Good News

There's nothing like reading the news for making you think it's all hopeless.

The fact is that that is a lie.

Poeple CAN and Do make a difference, and all the horror stories that are printed in the New York Times or featured on the Google News page leave out one important thing: the millions of stories that happen every day where people help each other, do courageous things, create works of art, entertain, teach, invent, discover, and, in short, create.

So, just to balance things out, I thought I'd post some good news.

Young German Human Rights Activist Helps Lead Meetings at the UN
Sixteen year-old Katharina Waterkamp, originally from Verden an der Aller in Germany, represented her country in the Youth for Human Rights Youth Summit at the United Nations on August 23rd and 24th. She joined twenty-five other young delegates from around the world at UNICEF headquarters in New York Tuesday, addressing human rights violations facing youth internationally, and promoting the need for human rights education worldwide.

Ms. Waterkamp stated, "Unfortunately, few people my age know what their human rights are. The human rights situation in Germany is better than in many other countries, but it, like all other things, is not perfect. I currently live in Los Angeles because, in Germany, the right to practice the religion you wish to is not respected by many people."

The meetings, part of an international Youth Summit, were hosted by Youth for Human Rights International, and co-organized by the Church of Scientology, the Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, and the Friends of the United Nations. >>

Here are some new directories and sites about Scientology. I'm always happy to find and share pages on Scientology. After all, I've gained so much from learning and using Scientology applied religious philosophy. Any time I get to pass it on to someone else I know I'm offering something that can improve that person's life too.
Scientology Traditions
KinderStart - Society/Culture/Environment : Religions : Scientology
Scientology - All Things Spiritual Directory
Search Europe: Religion And Spirituality: Scientology
Open Directory - Society: Religion and Spirituality: Scientology: Church of Scientology
TheTrueLight.Net - Scientology Links (and their terrific page about Scientology)
Category: Scientology - ReligiousResources.org
LookSmart - Directory - Scientology Churches
Search Results for scientology -Encyclopaedia Britannica

Here's what Brandy told Aricana.com recently about Scientology. Go Brandy!

How were you introduced to Scientology?

My dentist broke it down to me. It basically consists of questions that probe really deeply into your life. You are confronting all of your experiences, and I knew was like, "If I could confront every experience in my life and be cool with it, then nothing could stop me." They ask the questions, and you provide the answers. I am not a scientologist, but I do love what I have experienced.

What aspects of Scientology have you applied to your life?

I used to have problems justifying everything. People justify what they do, instead of just saying that they did it. I never wonder and then not go forward. If you are eating something, I won't ask, "How does that taste?" I will taste it on my own. I am very curious about life.

I was surprised to find this:

Yahoo>UK >Ireland Directory >Scientology> Beliefs and Practices

Glad to see Ireland has discovered Scientology!

(Speaking of ubiquity - the ODP sure gets around! Here's another one I just found: SLCentral Directory - Society - Religion and Spirituality - Scientology - Church of Scientology)

I have been reading an essay by L. Ron Hubbard on the subject of ethics and morals and I am struck by what a breakthrough he made in the field of philosophy.

Before I every heard of the works of L. Ron Hubbard, when I was in school, I read various philosophers and always came away wondering - okay - now what? I never found a single thing I could do to improve my life, live more ethically, help my family or friends or even a stranger in need of help. I noticed those who studied philosophy tended themselves to be gloomy or very esoteric - arguing what exactly Kant meant to say, whose interpretation of Hegel's works was more accurate - but never - this is what we can do now to help someone stop beating his kids, this is how I can talk my friend into laying off the booze, this is what I can tell my boss when he starts discecting his staff.

The different in Scientology is L. Ron Hubbard
developed an applied philosophy which does make a difference. You can use this to change the things you know you need to change rather than come to terms with your inability to do so. It is so much better to live with the tools of this subject!

This has application in so many different areas of life. For example, philosophy should address such problems as
crime and mental illness(CCHR) the state of the world and the need to improve it, even how to improveeducation so people can learn enough to make the best choices in their lives.

Where I used to put down these philosophy texts of old with a sigh and a wish that I had some workable answers, when I read the philosophy of Mr.
Hubbard I am energized and inspired to do something to help.

I'd say that's a better outlook....

Here's what AP Says about this photo: " Brandy, left, and Kelly Preston, pose for photographers during The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre's 35th Anniversary Gala, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. The guest list included many of the church's well known members including Tom Cruise , Lisa Marie Presley and John Travolta."

What a party that must have been!

I've been to CC Gala's but this looks to have been the best by far of any they've ever done.

Celebrity Centre is a really unique organization,which is described in this site:
Scientology FAQ:
Church of Scientology - Dianetics Answers and Authentic Information
Celebrity Centre offers all there services any other Scientology church offers, but such as courses that are based on the information in this book:
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health
Here are three directories of web sites on the subject of Scientology Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard, to help you find more information on the subject:
Scientology Resources
Basic Information on Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology
Religions Of The World: Scientology: Dianetics
And here is a list of Dianetics foundations in case there is no Scientology church or mission where you live.
Dianetics Foundations Around the Globe

With headlines such as these in the news today: Yahoo! News - Halliburton Accused of Accounting Fraud
Yahoo! News - Stocks Fall Sharply on Weak Job Figures
Yahoo! News - U.S. Payroll Growth Slows Dramatically
it's clear businesses need some effective technology, that helps a business prosper without breaches of ethics.

Here's a site that discusses some real solutions to these problems.

World Institute of Scientology Enterprises

More Information on Scientology

There are a number of studies that have been done on Scientology by religious scholars. Scientology applied religious philosophy is a very unique approach to improving life and increasing awareness. Unfortunately there are some who have misunderstood its goals and how these are accomplished. But papers like these help to bring about greater understanding of the subject:
Is Scientology a Religion? and Scientology A comparison with Religions of the East and West

Here's a page that has some interesting information too - along the same lines:
the Church of Scientology and its Members

Scientologists are traditionally ardent advocates of religious freedom and human rights. Here is a paper that was delivered on the subject by
Rev. Susan Taylor of the Founding Church of Scientology in Washington DC and here is a web site on the
Church of Scientology International European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office

Another example of human rights advocates is Leisa Goodman,
Church of Scientology International Human Rights Director. Ms. Goodman is a very outspoken proponent of human rights. She has spearheaded the movement to educate people on the subject, finding that most people don't have any idea what their human rights are. She helped create Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) and lends them her many years of experience as an advisor.

Here is another article by Ms. Goodman on the subject of Scientology.
Marburg Journal of Religion ( 2001) Leisa GOODMAN

Another group who are great advocates for human rights of a different and unique form is Ability.org.uk Their mission is to help persons with disabilities live a full and active life, using the potential of the Internet to empower them with the skills and information they need to compete on an equal footing with others, and to show them that the keynote is Ability.
They also have an excellent page on the
Church_of_Scientology with links to a lot of interesting sites.

Here's an interesting page - published on a Dutch site but this particular page is in English. I learned some interesting points here:

The Church of Scientology; Questions and Answer regarding the Internet

Did I say Good News?

No good news on the political front. No good news on the International events front. Only good news on a person-to-person basis - individuals who are helping others on a one on one basis.

That's what I love so much about Scientology and individual Scientologists. Which is not to say that there aren't a great many wonderful people who help each other all the time. There are. That's the point. They need a hand, and Scientology has workable solutions - actual technology people can use to help themselves and one another.

Here's an example of a place that is helping people - the Church of Scientology of Pasadena. There are terrific people there - some good friends of mine are staff members of the Church, and they really go out of their way to help members and anyone who wants help.

I love the city of Pasadena. It's got all the benifits of a small town and a big city all in one. It has beautiful parks and museums and the Church of Scientology of Pasadena

Current Events

I don't agree with what is going on in Iraq, or how we got there. I think there are factors in this conflict the American public aren't being told about. But one thing I think is vitally important is the PEOPLE involved - both our soldiers and the Iraqi people - not necessarily in that sequence.
One branch of the armed services that is there to help, at least to help the soldiers, is the office of the Chaplain. I happened to find the web site of the US Navy chaplain and I liked what I saw. Here's there web site ChaplainCare Web Page and they have pages for individual religions here: ChaplainCare: Faiths
If the other pages are as fare as the page on Scientology, they are quite good. Here's the Scientology page: Scientology