INDEPENDENT NEWS

Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Published: Wed 24 May 2006 04:42 PM
Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics
TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Human Rights: United Nations Seeks Closure Of Gitmo – Again
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
RECOMMENDED AUDIO:
Education and Health: Report Says Good Food Helps Learning
Corrections: Department Management to be Reviewed
Environment: Nandor 'n' Fitz Tag-Team Attacks Environ-Ministry's Publication Costs
Dancing with the MP: Is Rodney Hiding from Parliament?
Kiwi Pride: Popular Chelsea Garden Gets Kiwi Visual Treats -
MORE HEADLINES:
Politics: PM Has Short Pre-Caucus Chinwag With Press
Palestine: Who’s Guilty?
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
SCOOP COLUMNS:
Polygamy: Senator Orrin Hatch – Polygamy Apologist - Exposed
Public Relations: Dennis Hastert Illustrates What Not To Say To A Taxpayer
Immigration: Who's Afraid Of The Mexicans?
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:
OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
Leak Watch: Nats Cite Cunliffe's Leaky History
Charity: Auction Sets Market Value of Brash Lunch
Race Relations: Clark Waxes Lyrical on Te Atairangikaahu Anniversary
Legislation: Smacking Proponents Sieze on Bradford Comments
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
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Human Rights: United Nations Seeks Closure Of Gitmo – Again

For the second time this year, a United Nations body has chastised the United States for its torture of prisoners and told it to close its prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. In February, the UN Human Rights Commission criticized the US government for force-feeding hunger strikers there - calling it torture - and urged the United States to "close the Guantánamo Bay detention facilities without further delay." See... Marjorie Cohn: UN to US: Close Guantanamo! [1] ALSO:Launch Of Amnesty International Report 2006 [2]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00317.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00243.htm
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:
Questions for Oral Answer - Wednesday, 24 May 2006 [1] Questions and Answers - Tuesday, 23 May 2006 [2]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00566.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00559.htm
RECOMMENDED AUDIO:


Scoop Audio: Selwyn Manning on Radio Adelaide discusses: 2006 Budget fallout;
[1] Mountain climber Mark Inglis being criticised for not helping dying climber; RAMSI criticised for failing Solomons.

RDU Audio: Scoop's Kevin List discusses with RDU's Wammo:
[2] Mark Inglis - Private NZ prison and Australia's Detention Camps - Rodney Hide…

RDU Audio:Wammo talks to PM Helen Clark.
[3]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00354.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00348.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00347.htm
Education and Health: Report Says Good Food Helps Learning
- The kids are so much easier to teach. If an army marches on its stomach; kiwi kids’ learn on theirs, according to new research published by the Obesity Action Coalition The report that will be released at the Agencies for Nutrition Action Nutrition and Physical Activity Forum in Invercargill on Thursday reviews the research on how children’s eating affects their school performance. See... Report: Nutrition impacts on Learning [1] ALSO:The Report: Executive Summary (PDF) [2] Green Party - Tuckshop food detrimental to learning [3]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0605/S00095.htm
[2] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0605/ExecSummary.pdf
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00567.htm
Corrections: Department Management to be Reviewed
- New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark has welcomed the Government's announcement of a review of the Corrections Department's Head Office. “We have been asking the Minister for some time to look closely at Head Office, and we are pleased that he has accepted the need for this review," said Mr Mark. See... Mark Welcomes Corrections Shake-Up [1] ALSO:The Maori Party - Maori Party Congratulates Kaumatua for Stand [2] New Zealand National Party - Get over opposition to private prison [3]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00581.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00586.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00583.htm
Environment: Nandor 'n' Fitz Tag-Team Attacks Environ-Ministry's Publication Costs
- An expensive Ministry for the Environment publication has been slammed by the Green Party as "complacent pap" and a waste of taxpayers' money. The Party's Environment Spokesperson Nandor Tanczos says that the $125,000 spent on printing and distribution, plus unknown staff time, could have been better spent on a publication that would have been useful for people. See... Ministry puff piece a waste of taxpayer dollars [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00578.htm
Dancing with the MP: Is Rodney Hiding from Parliament?
People were justifiably outraged in the 1996 Parliamentary term, when Alliance MP Alamein Kopu notoriously abandoned her party mid-term, gave her proxy to the minority National government, and was never seen around Parliament again (despite continuing to collect her MP's salary). Now, it seems to be happening again - and the culprit this time is the perkbuster himself, Rodney Hide. See... Where's Rodney? [1] ALSO:Russell Brown - Public Address - Twinkling Toes On The Taxpayer (Also: Evil Telecom tries to shut down critics) [2] Rodney And Krystal - Rodney's Raw Hide Canterbury Tour [3] Images - Hide Lives To Dance Again - Gurney A Goner [4] Centrebet - Queen Bea Abdicates... David New Dancing King [5] Images - Dancing With The Stars - The First Elimination [6]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00360.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00359.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0605/S00224.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00310.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00494.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00213.htm
Kiwi Pride: Popular Chelsea Garden Gets Kiwi Visual Treats -
A striking New Zealand ‘human bird’ flown to London by Air New Zealand captivated VIP guests and top media from around the world yesterday at the opening of the 2006 Chelsea Flower Garden Show. An embodiment of New Zealand beauty, ‘Bird of the Sea’, a never-before-seen piece of WearableArt, was unveiled at Tourism New Zealand’s 100% Pure New Zealand Garden at Chelsea. See...Air New Zealand unveils live ‘human bird’ [1] ALSO: NZ Govt - Chelsea silver a real plus for New Zealand tourism [2] Tourism New Zealand - Surfers Promote Gardening Olympics [3]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00523.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00564.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00230.htm
MORE HEADLINES:
Peters concludes PNG visit [1] Singapore Honours Former NZDF Chief Ferguson [2] Grey Power Backs Nats Attacks "Pen Pushers" [3] More People Watching TV [4] Victoria Uni Press: Are Angels OK? [5]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00574.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00252.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00247.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00535.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0605/S00226.htm
Politics: PM Has Short Pre-Caucus Chinwag With Press
- Yesterday a flotilla of top brass from the Labour Party, including the Prime Minister, visited Turangawaewae Marae to honour the 40th anniversary of the coronation of the Maori Queen. Because of this regal visit the Prime Minister did not have her regular Monday afternoon post cabinet press conference. However on the way to Labour's caucus this morning the PM gave assorted members of the press her views on a number of recent happenings. See... PM Gives Short Pre-Caucus Presser – 23.05.06 [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00331.htm
Palestine: Who’s Guilty?
- THOSE WHO listened to the radio news last Saturday heard a stunning report: that Muhammad Abu-Ter and Uri Avnery had barricaded themselves together in a private home in a-Ram. The very fact that these two - the No. 2 man of Hamas and the notorious Israeli leftist - were together was already shocking enough. But the fact that they had invaded the home of an innocent Palestinian family and barricaded themselves there, like criminals fleeing from the police, was even more staggering. This false news item would, perhaps, deserve no special mention, if it were not typical of the whole media coverage, not only of this specific demonstration, but of all joint demonstrations of Israeli peace activists and Palestinians. See... Who's guilty? The victim of course: Palestine [1] ALSO:Israel: The "Only Democracy in the Middle East"? [2]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00442.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00443.htm
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Annual Australia-New Zealand Defence Talks [1] AU’s Bold Decision to Welcome UN Peacekeepers to Darfut [2] Coup Convict Looks For New Beginning in Fiji [3] Phone Taps in US and Newsroom Spying in Germany [4] UN officials welcome formation of Iraq's new Govt [5]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00437.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00444.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00439.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00428.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0605/S00427.htm
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SCOOP COLUMNS
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Polygamy: Senator Orrin Hatch – Polygamy Apologist - Exposed
- Last week on these pages I cited a polygamy political coverup, which includes US Senator Orrin Hatch (Rep-UT), who is on record as condoning polygamy. With US Senator Patrick Leahy (Dem-VT) several days after the Scoop story appeared taking on Hatch over Hatch's now-infamous polygamy comments at a southern Utah town meeting in April 2003, just 35 miles from the fundamentalist Mormon polygamy cult's headquarters in Utah, and Hatch in denial about the statements -- I decided to revisit the event by contacting questioners present at the time. I also took another look at published reports of the meeting. See… Reports Reconfirm Hatch Said He Condones Polygamy [1] . See also... Scoop Link: Leahy Takes On Hatch Over Polygamy [2] & Suzan Mazur: Most Wanted In Polygamy Coverup [3]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00364.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00335.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00244.htm
Public Relations: Dennis Hastert Illustrates What Not To Say To A Taxpayer
- In a debate over extending tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, Dennis Hastert justified the rip-off of the middle class and poor with these words: "well, folks, if you earn $40,000 a year and have a family of two, you don't pay any taxes. So you probably if you don't pay any taxes, you are not going to get a big tax cut. Now, if you earn $1 million a year, you are going to pay about $400,000 of taxes. Maybe you'll get a $40,000 tax cut ..." See... Hastert Gave the Dems the House, If They Want It [1]

Catherine Austin Fitts On Who Is REALLY Winning The War In Iraq
[2] - I never cease to be amazed at the extent to which successful policies are portrayed as failed policies, and the transfer of public resources to private parties are spun as the result of government and bureaucratic “incompetence.” Recent financial headlines are full of news of record profits by oil companies and strong stock performance, proof positive that the invasion of Iraq has been successful. See... The Real Deal: The Great "Incompetency" Heist [3]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00350.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00345.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00345.htm
Immigration: Who's Afraid Of The Mexicans?
- Whenever a new crisis develops in an election year and it's not nature's or the stock market's fault, the odds are pretty good that it's not a crisis. Witness the sudden discovery of immigrants, a much more comfortable topic for some than Iraq, global warming, globalization, or runaway corporate greed. See... When Was The Last Time A Mexican Cut Your Pension? [1] MORE SAM SMITH: Sam Smith: The Politics Of Anger [2]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00333.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00332.htm
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:
Russell Brown & Ors.. - Public Address 23/05/06 - You Have Been Warned [1] Scoop Link - Wired Defies Court Publishes Spy Docs [2] Marjorie Cohn - The Hayden Charade [3] William Rivers Pitt - Just Don't Tell 'Em You Know Me [4] Martin LeFevre - Meditations: Goliath vs. Global Governance [5] Bernard Weiner - Cheney Testifies To Truth & Reconciliation Com. [6] David Swanson - So, How WOULD a Patriot Act? [7] Jason Miller - Slaves to the "Free Market" Unite [8] Remi Kanazi - Multilateral Collusion [9] Ramzy Baroud - Palestinian Catastrophe- Myths Revisited [10] Translation by Sol Salbe - Withdrawal To 1967 borders Will Lead To Peace [11] Kamala Sarup - Violence Threat to Nepalese Tourism [12] & Nepal's Relations with China & India [13] Toni Solo - Social Justice & Economic Integration In S.America [14] Dahr Jamail - Easily Dispensable - Iraq's Children [15] William Fisher - Pain Management - A Double Standard? [16] Uri Avnery - Who's Guilty? The Victim Of Course [17] Sheila Samples - Nature Of The Beast [18]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00344.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00343.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00342.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00361.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00358.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00357.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00356.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00355.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00353.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00352.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00349.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00351.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00334.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00340.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00339.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00338.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00337.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00336.htm
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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)
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Leak Watch: Nats Cite Cunliffe's Leaky History
- National Party Leader Don Brash says David Cunliffe’s latest gaffe over Telecom shows he’s failed to learn from past mistakes after being told off by a judge last year over his handling of sensitive information. See... Cunliffe fails to learn from past mistakes [1] ALSO:United Future NZ Party - Telecom must share blame for unbundling leak [2] New Zealand National Party - National welcomes Cunliffe remarks probe [3] National - Clark endorses reckless Minister [4] Securities Commission - Securities Inquiry to Include Cunliffe Comments [5] Department of PM and Cabinet - Systems and Security Review Terms of Reference [6]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00549.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00546.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00500.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00514.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00463.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00213.htm
Charity: Auction Sets Market Value of Brash Lunch
- With nearly 100,000 visits and 6,000 bids, the RNZFB's online charity auction, Blind Bid, raised over $50,000 for blind, deafblind and vision-impaired New Zealanders. "It was great to watch the bidding and the prices going up and up and a grand total of $50,615 is something to definitely write home about!" says Julie McMeeken, RNZFB National Events Co-ordinator and Blind Bid organiser. See... $50,000 raised in online charity auction for blind [1]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0605/S00154.htm
Race Relations: Clark Waxes Lyrical on Te Atairangikaahu Anniversary
- Te Arikinui, rau rangatira ma, tena koutou. It is good to be back on the mahau of Maahinarangi, at Turangawaewae, nestled on the banks of the Waikato River. I pay my respects to Te Ao Peehi Kara, Bishop Max Mariu, and all others who have passed away since my last visit here. See... PM: Address at 40th Koroneihana Anniversary [1] ALSO:New Zealand National Party - A symbol of peace and unity for our nation [2]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00517.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00554.htm
Legislation: Smacking Proponents Sieze on Bradford Comments
- National Party Families spokeswoman Judith Collins says the public will want to know whether Helen Clark has also changed her view on the Green-sponsored bill to ban smacking. “In February, Helen Clark said the issue had been ‘crudely and wrongly represented in the media’. Now the Greens have accepted they were wrong, has the Prime Minister?” See... Has Clark changed her tune too? [1] ALSO:Family Integrity - Truth is Catching Up [2] Society For Promotion Of Community Standards Inc. - Dishonesty in anti-smacking bill agenda [3] Family First Lobby. - What does Sue Bradford really mean? [4] Scoop Link - Frogblog: It’s only what she’s said all along… [5]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00532.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00248.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00244.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0605/S00238.htm
[5] - http://blog.greens.org.nz/index.php/2006/05/23/its-only-what-shes-said-all-along/
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
Office of the Speaker - Parliamentary broadcasts to be extended [1] NZ Govt - Peters names next Ambassador to the Netherlands [2] NZ Govt - Cunliffe: Telecommunications in Fast Forward [3] NZ Govt - Minister: Family support telephone pilot [4] NZ Govt - Cullen - Independent Financial Review Relaunch [5] NZ Govt - Who to believe – the OECD or the National? [6] National - NZ First, United Future, must oppose new tax [7] National - Dysfunctional Health Ministry loses control [8] National - Why the Treaty clause for optometrists? [9] National - Budget biosecurity funding a sham [10] Progressive - Brash's cultural cringe reminiscent of Sir Joh [11] Progressive - Benefits likely in official BSE freedom status [12] ACT - Budget Crumbs For Auckland Roads [13] Maori Party - Shock at loss of Maori Development Programmes [14] Maori Party - Sharples: National identity - whose identity? [15] Greens - Commuters wait while Cullen is stuck in slow lane [16] Greens - Dismal state of psychiatric housing highlighted [17] Greens - Paying properly for aged care [18]
[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00577.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00573.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00563.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00562.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00560.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00553.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00561.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00565.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00582.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00545.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00580.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00570.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00579.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00555.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00552.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00557.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00539.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0605/S00538.htm
ENDS
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.
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