Another full moon equals another edition of Werewolf - Edition No. 6 (See...http://werewolf.co.nz/ ).

Dear Scoop Subscriber,

Hi and welcome to the sixth edition of Werewolf.

This issue contains two features about the Buckle tax review - which is shaping up as the defining event of the Key government's first term, in that the review will give John Key and Bill English the opportunity to make lasting changes to the structure of the New Zealand economy. What we’ll find out latre this month is what the Buckle working partry says they should do – sometime later in 2010 we will find out what the government picks up, and what it ignores from the recommendations.

Elsewhere in this issue. Glen Johnson reports from the Middle East about the outpouring of Iraqi refugees into Lebanon and Syria and James Robinson visits Samoa after the tsunami, as well as concluding his epic interview with Wellington musician Disasteradio. Nearly 40 years after the movie Chinatown made L.A.’s unscrupulous greed for water into the most famous environmental crime of the 20th century, Rosalea Barker reports on the current state of the wars over water rights in California. Brannavan Gnanalingham examines the state of soccer in New Zealand, and the risks and opportunities that World Cup participation will pose for the game in this country.

The new, expanded version of Cartoon Alley features new contributors Robyn Kenealy, Indira Neville and Leo Hupert, along with new work by regulars Tim Bollinger, Ned Wenlock, Mark O'Brien and Brent Willis.

At this time of the year, I’d like to pay a special debt of gratitude you to all the contributors, co-workers and readers who have been part of these first six issues – hope you have a great Christmas and holiday break, and hope to to see everyone again later in the month – since there are TWO full moons this month and we’ll have a small mini-edition up just after Christmas.

In general, Werewolf ‘thank you’ to Scoop.co.nz supporters, and a fresh outlet for writers and cartoonists.. If you’d like to be part of it, email me at gordon@werewolf.co.nz. and we can talk story ideas.

And a big thankyou to George McLellan for production and layout on this issue.

Cheers,

Gordon Campbell
Werewolf/Scoop

* P.S. As this month sees a blue moon appear (a 2nd Full Moon in a single month) Werewolf will be publishing a final 7th edition for the year on New Year's Eve (or thereabouts), making this issue the penultimate edition for the year.

Links to the full contents of this edition follow

Showdown over tax
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/showdown-over-tax/
The Greens’ Russel Norman on why the time for a capital gains tax has now come by Gordon Campbell
by Gordon Campbell

Legends of the Lost
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/legends-of-the-lost/
Why John Key and the Buckle tax review should continue to ignore Don Brash by Gordon Campbell
by Gordon Campbell

Fleeing into Limbo
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/fleeing-into-limbo/
Stories from the Iraqi diaspora in Lebanon and Syria by Glen Johnson
by Glen Johnson

Travelling Light : Samoa and tourism triste
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/travelling-light-samoa-and-tourism-triste/
Altruism and guilt in the sunshine
by James Robinson

Climbing the next mountain
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/climbing-the-next-mountain/
New Zealand soccer’s uphill challenge at the World Cup next year by Brannavan Gnanalingham
by Brannavan Gnanalingham

Navigating the Cultural Landscape
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/navigating-the-cultural-landscape/
Part two of interview with Wellington music legend Disasteradio by James Robinson
by James Robinson

Bringing it all back home
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/bringing-it-all-back-home/
A Kiwi helps salvage Britain’s system of justice by Gordon Campbell
by Gordon Campbell

Star Wearing
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/star-wearing/
Dressing in style on the Galactic outer rim by Gordon Campbell
by Gordon Campbell

From The Hood : Relax, everything’s fine!
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/from-the-hood-relax-everythings-fine/
We’ll put the world to rights By Lyndon Hood
by Lyndon Hood

Cartoon Alley
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/cartoon-alley/
Reviews, commentary and comics from local artists
by Werewolf

Cartoon Alley: Reviews and commentary #2…
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/11/reviews-and-commentary-2/
Contributions from Tim Bollinger, Indira Neville, Leo Hupert & Robyn Kenealy

Left Coasting : Wars for water
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/left-coasting-wars-for-water/
The battle to control California’s water By Rosalea Barker
by Rosalea Barker

Classics : Tales from Moominvalley ( 1962) by Tove Jansson
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/classics-tales-from-moominvalley-1962-by-tove-jansson/
The Moomins, and their gift of tolerance by Gordon Campbell
by Gordon Campbell

Talking Sport : King Roger, against the odds
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/talking-sport-king-roger-against-the-odds/
Surprisingly, 2009 was Roger Federer’s year by Lamont Russell
by Lamont Russell

The Complicatist : Make my week
http://werewolf.co.nz/2009/12/the-complicatist-make-my-week/
Getting to grips with TUnEYaRdS by Gordon Campbell
by Gordon Campbell

HOW YOU CAN HELP NZ JOURNALISM - WHY WEREWOLF?
from Scoop General Manager Alastair Thompson

Werewolf is all about finding a new way to enable quality journalism to thrive in an online environment and a key part of that effort is soliciting support from our readers.

Our estimate is that for every 300 monthly subscribers we gain we will be able to afford to employ one professional journalist. We have a way to go - but it is not such a high mountain to climb.

Already several Scoop readers have decided to subscribe on a recurring monthly basis. We thank them greatly. But more are needed.

The links to use to make donations via credit card are.

$10 Per Month Sustaining Subscription
http://scoop.co.nz/go/subscribe10.html

$15 Per Month Sustaining Subscription
http://scoop.co.nz/go/subscribe15.html

$25 Per Month Sustaining Subscription
http://scoop.co.nz/go/subscribe25.html

Or if you prefer you can set up an automatic payment to our bank account"
Automatic payment to our bank account:
Westpac - Scoop Media Ltd. 03-0502-0254668-000
We would also encourage you to consider approaching your friends to also become Scoop Sustaining Subscribers.

Become a Scoop Sustaining Subscriber - join the alternative to the mainstream media mind-set!

In the meantime we would be very keen to hear any feedback you have on the publication or this subscription project - please reply to this email or email werewolf@scoop.co.nz with suggestions, bouquets or brickbats. This is very much a work in progress and we are very keen to understand the subscriber perspective on this.

Best Regards

Alastair Thompson
Scoop.co.nz General Manager

© Scoop Media