Gender bias 'increases poverty'

Written By:Muthoni Kariuki/Agencies , Posted: Mon, Dec 11, 2006

Caption: Children of women-headed households eat better food, Unicef says

Inequality at home between men and women leads to poorer health for the children and greater poverty for the family, says a new study.

The UN children's agency, Unicef, found that where women are excluded from family decisions, children are more likely to be under-nourished.

There would be 13m fewer malnourished children in South Asia if women had an equal say in the family, Unicef said.

Unicef surveyed family decision-making in 30 countries around the world.

Their chief finding is that equality between men and women is essential to lowering poverty and improving health, especially of children, in developing countries. >> continued

A World that is Safe for Kids

Christmas is coming and one way to look at it is the magnificence of Jesus as a child.

As a Scientologist I believe a child is not a "new being" but rather someone who has just returned to start a new life in a new body.

L. Ron Hubbard has quite a bit to say on the subject, and how to help a child adjust to the new lifetime he/she has just entered.

Imagine, if you can't recall, starting off in this tiny body that can't even sit up or eat by itself, not to mention not being able to express himself or assert his himself.

And yet just a few days before he/she was an adult man or woman with his own things, his knowledge of everything he'd learned that lifetime and all his friends and family. All of that gone!

The book Child Dianetics is a must-read for any parent or teacher. It contains very effective techniques for helping kids get off on the right foot!

Having your cake and eating it too...

Drug Free Marshals Get the Word Out

Colorado Drug-Free Marshals cheering 'Drug-Free Is The Way To Be!' and having fun at the Lights of December Parade.

Provided by: Susan Gaut

Drug Free Marshals Get the Word Out:

"Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs"

• Anti-drug education campaign launched

The Church of Scientology's Drug Free Marshals marched in the Boulder Lights of December Parade, Saturday December 2nd, advising all onlookers to "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs." The Marshals were greeted with support and cheers as they handed out anti-drug education booklets about a variety of abused drugs.

The Drug Free Marshals program has been a part of the church's drug education and prevention program for over ten years and is geared toward prevention by encouraging children to pledge to live drug-free lives and help others to do the same.

This year, the Church of Scientology launched a drug education program called "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs" to get the facts about the harmful effects of drugs into the hands of people of all ages. The church has published a new series of booklets which address society's most abused drugs including marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, LSD, heroin and ecstasy as well as prescription drugs which are illegally sold on the streets such as painkillers and Ritalin (often referred to as "kiddie cocaine"). Each booklet documents the short and long term effects of the drug, street names, personal stories and the specifics about addiction and why the user becomes more and more hooked.

"Drugs destroy millions of lives every year," said Mike Benetatos, local "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs" Campaign Coordinator. "When a person is armed with the facts about drugs and what drugs do to one's body and mind, they can make an informed decision on drugs. Getting the truth about drugs known is our main mission."

The "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs" drug education series is available to schools and community groups for their use and includes 10 educational booklets and an activities manual to help groups get started. Volunteers working with this program are also available to deliver drug education lectures and help in any way they can.

To learn more about the "Say Yes To Life, Say No To Drugs" program in Colorado, contact Susan Gaut at (303) 789-7668 or Susan_Gaut@yahoo.com

Fairy Tale Wedding

kdka.com - Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Marry In Italy

Couldn't resist sharing this photo.

The Scientology Wedding the Whole World is Watching

TomKat's Stag And Hen Dos

The couple shared their hen and stag parties together at a restaurant in central Rome - how very civilised.

Guest of honour was their daughter, Suri.

It was a right family affair, with Tom's adopted daughter Isabella also at the bash, in a dress not too unlike Katie's...

But we know what you're thinking - what celebs were there?

J.Lo was one of them, in a fab gold frock, and Brooke Shields and Jim Carrey also joined them.

Sky Showbiz - TomKat's Stag And Hen Dos

Blogged with Flock

Such a Beautiful Couple

Katie Holmes on Yahoo! News Photos

Blogged with Flock

Trusting Kids

It's sometimes really hard to trust your kids.

But this is a quality that is really important.

Do your best to help them, instill in them a code of ethics, and then trust them.

Here's a great video on the subject.

Boston's Scientology Anti-Drug Initiative.

I found this newswire today. The Scientologists in Boston are doing a great job!

After seeing the 22nd Anniversary Event for the International Association of Scientologists this weekend and hearing what David Miscavige had to say on the subject of taking responsibility for society, I am even more interested than ever in getting these anti-drug activities out in the community.

"Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life" is a community drug education and drug prevention program initiated by the Church of Scientology International. It educates youth and adults about the facts of drugs so they can make informed choices to remain drug-free

Boston, MA (PRWEB via PRWeb) November 2, 2006 -- Feeling that just saying "no" to drugs does little more than just raise a child's curiosity, the Church of Scientology has reached out to the community with easy-to-read pamphlets that contain cutting edge research on how street drugs actually harm the body and society.

"Marijuana users would have you and your children believe that you are merely inhaling a benign herb but that is the furthest thing from the truth," said Paul Bradford, the local program coordinator. "This allegedly safe drug contains over 400 known toxins and cancer-causing chemicals, disrupts nerve cells in the brain harming one's memory, damages the immune system."

Along with a booklet on marijuana entitled, "The Truth about Joints," the Church has made available booklets on LSD, ecstasy, crystal meth, crack, heroin, cocaine, painkillers and "kiddie cocaine". The are available at the Boston Church of Scientology on 448 Beacon Street, the church's volunteer ministry at 1783 Washington Street and online at www.notodrugs-yestolife.org. The booklets are free and for community organizations, government agencies, schools and just plain concerned citizens the Church has produced a Drug Prevention Community Activity Pack. This pack is free and includes a DVD that has the booklets in downloadable format (PDF) for printing and viewing.

"A lot of good-willed citizens and government officials are struggling with the good fight against drugs, and the violence that accompany the drug culture," said Bradford. "I feel that what's really needed is truthful, easy-to-understand data to give children and adults the knowledge they really need to make an informed decisions."

Mr. Bradford challenges all citizens to help stop the drug-related violence and the harmful effects of drugs on our children and society. Contact your " Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life" Coordinator to receive a copy of The Truth about Drugs Activities Manual. Or visit www.notodrugs-yestolife.org and print the booklets and get started.

Scientology takes on "Kiddie Cocaine"

Tampa Bay 10 reported on this story, of Scientologists work to help kids stay off drugs
Clearwater, Florida – Pat Harney is the spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology's World Spiritual Headquarters in Clearwater.

She is showing off a packet of pamphlets that draw all eyes to drugs that are known for their abuse on the streets, like Crystal Meth, LSD, cocaine, and marijuana.

Pat Harney, Church of Scientology Spokeswoman:
"45-percent of kids take marijuana in a one-month period."