Alternative Charlemagne Award 2000
Robert Minton receives the Human Rights
Award
of the European-American Citizens Committee
for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA
The European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious
Freedom
in the USA (formerly the German-American Citizens Committee for Human
Rights and
Religious Freedom in the USA) dedicates itself to human rights and
religious freedom
in the USA and around the world, and is involved, specifically, in the
discussion
of new totalitarian organizations.
In doing this, it is led by the same spirit in which 17 million
Americans,
in the 1950 dedication of the Berlin Liberty Bell, signed their names to
the words:
" I believe in the sacredness and dignity of the individual. I believe
that
all
men derive the right to freedom equally from God. I pledge to resist
aggression
and tyranny wherever they appear on earth. " (See:
Berlin
Liberty Bell broadcast.)
As European friends of the United States of America and as U.S.
citizens, we
are concerned by the Scientology Organization's (SO) attacks on the human
dignity
and lives not only of its members, but also of its critics. We are
dismayed
that
the Scientology Organization (SO) has managed to exert its influence in
U.S. politics
in recent years.
The Scientology Organization is based in the United States and is
responsible
for the last agonizing 17 days of Lisa McPherson's life (USA), the
financial ruin
of the Aigner family (Germany) and the tragic death of Patrick Vic
(France)
. In
addition, we believe that the Scientology Organization (SO) has been
making
an
effort to damage the European-American friendship for which so many have
worked
so hard in recent decades.
There are also many people in the USA who have opposed Scientology
Organization
(SO) claims to power. We have decided to recognize U.S. citizen Robert S.
Minton,
chairman of the Lisa McPherson
Trust, for
his accomplishments in the battle for human rights and religious freedom
in
the
USA with the Human Rights Award of the European-American Citizens
Committee
for
Human Rights and Freedom in the USA, the Alternative Charlemagne Award
2000.
The award will be handed over to Bob Minton on June 3, 2000 under the
auspices
of a festive ceremony in Leipzig, the birth
place of the East German civil rights movement.
Bob Minton, steered by his courage and sense of civil duty, has
distinguished
himself in human rights in the USA and around the world by his involvement
with
the persecuted minority of former Scientology Organization (SO) members
who
have
been attacked by the SO, and with U.S. society, which is at risk to the
totalitarian
influences of the SO.
By our recognition, we wish to show our support for the American people
and
to put an end to human rights violations which are being committed by the
Scientology
Organization against citizens of the USA and other countries.
The difference
between
the Alternative Charlemagne Award and the original Aachen Award
Bob Minton or Bill Clinton?
The "Charlemagne Award" was meant to distinguish people who promote
democracy,
human rights and the common values of Europe.
Former prize winners include personalities such as Konrad Adenauer
(Germany),
Winston Churchill (Great Britain), George C. Marshall (USA), Konstantin
Karamanlis
(Greece), Henry Kissinger (USA), Francois Mitterand (France), Frère
Roger,
Communauté de Taizé (France), Václav Havel (Czech
Republic)
and Queen Beatrice of the Netherlands. A list of the Aachen Charlemagne
Award
winners can be found at:
http://www.aachen.de/Karlspreis1999/preistraeger_alle.htm
The prize is bestowed yearly "for the most valuable contribution in the
service
of the European Union, and for community work in the service of humanity
and world
peace. The award winners were intended by the initiators of the award to
be
"role
models who evoke imitation."
This year, 2000, the Charlemagne award is to be given to President Bill
Clinton.
Unofficial English translation of press coverage
here
and here.
Role model?
Opinions as to whether Bill Clinton is a suitable award winner vary
widely, even
in Aachen. Unofficial English translation of press coverage in the
readers'
forum
of the Aachen newspaper.
We believe that there are people who are better suited than Bill
Clinton
to be publicly
recognized for their accomplishments in promoting freedom of opinion and a
democratic life style.
Because President Clinton has, in some respects, evoked more controversy
and has
not held himself up so much as a role model. From our perspective, his
liberal
attitude towards Scientology (SO) is especially controversial.
"It's important we not have [Scientologists like] Tom Cruise or John
Travolta
setting foreign policy in this country," federal House of Representatives
member
Doug Bereuter (R-Nebraska) was already saying in 1997.
The first event in a series of correlations between the Scientology
Organization
(SO) and Bill Clinton was also the most effective weapon the Scientology
Organization
has produced to date. Scientology was granted tax exemption by the IRS in
the
first year of Bill Clinton's presidency - for "religious" purposes.
Since that time, the Clinton administration's State Department has
continued
to fault Germany and other European nations for their critical dealing
with
Scientology,
despite the documented human rights abuses of Scientology in the U.S. and
abroad.
- In November 1996, Bill Clinton, President of the United States of
America,
contributed to an "exclusive" article especially for the Scientology
magazine,
"Freedom." Clinton afterwards let the article appear "exclusively" for '
Freiheit,'
the Swiss Scientology magazine, in "Ethique et Liberté" and
finally
in the German edition of the Scientology propaganda magazine under the
title of
"What we can do about the drug problem" (in the "Zeit zu entscheiden
" /
["Time to decide"] edition, pp. 48).
- In 1997, Clinton's National Security Adviser, Sandy Berger, met with
actor
John Travolta and other Scientologists to discuss the German government's
attitude
towards Scientology.
- According to "George" magazine 3/1998, President Clinton met
personally with
Scientologist John Travolta. Clinton praised the "educational" materials
of
Scientology
founder L. Ron Hubbard: "Your program sounds great", and "I'd really love
to help
you with your issue over in Germany with Scientology," he was reported to
have
said in the "George" report.
- Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service reported on March 21, 1997 that
President
Clinton honored Scientologist Tom Cruise's requests by directing his newly
confirmed
Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, to schedule discussions with
German
Foreign
Minister Kinkel about Scientology's claims of religious persecution in
Germany.
- In contrast, Secretary Albright visited China that week, but there
was
no
indication that Clinton asked her to address the egregious human rights
violations
and systematic abduction and execution of Christians in that totalist
country.
- In a Dec. 22 1999 letter of "warm greetings," Clinton expressed
gratitude
to the Scientologists for "all your efforts to promote [religious freedom]
and
to build just communities united in understanding, compassion and mutual
respect."
President Clinton's public support for Scientology is not shared by the
American
people or their congressional representatives. Scientology's actors and
actresses,
however, have been appearing repeatedly before the U.S. Congress since
1997
in
a concerted effort to worsen German-American relations by adapting the
Scientology
mind-set. Yet every bill they have had their captive congress people
introduce
has either been defeated or has quietly died without public
discussion.
A role model that evokes imitation
There is one American who not only does not share President Clinton's
predilection
for Scientology, but who has distinguished himself in resisting that
group's totalitarian
tendencies. Among many, who have recognized Scientology's mandated
practice
of
systematic reverse religious discrimination, there is one man who has
excelled:
- in his support of freedom of speech
- in accurately reporting the activities of the Scientology
Organization
(SO)
- in assisting the victims of the Scientology Organization, including
Lisa
McPherson's relatives in their lawsuit against the SO
- in having founded the Lisa McPherson Trust.
That is a man by the name of Robert S. Minton.
- US
Millionaire
Fights Sect -- Crusade against Scientology
- Bob Minton,
Intrepid
Representative of Sect Victims
- A US
Millionaire as
a Crusader against Scientology
-
Charlotte Kates'
history of Bob Minton
-
Holysmoke's
history of Bob Minton
The Alternative Charlemagne Award
Therefore the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and
Religious
Freedom in the USA has decided that an alternative Charlemagne Award will
be awarded
to someone who has definitively furthered the cause of democracy, freedom
of opinion
and freedom of conscience by reason of his actions. The person deserving
of
this
award is Bob Minton.
The Award Committee:
Award Supporters
- Ellen Alkimowitsch, Leipzig, Germany, telephone operator
- Geli von Allwörden, Stuhr-Brinkum, Germany
- Nick Andrew, Sydney, Australia
- El Awadalla, Author, Vienna, Austria
- "F. CiCilia Aychar", USA, Psychologist-Behavioural and
Learning Research
- AGPF -Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Betroffeneninitiativen e.V., Bonn,
Bernhard Brünjes,
Chairman, Germany
- Claudia Bartels, Fotografin, Schriftstellerin und Mutter, Leipzig,
Deutschland
- Rüdiger Bartels, Maler, Leipzig, Deutschland
- Heike Barten, Berlin, Deutschland
- William C. Barwell, Houston, Texas, USA
- "Bat Child", San Diego, CA, USA, medical transcriptionist
- Ralf Becker, youth care, Potsdam, Germany
-
Jim Beebe, Northbrook, Il, USA, professional musician,
-
former Cult Awareness Network staff member
-
Klaus Uwe Benneter, Member of the Berlin House of Representatives, State
Chairman
of the Berlin SPD, Berlin, Germany
-
David Bird, from Birmingham/England; computer programmer
-
Elisabeth Bonacker, Housewife and mother of an ex-Scientologist,
Niedersachsen,
Germany
-
Eldon M. Braun, American in Paris, Writer/editor
-
Stacy Brooks, Clearwater, Florida, President, Lisa McPherson Trust
-
Doris Busch, Theologian, Berlin, Germany
-
Jim Byrd, Somerville, Massachusetts, software developer
-
Ingolf Christiansen, Göttingen, Germany, Commissioner for Issues of
Worldview
-
Rob Clark, York, Pennsylvania, USA
-
Paulette Cooper, New York City, author
-
Dialog Zentrum Berlin e.V.
-
Martin Dojcar, Dialog Center Slovakia, Bratislava, Slovakia
-
Katharina Doyé, Religion and Municipal Scholar, Member of the State
Board
of Bündnis 90/ The Green Party, LV Brandenburg, Germany
-
Hans-Peter Dreyer, Hamburg, Germany, Salesman,
Chairman of the I.BE. Hamburg
- Yvonne Seifert-Dreyer, Hamburg, Germany, Sales Lady,
Acting Chairman of the I.BE. Hamburg
- Birgit Ebersbach, Business Manager, EBI Sachsen, Leipzig, Germany
"Ed", CA and NY, USA; researcher and former Scientologist
-
Jeta Eggers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
-
Silvia Eilhardt, Witten Sect Info, Witten, Germany
-
"Feadog", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA, Engineer
-
J. R. Ford; Springfield, Missouri, USA; Salesman
-
Axel Franken, Aktion Bildungsinformation Stuttgart e.V. (ABI), Wü
rzburg,
Germany
-
Freimann, Stade, Germany, Musician
-
Jürgen von Freymann, Oberstleutnant a.D. Hannover, Germany
-
Ute Gandow, Germany, Physical Therapist
-
David Gerard, Melbourne, Australia, computer professional
-
Elke Gorf, Information Group Krokodil; Weinstadt, Germany
-
Rev. Bartolomej Gööz, Dialog Center Slovakia, Bratislava,
Slovakia
-
Barb Graham, digital animator, (also Vietnam vet), USA
-
Martin Gurgel, EBI Sachsen, Leipzig, Germany
-
William G. Hagglund, Toronto Canada, Actor/Artist/political activist
-
Susanne Haller, Journalist, Member of Parliament of Basel-City Canton,
Basel,
Switzerland
-
"Suse Hartweg", Germany, Family counselor
-
Dr. Rüdiger Hauth, Commissioner for Issues of Sects and Worldview of
the
Evangelical Church of Westfalen, Dortmund, Germany
-
Anton Hein, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Christian apologist
-
http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/
Ingo Heinemann, Bonn, Germany, attorney, Chairman, AGPF
- Author of the first book about Scientology in Germany (1979)
- Website: www.Ingo-Heinemann.de("Scientology-Kritik")
-
Andreas Heldal-Lund, Stavanger, Norway, IT Manager
-
H. Keith Henson, Palo Alto, CA USA, Consulting Engineer
-
Rüdiger Hintze, Hamburg, Germany, Lawyer
-
Christel Hinz, Diplom-Bibliothekarin, Nordhausen, Germany
-
Deana M. Holmes, Salt Lake City, Utah, commercial real estate
-
Ilse Hruby-Plechl, author, Austria
-
Jeff Jacobsen, USA, librarian for Lisa McPherson Trust
-
Käthe Jelitto, Hamburg, Germany
-
Ingvald Jüngling, Pastor emeritus, Alfeld, Germany
-
Charlotte L. Kates, New Brunswick, New Jersey USA, student and activist
li
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-
KIDS e.V. ("Kinder in destruktiven Sekten" / "Children in
destructive
Cults"), Chairwoman Jutta Birlenberg, Leverkusen, Deutschland
-
Klaus Kitzinger, Retiree, Bonn, Germany
-
Tom Klemesrud, Publisher, The Thompson Courier & Rake Register
246 S. Harrison Street, Thompson, Iowa 50478 USA
-
Lothar Klein, Ev. Arbeitskreis der CDU Sachsen/Dresden (EAK), Deutschland
-
Thomas Kling, Stuhr-Brinkum, Deutschland
-
Heike Kneese, Flügelschlag e.V., Hamburg, Deutschland
-
Wolfgang Kneese, Flügelschlag e.V., Hamburg, Deutschland
-
Natascha Kobitzsch, Leipzig, Germany, Student
-
Helke Koulakiotis, Information Group Krokodil; Weinstadt, Germany
-
Reverend Kurt Kreibohm, Berlin-Zehlendorf, Germany
-
Lisa Lech, Cologne, Germany, Legal Office Manager
-
Dr. Helga Lerchenmüller, Stuttgart, Deutschland, Lawyer
-
Arnaldo Lerma, Alexandria, Virginia, USA, Electronic technician
-
Dell Liebreich, USA
-
Renata Linné, Dresden, Germany, Translator
-
Lucia Machackova, Dialog Center Slovakia, Bratislava, Slovakia
-
Eberhard Marx, Executive staff, Hamburg, Germany
-
Mission Interministérielle de Lutte contre les Sectes, Denis
Barthelemy,
Le Secrétaire Général, Paris, France
-
Rev. Jörg Michel, Hoyerswerda, Germany
-
Doris Müller, Social Worker, Walldorf, Germany
-
Winfried Müller, Jena, Germany, www.religio.de Data Bank
Administrator
-
Andreas Muth, Leipzig, Germany
-
Dagmar Muth, Leipzig, Deutschland
-
Manfred Neumann, Psychologist, Berlin, Germany
-
Elke Nietsche, Leipzig, Germany, Advertising Sales Lady
-
Roland Nietsche, Leipzig, Germany, Tiler
-
Jean Nokin, Paris, France, President of FECRIS (Fédération
Européenne
des Centres de Recherche et d'Information sur le Sectarisme)
"Nukewaster", USA
-
Karin Paetow-Froese, Arbeitskreis Sekten, e.V., Herford, Germany
-
Norbert Papke, Sect Info "The helping Hand", Fürth, Germany
-
"Peaches", San Francisco Bay Area, USA, artist and computer
person
-
Johanna Penzkofer, Housewife, Germany
-
Dr. Viola Philipp, Halle, Germany, Education Division Director
-
Mr. Michael Plotinkov, M.Div., St. Irinaeus of Lyon Center, Moscow, Russia
-
Mark Plummer, Austin, Texas, USA, Writer
-
"Podkayne1", Sunnyvale CA USA, Computer Scientist
-
Norbert Potthoff, Artist and Writer, ex-Scientologist, Krefeld, Germany
li
>
-
Ted Purdy, Leadville, Colorado, USA, Consultant
"Q", Freelance Illustrator/ Graphic Designer, Minneapolis,
Minnesota,
USA
-
John C. Randolph, California, USA, Engineer
-
Renate Rennebach, Member of the German Federal Parliament, Sect Political
Speaker
of the SPD
-
Michael Reuss, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, Software Engineer
-
Beverly Rice, Florida, USA, Medical Assistant
-
David Rice, San Diego California USA, boat delivery captain
-
Fredric L. Rice, Glendora, California, Chairman, The Skeptic Tank
-
Harry Riens, Engineer, press technician and Evangelical Religious
Instructor,
Berlin, Germany
-
Siegfried Rumbaum, Retiree, Berlin, Germany
-
Gisela Rusch, Berlin, Germany
-
Ingo Sawitzki, Leipzig, Germany, Administrative Lawyer
-
Helmut Schmidt, Berlin, Germany, Administrative Director
-
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schneeweiß, Doctor and Microbiologist, Berlin,
Germany
-
Birgit Schneider, Religion Teacher, Oelsnitz, Germany
-
Karl H. Schneider, Munich, Germany, Assistant Principal
-
Dorette Schultze, house wife, member of the Munich Parents Initiative
(EI),
Isernhagen,
Germany
-
Dr. Peter Schumann, Ev. Work Group of CDU Sachsen/Dresden (EAK), Germany
-
Walter Schütte, Journalist, member Parents Association, Munich,
Germany
-
Jeanette Schürer, Business manager, Zwickau, Germany
-
Yvonne Schürer, Zwickau, Germany
-
Harald Senkel, Technical Staff, Laichingen, Germany
-
Ruth Senkel, Laichingen, Germany
-
Yvonne Seifert-Dreyer, Hamburg, merchant, acting chairperson I.BE.
Hamburg,
Germany
-
Ina Stolle, executive staff, Leipzig, Germany
-
Jörg Stolzenberger, Information Group Krokodil; Weinstadt, Germany
-
Harriet Svenhard, co-founder of FRI, Sweden
-
(FRI is a Swedish organization for education about cults and support for
relatives
and ex-members)
-
Martin Tettenborn, Pastor i.R., Berlin, Germany
-
Joachim Thewes, Goettingen, Germany
-
Reverend Eduard Trenkel, Commissioner for Issues of Sects and Worldview,
Kassel,
Germany
-
Harald von Treuenfels, Berlin, Germany, Student
-
David VanHorn, Muncie, Indiana USA, Engineer
-
Pfarrer Hans-Jochen Vogel, Chemnitz, Germany
-
Kristi Wachter, San Francisco, CA, USA,
Computer Consultant and Human Rights Activist
-
Tim Walker, Tampa, Florida, USA
-
Liselotte Wenzelburger-Mack, Chairwoman of the EBIS Parents Association
Baden
Württemberg,
Recipient of the Federal Meritorious Cross, Großbettlingen, Germany
-
Gunar Werner, Leipzig, Germany, Founder http://www.mormonen.de
-
Kathrin Westphal, Halle, Germany
-
Peter Widmer, Waldegg BE, Switzerland
-
Margarete Wittstock, Retiree, Member of the Berlin Parents Association,
Berlin,
Germany
-
Lawrence Wollersheim, Denver, Colorado, USA, Director, FACTNet
-
Kurt Zellmer, Superintendent i.R., Wittstock, Germany
-
Sten-Arne Zerpe, Solna, Sweden, Network Engineer
-
Dr. Marion Zimmermann, Halle, Germany, Education Division Director
-
Prof. Dr. Zinser, Professor of the History and Science of Religion, Free
University,
Berlin, Germany
-
Ursula Zöpel, chairperson of the Elterninitiative zur Wahrung der
geistigen
Freiheit e.V. Leverkusen, Germany
-
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