Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 11 July 2005, 5:17 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Cross Party Condemnation Of Mosque Vandalism
PM Announces Wintringham To Oversee Vietnam Vets Working Group
Sir Garfield Todd's Daughter To Join Cricket Tour Protest
Kiwi Wins Australian Hair Expo Awards
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
SCOOP REPORT: Dalai Lama To Bow Out Of Politics At Age 70
Hurricane Dennis Makes Landfall On Gulf Coast
Greenpeace Says Bush Distanced From Leading World Economies
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
London Bombings Commentary
Motornet: Karl Ferguson Test Drives A Mini Cooper S
No Right Turn On The G8 Outcome
Biff Guevara's inclusive coverage of NZ's 2005 General Election
Tom Flocco Farewells Vote Fraud Activist Andy Stephenson
BuzzFlash.Com Interviews Ambassador Joe Wilson
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Collins Says CYF Caregiver Admitted Child Abuse
PM Remembers VE Day At Cenotaph
Peters Resents Accusations That NZ First Responsible For Mosque Attacks
Brash And Joyce Launch Nat-Campaign-Mobile
Forest And Bird And Landcare Research Fight It Out
MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS:

[1] "New Zealanders across all communities are horrified by the terrorist attacks in London which are the work of evil people. But it is wrong to target the Muslim community here in retaliation. New Zealand's Muslim community like all New Zealand's communities is overwhelmingly a law abiding and peaceful community." See... PM condemns attacks on mosques [2] ALSO Image courtesy of Aotearoa Indymedia: Mosques attacked in Auckland [3] MORE:

[1] - http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/36108/index.php
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00209.htm
[3] - http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/36108/index.php
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00208.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00207.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00220.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00210.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00097.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00088.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00087.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/londonbombing.html

PM Announces Wintringham To Oversee Vietnam Vets Working Group

- Prime Minister Helen Clark has announced that former State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham is being appointed to chair a working group established earlier this year to consider issues relating to military service in Viet Nam raised by the Viet Nam veterans and the RSA. The Prime Minister made the announcement at the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association's (RNZRSA) National Council meeting in Wellington today. "Following a select committee inquiry and report, the government announced in December 2004 that we accepted that veterans were exposed to a toxic environment during their service in Viet Nam. This was a major step forward." See... Wintringham To Chair Vietnam Vet Working Group [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00235.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00237.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00236.htm

Sir Garfield Todd's Daughter To Join Cricket Tour Protest

- GPJA says Judith Todd – daughter of Sir Garfield Todd and campaigner for human rights in Zimbabwe is arriving in New Zealand later this week to join the campaign to stop the New Zealand Cricket Tour to Zimbabwe – scheduled for August. She is being brought to New Zealand by Global Peace and Justice Auckland. Sir Garfield Todd was the New Zealander who was Prime Minister of Rhodesia and leading the country towards independence before he was ousted by the Ian Smith regime in 1965 which declared UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence) and cemented in place white minority rule. See... Zimbabwe Tour – Judith Todd to Tour NZ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00102.htm

Kiwi Wins Australian Hair Expo Awards

- A New Zealand hairdresser has won the ultimate award at The Australian Hair Expo Awards - the ‘Oscars’ of the Australasian hair industry. Bronwyn Illingworth was awarded the prestigious title of New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year Award 2005 for the second time, having won the same award last year. The Australian Hair Expo Awards represent the pinnacle of hairdressing excellence and an award win is the highest accolade, which puts Bronwyn right at the top of a very competitive industry in New Zealand. See... Sassy Stylist Wins The Ultimate Acclaim [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0507/S00082.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0507/S00021.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0507/S00133.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0507/S00131.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0507/S00128.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0507/S00081.htm

SCOOP REPORT: Dalai Lama To Bow Out Of Politics At Age 70

- Marietta Gross reports that Tibet’s exile leader the Dalai Lama has celebrated his 70th birthday while still in exile in India by relinquishing politics to elected representatives. In a speech to thousands of Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala the spiritual and worldly leader of Tibet consigned politicians of the parliament-in-exile to continue the struggle for autonomy. See... Dalai Lama 70th Sees Withdrawal from politics [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00148.htm

Hurricane Dennis Makes Landfall On Gulf Coast

- Hurricane Dennis, a category four monster hurricane packing 200kmh winds, has struck the Gulf Coast of the mainland United States near Pensacola close to the Alabama, Florida & Mississippi borders. Dennis has already killed several people in Haiti and Cuba and over 1 million people in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi have been asked to evacuate out of Dennis's expected path. Over the coming 24 hours some parts of the coast are expected to receive up to 300mm (12 inches) of rain. Hurricane force winds extend up to 40 miles from the center though the highest winds are focused around the eye.See… Supercomputer Weather: Hurricane Dennis Monstering Gulf Coast [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00125.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00179.htm

Greenpeace Says Bush Distanced From Leading World Economies

- Gleneagles, UK - The Group of Eight communiqué issued by world leaders at their summit in Gleneagles today highlights the divisions between President Bush and the rest of the world on tackling climate change. See… Bush remains out in cold on climate change at G8 [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00186.htm
[2] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0507/PostG8_Gleneagles_Communique.pdf
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00194.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00193.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00191.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00183.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00180.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00172.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00175.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00170.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00182.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00181.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0507/S00177.htm

London Bombings Commentary

Antony Wright (London) Today I nearly got blown to pieces on a London Tube (metro). I was one of the lucky ones - many others were not. See... Antony Wright: Achieving Justice And Finding Peace [1]

Stella Duffy (London), Graeme Douglas (London), Tze Ming Mok, Graham Reid' - Public Address I think Ken Livingstone's speech was amazing, and I DO believe it's what most Londoners feel about London. That we (I was born here, though I spent all my childhood and youth in NZ and have now lived here longer than anywhere else) actively like being ... See... Public Address: Not Anywhere Else In The World [2]

Rosalea Barker (San Francisco) It is 1998. I'm standing at the window of the staff cafeteria in an office building that overlooks the Wellington railway yards, where the Cake Tin is taking shape. The engineer I'm talking to is telling me with a faraway look in his eye that the ... See... Stateside With Rosalea: Reality VG? [3]

Mary Pitt (Kansas) I called an old friend yesterday. I had been meaning to do so for some time, but the pressures of work and family had inteceded and it never seemed to be the right time. At one time, we were sisters-in-law, young, beautiful and dumb! We grew so ... See... Mary Pitt: Those Marvelous Brits [4]

Doug Giebel (United States) Plucky Londoners interviewed on the BBC following the July 7 terrorist subway and bus bombings noted that the crisis had brought out the best in people. Strangers rushed to help the injured while some individuals risked their lives making rescue ... See... Doug Giebel: Death And Cynicism [5]

Genevieve Cora Fraser (United States) Is World War III upon us : Did it start while we were glued : Watching news from the local channel : Nightline, Frontline, CNN or Fox : Did Charlie Rose announce the line-up : Of the predatory pack : Did Larry King look stern, advise us : Or are ... See... Genevieve Cora Fraser: Is World War III Upon Us? [6]

Steven A. Hass (United States) So London was bombed. If you missed any of it, and I mean any of it, come to America and turn on a television. In the America of 2005, you can sit in front of a television after an event like this and have your gag reflex tested as the event is continuously ... See... Steven A. Hass: Fortitude, British-Style [7]

Green Left Weekly - Julian Coppens (London) Riding the number 30 bus to the annual Marxism conference today, the day after a bus on that route was attacked, I caught a tiny glimpse of the terror in terrorism. When I went upstairs to sit down as usual, it was empty. See... Green Left Weekly: Baghdad Comes To London [8]

Green Left Weekly - On July 7, some of the horrific consequences of the “war on terror” hit working-class Londoners. In a series of bomb blasts on the London tube and buses, more than 50 people were killed, and more than 700 injured, many losing limbs or suffering other ... See... Green Left Weekly: Stop All The Terror! [9]

For complete Scoop London Bombing Commentary CLICK HERE [10]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00142.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00141.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00139.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00136.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00131.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00129.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00138.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00146.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00145.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/londonbombing.html#comment

Motornet: Karl Ferguson Test Drives A Mini Cooper S

- The girl at the drive through window was about 16. I hadn't paid her a great deal of attention to be honest, most likely trying to decide between a Big Mac or a Chicken Royale, when just as I was about to order she gushed, 'Your car is really cool.' See... MOTORNET: Still Got It - Mini Cooper S [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00147.htm

No Right Turn On The G8 Outcome

- The G8 has produced its final communique, promising to boost aid to Africa by US$50 billion and forgive some third world debt. But while this will make a real difference, overall it is disappointing. According to Make Poverty History, only 40% of that aid boost is actually new funding, the rest having already been announced. It also will not arrive until 2010. In the intervening five years, millions will die who could have been saved if the boost had been immediate. See... No Right Turn: G8 - Disappointing [1] For much more on G8 see SPECIAL FEATURES

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00137.htm

Biff Guevara's inclusive coverage of NZ's 2005 General Election

- Because we don't know the date of the election we know when it will be. That is - as it hasn't been called yet; it can only be late September. The question is whether taking the term to the very end has been a good or a bad tactic. There was some talk that it should have been called in January around the time of the John Tamihere kamikazi run into his own career. Force him to go and then call an election. Labour may well have romped home then. See... Biff Guevara: Election 2005 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00134.htm

Tom Flocco Farewells Vote Fraud Activist Andy Stephenson

- All-time American patriotic "good guy" Andy Stephenson passed away on Thursday, July 7, 2005 at 6:27 EST/9:27 PST after a rather short but heroic bout with pancreatic cancer. The many thousands who understood his cause and who contributed to the cost of his operation proved the effect he was having upon citizens from coast to coast. It was their "thank-you." See... Andy Stephenson (1963-2005) - In Memoriam [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00132.htm

BuzzFlash.Com Interviews Ambassador Joe Wilson

- If there's a list of people who have fearlessly stood up for democracy, decency and the truth against the corrupt buzzsaw of the Bush Administration, Ambassador Joe Wilson is certainly at the top of the list. See... Buzzflash Interview: Ambassador Joe Wilson July 9 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00130.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00135.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00133.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00128.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00127.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00144.htm

Collins Says CYF Caregiver Admitted Child Abuse

- National Party Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins is worried that a CYF caregiver who has admitted child abuse remains in the community living near a childcare centre. "This man has confessed publicly to some very disturbing behaviour. Frankly, I’m concerned he’s still in the community. “The system has already failed three children, the authorities must act with urgency to ensure there are no more victims." See... CYF must issue assurance on vetting process [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00213.htm

PM Remembers VE Day At Cenotaph

- Address at Wreathlaying Ceremony to Commemorate Sixtieth Anniversary year of the End of World War Two In Europe and the Pacific In the presence of His Royal Highness, Prince William of Wales. New Zealand stood shoulder to shoulder with the United Kingdom from the first day of that terrible conflict to the very last. The Second World War was New Zealand's greatest national effort to date. Out of a population of 1.6 million, around 140,000 men and women were dispatched overseas to serve in fighting formations. Our fatal casualties during the conflict numbered 11,625 – a higher ratio of people killed than in any other Commonwealth country. See... PM Address: VE Day Wreathlaying Ceremony [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00222.htm

Peters Resents Accusations That NZ First Responsible For Mosque Attacks

- New Zealand First leader Rt Hon Winston Peters today condemned suggestions from some quarters that attacks made on mosques in Auckland over the weekend somehow had something to do with the New Zealand First party. “The New Zealand First party finds attacks on places of worship totally repugnant, and our members are deeply insulted by the inference that we could condone or in some way be responsible for such mindless activities." See... Allegations Of Incitement Stupid And Unacceptable [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00231.htm

Brash And Joyce Launch Nat-Campaign-Mobile

- National Party Leader Don Brash and General Manager Steven Joyce today launched National’s campaign bus – the ‘National Party Vote Mobile’, which will spread the message that the only way to change the government is to give your party vote to National. The bus was launched at SkyCity in central Auckland. It then went to Westgate in West Auckland to campaign before departing for a full afternoon in Hamilton. See... ‘National Party Vote Mobile’ launched [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00225.htm

Forest And Bird And Landcare Research Fight It Out

- Counter claims by Landcare Research CEO, Dr Andy Pearce and Solid Energy CEO Dr Don Elder over the withdrawal of a witness from an Environment Court hearing don’t stack up against information obtained under the Official Information Act, Forest and Bird ... See... Landcare Research’s excuses don’t stack up [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00100.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00099.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0507/S00098.htm

MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00234.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00229.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00226.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00224.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00223.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00221.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00219.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00233.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00232.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00218.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00214.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00230.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00217.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00216.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00215.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00212.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00228.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00227.htm

POLITICAL COLUMNS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0507/S00211.htm

© 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

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