Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Friday, 13 December 2002, 3:16 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

****************************

http://www.debateairnz.org.nz
SCOOP PRESENTS DEBATE AIR NEW ZEALAND!
DON'T JUST THINK ABOUT IT - PARTICIPATE!
****************************

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Global Peace and Justice Antiwar Protest This Saturday
The PM Talks To The Big Apple
Eco-Economy: The Necessary End Of The Greenback
CIA Linked To Venezuela’s Latest Coup Attempts
Streets Of London: Cherie Blair Must Try Harder
Naked In Nuhaka
Howard’s End: Proposed ACC Inquiry Is Not
Hard News Is There!
Spilling The Beans On The Arrogant Administration
Swedish Sanctuary Offered To U.S. Whistleblowers
William River’s Pitt: Stupid Is As Stupid Does
Scoop Was In The House
Countdown To War: Donald Rumsfeld’s Role In Arming Saddam Hussein
Countdown To War: The Bad Breath is Back
Daily Katya Rivas

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Newsletters From Our Leaders
Arena Applauds Local Authority Action Opposing GATS
Benefit Fraud By Paua Smugglers Outrages
These Are The Days Of Our Select Committees
Money For Recreation – But Not Enough
Coddington Rallies Business To Stop Wilson
Suppressed NCEA Report Published Online
Christmas Prison Releases Appal National
Lots Of Cash But What Are We Getting?
More Airways UK Air Traffic Bid Information Released
NZ Shipping To Be Protected From Terror
Country GPs Setttle In Southland
De-stressing Auckland Rail
Whose Silver Fern Is It?

Antiwar Protest This Saturday!

- Global Peace and Justice Auckland is organising an Antiwar Protest for this Saturday December 14. People are to assemble at Auckland's QEII Square, Downtown, at 11am. See... GPJA Antiwar Protest This Saturday Dec 14 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00109.htm

The PM Talks To The Big Apple

- During my last visit to New York in March, the scars of 11 September were still very evident. It was an emotional experience for me to go to Ground Zero and be presented with a New Zealand flag pulled from the rubble by New York policemen. See... PM On The US And NZ: Co-Operating For Prosperity [1] REACTION: - Greens - PM is desperate to make a deal [2] - ACT - PM Goes to New York and Finally Gets It [3] - TLN - NZ/US FTA: PM's New York Speech: "You Go Girl" [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00330.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00335.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00327.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00126.htm

Eco-Economy: The Necessary End Of The Greenback

- There is an economics-textbook myth that foreign-exchange rates are determined by supply and demand based on market fundamentals. Economics tends to dismiss socio-political factors that shape market fundamentals that affect supply and demand. See... Eco-Economy: US Dollar Hegemony Has Got To Go [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00079.htm

CIA Linked To Venezuela’s Latest Coup Attempts

- Uruguayan EP-FA congressman Jose Nayardi says he has information that far-reaching plans have been put into operation by the CIA and other North American intelligence agencies to overthrow Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias within the next 72 hours. See... Scoop Link: CIA Linked To Venezuelan Coup Plans [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00078.htm

Streets Of London: Cherie Blair Must Try Harder

- Cherie Blair's short televised rebuttal on Tuesday evening vis-à-vis her dealings with convicted fraudster Peter Foster was arrogant, self righteous and demonstrated how little real importance Mrs Blair attaches to exposing and eliminating corruption in public life. See... SOL: Cherie Blair's Defence Unconvincing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00077.htm

Naked In Nuhaka

- “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead, Anthropologist (1901-1978) See... Naked in Nuhaka: The Sentient Islands [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00076.htm

Howard’s End: Proposed ACC Inquiry Is Not

- News that the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee is too busy to undertake an inquiry into ACC in the immediate future has gone down like a lead balloon with affected claimants. The select-committee or ACC itself should appoint a retired judge to do its work for it. Maree Howard writes. See... ACC: Three Stooges and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party [1] . See also... Howard’s End – Claimants Don't Share Confidence [2] MORE: - NZ First - ACC Inquiry [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00075.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00069.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00325.htm

Hard News Is There!

- Public Address continues to go nicely - although I'm finding it a bit difficult to attend to business amid the parties and (more to the point) multiple Christmas deadlines. See... HARD NEWS 12/12/02 - On the P and Other Stories [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00084.htm

Spilling The Beans On The Arrogant Administration

- The last time "Shallow Throat" and I talked, at a dimly-lit D.C. suburban tavern several months before the midterm election, the highly-placed GOP mole within the Bush Administration was extremely nervous about being discovered. This time, there was no face-to-face meeting -- that's how frightened Shallow Throat was. See... Bernard Weiner: Arrogance Leads To Bush's Undoing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00083.htm

Swedish Sanctuary Offered To U.S. Whistleblowers

- Blaine Williams hasn't stopped grinning since he arrived in Sweden two weeks ago. Several times a day he'll approach a complete stranger, offer a handshake and a smile, introduce himself as a former CIA analyst from America, and proceed to tell the bewildered Swede all the things he knows that directly contradict President George W. Bush's declarations about Saddam Hussein's intentions and capabilities. See... Sweden Offers Free-speech Refuge To U.S. Officials [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00082.htm

William River’s Pitt: Stupid Is As Stupid Does

- I cannot believe how incredibly stupid you are. I mean rock-hard stupid. Dehydrated-rock-hard stupid. Stupid so stupid that it goes way beyond the stupid we know into a whole different dimension of stupid. You are trans-stupid stupid. Meta-stupid. Stupid collapsed on itself so far that even the neutrons have collapsed…..See... UQ Wire: The Pure Essence of Stupid [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00081.htm

Scoop Was In The House

– For this week's questions for oral answer see... Tuesday’s Q&A [1] , Wednesday’s Q&A [2] and Thursday’s Q&A [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00257.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00282.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00331.htm

Countdown To War: Donald Rumsfeld’s Role In Arming Saddam Hussein

- As diplomats and eapons inspectors in New York, Washington, London, Paris, Moscow, and Beijing pour over the 12,000 pages of Iraq’s weapons declaration it is a good time to resurrect a key part of un-told story of Iraq’s relationship with weapons of mass destruction, and their inventors, the military industrial complexes of the UNSC permanent five. See... Recovered History: When Donald Met Saddam [1] See Also: - The Dirty And Deadly Secrets Of Khamisiyah [2] - Khamisiyah Investigation: Operation Bury The Truth [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00074.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0210/S00217.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0211/S00020.htm

Countdown To War: The Bad Breath is Back

- Jerry Falwell, famous in New Zealand for his Uranium-Breath, has been calling for an immediate strike against Iraq. Firas Al-Atraqchi bites back suggesting Falwell is merely an agent of Israel. Firas Al-Atraqchi: Jerry Falwell, Agent of Israel [1] See also COUNTDOWN TO WAR FEATURE PAGE [2] And... Terror Arrives Downunder - FULL COVERAGE [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00068.htm
[2] - http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=countdowniraq
[3] - http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=balibomb

Daily Katya Rivas

- I want you to write down for all men what I am going to say to you about this topic, though you must put these Messages away until I authorize you to use them. They need to receive the running, limpid water to care for the garden in which their God lives permanently. See... Katya Rivas: Prayer [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0212/S00080.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00109.htm
Protest Tomorrow To Deliver Xmas Peace Message To Bush

-----------

OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)

------------

Newsletters From Our Leaders

– See the Prime Minister’s newsletter… Beehive Bulletin [1] and that of National Party Leader Bill English… The Right Talk: Why Airline Competition Matters [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00342.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00345.htm

Arena Applauds Local Authority Action Opposing GATS

- The Action, Research and Education Network of Aotearoa (ARENA), a long-time opponent of free-trade rules, has welcomed resolutions from both North Shore City Council and Christchurch City Council to challenge the impact of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) on local government. See... ARENA applauds growing resistance to GATS [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0212/S00122.htm

Benefit Fraud By Paua Smugglers Outrages

- News that Zhang Yuan Da, and his wife Zhong Hui Hong, were among five beneficiaries found guilty of smuggling $1.1 million of paua to Hong Kong will be a shock to hard working New Zealanders, says Katherine Rich National Spokesperson for Social Services. See... Paua smugglers slipped through beneficiary net [1] , ACT… Welfare Under Spotlight [2] and NZ First…Beneficiary Fraud [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00343.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00313.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00340.htm

These Are The Days Of Our Select Committees

- There were 17 committee meetings, including one subcommittee, all in the parliamentary complex. See... Select Committee Business to 13 December 2002 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00341.htm

Money For Recreation – But Not Enough

- George Hawkins has let the people of New Zealand down by not taking steps to secure the funding of Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) says National's Judith Collins. See... No money for Water Safety [1] and Million dollar boost for key outdoor safety groups [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00339.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00334.htm

Coddington Rallies Business To Stop Wilson

- Now is the time for every employer in this country to speak out against the Labour Government's hidden agenda to strip them of their rights, ACT New Zealand Business Development Spokesman Deborah Coddington said today. See... Go Hard, New Zealand Business [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00337.htm

Suppressed NCEA Report Published Online

- ACT Education Spokesman Donna Awatere Huata today released her Minority Report on the implementation of NCEA, which the Education and Science Select Committee blocked her from publishing or tabling in Parliament. See... ACT MP Publishes Suppressed NCEA Report [1] . See also... Fund NCEA implementation properly [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00336.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00306.htm

Christmas Prison Releases Appal National

The National Party’s outraged and appalled by suggestions as many as 234 inmates could be released from prison this Christmas under a loophole in the parole laws. See... Outrage at parole loophole [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00329.htm

Lots Of Cash But What Are We Getting?

- The Government’s financial position reflects a miserable string of broken promises rather than any economic expertise according to New Zealand First leader Rt Hon Winston Peters. See... Scrooge Surplus At Cost Of Surgery [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00324.htm

More Airways UK Air Traffic Bid Information Released

- Minister for State Owned Enterprises Mark Burton has today released previously unpublished information pertaining to allegations regarding the Airways Corporation of New Zealand’s 2000 bid for a share of UK-based National Air Traffic Services. See... New information on Airways bid [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00323.htm

NZ Shipping To Be Protected From Terror

- Shipping and port security will be increased to ensure New Zealand’s people and trade and tourism sector are not at risk from terrorist attacks, says Associate Minister of Transport, Harry Duynhoven. See... Maritime security legislation to be introduced [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00319.htm

Country GPs Setttle In Southland

- Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor is pleased Southland rural GPs have reached agreement with their district health board over the distribution of rural retention funding. See... O'Connor hails rural funding accord [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00344.htm

De-stressing Auckland Rail

- Auckland Regional Transport Network Limited (ARTNL) and the government are to assist Auckland rail commuters by arranging to have Auckland’s track “de-stressed” to stop heat buckling in high temperatures. See... A fix for the Auckland rail track [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00315.htm

Whose Silver Fern Is It?

- ACT has required the Government to slow down the law changes which would give legal royalty status to the Rugby Union silver fern logo. See... Setting the Record Straight on the All Black Brand [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0212/S00312.htm

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

• Linkedin
• Twitter - @althecat
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz