Church of Scientology Announces Peace Day Concert

The Church of Scientology in partnership with Tennessee United for Human Rights will hold its annual Nashville Celebration of International Day of Peace in September. Tennessee United for Human Rights (TUHR) has held an event for International Day of Peace for many years, each with a different theme related to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. TUHR promotes human rights education as a way to combat ignorance and increase awareness. 

 

During past Peace Day events, a different human right has been the focus. Past themes have included religious diversity, human trafficking awareness, and domestic violence education. This year the theme will be freedom of expression, as is stated on the Universal Declaration for Human Rights: “Article 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

 

“Each year we focus on a human rights issue that needs to be brought to light. This year we will bring together the community for a concert focused on freedom of expression,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, regional coordinator of the Tennessee United for Human Rights program.

 

International Day of Peace was declared by the United Nations General Assembly as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

 

The Peace Day event will be held September 23rd in the Nashville Church of Scientology community hall. For more information, visit tnuhr.org.

 

TNUHR is a chapter of the international organization United for Human Rights, formed on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to provide human rights resources and educational materials to all sectors of society.

 

Church of Scientology Nashville Educates Young People on Nelson Mandela

 The Church of Scientology with Tennessee United for Human Rights held a special event for Nelson Mandela in observance of what would have been his 105th birthday. 

The Church of Scientology with Tennessee United for Human Rights held an event to mark the 105th birthday of Nelson Mandela with an educational portion for young children who created artwork based on what they learned. The artwork they created will be available to see on TNUHR.org, the Tennessee United for Human Rights website.  

Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. The Mandela Day campaign message is: “Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years. We’re asking you to start with 67 minutes.” According to a statement issued on Mandela’s behalf on the adoption of his day by the United Nations, his hope was that it would “bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace, reconciliation and cultural diversity.”

To kick things off at the educational event, a short video was shown of Nelson Mandela's biography aimed at young people. The video also showed some of his legacy, and helped the youth attending learn what Mandela stood for. 

Nelson Mandela once said, “It is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build,” and according to representatives of Tennessee United for Human Rights, “In observance of Mandela Day and recognition of Nelson Mandela, Tennessee United for Human Rights (TnUHR) is introducing a new generation to the importance and relevance of Mr. Mandela’s work.” 

Tennessee United for Human Rights is the local chapter of United for Human Rights, an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its membership comprises individuals and groups who are actively forwarding the knowledge and protection of human rights by and for all Mankind, according to humanrights.com. Its purpose is to provide human rights educational resources and activities that inform, assist and unite youth, educators, organizations, and governmental bodies in disseminating and adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at every level of society.

For more information about United for Human Rights, go to www.humanrights.com, and for more information about the Mandela Day event, visit tnuhr.org.

Church of Scientology Nashville Holds Educational and Creative Open House for Mandela Day

 The Church of Scientology with Tennessee United for Human Rights is having a special event for Nelson Mandela in observance of what would have been his 105th birthday.

 

 

The Church of Scientology with Tennessee United for Human Rights is holding an event to mark the 105th birthday of Nelson Mandela with an educational portion for young children who will then be asked to create a picture based on what they learn about him. The artwork they create will be available to see on TNUHR.org, the Tennessee United for Human Rights website.  

 

Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. The Mandela Day campaign message is: “Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years. We’re asking you to start with 67 minutes.” According to a statement issued on Mandela’s behalf on the adoption of his day by the United Nations, his hope was that it would “bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace, reconciliation and cultural diversity.”

 

Nelson Mandela once said, “It is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build,” and according to representatives of Tennessee United for Human Rights, “In observance of Mandela Day and recognition of Nelson Mandela, Tennessee United for Human Rights (TnUHR) is introducing a new generation to the importance and relevance of Mr. Mandela’s work.”

 

Event organizers will show youth who Nelson Mandela was, what he was known for, when the critical events of his life happened, and how we can build on his legacy.

 

Tennessee United for Human Rights is the local chapter of United for Human Rights, an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its membership comprises individuals and groups who are actively forwarding the knowledge and protection of human rights by and for all Mankind, according to humanrights.com. Its purpose is to provide human rights educational resources and activities that inform, assist and unite youth, educators, organizations, and governmental bodies in disseminating and adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at every level of society.

 

For more information about United for Human Rights, go to www.humanrights.com, and for more information about the Mandela Day event, visit tnuhr.org.

 

Drug-Free Tennessee Holds International Day Against Drug Abuse Workshop 2023

 According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in Tennessee, drug overdose deaths involving opioids totaled 1,307 in 2018 (a rate of 19.9). Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (mainly fentanyl and fentanyl analogs) increased from 590 (a rate of 9.3) in 2017 to 827 (a rate of 12.8) in 2018.

 

Drug-Free Tennessee has long warned youth and adults alike on the dangers of drug abuse. This week, DFT reminded all to keep activities drug-free so they stay safe and healthy. To this end, the group held an educational seminar for teachers and those who work with young people to help them understand how to use the education kit from the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. If you missed out, more info is available at drugfreeworld.org.

 

Those attending were treated to a presentation about the anti-drug materials, were able to see how they can be put to use, and were offered as many as they could carry.

 

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking occurs on June 26 each year and was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1987 to encourage all sectors of society to work together to tackle drug abuse and addiction.

 

Drug-Free Tennessee has audio-visual messages and videos aimed at helping people steer clear of drug abuse and addiction. The organization has also long offered learning resources and free materials to all educators wanting to help people learn the truth about drugs. Resources are available free of charge through drugfreeworld.org, including the downloadable Truth About Drugs booklet, which covers all basic side effects of drugs, common street names, and how to recognize when you are being persuaded by a dealer.

 

DFW also has a range of award-winning Public Service Announcements and an award winning feature length documentary detailing the dangers of drugs and addiction. To learn more or to order booklets or view the videos, visit drugfreetn.org and drugfreeworld.org.

 

Nashville Religion Communicators Learn the Promise and Perils of AI

 

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to talk about topics of interest and hear from professionals in religious communications. 

 

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing, and public relations. The Nashville Chapter meets monthly to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities.

 

The June meeting which was held with others across the nation virtually was about the promise and perils of Artificial Intelligence. “It’s a hot topic, generating lots of headlines and heated debates – generative AI. Whether you view it as a great resource that may give the tech industry a much-needed boost, are concerned how AI might impact the future of the workforce, or – like the majority of folks – fall somewhere in the middle, there’s plenty to be learned about this new technology. Communicators especially need to consider how, when and to what extent to use AI,” according to the religioncommunicators.org website.

 

The discussion was led by Aaron Kwittken, founder & CEO of PRophet, an AI-driven platform. During the session, Kwittken discussed the potential of generative AI tools such as Jasper and DALL-E that have attracted ample attention lately, with emphasis on OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Launched in late November and free and open to the public, ChatGPT holds the distinction of being the world’s most sophisticated chatbot.  His presentation will cover how this tech may impact communication, drawbacks and a forecast of things to come.

 

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus, and more. The RCC, founded in 1929, is an association of communications professionals who work for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the areas of communications, public relations, advertising, and development.

 

The RCC provides opportunities for communicators to learn from each other. Together, RCC members promote excellence in the communication of faith and values in the public arena. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter.

Church of Scientology to Hold 8th Annual International Friendship Day Celebration

 The Church of Scientology Nashville is set to hold its eighth annual Friendship Day open house at the end of July, with participation from the diverse population that makes up the ever growing city.

 

“We love bringing a diverse group of people together and demonstrating the power of friendship,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology. “Most of life’s problems come from our basic misunderstanding of each other—a misunderstanding of intentions—getting along with one another starts with getting to know each other.”

 

The International Day of Friendship was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011 in the belief that “friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.”

 

The Church of Scientology partners in this effort with The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee, which provides a community betterment program based on the book The Way to Happiness by L. Ron Hubbard. The initiative is predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness is attainable. Several precepts in the book promote dialogue and friendship, among them “Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others,” “Be Worthy of Trust,” and “Try to Treat Others As You Would Want Them to Treat You.”

 

Last year the International Friendship Day theme was “sharing the human spirit through friendship.” The theme for 2023 has not yet been announced by the United Nations. Though the Nashville event always embodies the spirit of the day with dialogue between those of all faith traditions.   

 

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

 

Drug-Free Tennessee Will Hold Educational Workshop for Teachers June 2023

 Drug-Free Tennessee has a mission to educate people on the dangers of drug abuse.

 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in Tennessee, drug overdose deaths involving opioids totaled 1,307 in 2018 (a rate of 19.9). Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (mainly fentanyl and fentanyl analogs) increased from 590 (a rate of 9.3) in 2017 to 827 (a rate of 12.8) in 2018.

 

Drug-Free Tennessee has long warned youth and adults alike on the dangers of drug abuse. During the summer, DFT is reminding parents to help their kids with drug-free activities so they stay safe and healthy. To this end, the group is having an educational seminar for teachers and those who work with young people at the end of June to help them understand how to use the education kit from the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. For more information or to attend the workshop, email info@drugfreetn.org.

 

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking occurs on June 26 each year and was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1987 to encourage all sectors of society to work together to tackle drug abuse and addiction.

 

Drug-Free Tennessee has audio-visual messages and videos aimed at helping people steer clear of drug abuse and addiction. The organization has also long offered virtual learning resources and free materials to all educators wanting to help people learn the truth about drugs. Resources are available free of charge through drugfreeworld.org, including the downloadable Truth About Drugs booklet, which covers all basic side effects of drugs, common street names, and how to recognize when you are being persuaded by a dealer. DFW also has a range of award winning Public Service Announcements and an award winning feature length documentary detailing the dangers of drugs and addiction. To learn more or to order booklets or view the videos, visit drugfreetn.org and drugfreeworld.org.