PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

How Cults Work: Block Free Speech whilst waving the UN flag
by PRC Saturday, May. 07, 2005 at 5:23 AM
prcritique@mailcan.com (email address validated)

Anyone who uses a computer will be painfully familiar with EULAs [End User Licence Agreements]- those nasty non negotiable clauses beloved of Software giants like Microsoft, that we have to accept before installing anything new on our machines. Now EULAs are being used by cults to get people to sign away their rights to free speech.

Prem Rawat - sometime Guru and self proclaimed successful 'Private Investor' - has been flogging the same set of meditation techniques for over thirty years - the deal is always presented as being free - yet those who follow him end up paying huge sums in 'donations'.

Rawat's latest scheme is to market his 'exclusive' techniques (they are nothing special and described on numerous websites) via the Internet on a site called TheKeys. http://thekeys.maharaji.net/home/ Before you can access the DVDs that carry the 70 hours of 'introduction' to the meditation, you have to agree to the following Clause:

I also understand and agree that my purpose for accessing this website and any related material is limited solely to my personal interest in Maharaji's [Prem Rawat] Knowledge [the meditation], and by agreeing, I expressly waive any rights I may believe I have in terms of creating commentary, research, or any other "fair use" purposes.

Incredibly this is the same 'Maharaji' who has himself featured in DVDs with the UN emblem prominently placed, who uses that emblem on for sale DVDs, who uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a marketing tool to enhance his own legitimacy and has recently put out a press release headlined: Kofi Annan sends best wishes for event with Prem Rawat.

Article 19 of the UDHR says:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

For the full story of how Prem Rawat and his Prem Rawat Foundation and Elan Vital organisations are leading the way in oppressing Internet free speech while making cynical use of the UN and profound statments of freedom such as the UDHR - go to:
http://prem-rawat-critique.org/

prem-rawat-critique.org/

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