Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 20 March 2006, 2:18 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Foreign Affairs: Can Very, Very Good Friends Chat About Guantanamo?
Health: GPs Require Employment Checkup
Employment: 'The Kids Are Alright' While Out On Strike -
Scoop Column: A Dr Who Wants Employment Reform and A Dr Who Is Assisting -
MORE HEADLINES:
Election Spending: Taxpayer Saved Money On Court Case
Law: Bill calls for 'adult punishment' for 'adult crimes'
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:
Arts: Scoop Audio - DJ Spooky on remixing racism
Scoop Links: Guantanamo Documents Released, Abu Ghraib Torture Images -
Indonesia: Escalating Violence and Police Deaths in Papua
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Suzan Mazur: "Dirt Archaeologist" Elizabeth Stone Weighs Into The Euphronius Debate
Am Johal Surveys The Merits Of Non-conformism
John Pagani Reports On Paris's Employment Protests
Walter Brasch On The Land Of The Not So Free Anymore
Jason Leopold Gets Inside PlameGate
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:
Katya Rivas's Passion: Serialised For Lent (Part 11)

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Employment: Maori Party Votes for Allegedly Anti-worker Legislation -
Legislation: Nandor Free House Comes One Step Closer -
GE: NZ Engineers GE-Labelling-Resistant Trade Talks
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS

Foreign Affairs: Can Very, Very Good Friends Chat About Guantanamo?

[1] Major human rights issues should top the agenda for meetings today with a top United States official, Green Party Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Keith Locke says. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Chris Hill will meet Foreign Minister Winston Peters this morning and Prime Minister Helen Clark this afternoon. "This is a perfect opportunity for New Zealand to raise the harsh treatment of Guantanamo Bay prisoners." See... Human rights should head agenda with US official [2] MORE:

[3] Audio: US Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00323.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00323.htm
[3] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/audio/0603/ChrisHillWP200306.m3u
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00278.htm

Health: GPs Require Employment Checkup

- Faced with the stresses and strains of life today, general practitioners are increasingly looking for the work/life balance they advocate for their patients... In a report that focuses on working conditions and future arrangements, teamwork and remuneration, many GPs are rejecting the “job for life” concept in the face of an environment they see as increasingly hostile, with their skills significantly undervalued. See... Stopping the spiral into GP burnout [1] and Full Report (PDF) [2] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0603/S00057.htm
[2] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0603/RNZCGP_Report2_Final.pdf
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00324.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00326.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0603/S00055.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0603/S00062.htm

Employment: 'The Kids Are Alright' While Out On Strike -

Over 1000 workers and supporters marched up Queen St to the Big Pay Out concert today to rock against youth rates and for a $12 minimum wage and secure hours. “Chief executives have been celebrating last years pay rise - their biggest in 15 years,” said Simon Oosterman. “But today, striking 15 year old’s – some earning as low as $6.89 per hour - joined their older co-workers in the Big Pay Out mosh pit saying that it’s our turn.” See... Unite Union Rocks [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0603/S00286.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nzhttp://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00149.htm

Scoop Column: A Dr Who Wants Employment Reform and A Dr Who Is Assisting -

This week saw an interesting change in the MMP landscape. For the last few years allegedly anti-worker legislation has been torpedoed thanks to the efforts of various combinations of Labour, Alliance and Green MPs and more recently Labour. Progressive and Green MPs. With the assistance of New Zealand First, ACT, United Future and three of the four Maori Party MPs, National's Wayne Mapp was able to get his "Employment Amendment Bill" past its first hurdle. See...A Week of It: Paving Paradise + Mapp and Sharples [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00251.htm

MORE HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00325.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00146.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0603/S00116.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00143.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00142.htm

Election Spending: Taxpayer Saved Money On Court Case

- National Party MP Murray McCully says the decision not to charge the Labour Party with its deliberate and blatant breaches of the Electoral Act is a “gutless cop-out”. Mr McCully says the Labour Party must now qualify for listing in the Guinness Book of Records for notching up prima facie cases which never get to prosecution. See... Decision on overspending 'gutless cop-out' [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00303.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00144.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00304.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00307.htm

Law: Bill calls for 'adult punishment' for 'adult crimes'

- New Zealand First Law and Order spokesperson Ron Mark says he's pleased parliament will have the chance to debate his Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill which seeks to introduce tougher penalties for youth offenders who commit serious violent crimes. Mr Mark's member's bill was drawn from the ballot today and placed on the Order Paper for debate. See... Parliament Has Chance To Fight Youth Crime [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00289.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00299.htm

SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00283.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00252.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00225.htm

Arts: Scoop Audio - DJ Spooky on remixing racism

- Rebirth of a Nation sees DJ Spooky remixing the 1915 film Birth of a Nation, known both for its technical innovation, setting many of the standard techniques of cinema, and as pro-Klu Klax Klan propaganda. Miller spoke to Scoop about Birth of a Nation, how he uses Rebirth of a Nation to explore how it resonates in the present day and to confront the past, and his personal approach to remixing. See... Arts Festival Preview: DJ Spooky's Rebirth of a Nation [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00214.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00252.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00253.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00243.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00235.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00222.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00220.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00219.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/features/festival2006.html

Scoop Links: Guantanamo Documents Released, Abu Ghraib Torture Images -

Salon has presented an archive of 279 photographs and 19 videos gathered in the US Army's internal investigation of the torture and abuse of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison. Salon notes that " To date no officers have been brought to justice in a court of law". Also this week, Associated Press has analysed transcripts and other documents related to the Combatant Status Reviews of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. See... Scoop Links: Guantanamo Images and Abu Ghraib Documents [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00245.htm

Indonesia: Escalating Violence and Police Deaths in Papua

- Demonstrators and police clashed in the provincial capital Jayapura this week, causing the deaths of four Indonesian policemen and seriously injuring several civilians. Human Rights Watch called for an independent investigation by Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) into the incident, and for other domestic and foreign independent monitors to be allowed access to the area. Some 150 demonstrators, including students from the University of Cenderawasih, have spent the last two days demanding the withdrawal of the Indonesian army (TNI) and police from Papua, and the closure of the U.S.-owned Freeport mine in Timika, Papua. See... Indonesia: Escalating Violence in Papua [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00326.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00320.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00347.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00348.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00343.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00342.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00336.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00323.htm

Suzan Mazur: "Dirt Archaeologist" Elizabeth Stone Weighs Into The Euphronius Debate

- Hungry for love after a trouncing on these pages by antiquities whistleblower Oscar Muscarella [ Antiquities Whistleblower Oscar White Muscarella], New York Times chief art critic Michael Kimmelman and Metropolitan Museum of Art director Philippe de Montebello took their "Who Owns Art" show last week to Greenwich Village's New School and an audience packed with collectors. See... NYT, Met Sing to Collectors: Elizabeth Stone I/V [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00246.htm

Am Johal Surveys The Merits Of Non-conformism

- The public sphere as a concept which has been under development since the days of Socrates and Plato, continues to be the subject of modern debate. Socrates, in the end, was executed not for asserting the way the world should be, but for doubting the truths of others. Non-conformism in the public sphere has thus historically often been dangerous intellectual terrain virtually since the beginning of modern civilization. See... The Public Sphere in Conflict and Transition State [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00279.htm

John Pagani Reports On Paris's Employment Protests

- They say the street always wins in French politics. Daily for a week the Paris streets have filled with protests organised by students and unions demanding 'retrait du Contrat Première Embauche', or withdrawal of the 'first employment contract' law. The CPE introduces a two-year probationary period for anyone under 26 when employers could fire them for any reason. See... France Protests Over Probationary Employment Law [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00282.htm

Walter Brasch On The Land Of The Not So Free Anymore

- Two weeks before President Bush signed Congressional legislation that made permanent all but two sections of the USA PATRIOT Act, State College, Pennsylvania., became the 397th American community to reaffirm the belief that the Constitution and Bill of Rights take precedence over any federal law. Not one of those resolutions should have been necessary. Nor should the legislatures of eight states—Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, and Vermont—have had to pass legislation affirming the rights of all Americans. But they had to, and they did. See... Brasch: Compromising Americans’ Civil Liberties [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00277.htm

Jason Leopold Gets Inside PlameGate

- The identity of intelligence officials who are thought to have passed information about covert CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson to Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, surfaced in a federal court document filed Friday evening. See.. Attorneys Identify CIA Officials in Plame Leak [1] and Leopold: Obstruction Trial May Jog Libby's Memory [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00276.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00260.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00281.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00249.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00275.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00274.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00273.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00280.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00272.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00267.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00247.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00264.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00271.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00270.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00269.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00268.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00266.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00265.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00263.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00262.htm
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00248.htm
[20] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00261.htm
[21] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00259.htm
[22] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00258.htm
[23] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00257.htm

Katya Rivas's Passion: Serialised For Lent (Part 11)

- Let us go on with this painful story, which you will manage to take to as many people as you can. I will enlighten you in the way in which it should be done. See... Katya Rivas: Jesus Is Taken to Prison [1] SEE ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00256.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00255.htm

Employment: Maori Party Votes for Allegedly Anti-worker Legislation -

Last evening three of the four Maori party MPs voted for a National Party bill to allow a 90-day probation period for new workers. The bill will now go to a select committee for further consideration. In his speech supporting the bill Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples debated the right to work vs the right of the worker. See... Sharples - Probationary Employment Bill [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00258.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0603/S00132.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00259.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00235.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0603/S00239.htm

Legislation: Nandor Free House Comes One Step Closer -

This week Barbara Stewart's Electoral (Reduction in Number of Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill passed its first reading. The bill would reduce the number of MPs to 100 at the next election. According to Ms Stewart's bill the number of electorate and Maori seats would remain the same whilst list MPs would shrink dramatically. If the bill had been passed before the last election parties entirely consisting of electorate MPs - such as the Maori Party - would still have four seats while the Green Party would be Nandor-less. See... Sharples - Reduction in Numbers of MP Bill [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00253.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00263.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00198.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00224.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00253.htm

GE: NZ Engineers GE-Labelling-Resistant Trade Talks

- New Zealand is now the only country standing in the way of an international agreement on labelling of GE organisms traded across borders. "We have been the object of international condemnation for some time for being one of the countries to block agreement. Now, to our shame, we stand alone in wanting to deny developing countries the protection of a robust international standard," Greens Environment Spokesperson Nandor Tanczos says. See... NZ isolated on GE [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00260.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00291.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0603/S00041.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0603/S00039.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0603/S00040.htm

MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00327.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00310.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00308.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00330.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00328.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00322.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00319.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00316.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00315.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00311.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00329.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00325.htm

POLITICAL COLUMNS

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00301.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00298.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00295.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0603/S00304.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00175.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