On January 21, 2012, the Church of Scientology of Hamburg newly opened its doors to the city in a dedication ceremony attended by 1,500 Scientologists, guests and dignitaries. The grand opening marked the culmination of a transformation of the seven-story Church into an Ideal Church of Scientology (Ideal Org) to better meet the needs of Hamburg’s growing Scientology congregation and the community at large.

On January 21, 2012, the Church of Scientology Hamburg celebrated the opening of their fully transformed home at Domstrasse 9 in Altstadt, the center of Hamburg’s historic district.

In her commemorative statement, Ms. Pia Michel, Executive Director of the Church of Scientology of Hamburg, proclaimed: “There are some 300 churches, mosques and temples in the city of Hamburg. For more than forty years, the Church of Scientology has been a strong voice in that religious community. But the opening of this new Church marks a turning point, for the flame of religious freedom burns brightly today on behalf of all, and so it will forever.”In honor of the occasion, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, stated: “This Ideal Org signals a new era for Scientology in Germany for, in a very real sense, this Church is Scientology itself. It was conceived to mirror the Scientology Organizing Board, and so accommodates every function called for in our Founder’s policy. It was meticulously planned to deliver all Scientology services in exact accordance with our Founder’s technology—from every Introductory Service to the top of our Bridge. And it was designed to embody the spirit of Scientology, and so provides an introduction where anyone and everyone can find out for themselves who we are and what we do. So allow me to extend a welcome to all. From this day forward, our doors are open and our help is yours.”

In full representation of that pledge—working together in a cooperative effort to help one and all—among those on hand to inaugurate the new Church were some of Hamburg’s foremost civic and religious leaders. They included a long outspoken human rights advocate, the founder of a leading youth drug addiction and prevention organization, a religious rights leader from the Greek Orthodox community and an advisor to Germany’s forthcoming Memorial and Documentation Center on National Socialism.

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A prominent feature of the new Hamburg Ideal Org is a comprehensive Public Information Center, enabling all visitors to answer the pivotal question, “What is Scientology?” Occupying the entirety of the ground floor, it contains a gallery of multimedia displays 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 also provides a complete overview of the many Church-sponsored humanitarian initiatives, including a worldwide human rights initiative; an equally far-ranging drug education, prevention and rehabilitation program; a global network of literacy and learning centers; and the Scientology Volunteer Minister program, now comprising the largest independent relief force on Earth. The displays offer some 500 informational and documentary films at the touch of a button. Open morning to night, the Information Center welcomes visitors to tour at their leisure and return as often as they wish. In combination with its adjoining café, the Information Center is also configured to accommodate hundreds at a time for weekly Open Houses.

The Church was further planned to serve as a gathering hub for the entire community. The Chapel, home to all Scientology congregational services and ceremonies, can also be configured as a venue for events and other assemblies to coordinate humanitarian initiatives for the benefit of Hamburg and all her citizens. The venue is fully equipped with state-of-the-art video and audio for special film presentations and seminars. The Chapel further includes facilities to host receptions and banquets.

The new Hamburg Ideal Org also now includes expansive facilities to provide Introductory Services for those new to the religion, including regularly scheduled Dianetics and Scientology Personal Efficiency Seminars and an array of Life Improvement Courses.

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The Church of Scientology of Hamburg is the newest of dozens of Ideal Orgs opened in the past five years.

Ideal 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 freedom, 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 Hamburg is the first Ideal Org to open in 2012, joining a parade of Ideal Orgs already opened in cultural epicenters across Europe, including: Berlin, Germany; Moscow, Russia; Brussels, Belgium; London, England; Madrid, Spain and Rome, Italy.

Other new Churches opened in recent years include Washington, D.C.; New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; Pasadena, California; Inglewood, California; Seattle, Washington; Tampa, Florida; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; as well as Québec City, Canada; Mexico City, Mexico and Melbourne, Australia.

More than 15 new Ideal Orgs are scheduled for grand opening in 2012.

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The Scientology religion was founded by L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has now expanded to more than 10,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 countries.

Human rights are the rights that belong to everyone without exception—to people of any color, creed, age, ethnicity or gender. But as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon pointed out in his Human Rights Day message this year, “…unless we know them, unless we demand they be respected, and unless we defend our rights — and the right of others — to exercise them, they will be just words in a decades-old document.”

To make the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights known to all, the Church of Scientology has undertaken a massive human rights education initiative, reaching more than 180 million people in 2011 with the information on human rights in 17 languages.

The United Nations estimates that 2.45 million people are trafficked each year, nearly a billion live in hunger, and almost half the world’s population subsists on less than $2.50 a day, making it clear any momentum generated this year must continue and that education and insistence on human rights has never been more vital.

In a global demonstration of support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its 30 rights, Scientology Churches and Missions marked Human Rights Day with seminars, rallies, concerts, round tables, forums and festivals, and helped organize more than 80 human rights walks in 26 countries to raise awareness of the Declaration and the need for its full implementation.

In 1969, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The United Nations came up with the answer. An absence of human rights stained the hands of governments and threatened their rules. Very few governments have implemented any part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These governments have not grasped that their very survival depends utterly upon adopting such reforms and thus giving their peoples a cause, a civilization worth supporting, worth their patriotism.”

For more than four decades, the Church has worked to make the Universal Declaration of Human Rights broadly known. The Declaration appeared in the first edition of Freedom Magazine, the Church’s human rights journal, in 1968. In 1998, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration, the Church carried out the first of five annual cross-European marathons, reaching an estimated 33 million with its message in support of human rights.

Ten years ago, the Church began publishing materials that present the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in terms anyone can understand. These booklets, award-winning public service announcements and human rights documentary videos are available free of charge to any individual or group.

“There are many examples in history of what individuals can accomplish by demanding their rights and insisting on the rights of others,” says Rev. Robert Adams, Vice President of the Church of Scientology International. “But a knowledge of these rights comes first. The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, yet in many ways, despite advances, the violations of its articles are as abhorrent today as they were six decades ago. We work with many dedicated groups, organizations, agencies and government bodies to make human rights a reality. To achieve this goal, education in human rights must be mandatory, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be given the force of law.”

Since Human Rights Day 2010, through direct action and sponsorship of activities and materials, the Church of Scientology has reached hundreds of millions of people with humans rights information, distributing more than 2 million publications and providing educational materials to more than 45,000 human rights organizations and 4,500 educators and educational institutions.

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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 grown to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups and millions of members in 165 countries.

The 800 Scientology Volunteer Ministers who served at Ground Zero in helping New York recover from  the terrorist attacks of 9/11 have inspired the growth of a movement that now spans the globe. In September 2001 there were 6,000 Volunteer Ministers—with more than 200,000 today, it is the largest independent relief force in the world.

In creating the Volunteer Minister movement in 1976, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote: “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…. He uses the technology of Scientology to change conditions for the better—for himself, his family, his groups, friends, associates and for Mankind.”

In carrying out that mandate, Volunteer Ministers have stacked sandbags along the Danube and rescued flood victims in Mozambique, Thailand and Pakistan. They provided relief to firefighters battling blazes in Australia, California, Greece, Israel and South Africa.  They cleaned up after mudslides in Uganda, hurricanes and tornados in America, typhoons in Indonesia, and cyclones in Australia and Africa.  And they brought relief and calm in the wake of terrorist attacks not only in New York, but also in London, Mumbai, Moscow and Madrid.

Volunteer Ministers from 26 nations flew to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia to help survivors of the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.  Upward of 900 Volunteer Ministers responded to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. They flew into Pisco, Peru, after the 2007 earthquake, and delivered supplies and medical relief in Bihar, India, by boat when floods submerged entire villages, in 2008.  And they were the backbone of the reconstruction effort after the 2009 6.3 earthquake in L’Aquila, Italy.

The Volunteer Ministers have been acknowledged for the thousands of lives they saved after the Haiti earthquake of January 2010.  A permanent Volunteer Minister base trains and coordinates the work of hundreds of Volunteer Minister teams that continue to help in displaced persons camps.

In 2011, Volunteer Ministers responded to fires near Haifa, Israel; floods in Australia, Thailand and Pakistan; the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand; and tornadoes in Alabama and Missouri.  But it was Japan where the VM activities took on epic proportions this year.

Despite media predicting imminent nuclear cataclysm, Volunteer Ministers began arriving in Northeastern Japan within hours of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and 40-meter tsunami. Volunteer Ministers helped with search and rescue and providing succor to the survivors and continue providing relief throughout the region today.

Since September 11, 2001, the work of the Volunteer Ministers has truly embodied the vision of L. Ron Hubbard for the program: “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.”

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Through the last 10 years, Scientology Volunteer Ministers have trained and partnered with more than 1,100 organizations, including the Red Cross, FEMA, National Guard, Salvation Army, Mexico’s International Rescue Brigade, Boy Scouts, and hundreds of local, regional and national groups and organizations, giving freely of their skills, their care and compassion. They have provided physical and spiritual relief at more than 200 disaster sites. 

Today hundreds of thousands of individuals are trained in the skills of a Volunteer Minister across 185 nations. For more information on Scientology Volunteer Ministers, visit www.volunteerministers.org.

5,000 Scientologists, guests and city officials gathered Saturday November 5, for the dedication of an entirely new Church of Scientology and Church of Scientology Community Center. The Church stands in the heart of downtown, at 315 South Market Street, and reflects the growth of a new Scientology congregation amongst these communities. The neighboring Community Center stands just a few minutes away in South Los Angeles, at 8039 South Vermont Avenue. Together this Church and Community Center provide for all Scientology religious services as well as its many humanitarian initiatives and social betterment programs for the benefit of Inglewood and South Los Angeles.

The new Inglewood Church of Scientology on South Market Street houses 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 Information Center’s multimedia displays include nearly 500 documentary films.

The new Community Center on Vermont Avenue is housed in an historic art deco landmark that dates from the early 1930s and which the Church has meticulously restored. It features a 380-seat event hall, the L. Ron Hubbard Community Auditorium, designed for community events and as a meeting ground for residents of all denominations. In that respect, it is a venue dedicated to community-wide initiatives in the spirit of the Founder’s vision of all church denominations working together to achieve the common dream of all religions. The Center further features numerous classrooms and seminar facilities for a full range of civic programs, including a complete literacy and tutoring center.

Marking the significance 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 what this day represents, Mr. Miscavige stated:

“This new Church of Scientology is quite literally imbued with the contributions and global spirit of Scientologists from more than a hundred nations. In that respect, it reflects the greater shape of Scientology—both body and soul. Moreover, it reflects the attributes of greatness all religions traditionally sought to inspire, including decency, nobility, compassion and charity. And that’s also the spirit in which we provide our new Community Center, open for use by one and all, for the benefit of all its residents.”

Welcoming the new Church were Inglewood City Councilmember, Ralph Franklin; Inglewood Chief of Police, Jacqueline Seabrooks; President of NAACP Los Angeles, Leon Jenkins; Executive Director of the gang intervention group 2nd Call, Skipp Townsend; and Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray, retired head of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles and now Professor of Religious Studies at USC.

City Councilmember Ralph Franklin welcomed the new Church: “I for one am very excited about your move to your new home. Thank you for being our anchor to Market Street. You are helping revitalize downtown and offering us a platform from which we can make a segue into our greater future. I have faith that your presence will be the catalyst for this city’s renaissance. And so it is with great pleasure that on behalf of all of us here in the City of Inglewood I say congratulations on your new home and welcome to the family.”

Chief of Police Jacqueline Seabrooks spoke of the solutions offered by the Church’s anti-drug initiative: “I have been aware of your Drug-Free World program and know that this program has been supported by various entities here in Inglewood and in the larger environment. I must say that I am impressed by your dedicated initiative to ensure ‘The Truth About Drugs’ message is made available to everyone. Your volunteers are an active force, distributing educational materials and holding drug education seminars. Your colorful, information booklets are popular and effective. Because I have a strong background in education, I admire what you’ve done and what you continue to do to bring the drug abuse issue into the educational arena.”

Los Angeles NAACP President Leon Jenkins recognized the effectiveness of the Church’s human rights programs: “The Church of Scientology is taking an instrumental role in the change we need because what your Church does is address the individual. You know that everybody is different. That’s why your human rights program speaks to every one of us. And one by one you are helping to bring about a just society that can live in harmony together. The Church sets a standard for others in religion and in human rights. I think there are quite some groups that could take a lesson or two from you all. My hat is off to you for that.”

Executive Director of 2nd Call, Skipp Townsend, acknowledged the empowerment that comes from the Church’s programs: “We are grateful that the Church of Scientology is here and provides a stream of resources to the City of Inglewood. Your church is an open door to those individuals who seek betterment in the community. The beauty of it is that the Church has both developed a community and opened the doors to the community. That’s not just development, that’s empowerment. You empower the people. And I am sure the Church will continue the empowerment process by leaving the door open, so they can come in and get the resources and benefits you have to offer.”

Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray, retired head of the First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles and now Professor of Religious Studies at USC, expressed highest regard for Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology: “My friends, this new Church is an opportunity to make change. I encourage you, the community, to take full advantage. L. Ron Hubbard was a genius of a man who could say, ‘Here’s the problem, here’s the solution, and here are the details of how you achieve that solution.’ Well here is a mansion that has been constructed by L. Ron Hubbard, an architect of the soul and a designer of dreams. Our challenge is to make use of what we have been given. I am so very thankful for what you bring us today. God bless you all.”

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Church of Scientology Ideal Orgs realize the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the religion. 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 Inglewood is the third Ideal Org to open in the Greater Los Angeles area since 2010. Other Ideal Churches of Scientology opened in 2011 include:

• Church of Scientology of Twin Cities opened October 22, 2011, in Minnesota’s Capital of St. Paul

• 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 Ideal Churches of Scientology 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, Canadaand 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.

The Church of Scientology has co-sponsored eight annual Human Rights Summits. Youth delegates from around the world exchange ideas and meet with United Nations diplomats and human rights leaders to increase the effectiveness of their campaigns. The 2008 Summit was held at the United Nations in New York.

On the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Church of Scientology urges mandatory human rights education as the key to its full implementation of the Declaration.

Human rights are the rights that belong to everyone without exception—to people of any color, creed, age, ethnicity or gender. But as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon pointed out in his Human Rights Day message this year, “…unless we know them, unless we demand they be respected, and unless we defend our rights — and the right of others — to exercise them, they will be just words in a decades-old document.”

To make the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights known to all, the Church of Scientology has undertaken a massive human rights education initiative, reaching more than 180 million people in 2011 with the information on human rights in 17 languages.

The United Nations estimates that 2.45 million people are trafficked each year, nearly a billion live in hunger, and almost half the world’s population subsists on less than $2.50 a day, making it clear any momentum generated this year must continue and that education and insistence on human rights has never been more vital.

In a global demonstration of support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its 30 rights, Scientology Churches and Missions marked Human Rights Day with seminars, rallies, concerts, round tables, forums and festivals, and helped organize more than 80 human rights walks in 26 countries to raise awareness of the Declaration and the need for its full implementation.

In 1969, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The United Nations came up with the answer. An absence of human rights stained the hands of governments and threatened their rules. Very few governments have implemented any part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These governments have not grasped that their very survival depends utterly upon adopting such reforms and thus giving their peoples a cause, a civilization worth supporting, worth their patriotism.”

For more than four decades, the Church has worked to make the Universal Declaration of Human Rights broadly known. The Declaration appeared in the first edition of Freedom Magazine, the Church’s human rights journal, in 1968. In 1998, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration, the Church carried out the first of five annual cross-European marathons, reaching an estimated 33 million with its message in support of human rights.

Ten years ago, the Church began publishing materials that present the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in terms anyone can understand. These booklets, award-winning public service announcements and human rights documentary videos are available free of charge to any individual or group.

“There are many examples in history of what individuals can accomplish by demanding their rights and insisting on the rights of others,” says Rev. Robert Adams, Vice President of the Church of Scientology International. “But a knowledge of these rights comes first. The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, yet in many ways, despite advances, the violations of its articles are as abhorrent today as they were six decades ago. We work with many dedicated groups, organizations, agencies and government bodies to make human rights a reality. To achieve this goal, education in human rights must be mandatory, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be given the force of law.”

Since Human Rights Day 2010, through direct action and sponsorship of activities and materials, the Church of Scientology has reached hundreds of millions of people with humans rights information, distributing more than 2 million publications and providing educational materials to more than 45,000 human rights organizations and 4,500 educators and educational institutions.

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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 grown to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups and millions of members in 165 countries.

In 1956 Bernard Duffy attended a lecture that changed his life.

At the end of World War II, Duffy, who had been in telecommunications in the Royal Navy, got a job in London with the phone company. From there he found a position in a private firm with offices and job openings in Ireland.

This was an opportunity he had been hoping for. The son of Irish parents who had moved to England in their youth, to Duffy a move to Ireland was a homecoming.

It was while he was working in Dublin in 1956 that Duffy ran across an item in the paper that asked, “Are you interested in personal efficiency?”

“I was,” says Duffy.

Looking into this further, he attended an hour-long introduction to Scientology and was amazed at how much difference it made. He immediately felt an increase in self-confidence and self-worth, which helped him confront and handle the more difficult situations in his life.

“Everything in Scientology is done on a ‘gradient,’—a gradual, step-by-step approach,” says Duffy. “Right from the start, Scientology helped me improve my ability and increased my understanding of people and problems.”

Through Scientology, Duffy overcame shyness and gained the confidence that enabled him to open his own company and succeed. Now 90, he has a practical and energetic philosophy that has stood the test of time. 

“I never worry about problems,” he says. “I size them up and take effective action. It’s really a matter of taking responsibility for people and circumstances. When you refuse responsibility you deteriorate—when you take on the challenge, you grow.”

For more information on Scientologists and Scientology 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 YouTube Video Channel. The Official Scientology YouTube Channel has now been viewed by millions of visitors.

Annalisa Tosoni of Milan, Italy, found long-sought answers through Scientology.

At age 16, Annalisa Tosoni’s youth came to an abrupt end. At the center of her world was “the best dad anyone could ever have.” When he died, so did her childhood and her happiness.

“I could not understand why it happened,” says Tosoni. “Nothing people told me made any sense. I needed answers to questions I had never thought to ask before: Who are we really? Why are we here? And why him?”

Tosoni’s father had lived life to the fullest, and it didn’t make sense to her that one moment he was so much there and the next minute he was gone.

“I wanted to know where we go after our bodies die, and what is the purpose of life,” she says.

Tosoni’s search extended beyond her own personal sorrow to questions such as—Why do people have to suffer? Why are we here? Why are some rich, some poor? Why are there children who are hungry every day of their lives? Why is there violence, injustice, crime?”

“After my father passed away, my mother was incredible,” says Tosoni. “She raised my sister, who was only 8, and me with courage and strength. But from that point forward, I was ‘the sad one’—never happy. And never satisfied.”

Tosoni graduated from school at 19 with an excellent education but no anchor—she drifted from job to job, looking for she knew not what and never finding it, until learning about Scientology in 1992 when she was 30.

“I took a job traveling with a couple from Lugano, Switzerland, looking after their 2 year-old daughter while the family vacationed and received religious service at the Church of Scientology in Copenhagen, Denmark. “I knew nothing about Scientology, but one day I walked into the Church with the family and I was amazed. The people there were incredibly alive and welcoming—they communicated so freely among themselves and to me. I was impressed and wanted to find out more.”

All the questions Tosoni had stored up since her father’s sudden death came tumbling out, and one by one they were answered. For the first time in 14 years, she was smiling again.

And when she looked for answers to helping others, she found those too.

“Through Scientology I have learned a technology of help, and found a group that shares my beliefs and commitment to making life better for others.”

After resolving her personal issues, Tosoni, now 49, found it a natural progression to become a staff member of the Church of Scientology of Milan, Italy, where her own beliefs were echoed in the Creed of the Church of Scientology, written by L. Ron Hubbard: “We of the Church believe: That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights.”

“We live this creed with our humanitarian projects,” she says.

Tosoni coordinates the human rights activities of the Church in Milan. For the past nine years she has organized annual charitable concerts to commemorate the December 1948 adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, funding initiatives such as care for the elderly, the Croce Giallo-Azzurra (Blue and Yellow Cross) Civil Protection volunteers, and UNITED for Africa, a project supported by the Church and the Association for Human Rights and Tolerance of Italy.

Tosoni’s human rights activities often focus on children. Through UNITED for Africa she helped fund and build two schools in Ghana, including one in the village of Twewaa that is providing education for the first time to the children of the region.

“Nowhere are human rights more important than when it comes to children,” says Tosoni. “It is vital for people of all faiths and walks of life to take responsibility for the welfare and education of the next generation, protect them from abuse and instill in them respectfor themselves, for diversity, and the rights of others.”

For more information on the human rights initiatives of the Church of Scientology, and to learn about what Scientologists are doing to create a better world, 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, which has now been viewed by millions of visitors.

‘X-Men’ Star Suspect in Weed Wacking Assault

Jason Beghe – one of the stars of “X-Men: First Class” and a veteran actor — is under criminal investigation for allegedly attacking a man who was wacking weeds on his property, TMZ has learned. According to the incident report, Daniel Montalvo was using a weed wacker on Beghe’s Malibu property last week when the device malfunctioned.  Cops tell us … a frustrated Montalvo “mistreated the device.”  That pissed off Beghe, who then got into a loud confrontation with Montalvo which became physical. …

Source: http://www.tmz.com/2011/06/01/x-men-first-class-star-accused-of-weed-wacking-crime-jason-beghe-daniel-montalvo-process-server-assualt-confrontation/

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) May 22, 2011

Clearwater’s Annual Relay for Life was held under bright skies on May 13th and 14th at Clearwater’s Coachman Park. Participating teams included Clearwater Catholic High School, Clearwater High School, Dress Barn, Good Samaritans, the Hyatt Regency, Macy’s, the Pinellas County Tax Collector, Starbucks, Sunstate Academy, Target and the Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology.

This all-night fundraiser generated nearly $80,000 for the American Cancer Society through pre-event and on-site fundraisers – including bake sales, car washes and bowling tournaments before the event and selling snacks, massages, chance drawings, dinner and – from the Boy Scouts of Troop 313 – S’mores.

Captaining the team for the Volunteer Ministers was Gale Pollack, whose mother and cousin passed away from cancer just this past year.

“The battle isn’t won, but we are making strides,” she said. “Relay is the hope that my dreams of a world without cancer IS our future, and as a Volunteer Minister, it was wonderful to share my knowledge here at Relay.”

Over the last 30 years, the Volunteer Ministers, have provided relief at more than 128 worst-case scenario disaster sites, including Ground 0, Hurricane Katrina, the South East Asian Tsunami and last year’s massive earthquake in Haiti.

They are internationally known for their organizational ability and work in tandem with other relief groups such as the Red Cross. They are also expert in the use of ‘assists’, which were developed by L. Ron Hubbard to help individuals spiritually following illness or injury.

Judy Fagerman is in charge of the Tampa Volunteer Ministers, and she participated in the Clearwater Relay. In additional to fundraising for ACS by selling vegetable and fruit juices, the Volunteer Ministers offered assists.

”People were exhausted and some in pain and they were able to get immediate relief from an assist so that they could keep Relaying, which is why they were there,” said Fagerman.

“As Volunteer Ministers, our motto is that ‘something can be done about it’ and the whole Relay event is a demonstration of that,” said Fagerman. “All those cancer survivors here and their care givers helped prove it as well.”

All proceeds benefited the American Cancer Society, a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. To find out more about how you can help, please go to http://www.cancer.org.

To find out more about assists and the Volunteer Ministers, please go to http://www.volunteerministers.org.

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http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/2051772/tampa_bay_volunteer_ministers_of_the_church_of_scientology_join/

HYDERABAD: To create awareness on Scientology, the Scientology India Goodwill tour arrived in the city on Monday as part of their five years tour in India. It would organise seminars and special camps in various schools and colleges.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Marion Whitta, director for Scientology India said that the tour would be in the city for the next three months and would train people on 19-different subjects including methods of study, communication, public relations and solutions for every day life problems.

“Scientology means knowing how to know and was founded by American author L Ron Hubbard. The Scientology Goodwill tour holds an exhibition which highlights the most basic areas of life’s situations and shows the encapsulated solutions,” she added.

She said scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices as well as a hierarchical organisation initially created by Hubbard. He developed it in 1952 as a successor to his earlier self help system Dianetics.

Whitta said they would inaugurate three-week long programmes in communication skills and personal development at Dr B R Ambedkar College, Baghlinghampally on May 25 at 10 a.m.

“Training would be given to both faculty and students in various educational institutions throughout the city. The practice of scientology helps people who find it difficult to think clearly,” she added.

Interested people can contact for the free seminars on 8125985867.

(http://ibnlive.in.com/news/seminars-in-city-on-scientology/153959-60-121.html)

Another member of Anonymous, Jacob Speregen, also charged in the same incident, will stand trial later this year.

The conviction follows the November 18, 2009, sentencing of a New Jersey man to one year and one day in federal prison on a felony conviction for his part in a cyber attack against Church of Scientology websites in January 2008. (Case No. CR 09-87-01) That attack was also carried out by Anonymous members.

Dmitriy Guzner, 19, of Verona, New Jersey, who in May 2009 pled guilty to one count of computer hacking, was sentenced for his role in the distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack against Scientology websites. A DDOS attack occurs when a large amount of malicious Internet traffic is directed at websites, overloading their capacity and making them unavailable to legitimate users.

Church websites were made unavailable to valid users for over 24 hours, with the attacks continuing for 12 days, requiring the Church to hire a computer security company to protect against the attacks and to reroute traffic. Due to the severity of the crime, Judge Joseph Greenaway in U.S. District Court in Newark sentenced Guzner to the 366-day prison term, plus two years probation following his prison term, and ordered Guzner to pay $37,500 restitution to the Church.

On October 31, another Anonymous follower, Brian Thomas Mettenbrink, 20, was indicted by a Grand Jury in the US District Court in Los Angeles, for his role in the same attack on Scientology websites, for conspiracy and “transmission of a code, information, program, or command to a protected computer.” The indictment states that he obtained a computer program from an Anonymous website and executed a DDOS attack from his dormitory at Iowa State University against the Church computers in Los Angeles. He is awaiting sentencing.

According to court documents, Anonymous is an underground hate group that, in addition to the cyber attack, targeted Churches of Scientology and members with death threats, bomb threats and fake anthrax mail. In addition to Scientology Churches and the Prime Minister of Australia, Anonymous has also targeted The Epilepsy Foundation, hip-hop music websites and others.

Scientology is a worldwide religious movement with more than 8,500 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups in 165 countries. The Church and its members dedicate their time and resources to numerous humanitarian programs that Scientology has become known for around the world, including combating drug abuse, immorality, illiteracy, and human rights violations.

Scientology.org, the attacked website, is the central information site of the worldwide religion.  According to the federal prosecutor’s sentencing memorandum, Mettenbrink “maliciously participated in a scheme to damage a computer belonging to the Church of Scientology.”  The Department of Justice prosecutor stated, “Our free society will cease to function if a malicious few are free to target individuals because of their religious beliefs.”

Noting that the acts were “in the nature of a hate crime” because the target was a religious organization, Judge Feess further ordered that during probation following his jail sentence, Mettenbrink must stay 100 yards away from any Church of Scientology.   Judge Feess also stated the “nature and circumstances are serious” and that a sentence higher than the federal guidelines was necessary and warranted “to protect the public” from further criminal conduct.

Mettenbrink is the second Anonymous member to be sentenced in the last seven months for the January 2008 cyberattack.  In November 2009, Dmitriy Guzner of Verona, New Jersey, was sentenced by Newark U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Greenaway to a 366-day prison term, plus two years probation.  Guzner was also ordered to pay $37,500 restitution to the Church.   A Department of Justice press release issued at the time charges were filed against Guzner stated “According to the criminal information filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles, Guzner participated in the attack because he considered himself a member of an underground group called ‘Anonymous.’”

Church of Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon said, “This decision by the Court sends a strong message to Anonymous—and any hate group—that their actions will not be tolerated and that the right to practice one’s religion will be protected..”

“Anonymous” is a loosely connected hate group targeting Scientologists, Jews and other minority racial and ethnic groups and organizations. Mahmoud Almahadin was sentenced earlier this year.

The conviction follows the sentencing of two men on separate felony convictions for their part in a cyber attack against Church of Scientology websites in January 2008, also carried out by Anonymous members.

Dmitriy Guzner, 19, of Verona, New Jersey, is presently incarcerated in Federal prison for his role in the distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack against Scientology websites. A DDOS attack occurs when a large amount of malicious Internet traffic is directed at websites, overloading their capacity and making them unavailable to legitimate users.

Church websites were made unavailable to valid users for over 24 hours, with the attacks continuing for 12 days, requiring the Church to hire a computer security company to protect against the attacks and to reroute traffic. Due to the severity of the crime, Judge Joseph Greenaway in U.S. District Court in Newark sentenced Guzner to the 366-day prison term, plus two years probation following his prison term, and ordered Guzner to pay $37,500 restitution to the Church.

Another Anonymous follower, Brian Thomas Mettenbrink, is also incarcerated in Federal prison for his role in the same attack on Scientology websites, for conspiracy and “transmission of a code, information, program, or command to a protected computer.”

Court documents state that he obtained a computer program from an Anonymous website and executed a DDOS attack from his dormitory at Iowa State University against the Church computers in Los Angeles.

Anonymous is an underground hate group that, in addition to the cyber attack, targeted Churches of Scientology and members with death threats, bomb threats and fake anthrax mail. In addition to Scientology Churches and the Prime Minister of Australia, Anonymous has also targeted The Epilepsy Foundation, hip-hop music websites and others.

Scientology is a worldwide religious movement with more than 8,500 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups in 165 countries. The Church and its members dedicate their time and resources to numerous humanitarian programs that Scientology has become known for around the world, including combating drug abuse, immorality, illiteracy, and human rights violations.

ScientologyNews.org has published profiles on each of the “Jives” recently, here is the one I like best:

Jive Aces’ Ken Smith Plays Second Fiddle to None—Bass Fiddle that is

More about the Church of Scientology