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par Lilly von Marcab (son site) lundi 26 octobre 2009 -

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Saga of the Scientology Luxury Ocean Liner "FREEWINDS"

The MV Freewinds is a 440-foot (134 meter) long luxury ocean liner owned by the Cult of Scientology. On this ship, Scientologists are given fully tax-deductible luxury vacation cruises as they complete "advanced" Scientology training. What this means (with an example from the USA, where, after intense presssure, the tax authorities have declared Scientology to be a "religion") is that when Scientologists calculate their tax debt each year, this luxury vacation is allowed as "write-off," i.e. it counts as a charitable donation. Scientologists are the only people in the USA who are allowed to "write off" their luxury holidays.

Anyway, since it was built, the Freewinds has also been extensively contaminated with blue asbestos. This is one reason the ship is not permitted to sail in USA waters, forced instead to scoot around the Caribbean. The Netherland Antilles island of Curaçao has been the ship’s home for many years, but in early 2008 public health authorities of Curaçao locked the ship down when they discovered the extensive blue asbestos contamination. Scientology would not admit the contamination ; even if they did, Scientologists do not believe that it can cause cancer. (They believe that illness is only caused by the presence of people who oppose Scientology.) After some months of repairs, during which time numerous Polish contract workers were exposed to the carcinogen, and then not paid for their work, Freewinds was kicked out of Curaçao. It now makes its home port in Cartagena, Colombia.

Here are some from the series of articles I wrote about the Freewinds in 2008.

Scientology Cruise Ship Locked Down Due to Blue Asbestos Contamination

(May 18, 2008)

The Scientology cult’s 440-foot long luxury cruise ship, MV Freewinds, has been locked down by public health officials on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, after local contractors doing repair work noticed widespread blue asbestos contamination. One Curaçao paper pointed out that Scientology officials had known about the contamination since at least 2001, yet had done nothing.

Blue asbestos is the most dangerous kind of asbestos, and people exposed to it are at much higher risk of mesothelioma (an especially deadly lung cancer). According to reports from several Caribbean newspapers as well as the shipping news journal Lloyd’s List, the Freewinds was sealed on April 26. One Curaçao paper, La Prensa Cur, pointed out that Scientology officials had known about the contamination since at least 2001, yet had done nothing.

Until the 1960s, when the Freewinds was built, blue asbestos was often used in shipbuilding (it was not known at the time to be so carcinogenic). Former Scientologist Lawrence Woodcraft, a licensed architect by profession, supervised interior remodeling work on the ship in 1987 when the cult first purchased it. According to a legal affidavit made after Woodcraft left the cult in 2001, Woodcraft had notified Scientology officials immediately about the widespread blue asbestos and the dangers it posed. The response he received was that he should carry on with the work, and leave the asbestos where it was. Since Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had never mentioned that asbestos was dangerous, they were not going to worry about it. Scientologists believe that disease is caused not by microbes or toxic substances, but by the presence of "suppressive persons" (SPs), or people who disagree with Scientology and its goals.

The ship is used by Scientology for advanced training in "Operating Thetan" levels, for members who have paid fees of between USD$100,000 and $400,000, as well as for tax-deductible Caribbean cruises for its members and their families. Curaçao has been the ship’s homeport since it was purchased by Scientology, as it is not permitted to dock in any US port.

Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw responded to "Radar Online" about the asbestos reports, in an email published in an article in Radar on May 1. "The Freewinds regularly inspects the air quality on board and always meets or exceeds US standards," said Pouw. She stated that two inspections performed in April "confirmed that the air quality is safe," and claimed that the inspections revealed the Freewinds satisfies standards set by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Clean Air Act. Pouw told Radar that "The Freewinds will be completing its refit on schedule." The Church of Scientology-affiliated organization Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) had been planning a cruise aboard the Freewinds scheduled for May 8. As of May 18, the ship was still locked down.

In a May 15 statement to the United Kingdom daily newspaper Metro, a representative for Scientology said that "There is not now and never has been a situation of asbestos exposure on the Freewinds."

"I stand by everything I wrote in my 2001 affidavit," said Lawrence Woodcraft in a statement given to "Wikinews." Woodcraft went on to state : "I would also comment that if the Church of Scientology claims to have removed the blue asbestos, I just don’t see how, it’s everywhere. You would first have to remove all the pipes, plumbing, a/c ducts, electrical wiring etc. etc. just a maze of stuff. Also panelling as well, basically strip the ship back to a steel hull. Also blue asbestos is sprayed onto the outer walls and then covered in paint. It’s in every nook and cranny."

Many Scientologist celebrities have spent time aboard the Freewinds, including Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Chick Corea, Lisa Marie Presley, Catherine Bell, Kate Ceberano, and Juliette Lewis. "Now" magazine reported that Tom Cruise has been urged to seek medical attention regarding potential asbestos exposure, however a representative for Cruise stated he has "absolutely no knowledge" of the recent asbestos controversy. Cruise, Holmes, Travolta and Preston have celebrated birthdays and other events on the Freewinds.

Raw blue asbestos is the most hazardous form of asbestos, and has been banned in the United Kingdom since 1970. Blue asbestos fibers are very narrow and thus easily inhaled, and are a major cause of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which can develop in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the pericardium sac surrounding the heart. The cancer is incurable, and can manifest over 40 years after the initial exposure to asbestos.

"This is the most dangerous type of asbestos because the fibres are smaller than the white asbestos and can penetrate the lung more easily," said toxicologist Dr. Chris Coggins in a statement published in "OK ! Magazine." Dr. Coggins went on to note that "Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, the victim has six months to a year to live. It gradually reduces lung function until the victim is no longer able to breathe and dies."

The Scientology cult was founded in 1950 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Its primary goal is to "clear the planet" by "obliterating psychiatry." Scientology’s many front groups include the Citizens’ Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), Criminon, Narconon, and Applied Scholastics. Scientology claims to be the "world’s fastest growing religion," with some 8 million members, but mainstream demographic surveys have shown that the number of members is closer to 55,000 worldwide, and declining. Scientology is currently under investigation in several countries for a variety of human rights abuses, including child abuse, violation of child labor laws, kidnapping and running secret internal prison camps, as well as for a number of financial crimes.

Scientology luxury cruise ship remains locked down ; Cult put thousands at high cancer risk

(June 5, 2008)

Six weeks after public health authorities on the Caribbean island of Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles) impounded the Scientology cult’s 440-foot luxury liner "Freewinds," the ship remains locked down. Experts advise that decontaminating the ship would cost millions of dollars and may not even be possible. Meanwhile, the cult continues to solicit funds for cruises that will not happen.

After the ship was quarantined on April 26, the Curaçao Drydock Company was contracted to carry out refurbishment and repairs. The contamination was so extensive that the company decided that the risk to its workers was too great, and ceased operations. At that point Scientology sent a team of its "Sea Org" internal paramilitary force to clean the ship themselves. They are bringing the blue asbestos by the truckload to dump at the island’s Selikor landfill site at Malpais.

Incredibly, top leaders of the Scientology cult were informed of the pervasive contamination back in 1987, but chose to do nothing. Until the 1960s, when the Freewinds was built, blue asbestos was often used in shipbuilding (it was not known at the time to be so carcinogenic). Former Scientologist Lawrence Woodcraft, a licensed architect by profession, supervised interior remodeling work on the ship in 1987 when the cult first purchased it. According to a legal affidavit made after Woodcraft left the cult in 2001, Woodcraft had notified Scientology officials immediately about the widespread blue asbestos and the dangers it posed. The response he received was that he should carry on with the work, and leave the asbestos where it was. Since Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had never mentioned that asbestos was dangerous, they were not going to worry about it. Scientologists believe that disease is caused not by microbes or toxic substances, but by the presence of "suppressive persons" (SPs), or people who disagree with Scientology and its goals. Moreover, Scientologists believe that high-level Sea Org members cannot get cancer or any other disease.

Meanwhile, Scientology continues to promote cruises on the Freewinds, receiving large cash advances from Scientologist prospective passengers, who have been informed only that the ship is going through an ordinary refurbishment. Already, the cult has missed several planned sailing dates, but it continues to seek funds for voyages in the near future. According to Radar Online, the cult has scheduled conventions starting in July and running through November.

On May 1, the cult’s spokesperson lied to Radar Online with the following "spin" :

"The next cruise is scheduled for Thursday, May 8. Inspections done on April 15, 2008 and April 28, 2008 again confirmed that the air quality is safe, in accordance with the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Clean Air Act." None of this, of course, was true.

The cult’s promotional materials give further information about Scientology’s advance-booking scheme :

The new conventions calendar aboard the brand new Freewinds is out and we are looking forward to seeing you aboard ! Look over the different conventions and let me know which convention(s) you plan to attend.

Yet all the extremely hazardous "cleaning" of the blue asbestos may be in vain. According to officials in the Netherlands’ Ministry of Environment, which dealt with an asbestos-laden ship in 2006 that was eventually demolished, the cost to make Freewinds safe for passengers, if it is even possible, may run into many millions of Euros/dollars, probably more than the ship itself is worth.

Scientology Cult Puts 240 Polish Workers at High Cancer Risk

(Aug 28th, 2008)

The Scientology cult is once again to blame for an act of callous disregard for worker safety ; indeed, for workers’ very lives. Once again, the scandal involves the cult’s 440 foot luxury ocean liner “Freewinds.” In this case, we have obtained some new and very disturbing information about the cult’s efforts to keep secret the extent to which their ship was contaminated with highly carcinogenic blue asbestos.

Readers may recall that the Freewinds was locked down for two months, beginning in late April 2008, by port authorities in Curaçao, after they found extensive contamination with blue asbestos, the most dangerous form of asbestos. (Eventually, it was somehow cleared to depart.) We have now learned more about the circumstances in which this blue asbestos was discovered. It turns out that early in 2008, the cult had hired a firm to completely strip out the Freewinds’ interior, and re-fit it with new furniture, carpets, paneling, and everything else to make it luxurious and beautiful. This firm, Nordica Engineering of Florida, had done other work on the Freewinds before. Nordica hired 240 workers from Poland to come and perform this remodeling. Now it has been revealed that it was during this remodeling process that port authorities detected the asbestos, and shut everything down.

First, a bit of a re-cap about Scientology’s knowledge of this blue asbestos.

Thousands of Scientologists, including numerous celebrities, have taken tax-deductible Caribbean cruises on Freewinds over the past 20 years, and all of them are at risk for lung cancer caused by exposure to this blue asbestos. Top leaders of the Scientology cult were informed of the pervasive contamination back in 1987, but chose to do nothing. Until the 1960s, when the Freewinds was built, blue asbestos was often used in shipbuilding (it was not known at the time to be so carcinogenic). Former Scientologist Lawrence Woodcraft, a licensed architect by profession, supervised interior remodeling work on the ship in 1987 when the cult first purchased it. According to a legal affidavit made after Woodcraft left the cult in 2001, Woodcraft had notified Scientology officials immediately about the widespread blue asbestos and the dangers it posed. The response he received was that he should carry on with the work, and leave the asbestos where it was. Since Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had never mentioned that asbestos was dangerous, they were not going to worry about it. Scientologists believe that disease is caused not by microbes or toxic substances, but by the presence of "suppressive persons" (SPs), or people who disagree with Scientology and its goals. Moreover, Scientologists believe that high-level “OT” members cannot get cancer or any other disease.

Yesterday, Astra Woodcraft, daughter of the architect Lawrence Woodcraft, and one of the founders of the Ex-Scientology Kids message board, made the following post on an “Enturbulation” message board :

Today I found out some very interesting, in-depth and somewhat shocking news in regards the Freewinds.

In early 2008, a contract was made between Scientology and a company out of Miami called Nordica Engineering. This contract was for approximately $18 million and was for the work of completely stripping the Freewinds, and then re-fitting with new furniture, carpets, wiring, etc.

Nordica Engineering brought in approximately 240 workers from Poland who slepts on board the Freewinds in cabins until they were moved to a camp after 1 1/2 months.

Nordica Engineering was given no warning or information in regards blue asbestos or other asbestos panelling on the Freewinds. Apparently, in addition to the blue asbestos which is sparyed on all over the Freewinds, a lot of the panelling on the Freewinds was made with asbestos. A giant container at the dock in Curacao was filled with approximately 70 tons of asbestos, whereabouts now unknown.

The work proceeded until April 2008 when the Freewinds was sealed due to asbestos contamination at the drydock in Curacao.

Nordica Engineering has apparently not been fully paid and is owed upwards of approximately $3.5 million.

A separate company was brought out from Florida to clean up the asbestos at a cost of approximately $2 million. Some of the asbesots was removed, some encapsulated, but apparently there is still loose asbestos on-board.

The ship is now in Aruba (due to Curucao drydock being booked) but will be brough back to drydock in Curacao in November to finish up work and get its DNV certification.

Nordica Engineering appears to have been misled or outright lied to in regards the asbestos situation. There are 240 workers from Poland who have apparently been following the story about the Freewinds online. They are in possession the the affidavit that my dad, Lawrence Wooodcraft wrote back in 2001 in regards the asbestos he saw on the Freewinds in 1987. They have been majorly exposed to this asbestos, sleeping on-board while the work was being done and now they are, from reports, very upset to say the least.

Nordica Engineering is apparently still negotiating with Scientology executives Sue Price and Bob Wright, hoping to receive payment but it seems unlikely.

In brief, Scientology never told Nordica Engineering about the blue asbestos ; Nordica hired 240 foreign workers to remove contaminated materials ; they removed 70 tons of it before the ship was quarantined ; and now the cult refuses to pay Nordica Engineering. (Memo to Nordica : That’s what happens when you do business with criminal cults. Scientology is notorious for running out on its bills.)

It is not yet clear what the next move will be ; optimally, Nordica would bring the Polish workers into the coming lawsuit as fellow plaintiffs. Should Nordica and the workers prevail, the European Union and the USA may be able to seize the cult’s assets in Europe and North America.

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