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The island nation that is proving to be a refuge for the Church of Scientology

 
Rod Keller helps us keep an eye on Scientology overseas, and he has this report for us about Taiwan…

A tipster sent us the photo above of staff at the Kaohsiung Ideal Org in Taiwan celebrating a “highest ever” for WDAHWO, or Well Done Auditing Hours With Out Purif. Scientology tracks a large number of statistics by the week, and Kaohsiung is actually two orgs – one for Day and the Foundation org for the nights and weekends. We asked former Johannesburg staff member Shelley Ashurst if this is a good stat or not. She tells us it’s fairly typical for Ideal Orgs, but the stat breaks down to a rather small number of Scientologists active in the org. “A student doing the TRs and Objectives Course can account for 35 to 40 hours per week, so that 600 hours could equate to fewer than 20 PCs being serviced either in session, or in the course room. Every Ideal Org is built with enough auditing rooms and course rooms capable of delivering tens of thousands of hours per week. So the fact that they’ve reached 601 hours is embarrassing actually.”

[Contributor to the planned Taipei Ideal Org. The Taipei 101 building, once the tallest in the world, forms part of the logo]

Despite the low number, if Scientology is growing anywhere, it would be in Taiwan. An Ideal Org in the capital city of Taipei on the north end of the island is being planned to join Kaohsiung in the south. Taiwan deserves much of the credit for opening the Tokyo Ideal Org, and is seen as the gateway to expansion in mainland China. That is unlikely given the harsh treatment China has given the Falun Gong group, seen by some as a cult and a significant thorn in the side of Beijing.

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Scientology runs identically everywhere, and Taiwan has its own Foundation for a Drug Free World, Narconon, CCHR and the rest of the front groups.

 

[Drug Free World Taiwan]

[Narconon Taiwan]

[CCHR Taiwan]

Where Taiwan exceeds all other Ideal Orgs is in the number of Scientology missions on the island. Ideal Orgs are expected to establish at least 10 missions in their area, which recruit new members, deliver introductory courses, and feed members to the org for higher level training and processing. Creating ten missions is a fantasy for most areas. Phoenix Ideal Org has one in Tucson. Portland had one in Lake Oswego, but that has closed. Ten orgs in California account for only 25 missions. Kaohsiung is unique – an Ideal Org with 12 missions on an island smaller than The Netherlands or West Virginia.

 

[Taipei Mission]

[Tainan Mission]

[Hua-Lian Mission features The Way to Happiness logo on a roll-up door]

[Taichung Mission has offices in the CTBC Bank Building]

[Chiayi Mission’s billboard features the cover of Dianetics]

[Yung-Kang Mission]

Taiwanese reportedly form the bulk of the Sea Org at the base in Australia, and they are frequently seen at Flag Land Base in Clearwater and on the cruise ship Freewinds. Scientology celebrities visit Kaohsiung regularly to raise money for Taipei, CCHR or the International Association of Scientologists, which brought musician David Pomeranz to Taiwan. Pomeranz is the author of the Scientology anthem “We Stand Tall.”

 

[Freewinds Tour in Taiwan]

Scientology in the ANZO continent once meant little more than Australia, but Taiwan is rapidly replacing it as the center of activity. Expect Taipei Ideal Org to open in the next few years, and with it a new batch of missions. Although the orgs remain fairly empty, the donations to Scientology’s many causes continue to flow, and Taiwan is now a significant contributor to Scientology’s bottom line.

 
— Rod Keller

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 4,841 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 1,824 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 2,598 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 1,944 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,438 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,478 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,190 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 716 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 4,805 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 1,945 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,265 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,240 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 596 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 4,898 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,005 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis for 1,407 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,280 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 861 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,366 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,610 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,719 days.

 
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3D-UnbreakablePosted by Tony Ortega on August 13, 2017 at 07:00

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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

 

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