Anonymous celebrates one year of protests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: anonymous@whyweprotest.net

Anonymous celebrates one year of protests.

Worldwide - The internet-based collective known as Anonymous will mark their one year anniversary of peaceful protests against the Church of Scientology this February with global protests spanning several weekends.

Anonymous has raised global public awareness of the Church of Scientology's scams and scandals over the last twelve months.

Highlights from the last twelve months include:

1) Court rejects Clearwater injunction in early March [1].
The Scientology organisation attempted to fabricate enough threats against themselves to convince a court in Clearwater, Florida (the Scientology "Mecca") to grant an injunction against peaceful Anonymous protests[2].

2) Scientology under investigation worldwide.
* Raided by the Belgian authorities [3].
* Ordered to stand trial for fraud in France [4].
* In Kazakhstan, authorities are seeking to have the local chapter removed as the Church of Scientology "runs counter to principles of national security of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as it is aimed at undermining Kazakh nation's health through inflicting harm on people's psychic and physical health" [5].

3) Scientology front groups exposed.
Leaked documents [6] have exposed the aims and intentions of the many Scientology front groups. These documents prove that despite the groups' insisting that the methods are secular, they are in fact founded upon the Scientology preudo-religious teachings. These front groups include: Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR, anti-psychiatry wing of Scientology) [7]; Narconon (drug rehab program based on Scientology, not related to Narcotics Anonymous) [8]; Study Technology (Hubbard's learning methodologies promoted by Applied Scholastics and other such groups) [9]; World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) [10] and Second Chance/Criminon [11] among others.

4) German government extend official invitation to Anonymous.
German authorities organised a conference last September in Hamburg entitled "What is Scientology?" and extended an official invitation to Anonymous to attend. Scientology representative Tommy Davis was denied access on the grounds that "If you discuss the dangers of illegal drugs, you do not invite the drug dealer to speak on stage" [12]. Speeches given at this conference are available online [13].

This year has seen much headway in the fight against the Scientology enterprise. Many of their internal documents and policies have been leaked [14], many media organisations have lost their fear of reporting on Scientology [15], critical documentaries have achieved worldwide circulation [16], and lawsuits have been filed that will further expose the enterprise [17].

The global release of John Duignan's book 'The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology' [18], which is still blocked from sale in the UK due to Scientology's efforts[19], has served to raise awareness about Scientology in the UK, as well as any country whose citizens heard about this censorship [20].

What a difference a year makes. Scientology operatives still continue to paint Anonymous in a negative light as a means of distracting attention from Scientology operations and attempting to discredit those who bring truth to the issues at hand. It just isn't working.

It has been some twelve months - time to finish what was started.

About Anonymous:
Anonymous is a grassroots collective comprised of ordinary people from all walks of life, from former Scientologists and long-time cult activists, to college students and corporate professionals, all united in recognition of the malign nature of the 'Church' of Scientology, the danger it poses to society, and the necessity of action.

We are Anonymous.
We are legion.
We do not forgive,
We do not forget.
Expect us.

For more information visit:
http://www.whyweprotest.net
http://forums.whyweprotest.net
http://library.endthecult.com
http://anonstillalive.com

References:
[1] Media coverage of the court's decision:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/civil/article416511.ece

[2] Video analysis showing that Scientology manufactured the bomb threat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6pdGhHvwu8

[3] Media coverage of the Belgian authorities raid:
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Authorities_in_Belgium_raid_Church_of_Scientology

[4] Media coverage of the France trial:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/09/france.religion

[5] Media coverage of the Kazakhstan case:
http://www.interfax.com/3/468595/news.aspx

[6] Leaked Scientology document exposing their front groups:
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Talk:The_Corporations_of_Scientology

[7] Media coverage of the build up to the CCHR event held June 2008:
http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2008/06/27/story66081.asp

[8] Media coverage exposing plans to use Narconon to infiltrate Irish schools:
http://anoneire.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cult-watchdog-says-scientology

[9] Extensive analysis exposing Study Technology as poorly veiled Scientology:
http://www.studytech.org/study_tech.php
Irish

[10] WISE company Diskeeper is being sued for forcing Scientology teachings upon its employees:
http://realitybasedcommunity.net/archive/2008/12/former_cio_sues.php

[11] Second chance violating there lease in New Mexico and leaving a substantial bill after they fled:
http://kob.com/article/stories/S761360.shtml?cat=500

[12] Coverage of the conference:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/06/18533664.php

[13] The speeches made at the Hamburg conference:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AboutScientology

[14] Leaked Scientology documents:
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Category:Scientology

[15] Australian news broadcasts portions of the infamous OT3 lecture in Hubbard's own voice for the first time. OT3 is a level in Scientology which costs its members thousands of euro to learn. It's basic teachings is that all life's anxieties and worries are caused by the infestation of dead alien souls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0WetfWy3hE

[16] A selection of documentaries about Scientology from various countries:
Spain - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3cNdLK3tqs
Ireland - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypDb2e4vdy4
Germany - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl8gVtKzD5Q
Israel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsqMqtpU44o
England - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dv4u3fVQrU
Denmark - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6722222657154769083

[17] Analysis of the Headley's cases against the Scientology enterprise:
http://realitybasedcommunity.net/archive/2009/01/marc_headley_v_1.php
http://realitybasedcommunity.net/archive/2009/01/claire_headley.php

[18] Buy 'The Complex' here:
http://www.eason.ie/items/9781903582848

[19] Scientology prevents UK-based booksellers from stocking 'The Complex':
http://anoneire.ning.com/profiles/blogs/church-of-scientology-prevents

[20] Recent interview of John Duignan on the Gerry Ryan show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRcRkpaA_7k

ENDS

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