Scientology Volunteers in India

Nearly four years since the Indian Ocean tsunami crashed onto the shore of southeastern India, work continues to rebuild the region itself and the lives of those who survived. Key players in this phase of recovery are the Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

Within days of the tsunami, Scientology Volunteer Ministers arrived in the region from all over the world to work with the search and rescue personnel and provide help to those who lost loved ones, homes and property. And when others returned home, a group of French Scientologists stayed on and made Pondicherry their new home and the full recovery of the region their mission.

Towns and cities have emerged from the initial devastation, which, according to the Government of India, amounted to some $2.56 billion. Having completed the initial recovery phase, concentration has now moved on to “development”, and “Disaster Risk Reduction” (DDR) has become the primary concentration of aid to the area. High on the list of DDR priorities is establishing community-based programs that prepare local residents on how to survive in times of calamity.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers India Goodwill Tour arrived in Pondicherry in August to certify members of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers group and provide disaster preparedness training based on the Scientology Handbook. The members of this tour, who are experts in this technology, have already trained police, fire departments, health care and relief workers and volunteers throughout India.

The defining characteristic of a disaster is disorganization and chaos, and the Scientology Volunteer Ministers courses on the basics of organizing and communication enable people to quickly set up new communication systems and infrastructure. They become skilled at restoring calm and getting people operating as a team to overcome the immediate threat from the environment.

Once the initial panic of a disaster is over, those trained in this program can confidently take on the next order of business—the survivors themselves. They learn how to speed up recovery from injury. This unburdens otherwise overloaded medical resources who need to concentrate on life-threatening injuries. Those trained in Scientology Disaster Relief can also bring survivors through loss and trauma so they can get on with their lives, care for their families and participate in the relief effort themselves.

What enables them to do this is the “Scientology Assist“. Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, assists address the emotional and spiritual side of trauma, enabling the person to recover fully from injury, stress or shock.

For more information on the program, disaster response training and Goodwill Tours, visit the Scientology Volunteer Ministers web site.

Scientologists hand Sussex air medics £50k

says The Argus UK:

The controversial Church of Scientology has donated £50,000 to the Sussex Air Ambulance Service at a glitzy gala hosted by a Hollywood star.

Actress Kelly Preston, wife of John Travolta, compered the event at the church’s headquarters in Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, in front of 1,500 people.

Ms Preston is a keen supporter of the religion, which was founded by L Ron Hubbard in 1953.

Sussex Air Ambulance Service provides helicopter cover for the county, as well as for Kent and Surrey, attending an average of four incidents every day.

The charity is funded entirely by donations and provides a team of doctors, paramedics and nurses. Its chief executive, Dave Philpott, was invited on to the stage alongside staff and crew to accept the cheque from Ms Preston and Bob Keenan, director of the L Ron Hubbard Foundation.

Delaine Shearman, the Sussex fundraiser for the charity, said: “The £50,000 raised will enable 50 possible life-saving missions.

“The Sussex Air Ambulance is grateful for these vital funds that will help keep our helicopter operational.

“Everyone should be very proud of themselves.”

Mr Keenan added: “The L Ron Hubbard Foundation and the Church of Scientology are delighted to give their support to the Sussex Air Ambulance as our chosen charity for this concert, which each year is the highlight of our charity fundraising events and activities.

“As any help the Sussex Air Ambulance receives enables their teams to save more lives, many people pulled out all the stops so we could give this donation.

“Our warm thanks are due to all those contributors.”

The gala concert concluded a weekend of activities, attracting more than 7,000 people from across the world.

Representatives from embassies including Cameroon, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Fiji, South Africa and Liberia were among the crowd.