by Andrew Walden
March 13 was the birthday of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard. One day later, Rep Rida Cabanilla presented Scientology with a gift in the form of Hawaii House Resolution 196. Passed unanimously by the House, HR196 offers effusive praise for Scientology and its front groups. Scientology has been tied to ‘torture’ and accused of running ‘concentration camps’, but HR196 enthuses: “for over five decades, the Church of Scientology has worked to support human rights and social betterment programs around the globe.”
This is not the first time Cabanilla has delivered Scientology a Mid-March birthday present. In March, 2009 Cabanilla pushed for state-backing of the Scientology-based ‘Second Chance Program’ in Hawaii via HB358 (see below). HB358 passed both houses but was vetoed by Gov Lingle. Lingle’s veto was overridden, making HB358 law as Special Session Act 4 of 2009.
Take a look at the names attached to these efforts and connect the dots.
2013 Link: HR196
2009 Link: HB358 Legislative History, Text, Testimony
For those who are unfamiliar, here are a few recent articles dealing with the record of Scientology on ‘Human Rights’:
And this article discusses the efforts of Scientology to infiltrate state legislatures nationwide: Exposing Scientology in Government.
Here is the Scientology news release on HR196 and additional background material:
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Church of Scientology Commended by Hawaii House of Representatives
News Release from Church of Scientology, March 26, 2013
The Hawaii House of Representatives awarded Certificates of Commendation to the Church of Scientology and Hawaiian Scientologists March 14, 2013, in recognition of the dedication of individual members to helping in the community and the Church’s work to “support human rights and social betterment programs around the globe.”
The commendations, introduced by Hawaii Representative Rida Cabanilla, acknowledged the work of Scientologists who “volunteer more than 27 million hours in their communities through participation in humanitarian programs.” The commendation specifically mentions “programs devoted to the preservation and expansion of human rights;” (Wow. Just wow.) “the Church of Scientology drug-awareness program,” described as “one of the largest drug education initiatives in the world;” its drug rehabilitation work which implements technology developed “by its founder L. Ron Hubbard, to assist addicts with recovery without the use of other substitute drugs or medications;” Scientologists distribution of The Way to Happiness, which “has been shown to reduce crime and bring calm and happiness to areas previously in turmoil” and “the Church of Scientology’s Volunteer Ministers program [which] has dispatched its volunteers around the world to provide humanitarian aid and assistance in communities devastated by natural disaster.”
Individual Hawaiian Scientologists commended were Amanda Barefoot for her work with young people, increasing their levels of literacy and their ability to apply what they learn so they can live up to their own potential; Sakura Thompson, whose work in the Church-supported Truth About Drugs education and prevention program is helping Hawaiian youth live drug-free lives; and Hilu Hanson, who educates youth on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to raise awareness of fundamental rights and increase tolerance and respect for diversity.
Rev. Bob Adams accepted the Certificate of Commendation on behalf of the Church of Scientology International.
In the House Chambers, Representative Cabanilla introduced the resolution, which the House accepted unanimously, and delivered a speech acknowledging the humanitarian contributions of the Church of Scientology.
The Church of Scientology has released a series of brochures to meet requests for more information about the Scientology religion and its support of global humanitarian initiatives and social betterment programs. For more information, visit the Scientology website at http://www.scientology.org.
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Full Text HR196 …
Commending the Church of Scientology for its humanitarian work and community service around the globe.
WHEREAS, the basic tenets of the Church of Scientology envision "a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights"; and
WHEREAS, in keeping with these guiding principles, for over five decades, the Church of Scientology has worked to support human rights and social betterment programs around the globe; and
WHEREAS, each year Scientologists volunteer more than twenty-seven million hours in their communities through participation in humanitarian programs; and
WHEREAS, Scientology organizations devoted to the preservation and expansion of human rights, such as Youth for Human Rights International and United for Human Rights, have distributed educational materials, produced public service announcements, and led petition drives in nations around the world to urge adoption and enforcement of human rights standards; and
WHEREAS, the Church of Scientology's drug-awareness program, Foundation for a Drug-Free World, is one of the largest drug education initiatives in the world, with an international network that reaches fifty-eight countries; and
WHEREAS, the Foundation for a Drug-Free World focuses on drug awareness and prevention through education, and has distributed tens of millions of copies of its drug awareness materials and conducted thousands of community drug awareness activities around the world; and
WHEREAS, the Church of Scientology's drug rehabilitation program, Narconon, has implemented the technology created by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, to assist drug addicts with recovery without the use of other, substitute drugs or medications; and
WHEREAS, the Church of Scientology encourages adherence to a non-religious moral code, described by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, in The Way to Happiness, that contains precepts to happy living through constructive values, and distribution by Scientologists of these ideas in high crime areas has been shown to reduce crime and bring calm and happiness to areas previously in turmoil; and
WHEREAS, the Church of Scientology's Volunteer Ministers program has dispatched its volunteers around the world to provide humanitarian aid and assistance in communities devastated by natural disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that this body hereby congratulates and commends the Church of Scientology for its humanitarian work and community service around the globe.
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Flashback 2009: Rep Rida Cabanilla pushes for State of Hawaii support to Scientology drug-treatment group ….
Secure treatment would allow drug offenders second chance
By Rep Rida Cabanilla, Star-Bulletin Friday, March 20, 2009
Drug addiction has led to a proliferation of repeat criminal offenders in Hawaii, creating an unsafe environment for our families. Many of the drugs in circulation today, especially methamphetamine - commonly known as "ice" - are highly addictive and can't adequately be treated by community-based methods such as psychotherapy or 12-step programs. This is why I introduced House Bill 358, promoting a secure drug treatment option. As an ex-drug addict testified before the House Committee on Finance, "Drug addicts are stuck in a cycle of delusion. Similar to temporary insanity, there is simply no logic to their actions. They'll do anything to get drugs. Most addicts commit crimes to feed their habit - crimes that stop when they become sober."
Because we are using jails as warehouses for drug offenders, the cost of incarceration is skyrocketing and prisons are becoming overcrowded. The United States has the highest per-capita number of incarcerated citizens of any country in the world. Sixty percent of male and 80 percent of female inmates in Hawaii prisons are incarcerated because of nonviolent drug-related offenses. We need to utilize a more proactive approach to deal with this public health pandemic.
HB 358 calls for a "secure drug treatment facility," preferably modeled after the nationally recognized Second Chance program of New Mexico. This program has four modules. The first module helps offenders gain self-respect and life skills such as communication, self-control and behavioral modification. Most drug addicts do not have communicative and expressive skills, which causes frustration and can lead to drug abuse. The second module involves physical detoxification and health restoration. The third module improves employment skills, and the final module works on restoring faith and family reintegration.
There are numerous examples of drug addicts, even after sentencing, committing violent crimes - killing innocent people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Law enforcement and health professionals must collaborate to alleviate this serious problem. A secured drug treatment center is a facility employing security protocols modeled after a minimum-security detention center, including continuous direct supervision.
I have spoken to ex-inmates who described emotionally abusive treatment in Hawaii's prisons. There also are many reports of illicit drug availability. Exposure of vulnerable addicts to the same abusive environment and accessibility of drugs in prison as on the streets yields high recidivism rates.
It is also extremely important for vulnerable people, such as teenage girls, to have a safe haven for treatment, away from drug pushers and pimps.
HB 358 is broad in its guidelines so as to allow social service and judicial professionals the latitude to tailor it to the specific needs of their clientele.
A secured drug treatment facility costs less and is more effective than incarceration for reducing recidivism. Studies have shown that mandated drug treatments has as high a success rate as does voluntary. Keeping drug addicts in a secured environment, to ensure that they remain clean and sober while they engage in treatment, will prevent them from harming society. Alternative programs that include house arrest or curfew using electronic monitoring devices and surveillance, programs of regimental discipline and court monitoring such as Drug Court also might be helpful.
Drug abuse is at heart a community health concern. If treated as such, it doesn't need to become a criminal concern. Let's treat this problem at its roots. Let's protect our ohana from harm.