TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Law Reform: Is NZ's Immigration Law About To Lurch Toward The Repressive?
Politics/Entertainment: Hide Does the 'Dance Of Love' - Rankin Fired
Civil Defence: Claims National Emergency Management Plan is a Manmade Disaster
Arts: Wellington Arts Open Weekend Images
Intelligence: Paul Buchanan on 'Potential' Threats
Some Of World’s Most Repressive Countries On Human Rights Council
Fiji’s Rabuka Charged With Inciting Mutiny
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Washington: George Bush's Political Advisor Karl Rove Indicted For Perjury
Utah: Suzan Mazur Gets Inside The Polygamy Protection Scandal
Stateside: Rosalea Barker Marks Mothers Day With Some Pix
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:
Film: Sonia Nettnin Covers The Chicago Palestine Film Festival
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS:
Employment: Former ACT Deputy Appreciates Government Funding
Budget: Money for Buy Kiwi Made Campaign
Environment: National Courts Green Vote, Plans to Have Environment Policy
Justice: MPs Front at 'Beyond Retribution' Conference
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
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Once seen as the party that protects the poor and dispossessed, Labour has recently come under fire from some new and unlikely champions of the marginalised poor – Business New Zealand, the National Party and Roger Kerr of the Business Roundtable. Those who as, Dr Don Brash said, are "too old" or "too brown" to get a job are being championed by those on the right side of New Zealand politics through the introduction of a 90 day probationary period whereby an employer can fire a new employee at will. See... A Week of It: Employment, Peachey's Periodicals and Dead Ducks [1]
Law Reform: Is NZ's Immigration Law About To Lurch Toward The Repressive?
- Katie Small reports that the Immigration Minister, David Cunliffe has released a discussion paper on Immigration Act law reform.
The changes affect global migration, who wants to come to New Zealand, and how New Zealand desires to respond to
potential immigrants. But is it a repressive shift toward the totalitarian compared to the current law? Justice,
security, and immigration commentators say this time the Government's gone too far. See... Is The NZ Govt's Immigration Review Repressive? [1]
Politics/Entertainment: Hide Does the 'Dance Of Love' - Rankin Fired
- Last week the PM pointed out that she didn't have time to watch TVNZ's Dancing With the Stars – after Scoop paid a
visit to the magical Avalon studios we consider the PM should make the time. The first sight to greet Scoop in the
Avalon foyer was ACT leader Rodney Hide wearing a slashed to the waist sparkly black shirt. Later on Scoop had the
pleasure of seeing former WINZ boss Christine Rankin involved in a slow dance of love wearing the sort of costume that
would probably have lead to a heart attack for her former boss Mark Prebble. See... Dancing With The Stars - The First Elimination [1] ALSO:Centrebet - Bookmaker Slashes Odds on Danyon Dancing Gold [2]
Civil Defence: Claims National Emergency Management Plan is a Manmade Disaster
- Canterbury’s Civil Defence Emergency Management Group has restated its concerns about the inadequacy of the new
National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, and will be asking other groups around the country and their regional
controllers to articulate their views. See... Emergency confusion concerns continue [1] ALSO:Ministry of Civil Defence - Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan supported [2] Emergency Response Systems Ltd - National Civil defence exercise is missing key communication component [3]
Arts: Wellington Arts Open Weekend Images
- This weekend, Wellington arts institutions opened their doors for the "Big Look-See", allowing the public a look at
what happens behind the scenes. Scoop's photography crew checked out some of what was on offer. See... Karim Sahai and Kelsi Doscher: Big Look-See Photos [1] ALSO:The Big Look See - Free Fun In Wellington [2] Scoop Images - Suits Painted for Arts Open Weekend [3]
Intelligence: Paul Buchanan on 'Potential' Threats
- In early April Director General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, Ambassador Richard Woods, presented
his 2005 annual report to the government. In it he highlighted the potential threat of local al-Qaeda sympathisers,
drawing direct parallels with the 2004 Madrid train bombings, 2005 London tube and bus bombers and the arrest of
purported jihadists in Australia. He urged vigilance against a threat that, if low at the moment, had the potential to
become real sometime in the indeterminate future. See... Of Myth and Reality in Terrorist Threat Assessment [1]
Some Of World’s Most Repressive Countries On Human Rights Council
- The 9 May 2006 election of 10 of the world's worst violators of free expression - Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
China, Cuba, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia - to be members of the UN's new Human Rights Council
was called a "scandal" today by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). "It is outrageous that 10 countries that violate the
rights of journalists and free expression on a massive scale should have been chosen to ensure that human rights are
protected throughout the world - we foresee nothing good coming from this council," the press freedom organisation said.
See... Most repressive countries on Human Rights Council [1] ALSO:Human Rights Council must work in global interest [2]
Fiji’s Rabuka Charged With Inciting Mutiny
- The former Fiji prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, has appeared in the Suva magistrate’s court charged with inciting
the November 2000 mutiny. Mr Rabuka was charged and arrested in Suva late last night on his return from medical
treatment in India and brought to a packed courtroom late this morning. Mr Rabuka has also been charged with attempting
to incite a person serving in the Fiji Military Forces, namely Lt Col Viliame Seruvakula, to commit a mutinous act aimed
at removing the military commander, Commodore Bainimarama. See... Fiji’s Rabuka charged with inciting mutiny [1]
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Fiji Votes In Peace But Police Gear Up For Result [1] Papuan office welcomes Vanuatu govt declaration [2] Papua minne: Indonesia lawmakers confirm pollution [3] Breakthrough: UN resumes food aid in DPR of Korea [4] Increased Israeli violation of Lebanon’s airspace [5]
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SCOOP COLUMNS
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Washington: George Bush's Political Advisor Karl Rove Indicted For Perjury
- Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald spent more than half a day Friday at the offices of Patton Boggs, the law firm
representing Karl Rove. During the course of that meeting, Fitzgerald served attorneys for former Deputy White House
Chief of Staff Karl Rove with an indictment charging the embattled White House official with perjury and lying to
investigators related to his role in the CIA leak case, and instructed one of the attorneys to tell Rove that he has 24
hours to get his affairs in order, high level sources with direct knowledge of the meeting said Saturday morning. See... Karl Rove Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Lying [1] and Rove Informs White House He Will Be Indicted [2] MORE: Evelyn Pringle - Evelyn Pringle: Rove and Fitzgerald Play Monopoly [3]
Utah: Suzan Mazur Gets Inside The Polygamy Protection Scandal
- It will take more than Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's "mea culpa" to the Los Angeles Times to clear him and other officials who are responsible for allowing polygamy to flourish up and down the US Rocky
Mountains, with Utah currently at the epicenter of sex cult activity. Why? Because America along with 182 other
countries is signatory to the 1979 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
recognizing that Polygamy Is A Human Rights Violation. See... Suzan Mazur: Most Wanted In Polygamy Coverup [1] RELATED: John R. Llewellyn - LDS Upset With Media's Reporting Of Mormonism [2]
Stateside: Rosalea Barker Marks Mothers Day With Some Pix
- I have only a cheap internet camera so these pix aren’t all that good, but hopefully you’ll get some idea of how the
recent months of rain and the subsequent warm, sunny weather of the last two weeks have brought out the best in the Bay
Area. See... Stateside: A Postcard and Flowers for Mothers Day [1] . See also... Stateside: Banana Sunday With A Sprinkling Of Nuts [2] MORE MOTHERS DAY COMMENT: Cindy Sheehan - A Perfect Mother's Day Gift [3] Kelpie Wilson - A Layer Cake for Mother's Day [4]
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:
Russell Brown & Ors. - Public Address 15/05/06 - Migraine Journalism [1] John Bishop - Communications Line of 12 May 2006 [2] John Roughan - Culture Of Impunity! [3] Toni Solo - Solidarity: Remembering Algeria And Fanon [4] William Fisher - Blocking Justice [5] , Can't We Have Any Fun Anymore? [6] & Our $2 Billion Leverage [7] Tel Aviv Notes - Coalition-Building In Iraq: Mission Impossible? [8] Greg Palast - The Spies Who Shag Us [9] Mark Bradley - Satire: The "Meet Your Maker" Package Getaway [10] BuzzFlash.Com - Wash Post "Fixes the Poll" by "Fixing Questions" [11] Doris Colmes - Saving The Internet Is Saving Freedom [12] Cindy Sheehan - Oh No, Canada! [13] & Evelyn Pringle - Bush Uses FDA To Shield Big Pharma From Lawsuits [14] Narconews - A Week After the Repression in Atenco [15] & Ordered To Lay Her Head In A Pool Of Blood [16] Sam Smith - Undernews: The Road Grows Shorter [17] Bill Berkowitz - Thinking Globally, Running Locally [18] Kamala Sarup - Child Marriages Are A Bad Practice [19] David Swanson - Bush Beats Out Nixon: Least Liked President Ever [20]
Film: Sonia Nettnin Covers The Chicago Palestine Film Festival
- In Director Rina Khoury's short film, "West...East," bombs explode in the distance. A young boy named Amer and his
blind mother walk amid trees, tall grass and bushes. Mother Azizeh uses a wooden cane. Scattered on the ground are
peoples' belongings: ... See... Sonia Nettnin Film Review: West...East [1] MORE CPFF FILM REVIEWS:Nettnin Film Review: Since You've Been Gone [2] Sonia Nettnin Film Review: The Fourth Room [3] Sonia Nettnin Film Review: Last Supper - Abu Dis [4] Sonia Nettnin Film Review: Improvisations [5] Sonia Nettnin Film Review: Yasmine’s Song [6]
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)
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POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS:
Molesworth & Featherston (Weekend) – May 12th 2006 [1] The Letter – Monday, 15 May 2006 [2] POLLS:TV3 News/TNS Opinion Poll May 2006 [3]
Employment: Former ACT Deputy Appreciates Government Funding
- Ken Shirley, the former deputy leader of Act, is returning to Wellington to take on a new challenge to implement a
strategy to grow domestic and export sales of organic products to a billion dollars by 2013. As Executive Director of
the recently established umbrella organisation, Organics Aotearoa New Zealand, Mr Shirley will co-ordinate a diverse
sector... See...New Act for Ken Shirley: Head of Organics Aotearoa [1]
Budget: Money for Buy Kiwi Made Campaign
- Funding of $11.5 million will be made available over the next three years to fund a Buy Kiwi-Made programme, Economic
Development Minister Trevor Mallard and Government Spokesperson for Buy Kiwi-Made Sue Bradford announced today. The Buy
Kiwi-Made programme was part of the post election cooperation agreement between the Government and the Green Party.
See... http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00319.htm [1] ALSO:ACT - Taxpayers Foot The Bill To Buy Kiwi Made [2] National Distribution Union - Buy Kiwi-Made will make a real difference [3] Council of Trade Unions - Consider the Many Benefits of Buying Kiwi Made [4] Clothing, Laundry and Allied Workers Union - Government Support for Manufacturing Praised [5] OTHER BUDGET NEWS:NZ Govt - New funding to plan fisheries management [6] Business Roundtable - Budget Should Address Sagging Growth Rate [7]
Environment: National Courts Green Vote, Plans to Have Environment Policy
- My simple message to this conference is that National can do a better job of protecting New Zealand’s environment and
ensure that we achieve that alongside our core goal of raising living standards. This afternoon I want to talk about
what recent polling data tells us about how New Zealanders think about the environment; about the strategic importance
of the Green vote; about how the Government is failing our environment; and some ideas that I am putting up for
discussion in the process of developing National Party environment policy. A Bluegreen Vision for NZ [1] Also at the Conference:Don Brash - What Really Matters [2] SCOOP FLASHBACK - Boycott Mobil Say Bluegreens [3]
Justice: MPs Front at 'Beyond Retribution' Conference
- The representatives of the five political parties who took part in a panel discussion on the possibility of a
multi-party accord, were urged by the 280 participants at a Law and Order Conference to continue the discussion... It
was clear that there had already been cross-party discussions on the issue, said Kim Workman, National Director, Prison
Fellowship New Zealand. What came through was that thought there may be some reservations around how the discussion
should proceed, it was a matter worth pursuing. See... Multi-Party Accord on Justice Reform Urged [1] ALSO:Prison Fellowship - Conference a landmark in the Prison Reform Debate [2] Prison Fellowship - Cross-party Political Support for Victims [3]
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
NZ Govt. - Cancer statistics released [1] National Party - Photos of nude rest home residents an outrage [2] NZ Govt. - Closing of Broadband Challenge Fund Applications [3] NZ Govt. - New funding to plan fisheries management [4] NZ Govt. - New report confirms that obesity is the challenge [5] Greens - Action must be taken against fouled chicken [6] National - Labour’s ideology stalls GP negotiations [7] NZ Govt. - NZ pushing for greater disarmament progress [8] National - Labour MPs not aware of powhiri policy [9] National - Waiting list cull patients ‘will die’ [10] National - A Bluegreen Vision for NZ [11] NZ Govt. - Hodgson congratulates Hamilton on fluoride result [12] NZ Govt. - Health Minister's Speech to Diabetes NZ conference [13] NZ Govt. - Funding boost for biodiversity [14]
POLITICAL COLUMNS
Bill English - Plain English, 15 May 2006 [1] Muriel Newman - Newman Weekly: Lucky for Some - 14 May 2006 [2] Don Brash - What Really Matters - 14 May 2006 [3]
ENDS