Angie DeRouchie's Blog

2012-01-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

2011-11-30T17:51:00.001-08:00

The Search For Peace is soliciting entires for the 2010 poster contest and art exhibit.

$100 cash prize for each age group!

See the flier below for contact information, or go to http://www.searchforpeaceart.org/

2011-05-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

”Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". (the Brundtland Commission)

2011-01-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

"We are the people we've been waiting for." --Van Jones

On January 15th I attended an "Awakening The Dreamer" symposium, hosted by the West Hills Unitarian Church click here to see a video trailer of the symposium.

The Inter-religious Action NW is planning to host this symposium for its annual Faith Forum in April, so I figured I'd better attend one first, see what it's like!

I have to admit being impressed, which isn't easy. I say that because my nickname around my house--possibly my whole neighborhood--is "Recycling Zealot". Which is really a misnomer because I am a much bigger drum-beater for reduced use than recycling. If you just have to end up with that plastic packaging in your hand, by all means recycle it when you're done with it (I bet you didn't know you could recycle packaging, or any of this other stuff: http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=1383). But real change of impact on the planet is better achieved by not having that packaging in your hand in the first place!

The symposium is essentially a series of beautifully filmed videos on four topics, starting with what is the existing planetary condition (not just natural resources, but also the state of cultures and peoples), how we got to this point, what's possible for the future and what each of us can do personally from here. In between videos were short interactive exercises and conversations.

"If you wouldn't trade places with any segment of human society,
there's work to be done."

--Van Jones

One of the (many) things that struck me was a section that compared how we use Earth resources to living your daily life on credit cards. We live at a level of consumption much higher than our "Earth bank account balance," so we borrow against the future. We use today the oil, crystal, coal that's supposed to be sitting there in 50 years when our grandchildren are to use it.  In the process of getting to them, we destroy the automatic Earth systems that create these resources, so they can't replenish.

The symposium lets the audience choose their forms of action at the end. From my perspective, I think what's really needed is for us all to change how and what we consume; if a product just can't be made without dipping further into the Earth's credit card, then, well, skip it! Live without it. Find one made without the use of slaves for example.

If you knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that an asteroid was heading toward North America, or some plague had been released (fill in the plot of your favorite disaster movie), and you had only four years to be ready to live in the resulting world...what would you be doing today to get ready?   Figure out how to capture and clean rain water (think The Road, now there's a cheery piece of film)? How to eat without freight trucks and supermarkets? Wouldn't we be doing everything we could to use the technology, communication systems and innovative thinkers we have right now to figure out how to not need them in four years when we know for a fact they will be gone?

So how do we get ready? The good news is, if you do even a brief Internet search on sustainability topics you end up with a HUGE LIST of people working on this topic. From incredibly bright-minded thinkers and inventors to incredibly brave-hearted champions. You have many competent teammates waiting for you in both the "reverse the damage" and "prepare to live post-disaster" teams. Although, they aren't really separate teams because everything we do to figure out how we'd survive post-disaster will contribute to the reversing the damage, which is basically the whole point.

They had this book for sale at the symposium that I am convinced is a KEY tool for the "reverse the damage" team: The Better World Shopping Guide (http://www.betterworldshopper.org/). It grades product-makers A to F according to their impact on the planet and the people on it. It tells you which corporations are doing everything they can to create their goods in new ways that can actually be sustained into the future, and which ones are doing everything they can to get in the way. Which ones are using child slaves, and which ones are spending profits to fight slavery. I was outraged to find that my hard-earned money is being used to enslave others via the products I purchase every week.  Armed with this book, each of us has a way to reverse and repair.

"Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream." -- L. Ron Hubbard

Once you know about something, you are in the terrible position of having a responsibility for that thing, and must choose to do, or not do, something about it. This book gives you back that power to choose. Very concrete, effective action each of us can take to make a considerable impact.

"As citizens, on average, we might vote once every four years, if at all. As consumers, we vote every single day with the purest form of power...money."

--Ellis Jones, Author of The Better World Shopping Guide

SOLV Project Leader Training

2011-01-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

SOLV is pleased to announce a new training opportunity in Hillsboro on Wednesday, January 26th. Learn how volunteers can help improve the environment and your community. This workshop is designed to help community members organize a SOLV project. Topics covered include:

· Watershed basics
· Envisioning and defining your project
· Managing and recruiting volunteers
· Educate volunteers on the impact of their work
· Add new energy to volunteer projects
· Finding sponsors, fundraising, and working with the media
· Project logistics for the day of your event

To Register or find out more:

Go to http://www.solv.org/programs/volunteer_action_training.asp
Call Quintin Bauer at 503.844.9571 x 321 or E-mail quintin@solv.org

SOLV Volunteer Action Training Workshop
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
SOLV Office
5193 NE Elam Young Parkway
Suite B
Hillsboro, OR

This workshop is FREE to participants who plan to coordinate a SOLV project in their community within one year (fee-based training is also available with no project requirement). The workshop provides training, resources, and ongoing project support.

Feel free to invite any coworkers, friends, and/or volunteers you work with on a regular basis. If you’ve already completed training with SOLV or are currently coordinating volunteer projects, please feel free to join us for a refresher course or pass on this announcement to help recruit the next generation of leaders!

Brett Lyon | SOLV
Outreach Coordinator
brett@solv.org

Celebrate Earth Day by leading a community volunteer project for our state-wide SOLV IT event on April 16th.

Save Paper. Consider your options before you print.

Important news from Interfaith Committee on Homelessness

2011-01-03T10:50:00.000-08:00

One of the feel good stories of 2010 was what Rolling Hills Church did to restore the Essential Health Clinic to serve people in need in Tigard and the surrounding communities. Here is the story. Read it and rejoice:

http://www.tualatintimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=129314386336019000

The Essential Health Clinic relies on volunteers for food, support staffing, as well as the doctors and nurses who see patients. Consider volunteering, or make a contribution. They save lives. They give people hope.

See this site for the latest update on the churches who open for the Severe Weather Shelter Program. It is important to note that these shelters do not operate alone. They are possible because other churches, businesses and individuals step up with food and volunteers in support of their efforts. In the case of my church there are five other churches who help us along with many local businesses and individuals, and Pacific University. Shelters like these are an opportunity for the community (you and me!!!) to come together to respond to homelessness, the suffering for which becomes all too plain when we have weather like we have now. People die outside when it's as cold as it is now. So in addition to offering hope and a helping hand, shelters save lives. Meet the human beings in your community who have no home of their own. They have names and stories. Volunteer at a shelter now.

Happy New Year everyone!

Eric Canon (Chair)

Interfaith Committee on Homelessness

www.ahomeoftheirown.com

HELP END HOMELESSNESS: EAT COOKIES!! BUT HURRY: OFFER EXPIRES DEC 15!

2010-12-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

Go into any Sweet Tomatoes restaurant in the Portland Metro area and donate $2.00 to Family Bridge (an Interfaith Hospitality Network), and they will give you NOT ONLY a nicely decorated package of 13 delicious cookies, BUT ALSO discount coupons for future meals at the restaurant.

I tried the chocoloate chip and they were YUMMY.

Perfect hostess gifts, stocking stuffers or party contributions.

This is the perfect example of spending your money in a socially responsible way!

To find the restaurant nearest you, click here then enter your zip code: http://www.souplantation.com/locations/

To learn more about Family Bridge, click here: www.family-bridge.org

COMMUNITY FORUM: SEXUAL EXPLOITATION & TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN

2010-10-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Sexual Assault Resource Center, will convene a COMMUNITY FORUM to address the growing problem of child sex trafficking in the Portland-Metro area and how it is affecting children in Washington County. Click here for date, location, etc:

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/11115039/1203853622/name/Forum%20flyer.pdf

The forum will feature a screening of the Dan Rather documentary, Pornland and will follow with a panel presentation by local experts on the subject.

To ensure adequate seating for all, an RSVP is requested but not required. Please leave a message at 503-216-7192 if you plan to attend. (No calls will be returned from this number.)

2010-10-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

Dress for Success Oregon will be holding it's bi-annual fundraiser, Acey's Closet Clothing Sale, on October 8th, 9th, and 10th!

Join in on the fun and score some great deals on women's seperates, suits, shoes, handbags and jewelry. All proceeds go to support the programs of Dress for Success Oregon, whose mission is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

When:

Friday, October 8th 12-8pm
Saturday, October 9th 10am-4pm
Sunday, October 10th 12-4pm (All items are 50% off on Sunday)

Where:

On the corner of NE 37th and Sandy Blvd in the Hollywood District (the Budweiser Bldg) Parking is available on the street or in the parking lot at the Banfield Motel.

Cash and Credit Cards only, all sales are final. Due to limited space, adults only please. Call 503-249-7300 for more information.

Tropfest NY 2008 winner, "Mankind Is No Island" by Jason van Genderen

2010-08-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDxe9gK8Gk

The email I got with this link in it said:

Jason is a young Australian who shot this film entirely on his mobile phone. It cost him $57 to make and won him $20,000.

GET INVOLVED!! Put your time or money into any one of these worthy agencies:

Sisters of the Road http://www.sistersoftheroad.org/
Inter-religious Action Network http://www.ianofwashingtoncounty.org/
Oregon Faith Roundtable Against Hunger http://ofrah.worldpress.com
Tualatin School House Pantry http://www.schoolhousepantry.org
Faith Cafe www.faithcafeor.org
Tualatin Valley Gleaners www.tvgleaners.org

Great quote

2010-07-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

"Successful people have the habit of doing the things failures don't like to do. They don't like doing them either, necessarily, but their disliking is subordinate to the strength of their purpose." E.M. Gray

I have no idea who "E.M. Gray" is, but I loved the concept!

Get ready for National Night Out!!

2010-07-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

Just in case you're not reading the paper, National Night Out is just days away!

Find out what's happening in your Washington County neighborhood by clicking here:
http://www.co.washington.or.us/Sheriff/OtherServices/CrimePrevention/national-night-out.cfm

Events in Portland are listed here: http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=28986

If you don't find something that suits your tastes, create your own!!

3 in one day. Unfortunately, just more par for the course for this industry

2010-06-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

Appeals court upholds psychologist's 3-year prison term for sex with 14-year-old patient
June 11, 2010

An appeals court has upheld the three-year prison sentence a judge handed last year to Jennifer A. Hastings, a former Rensselaer County psychologist who pleaded guilty to having sex with a 14-year-old boy she was counseling.

Hastings, 35, pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree rape and other sex abuse charges in October of 2008.

Hastings, a Sand Lake resident, was employed by the county Department of Mental Health when a court sent the boy to her for counseling in 2006. State Police began investigating her in October of the following year after a trooper found her waiting in a car outside Tamarac High School, where the boy was a freshman at the time.

When the trooper asked Hastings what she was doing, she told him she was there to pick up her brother; the trooper, however, was familiar with the boy and knew he did not have an older sister. The student later detailed sexual encounters he had with Hastings at her Sheer Road home and area motels to police.

The sex acts with the 14-year-old were not committed forcibly.

Following her arrest, Hastings was suspended without pay from her county job. She later resigned and her license to practice psychology was revoked.

Source: Dave Canfield, " Former Rensselaer County counselor to remain in jail," Troy Record, June 10, 2010.

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2010/06/10/news/doc4c111a6e11b42496147405.txt

Psychiatrist Allen C. Weiss charged with assault of patient
June 11, 2010

A Milford-area psychiatrist was arrested Wednesday morning on assault and unlawful imprisonment charges after one of his patients accused him of holding her in his office against her will.

The 28-year-old patient who accused Dr. Allen C. Weiss, 64, of assaulting her told police that she had gone for a new patient appointment to his office in the 100 block of Russell Road. According to court papers, the woman spoke with Weiss about her mental health condition and said that she was interrupted when his phone rang. When Weiss hung up the phone, he yelled, cursed and started biting and chewing on his own hand, the woman alleged in court papers.

He calmed down briefly but became upset again, leading her to walk toward the door in fear. Weiss had been yelling about "three letters and losing his license," the woman told investigators.
Weiss grabbed her by the arm and called her a junkie, according to court papers. The two yelled at each other and struggled for a short time before she broke free and run away, police said.

When Weiss spoke to police, he told them the woman was trying to get him to prescribe painkillers and that when he refused, there was an altercation. The woman also had a scratch on the side of her neck, which she claimed Weiss caused. The woman also alleged Weiss took off his belt and unbuttoned his pants, police said.

Weiss was charged and released on unsecured bond.

Source: Ira Porter, "Delaware crime: Psychiatrist charged in assault on new patient," The News Journal, June 11, 2010.

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100611/NEWS01/6110339/Psychiatrist-charged-in-assault-on-new-patient

UK psychiatrist Malcolm Darley suspended 6 months; solicited prostitute
June 11, 2010

Psychiatrist Malcolm Darley was suspended today for six months after a UK General Medical Council (GMC) hearing, in which it was revealed he'd been prosecuted for "kerb crawling" [UK slang for "driving slowly by at the curb, soliciting sex from prostitutes or other women"].

The consultant worked at Arundel House, a mental health unit in Wavertree, and also cared for acute in-patients at the Broadoak Unit, in Broadgreen.

He was dismissed from mental health trust Mersey Care in January last year.

Darley, now of Wallings Lane, Silverdale, Carnforth, after moving from his home in Southport, was cleared in June last year at Liverpool Crown Court of having indecent images of children on his computer.

But on April 19, 2008, while he was living in Southport, Darley was arrested and later fined for kerb crawling. He also gave a false name to the police and lied to his employers. The suspension, imposed on Tuesday, will come into effect in 28 days.

Darley currently works as a locum consultant psychiatrist specialising in old age psychiatry, but it is not thought he operates in Merseyside.

The panel’s conclusions added: “You outlined the steps you are taking to address your behaviour and gain an understanding of why you acted in the way you did.”

Source: Liza Williams, "Kerb crawling psychiatrist suspended by General Medical Council," Southport Visitor, June 11, 2010.

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2010/06/11/kerb-crawling-psychiatrist-suspended-by-general-medical-council-101022-26630398/

CONGRATULATIONS ON 40 YEARS!

2010-06-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

WWW.NVOAD.ORG

Church of Scientology of Los Angeles Opens New Ideal Quarters

2010-04-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Take a virtual tour of this and other Church by click here: http://www.scientology.org/

2010-01-22T17:53:00.000-08:00

8TH ANNUAL AUGUSTANA INTERFAITH PEACE SERVICE

“CULTIVATING THE CULTURE OF PEACE”

SUNDAY, January 24, 2010 4:00 P.M.
Augustana Lutheran Church
2710 NE 14th, Portland

Peace Fair and Interfaith Dialogue following service

Sponsored by: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, The Interfaith Alliance of NW Oregon, Interfaith Council of Greater Portland and the Inter-Religious Action Network of Washington County

SUPPORT THE CHURCHES OF SCIENTOLOGY DISASTER RESPONSE IN HAITI:

2010-01-20T12:41:00.000-08:00

Click this link to see the TV news report on the medical team fired out to Haiti:

http://www.wpix.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=238a3e2e-b27b-4053-9127-6c676d3e572c&src=front

Click on the image to see larger view

2009-12-28T09:19:00.000-08:00

Youth For Human Rights annual review

2009-12-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

What a great year YFHR had! To receive a copy of the 2009 year-end report, email a request to: info@youthforhumanrights.org

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Anniversary Event

2009-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE FLIER:
HRDay09Flyer2.pdf

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2009
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
First United Methodist Church
1838 SW Jefferson, Portland, OR 97201

* Special Story: Koffi Dessou, Executive Assistant, Office of Human Relations, City of Portland – Tells the story of his fight to ensure the rights for all in Togo, Africa

* Thai Princess Dance performance by BAAN SAAN FUHN

* Keynote Speaker: Greg Hamilton, President, Northwest Religious Liberty Association – Speaking on the UN UDHR and the American Constitution

Visit the tables of the Co-Sponsors and enjoy the refreshments.
Sign up to read on stage an article of the UDHR
Support the U.N. by joining UNA-Oregon

(website: http://www.una-oregon.org/)

For more information email: info@una-oregon.org

2009-11-16T21:41:00.001-08:00

ANNUAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE AND FELLOWSHIP DINNER

This is a great event. Please click here to view the pdf file with time, day, location, etc.

ThanksgivingFlyer20091.pdf

New short film "Struck"

2009-07-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

This is a very cute new short film that's worth watching:

www.struckthefilm.com

I couldn't get the link to insert properly, so just copy/paste the web address into your browser.

2009-06-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

This event is part of a Parliament of World Religions process of hosting gatherings around the world prior to their December World Parliament in Melbourne, Australia.

Several in Portland will be taking what we learn from this event to Melbourne, and returning to share what we've learned in a Post-Parliament event intended to further energize our work

Our intent is to gather the wisdom of this area in terms of the ethics and activities we share. Please go to our own event web page to learn more and to print a flyer that we hope you will post, extract information for announcements in your organization bulletin, and forward to friends.

This event will be highly interactive and engaging--no panels or speakers--and we hope each person will make new friends across the region and deepen existing relationships. Please confirm your attendance by RSVPing from the website so we can include you in our food and beverage planning.

We hope to see you July 26th at the First Methodist Church on SW 18th and Columbia from 4-7PM.

2009-04-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth,

but most of them pick themselves up and

hurry off as if nothing ever happened."

Sir Winston Churchill

British politician (1874 - 1965)

A message from AbleChild: A Non-profit parents rights organization

2009-03-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

Defeat Mother's Act by Mother's Day!

Please Take Action and Call Your Representative

Ablechild has been following The Mother's Act, a bill that clearly violates informed consent and places mothers and children at risk. This bill would mandate the government to screen all new mothers for subjective mental conditions. We would like to update you on this act and request that you take the time to familiarize yourself with it.

Ablechild strongly opposes The Mother's Act. This special interest bill entitled The Mother's Act should fool NO MOTHER into thinking it is harmless! It is truly lethal. Take a look

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BQtDir%2Bw0XJcTl/kstdOw9Cm3hLBecyb

Every call, fax and e-mail to your representative counts. It is simple. Tell them you strongly oppose the Mothers Act by going here.

For more information and understanding of this act and the consequences that could result if this form of legislation gets passed into law please view http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=UNWXwErgBGn5s6citW40QEqDTBFwulIY

Once again, thank you for making a difference!

Patricia Weathers
Sheila Matthews
Co-Founders
Ablechild
http://www.ablechild.org/
203-594-1700

Copyright 2001- 2007 Ablechild (Parents for Label and Drug Free Education). All rights reserved. Ablechild is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, Section 501(c) (3) charitable organization, and donations are deductible under the provisions of the IRS Tax Code. Ablechild and the Ablechild logo is a Trademark of Ablechild, Inc.

Thanksgiving Service another highest ever

2008-12-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

Yet another successful Inter-religious Action Network Thanksgiving service! Another highest ever on attendance and on funds raised for Family Bridge. THANK YOU to all who contributed to this success. Here are some photos: ThanksgivingCollage2008.pdf

VERY COOL "WELCOME TO PLANET EARTH" VIDEO

2008-11-04T10:08:00.000-08:00

This is a short, animated sci-fi video created by four students of the ESMA Film School in Montpelier, France that I thought was worth passing on: http://www.flixxy.com/film-school-short-animation.htm

3rd Annual FESTIVAL OF FAITH!!

2008-10-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

!!SAVE THE DATE!!

Sunday, October 26th

10:00 to 5:00

at Portland State University

It's the 3rd annual Festival of Faith, brought to you by the

Interfaith Council of Greater Portland!

Talk about perfect timing: we've got the anti-Islam DVD distributed by the Oregonian, anti-Scientology rhetoric by the teenage Internet terrorists, and the continued fuzzying of the Church/State separation line by yet another contentious campaign.

Come find out for yourself: there will be 20 different reglions or religious organizations presented, plus great music, table info, cookies and a keynote address from David Leslie (Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon).

All the latest and greatest gets added here, right off the planning committee's presses (check back often for up-to-the-minute info):
http://www.ifcgp.org/

2008-09-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Inter-Religious Dialogues

A Special Program of the

Inter-Religious Action Network of Washington County

Four evening sessions from 6:30 to 9:00

First meeting, Tuesday October 28 (place to be announced)

Subsequent meeting dates will be determined by the group

Topics to be discussed:

Session one— Getting to Know Each Other

Session two - How We Know God

Session three—How Do We View Salvation?

Session four - From Exclusivism to Pluralism

Each four-session facilitated dialogue group will be limited to 12 people who commit to attending all the sessions. Everyone is invited to participate, but we will try to make sure that many different religious backgrounds are represented in each group.

The group will be facilitated by Emily Gottfried (Jewish) and Matthew Egan (Lutheran).

11th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, “Sacred Gathering, Thankful Giving”, 2008 theme

2008-09-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

Faith Communities Of Washington County

Dear Friends,

The Inter-Religious Action Network of Washington County (IAN) is in the planning stages of our 11th Annual INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE, which is traditionally held the Sunday before Thanksgiving in November on 11/23/08. An offering is given each year to the Family Bridge Homeless Shelter. We invite representation from each faith tradition to join in participation as well as the planning of this event. This year the inter-religious worship service will be from 5:30 - 6:30 pm with a fellowship meal to follow the service. We invite all faith communities throughout Washington County to gather together for an evening of rich diversity. It will be hosted by and held at the LDS church on 2220 NE Jackson School Road in Hillsboro.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, and in the true meaning of Community, we invite and ask the various faith communities to bring something to the table. We offer to you an opportunity to contribute to the event by way of helping with the logistical details of the evening--from inviting members of your congregation to sing in the inter-religious choir, to providing a portion of the meal, or providing promotional work to promote the event. We are contacting your faith community in advance, to seek your desire as to how you would like to engage your congregants. In the past, we have had as many as 750 folks gather together in worship and the fellowship meal.

Please contact DeAnne Dewey with any comments or questions and your choice of service and outreach by Oct. 15th. We look forward to hearing from you.

DeAnne Dewey
IAN Chair
gomusicdewey@comcast.net
503-844-2941 hm.
503-819-1610 cell

Scientology Today: Scientologist in Action—Tim Bowles

2008-08-28T07:59:00.001-07:00

Scientology Today: Scientologist in Action—Tim Bowles

Neat story! This Youth For Human Rights group is pretty cool and amazing!

Posted using ShareThis

WALK FOR UNITY RIDES AGAIN!!

2008-08-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

Get ready: The Walk for Unity is Sept 7!! Here are the details: Walk For Unity 2008.pdf

5th Annual Human Rights Summit

2008-08-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Youth For Human Rights is hosting a three-day series of events. Festivities begin on September 5th with a ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. Then the presentation of the 2008 International Human Rights Heroes Awards at the elegant Roosevelt Hotel. The following day will be the Human Rights Conference followed by an Inter-Religious Parade and Service on Sunday afternoon, September 7th at the Dag Hammerskjold Plaza in New York. For more information, go to their site: www.youthforhumanrights.org

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, SIGN THE PETITION ASKING OUR GOVERNMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE DECLARATION!

Good quote for today

2008-07-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

I increasingly get those emails from friends, the ones with a subject line of "I don't usually pass on joke emails, but THIS one is just too funny." And they're right; some very funny people out there.

Here's a line from one I got the other day, under the heading GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED: Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.

Support this neighborhood festival!

2008-06-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

It is Good in the Neighborhood season again! A fabulous food/music festival in NE Portland. There's even a parade. Come on down and join the fun!

Here's the schedule of performers: 2008GoodintheNeighborhoodFlyer.pdf

Leave it to Oprah to FINALLY get the real Tom Cruise to arrive!

2008-05-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

Just in case you missed it, here's a link to the May 2nd Oprah interview with Tom Cruise at his home in Colorado. What a beautiful home! I'm proud of Oprah for riding on the snow mobile.

The show is broken up into a bunch of different segments. They're numbered, but not listed in numerical order, so just cycle through to find #1, then go from there.

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=80695e31-b25b-4687-9234-6b4a077c0622

Some very interesting stats passed through my email...

2008-05-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Natural Health Practitioner,

10 States have sued Eli Lilly regarding Zyprexa:
Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.

5 states have sued Janssen regarding Risperdal:
Arkansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas

3 state have sued AstraZeneca regarding Seroquel:
Arkansas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina

The latest in Arkansas is typical -- Attorney General Dustin McDaniel filed suit Tuesday against drug manufacturer AstraZeneca claiming the company encouraged doctors to prescribe a dangerous drug to children and the elderly for uses beyond its federal approval, harming patients and costing the state millions of dollars.

You can find copies of the lawsuits States have filed here: www.psychsearch.net/lawsuits.html along with newspaper articles about the suits.

Yours in health,

Michael Russell
Service Consultant
ULAN NUTRITIONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Building Successful Nutritional Practices, Step-by-Step
Toll-free (866) 418-4801 Local (727) 442-7101

2008-05-21T12:11:00.001-07:00

Wow: has it really been two months since I've been here?! I've taken on a new volunteer role, heading up our local Volunteer Minister Corps (http://www.volunteerministers.org/), which has kept me plenty busy. We've had our yellow tent out all over town, teaching people what they can DO about various situations in their life. Tons of stories, wins.

Starting in June, look for our touring tent to start showing up along the Oregon coast, making stops from Seaside to Tillamook throughout the Summer!

Looking for news about our local activities? Check out our local site: http://www.theyellowshirts.com/

New Video Channel

2008-03-15T13:49:00.001-07:00

This is a new web video site for information on Scientology and Scientologists.

I had the pleasure of "talking to" (little joke there--there isn't any actual talking, just them yelling at you) a couple of the Anon protesters last month, who kept saying something like "we're not protesting you, we're protesting 'the church' above you." Such a ridiculous statement; Scientology is of/by/for/about people.

So this is a great site: http://www.scientology.org/

"anonymous" and Scientology

2008-02-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

Well, they're right: any group with these self-proclaimed goals is definitely not a friend of the Church of Scientology!

10 February 2008

CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY STATEMENT ABOUT “ANONYMOUS”

“Anonymous” is a group of cyber-terrorists who hide their identities behind masks and computer anonymity.

Long before selecting Scientology as its latest target, “Anonymous” destroyed the websites of thousands of MySpace users. When Fox News exposed their activities, “Anonymous” hackers crashed the Fox website and issued a perverse manifesto in a July 2007 video message on the Internet:

“We are the face of chaos. … We ruin the lives of other people simply because we can. … Hundreds die in a plane crash. We laugh. The nation mourns over school shooting, we laugh. We’re the embodiment of humanity with no remorse, no caring, no love, or no sense of morality.”

“Anonymous” is perpetrating religious hate crimes against Churches of Scientology and individual Scientologists for no reason other than religious bigotry. “Anonymous” initially justified its attacks by claiming that the Church’s requests to some websites to remove a stolen video of an internal Church event somehow constituted an affront to free speech. In fact, the Church, as would any copyright owner, had simply sent routine notices that the video constituted a copyright violation. Similar notices are sent daily by the television and recording industries to those who display pirated, copyrighted works.

“Anonymous” alleged “free speech” justification is belied by the fact that the video in question has been seen by millions. It is “Anonymous” that has repeatedly attempted to suppress free speech through illegal assaults on Church web-sites so as to prevent Internet users from obtaining information from the Church. They have also engaged in other harassment including threats of violence in telephone calls, fax transmissions and e-mails, not to mention the Anonymous mailing of white powder to dozens of our Churches, requiring the services of law enforcement.

“Anonymous” claims of altruistic purposes are no different than those heard from any terrorist or hate group. We are not the first to be targeted. Using Scientology’s prominence, “Anonymous” hopes to garner more attention. “Anonymous” has publicly proclaimed its guiding materials to be the Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf.
Quite obviously, this group is not just anti-Scientology, it is anti-freedom of religion and anti-free speech.

Religious bigotry of any nature is deplorable and profoundly affects the entire community. The hate crimes of “Anonymous” should be condemned.

Anyone desiring information about the Church of Scientology or the context of the pirated video should visit the Church website at www.scientology.org to form their own opinions.

___________

The actions of “Anonymous” will not interrupt the Church’s normal activities serving its parishioners and the community, and the Church is working in coordination with local authorities to minimize the negative impact of this mask-wearing, cyber-terrorist group.

Consumers Union/Consumer Reports petition

2008-02-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

This petition is being circulated by Consumers Union/Consumer Reports:

Sound off on TV drug ads!

If we have to sit through all those prescription drug ads on TV, why shouldn't we tell the FDA how those medicines really work?

Sign our petition to require a toll-free number and Web address on those aggravating drug ads so consumers can easily report how well those drugs work, or if they have side effects.

Viva Viagra? Viva Consumer Voice!

Inter-religious Action NW 2008 MLK event

2008-02-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

What a lovely MLK event we had this year! Here are some pics:http://morespamfordero.googlepages.com/mlk.gif

PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE!

2008-01-31T10:15:00.000-08:00

You are invited...

The Inter-Religious Action Network of Washington County 3rd Annual Mayors’ Interfaith Luncheon

“Unity in Diversity”
Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Kingstad Center
15450 SW Millikan Way • Beaverton
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM, Doors open at 11:30

Keynote Speaker
Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana
In 2006, Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana became the 18th Senior Rabbi to serve Congregation Beth Israel in Portland. Born in Houston, Texas, Rabbi Cahana comes from several generations of rabbis including his late father and his older brother. Rabbi Cahana began with a career in theater, then theatrical design. Soon however, family tradition of the rabbinic life called him, leading to his ordination in 1994. Rabbi Cahana integrates his rabbinical training with his theatre background to create an environment in which prayer becomes an art form.

Sacred Words from Many Faiths

Music from
Oscar Eugenio

Special Guests
Mayor Teri Branstitre, Banks
Mayor Craig Dirksen, Tigard
Mayor Rob Drake, Beaverton
Mayor Tom Hughes, Hillsboro
Mayor Keith Mays, Sherwood
Washington County Chair Tom Brian

Tickets are $25 per person • RSVP Required
RESERVATION DEADLINE—February 8

Please mail your check made out to the Vision Action Network to:
Mayors’ Interfaith Breakfast
Inter-Religious Action Network

c/o Vision Action Network

3700 SW Murray Blvd., Ste. 190

Beaverton, OR 97005

For more information call 503-846-5792 or email van@co.washington.or.us

THE INTER-RELIGIOUS ACTION NETWORK OF WASHINGTON COUNTY (IAN)

The IAN invites people from all faith communities to come together to build respect for our diversity and to provide leadership for the improvement of life in Washington County.

MLK Day March

2008-01-15T08:54:00.000-08:00

Sisters of the Road's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March

Come on down and join in the fun. Always an inspirational event. The Youth For Human Rights group will be joining in this year!

Details: http://morespamfordero.googlepages.com/MARTINLUTHERKINGDAYMARCH.pdf

Tom Cruise bio

2008-01-14T11:49:00.000-08:00

Cruise wins award following portrayal of would-be Hitler assassin
By The Associated Press

Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who portrays a Nazi officer who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler in his latest movie, has won a German film award for his willingness to take risks in his movies, media company Hubert Burda Media said Wednesday.

Cruise was presented with the "courage" prize during the 59th annual Bambi Awards ceremony in the northern city of Duesseldorf on Thursday. The prize committee said Cruise has pursued brave projects that otherwise would not have been made, including his newest film, Valkyrie, which details the failed Operation Valkyrie plot to kill Hitler.

Cruise plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, who tried to assassinate Hitler with a briefcase bomb on July 20, 1944. "Tom Cruise is making an international public familiar with a story that has never before been the theme of a major Hollywood production: the German resistance against the Third Reich," the competition jury said in a statement.

Will Smith Defends Cruise/Scientology

2007-12-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

Cool video running on You Tube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PjZEVKUkNOE

Inter-religious Action NW 2007 Thanksgiving event

2007-12-01T08:34:00.000-08:00

Another year of coming together in Washington County. This year we had about twice the crowd we expected, which was fun, fun, fun. It was a collaborative effort this year with the Methodist churches making the pies, the LDS hosting and doing all the work, Hands On Portland (surprise, surprise; last we'd heard they "didn't do religion", so that was either amazing or hypocritical) doing food prep, Scientology churches doing the table decor and infrastructure parts like plates, cups, etc. I don't know who did the soup and salad, but I hear it was delicious! Here are some photos: http://morespamfordero.googlepages.com/test.gif

TOPOFF a real, well, disaster

2007-11-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

I was a "victim actor" in Homeland Security's "TOPOFF 4" drill in October. This drill stands for Top Officials, the fourth one they've done. Homeland Security apparently does all sorts of preparedness drills, but not all of them involve the Top Officials of different security agencies. This one did, hence the name.

I know the Oregonian coverage of this drill was all roses, but from a "victim" perspective, this drill was a mess. Utter confusion on the scene, transporting, and at the hospital. Once I got into the actual emergency room, things went great; the staff were very much on top of it all, and doing the drill very realistically. But prior to that...yowza.

I'll spare you the details of being a seriously injured victim, laying in the rain for two hours without ever once being triaged, decontaminated or moved under cover and get right to the point: THIS is why citizens everywhere must get trained as a disaster responder. Cities offer free training for their citizens to be enable them to help themselves and handle their own personal neighborhood after a disaster.

The victim actors for this TOPOFF drill were asked to just be victims. But in a real-world situation, all of us who are trained disaster responders would have jumped into action helping and treating each other. The man who was playing an old woman in shock with her hand amputated by debris would have been dead by the time the rescue workers got around to "her" 2 hours later in this drill scenario. But in the real world, we would have helped "her"; that's an injury a trained disaster responder can handle.

So I highly encourage enrolling in the various disaster responder trainings.

In the City of Portland, it's called Neighborhood Emergency Team training http://www.portlandonline.com/oem/index.cfm?c=dbggh .

Very useful and helpful training. They've also created a citizens' web site: http://www.pdxprepared.net/

In City of Beaverton it's called Citizens Response Team Training. http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/departments/emergency/cert/cert_training.html

If you do a search of "(city's name) disaster training" you'll find your City's program. Most training is free. Some advanced training, like operating radio systems, have a small fee attached to them.

Jerry Seinfeld and Scientology

2007-10-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

Over the years I've been asked many times, "Just what is the story with Seinfeld and Scientology?" So here's the answer, in the man's own words as given exclusively to Parade

On Studying Scientology
“I last really studied, oh, it’s almost 30 years ago. But what I did do, I really liked, in terms of it’s very...it was interesting.

Believe it or not...it’s extremely intellectual and clinical in its approach to problem-solving, which really appealed to me. I actually got to it from my auto mechanics teacher in high school, who was into it, and he was telling me about it. In my early years of stand-up, it was very helpful. I took a couple of courses. One of them was in communication, and I learned some things about communication that really got my act going.”

“It was just things about understanding the communications cycle... Even the volume at which I’m speaking now is the right volume for where you’re sitting. I’m almost performing, in a way.”

“You would just understand that there’s this kind of voice, and then there’s this kind of voice, and then there’s this kind of voice. I wasn’t a natural performer at all, so I learned. I was always a pretty good writer in the beginning, but I really had to learn how to perform. Just a little thing like that, understanding that really helped me on stage to understand how you have to invade the space of the audience a little bit. I learned that early on. It was a very helpful thing to learn. You have to invade them just a little bit. Not too much, because then it’s obnoxious. But you can’t be short of them either, or you won’t control them."

"They have a lot of very good technology. That’s what really appealed to me about it. It’s not faith-based. It’s all technology. And I’m obsessed with technology."
To read the whole article: http://parade.com/

Philadelphia Inquirer story on Rescue Workers' Detox Project

2007-10-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me this recent Philadelphia Inquirer story on this project.

It is a detox program that was created specifically for the thousands of 9/11 rescuers who have experienced terrible health problems as a result of inhaling/ingesting toxic gases and dust during their rescue work.

How horrifying that THESE people, the ones who were the most heroic after that event, have lived every day for the last six years with the symptoms they describe in this article. How horrifying that many have died as a result.

Whatever you think about Mr. Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch, he deserves every kudo, particle of admiration and expression of thanks for not only creating this program, but also staying with it and keeping it funded so it can be available AT NO COST to all 9/11 rescuers.

Here is the link to the Philadelphia Inquirer story: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/gallery/20071007_Clinics_results_make_9_11_responders_believe.html Be sure to click on the "related stories" link, just under the sauna photograph. These are the personal stories of several graduates. Amazing. Heartwarming, and heartbreaking, all at the same time.

Here is a link to the Detox Center itself: http://nydetox.org/

GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS SUMMIT 2007

2007-09-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approaches its 60th Anniversary, only a small percentage of the population worldwide even know of its existence.

Today, the UN reports that more than a billion people are without clean water; most of the 25 million who have HIV/AIDS in Africa have no access to health care; and 121 million children are denied a basic education. Furthermore, Amnesty International has documented serious human right abuses by armed opposition groups in 42 countries, including deliberate and arbitrary killings of civilians.

Viewing these statistics, who could disagree that actions must be taken now to make human rights known, understood and most importantly, put into practice.

With this aim in mind, Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) has teamed up with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology, the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, the Global Peace Leadership Conference and Artists for Human Rights for its annual international human rights summit and Human Rights Heros Awards presentations which will be held this year in Los Angeles on October 1 – 3, 2007.

Get more information, and watch the Youth For Human Rights television ads, here: www.youthforhumanrights.org

2007-09-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

Blog Action Day is about MASS participation. That means we need you!

Want more information? Click here: http://blogactionday.org/

2007-09-05T23:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 30, 2:00 pm at the

Beaverton City Park: 4950 SW Watson Ave.

Celebrate the diversity of our community with a 3-mile walk and festival featuring music, a community fair and much more!

For more info: 503-846-5792, or visit www.visionactionnetwork.org

Second Annual Festival of Faith!

2007-09-05T23:52:00.000-07:00

What is the religion of Islam? And how to Muslims view Buddhists, or Baha'i?
How to Buddhists view and interact with Jews, or Scientologists?

Can we each be deeply religious in our own faith, and at the same time honestly interact and work with each other?

Attend this year's Festival of Faith to find out about and discuss these issues!

Sunday, Sept 9, 1:00 to 6:00 at Portland State University, Smith Ballroom
Free of charge and open to any information-seeking public

Some of our speakers this year:
Mary Jo Tully, Archdiocese of Portland
Rodney Page, formerly of National Council of Churches
Emily Gottfried, American Jewish Committee
Mayor Tom Potter
Imam Toure
Max Williams, OR Dept of Corrections and LDS leader

Workshops on: Scientology, Mormonism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha'i, Interfaith Spiritual Center and Hinduism

As well as more than two dozen religious organizations with table information and staff ready to answer questions

Contact angiedero@comcast.net for more information, or www.ifcgp.org

Introduction

2004-03-31T19:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my brand new blog! Very happy to be joining you all in the 21st century. Thank you for having me.

As a note of introduction: I am the Deputy Director of Special Affairs at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Portland.

This means I coordinate our social justice/community outreach departments, and I represent the Church on various boards and commissions. Currently I am serving on:

Oregon Community and Faith-Based Re-Entry Steering Committee

Coordinating Council of the Washington County Inter-Religious Action Network
Board of Directors of the Interfaith Council of Greater Portland

Oregon Faith Roundtable Against Hunger

Downtown Neighborhood Association Public Safety Committee

Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (we are "partner" organization)

I am also the 2003/2004 President of the Washington County Public Affairs Forum

The Church is also a member organization of the Coalition Against Hate Crimes

I am a native Oregonian, and grew up on a farm in Estacada with my parents and sister. I currently live in Beaverton with my husband and three cats.

As soon as I figure it out, I will post photos of recent fun and games around here. In the meantime, check out these links for more info:

Religious Tolerance, Church of Scientology
Scientology, the Doctrine of Clarity
Scientology
All Things Spiritual: Scientology
Scientology Website
L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology: Marburg Journal of Religion
Los Angeles Scientology Directory
Scientology Beliefs
Columbia Encyclopedia - Scientology
Scientology Answers
Clergy Corner - Scientology
Yahoo Groups - Scientology
Scientology in Kansas City
CESNUR - Scientology
Ontario Consultant on Religious Tolerance: Scientology
Signature Books - Church of Scientology