John Travolta

John Travolta is an IAS Freedom Medalist, and well deserved, indeed.

It was a pleasure seeing him on Oprah, shown flying his own jet in with food and medical supplies.

This photo was taken at the River Center disaster relief center in Baton Rouge where the Scientology Volunteer Ministers were caring for the evacuees.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers

Once again Scientology Volunteer Ministers answer the call.

This time in America - in the Deep South where Hurricane Katrina left an entire population devastated.

Volunteer Ministers from as far away as Argentina, and from states around the U.S. are converging in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans to care for those who have lost their homes, while more teams are helping the relief efforts in Mississippi where the entire coastline was annihilated.

Labor Day takes on a whole new meaning.

Mr. David Miscavige awarded three Scientology Volunteer Ministers the Freedom Medal from the IAS for their work after 9/11. This year has been marked by enormous heroism by other Volunteer Ministers, including those who are helping right now.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is an IAS Freedom Medal Winner.

Mr. David Miscavige presented him with his medal last year, so well deserved because of his tremendous humanitarian work.

Scientologist are very active in their communities as Scientology Volunteer Ministers. Scientology churches and missions provide many programs to help to make Scientology technology available to people of all faiths to help them improve their lives and communities.


Mr. Tom Cruise and Mr. David Miscavige both inspire Scientologist, to do all we can to help people, as covered in the Code of the Church of Scientology.

Tom Cruise and Citizens Commission on Human Rights

Jan Eastgate is the President of Citizens Commission on Human Rights International. She is also an International Association of Scientologists Freedom Medal Winner for the tremendous work she has done over the years to expose the crimes of psychiatry. It was Jan who blew the whistle on Deep Sleep therapy in Australia, ultimately shutting it down as a practice.

In an interview about Tom Cruise, when he was awarded his IAS Freedom Medal, Jan stated that Mr. Cruise has been completely supportive of the IAS and has taken the issue of eradicating psychiatric crime as his own personal mission. This became most clear over the past month, with Mr. Cruise's statements on Access Hollywood, and the Today Show.

Citizens Commission on Human Rights is active around the world. Unfortunately this is needed because psychiatry has become so entrenched in society and its crimes are legion.

Here are some excellent sites about CCHR where you can become more informed about what CCHR and Ms. Eastgate (and Tom Cruise) are doing to make this world a better and safer place for everyone:

Chick Corea and L. Ron Hubbard's Literary Legacy

Chick's recording of To the Stars touches off a revival of one of Hubbard's most loved stories. Corea, an IAS Medal Winner, was inspired to write this music by one of his favorite works of Hubbard fiction.

Jazzonline describes it as: "Restless music pacesetter and multi-Grammy® Award-winner, Chick Corea now returns with his genre-bending, all-star Elektric Band, featuring Frank Gambale, Eric Marienthal, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl and guest appearances by Steve Wilson, Pernell Saturnino and Gayle Moran Corea. Featuring all-new Corea compositions inspired by his favorite science fiction novel, To The Stars, Chick and company’s rocket-fueled performances are unquestionably out of this world. Reuniting his ground-breaking Elektric Band just in time to celebrate the group’s 20th anniversary, Corea is once again heard blazing trails through a new frontier of electrifying, creative music."

This article on the Blue Note web site quotes Chick on how he was inspired to write this work:

"As for the inspiration of To The Stars…

"I’ve been a fan of L. Ron Hubbard’s fiction writing since the early 70’s and To The Stars was always one of my favorite stories," says Chick. "When I started reading it again recently I came across a part near the beginning that describes the Captain of the spaceship playing a hypnotic melody on the piano in a dive of a bar in what is called ‘New Chicago.‘ And Hubbard describes the Captain, he describes the bar, he describes the music. And I thought to myself, ‘I hear that music.’"

Once at the keyboard, Chick began to play the music that he heard. That initial spark ignited into a composition, a portrait of one of the book’s characters entitled, Captain Jocelyn, The Pianist. From there, Chick got into another of the book’s characters, then another, and another, then into some of the novel’s intergalactic locations. By the time Chick completed his journey, he had composed nine new tunes, and To The Stars was launched.

Hubbard’s novel, a seminal work of science fiction, revolves around a scientific equation: 'AS MASS APPROACHES INFINITY, TIME APPROACHES ZERO.' As the speed of the ship, the 'Hound of Heaven,' approaches the speed of light, it also approaches zero time. So when the ship’s crew returns home after having spent a few months in space, hundreds of years have passed on Earth. They find their families, their friends, even their countries are things of the past. Theirs becomes known as the 'long passage.'"

The full article can be read here

There is a terrific magazine online called L. Ron Hubbard Literary Correspondence which gives a great deal of insight into Mr. Hubbard.

I always enjoy reading about other aspects of L. Ron Hubbard's life. As a Scientologist I have read so many of his books and essays primarily relating to Scientology applied religious philosophy, but I am a great fan of his fiction as well.


There are a lot of Mr. Hubbard's fiction titles available as e-books, and here is a link for more information about Hubbard literary works.

Isaac Hayes and his work with the World Literacy Crusade

Isaac is a champion for children, and as the spokesman for the World Literacy Crusade he has made L. Ron Hubbard's study technology available to many thousands of kids in the US and in other countries.


Along with Rev. Alfreddie Johnson, Founder, World Literacy Crusade, Isaac has estabilshed a school in Ghana to help the children in this country learn to learn and raise the level of the culture through education. Isaac, who is a kind in Ghana, also has the name Nene Katey Ocansey I as covered in this interview with CNN


Isaac was honored with an IAS Freedom Medal award for for bringing L. Ron Hubbard’s study technology to less-privileged urban communities worldwide as an international spokesman for the World Literacy Crusade.

IAS Freedom Medal Winner - Chick Corea

Chick Corea - from Science Fiction to Scientology

(Chick performing To the Stars)

Chick Corea
Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
Chick Corea talks to Stuart Nicholson about Scientology, the rebirth of the Elektric band and how his remarkable career has developed over the years from Return to Forever through to the forming of the Elektric band in the 80s and Three Quartets with Michael Brecker. (Full Article>>)

As great as Chick is as a musician, that is now why he won an IAS Freedom Medal. His medal was awarded for exemplifying what it means to be a Scientologist and sharing this with millions of people around the world.

Here is what Chick says about Scientology:
he single greatest thing that studying Scientology has done for me is that it’s helped me become freer. Freer to create life as I want to, without being thrown off from my objectives. One of the first simple successes was that I learned to handle and remove my own self-imposed barriers and restraints. Through further study, my ability to handle life around me also increased. This freedom has been hard won, but the rewards are great.
My study of Scientology has also enabled me to write more music. I am quicker and am able to use all the musical abilities that I already had. I gained a new understanding of what the proper importances are in the process of creating music.
Scientology has helped me to live better. Using the basic principles of Scientology has become a natural way of life for me. From Scientology I’ve gotten a freedom to learn whatever I want to learn in life and I’m gaining new abilities all the time."

Chick has also been an avid supporter of human rights, religious tolerance, improving interrelationships and ethics to build a better society.

It's hard to pick one of Chick's albums and say it's the "best". His work is so varied, and all of it so innovative and brilliant. But his latest one: To the Stars is one of my all time favorites of his work. It is based on a book by the same title by L. Ron Hubbard .

IAS Freedom Medal Winner - Elena Roggero

A real human rights advocate, Elena contributes her talent and enthusiasm to further human rights issues whenever called upon.

Here are some examples:

Stars Shine for Human Rights - Freedom Magazine - Scientology in Los Angeles


Human Rights Marathon

Star italiana con amici internazionali al concerto di beneficenza

Here is information on Scientology in Italian for any of Elena's Italian fans who found this web site through her name:

Scientology sito Italiano con Dianetics e L. Ron Hubbard

Scientology Soluzioni Efficaci
Scientology - soluzioni efficaci - informazioni sull'abuso di droga
Scientology soluzioni efficaci - Migliorare il livello di alfabetismo e di istruzione
Scientology Ministri Volontari Dare un aiuto efficace alla comunità
Scientology - soluzioni efficaci - Insegnare la fiducia, l’onestà e il rispetto di sé

IAS Freedom Medal Winner Lawrence Anthony

Lawrence Anthony is a humanitarian and an environmentalist whose work to end the abuses of apartheid in South Africa has been acknowledged by the new South African government, and by the International Association of Scientologists.

He worked to expose the fact that psychiatric institutions in South Africa were in fact slave labor camps, where blacks were warehoused and where psychiatric "treatments" such as ECT were used to punish and abuse inmates who refused to cooperate.

More recently Anthony was in the news for his actions to save the animals at the Bhagdad zoo.

As covered in an article on the subject:

"Scientologist Lawrence Anthony has spent the last decade convincing Zulu chiefs to put the endangered black rhino in game reserves and profit from tourism rather than from continuing slaughter of the native animal.


"In April 2003, the plight of the animals in Baghdad pulled Anthony from this work and his home in the bush of South Africa to war-torn Iraq just days after the battle for Baghdad.

"Overcoming every "can’t be done" to gain authorized entry into Iraq as a volunteer administrator for the Baghdad Zoo, Anthony enlisted a team of local Iraqis and, with the support of U.S. forces, rescued the zoo’s ravaged inhabitants, as well as rounded up animals from Hussein’s private zoos where animals were dead and dying. Then he turned his sights to the next task: providing the animals a 21st century permanent home that befits their dignity."

The full article can be read here: Scientologist Lawrence Anthony announces $1 million fund-raising campaign to modernize Baghdad Zoo into a 21st century habitat

Isaac Hayes - IAS Freedom Medal Winner

Isaac Hayes earned his IAS Freedom Medal by bringing L. Ron Hubbard’s study technology to less-privileged urban communities worldwide as an international spokesman for the World Literacy Crusade.

As stated on the World Literacy Crusade's website:

...Isaac Hayes (Nene Katey Ocansey I), King for Development of Ada, Ghana [opened] his 8000 square foot $200,000 technology center in Ada.

In fulfillment of a divine mission which started over 400 years ago, this son of Africa symbolizes victory over slavery and epitomizes the essence of the new African/African-American relationship of the next millenium! This grammy award winning composer, musician, actor, entertainer, top radio, TV and Movie personality, International Spokesman of the World Literacy CrusadeTM, the Black Moses, could have very easily ignored Africa with his very busy schedule and success in America. Instead, he chose to reach back, make time, spend money and recruit his celebrity friends to build what stands to be the largest technology center in West Africa.

Assisted by Naa (Princess) Asie Ocansey of Ada, Ghana; the Reverend Alfreddie Johnson, founder and CEO of the World Literacy Crusade and his board members; Mr. Denzel Washington; BET's President Mr. Bob Johnson; Applied ScholasticsTM; ABLETM; the Ocansey Royal family; and the chiefs, elders and youth of Ada, Nene's vision to create economic development through education and technology is on its way to reality. Come and see the investment opportunities in Tourism and Technology at Ada -- Ghana's soon-to-be Silicon Valley. The center is destined to become the technological learning center of Africa, using a combination of L. Ron Hubbard's Study Technology delivered by the World Literacy Crusade, and the affordable and technically simple internet-tv's delivered via Literacy links. Literacy Links, an internet exchange program, will be officially outdoored by linking the children of America with the children of Africa for a cultural and intellectual exchange.

The full text of the article is available here: World Literacy Crusade: News

John Carmichael - IAS Freedom Medal Winner

John Carmichael is the President of the Church of Scientology of New York, and he earned his Freedom Medal, coordinating Scientology rescue efforts at ground zero.

As the New York Times put it:

September 20, 2001

Religious Leader Takes His Calling to Ground Zero
By AMY WALDMAN

Amid faces gray with grief and grime, theirs are fresh, even smiling. Among blackened uniforms and sooty equipment, their yellow T-shirts are bright buoys. They are clean.

At any time, well over 100 volunteer ministers from the Church of Scientology mill around the remains of the World Trade Center.


Rev. John Carmichael, president of the Church of Scientology of New York on West Street near Chambers.


On the day of the attack, they took in food to workers. Since then, they have taken the mind-altering techniques developed by the church's founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

When rescue workers stagger from the wreckage, the ministers, identified by their T-shirts, try to focus the workers' minds and revive their bodies. In "locationals," workers are told to look at the sky, or at water bottles on a table — anything to ground them in the present, the outside world, rather than the horror within the rubble.

"They bring people back, so to speak, so they are in control of their mind and environment," said the Rev. John Carmichael, the president of the Church of Scientology of New York.


The full text of the article can be found here: Volunteer Ministers at Ground Zero

David Miscavige Presents IAS Freedom Medal Winners of 2003

Last year's IAS event the the awarding of IAS Freedom Medals was held at Saint Hill in East Grinstead. This has traditionally been the venu of the IAS event, which is televised and viewed around the world at Scientology churches and missions.

Hosting this year's IAS Anniversary celebration was Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center and a founding member of the IAS. In welcoming the more than 5,300 event attendees, and tens of thousands more who have since seen the event on video locally around the world, Mr. Miscavige said, “This one marks a cross roads in history.

While I have previously said that people are searching for answers like never before, let there be no doubt, as we gather this evening, we are providing those answers like never in history.

"You have world conflict? We not only can, but we are picking up the pieces — and right at its epicentre.

"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.

"And finally, you ask of world leaders, who lack the means to truly lead? Well, we not only can, but we are putting those answers right in their hands."

Arresting the decline of drug proliferation was the first topic in Mr. Miscavige's 'round-up of year number 19's accomplishments. It was, as well, the cause championed by the evening‘s first IAS Freedom Medal winners Michael Neilson and Asa Graaf, leaders of a team of drug education specialists in Sweden who, in Mr. Miscavige's words, are "doing more to handle the drug problem than any other group on the planet."

Neilson and Graaf set out ten years ago to save Swedish children from a drug problem of epic proportions. In that time, they have not only salvaged an entire generation, they have created a nationwide movement for a drug-free tomorrow.

The next Freedom Medal recipient, Bruce Wiseman of Los Angeles, is president of the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights International, a group founded by the Church of Scientology in 1969 to monitor and eradicate human rights abuses at the hands of the psychiatric industry. The Los Angeles businessman has, for 14 years, been exposing multi-billion dollar and multi-national psychiatric scams. He has brought to the American public and political consciousness the views of parents who, due to the proliferation of psychiatric drugging of school children, were once powerless in keeping their children drug-free. In returning the power of choice to the families, he has not only opened the eyes of a nation to psychiatry's greatest hoax — the unscientifically documented diagnoses by psychiatrists of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) — but also broke their spell over American education by spearheading resounding prohibitions of mandatory child-drugging in state and federal legislatures.

Australian Wendy Honnor, the third Freedom Medal recipient, is a Scientology Volunteer Minister working one-on-one with residents of all social strata in her native Tasmania.

"Our final Freedom Medal Winner didn't just answer a call — she led a charge," said Mr. Miscavige in introducing Honnor, "In fact, her personal mission of bringing real help has given new meaning to that old phrase 'charity begins at home.'"

Honnor assists local leaders in communities throughout her island home state with the 19 technologies a Scientology Volunteer Minister is trained in. In so doing, she has helped to change the tune of media headlines from those that once trumpeted "the land of gloom and doom" — marked by the nation's highest suicide rate and 10-year economic slump — to the upbeat of a state now enjoying a full social and economic resurgence.

On that theme — of what one individual Scientologist can do to bring about dramatic change — Mr. Miscavige told the audience, in closing, "Your participation is more than the proper thing to do. It's the difference between more of 'same old, same old' and total freedom. That's the crossroad where we stand, a place and point in time where our actions individually and collectively, will determine the course of history."

What it Means to Win the IAS Freedom Medal

The IAS is the International Association of Scientologists. For the past 20 years the IAS has honored people who have made great humanitarian contributions. These are courageous and effective men and women who act with tremendous responsibility to improve the world in which we live.

The blog is about these people, the work they have done and still do, and the work the International Association of Scientologists does to ensure that the basic freedoms and rights we sometimes take for granted are preserved and strengthened.