Scientologists use anti-drugs campaign to target families
An anti-drugs campaign targeting Scotland is funded by the Church of Scientology, the Sunday Herald can reveal.
The group hands out leaflets in Possilpark Photograph: Colin Templeton
However, the leaflets distributed by supporters of the Drug-Free World campaign do not reveal a link to Scientology and one former member of the group described it as "the cheese on the trap".
Activists were seen in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games before travelling east to leaflet crowds in Edinburgh for the city's August festivals. They also set up a stall at a family day in Possilpark where parents and children were photographed signing a pledge.
Dozens of volunteers distributed booklets which are said to be published by the "Foundation for a Drug-Free World", described in the literature as a "non-profit public benefit organisation headquartered in Los Angeles".
Facebook posts by supporters of the Scottish campaign said half a million leaflets were handed out in July and August.
The head of leading drugs charity Addaction, Andrew Horne, has voiced fears that the Scientology-linked literature could undermine other lifesaving work being done.
He said: "I just don't trust people that don't make themselves public.
"I've seen it in the past, over and over again. You've been trying to get somebody sorted and then they're gone. They've gone off with somebody they've met on the street.
"That's what worries me. You can really mess up what other people are doing. Somebody seems to be giving them a way out that will save them and will be brilliant but that's not how the world works."
Music journalist Andy Hannah saw the "Drug-Free World" bus near Glasgow's George Square during the Commonwealth Games.
Former Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists The Jive Aces - a six-piece swing band, who are all declared Scientologists - were playing on board. Hannah said: "I got handed leaflets. I was pretty suspicious so I Googled 'Drug-Free World' on my phone and got the information that it was connected to the Church of Scientology. I went back to talk to one of the people to ask why Scientology wasn't mentioned he was pretty cagey. He said it was a separate organisation. When I asked if he was fine with promoting something connected to Scientology, he said he was as they were doing completely different work."
Hannah claimed dozens of volunteers were approaching young children. He said: "It seemed fairly obvious they were targeting young people and even children who were wandering away from their parents. The whole thing left a bit of a bad taste. There was no attempt to make it clear it was connected to religion and that really bothered me."
Allistair Burt, who spotted the bus in nearby Blythswood Square, said: "I probably wouldn't have thought too much about it and would have assumed it was some benign anti-drugs group, but curiosity got the better of me.
"I Googled 'the truth about drugs bus' and found all the links were to the Church of Scientology but there was nothing about the bus. It does have a creepy feel to it."
Boxes of leaflets were also distributed to shops and community centres across Glasgow. One shop worker, who asked not to be named, said: "These people all wearing the same T-shirts dropped them off. They said they wanted to raise awareness about drugs. I didn't know they were Scientologists."
Dozens of the booklets were handed out at a stall set up in Possilpoint Community Centre as part of a family fun day. Volunteers also encouraged youngsters to sign a pledge card to remain drug-free.
The council community centre is run by arms-length organisation Glasgow Life. A spokesman said: "Our staff were unaware until the Monday following the event that the group were allegedly Scientologists.
"The organisation using the stall is called Drug-Free World - who provide literature about the effects of drugs.
"We were informed that the information they would provide was to assist in ... drug reduction as well as detailing the effects of the misuse of drugs. The leaflets make no reference to Scientology."
to read more...
A leading member of the Church of Scientology has denied that an
anti-drugs campaign targeting Scottish cities is aimed at recruiting
people.
Full Story
Graeme Wilson is a probably 'ex member of OSA' ...Office of Special Affairs...the Old Guardians Office, chances are he has been demoted as he could not keep 'anonymous in check' at the height of the pickets in London starting in 2008.Either that or scientology's congregation is in even worse decline than already stated which means the head of Public Affairs is out on the streets touting for 'raw meat' and what better place than Scotland.
Whenever scientology finds themselves with opposition they move on, just like their founder L. Ron Hubbard, who took to the high seas in the late sixties to avoid the law and the British Government...
Full Story
Graeme Wilson is a probably 'ex member of OSA' ...Office of Special Affairs...the Old Guardians Office, chances are he has been demoted as he could not keep 'anonymous in check' at the height of the pickets in London starting in 2008.Either that or scientology's congregation is in even worse decline than already stated which means the head of Public Affairs is out on the streets touting for 'raw meat' and what better place than Scotland.
Mystery over 'empty' Scientology HQ in Birmingham - Birmingham Mail
Whenever scientology finds themselves with opposition they move on, just like their founder L. Ron Hubbard, who took to the high seas in the late sixties to avoid the law and the British Government...
Schools told to look out for jive-dancing Scientologists - news - TES
Graeme Wilson - United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Scientology | Examiner.com
The Latey Judgement - Scientology Criticism
BBC News | e-cyclopedia | Cult or religion: What's the difference?
Here's some more work of the 'the truth about drug's' front man in action...what about the truth about scientology Graeme?
1pm update: the Scientologists have set up a website giving their own take on last's show, BBCPanorama-Exposed.
Under
the same banner "Freedom Television", Graeme Wilson, who gives his job
title as editor, Freedom TV, has been sending out a letter accompanying a
DVD featuring footage Sweeney's now infamous rant. In the letter,
Wilson says the DVD 'details 154 would be violations of the BBC and
Ofcom guidelines in making the recently produced Panorama story'. As of
lunchtime Monday, Ofcom said it had not received any complaints about
Sweeney's documentary
DOX: Scientology drug rehab center found deficient after a 2010 California death
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