Raelians seek worldwide recognition of 4th annual 'Swastika Rehabilitation Day', wishing to fly banners in the sky over Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver

MONTREAL, July 19, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Recently, on the American TV quiz show "Jeopardy," a visual clue popped up under the category "Asian religions." The visual was a photo depicting a swastika on an ancient gateway. The audio stated: "This ancient symbol found in some Asian religions signified only peace, good will and good fortune until the Nazis used it." 

This was exactly the kind of information the International Raelian Movement (IRM) is hoping to see in mainstream Western media as its members prepare to celebrate and promote the 4th annual Swastika Rehabilitation Day around the world on July 20.

"The swastika's ancient, honorable heritage and positive meaning are well known in many Eastern countries," said Thomas Kaenzig, Raelian Guide and President of the ProSwastika Alliance. "But we also want people in other parts of the world to know what they know, so that we can once and for all fully rehabilitate this symbol that's so dear to billions of people."

He said creative events celebrating the swastika's revered and ancient heritage will be held on Saturday, July 20, in many European cities, in the Americas, and in Africa, Australia and the Middle East, including in Tel Aviv. He pointed out that pre-Nazi-era images of the swastika are found just about everywhere on Earth, including places that usually surprise those who associate it only with the infamous Nazi regime.

"You can see swastikas in Israel at many ancient and pre-1930s sites," Kaenzig said. "In addition, many pre-1930s Jewish synagogues around the world, including one in Verona, Italy, contain swastikas. In earlier times, they had only positive connotations for Jews."

The swastika is special to Raelians because it intertwines with two interlocking triangles to form the Raelian symbol.

"The swastika in our symbol stands for infinity in time and the interlocking triangles represent infinity in space," Kaenzig explained. "We feature these images at our annual Happiness Academies worldwide, including the most recent one in Mexico, and we also use them throughout the year in accordance with our philosophy and to honor our creators, the Elohim, who gave us this symbol."

He said Raelians are making a special appeal to the worldwide Hindu community of one billion followers to take part in the upcoming Swastika Rehabilitation Day events.

"We hope Hindus in the East and elsewhere will stand up for their fellow Hindus living in the West," Kaenzig said. "Many minority groups in the West, including Raelians, Native Americans and Hindus, face discrimination if they openly revere this symbol that is so important to their beliefs. A Hindu child in a U.S. school district was recently singled out for special counseling and other corrective measures merely because he drew a swastika for a holiday-themed assignment."

Last year on Swastika Rehabilitation Day the Raelian Movement has flown banners featuring the swastika over beaches bordering a number of major Western cities.

"This year, we'll again display swastika-themed banners in U.S. and Canadian skies," Kaenzig said. "However we were surprised to learn that the Centre Pluridisciplinaire d'Aviation du Québec Inc. (CPAQ Aero) and the Brampton Flight Center refused to fly our banner in Montreal and Toronto. In Vancouver, we found no company available to fly our banner. We question if it is not a case of discrimination against our religion as well as the venerable religious symbol that is the swastika. If it was a cross, would the contract be refused on the grounds that the KKK used this symbol" adds Marc Rivard, Bishop and President of the Canadian branch of the Raelian Movement. "However, the real emphasis is on worldwide recognition and vindication for the true and positive connotations of this symbol. This is a global re-education effort."

The Raelian Movement is asking members of all religions that use the swastika in their symbolism, plus others who believe in religious freedom, to come together on Swastika Rehabilitation Day.

"The swastika has been used around the world for thousands of years as a symbol of well-being and good luck, so when Westerners interpret it as meaning something ugly because the Nazis used it, they're denying millions of people the right to live their religion freely," he said. "It's time to rehabilitate this lovely symbol once and for all, and to eliminate any remaining taint from those who hijacked it in the 20th century." 

Proswastika.org

Let's meet, Saturday July 20:

Toronto:
12-3pm, corner of Yonge Street and Dundas Street

Vancouver:
2-5pm at the entrance of the English Bay's Beach at the corner of Beach Avenue and Davie Street

Sunday July 21

Montreal:
12-3pm at Parc Lafontaine, 3819 rue Calixa-Lavallée

About the Raëlian Movement rael.org and press.rael.org

The Raëlian Movement is the world's largest non-profit atheist organisation, which explains how life on earth was created through the synthesis of DNA by an extra-terrestrial civilisation known in the original Bible as Elohim. It brings together 84,000 members from 104 countries who actively publicise the message these extra-terrestrial scientists gave to Rael, with the goal of building an embassy to welcome them officially and propagate their values of peace and non-violence. The Raëlian Movement is making waves through its non-conformist and politically incorrect philosophy.

SOURCE: EGLISE RAELIENNE CANADIENNE

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