Belgium



Expatica News reported on September 17th that Scientology has opened a

human rights office in Brussels, Belgium, near the offices of the European

Community.



"The Church of Scientology opened the doors to its all-new European

quarter offices Wednesday, amid skepticism from local politicians. The

luxurious address at 91 rue de la Loi will be representing the

controversial spiritual group in the European Commission and Parliament

neighbourhood in an attempt at increasing its credibility. The European

Scientology Office of Public Affairs and Human Rights has been seen as an

attempt to confuse visitors by attempting to appear like part of the

conglomerate of European institutions in the area.



"'They are the charlatans of human rights,' Antoine Duquesne, former

rapporteur during the investigation into sects in Belgium in 1997, told La

Libre Belgique. Politicians across all party lines criticised the

organisation's new offices. 'I think it's dangerous and a sect - it's not

for nothing that they've encamped themselves in the European quarter, we

know their lobbying capabilities,' said Mayor of Schaerbeek Bernard

Clerfayt. 'The Church of Scientology is only after money and nobody is

safe from what they are capable of,' said Mayor of Watermael-Boisfort

Martine Payfa."



Message-ID: 1063879075.231684@newshost01.voicenet.com





Org News



The New Haven Register reported on September 20th that Scientology's New

Haven, Connecticut org will be moving to a new building.



"After 31 years in Westville, Hallock's has sold its Whalley Avenue

building and plans to move by the end of the year. The Church of

Scientology bought the 35,000-square-foot building for $1.5 million. Carol

Yingling, a church minister, said the church plans to move its Connecticut

headquarters into the building. The current headquarters is in 9,000

square feet of leased space just down the street. 'We are really busting

out at the seams,' she said. 'I'm looking forward to having a place to

hold community meetings.'



"Yingling said the move will allow the church to potentially quadruple its

staff of 35. 'We need four times that many to make full use of the new

space,' she said."



Message-ID: 1064062341.961470@newshost01.voicenet.com





CCHR



An email to Scientologists announced that a protest will be held at a

meeting of the Florida Psychiatric Society in October.



"The Florida Psychiatric Society is holding their 2003 Fall Meeting at the

Ponte Vedra Beach Sawgrass Marriott Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida,

October 3 - 5, 2003. They're encouraging all their members to attend but

the 'Ethics meetings' are closed to the public. They say the meeting is

important to 'strengthen and broaden the scope of our work and our

position within organized psychiatry.'



"The focus of our protest will be to halt the psychiatrists' use of

teachers to identify children as mentally disabled and forcing parents to

give drugs to their children as a condition for them continuing school. We

expect 500 - 1000 demonstrators! We are planning to have a rally in

downtown Tampa where we can organize this event on Sep 12, at 8:00 PM.



Mary DeMoss

Executive Director

Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida, Inc."



Message-ID: ZTIGO1B237873.5001967593@anonymous.poster





Netherlands



CNET News reported on September 8th on the victory in a Dutch court to

keep links to Scientology's OT materials legal on the web site of activist

Karin Spaink.



"The Church of Scientology has lost a courtroom battle to compel a Dutch

writer and her Internet service provider to remove postings from a Web

site, in a ruling that keeps hyperlinks to copyrighted material legal.

The Court of Appeal in The Hague, Netherlands, denied the Scientologists'

latest appeal in an online copyright dispute that dates back to 1995.



"In denying the appeal, the court also overturned two previous rulings

that lower courts had handed down. One of these decided that ISPs should

be held accountable for any illegal or copyrighted materials posted by

their subscribers and that ISPs should take down hyperlinks to such

materials. An Xs4all representative cited the overruling of that decision

as the larger of the two victories.



"'I think this establishes an important freedom of speech precedence for

the Internet and ISPs in particular,' said Edith Mastenbroek, an Xs4all

spokeswoman. 'Any laws set to control how ISPs interact with copyright

laws must be made crystal clear.'



Xs4all representatives said they were particularly happy with the ruling,

as it relates to hyperlinks.  'After all, a hyperlink is merely a road

marker on the Internet, and it can therefore never be unlawful,' the

company said in a statement.



"Scientologists have taken a vigorous approach to squelching critical Web

sites, pressuring site operators, ISPs and even Internet heavyweights such

as Google into removing links to Web pages. In 1999, Amazon.com removed

but later restored links to a book critical of Scientology."



Message-ID: mike-55C7BC.15440508092003@news4-ge1.srv.hcvlny.cv.net

Message-ID: 3F5DCD45.2C21F85D@macmail.com





Protest Summary



John Ritson reported a protest on September 13th at Scientology's Saint

Hill complex and the nearby town of East Grinstead, England.



"Five regulars plus one new recruit arrived at East Grinstead on a

beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon. They have abandoned their presence

('Saint Hill Information Centre and Bookshop')  on the main shopping

street opposite the Broadway pub. They have a new location opposite the

Ship pub, but I completely failed to spot it. We set off by taxis to the

main gates of Saint Hill, and parked ourselves opposite the gates. Despite

our boombox turned up to full volume only one security guard (head glued

to mobile phone) made an appearance, although we glimpsed Graeme Wilson

sneaking around in the bushes.



"The police were very helpful and erected a 'SLOW' sign to ensure safety.

Many of the drivers passing shouted encouragement. Drivers going into and

out of Saint Hill maintained a stony silence. After about forty minutes

the taxis turned up to take us back to East Grinstead and the Ship pub,

where the new Scientology presence was pointed out to us.



"We emerged to picket the Scientology dump, which eventually opened one

door, to let a couple of Scientologists with mobile phones wander about.

The police asked us to turn down the volume as their had been complaints.

We were happy to comply as even on moderate volume I could still be heard

clearly on the far side of the road. Much support from the public, and the

local Baptist church even brought us out tea and biscuits, so I expanded

my usual spiel to include a section about the 'R6 implant.'"



Tory Christman, "tannman1" and Jeff Jacobsen reported a protest in Los

Angeles on September 14th.



"We decided to head out to the HGB: Hollywood Guarantee Building (Which is

International Management), and the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition right

next door.  As we began picketing, Hollywood rallied with us. Cars drove

by all day long with people honking, yelling, and giving us the thumbs up.

Many people walked by and told us their own personal horror stories re

Scientology.  We also had two people walk up and ask us if they could join

the picket. We had extra signs, so we gave them signs and they too began

walking back and forth. One had a dog, and had a sign on it saying, 'Do

Not Believe L. Ron Hubbard.'



"We continued talking with people and passing out Xenu Flyers (at least

300, and 400 flyers and about 300 cards with Web sites). People of all

walks of life and all ages came up to talk with us. Meantime, Scientology

hid inside.  As we traveled down to the Scientology Testing Center, things

heated up. Down from them were Black Israelites screaming non-stop about

how Jesus was really Black. They were screaming constantly. We were

passing out flyers, the Web sites, and I had the sign, 'Honk if you Think

Scientology is a CULT.' People were literally honking from both sides of

the street. Also, if they didn't have a car, and were walking by, they'd

go 'HONK' into my tape recorder.



"I realized this Cab was parked right outside of the Scientology Testing

Center, basically semi-blocking our signs. I realized no doubt OSA had

requested the cab, with the intention of blocking our signs. So I leaned

in and asked, 'Are you picking anyone up?' The gentleman said, 'No.' I

leaned in and said, 'These people are against Free Speech, and we are

fighting FOR Free Speech. You cab is blocking our signs, so you think

about that and decide what you want to do.' I walked away, and to my great

surprise, a few minutes later I heard the cab start up and he roared off,

honking loudly down the street. This happened two different times while we

were there.



"All during this time, Mellony and Jean were on their Cell phones. Finally

the police showed up! At first it was just someone from OSA, talking with

two LA PD. Finally the cops came over to me and told me they had a report

we were disrupting a residency. I asked where, as the Testing Center is

totally a business. He pointed above it (Three stories) and said those

residence were complaining. I told him first off we have a Constitutional

right to picket, and secondly, I was pretty sure they (OSA) were lying

about anyone living above the Testing Center.



"Finally after much talk, more OSA Int people arrived. Pam Bowen and one

of their top dogs who runs the attorneys, Ed Parken arrived on the scene.

Pam was furious and I could see was sent with orders to get rid of us.

The two cops came back and said they were 'Just trying to keep the peace'.

I said, 'So are we.' They said, 'Well, we have a request. You can say yes,

or no, but we would like you to go over to the other side of the street.'

I looked at the young cop and said, 'I heard your request and here is my

answer: No! We are here, we are going to continue to picket per the

Constitution of the USA.'



"We continued picketing, and more people began honking than all day long.

I saw OSA skulking around the corner, so I walked around to hear what was

being said. Pam immediately said, 'I don't want her here!' I said, 'Well,

since you're talking about me, I'd like to hear what is being said.' At

that point I hear the Supervisor ask Ed, 'Well, if you live here, I'd like

to see your driver's License proving it.' At that point I could only

laugh, as I knew once again the infamous 'Office of Special Affairs' had

blown it. The cops finally drove off as Scientology had NO proof that

anyone lived above the Testing Center."



"They feared our presence. They scooped anyone up who were out side the

walls and ushered them in like parents dragging kids in from the ocean

where a shark was sighted. We spoke to folks and offered our information.

Some accepted others refused. We moved to the Testing Center and this my

friends was where I received my first witness of the OSA. Here the fear

was even worse, It was RED ALERT for them. 7 people got an entire cult

hive in such a state of disarray I couldn't believe it. The clams resorted

to calling LAPD who basically didn't do a damn thing but ask us to move

across the street knowing we would refuse and no more could be done. OSA

was swarming like bees."



"I saw that L. Ron Hubbard Way had been closed off and lots of tables and

decorations had been set up. On the south side they had placed cloth walls

about 10 feet high across the entrance to the road. That way, any

picketers outside that wall could not be seen. I saw people making some

more of those walls, probably for the north side. The parking lot was

surrounded by this same high wall of cloth. There was a big stage set up.



"We went to the Hubbard Life Exhibit, a great place to hand out fliers. We

probably handed out about 200 fliers there (a guess). Skippy was very good

at handing out fliers. Graham and Tanman joined us there, as did another

ex and 2 pedestrians.  Many people walking by said in low voices 'boy

we're glad you're out here!' And, 'Finally somebody is doing this!' We got

positive responses and several good conversations there. Some people

refused our fliers saying 'I already know it's bad, give it to someone who

doesn't know.'



"We just out of the blue decided to go to the testing center down

Hollywood Blvd. and protest there for a while.  Graham and I held up the

WWW.XENU.NET banner closer to the testing center than the black guys (I

think their group is Black Israelites or something like that - they claim

to be the Lost Tribes). Others walked up and down with the great new

picket signs. Tanman somehow had parked his car right in front of us, and

suggested we drape the banner on his car. So we draped it on the left

side, holding it in place with the windshield wipers front and back. This

was great as any cars going by and anybody across the street would see

this.



"We had a pretty good time, even with the competition of the black guys

accosting pedestrians, us handing out fliers, and the Scientologists

handing out fliers, all in the same little area. There were no

confrontations or anything from that."



Message-ID: 3ilH22Q5i1Y$EwR9@jritson.demon.co.uk

Message-ID: 3f643a81@news2.lightlink.com

Message-ID: BnS8b.2703$UN4.506@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net

Message-ID: vmafi13f2ck05a@corp.supernews.com





Russia



A press release from St. Irenaeus of Lyon Religious Studies Center on

September 22nd announced that protests would be held at a number of

Scientology orgs in Russia.



"The All-Russian 'Fellow Travelers' youth organization, with support from

the Russian Orthodox Youth Movement, begins a long-term nationwide protest

action against the activity of the Scientology cult. On the appointed date

the first leg of the action will begin simultaneously in Moscow, St.

Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, and Kaluga.



"On the following five days the 'Fellow Travelers' activists will picket

the cult centers daily from 7 a. m. to 10 p.m., distributing leaflets and

explaining to those who want to enter the dangers of the cult. Large

posters will inform the citizens and all passers-by that the dangerous

cult is near. In Moscow the action will begin on September 22 at 3 p.m. in

four locations of the cult - three in the city and one in the suburb. The

official opening will be held by the Russian headquarters of the cult (B.

Galushkina St., 19). The guest speaker of the opening is Professor

Alexander L. Dvorkin."



Interfax reported on September 17th that a Psychiatric institute believes

Scientology will be protesting the center this week.



"Scientology is officially banned in Russia, Tatyana Dmitriyeva, director

of the Serbskiy Centre for Social and Criminal Psychiatry, said at a

conference on prison psychiatry in Moscow on Wednesday. 'However,

Scientologists continue to work in this country in the guise of human

rights organizations in order to cover the large sums put into

Scientology,' Dmitriyeva said. She said one of the Scientologists'

postulates has to do with psychiatry. 'They believe that psychiatrists

must not be allowed to treat people, as everything must be left to the

will of God,' she said.



"She announced that Scientologists regularly hold protest actions in front

of the Serbskiy centre and plan to hold another picket on Wednesday.

'Their main slogan is 'Psychiatrists, hands off humans!' They are also

urging the government to stop financing psychiatry,' Dmitriyeva said."



Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1030921055718.116B-100000@darkstar.zippy

Message-ID: t54hmv43smhqesk5v8nddf6h9nnu41int9@4ax.com





Reed Slatkin



The Los Angeles Times reported on September 17th that the law firm that

represented former Scientology minister Reed Slatkin will pay $650,000 to

settle claims that they should have been aware that he was running a Ponzi

scheme.



"Slatkin was sentenced to 14 years in prison this month for taking $593

million from investors in a Ponzi scheme. Slatkin, a Santa Barbara money

manager, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of fraud, conspiracy and money

laundering. Bankruptcy trustee R. Todd Neilson alleged that Bryan Cave, a

St.  Louis-based law firm that represented Slatkin, mishandled his case,

allowing investors to continue to pour money into his illegal schemes.



"Slatkin's attorney, Gerald Boltz, a former Securities and Exchange

Commission administrator, should have discovered the pyramid scheme in

early 2000, shortly after he was hired, Neilson said. But Slatkin's scheme

wasn't spotted until it began to come apart shortly before he filed for

Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2001.



"Under the terms of a tentative settlement filed last week, the law firm

does not admit to wrongdoing. But it will pay $650,000 to Slatkin's trust

to be distributed to creditors, said R. Alexander Pilmer, Neilson's

attorney. Investors who gave money to Slatkin still are owed about $240

million, and more than 200 lawsuits are pending to recover money from the

banks and investors who profited from the scheme, Pilmer said.



"Attorneys also are negotiating with groups affiliated with the Church of

Scientology that allegedly wound up with tens of millions of dollars in

donations from Slatkin clients. In court filings, Bryan Cave said that it

too was a victim of Slatkin's deception and that he gave the firm fake

documents. However, the firm claimed it was shielded from liability in the

case, because its duty as Slatkin's counsel was to represent its client

and not investors."



Message-ID: 1063792615.161532@newshost01.voicenet.com





Way to Happiness



The Los Angeles Times reported on September 15th that Scientology is

opening a Way to Happiness headquarters in Glendale, California.



"In a move that city business development officials see as another way to

drum up activity in a struggling business hub, The Way to Happiness

Foundation International is relocating its headquarters into a vacant

building at 201 E. Broadway. The building is owned by ABLE International,

which stands for the Association of Better Living and Education. The

foundation is an affiliate of ABLE. The foundation is a nonprofit

organization that is based on one book, 'The Way to Happiness,' written by

L. Ron Hubbard, whose tenets ushered in the Church of Scientology.



"The two-story, 22,000-square-foot building, built in the 1920s with a

basement and mezzanine was also perfect for the organization, she said.

The group will publish Hubbard's books from presses in the basement. City

officials were pleased the organization chose to move to Glendale. 'It is

going to provide activity on this corner, which we think will be very good

for the area,' Development Services Director Jeanne Armstrong said about

the move.



"The building is in the area of The Exchange, a retail and restaurant

open-air mall anchored by a movie theater. Merchants in the area have

lamented a lack of customers. But already, the foundation is trying to

drum up interest with a grand opening scheduled for Oct. 4 with a

community festival."



Message-ID: 1063619981.519924@newshost02.voicenet.com