Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics
TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
TransTasman: Australian Racism Deeper Than Cronulla Riots
Emergency: Westpac Rescue Helicopter Rescues Kayaker In Gale Force Storm
Foreign Affairs: NZ Joins 16 Nations Urging Japan To Stop Whaling
February Night Sky Excellent Viewing From New Zealand
MORE HEADLINES
Palestinian Authority: Elections candidates must work to end lawlessness and ensure rule of law
Scoop Audio: Latest UN News Brief
Trade Unions Agree Action on Environment with UN
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Al Gore Defends the Intent of the Framers of the Constitution
The Sensitive New Age Muscle Car?
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Rights: Maori Party Says 1000 People Signed Rights Petition
Foreign Spying: Maori Party Calls For Waihopai's Closure
Prison: Corrections Fine Tunes Maori Culture Policy -
Economy: Business NZ Says Govt Needs To Act On Confidence
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
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TransTasman: Australian Racism Deeper Than Cronulla Riots
Scoop Report: Yasmine Ryan reports on her observations of Australia - In a quiet West Australian suburban town that I visited shortly before Christmas, residents were appalled by a particularly vicious and shocking incident. A local woman had returned to her home to find her Christmas lights savagely vandalised. Most had been stolen, and in a particularly callous act, her blow-up Santa had been brutally punctured. What kind of monster could do such a thing? they asked. Conversation was also dominated by anger at the growing 'politically-correct' aversion to Christmas. Fear of litigation, allegedly, meant that Santas can no longer give children lollies or have them on their laps without express permission from parents. Santas now can’t be photographed with children without their hands being fully visible. Even saying “Ho, ho, ho” has been forbidden. See... And the Mob Sang Waltzing Matilda [1]
Emergency: Westpac Rescue Helicopter Rescues Kayaker In Gale Force Storm
- The Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter has just returned from rescuing a kayaker in trouble at Plimmerton,
just north of Wellington. At about 4:50 pm police communications notified the Westpac Rescue Helicopter that two
kayakers were in the water, in trouble, between Plimmerton and Titahi Bay. The helicopter battled winds of nearly 100
kph around Wellington's South Coast to reach the search area. Once in the area the two kayakers were spotted clinging to
one kayak, attempting to kick their way into shore but having little success with high waves and gale force winds
between 55 and 90 kph. See... Kayaker Rescued In Gale Force Winds At Plimmerton [1]
Foreign Affairs: NZ Joins 16 Nations Urging Japan To Stop Whaling
- New Zealand has joined 16 other countries in urging Japan's government to stop killing whales in the Southern Ocean
in the name of scientific research. Two Brazil-led demarches in Tokyo have also asked Japan to recall its whaling fleet
from the Southern Ocean. Duty Minister Jim Anderton said New Zealand had joined with other countries to denounce the
Japanese Whale Research Programme (JARPA II) which is expected to take up to 935 minke whales from the Southern Ocean
Whale Sanctuary this season. See... New Zealand joins diplomatic protest on whaling [1] ALSO: Scoop Video: Greenpeace Gets Kiwi Support... [2]
February Night Sky Excellent Viewing From New Zealand
- February is a good month for viewing the planets. Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible for the whole of
the month. Only Mercury will not be seen in February. Mars will be visible for the first third of the night. At the
start of the month it sets at 00:43 and at 23:37 by month’s end. Mars starts the month in the constellation of Aries,
moving into Taurus on February 7. Its magnitude fades from 0.2 to 0.7 during the month. Saturn will be visible for the
first three quarters of the night. At the start of February it sets at 06:11 and at 04:15 by month’s end. See... Brian Carter's February Night Sky [1]
MORE HEADLINES:
ASH - Tobacco Co's Marketing Addiction To India’s Youth [1] Chinese NZ Protest Planned For Auckland [2] 15 Year Old Dies In Work Accident [3] WaterSaftey - Preschool Drownings are Preventable [4] Things You Need to Know About Big Day Out [5]
Palestinian Authority: Elections candidates must work to end lawlessness and ensure rule of law
- Candidates to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) must set up mechanisms to establish the rule of law in the
Gaza Strip and in the areas of the West Bank under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority (PA) where
intra-Palestinian violence has reached unprecedented levels, said Amnesty International. In an open letter sent on the
eve of the Palestinian legislative elections due on 25 January, Amnesty International urged candidates to put human
rights at the top of their agenda. The organization urged candidates to make concrete proposals for ending
inter-factional violence and impunity, and to commit to enacting laws to deliver justice to the Palestinian people.
See... Palestinian Authority: work to end lawlessness [1] ALSO:IDF Falsely Claims "Zero Tolerance" for Violent Settlers [2] Palestinian AIDS Patient Denied Entry into Israel [3]
Scoop Audio: Latest UN News Brief
See... Scoop Audio: Latest UN News Brief [1]
Trade Unions Agree Action on Environment with UN
- This week’s Trade Union Assembly on Labour and the Environment* in Nairobi concluded today with a series of
undertakings from the trade union movement and key United Nations bodies. The Assembly brought together more than 150
trade union representatives from developing and developed countries along with environment and sustainable development
experts, governments and UN representatives. See... Trade Unions Agree Action on Environment with UN [1] ALSO:UN environmental agency & organised labour work to keep environment clean [2]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Women, Children, Clergy Suffer Abuse in Iraq: UN [1] Chavez Summarizes 2005, Accuses US of Interference [2] Rwanda: Historic Ruling Expected for Former President [3] Release of 4 Cambodian human rights activists [4] Côte d’Ivoire: Annan demands end to violent anti-UN protests [5] ACLU Sues to Stop Illegal Spying on Americans [6]
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SCOOP COLUMNS
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Al Gore Defends the Intent of the Framers of the Constitution
- Congressman Barr and I have disagreed many times over the years, but we have joined together today with thousands of
our fellow citizens-Democrats and Republicans alike-to express our shared concern that America's Constitution is in
grave danger. In spite of our differences over ideology and politics, we are in strong agreement that the American
values we hold most dear have been placed at serious risk by the unprecedented claims of the Administration to a truly
breathtaking expansion of executive power. See... Al Gore: America's Constitution is in Grave Danger [1] ALSO:Buzzflash Editorial: Thankyou Al Gore [2] Michael Collins: Al Gore’s Devastating Indictment of President Bush [3] Sam Smith: Getting Reacquainted With Al Gore [4] William Rivers Pitt: The New Fascism [5] "Shallow Throat": Do Dems Have a Death-Wish? [6] AND:Jason Leopold: NSA Spying Evolved Pre-9/11 [7] FULL COVERAGE: The NSA Domestic Spying Scandal [8]
The Sensitive New Age Muscle Car?
- There is something quite satisfying about having a big bore straight six under the bonnet when sitting at traffic
lights. Instant power can offer instant gratification, something particularly true of Aussie muscle cars. But once upon
a time, Aussie muscle cars were all about brawn – sophistication wasn’t really part of the equation... See... MOTORNET: Ford's F6 Typhoon - Gentle Giant? [1]
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:
Jay Shaft: In Memory of Specialist Doug Barber [1] Stateside: 21st Century Slavery [2] Public Address 17/01/06 - One More Time [3] Marjorie Cohn: Alito Threatens Dr. King's Dream [4] David Swanson: Woolsey's Way to Peace [5] Jason Miller: How the West and the West Bank Were Won [6] G.C. Fraser: The Dogs of Israel Hunt Palestine [7] Sanjay Upadhya: Nepal - Spine, Head And Heart Of The Matter [8] Narconews: Delegate Zero Nears Quintana Roo [9] Narconews: Zapatistas Will Not Attend Bolivia Inauguration [10] Chile Bolivia And The Rightwing Backlash [11]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)
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Rights: Maori Party Says 1000 People Signed Rights Petition
- "It is another indication of our determination to take control of our own destiny" stated Te Ururoa Flavell today in
response to the collective voice of over 1000 people who have signed a petitition responding to New Zealand's approach
to the UN Draft Declaration on the rights of Indigenous people. See... Maori Party Delighted at Strong Response [1]
Foreign Spying: Maori Party Calls For Waihopai's Closure
- Maori Party disarmament spokesperson Hone Harawira has called for the Waihopai spy base to be closed. "As long as we
have Waihopai, we are targets for terrorism and nuclear attacks," Mr Harawira said adding "and guess what - we're not
even allowed to know what goes on in there." Waihopai is the American electronic gathering base located just outside
Blenheim. It is run by New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) for those parties involved in the
super-secret UKUSA Agreement. See... Close Waihopai [1]
Prison: Corrections Fine Tunes Maori Culture Policy -
The Department of Corrections today released to staff it’s policy for holding Maori cultural practices on Departmental
premises. In releasing the guidelines Chief Executive Barry Matthews praised the sensible and inclusive nature of the
policy which he said would protect Maori cultural practices while promoting an environment of inclusiveness. See... Policy for Maori Cultural Practices Announced [1] ALSO:National - Corrections’ priorities are all wrong [2] Maori Party - "Nice try ...but" - Sharples on Corrections Policy [3]
Economy: Business NZ Says Govt Needs To Act On Confidence
- Low business confidence could be improved by some strong signals from Government, says Business NZ Chief Executive Phil
O'Reilly. "Not all factors are Government-related," Mr O'Reilly said. "For example, much of the pressure from the
exchange rate is outside its control. But if the Government were to signal its intention to reduce spending in
non-essential or low quality expenditure areas, that would reduce the inflationary pressures that are helping to keep
the dollar high. See... Business confidence needs signals from Govt [1] ALSO: Grant Thornton - NZ Comes Down with Heavy Thump in Optimism Survey [2] Nats - Business confidence plummets - Govt must act [3] Trademe - Real Estate & New Goods – Keys To Growth [4] Ernst and Young - Tax Burden Adds to Business Woe [5]
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
Nats - Corrections’ priorities are all wrong [1] Greens - Maori fisheries money must not fund whaling [2] Govt - Endangered Leatherback turtle an unusual find [3]