PROJECT CHANOLOGY - YEAR IN REVIEW

When 2008 was in its infancy, Scientology was under high-scrutiny. News of its censorship tactics, aggressive stance against medicine, couch-jumping, salvation at a hefty price and general nastiness were heavily reported on. It seemed though that despite all the news, people were powerless to act against this menace. Unbenownsted to everyone, it was all about to chenge mid-January.

An internal Scientology propaganda video was leaked to Youtube in mid January. This video involved Scientology poster-boy Tom Cruise madly spouting Scientology rubbish.

This included the imfamous line: “As a Scientologist, you drive past an accident and you know that you’re the only one who can help”. Almost immediately it became an Internet hit and was mirrored on different sites. Scientology demanded that the videos be removed, citing copyright violations. The underground Internet collective known as Anonymous saw this as a blatant attack on free speech and the Internet itself. Anonymous wasn’t happy. On January 21st, an official call to arms was announced, promising the dismantling of the “Church” of $cientology in its present form. On this momentous day, Project Chanology was born.

Admittedly, the original premise was “LOL we’re protesting about Scientology”, but ex-Scientologists and long-time critics such as Mark Bunker and Tory Christman took notice, acting as advisors and mentors for the movement. Quickly, Anonymous began to realise that Scientology was a lot nastier and more dangerous than previously thought, and it was eventually decided that the best method of taking action was in the form of protest… MASS protest… WORLDWIDE simultaneous non-violent protest. On February 10th, literally over 9,000 Anonymous worldwide left their basements and came together to protest against Scientology’s human rights abuses. Since then, Anonymous has held thousands of protests in over 100 cities worldwide. Nobody expected us to last as long as we have, but a leaderless, inventive, multi-talented and multi-faceted collective based on Anonymity happened to be the perfect weapon against Scientology.

With the help of the actions of Anonymous, 2008 has been hands down the most damaging year ever for Scientology’s public image and internal affairs. In just under a year, we have achieved so much. The public has been informed of the brutal reality of Scientology’s abuses on their critics and individual members and Scientologists are reportedly leaving the cult in droves and are now having the courage to speak out.

Noteworthy Epic Wins for Anonymous:

• Jason Beghe (Celebrity Scientologist) Leaves the cult.
• James Packer, Scientology’s richest member, does the same.
• Dianetics Bookathon week (May 24th - 29th) sales for 2008: 2,257, down from 33,944 last year.
• Hundreds of Pro-Anonymous and Anti-Scientology articles / news stories online and offline EVERYWHERE.
• Scientology’s Narconon front group exposed.
• Scientology’s “Second Chance” front group evicted from Alberquerque.
• Scientology to be tried for fraud in France next year.
• Scientology wastes what could be millions of dollars trying to prevent Anonymous’ efforts.
• The Xenu story and OTIII exposed on prime time Australian TV.
• Scientology’s child labour practices exposed on prime time Australian TV.
• Scientology found to have known about blue Asbestos infesting their flagship “The Freewinds” for ages but did nothing.
• Org Closures.
• Scientology’s web of lies and bullshit revealed and its reputation virtually destroyed, particularly on the Internet.
• Anonymous beat the previous high score of 50 people attending an anti-Scientology protest by almost 200-fold.
• Tom Cruise promises not to discuss his “religion” in any further interviews.

Noteworthy Scientology Wins:

None. Instead of defending themselves rationally and maturely, Scientology chooses to fight back in ways that only work to further damage their cause and further hit home our message. This is what’s known as a “footbullet”, with particularly disastrous cases being called “footbazookas” or even “footnukes”.

Noteworthy Scilon Footbullets:

• Scientology charges a crippled protestor (Stu Wyatt) for assault. Unsuccessful.
• City of London Police charge a 15 year olf Anon (Epic Nose Guy) for use of the word “Cult” in a sign. String of Scientology bribery uncovered.
• Scientology censors ex-Sea Org John Duignan’s expose “The Complex”.
• Scientologists attack Anonymous physically, verbally, with eggs, water and black PR that makes them look even more crazy.
• Scientology shows that Fair Game is alive and well by threatening legal action against Anonymous protestors.
• Two Anonymous wrongfully arrested by second-rate Scientology-bribed police force at a protest in Atlanta. Charges dropped. Internet gets pissed.
• Scilon favourite TIMMEH aggressively tries to get photos of Anons unmasked outside a police station. Police frown upon his fail and tell him to GTFO.
• Scientology spokesperson and epic jerkop Tommy Davis grows visibly uncomfortable when questioned about disconnection on a CNN interview.

Noteworthy Scientology Footnukes (legendary failures):

• Scientologist Oliver Schaper fraudulently claims copyright infringements on 4,000 youtube videos. His deception is uncovered and the videos are restored.
• Scientology successfully blocks Mark Bunker and Tory Christman’s Youtube accounts, only to enrage and rally up Anonymous further and have the accounts restored.
• Mike Ferris, NZ Scientology spokesperson admits to Scientology’s fair game and its huge price tag over mainstream radio.
• Scientology halts the sale of Andrew Morton’s “Tom Cruise: The Unauthorised Biography”. Brings unwanted attention to Scientologists.
• Scientology throws a shitfit over THE Tom Cruise video, thus making it an Internet hit.
• Umm… Hello? Getting the attention of Anonymous?

The above lists are of course merely a small sample of what has happened this year (all claims are backed up on news sites and other forums such as whyweprotest.net). Without a doubt, Anonymous has come on top and will continue doing so. Oh, and you know what the lulziest thing is? Scientology only has itself to blame for this. If they operated like a true religion, treated its members better, allowed protestors to do so without fear of retalliation, weren’t so secretive and didn’t try to mess with our Internets, none of this wouldn’t happen. Sorry Scientology, this is entirely YOUR fault.

To those Anonymous who have put in the hard yards since the very beginning, those who have recently got in on the fun, those who have left for whatever reason, oldfags, newfags, /b/tards, moralfags, Old Guard, lurkers whatever you may be… Take the time to look back upon your work and stand proud. If you’re in it for the cause, the lulz or inbetween, it doesn’t matter. We have achieved something magical this year, and wherever your intentions may lie, whatever your background, gender or profession is… know that united we stand as one. For we are Anonymous, we are legion, we do not forgive, we do not forget. Expect us.

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