Friday, April 29, 2016

Citizens Commission on Human Rights to Protest American Psychiatric Association Convention in Atlanta, Georgia

The annual convention of the American Psychiatric Association takes place May 14-18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. On Saturday, May 14, members of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) are organizing a protest in the name of justice for mental health.  

Formed in 1969, today there are hundreds of thousands of CCHR chapters, groups and supporters all over the world, monitoring and exposing psychiatric abuse. CCHR stands up for the rights of parents and children, and works with a vast array of investigators, legislators, attorneys, journalists and others who fight for freedom of conscience,

And there is no time to spare. According to cchrint.org, children are being labelled, stigmatized and drugged in epidemic proportions: “There are currently 8 million U.S. children being prescribed psychiatric drugs, with more than 1 million between the ages of zero to five.”

In a website release inviting marchers, CCHR International states: “Children are becoming addicted to these drugs, many of which are in the same class of highly addictive drugs as cocaine, opium and morphine. Yet the  American Psychiatric Association is doing nothing to stop this epidemic. Quite the opposite, they are now calling on the FDA to allow them to electroshock children who don’t respond to ‘treatment’ (drugs). This opens the door for millions of children experiencing side effects from the drugs, to be reclassified as ‘treatment resistant’ and to undergo electroshock as ‘treatment.’”

CCHR has invited all concerned citizens and organizations to join them in Atlanta on May 14.

CITIZENS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS is a nonprofit mental health watchdog established by the Church of Scientology and the late Dr. Thomas Szasz, professor emeritus of psychiatry at SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse to investigate psychiatric human rights abuses. For more information about CCHR, visit cchr.org and cchrint.org.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

The Way to Happiness Association Prepares for ‘Green It Up’ Event

The Way to Happiness Association is observing World Environment Day on June 2nd with a networking meeting on behalf of the environment.


It’s Your City – Green It Up. This is the slogan for an upcoming meeting planned for World Environment Day, organized by the Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee.

The Way to Happiness Association wants this event to bring people together who care about the environment so they can connect and can do bigger things. The Way to Happiness Association was formed around the book The Way To Happiness, written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.

The Way to Happiness is filled with twenty-one precepts based on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others. One of these precepts is “Safeguard and Improve the Environment,” which takes to heart the care for the planet. In applying this precept, the local Association has organized cleanup projects of all sorts, and now the local chapter wants to branch out and include all environmental organizations in a discussion to make an even bigger impact.

World Environment Day occurs each year on June 5th and is celebrated by the United Nations. “Green It Up” will take place during the week, on June 2nd.

Last year, the worldwide theme for the day was “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.” According to unep.org, World Environment Day “…has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. It also serves as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something positive for the environment, galvanizing individual actions into a collective power that generates an exponential positive impact on the planet.”

For more information on “Green It Up,” or if you would like to participate, send an email to twthnashville@gmail.com.


Drug-Free South Crushing the Scourge of Abuse

Drug-Free South is gearing up for a series of events to educate the community on drug prevention and awareness.


With Metro Social Services recently releasing its 7th annual Community Needs Evaluation, several statistics stood out. But one in particular spoke to the Tennessee Chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (DFW): that drug overdoses are a leading cause of death in Tennessee, with over 1,100 in 2013 alone—surpassing murder, suicide and motor vehicle accidents.

So the group is planning a series of events to help educate the community on drug prevention. It will start with booklet distribution of the organization’s “Truth About Drugs” booklet. With this booklet in circulation, the community will be able to see the facts, and the scourge of abuse will plummet.

From there, volunteers will go into schools, community centers and non-profit organizations to help children learn and understand what to do when confronted by a dealer. This is also where they will be shown the documentary – The Truth About Drugs: Real Stories, Real People, and the award-winning Public Service Announcements.

Regional coordinator for DFW, Rev. Brian Fesler, says, “Everyone can benefit from learning the truth about drugs, because everyone is affected by this drug epidemic – either personally becoming a victim to drug abuse or by knowing someone who has.”


The “Truth About Drugs” booklets cover all basic side effects of drugs, common street names, and how to recognize when you are being persuaded by a dealer. To learn more or order booklets, visit drugfreesouth.org.

Church of Scientology Celebrates 31 Years of Helping the Nashville Community

The Church of Scientology held its 31st anniversary soiree celebration on April 23rd, 2016 with parishioners and friends from the community.



The Nashville Church of Scientology held a celebration of the accomplishments it has seen over the past thirty-one years in the city.

Church pastor Rev. Brian Fesler said: “People are suffering. They’re in despair. Their lives are ruined. They’re the victims of all kinds of incredible circumstances. And they’re afraid things are going to get worse. This needs to change. And we can bring that change, but we have to demand improvement. We can’t just sit back and wait. Luckily there’s hope, because when you have an understanding of life, the spirit and the mind, that’s a very firm foundation.”

Community guests spoke about the Church’s involvement in education initiatives for human rights, drug prevention education, and helping kids with moral education using The Way to Happiness booklet. 

On a global scale, the Church of Scientology has enjoyed greater expansion during the past decade than in the previous 50 years combined. All the while the Church’s ever-growing humanitarian programs have positively impacted hundreds of millions of lives.

In Nashville, the Church has seen thousands of people entering its doors for the first time since moving into the grand Fall School Building seven years ago. On a humanitarian mission, the Church has participated in numerous human rights awareness events and helped create such events as Human Rights Day and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march and convocation.  Church members, volunteering in the area of drug education, have delivered more than 230 seminars in schools in Tennessee and have distributed more than 50,000 booklets.


“Scientology is an active religion, where one seeks to know life and help people," says Rev. Fesler, "and we have the tools to accomplish that. We don’t ask our members to believe, we want them to act.” To learn more about the Church of Scientology, its programs and courses, visit www.scientology.org.  

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Nashville Church of Scientology Hosts Fitness Fair for the Community, Promotes Overall Well-Being

The Nashville Church of Scientology welcomed the community to a Fitness Fair in honor of World Health Day.

A multitude of non-profit and health-minded organizations set up booths to promote overall wellness at a Community Fitness Fair organized by the Drug-Free South and Organized Neighbors of Edgehill and hosted by the Nashville Church of Scientology.

According to Nashville.gov, the city faces statistics such as 36 percent of its youth being obese or overweight, and according to America’s Health Rankings, Tennessee is ranked 43 on the list for overall health. Rev. Brian Fesler of the Nashville Church of Scientology moderated a panel of health professionals during the event for the community, “There is a need in our communities to educate everyone on how to be healthy, eat right and stay fit,” he said.

The event took place under the banner “Shape Up and Be Happy: A Community Fitness Fair.” There were organizations promoting drug prevention, weight loss, chiropractic care, HIV prevention, and much more.

The Church supports the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which was represented by its Nashville chapter, Drug-Free South, providing education on the truth about drugs. Fesler said, “you can’t have overall health with drugs in your system, and Drug-Free South has the educational materials people need to understand this.”


For more information on the Church of Scientology or its programs, visit scientology-ccnashville.org. 

Church of Scientology Welcomes Historic Nashville Inc. for Tour of Building

The Nashville Church of Scientology was honored to host a large group from Historic Nashville, Inc. for a tour of the historic Fall School building, home of the church since 2009.

The Fall School Building, the Church of Scientology’s home in Nashville, is an historical landmark. Built in 1898 in a similar style to the legendary Ryman Auditorium, the 36,000 square foot facility served the area as a public school until 1970.  The Church purchased the building in 2007. Many of its original features were preserved, including the hardwood floors, doors and stairwells and eight solid wood pillars capped with iron that support a central three-story atrium.

Forty members of Historic Nashville toured the church building led by the Rev. Brian Fesler, church pastor. “This church isn’t just our home in Nashville, it is a building for the community, and it is a Nashville institution. This is why it is so important to us to keep it preserved for the future,” said Fesler.

Historic Nashville Board Member Connie Gee organized the walk-through. “We are thrilled with the stewardship of the building that the church has given to this wonderful historic part of Nashville.  Your attention to detail in keeping the integrity of the architecture and craftsmanship of the building is outstanding.  The repurposing of the School has worked very well to keep it alive for years to come,” she said.


Established in 1968 and renamed in 1975, Historic Nashville, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 membership organization with the mission to promote and preserve the historic places that make Nashville unique. Over the years, it has successfully advocated for the preservation of such historic places the Ryman Auditorium, Union Station, Hermitage Hotel, 2nd Avenue & Lower Broadway, and Shelby Street Bridge, as well as neighborhood historic districts throughout the city. For additional information, please visit www.historicnashvilleinc.org. 

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Drug-Free South Welcomes Community to Fitness Fair in Honor of World Health Day

The Drug-Free South and the Edgehill neighborhood have partnered to organize a fitness fair for the community in honor of World Health Day. It will take place on April 8th, 3:30-7:00pm in the community hall of the Church of Scientology, 1130 8th Ave South.

Organizers say the Fitness Fair will help promote overall health and well-being.

According to Nashville.gov, the city faces statistics such as 36 percent of its youth being obese or overweight, and according to America’s Health Rankings, Tennessee is ranked 43 on the list for overall health.

Many different organizations will be participating with information including non-profits, government agencies, healthcare companies, and faith-based organizations.

A panel discussion of health, fitness, and drug prevention experts will present information at 5:00pm. According to the Facebook Event Page, there will be healthy refreshments as well as door prizes given out to attendees.

For more information, send an email to media@drugfreesouth.org.


The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Promotes Peace

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee was excited to participate in a large-scale peace event this April.

Organizers for The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee say their mission isn’t just peace, but a calm environment. The group was happy to participate in a large-scale event recently where hundreds gathered to form a human-made peace symbol.

The Way to Happiness Foundation, based in Los Angeles with chapters around the world, was formed to forward the booklet of the same name written by L. Ron Hubbard. The Way to Happiness booklet details 21 precepts that are predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” The Way to Happiness aims at giving people back a sense of what is right and wrong in a way that is easy to understand. In the two decades since it was authored, some 80 million copies of the book passed hand to hand.

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee distributed hundreds of copies of the booklets during the gathering for peace.

The Tennessee Association launched its campaign to distribute many copies of the booklet in 2009. Since that time, the group has visited local health fairs, festivals and community gatherings.


Rev. Brian Fesler, the regional coordinator for The Way to Happiness Association, says, “Our goal is a crime-free, healthy, and happy community. We will participate in events anywhere across the state to achieve this goal.” For more information, visit thewaytohappiness.org.