Human Rights Activists at the Church of Scientology of Tampa

I was looking through the web site of the Church of Scientology of Tampa and found this piece on the formation of a Youth for Human Rights International group at the church there.

I was particularly impressed that where most teens I know are pretty self-absorbed worrying about their social life or at best their academic acheivment, these youth are actually aware of and working to put an end to human rights abuses.

Here's what the article says:

"Youth for Human Rights International Club (YHRI) of Tampa Bay, an organization that teaches children around the globe the importance of human rights, did a presentation on this subject to the upper classes of the Clearwater Academy in Clearwater. The YHRI Club of Tampa Bay is comprised of 17-year-old Eagle Scout, Nick Lister, their spokesman and teens Travis Weber, Simone Indianer, Melissa Ryan and Ryan Smith.

"Nick said, 'I decided to start a chapter in the Tampa Bay area because I want to do something that will help young people like me learn the value of promoting and standing up for human rights. Many children are confronted daily by poverty, illiteracy and drug abuse. Millions are the target of intolerance. The place to start teaching respect for the rights of others is with young people.'"

I've found the Scientology religion to be very much oriented toward promoting and working to protect and guarantee human rights.

For example, the Creed of the Church of Scientology begins with the following statement:

We of the Church believe:

That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights.