TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Broadband: New Stats Show Low Uptake Speeds
Rehabilatation: Bloomin Good News From Prison -
MORE NZ HEADLINES:
Environment: Snails-for-Coal Deal Approved
Politics/Entertainment: Greens Attempt To Reclaim Family Values -
Goff Remembers The Bravest Of The Brave
Australia: Downer refuses to walk the gauntlet at AWB…
Gaza: Israeli Women's Action: 'Stop the Bombing of Gaza!'
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Easter 2006 & The Seige Of Gaza
Leaker-In-Chief Caught Out In YET Another WMD Lie
Ramzy Baroud: The End Of The American Empire?
William Rivers Pitt On The Nuking Of Iran
MORE SCOOP COMMENT AND OPINION:
Katya Rivas's Passion (Parts 1-20)
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Dr Don Wants You To Turn You Lights Off!
National Champions Hospital Waiting List Dumpees
Anderton Calls For Bottom Trawling Submissions
Maori Party Attacks Race Relations Commissioner
Turner & Dean Seek Action On Party Pills
Health FULL COVERAGE: Plunket Helpline Calls for Help
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
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The Government needs to explain why a subsidiary of a huge multi-national corporation which appears on the Top 100 list of US Defense Contractors and which paid US$3 million to settle serious fraud allegations as recently as February has been chosen over the trusted New Zealand institution of Plunket to provide telephone advice to parents, Green Party Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says. See... Plunket or a multi-nat accused of fraud - who would you call? [1] ALSO:National - Sign the Plunket petition and force a backdown [2] FULL COVERAGE: PlunketLine [3]
Broadband: New Stats Show Low Uptake Speeds
- New Zealand's broadband deficit compared to the rest of the world has got worse. The latest OECD statistics have
shown that it will be next to impossible for the Government's goal to see New Zealand’s uptake reach that of the OECD's
top half by 2007 and top quarter by 2010. "Our projection, based on the OECD data, is that the Government looks set to
fall around 900,000 subscribers short of its broadband target." See... Broadband deficit grows bigger [1]
Rehabilatation: Bloomin Good News From Prison -
A recent restructure of Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) nurseries is providing better employment training
opportunities for prisoners. In 2002, a few nurseries that did not provide training in a commercial type work
environment were closed. Their activities were amalgamated and replaced with larger nursery units at Auckland, New
Plymouth, Wanganui, Manawatu, Rimutaka, and Rolleston Prisons. “It is a far cry from closing things See... Prison nurseries blooming [1] ALSO: National - Corrections finally tells truth about contraband [2] Corrections - Corrections Seizes More Contraband [3]
MORE HEADLINES:
Defence force personnel return from Bosnia [1] Easter weekend – road crash statistical summary [2] Cold Easter Case Wants Information [3] National Geographic Photographer At Te Papa [4] Going on a Date? Dating Site Keeps You Safe [5]
Environment: Snails-for-Coal Deal Approved
- Conservation Minister Chris Carter and Associate Minister of Energy Harry Duynhoven have approved permits under the
Wildlife Act to enable a population of Powelliphanta Augustus snails to be moved from the Mt Augustus ridgeline on the
West Coast. But Solid Energy New Zealand must implement an intensive mitigation package to preserve the snails before it
can commence mining in the area. See... Permits approved to move Mt Augustus snails [1] ALSO:Solid Energy - Permit secures future of mine and snails [2] Greens - Snails sold out by State to Solid Energy [3] Save Happy Valley - Carter signs off on species extinction [4] Forest and Bird - Ministers' decision fails snails [5]
Politics/Entertainment: Greens Attempt To Reclaim Family Values -
The Green Party and Loop Recordings have joined forces to showcase some of the best in contemporary music and culture
on the Green Room 05: Whanau CD. "The word 'family' has been co-opted by right-wing politicians in recent years as an
excuse for intolerance, exclusivity and bigotry. By juxtaposing the concepts of family and whanau, I hope we can start
to reclaim that most basic human reality: the importance of kin," Nandor says. See... Greens CD reclaims family from Conservative Right [1]
Goff Remembers The Bravest Of The Brave
- Defence Minister Phil Goff praised the "ordinary New Zealanders who showed extraordinary courage" when he opened an
exhibition marking the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Victoria Cross, at the Waiouru Army Museum today. See... Goff praises New Zealand's VC winners [1] & Goff Speech: New Zealand's Victoria Cross winners [2]
Australia: Downer refuses to walk the gauntlet at AWB…
- In a big loss for democracy the Foreign Minister Alexander Downer refused to submit to the scrutiny of the media by
sneaking into the Cole Inquiry into the AWB today… Highlighting the use of Australian aid money to support commercial
interests in Iraq – namely by giving over $1.4 million of our aid money to AWB to protect their wheat contracts. See... Downer refuses to walk the gauntlet at AWB… [1]
Gaza: Israeli Women's Action: 'Stop the Bombing of Gaza!'
- The Coalition of Women for Peace has issued this statement, "In Passover we celebrate freedom while in Gaza - the
largest prison in the world, Israel is shedding blood. In the past week the Israeli occupation army attacked brutally
Palestinian residents of Gaza, killing and wounding dozens." With this action they, "demand that the Israeli government
stops the bombings!" See... Israeli Women's Action: 'Stop the Bombing of Gaza' [1] ALSO:Gush Shalom: A Call To Europe [2] Gaza: Human Rights Organizations on artillery fire [3] Food crisis threatens Gaza, with crossing Israel [4]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Papua: Changing Pacific Attitude To Independence [1] Saudi Arabia: Al-Qa’ida Critic Arrested [2] India: Bhopal survivors march in search of justice [3] Deadly Afghan school attack, UN calls for end to atrocities [4] Wetlands restoration key to slashing bird flu [5]
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SCOOP COLUMNS
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Easter 2006 & The Seige Of Gaza
- She was finally able to contact him over the internet but their messages were cut short because helicopters were
flying over head again. We are all dead men he later admitted to her. The time is NOW, the place is GAZA, i.e. Occupied
Palestine. See... SOS: Palestine - the Holy Land - Is Under Siege [1] MORE: Dr. Mary Ethridge - Israel is Sewing Seeds for the Future [2] Sonia Nettnin - Palestinian Occupation Health Care Conditions [3] Genevieve Cora Fraser - Poem: Palestine Shrouded in Sorrow Resurrects [4]
Leaker-In-Chief Caught Out In YET Another WMD Lie
- Yesterday the Washington Post broke yet another story apparently catching U.S. President George Bush in a lie. This
time in a direct, conscious and often repeated lie over the discovery of WMDs in Iraq in the form of "biolab" biological
weapons mobile laboratories. See... Leaker-In-Chief Caught Out In Another WMD Lie [1] MORE: Scoop Links - NYT & Ors. – Leaker-In-Chief In Spotlight [2] Buzzflash.com - Analysis: The Leaker-In-Chief [3] Jason Leopold - Bush and Cheney Discussed Plame Prior to Leak [4] EARLIER: Greg Palast [5] - Evelyn Pringle [6] - NYT & WashPost [7] - William Rivers Pitt: The Leaker-in-Chief [8] - Jason Leopold 2 [9] & Jason Leopold 1 [10]
Ramzy Baroud: The End Of The American Empire?
- The miscalculated policies of the US administration in the Middle East are quickly depleting the country’s ability to
sustain its once unchallenged global position. Winds of change are blowing everywhere, and there is little that
Washington’s ideologues can do to stop it. The above claim is increasingly finding its way into the realm of mainstream
thinking, despite all attempts to mute or relegate its import. See... Ramzy Baroud: Imminent Decline of Empire? [1]
William Rivers Pitt On The Nuking Of Iran
- Things have come to a pretty pass in the United States of America when the first question you have to ask yourself on
matters of war and death is, "Just how crazy are these people?" See... William Rivers Pitt: How Crazy Are They? [1] MORE: Thom Hartmann - Democracy Be Damned - Republicans Need Another War [2] Cindy Sheehan - Don't Attack Iran [3] Moveon.Org - Moveon.Org: Don't Nuke Iran [4] EARLIER: Scoop Blogwatch - Is Your Entire Country On Crack? [5] Scoop Link - Seymour M. Hersh - The Iran Plans [6] David Swanson - Stop the Next War Now [7]
MORE SCOOP COMMENT AND OPINION:
Keith Ng & Ors. - Public Address - Plenty More Phish In The Sea [1] & Public Address 12/04/06 - Scams 'N' Junkets [2] Bernard Weiner - Bernard Weiner: Bush Visits His Shrink, Session #2 [3] Martin LeFevre - Meditations: Jesus’ Mission Failed [4] John Spritzler - Which Direction for the Anti-Zionist Movement? [5] Remi Kanazi - Cleaning Up Your Mess [6] Warren Stewart - US Election Commissioner (EAC) Martinez Resigns [7] Gabriele Zamparini- Open Letter To United For Peace And Justice [8] Greg Palast - Loser Nation [9] Narconews.com - Giordano: Showdown In Cuernavaca [10] Cindy Sheehan - A Markerless Grave in Vacaville [11] Sanjay Upadhya - The Unfolding ‘Great Game’ In South Asia [12] Bhola Rana - Terrorism unacceptable - King [13] Ms Jyoti - Trace Maoists In Kathmandu [14] Kamala Sarup - Organizations & International Community For Peace [15] & Kamala Sarup: Non-Violence Law We Must Need [16]
Katya Rivas's Passion (Parts 1-20)
- In the Will of Father I have lived days of intense sadness without complaining but accepting what the Father wanted
to make Me feel. When I was apprehended in the Garden, My accusers were quick with every lie and I, without the least
resistance, allowed ... See... Katya Rivas: The Passion Extracts 16-20 [1] - Extracts 11-15 [2]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)
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Dr Don Wants You To Turn You Lights Off!
- National Party Leader Don Brash today called on the Labour Government to immediately launch a comprehensive public
electricity savings campaign. See... Power savings campaign needed now [1]
National Champions Hospital Waiting List Dumpees
- Many hundreds of sick New Zealanders are being dumped from waiting lists every month as the elective surgery crisis
worsens, says National's Health spokesman, Tony Ryall. See... Only the tip of the waiting-list iceberg [1] & Hodgson must explain [2] MORE: Hawkes Bay DHB - Go ahead to refer patients back to their GP [3] NZ Govt. - Hawke's Bay situation unacceptable: Hodgson [4] ACT -Hodgson's Easter Surprise For Patients [5]
Anderton Calls For Bottom Trawling Submissions
- Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton is consulting on an industry proposal to ban bottom trawling from almost a third of
New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). See... Public opinion sought on Benthic Protection Areas [1] See also Scoop backgrounder… Scoop Audio: Anderton Bottom Trawling Press Conf. & Followup Questions [2]
Maori Party Attacks Race Relations Commissioner
- “The role of the Race Relations Commissioner was established to provide leadership on matters of race relations” said
Dr Pita Sharples. “The current Commissioner has failed, abysmally, to take up this role in relation to engagement with
tangata whenua”. See... Race Relations Commissioner Must Go - Sharples [1]
Turner & Dean Seek Action On Party Pills
- United Future drugs spokesperson Judy Turner says a Waikato Hospital study on party pills, due to be released
tomorrow, is a hurry-up message for Jim Anderton and the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs to decide how to deal with
party pills. See.. Turner demands swift action on party pills [1] MORE: National - New Study Lends Weight to Dean's Call for Action [2]
Health: Plunket Helpline Calls for Help
- Plunket, founders and operators of PlunketLine, an information and support service for parents, is seeking an urgent
meeting with the Prime Minister following the announcement that Government is to withdraw funding from PlunketLine and
instead fund a competing telephone service to be operated by US-owned multi-national McKesson Corporation. See... Plunket to seek meeting with Prime Minister [1] ALSOScoop Audio - PM Talks About Iran, Housing And Plunket [2] National - Plunket deserves common courtesy from PM [3] ACT - Government's Sad Birthday Gift For Plunketline [4] National -Clark betrays mothers and babies [5] National - Don’t let the hotline go cold, Prime Minister [6] Greens - PlunketLine move a new Government low [7] ACT - Pick Up The Phone For Plunketline, Prime Minister [8] National Council of Women - Keep Plunketline Drug-Free? [10] Democrats for Social Credit - PlunketLine [11] Barnardos - Plunketline decision – impact on children? [12]
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
NZ Govt. - Resignation of Elizabeth Kerr [1] NZ Govt. - Towards a national medicines strategy [2] NZ Govt. - Senior scientist joins ERMA board [3] NZ Govt. - Dalziel Congratulates National Council of Women [4] National - Corrections finally tells truth about contraband [5] NZ Govt. - More rural communities get infrastructure funding [6] NZ Govt. - $11 million invested in promoting excellence [7] NZ Govt. - New High Commissioner to Solomon Islands [8] NZ First - Farmers Flock To Greener Pastures [9] Police taking longer to investigate burglaries [10] NZ Govt. - National endorses charging for cancer treatment [11]
POLITICAL COLUMNS
Richard Worth - News Worthy - 13 April 2006 [1]