IAS Freedom Medal Winners

The International Association of Scientologists presents a Human Rights Freedom Award to three outstanding people (or groups of people) each year. The event is held live in the UK toward the end of October and is televised the following week in Scientology churches around the world.

I had to put in this story from South Africa - A hero from a different view:

"Shark attack survivor Achmat Hassiem will be facing his demons on Sunday morning when he returns to the scene of the attack after being discharged from hospital on Saturday. The lifeguard lost his right foot last Sunday when he was attacked by a shark, believed to be a Great White, during a lifesaving exercise at Sunrise Beach in Muizenberg. He was given a hero's welcome by family and friends when he arrived at his Strandfontein home after spending five days in hospital. Walking into the house on crutches, Hassiem was all smiles and in high spirits as he embraced family and friends.

"Cracking jokes with his friends, he quipped to one of them: "Don't you have any takkies? I only need one."His grandmother, Sulayla Lackay, was among the first to greet him. She came from Durban when she heard the news.'I'm fine, Mama, I'm alive. It could have been much worse,' he told her.He proudly displayed the shark tooth extracted from his leg. 'He wanted to take part of me, so I took some of him," he joked holding up the segment of tooth.But he hasn't let his popularity go to his head and shies away from the term hero and said: 'I'm not a hero, just a lifeguard doing his job.' His father, Moegseen said he was glad to have his boy back at home. 'I called him last night and told him just one more night in hospital and then you can come home.' His father said Achmat's character was so strong that he wouldn't let this bring him down. "He is really warm and has an amazing personality. Even when they had him on the beach and were going to take him onto the helicopter he joked with the paramedics: 'Can I have a window seat?' That's the type of person he is.' Sitting in his room, Hassiem said he was looking forward to sleeping in his own bed again. He said the possibility of a shark attack was one of the things that lifeguards and surfers always joked and talked about. 'I just went and did it, though.' His brother, Taariq, said they had, in fact, been cracking jokes about sharks attacking them less than two minutes before the incident actually happened. Hassiem said he couldn't even describe the emotions he was feeling at that time. 'You are in the presence of the raw power of nature itself and it was something you can't explain. I am just glad to have gotten away with my life.' He is very excited about getting back into the water but in the same breath said it would probably be the scariest thing he will ever have to do. 'Arriving at the beach that almost took my life is quite hectic.' ..."

Real Heroes in Java

I am so impressed with the Scientology Volunteer Ministers who went to Java to help after the earthquake.

The most impressive part is they are still there!

That's almost 3 months. And we're not talking luxurious living conditions. They are living in huts and eating the local food, and working day in/day out.

Here's just one example of the kind of work they are doing:

Scientology Volunteer Ministers helping to teach kindergarden children simple Scientology assists to help them in their lives.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers in Indonesia are assisting in many ways and many places.

The International Volunteer Assist Team in Java has been training younger children on basic techniques of how to assist themselves and others. Showing them how to do very simple Assist techniques to relieve upset, panic, and anxiety even when brought on by the natural catastrophes which have occurred in their vicinity.

It's a very unfortunate fact of life that these islands have more than their share of catastrophes. To give these kids something they can use whenever disaster hits will serve them the rest of their lives.

Youth for Human Rights Hero Awards

The final Hero Awards presentation for Youth for Human Rights International is being held at the United Nations, August 24-25th.

Modern Day Heroes

Its funny when you think about heroes in the old days. Famous heroes were usually war heros, be they in a World War or fighting the Indians in America.

Today it doesn't seem that our heroes are as colorful or dramatic, but somehow I think over time, the early heroes had some help. Books, movies, TVs have made some of these people larger than life. Jessie James - a criminal is one such example.

Anyway, its an interesting look. Maybe in 100 years, the modern day heroes will have taken on a whole new look too.

Heroes in Great Britain

I'd say the men and women in England who uncovered and stopped the plot to blow up international airlines yesterday are heroes. How many lives do you think they saved?

Be a Hero

I was just thinking - what really makes a hero? I realized it doesn't really require doing something super-human, that's what it takes to be a "super-hero."

I looked the work up.

In the 1828 Websters it is defined as "A man of distinguished valor, intrepidity or enterprise in danger; as a hero in arms."

In the 1913 Websters it is:"A man of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; a prominent or central personage in any remarkable action or event; hence, a great or illustrious person."

Merriam-Webster defines it today as "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities; one that shows great courage."

These are qualities we admire. But how about being qualities we take on ourselves?

There's a Scientology course called the Personal Values and Integrity Course that anyone can study. Any Scientology church or mission has this course. You can even visit a Scientology Volunteer Ministers tent and get a copy of the booklet that's the text for the course, or read it online at the Scientology Handbook web site.

If you feel you could do with some polishing up of your person hero qualities, that's a great place to start.

Human Rights

I recently saw the public service announcements produced by the Church of Scientology International and Youth for Human Rights International.

These are an incredible weapon against intolerance and abuse.

What is incredible about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is how universal it really is. If these rights were actually enforced for every person on earth we would have no war or crime.

This fits so well with the Aims of Scientology (A civilization without insanity,without criminals and without war,where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights,and where man is free to rise to greater heights) that it's quite natural for people who embrace Scientology to also embrace human rights.

A few weeks ago, aboard the Freewinds motor vessel, David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC) described the church's human rights campaign as an essential program in bringing about world peace.

Three of the PSAs can be viewed online at the Youth for Human Rights International web site or downloaded from I Tunes, and the remaining of the 30 PSAs will also be available online soon.

Pass the work on these PSAs to anyone you know. I really believe that the Internet is the most potent human rights weapon on earth and by using it to get these PSAs out we could create peace.