Subject: Surprise Picket: Amsterdam
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 21:01:25 GMT
Sender: bogie@20dyn87.com21.casema.net Message-ID: <3b00ff2f.119158102@news.xs4all.nl>
This is the short report. More stories will no doubt come later.
It was a surprise picket for the Org, but also for most of the
picketers.
There is no such thing as a "car count" that gives any significant
data in Amsterdam. I noticed one $cientologist unlocking his bike, and
about six others walking in or out. Sorry, Ted. ;-)
There were seven picketers, today. I think we passed out some 150
flyers. (That is a rough guess.)
Stories about the police's presence, 'firehose tech', and ineffective
counter picketing are to be filed later, I'm sure.
Groeten,
Boudewijn.
From: mgormez@chello.nl (Michael 'Mike' Gormez - www.taxexemptchildabuse.net )
Subject: Re: Surprise Picket: Amsterdam
Organization: Scientology is a child abusing industry: don't let them abuse your kid.
Message-ID: <3affeb9e.3041250@news.ams.chello.nl>
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 13:49:04 GMT
In article <3b00ff2f.119158102@news.xs4all.nl>, bogie@xs4all.nl (Boudewijn van Ingen) wrote: >It was a surprise picket for the Org, but also for most of the
>picketers.
It was a short call but we did nicely. Great weather (23c/75f), interesting and nice fellow picketers, asshole scieno's. The usual. New Teck at Amsterdam Org! The silly Hubbard-flock were childishly 'all of a sudden' hosing the street with the intenion of.. Well, you tell me. Because was sad. Adulates first telling us that we waste our lives and then like little kids hosing others? The cult pissed off some passers-by who got dirty from stuff that the Scn's sprayed off the street. I told them to file a complaint at the policestation which is virtually next to the org. The neighbors of the scieno's have all seen this because hanging outside the openwindows. Some went surfing to www.xenu.net after they got a flyer and other neighbors were standing outside shacking their heads in disbelieve, talking with others how rudely the scieno's behaved. I couldn't have gotten the cult such a worse image as they have done all by themselves in the 5 minutes they came outside to 'handle' us. Very well done, morons.
Okies, I am in a hurry and life goes on so let me rap this up by telling that besides the 7 or so picketers, again Nessie, Kid, Tux were present. This was the second time Nessie and his buddies were picketing this org so it was known territory for them and it showed in the confident posture of the plush animals. This time cult-member Herman Jan Rijnvijs didn't harass them as he had done once in the past [1]. The after-picket drink was enjoyed outside in the sun on a terrace across the org and we stayed there for the next few hours. Undoubtely something must have gone wrong in the org with so many solide suppressives around. Hubbard said so. Alas, a good time was had by all. Gerry Armstrong is a fun and gentle guy. He and bodyrouter Rob Hiemstra talked a bit in an respectfull manner. Agreeing to disagree. Before I forget: got my very own Wog cap!! Now I am a real member of the ARSCC (wdne sadly) [1] http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/mgormez/picket/
Mikey -- Why are these people dead Scientology? www.b-org.demon.nl/scn/deaths
From: bogie@xs4all.nl (Boudewijn van Ingen)
Subject: Re: Surprise Picket: Amsterdam
Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 03:57:58 GMT
Message-ID: <3afc92fe.13105975@news.xs4all.nl>
Installment number one...
As a consequence from an earlier posting on ars, I got a call, wednesday evening from a fellow SP telling me that Gerry Armstrong was in Amsterdam, and would like to meet me. We spoke on the phone for a short time, and arranged a meeting the next day. And indeed, after visiting a customer in the early afternoon, I did not take a train back home, but instead on towards Amsterdam. While on the train, I took off my shirt and tie, because of the great weather, and I took out the copy of the "Dr. Dobbs" magazine (a magazine for professional software engineers, see "http://www.ddj.com/") that I had received that morning. I read the editorial first and then the column in the back, by Michael Swaine (mike@swaine.com). To my surprise, it mentioned $cientology in not too flattering terms. (I guess that column will probably be on the web later.) That was indeed a good 'start' of the day. Upon my arrival in Amsterdam, it became clear that the NLSCC(wdne) had indeed managed -sort of- to 'organize' a picket, in the short time that had been available. So we went to the $cientology Org to meet the other SPs. While Gerry was assembling his wonderful portable multi-language picket sign, the other SP's arrived. Much to my surprise, the NLSCC(wdne) managed to drum up seven people, who all arrived punctually at 16:00 hours. And the Org did not close their door. So much for my pessimistic ideas about being there with very few people, taking a few pictures, and leaving in fifteen minutes, because of lack of activity from the $cientologists. We were suddenly "in business". ;-) It was my first look at the new Org. It is situated a bit better than the old one, though on the same street. The old location was a bit removed from the constant stream of traffic on the sidewalks, whereas the new location isn't. They have apparently done a great deal of work on the premisis, because it looks almost as glossy as their web-pages.
The glass door was open, and behind it there is a sort of counter, like in a hotel. An elderly gentleman was on post there. Beyond him, at the end of the hall there was a small table, where three people sat when I looked first. Later on noone was using it. I didn't see the bust of L. Ron in this org. I'm sure it's there somewhere, but not clearly visible from the outside, as it used to be in the old Org. But they have managed to 'improve' on it. To the left of the entrance of the Org is a large window (the place probably was some kind of shop before) with view into a room that is decorated as an office. Or rather a stuffy library with a desk. From the hallway of the building, this 'room' would be accessible, if it weren't for that museum-rope that hangs across the doorway. In the window on the street-side, there is a small sign explaining that all Orgs worldwide maintain an "office" for L. Ron, and that that is what you're looking at. I'm sure that L. Ron would turn in his grave -if he had one- rather than returning to this Org. If he would be sitting behind that desk, he would be actually seen by thousands of people a day. You might say he would be "exposed". ;-) But since the pack of Kools was missing from the scene, I guess that is a rather academic matter. (Does anyone know when the distribution of packs of Kools to all the Orgs stopped? If I'm informed correctly, it went on long after Hubbard's death...) I'm ashamed to admit that I do not remember the actual Dutch texts on Gerry's picket sign. And because I wasn't really prepared for a picket, I didn't have a camera with me. Neither did I have fliers. But that problem was easily solved. Zenon had plenty, so I got my allotment. Spreading folders is easy, in this new location. Of course in these parts, you have to state clearly and loudly that you're AGAINST $cientology. Otherwise people will turn their heads and walk on past you in a hurry, disgusted with the word "$cientology" alone. And about 80% of the people you ask if they want a leaflet will say that they already know that $cientology is bad. Being as polite as I always am, I offer everyone that goes by a set of leaflets, with a smile. There are a lot of tourists there, so I try to judge the appropriate language when I see them coming. I have now learned that there are no problems when you approach Duth people in English. One wanted to talk to me. He said "Do you speak Dutch?". I replied "Sure I do!" (in English ;-) ). We then had a nice conversation in Dutch and he promised me to look up www.xenu.net as soon as he got home. ;-) (Note to the NLSCC(wdne): we need more English language flyers...) While I was happily working on the stack of flyers I had been given, some of the other SP's did the same. But I think also some photo sessions were held. If I had a camera with me at the time, I could have shown you a rather hilarious scene where three photographers were trying to "catch" each other on film. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two $cientologists leaving the building. They went across the street with their own leaflets. And indeed, they were starting to do what I was doing on the other sidewalk. Apparently the rest of the Sp's hadn't noticed, so I took it upon me to imform everybody. While I was still busy with that, Zenon crossed the road and started innoculation right beside them. I couldn't leave Zenon out there in the hot sun (the Org side of the street was in the shade) on his own, so I went over there as well. I'm quite sure they weren't getting anywhere. They were able to stop some people and talk to them. But it didn't look as if these people were happy to be stopped and talked to. That's why I always prefer to _ask_ people if they would like to have my flyer, I do not want to impose... And so the $cientologists went back into the Org. When I went back to the other side of the road, I noticed a $cientologist with a fire-hose in the doorway of the Org. And I noticed that most of the SP's had moved away from the entrance of the Org. The pavement there was all wet. As it turned out, the $cientologists had made an attempt to 'clean-up' their sidewalk. Obviously they haven't learned how to do that properly. They had no brooms and no soap. We (Zenon at least) tried to demonstrate to them how it should be done before... I didn't want my feet getting too wet, so I moved a bit more away from the Org, just to make sure. On the other side, the SP's were moving too. Then someone from a window above began commenting on the 'situation' below. The commentary was quite funny. It came from some office next door (on the first floor, they had their windows open, because of the warm weather). The first comment was: (translated) "What's all this? Oh, there is a picketer against $cientology here!" (that would have been me). The next comment was "Hey, there is another one!". And by then all the personnell of the office had dropped whatever they were doing and they were trying to get a glimpse of 'the action'. Zenon and Mike both succeeded in passing flyers on up to them. I'm too short for such things. ;-)
Groeten,
Boudewijn.
From: "Icee" <icee@planet.nl>
Subject: Re: Surprise Picket: Amsterdam
Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 17:44:08 +0200
Organization: Dept. 20
Message-ID: <9djls9$6ch26$1@reader01.wxs.nl>
"Boudewijn van Ingen" <bogie@xs4all.nl> wrote in message news:3afc92fe.13105975@news.xs4all.nl... > Installment number one...
> The glass door was open, and behind it there is a sort of counter,
> like in a hotel. An elderly gentleman was on post there. Beyond him,
> at the end of the hall there was a small table, where three people sat
> when I looked first. Later on noone was using it.
Maybe I had a better look, as I was moving around all the time. There were people sitting there for nearly the whole time except for the last half an hour. Lots of other scieno's moving around in there. PR Janine quickly sneaked in as well with her eyes on the ground. Maybe she lost her very bad set of false teeth again and was looking at the ground to find them. Her teeth always look as if they could fly right out of her mouth if she would relax her mouth instead of squeezing her cheeks inwards while talking. Sometimes she forgets:-) > I didn't see the bust of L. Ron in this org. I'm sure it's there
> somewhere, but not clearly visible from the outside, as it used to be
> in the old Org. But they have managed to 'improve' on it.
It is on your left 3 yards inside the middle door, clearly seen from the outside. When I went in there and up to the first floor to the back of the building, where a kind of a canteen is situated, I noticed that is actually becoming a bit scruffier the more you go up. So obviously the renovation of the building is far from finished. Like everything else the scieno's keep up their facade until they have caught their victims. Btw, when I was in the canteen with a disguised Mike Gormez, there was a big board on the wall saying: (Translated into English) 'There is 1 staff member for every million of people on Earth'. (Mike, is that correct?) Which I sincerely doubt (meaning it is a straight lie if ever I saw one), as there aren't even worldwide that many scieno's, staff or public. What a hoot! > To the left of the entrance of the Org is a large window (the place
> probably was some kind of shop before) with view into a room that is
> decorated as an office. Or rather a stuffy library with a desk. From
> the hallway of the building, this 'room' would be accessible, if it
> weren't for that museum-rope that hangs across the doorway. In the
> window on the street-side, there is a small sign explaining that all
> Orgs worldwide maintain an "office" for L. Ron, and that that is what
> you're looking at.
In private conversations at my home many scieno's (at least the ones who hadn't yet had their brains completely deleted) and I agreed upon it being the most ridiculous and disgusting space in an org. A lot of these stupid things combined in an org are often the first step to wonder about the saneness of the organisation and eventually leading to have a better look at more dissatisfactory things in the policies and slowly it becomes a beginning to get out of the cult. > I'm sure that L. Ron would turn in his grave -if he had one- rather
> than returning to this Org. If he would be sitting behind that desk,
> he would be actually seen by thousands of people a day. You might say
> he would be "exposed". ;-)
>
> But since the pack of Kools was missing from the scene, I guess that
> is a rather academic matter. (Does anyone know when the distribution
> of packs of Kools to all the Orgs stopped? If I'm informed correctly,
> it went on long after Hubbard's death...)
I never see the brand Kools in US anymore. Does it still exist? > Spreading folders is easy, in this new location. Of course in these
> parts, you have to state clearly and loudly that you're AGAINST
> $cientology. Otherwise people will turn their heads and walk on past
> you in a hurry, disgusted with the word "$cientology" alone. And about
> 80% of the people you ask if they want a leaflet will say that they
> already know that $cientology is bad.
Like the 4 Danish tourists at first didn't want a flyer and Zenon asked them if they liked $cientology and all 4 of them spoke up together with a loud and clear: Oh NO! Continuing telling that there had been pickets in Copenhagen some days earlier and that they were well informed about the scandalous scam of the criminal organisation and that it was pleasing to see that something was done about the frauds in Amsterdam also. > Being as polite as I always am, I offer everyone that goes by a set of
> leaflets, with a smile. There are a lot of tourists there, so I try to
> judge the appropriate language when I see them coming. I have now
> learned that there are no problems when you approach Duth people in
> English. One wanted to talk to me. He said "Do you speak Dutch?". I
> replied "Sure I do!" (in English ;-) ). We then had a nice
> conversation in Dutch and he promised me to look up www.xenu.net as
> soon as he got home. ;-) (Note to the NLSCC(wdne): we need more
> English language flyers...)
Just tell me how many thousands you need, Bogie! You can order 10.000 at a time:-) Seriously, I'll get as many fliers as needed in any language. > When I went back to the other side of the road, I noticed a
> $cientologist with a fire-hose in the doorway of the Org. And I
> noticed that most of the SP's had moved away from the entrance of the
> Org. The pavement there was all wet. As it turned out, the
> $cientologists had made an attempt to 'clean-up' their sidewalk.
They cleaned up some of Nessie's and Tux's BT's and both are quite annoyed and considering a Court of Evidence to have the guilty party send to RPF. Icee.
From: bogie@xs4all.nl (Boudewijn van Ingen)
Subject: Re: Surprise Picket: Amsterdam
Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 22:59:18 GMT
Organization: None, I think...
Sender: bogie@20dyn206.com21.casema.net Message-ID: <3b005f2b.1898843@news.xs4all.nl>
On Sat, 12 May 2001 20:25:42 GMT, mgormez@chello.nl (Michael 'Mike' Gormez - www.taxexemptchildabuse.net ) wrote: >In article <9djls9$6ch26$1@reader01.wxs.nl>, "Icee" <icee@planet.nl>
>wrote:
>
>>Btw, when I was in the canteen with a disguised Mike Gormez,
>>there was a big board on the wall saying:
>>
>>(Translated into English)
>>'There is 1 staff member for every million of people
>>on Earth'. (Mike, is that correct?)
>
>Yep, the Dutch text is "Er is een staflid voor elk miljoen op aarde."
>They didn't thus say people but just 'for every million'.
>
>
>>> soon as he got home. ;-) (Note to the NLSCC(wdne): we need more
>>> English language flyers...)
>>
>>Just tell me how many thousands you need, Bogie!
>>You can order 10.000 at a time:-)
>>Seriously, I'll get as many fliers as needed in any language.
>
>Bogie, consider this well. I said once 'Sure, give me some' and Icee
>got me thousands of flyers with a telling smile. Heck, had to stack
>'em in my bedroom closet. All 4 boxes! :)
I was across the street, in the sun, working hard. While you guys were apparently making sure you didn't strain yourself too much, near the org, in the cool shade. And apparently Zenon saw that you guys were being cooled by "firehose tech", so he decided to give me his stack of fliers, and he went off to start a discussion with the police officers. I was told to distribute *all* of those fliers, before I could return to the shade. And I was made to understand that the NLSCC(wdne) would have more of my usual RPF-duties ready for me if I would not comply. And in the end I was able to ditribute the stack that was originally allotted to me, and some more. But since I wasn't able to find enough foot-traffic before the end of the picket, perhaps _now_ you understand why at the moment I haven't the time to post the second part of my 'report', or put the digitized version of that ZDF show --about "The Profit"-- from the night before on the web. And Gerry already did the dishes. That was the better of the chores the NLSCC(wdne) uses me for ... ;-)
Groeten,
Boudewijn.
From: bogie@xs4all.nl (Boudewijn van Ingen)
Subject: Re: Surprise Picket: Amsterdam
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 02:02:25 GMT
Message-ID: <3b0bc211.28130233@news.xs4all.nl>
On Sat, 12 May 2001 03:57:58 GMT, bogie@xs4all.nl (Boudewijn van Ingen) wrote: >Installment number one...
OK, Here is: Installment number two (and the 'last' one)... [snip - read the previous installment, msgid <3afc92fe.13105975@news.xs4all.nl>] >The commentary was quite funny. It came from some office next door (on
>the first floor, they had their windows open, because of the warm
>weather). The first comment was: (translated) "What's all this? Oh,
>there is a picketer against $cientology here!" (that would have been
>me). The next comment was "Hey, there is another one!". And by then
>all the personnell of the office had dropped whatever they were doing
>and they were trying to get a glimpse of 'the action'. Zenon and Mike
>both succeeded in passing flyers on up to them. I'm too short for such
>things. ;-)
The "other one" mentioned by the people hanging out of the window had been Gerry, who asked me what they were saying. I translated a bit, then went on to distribute fliers. The only good passer-by is an informed passer-by. But Zenon and Mike talked some more with the four people that were by then hanging out of the window. Until they were pointed to the URL at the bottom of the fliers they got. Some fifth person from inside seemed to have heard the remarks about that, and suggested to look there right then and there. Apparently they had a computer with an Internet connection inside. That was about the end of that diversion. Indeed, the attention of some of us was needed elsewhere, so Zenon and Mike left me and Gerry to attend to the passers-by. Right before I had noticed the $cientologists' feeble attempt at a 'counter picket' on the other side of the road, I already noticed that there had been two police officers talking to some of us. They seemed to have taken some notes, and then went back into the police office (conviniently located a few doors from the Org). While I was on the other side of the road, and during the display of "firehose-tech", they weren't there. But the officers got back. One of them went inside the Org. And they were in discussion with some of us, for a considerable time. I did not join that discussion, of course, because of all the passers-by that still needed to be informed. And neither did Gerry, because he was in a discussion with $cientologist Rob Hiemstra by then. And I was passing out flyers. (I even managed to pass some flyers into the hands of another couple of police officers that were heading back to their station, while their colleagues were 'occupied' with us...) But by now, there was clearly 'something going on' where the officers were. And most of the picketers were milling around them to find out what. I was going to ask Zenon for some more English language flyers, but decided against it, because I noticed the expression on his face while he was talking to (or rather trying to get a word in) one of the police officers. Then, when I had almost ran out of flyers, I saw the 'discussion' dissolve. The officer had taken notes there, I noticed. And now he was coming our way. The officer was very nice, but official, as he should be. He explained to me that this gathering of ours had been judged by them as a 'protest' or 'demonstration' and that, according to the APV (the local, municipal? law) of Amsterdam, such gatherings needed to be announced at least 48 hours before to the police. He also told me that they had found that, since we were not actually bothering anyone, blocking passage or some such behaviour, they had decided that we could stay there until 17:30 (it was by then about 17:20). He gave no particular reason for that 'decision'. But since I was already aware of the local APV rules on 'protests' and 'demonstrations', I thought it was a rather nice 'solution' for them. They could also have chased us away immediately. What was a bit puzzelling was the fact that this officer was collecting personal information about all the picketers. The man told me it was for use 'in case of future similar events'. Perhaps I should have refused him the information, because I'm quite sure that I was not obliged to give him any details, under any Dutch law. But since I am a decent Dutch citizen, I told him what he wanted to know. I can always sue the city of Amsterdam if I find out that the information turns up through $cientology.... Gerry was next. And though the officer spoke reasonable English, he had some trouble to translate the "two day" (or as it actually is called "twice 24 hours") notice for a picket. So he left Gerry with a M/U about local Amsterdam regulations. ;-) Gerry obviously had enough grasp of what was happening, so he cut short all possible questions about his identity by immediately handing over his passport. At that time, there was only one thought in my mind: Gerry can't be 'outed' to $cientology this way. Even if his personal details were actually revealed to the $cientologists, that would only bring trouble to the $cientologist Gerry had been talking to... ;-) While this was going on, and the picket was winding down, one passer-by actually stopped and waited to get my attention. I obliged him with the usual set of flyers, but this young man wanted to know still more. I got a bit restless, actually, talking to him, while I sensed the other picketers were already on their way to their welldeserved beverages. ;-) The apparent problem was, that he already had done research on the web, and apparently he already knew me, even. But he couldn't quite make clear the particular question he wanted to ask me. I hope I gave him the right answers. ;-) Oh, and I remember now: Earlier (I think during the first fifteen minutes) I had seen a woman passing by, that didn't take any flyers. In stead she held a clenched fist high, and said "right on". Does that count as a car-horn honk, in US terms? ;-)
After the picket, we went to the other side of the street again (this time all of us) to have a drink (or two, not nine). I still had some actual work to do (besides digitizing a ZDF broadcast on "The Profit" from the previous night, which *still* needs to be done -- though I think I saw it on the web somewhere already) so I went home rather early. ;-( I learned more about the 'discussion' with the police officers then. I do not feel inclined to discuss that here. Let's leave that to Zenon, if he wants to. In fact, I think most of what was said there should be kept from the public --read $cientology-- view. ;-) But I can assure everyone that it is a special feeling to actually hear the things you read about here sometimes about Hubbard, in the words of someone that has the actual experience of being with him. I have learned a lot that day. About picketing, about $cientologists, about Hubbard, and about myself. I have so many more reasons to be here. Thank you, Gerry Armstrong! ;-)
Groeten, Boudewijn.
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