The Story of Human Rights

They are vital to us all. Without them we are not free, there is no justice, we cannot speak our mind, we can be starved, we can be controlled against our will and worse. Yet many people have no idea what Human Rights are.

So what are Human Rights? Where did the idea come from? What do they have to do with you and your everyday life?

This amazing vidoe tells you all that in just a few minutes. It's like a mini documentary and it's both interesting and entertaining:

Scientologists: Looking after your human rights

Your Human Rights are listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But do you know what they are? Does your government allow you those rights? Or better yet, does your government enforce those rights?

Those rights were put into document form after World War II and were ratified in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly. They are rights that had to be fought for. It's pretty obvious that if the Nazis had won WWII these rights would never have seen the light of day.

So it is up to each one of us to keep these rights alive by knowing what they are and insisting they be applied by our governments.

Churches of Scientology and their members all around the world are very active in making human rights known and insisting on their application. Just a couple of weeks ago Churches of Scientology in 14 countries joined forces with Youth for Human Rights International to conduct a global petition drive in support of human rights education. You can read about it here: Churches of Scientology: Petition Targets Human Rights Education.

The NY Mosque

I have been appalled by the media frenzy over the plan to build a mosque in a cultural center several blocks from Ground-Zero.

The mosque and the people who will attend it have no connection whatever with the 911 terrorist attacks and neither does the Islamic religion.

The people who perpetrated 911 were terrorists not Muslims. To equate the religion with the actions of a few evil men makes as much sense as to say that all Catholics are child molesters just because some priests committed such acts.

Such thinking is not rational.

Recognize the differences between the 911 terrorists and the people who are building the mosque. Recognize that the only similarity between them is that all involved have a head, two arms and two legs and there the similarity ends.

In Scientology we know that sanity is the ability to recognize differences, similarities and identities. For example, if a man thinks the friendly dog coming towards him is the same as the dog that bit him last week, then him will act irrationally.

And that is what is happening here: people are acting irrationally, egged on by a news media that craves conflict and will create conflict if it doesn't already exist.

So let's practice tolerance, recognize the differences and get back to doing something constructive in the world.
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Scientologists Gather Signatures for Human Rights

March 21st was the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, something that is very much needed in this world.

Volunteers from Churches of Scientology from all over the world went out on that day and gathered signatures on petitions to ask for mandatory human rights education.

You can read the complete article here: Scientology Volunteers Gather Signatures on Human Rights Petitions in 21 Countries

Scientology: What has it done for you lately?

To answer that question just watch some of these videos:

Global Social Betterment & Humanitarian Programs Sponsored by the Church of Scientology

Working with David Miscavige

Mr. David Miscavige is the leader of the Scientology Religion. He has been the impetus behind the Church of Scientology's many programs to curb drug abuse, promote human rights and assist in disaster areas.

Here is a fascinating statement from a man who has worked with Mr. Miscavige for 24 years: Witness Statement Of David Bloomberg.

Scientology Case Forces Russia to Obey Human Rights Conventions

The final decision in a case brought by two Scientology Churches in Russia was handed down on March 8th. The victory by the two churches is not just a win for the religion of Scientology but also for all religions in Russia.

Bottom line: the arbitrary law that prevents the registration of a religious organization unless it meets some extreme requirements, is a violation of human rights conventions.

You can read the full story here: Church of Scientology–Final Judgment of European Court of Human Rights Defend Religious Freedom
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Scientology: How do you show tolerance for other religious faiths if you believe yours is the only true one?

Steph asked: How do you show tolerance for other religious faiths if you believe yours is the only true one?

Tolerance is very important. We don't believe our religion is the "only true one". We believe that it is a workable path to spiritual freedom, but we don't discount the fact that there could be others.

A person can be a Scientologist and a member of another religion. In my years as a Scientologist I have met Scientologists who are also Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu. As long as being in another religion doesn't get in the way of your spiritual advancement then there is no conflict.

My church is a big supporter of human rights and sponsors a human rights educational campaign (Youth for Human Rights and Human Rights ). Freedom of conscience and religion is a basic human right, and in order to allow others to practice this right one must practice tolerance.

On a personal level, I try to never make fun of or denigrate another's beliefs or religious ideas. If I get into a discussion with others about their religion I always validate what they are doing because I feel that having a grounding in the spiritual side of life is very important.

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Scientology and Human Rights

Eric asked: I notice that Scientology makes a big deal out of human rights, although I don't know what LRH or Scientology itself has to say on the matter of human rights.

To be even more specific, does Scientology assert that humans have inherent rights (and if so, what are they as understood by Scientology?), or do Scientologists simply endorse and stand by the established legal understanding of human rights, i.e. the Universal Declaration on Human Rights?

Thanks for any clarification you can give on this matter.

Hey Eric,

Great question. There are multiple answers:

Why do we "make a big deal out of human rights"?

Scientologists and the Church of Scientology make a big deal of human rights because you can't help individuals to become more spiritually free in an oppressive society. For example, if a person can be imprisoned without trial then people will be walking around with this threat hanging over their heads and just won't be able to put their attention onto the spiritual trauma underlying their current condition.

It's like you have a guy sitting with a boa constrictor wrapped around him about to swallow him and you ask him to recall a time he was happy - it isn't going to work. You have to handle the boa constrictor first.

This applies to almost every human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If conditions such as discrimination, slavery, inequality, imprisonment without trial, torture, no asylum, no freedom of thought, etc. are prevalent in a society then spiritual improvement will be either very difficult or impossible.

Aside from the spiritual side, life is much harder to lead in all areas without these rights. No one but a totalitarian could object to human rights.

Between the mid-1960s and early 1980s, following a geopolitical study of what most plagues this world, L. Ron Hubbard wrote a series of essays on the "cultural inadequacies" of the late twentieth century. In these articles he mentions human rights a great deal and covers why they are so important.

Does Scientology assert that humans have inherent rights (and if so, what are they as understood by Scientology?)

Specific human rights that are regarded as inherent are mentioned in the Creed of the Church of Scientology.

For example:
- That all men have inalienable rights to think freely, to talk freely, to write freely their own opinions and to counter or utter or write upon the opinions of others;
- That all men have inalienable rights to their own defense;

Do Scientologists endorse and stand by the established legal understanding of human rights, i.e. the Universal Declaration on Human Rights?

Absolutely.

Scientologists and the International Association of Scientologists support and sponsor a huge human rights educational program that is aimed at making the Universal Declaration of Human Rights known to people all over the world so that human rights become a reality rather than just an idea or theory.

-Youth for Human Rights
-United for Human Rights
-Human Rights Public Service Announcements (Videos)
-What are Human Rights? (Video)

I hope that answers your questions.
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France moves further away from Democracy

Here is an article about the "training" of judges in France which shows how the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" is being eroded by the French government:

Article in French: Scandale pour la justice : des juges spécialement formés par la MIVILUDES pour condamner les nouveaux mouvements religieux

English Translation: Scandal for justice: judges especially trained by the MIVILUDES to condemn new religious movements

FYI: MIVILUDES

An example of a member of Anonymous

When the people who attack you are like this guy - Mark Fisher In His Own Words - then you know you must be doing good, because only someone like that would oppose a group that supports human rights and has a campaign going against the global sex-slave trade.

Mental Health Declaration of Human Rights

These are important rights. Watch the video and realize that everyone, no matter their mental state, needs these rights.

Scientology: Social Betterment Campaigns

I've been talking a lot about the huge expansion of Scientology and perhaps if you are not a Scientologist you are thinking, "Big deal, so the Church is expanding, so what?"

Well, believe it or not, all this expansion benefits you too. The Church and its members sponsor many social betterment campaigns which help improve life for everyone, not just Scientologists.

For example,

• The massive human rights campaign that the Church sponsors: Human Rights.
• The largest non-governmental anti-drug campaign in the world: Foundation for a Drug Free World.
• The campaign to bring about a calmer and safer world: The Common Sense Guide to Better Living
• The largest non-governmental volunteer disaster relief force in the world: Volunteer Ministers

These programs benefit all of mankind, not just members of the Scientology religion. As the Church of Scientology expands, so do these programs and so do the benefits felt by all.

Oops - Human Rights Day

Darn! I missed Bloggers Unite for Human Rights 2009. I have plenty of excuses, but I'll not insult you with them. Instead I'll just link to some great videos on Human Rights:

Making Human Rights A Fact
United: Music Video Promoting Human Rights
No Slavery
No Torture
Freedom of Thought
Freedom of Expression

Many More: Scientology Videos (scroll down to the Human Rights section)

Bringing the message of Human Rights to the World

Human Rights are what protect us from tyranny and oppression. But to have those rights and to benefit from them we must first know what they are and then insist that they are followed. Scientologist Mary Shuttleworth travels the world doing just that. Here is an interview with her:

Scientology Member Brings Message of Human Rights to the World

A Human Rights/Educational Program worth supporting

The Way to Happiness is a common sense moral code that is not part of the Scientology religion (because it is non-religious), but is followed by most Scientologists.

One of the precepts is Do not harm a Person of Good Will. Taking it one step further I think we should support people of good will.

With that in mind, here is a cause worth supporting: Pennies for Peace

Human Rights Day

Today is Human Rights Day and this year is also the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

If you don't know the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), then click on the link to read the abridged version or click here for the full version.

It is important that everyone in the world understand what these rights are and demand that every government in the world follows the UDHR and gives these rights to every citizen. It is only in a world where these rights are known and followed that peace is possible.

When abuses exist there will be conflict. When abuses are gone then only the Hitlers and Stalins of this world will be in conflict and they are a tiny minority and can easily be helped to change their ways and follow the UDHR.

Other links:

• Human Rights Home Page


• Watch the Human Rights PSA videos


• Youth for Human Rights

Scientology is Solutions: Your Human Rights

Scientologists want a better world. We try to use what we know of Scientology to achieve that. To someone who understands the basics of Scientology, the need for human rights in this world is very obvious.

When a government feels it has a perfect right to pick up a citizen of another country who is not charged with any crime and transport him to third country so he can be tortured, when slavery is still going on in the world and when other human rights abuses are occurring all over the world, then there is no true security for anyone.

Donations from the International Associations of Scientologists have

• funded Public Service Announcement videos that promote the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
• published educational booklets to explain Human Rights to children,
• funded a world tour that this year alone has covered 174.000 miles and travelled to 57 cities in 45 nations,
• helped build an impressive new Human Rights website,
• helped in getting 570 organizations and governments to work with the human rights program as part of a unified front across 85 nations
• and much more.

So, Scientology not only supplies solutions within the scope of a single individual, but also in the broader scope of solutions for mankind.

Boston "Anonymous" leader in trouble with the Law

Thanks to Louanne for bringing this to my attention. It seems a "leader" of "Anonymous" in Boston has to stay away from Church of Scientology buildings or face prosecution for "disturbing an assembly of worship and disturbing the peace."

Apparently Gregg Housh entered the Church wearing a Guy Fawkes mask "disturbing the proceedings and alarming those inside." Now, to put it in simple terms, he is sort of "on probation" for a year and has to stay away from Church buildings in Boston. For all the details:

Scientology Protester’s Case Continued Without Finding
Church of Scientology owns Boston Anonymous

One last comment. I find it abhorrent that these Anonymous guys go around violating Human Rights (specifically the right to freedom of belief) while wearing the Guy Fawkes masks worn by the hero in the movie "V for Vendetta".


In the movie, "V" fights against an oppressive government to bring rights back to the people. (One of the two rights highlighted in the movie is freedom of religion.) Anonymous on the other hand fights to take rights (and specifically freedom of religion) away from people.

In the words of Shakespeare (and as used by "V" in the movie to characterize one of the bad guys): "And thus I clothe my naked villany, With odd old ends stol'n out of holy writ, And seem a saint, when most I play the devil." (From Richard III - I recommend the play to all members of Anonymous. It describes very clearly how your "leaders" are using you.)

17 year old Human Rights Activist Lecturing At the Police Academy

A month ago I posted a video (Amazing Speech) of a young girl who made an impassioned speech to the UN for a better world. Today I came across an article about a 17 year-old-girl from India who has been active in the Human Rights field since she was 13 and was recently recognized for her contributions to Human Rights. (Teen who Represented India at UN Human Rights Summit Recognized as Human Rights Activist)

Here is an excerpt from the article:

“I am now on the faculty of the police training college in Delhi, and on an average I go there once every two weeks to give lectures about human rights and why it is important for law enforcement officials to know about it,” said Natasha, now a freshman majoring in English literature from Delhi’s Daulatram College. “I educate roughly about 2,000 police officers and students in just one lecture. I have really seen a great change in India, and human rights violations are less than before thanks to efforts of various NGOS and individuals.” Natasha described the government as “making great efforts” toward guaranteeing human rights.

I think this is awesome. This girl is really making a difference. I wish I'd been that together when I was 17.