Kids Pledge a Drug-Free
World
Pictures
above were taken on the occasion of the performance
by ‘Kids on Stage for a Better World’ at
the Exposition Park on August 11 |
The dynamic ‘Kids on Stage
for a Better World’, a community outreach group of the
Church of Scientology, performed for thousands at the 60th
Independence Day celebrations of Pakistan at the Exposition
Park in Los Angeles on August 11. The stress of their performance
was drug education. They made available copies of a special
edition of The Truth About Drugs booklet, printed for the
Independence Day celebration by the Muslim Inter-Faith Clergy
Council of America, En Pointe Technologies and the Foundation
for a Drug-Free World. It’s a pocket-size booklet with
factual information about the most abused drugs, including
real-life stories and a study guide.
Youth today are exposed to drugs at an earlier age than ever
before. Fifty percent of the students in public schools in
the United States have tried an illicit drug, or are using
one, by the time they are 17. Young drug users suffer more
illnesses, miss more days of school and are more prone to
engage in criminal activities.
Emma Rose Livingston, an eleven-year-old who lives in Sherman
Oaks, has been performing in public for over four years. She’s
done almost two hundred shows with the group. “I like
that I can perform and make a better world at the same time!”
says Emma. “I want to change things in the world and
if we can reach the kids and get them to change their future,
then we just might actually make a better world. So much of
the trouble in the world is caused by drug use. I would like
to think that I will make a difference in our future.”
While on stage the kids pledged to keep themselves and their
friends drug-free, as part of the Drug Free Marshal program
that is also sponsored by the Church of Scientology . The
Drug Free Marshal Pledge has been taken by tens of thousands
over the years and helped these kids to do their part in making
this a drug-free world.
“These children are the future and we must educate them
about drugs and how it effects them personally,” said
Emma’s mom, Dr. Anita Pepi. “We have this group
because our future is important to us…” She continues.
“Drugs do not discriminate whatsoever and destroy the
quality of life in communities around the world. Studies suggest
that if a young person reaches the age of 21 without using
illicit drugs, they are unlikely ever to do so and The Truth
About Drugs is a straight factual booklet that they can read
and understand.”
The Kids on Stage for a Better World can be found on the worldwide
web at www.betterworldkids.com and the booklets can be obtained
from www.drugfreeworld.org.
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