Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Wednesday, 12 May 2004, 4:15 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House
LEAD STORY: GE Scare Douses NZ’s Clean-Green Image
Brash Shows He’s A Worthy Combater For Clark
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
IRAQ: UNICEF Reveals Likely Abuse Of Imprisoned Children
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Zaoui Case Considered At Court Of Appeal
Guest Opinion: Water Wars
Hard News Is There!
Martin Lefevre: Microcosm of the Cosmos
Ramzy Baroud: Reform A Daunting Task
Marc Ash Takes Stock 400 Days Into The Iraq War
UQ Wire: Welcome To Terrorland Reviewed
UQ Wire: Israelis In Moving Vans
Doug Giebel: The Weapons That Weren't
Genevieve Cora Fraser: Israel's Right To Be
Buzzflash's Maureen Farrell On Iraq Torture Scandal
Manuel Valenzuela: The Human Hell and the Demons of War
Guest Opinion: Bullying On An International Stage

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Unemployment Statistics Something To Be Pleased About
Home Detention For Wife-Beaters Beggars Belief
Clean Slate Bill Clears Slate For 500,000 Kiwis
Ardern Alleges Political Pressure Behind Prosecution
Heather Roy Talks Mental Health For Breakfast
Maori Out Of Zone Fish Quota Deemed Fishy
Anderton Discovers Super At 75 National Party Plan
Cross-Ditch Unit Trust Tax Loophole To Be Closed
Southern Saltmarsh Mosquito Found In Blenhiem
Teenager Held In Police Cells For Nine Days
Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill
Australian Winemaker Subsidies Concern Lockwood
Maori Risk Pakeha Abandoning Legal Process If They Use It

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0405/S00059.htm
Chilling Portrait One Shot On Show At The Edge

Scoop Is In The House

- For Wednesday's Questions see... Questions for Oral Answer - Wednesday, 12 May 2004 [1] - For Tuesday's questions and answers see...Questions & Answers for Oral Answer 11 May 2004 [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00218.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00213.htm

LEAD STORY:
GE Scare Douses NZ’s Clean-Green Image

- Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says GE contamination found in retested maize seed represents thousands of plants that could have already pollinated and that this latest GE scare is likely to be internationally embarrassing. See... GE lab's failures equals thousands of GE plants [1] ALSO: - MAF - Low level of GM detected in maize seed [2] - MAF - GM maize – Questions and Answers [3] - Nats - Govt's zero tolerance on GM not working [4] - ACT - GM Revelation: A Storm In A Teacup [5] RELATED: GE Free Shadow cast on GE foods as Monsanto drops GE wheat [6] - Greenpeace Monsanto Drops Genetically Engineered Wheat [7] - If Monsanto can change its mind on GE, so can Labour [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00208.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00113.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00111.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00206.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00205.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0405/S00029.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0405/S00028.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00201.htm

Brash Shows He’s A Worthy Combater For Clark

- Lou Garvey Writes: Shock. Horror. National’s inevitably messy, but in the circumstances not too messy, public disposal of the Creech Report on the country’s anti-nuclear stance had been undone by ill-judged remarks by the inexperienced MP from Rangitikei. See... An Ominous Sign For Labour [1] FOR MORE ON THIS: See this week's STORY OF THE WEEK [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00100.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/index.html#sow

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00232.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00212.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0405/S00123.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0405/S00122.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0405/S00060.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0405/S00058.htm

IRAQ: UNICEF Reveals Likely Abuse Of Imprisoned Children

- The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF) is profoundly disturbed by news reports alleging that children might have been among those abused in detention centres and prisons in Iraq, a spokesman said today. See... IRAQ: Detained Children Abuse Allegations Surface [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00117.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00107.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00114.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00109.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00118.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0405/S00116.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Zaoui Case Considered At Court Of Appeal

- The Court of Appeal case concerning detained refugee Ahmed Zaoui and who will consider his Human Rights concluded at the Court of Appeal yesterday 12 May 2004. See... Ahmed Zaoui Case – Court of Appeal 12 May 2004 (2) [1] . For a report on Monday's proceedings see... Ahmed Zaoui Case – Court of Appeal 11 May 2004 (1) [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00117.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00087.htm

Guest Opinion: Water Wars

- A sonic boom pierces my ears as a military jet screams overhead towards Pakistan. I'm in the Indian state of Rajasthan, about 73 kilometres from the Pakistan border, staying in a 900 year-old palace fort with ancient temples and army troops all around. See... Nathan Gray: Water Wars – A Nuclear Travesty [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00115.htm

Hard News Is There!

- I was mildly astonished when I saw BMG's Michael Bradshaw inform 17-year-old NZ Idol runner-up Michael Murphy that "you've got a contract with BMG too" and insist on shaking his hand for the camera on Holmes last night... See... Public Address 12/05/04 - Idol Thoughts [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00114.htm

Martin Lefevre: Microcosm of the Cosmos

- When you are young, the ocean is a place of endless possibilities, great hopes, and distant goals. When you are older, the ocean is the place from which life arose, and the place to which life returns. See... Meditations: Microcosm of the Cosmos [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00113.htm

Ramzy Baroud: Reform A Daunting Task

- The Bush administration’s resolve on ''reforming'' the Arab world poses an entangled dilemma, at least for the Arabs. See... Reforms: The Daunting Dilemma Facing The Arabs [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00112.htm

Marc Ash Takes Stock 400 Days Into The Iraq War

- I write this at the beginning of May 2004. Now, more than four hundred days have passed since the decision by the Bush administration to invade Iraq. As of today, 772 U.S. soldiers - men and women - have given their lives for their country, or ... See... Marc Ash: Man Down [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00111.htm

UQ Wire: Welcome To Terrorland Reviewed

As the result of a two-year investigation, an intrepid journalist has disclosed evidence of a cover-up concerning the flight schools in Florida that trained three of the four terrorists who piloted the hijacked planes. See... UQ Wire: 9/11 Flight School Cover-Up (Review) [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00110.htm

UQ Wire: Israelis In Moving Vans

- Two Israelis driving a moving van were arrested in Tennessee last Saturday after leading police on a high-speed chase, marking at least the third time since 9/11 that Israelis in moving vans suspected of espionage in the U.S. have been taken into custody. See... UQ Wire: New Israeli Moving Van Mystery [1] MORE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: - UQ Wire: Greg Palast - Muzzling Michael [2] - UQ Wire: Jim Hogue Sibel Edmonds Interview [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00109.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00108.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00107.htm

Doug Giebel: The Weapons That Weren't

- Ever since the Bush Administration began publicly spinning out its catalog of reasons for invading Iraq, this writer has questioned and written about the alleged existence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. See... Doug Giebel: Someone KnewThere Were No WMDs [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00106.htm

Genevieve Cora Fraser: Israel's Right To Be

- In 1922 the League of Nations entrusted Britain with a mandate over Palestine in response to the 1917 defeat of the Turks by British forces and the subsequent collapse of the Ottoman Empire. See... Conditions for Israel's Legitimacy Not Yet Met [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00105.htm

Buzzflash's Maureen Farrell On Iraq Torture Scandal

- In December, 2002, the Washington Post ran back-to-back articles on America’s alleged use of torture to interrogate detainees at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. See... Why Iraq is Becoming More Like Vietnam Every Day [1] MORE: - Satire: The 'Liberty Leash' Makes A Comeback [2] - The Crimes at Abu Ghraib Are Not the Worst [3] - Bob Zimmerman: Withdraw Before It's Too Late [4] - Harvey Wasserman: Put George W. Bush In Prison!!! [5] - HARD NEWS 11/05/04: Knowing What We Believe [6] - William Rivers Pitt: The War is Lost [7] - Sonia Nettnin: U.S. Humiliation, Global Community [8] - Cartoon - Chuckman Cartoons: Rumsfeld & Responsibility [9] FULL COVERAGE ON US PRISON TORTURE CASE: - Full Coverage: Bush Says Sorry For Prisoner Abuse [10] - Full Coverage: Comment On Iraq Torture Scandal [11]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00104.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00095.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00096.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00094.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00091.htm
[6] - http://publicaddress.net/default,1214.sm#post1214
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00078.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00077.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00075.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00083.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00084.htm

Manuel Valenzuela: The Human Hell and the Demons of War

- The pages of history, those monuments to humankind’s brief rule over the planet, are replete with violence, death and destruction. Indeed, it can be argued successfully that war, genocide, ethnic cleansing and human violence against each other have defined humanity’s tumultuous existence on Earth. See... Valenzuela: Never Again? Try Again and Again (1) [1] and Valenzuela: Never Again? Try Again and Again (2) [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00102.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00103.htm

Guest Opinion: Bullying On An International Stage

- Bullies need to dominate. The United States has become the world bully: a tormenter, an oppressor. We are under the so-called “leadership” of a dictator. See... Saretta Wool: We Need to Talk [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00101.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00098.htm
Ronald McDonald Arrested At GE Protest
& http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00092.htm
Ronald Locks Himself To McD's Gates

Unemployment Statistics Something To Be Pleased About

- According to Statistics New Zealand’s Household Labour Force Survey for the March 2004 quarter, New Zealand’s official unemployment rate stands at 4.3 per cent (down 0.3 percentage points from the previous quarter). See... Fall in unemployment welcomed [1] MORE: - Progressives - Robson celebrates rise in jobs, unemployment low [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00223.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00221.htm

Home Detention For Wife-Beaters Beggars Belief

- The Parole Board's permission for wife beaters to serve their time at home defies belief, and Justice Minister Phil Goff should explain immediately just how the Board satisfies itself that the wife is not at risk, ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks said today. See... Home Detention: Prison For Partners [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00214.htm

Clean Slate Bill Clears Slate For 500,000 Kiwis

- Half a million New Zealanders with minor convictions who have not re-offended for seven years can now put their past behind them following today's passage of the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill, says Justice Minister Phil Goff. See... Half a million to benefit from Clean Slate [1] and Clean Slate Bill third reading [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00210.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00211.htm

Ardern Alleges Political Pressure Behind Prosecution

- National MP Shane Ardern says he is staggered to discover that police put pressure on the Prosecutions Service to charge him over driving a tractor up the steps of Parliament last year. See... Ardern staggered at police pressure [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00242.htm

Heather Roy Talks Mental Health For Breakfast

- The topic I am about to speak on is not what would be called `polite breakfast conversation'. It isn't, what we in politics would call, a sexy story, and you can feel free to groan when I tell you that I'm going to talk about mental illness - I can assure you, however, that it is a subject which improves with acquaintance. See... More Money, Less Care, More Tragedy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00240.htm

Maori Out Of Zone Fish Quota Deemed Fishy

- ACT New Zealand Fisheries Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today revealed that Maori are about to be given a quota allocation for fish caught north of the equator - whether Maori want it or not. See... Labour's Maori Quota Smells Fishy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00239.htm

Anderton Discovers Super At 75 National Party Plan

- Progressive leader Jim Anderton today released evidence that he says proves that the last National government considered raising the age of eligibility to National Superannuation to 75 years of age. See... Progressive leader, Jim Anderton: Press Statement [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00238.htm

Cross-Ditch Unit Trust Tax Loophole To Be Closed

- A loophole through which New Zealand residents receive income from Australian unit trusts that is taxed neither in New Zealand nor Australia will be closed, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced today. See... Unit trust loophole to be closed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00237.htm

Southern Saltmarsh Mosquito Found In Blenhiem

- Green MP Ian Ewen-Street has called for urgent action by MAF to eradicate yet another outbreak of the southern saltmarsh mosquito, which can carry the debilitating Ross River Virus. See... Do your job, MAF, and do it quickly [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00235.htm

Teenager Held In Police Cells For Nine Days

- New Zealand First is calling on the Government to explain why a teenage boy has been left in a police cell for nine days while waiting for a bed with Child, Youth and Family. See... Police Cell No Place For Teen [1] MORE: - Greens - Police cells no place for a child, says Bradford [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00233.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00224.htm

Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill

- I stand to support the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill, and I say so knowing that a number of issues have arisen during the settlement process. I want to say that the resolution of those issues lies with Ngâti Tama. This is its bill. See... Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill - 2nd reading [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00229.htm

Australian Winemaker Subsidies Concern Lockwood

- A move by the Australian Government to give tax relief to wine producers will put New Zealand wine exports at a huge disadvantage, says National's Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman, Dr Lockwood Smith. See... Australian move will hit Kiwi wine exporters [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00226.htm

Maori Risk Pakeha Abandoning Legal Process If They Use It

- ACT New Zealand Justice and Maori Affairs Spokesman Stephen Franks today warned that Ngai Tahu involving the UN Human Rights Committee in New Zealand affairs could bring forward the day when New Zealanders have the courage to tell such international bodies to butt out permanently. See... Dangers In Appeal To Human Rights Committee [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00225.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.

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