Tennessee United for Human Rights Bringing People Together to Eliminate Discrimination

Tennessee United for Human Rights is spreading its message through educational tools, hard-hitting videos and inspirational messages.

Tennessee United for Human Rights (TUHR) is planning to hold an event in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21st at 4:30pm at the Nashville Church of Scientology. The theme for the event is “An Open Conversation on Minority Relations,” and will bring together members of minority communities for a dialogue on working better together.  

During a meeting at the Church of Scientology in January, a local pastor brought up a point that there is a need for more conversation among minorities. This led to the creation of this conversation for the International Day for the Elimination of Discrimination.

“If minorities work together, they become the majority,” says pastor of the Church of Scientology, Rev. Brian Fesler, “All are stronger together.”

TUHR is the local chapter of United for Human Rights (UHR), an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its membership is comprised of individuals, educators and groups throughout the world who are actively forwarding the knowledge and protection of human rights by and for all Mankind, according to humanrights.com.

UHR’s purpose is to provide human rights educational resources and activities that inform, assist and unite individuals, educators, organizations and governmental bodies in the dissemination and adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at every level of society.

United for Human Rights was founded on the Declaration’s 60th anniversary, in the face of continued worldwide abuses which violate the spirit, intent and Articles of this charter of all human rights, the first such document ever ratified by the community of nations. Surveys have found that most people have only a limited understanding of human rights. The Declaration contains the thirty rights that together form the basis of a civilization wherein all people can enjoy the freedoms to which they are entitled, and nations can coexist in peace.

For more information about United for Human Rights, go to www.humanrights.com.

Nashville Church of Scientology to Hold Open House for World Health Day

The Nashville Church of Scientology is welcoming the community to an event this year to observe World Health Day.

The Church of Scientology supports the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW), which has as its mission to educate people about the dangerous effects of drugs so they understand and can make informed choices on the subject. The Tennessee chapter, Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) is planning an event to observe World Health Day where the organization will have plenty of educational materials to hand for anyone wanting more information on the topic. Organizers have partnered with community members who have information to share on healthier living.

Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology, says, “There is a need in our communities to educate everyone on how to be healthy—this includes staying away from illegal drugs, but there are many other aspects to health that people should know,” he said.

Rev. Fesler says the event will feature audio-visual pieces, interactive presentations and more to keep the audience engaged. “We’re helping people learn about being healthy in a fun, upbeat way,” says Rev. Fesler.

In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) held the First World Health Assembly. The Assembly decided to celebrate April 7 of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. World Health Day is held to mark WHO's founding, and is seen as an opportunity by the organization to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year. This year, the theme is #HealthForAll, and the Nashville Church of Scientology plans to incorporate this theme into the event.

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

Citizens Commission on Human Rights Spreading Awareness, Helping Children

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Nashville (CCHR Nashville) has been hard at work to spread information to parents on their basic rights so they can help their children.

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights Nashville Chapter (CCHR Nashville) is working to educate parents on their basic rights as they relate to their children’s mental health and well-being. To do this, volunteers have been to several recent events and informational fairs to get out information in a broad sphere.

CCHR has long been an advocate for human rights, especially as relates to patients’ rights in the field of mental health. Per the international CCHR website, cchr.org, “CCHR has long fought to restore basic inalienable human rights to the field of mental health, including, but not limited to, full informed consent regarding the medical legitimacy of psychiatric diagnosis, the risks of psychiatric treatments, the right to all available medical alternatives and the right to refuse any treatment considered harmful.”

Rev. Brian Fesler, who serves on the board of CCHR Nashville, said, “CCHR volunteers are getting the word out, but there is so much work to be done. Children are at risk in the hands of psychiatrists, and their parents deserve the truth.”

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health watchdog. Its mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. CCHR receives reports about abuses in the field of mental health and is especially interested in situations where persons experienced abuse or damage due to a false diagnosis or unwanted and harmful psychiatric treatments, such as psychiatric drugs, electroshock (ECT) and electronic or magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). CCHR is often able to assist with filing complaints, and can work with a person’s attorney to further investigate the case. To contact CCHR Nashville for more information, visit cchrnashville.org.  

Drug-Free Tennessee Circulating Truth

Drug-Free Tennessee, the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, has been helping people across the state to learn the harmful effects of drugs before they are lured into taking them.

With drug-related crimes being a weekly occurrence, Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) is working out ways to combat usage rates by spreading truth. “We need to spread a positive drug-free message and educate as many people as possible and as fast as possible,” says Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee.

DFT uses The Truth About Drugs booklets, which empower youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to live drug-free.  

Volunteers are out in the community, handing out information and giving talks to students in schools. “This program works with anyone of any race or creed, as drugs don’t discriminate,” according to Fesler.

DFT is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW), an international organization based in Los Angeles, and has as its mission to educate people about the dangerous effects of drugs so they understand and can make informed choices on the subject. At the heart of the campaign are the Truth About Drugs booklets, 13 fact-filled booklets that, without scare tactics, inform about drugs, empowering young people to make their own decisions to live drug-free.

Fesler says, “There is a need in our communities to educate everyone on drugs—drugs impact all our lives in one way or another. That’s why it is important for all of us to work together to end this epidemic.” For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee, visit drugfreetn.org.

Several Faiths Join Together to Celebrate International Women’s Day

Divers women of faith are joining together to celebrate International Women’s Day. This is “a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities,” according to un.org.

Happening at the Islamic Center of Tennessee, the event is being called “Sorority of Eman (Faith): Deriving Direction, Inspiration and Strength for Today from the Women of Yesterday,” and will be held on March 8, 2018 from 6-8pm. The event will include a panel discussion with women of faith on how one can derive direction, inspiration and strength from their lives. This is the first event in a series called “Daughters of Eve,” which brings women from various faith traditions together to foster mutual respect and understanding through discussion, shared goals, breaking bread and community service.

Panelists for the Women’s Day event include the Rev. Carol Cavin-Dillon, Pastor at West End United Methodist Church; Carol Grady Mansour, Member of Baha'is of Middle Tennessee; Sarah Levine, Cantor at West End Synagogue; and Aisha Lbhalla, Founder of The Muslim Women's Council. The event will be emceed by Julie Brinker, Director of Community Relations for the Church of Scientology.

A truly interfaith and interactive experience, the event will also include a demonstration on self-defense, a Henna tattooist, spoken word artists, and the Faith in Action Awards which are being presented to incredible women from each faith tradition who are all working for a better community.

“Sorority of Eman” is being organized by the Muslim Women’s Council, an organization which brings cultural awareness of Islam and Muslims to the public by providing accurate information on Islamic practices and beliefs with a purpose to correct misunderstandings and stereotypes particularly those about Muslim women. MWC addresses some of the education, social and personal development needs of women as well as engages in interfaith cooperation, cultural competency training and collaborates with those outside of the Muslim community in order to make a healthy, vibrant, inclusive community for all.

The event takes place Thursday, March 8, 2018, from 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Islamic Center of Tennessee in Antioch. For more information, visit the event Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/388007201661100/.

Nashville Church of Scientology Holds World Interfaith Harmony Breakfast and Dialogue

The Church of Scientology in Nashville opened its doors to all religious communities for a special interfaith breakfast and dialogue in observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Last July, the USA Today had an article on The State of Hate in America. It covers a wide variety of hate incidents dividing Americans in a land that was long ago intended to be “land of the free and the home of the brave.” Included was an incident where two men on a Portland train were stabbed to death trying to stop a white supremacist's anti-Muslim tirade against two teenagers.

“In order to truly combat religious discrimination in this day and age, we have to come together and learn about the religious other,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, Pastor of the Church of Scientology, who called together people of many different faiths and cultures to take part in an innovative and unique interfaith dialogue on February 1^st to open World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Participants included members of the Sikh, Baha’i, and Humanist traditions, as well as Scientologists.  

In proclaiming Interfaith Harmony Week in October 2010, the United Nations stressed that "mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace."  It was hoped that religions would work together "to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith" because "the moral imperatives of all religions, convictions and beliefs call for peace, tolerance and mutual understanding."

The Church of Scientology’s creed begins with the words: “We of the Church believe that all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights; that all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance…”   

“It is part of our very fabric to support others’ rights and abilities to practice their religion in peace, so that is what we are lifting up through this dialogue,” says Rev. Fesler.

One participant described the dialogue like this, “World Interfaith Harmony Week was kicked off in Nashville with a breakfast where we were challenged to explain some of the basic tenets of our faith in just a few minutes to someone who would then explain it to the group. It was a lot of fun, and a big thumbs up to the organizers.”

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

Citizens Commission on Human Rights Holds Conversation on Racism

Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Nashville (CCHR Nashville) held a special breakfast meeting at the end of January.

The Nashville Chapter of Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR Nashville) held a special breakfast meeting in late January to confront a serious topic: racism in pop culture and advertising.

CCHR is known as an advocate for human rights, especially as relates to patients’ rights in the field of mental health. Per the international CCHR website, cchr.org, “CCHR has long fought to restore basic inalienable human rights to the field of mental health, including, but not limited to, full informed consent regarding the medical legitimacy of psychiatric diagnosis, the risks of psychiatric treatments, the right to all available medical alternatives and the right to refuse any treatment considered harmful.”

During this conversation on modern racism, attendees dove into a heated and passionate topic and looked at the roots of racism and how it came to be in this society.

 “CCHR is committed to helping people learn their rights, and this includes diving into the sordid history of racism. The only way to overcome racism is by knowing the truth,” says CCHR Nashville Board Member, Brian Fesler. “Racism is not natural. It is learned and we need to know from who.”

CCHR Nashville regularly hosts events and meetings with local leaders who give insight into patients’ rights, parents’ rights and more.

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health watchdog. Its mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. CCHR receives reports about abuses in the field of mental health and is especially interested in situations where persons experienced abuse or damage due to a false diagnosis or unwanted and harmful psychiatric treatments, such as psychiatric drugs, electroshock (ECT) and electronic or magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). CCHR is often able to assist with filing complaints, and can work with a person’s attorney to further investigate the case. To contact CCHR Nashville for more information, visit cchrnashville.org.