Freedom Medal Winner Lawrence Anthony

Lawrence Anthony, Founder of the Earth Organization and probably best known for his work in salvaging the animals in the Baghdad zoo, for which he was honored with the Earth Trustee Award, and Earth Day Medal. Lawrence is a well-known environmentalist, conservationist and explorer whose area of particular interest is the rehabilitation of wild traumatized African Elephant. He is a member of the esteemed explorers club in New York. He is also the winner of an International Association of Scientologists Freedom Medal Award.

The Earth Organization, supported by top opinion leaders from the fields of science, economics and tourism, held an international press conference in November to oppose the proposed slaughter of 5,000 elephants by the South African National Parks (SANParks) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

The Earth Organization is alarmed that the slaughter will see the killing of entire elephant herds; mothers, fathers and babies; in an attempt to “solve” the claimed overpopulation of elephants in the Kruger Park. This entails using helicopters to round up and confuse the herds before using high powered rifles to put the whole herd down.

Full research is being done and needs to be pursued and implemented to find alternate ways to overcome the overpopulation of the elephant population.

In a speech about the significance of the IAS Freedom Medal several years ago, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the board of Religious Technology Center made a comment that is very appropriate, as it shows the kind of responsibility individual Scientologists are taking to right wrongs and preserve what is good and decent in life. He stated:

“You have societal decline? We not only can, but we are reversing that trend — anywhere and everywhere.

“You have the “everyday man” who has been lost in a technological society? We not only can, but we are helping him find his way."

I believe that the work Lawrence Anthony is doing to carry out the purpose of Earth Organization is an example of just this. That purpose is: " to reverse the dwindling spiral of life on Earth, and create a healthy habitable Planet on which all life flourishes and prospers, and of which we can be proud."