Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire
The general public is probably unaware that Scientology owns a cruise ship called the Freewinds, but those of us who follow the insidious cult closely, are all too familiar with the “Deathwinds.” Let us explain.
The Freewinds, a supposedly refurbished cruise ship, was once a dilapidated rust bucket Scientology bought to house their most special patrons for high level teachings. According to, Scientology, in order for someone to do the level of OT VIII, it “required a completely safe, aesthetic and distraction-free environment”. Founder L. Ron Hubbard researched and ministered many of the first OT levels in the 1960’s aboard ship, so Scientology thought if they purchased a cruise ship, that it would have a lot of meaning for Scientologists. According to Scientology it is the ONLY place on earth you can do this level. Uhhh ok.
OT VIII is the eighth level on Scientology’s ”Bridge To Total Freedom“, which we here at Glosslip affectionately call, the “Bridge To Financial Ruin”. You can also take other lower level courses and auditing on the Freewinds, and of course it is also used as a recreational vessel for OT Summits and other celebrations. Many celebrities have sailed on the Freewinds, including Tom Cruise SEVERAL times, (even celebrated his birthday on the Freewinds, as seen in this famous, er infamous, video ) John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Kirstie Allie, as well as, actor Jason Beghe who has left Scientology in recent years, and is now speaking out against them and the financial fraud they continue to perpetrate. Jason was also quoted as saying that the Freewinds a real “flea bag” and that it “shook like crazy.”
So what about the whole safe, aesthetic and distraction-free environment part? The Freewinds is far from safe, a fact we reported on back in April of 2008. They dock in Bonaire, Aruba, Curacao, and St. Kitts. It has been dubbed the Death Ship and the Failwinds due to the fact that is is laden with dangerous blue asbestos which was reported to Scientology’s upper management by Lawrence Woodcraft back in 1987 who oversaw the original renovation of the ship. You can read his 2001 declaration here, or listen to our radio interview with Lawrence here.
The Captain of the Freewinds also admitted that during previous maintenance performed by his personnel, asbestos was released into the ventilation system but went unreported. So if Jason Beghe said “the ship shook like crazy” you can already figure out that asbestos fibers were more than likely airborne and inhaled by all on board. Scientology never said a word and decided to do absolutely nothing and denied that there was ever an asbestos problem.
In May 2008, a spokesperson from COS claimed ”there is not now and never has been a situation of asbestos exposure on the Freewinds.” So it continued to sell courses and levels to its cult members regardless of the potential harm, even though the management was warned by Mr. Woodcraft back in 1987, the Freewinds sailed on, and it wasn’t until April of 2008 when maintenance was done by the Curacao Dry dock Company in Curocao that they discovered the blue asbestos which confirmed Mr. Woodcraft’s warnings. According to InsuranceNewsNet:
“Decontamination, if it is even possible, is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars and would result in the ship being in dry dock for many months.”
Of course Scientology already KNEW about the asbestos and again, said or did nothing, but rather, chose to put even more people’s lives in danger by denying the existence of asbestos, while secretly hiring Nordica Engineering, a company out of Miami, to do a refit of the ship. Nordica hired 240 Polish workers to remove the material from the ship, and those workers actually lived on the ship for a month and a half!
When the Polish workers told Nordica there was asbestos present on the ship, Nordica ordered them to quit and return to Poland. Witold Maliński stated that Nordica was asking for compensation for it’s workers, but we haven’t heard anything about this case since. One can only wonder if someone was paid off to keep the outcome hush hush, or perhaps something is still brewing and still to come out of this.The ship has since been refitted, but some believe that the asbestos was SO extensive within the walls, electrical work,ventilation system and other areas that in order to completely rid the ship of all the asbestos, it would have to be stripped down to it’s steel hull. Something Scientology can’t afford and will not do because they would lose too much money.
Here’s some information on the dangers of blue asbestos, the most deadly form of the asbestos, from Mesothelium.com:
If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum. Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen).
Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of several serious diseases:
- Asbestosis—a chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage;
- Lung cancer;
- Mesothelioma—a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen
If you consider Scientology’s willingness to expose their own paying members to deadly asbestos, you can only imagine what kind selfish and harmful actions this cult poses to the delicate and fragile environment of the Caribbean ports it docks this toxic tub at. Fortunately, we have first hand accounts of the Freewinds using these tropic ports to dump their waste, without nary a concern for environmental dangers they pose. There is also no answer as to where the Freewinds ever dumped all that asbestos from the refit. This is one question, I would love the answer to, as well as residents of Bonaire.
A lovely golden haired gentlemen by the name of Sean Paton is a resident of Bonaire and has been very instrumental in trying to insure that the island of Bonaire stays a safe place to live and visit. He has a website and radio show called Forum Antilles, which broadcasts daily in Bonaire. Sean has also done a series of videos on YouTube on the dumping that is taken place in Bonaire and the Freewinds played a huge part in his videos.
Sean’s first video aired in May of 2007 (seen at top of post) and was a documentary about the environmental hazards stemming from the The Freewinds dumping waste water in to the environment. Sean shot another video, where he attempts to contact The Freewinds to ask them if they would like to tell their side of the story, but only received a voice mail recording when he called…EVERY time he called. He said he was going to keep trying until he got a hold of them. Sean said in four months time, the only response he had gotten was from a third party for Scientology claiming that “the water was all clear and good enough to drink with no environmental damage what so ever,” and supposedly, Scientology was working with the government.
My question is…if the water is clean enough to drink as Scientology claims, then why do they have to work with the Bonaire Government at all?
Continuing on with the video…
Sean shows a truck leaving the Freewinds and then dumping its waste water in the disgusting water trenches. Some excerpts from Sean speaking about the water trenches:
“It is a bubbling pit of toxicity that just won’t go away. It will drain and leach into our water table and it’s a real mess, and if we don’t sort out this mess quickly, then all sorts of wildlife are going to suffer very badly including ourselves.”“If you could smell it, your face would look as sour as mine.”
“Giving off gas and has a horrendous odor.”
“The insect life on top of the water tells you it’s not ok.”
“The driver said the truck dumps once an hour, but with my own investigation, it dumps four times an hour.”
“The government has not addressed it.”
“It’s absolute madness and not in the best interest for the people of Bonaire.”
“If Scientology claims they are working with the Government, then dumping 15 tons of sh*t every day isn’t a solution”
So two years passed and then Sean recently posted yet another video of the Freewinds STILL dumping waste water. THIS time not only did he film the truck dumping waste water from the Freewinds again, this time he took samples and then brought them to a lab to have the water tested. All on film. The results? ALARMING.
The gal who was testing it said the test takes about 20 minutes to wait for the results. If the water turns green then that is not a good sign and it would show that it was way above the normal or safe amount of ammonia levels for the ocean or any water. The water in the test tube turned a dark greenish blue after only FIVE minutes. She went on to say,
“That amount of ammonia can kill bacteria, birds, get into digestive tracts and the drinking water. It’s unsafe as well to any organism, small shrimp or small insects, and they will be saturated with ammonia levels”
Sean said:
“The proof from only this one test is fatal to wildlife, to our birds, iguanas, and others that might be beating around in the bush”
So there you have it. Solid proof that Scientology who boasts that they have some of the most ethical people on the planet, not only abuses its own members, but they have no regard for anyone else on the planet or any environmental hazards they are causing. There is also no answer as to where the Freewinds dumped all that asbestos from the refit. This is one question, I would love the answer to, as well as residents of Bonaire. Who knows what other islands they do this to where they dock? Keep in mind that the Freewinds is STILL sailing and Scientology members, island locals, performers, artists, families and children are still going an board. I think the Bonaire Government needs to step in, the trucking company that hauls the waste water has to say no to doing the cult’s dirty work, and people have to get involved and put a stop to this madness and the madness who causes it: SCIENTOLOGY.
I found this very sad video on YouTube about the Freewinds. It’s worth the watch. If you care about the environment and those being hurt by this dangerous cult, write letters, speak out and put a stop to Scientology’s rein of terror. It has spread its evil tentacles too far and too wide and it’s time to say, “I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it any more!”
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Have you noticed that the Netherlands Antilles is willing to take on an org. which the US govt. will not?
Comment by Jim — July 31, 2009 @ 1:07 pm
Over on Why We Protest there’s a thread on this subject:
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/15-media/freewinds-environmental-danger-49648/
I have told the Dutch government about the problem, hope they will come in soon.
Comment by TrevAnon — July 31, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
This is funny. I was exposed to asbestos before I became a member of Scientology. what else can you dump on us next?
Comment by vanillasky — July 31, 2009 @ 1:47 pm
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Pingback by Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire | Mesothelioma — July 31, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
This should be the ideal class action lawsuit, but, sure enough, no one I wrote to in the USA wants to take them on. Hopefully the Dutch govt. will do something, and they should be encouraged by what the govts. of Belgium, France and Norway are all doing.
Comment by Jim — July 31, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
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Pingback by Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire - Glosslip.com | Mesothelioma Lawyer and Attorney Help — July 31, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
$cientology doesn’t care who they hurt or who they kill.
Is anyone who is even vaguely familiar with the cult surprised by this? They will continue to put people’s lives at risk until they are forced to stop. They’ll certainly never do what’s right on their own.
Everyone should be outraged by the actions of these despicable sociopaths.
Comment by Rachel — July 31, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
[...] Queen Related Posts:Update On The FreeWinds Asbestos Death Cruise, Scientology Reps RespondTom Cruise, [...]
Pingback by Celebrity Blog | Babelogs | Celebrity Gossip » Blog Archive » Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire — July 31, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
It is typical that the elite of Scientology, OT8s destined to save the planet, just end up taking a big crap on a small island.
We are entering the 20+ year cancer gestation period for blue asbestos. Anyone who has problems, especially the Polish and other workers who got covered with it, should sue the pants off Scientology.
Comment by Ian — July 31, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
[...] The general public is probably unaware that Scientology owns a cruise ship called the Freewinds, but those of us who follow the insidious cult closely, are all too familiar with the “Deathwinds.” Let us explain. The Freewinds, a supposedly Read on [...]
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Pingback by Ispey News » Scientology s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire — August 1, 2009 @ 2:24 am
Thanks for writing about this serious and important sdituation. You put together the important elements of the history and evidence, which will no doubtaid Sean Paton in his concern and perseverence.
Comment by Mary McConnell — August 1, 2009 @ 9:47 am
[...] RESERVE YOUR CANCER CRUISE TODAY: Sail the high seas aboard the Scientology “DEATH SHIP” Posted at August 1, 2009 Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire [...]
Pingback by RESERVE YOUR CANCER CRUISE TODAY: Sail the high seas aboard the Scientology “DEATH SHIP” — August 1, 2009 @ 10:47 am
“So there you have it.”
….
BRB; pooning the living shit!
Comment by Dutchfag — August 1, 2009 @ 11:13 am
To #3, Whys did you say,this is funny? and
“what else are you going to dump on us next?”
Did I read this correctly?
You can’t be serious?
Let me repharse your sentece correctly….
It’s more like….
“What else is SCIENTOLOGY going to dump on us next.”
Comment by Jellybean — August 1, 2009 @ 11:56 am
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Pingback by Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire | Mesothelioma Lawyer and Attorney Help — August 1, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
I think the “Bridge to Total Freedom” is really a sinking ship headed for total oblivion. Co$ will drown in its own hypocrisy. Too bad LRH did not warn anyone of the dangers of blue asbestos; instead, he said “too little smoking” will cause cancer.
Comment by Jim — August 1, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
To know if a cult is or isn’t a religion you must go to what they claim or require you to sign.
The fact is that full and complete disclosure is always lacking in any Scientology contract.
Here is just .oo1 percent of the stuff you are not told.
LRH used God’s Natural laws to make slaves of mankind!
“So long as a physiological phenomenon remains the knowledge of a few and is denied to the many it can be utilized to control the many.” LRH (from Journal of Scientology Issue 4-G from Oct. 1952)
“This universe has long been looking for new ways to make slaves. Well, we’ve got some new ways to make slaves here.” LRH (from PDC tape lecture #20 “Formative State of Scientology, Definition of Logic”, given on 6 Dec 52)
“All men shall be my slaves! LRH
All women shall submit to my charms! LRH
All mankind shall grovel at my feet and not know why!” [L. Ron Hubbard, "Affirmations", late 1940s] Affirmations, exhibits 500-4D, E, F & G. See Church of Scientology v Armstrong, transcript volume 11, p.1886.
“Somebody some day will say ‘this is illegal’.
By then be sure the orgs say what is legal or not.”
L. Ron Hubbard, HCOPL 4 January 1966
“THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM”. You can write that down in your book in great big letters. The only way you can control anybody is to lie to them.” – L. Ron Hubbard,
“Off the Time Track,” lecture of June 1952, excerpted in JOURNAL OF SCIENTOLOGY issue 18-G, reprinted in TECHNICAL VOLUMES OF DIANETICS & SCIENTOLOGY, vol. 1, p. 418
“Scientology…is not a religion.” – L. Ron Hubbard, CREATION OF HUMAN ABILITY, 1954, p. 251
L. Ron Hubbard’s religion before he discovered physiological reactions was “Satanism”.
He wanted to invent a new religion masked as being good, but in fact was totally evil so that he could take his place on the “Throne of the Beast,” which he firmly believed himself to be the rightful heir. Being an evil Satanist he wanted to destroy all other religions and have Scientology as the only religion left on Earth. He wanted to be the RULER of the NEW WORLD ORDER and sit on the Throne of the Beast.
Comment by THE RONBOT HUNTER — August 1, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4POKUQR4
Just a heads-up Dawn, and anyone else who is interested. Scientology has published a special August 80-page issue of their Freedom Magazine. It is a grand, overblown response to the SP Times series an Slappy Miscavige. They are sending it to everyone in Clearwater.
Part of it is in the style of Mad Magazine, with pages devoted to satire. They attack and satirize the reporters and the SP Times, making fun of the Pulitzer they won years ago.
They use special nicknames for Rinder, Rathbun etc…they are: Kingpin, Fact Checker, Con Man and The Adulteress.
It is rumored that SP Times may have an article about Scientology tomorrow. (Sunday)
Parts of this are so bizarre, you’d almost think it was a joke by Anonymous. The cult has really gone nuts on this, completely over the top. What a foot bullet.
Comment by Ian — August 1, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
Right you are Ian:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1023717.ece#comments
Oh the enturbulation.
Comment by Rachel — August 2, 2009 @ 9:20 am
My god, so this is the power of the self proclaimed “most ethical people on the planet”. Risking the lives of people and killing animals and the environment, just so they holiday on a boat.
Comment by WolfyRik — August 3, 2009 @ 5:00 am
Actually, its the “smartest, nicest, most ethical people on the planet.” Polluting water isn’t just ethical, its smart–and nice.
Comment by Jim — August 3, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
[...] Here is the original post: Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire [...]
Pingback by Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire — August 4, 2009 @ 9:10 am
[...] The general public is probably unaware that Scientology owns a cruise ship called the Freewinds, but those of us who follow the insidious cult closely, are all too familiar with the “Deathwinds.” Let us explain. The Freewinds, a supposedly Read on [...]
Pingback by August 2009 - Wiredpr News | The Lung and Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer Blog — August 6, 2009 @ 8:12 am
[...] Scientology’s Freewinds Cruise Ship Continues To Pollute Bonaire – Glosslip.comThe general public is probably unaware that Scientology owns a cruise ship called the Freewinds, but those of us who follow the insidious cult closely, are all too familiar with the “Deathwinds.” Let us explain. The Freewinds, a supposedly [...]
Pingback by August 2009 - Wiredpr News | The Lung and Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer Blog — August 7, 2009 @ 12:40 am
HOW TO DEFEAT THE CULT
The fear of most of the ex-scientologists of retaliation by the Ronbot’s attorneys is what keeps us from completely exposing the Cult. The Ronbot attorneys have one weakness/fear — they fear the one who can obtain where their bonds and policies are hidden (THE CLERK OF THE COURT HAS THE INFO!!! BUT YOU KNOW HOW TO GET IT). Once you know the bond company and all details of their bonds you can cause them to lose their jobs as judges and as attorneys and also put a claim on all those who brought a suit against you from the clerk of the court to the officer in the room.
You can also go after the bonds and policies of the cult too, once the court, the judges and attorneys fail to defend their own bonds. But you need to be a sovereign and obtain the methods available to anyone.
Every single attorney will not admit this fact, but people I know have caused judges to seek jobs at Wal-Mart after losing their life savings, jobs and property; and the sovereigns became very rich in the process, because they knew how to act as Sovereigns. You can close down any cult mission or so-called church and own it.
THE RONBOT HUNTER
a sovereign living man
All Rights Reserved, Without Prejudice U.C.C. §1-308 & U.C.C. §1-103.
Comment by THE RONBOT HUNTER — August 8, 2009 @ 7:14 am
[...] For the full story, go to Gloss Lip. [...]
Pingback by Scientology cruise ship contaminated with blue asbestos — August 12, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
the fact that the asbestos/mesothelioma blogs have picked up glosslip’s story is kind of a big deal, don’t you all think?
well done. seriously.
you’ve informed a whole community of the cancer-afflicted — as good a reason as any to have a bone to pick. you will increase the rolls of the anonymous this way, by informing people who normally have no interest in scientology, but are on these sites because they or loved ones suffer from some form of respiratory cancer.
environmental hazard journalism ftw.
Comment by legion — August 12, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
News on the subject.
See also #2 above.
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/15-media/freewinds-environmental-danger-49648/3/#post968548
Comment by TrevAnon — August 13, 2009 @ 10:00 am
idk who you are, person who runs glosslip, but I can tell you that Anonymous loves you!
Comment by Anonymous — August 15, 2009 @ 4:02 am
This website (glosslip) is so funny. Pretending to be a gossip rag … but really a front-group for the anti-Scientology crowd.
Oh, and I love how they are trying to turn a non-issue — “unexposed asbestos”, no different than hundreds of thousands of buildings around the USA considered completely safe for human occupancy by the EPA (not to mention the hundreds of cruise ships) — into “the eeevil Scientology exposing Scientologists to asbestos”. You guys are a riot.
Comment by Anonymous — August 26, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
Queen here.
To poster #31 who posted as “Anonymous”
We report what we find.Lawrence Woodcraft told COS officials about the asbestos on the Freewinds YEARS ago and Scientology decided to do nothing about OR tell their members. Nice “church” you have there. Are you denying that the Curacoa government sealed it once they knew what was going on? Are you denying the workers hired out of Miami didn’t find asbestos and stopped working? Go check for yourself!
And you say Glosslip a “front group”? LOL!
We don’t hide behind front groups and deceive people like Scientology. We have no reason to. We report what’s out there.
Scientology on the other hand keeps their members in a constant state of confusion,deception and secrecy, so they can continue to rake in the dough. Although they are thankfully raking in a lot less these days. I wonder why? Get out while you can and save yourself some money or join the Freezoners.
Comment by Queen — August 26, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
[...] the dangerous Purification Rundown in 1993. She has also been on the Scientology cruise ship the Freewinds twice. Which means she has been exposed to asbestos twice, since it wasn’t until April 2008 [...]
Pingback by GlossLip » What Is Wrong With Juliette Lewis? — September 9, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
[...] Purification Rundown in 1993. Sadly, she has also been on the Scientology cruise ship the Freewinds twice. Which means she has been exposed to asbestos twice, since it wasn’t until April 2008 [...]
Pingback by Celebrity Blog | Babelogs | Celebrity Gossip » Blog Archive » What Is Wrong With Juliette Lewis? — September 9, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
[...] Don was locked in a cabin aboard Scientology’s asbestos laden cruise ship the Freewinds. FYI… The Scientology Freewinds is also guilty of polluting the island of Bonaire and have been caught red handed dumping pollutants as we reported previoulsy. [...]
Pingback by GlossLip » The St. Petersburg Times Airs More Of Scientology’s Dirty Laundry — November 3, 2009 @ 10:50 pm