mankind was sorely needed.

"As any New Yorker would tell you," said one of the first Volunteer Ministers to arrive on the scene, "to see the Twin Towers disintegrate was a living nightmare. Over 25,000 people were gotten out of the towers because of the work of the responders, civilians who were fire wardens for their floor, strangers assisting others out to safety, police, firefighters, emergency medical services responders, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice that day in service to others."

As the twin towers erupted in flame and smoke, downtown New York was a war zone recalls Scientologist Bill Runyon on an episode of the original TV series Destination Scientology on the Scientology Network. Runyon served as liaison between the Church of Scientology, its Volunteer Ministers and New York City officials. His wife and both children also served as Volunteer Ministers at Ground Zero, where they helped see to the needs of the rescue workers.

Scientologists from across New York and New Jersey immediately headed for the Church of Scientology New York, just off Times Square on West 46th Street. The Church soon became the communications and logistics hub of the Church's relief efforts. Over the next nine months, some 800 Scientologists from across the United States and abroad served at "the pit" to help rescue workers contend with the gruesome and hazardous conditions.

"We were under the pile, we were on top of it," said a retired New York City firefighter who served at Ground Zero. "We were chest-deep in muck." He recalls how the Volunteer Ministers were always there when they finished a shift. "We would come out of there. There was a whole support group on the outskirts of the pile. It made you feel good to know they were out there when you were going to come out of that hole."

Volunteer Ministers provided food, water, clothing, gear and other necessities to the cleanup crews. For nine months they continued to serve until all that remained of the World Trade Center was a cavernous pit.

"We kind of get a lot of the credit," said a New York City Police officer, "but I think a lot of the credit has to go to the people on the outskirts such as the Scientology volunteers and such that provided us with comfort while we were down there at a time when we needed it probably more than most people understand or realize."

At the 2001 celebration of the founding of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) in October, Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige spoke of the impact of the Church of Scientology of New York as headquarters of the Ground Zero effort. "With their recent actions and the compassion they have shown they now have a prominence greater than ever before." He announced that the IAS would be funding the full top-to-bottom restoration of the New York Church "in appreciation for their being there to help the city when it counted."

Three years later, in September 2004, dedicating the new Church of Scientology of New York, Mr. Miscavige reiterated the importance of what New York Scientologists inspired across the rest of the world three years earlier: "For in the darkest of times and worst of places, you stood tall amongst it all as a shining beacon of light," serving as a living example of the motto of the Scientology Volunteer Minister: "Something can be done about it."

The Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers program is a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

A Volunteer Minister's mandate is to be "a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring truth and spiritual values to the lives of others." Their creed: "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."

For more information, visit the Scientology Network or the Scientology Newsroom.

Related links:

https://www.scientology-newyork.org/

MULTIMEDIA:

*VIDEO (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC9_epA-SpI&t=113s

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0908s2p-cos-ground-zero-300dpi.jpg

*Caption: Scientology Volunteer Ministers at Ground Zero New York in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The Church of Scientology International honors the rescue workers and the Scientology Volunteer Ministers who served them. The unsung heroes who responded to the attacks at Ground Zero 20 years ago on September 11 brought hope and renewed belief at a time when an affirmation of the basic goodness of Mankind was sorely needed.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/