Top Scoop Stories December 14th 2009 News Summary

Monday, 14 December 2009, 12:49 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

LEAD STORY

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Gordon Campbell: Tolley’s Last Stand & Those Mayoral Texts
Education Minister Anne Tolley is painting herself into a dangerous corner by threatening to sack the boards of trustees at any primary schools still refusing in February to implement the national standards.Tolley seems hellbent on treating the issue as one of disobedience of the law, which is a needlessly inflammatory form of crisis management.Right now, we are still at the point of bluffing and threats – but if anyone eventually falls in February, it is more likely to be her. More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/14/campbell-tolleys-last-stand-those-mayoral-text/

ALSO:

Untested Standards Will Force Tough Decisions [2]

Politically Motivated Jack-Up Says NS Mayor [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0912/S00033.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0912/S00187.htm [3]

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NZ POLITICS

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Greens: New Zealand Getting Left Behind In Copenhagen
New Zealand’s climate change targets are well below those being proposed at Copenhagen, said the Green Party today. “I have seen the draft negotiating text being discussed at Copenhagen. New Zealand’s stated targets are well below the four potential targets ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0912/S00215.htm

Copenhagen Diary #1
- More »[1]

[1] - http://blog.greens.org.nz/2009/12/12/copenhagen-diary-1/" target="_blank

ALSO:

Children at risk from climate change [2]

Tracking Nations' Pledges On Climate Change [3]

Copenhagen and NZ's ETS [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00266.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00273.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0911/S00181.htm [4]

Nocturnal Texting: "PLTCLY MVATED JK-UP" Says Mayor
North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams says a contrived report in the Sunday Star Times today relating to the odd infrequent night-time txt to the Prime Minister is a politically motivated jack-up by some political opponents. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0912/S00187.htm

Industrial Relations: There Is No Justice, Just Strikes
An ongoing national strike for adequate pay by staff of High Courts, District Courts and Tribunals must be resolved as quickly as possible, says the President of Auckland District Law Society Incorporated, Anna Fitzgibbon. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00147.htm

ALSO:

Ministry of Justice confirms end of bargaining [2]

Justice workers call on Ministry to resume negs [3]

Law society call for end to court pay dispute [4]

Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Speech [5]

David Swanson Obama's Rejection Speech [6]

The Nobel Speech Obama Should Have Given [7]

President Obama Must Earn Nobel Peace Prize [8]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00139.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00133.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/30522.html [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00228.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00106.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00108.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00307.htm [8]

Sugar-Free Drinks: Kedgley Still Not Happy
"The much touted agreement is more about public relations and spin than public health," Ms Kedgley said. "Children in schools will still be exposed to highly acidic, enamel-destroying fizzy drinks with addictive and controversial additives in them, despite this so-called accord." More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0912/S00195.htm

ALSO:

MP slams fizzy drink deal for schools [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/lifestyle/30515.html [2]

Copenhagen: Fossil Of The Day Award Makes Children Cry
New Zealand’s first Fossil of the Day award in Copenhagen came at the worst possible time for the New Zealand Youth Delegation (NZYD) after enjoying Young and Future Generations Day. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00152.htm

ALSO:

Developing countries stand up in Copenhagen [2]

Adapting to climate change in the Pacific [3]

Govt to consult with industry on ETS allocations [4]

Private Sector Must Support of Global Climate Deal [5]

Doctors say climate change real and demands action [6]

CLIMATE CHANGE – we’re all in the same boat [7]

ETS Deadlock, Cost Corrections [8]

[2] - http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/developing-countries-stand-up-in-copenhagen/ [2]

[3] - http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/adapting-to-climate-change-in-the-pacific/ [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0912/S00203.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00254.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00157.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.newswire.co.nz/in-depth/climate-change/" target="_blank [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0911/S00181.htm [8]

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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

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Real Estate: Houses Still Expensive, Really
Median house prices have more than doubled over the past 10 years, figures released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) reveal today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00315.htm

ALSO:

REINZ Monthly Housing Price Index [2]

Residential Highlights – November 2009 [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00314.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00316.htm [3]

Horticulture: Celery At Top Of "Dirty Dozen"
Celery is at the top of a food list as most likely to contain pesticide residues in New Zealand. As well as celery, a range of fruit, dairy products and bread are all ranked in the top dozen of foods which are more likely to contain pesticide residues. Close contenders behind this ‘dirty dozen’ were cucumber, nectarines, lettuce, tomatoes, wine and pears. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0912/S00032.htm

ALSO:

Justice workers call on Ministry to resume negs [2]

Ministry of Justice confirms end of bargaining [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00133.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00139.htm [3]

Of Interest: The Official Cash Rate Unchanged At 2.5%
Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said: "The New Zealand economy continues to recover but there remains considerable uncertainty about the durability of the expansion. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00231.htm

ALSO:

Tax reform and fiscal restraint key, says Bollard [2]

NZ Dollar jumps on Bollard hint of early rate hike [3]

Bollard says kiwi dollar still overvalued [4]

[2] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/10/tax-reform-and-fiscal-restraint-key-says-bollard/ [2]

[3] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/10/nz-dollar-jumps-on-bollard-hint-of-early-rate-hike/ [3]

[4] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/10/bollard-says-kiwi-dollar-still-overvalued/ [4]

Bollard keeps interest rates low...for now
- More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/30459.html

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COMMENT

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A Crusade Or Nothing: Brown And The Banks
It is seen as punitive, a populist reaction. There is little doubt that some people in the City end of London will think so. But Gordon Brown’s government is intent on winning votes by ‘supertaxing’ banks, exercising a veto over the payment of... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00120.htm

Uri Avnery: Spot The Difference
For anyone who has not yet found the answer: it’s the state of Prussia. But if some readers were tempted to believe that it all applies to the State of Israel – well, they are right, too. This description fits our state. The similarity between ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00124.htm

Tupuola Terry Tavita: Adapting To Climate Change In The Pacific
Despite what will be said and argued next week in Copenhagen, climate change due to a warming globe is irrefutable. The impact of climate change in all its forms and manifestations is more lucidly apparent in... More »[1]

[1] - http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/adapting-to-climate-change-in-the-pacific/

Martin LeFevre: The Nobel Speech Obama Should Have Given
Fellow citizens of the world, I stand before you in a time of undeclared war to accept the world’s greatest commendation for peace. It is in this contradiction we, the peoples of the world, find... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00108.htm

ALSO:

Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Speech [2]

Just Wars and Obama’s Nobel [3]

Obama's Peace Prize (+ Al Quaeda) [4]

Obama's Rejection Speech [5]

Copenhagen Cartoons [6]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00228.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00113.htm [3]

[4] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/11/gordon-campbell-obamas-peace-prize-al-quaeda/ [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00106.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00069.htm [6]

A Fair Adjectival Cow: Why cubicle farming is a really bad idea
A handy guide to Newzild, issued to US servicemen during the war, says that ''a fair cow'' or, more forcefully, ''a fair adjectival cow'', means “an unpleasant man, woman or situation”. It's exactly the right term, I reckon, to describe the plan to house... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00103.htm

Ramzy Baroud: The Hypocrisy Of Al-Demoqratia
In 2004, France banned headscarves and school principals chased after young ''defiant'' Muslim girls who continued to cover their heads in school. Now, following a national referendum, Switzerland has banned the construction of minarets, because minarets... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00104.htm

ALSO:

Banning Minarets in Switzerland [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00038.htm [2]

Reuben Steff: The Afghanistan Surge and Dubious Rationales
Speaking recently at West Point US President Barack Obama laid out his new strategy for the Afghan war that includes injecting an additional 30,000 troops into the country. He said that this is to be done for two reasons: The first is to deny Al Qaeda... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00115.htm

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LIFESTYLE

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Glitz, etc.: Lovely Bones, Dodgy Traffic
Film fans will be treated to a red carpet appearance from Academy Award winning director Peter Jackson and The Lovely Bones actors including Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon, Oscar-nominated Saoirse Ronan, Rose McIver and Carolyn Dando at the film’s premiere. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0912/S00184.htm

Susan Sarandon and Saoirse Rohan discuss The Lovely Bones and NZ
- More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/30579.html

13/12/39: Battle Of The River Plate Commemorated
Six veterans of the Battle of the River Plate will be joining the Royal New Zealand Navy this weekend for the 70th Anniversary Commemoration of the battle. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00155.htm

ALSO:

Battle of the River Plate commemorated [2]

Online Resource on the Battle of River Plate [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0912/S00174.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0912/S00143.htm [3]

Film Review: None Too Precious
What is one to make of this extraordinarily gritty, brutal film by Lee Daniels? An obese 16-year-old girl from Harlem is cooking for her abusive, welfare-addicted mother in a room that rarely sees the light of day. The mother hurls an object at ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00075.htm

Sport: Kiwis Dominate Freediving Champs
New Zealand Freedivers have shown the world, that when it comes to going deep, those from down under truely have what it takes. Over 2 seperate events held in Denmark and The Bahamas, Kiwi Freedivers have won a total of 9 medals, out of a possible 22, hauling the highest Medal Tally of any country, and cementing NZ's place as the leading freedivers in the world. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0912/S00100.htm

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WORLD

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World Environment: Future Of Humanity Hinges On Conference, Ban Says
The outcome of the historic United Nations climate change conference under way in Copenhagen will have reverberations for the future of humanity and the planet, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00177.htm

ALSO:

Copenhagen Talks Heading Towards Agreement [2]

Progress Made On Technology In Copenhagen [3]

Adapting to Climate Change [4]

Children at risk from climate change [5]

Oxfam: The Price Of Success In Copenhagen [6]

Causes of Climate Change not 'Settled' [7]

Climategate Used to Settle 'Vendetta,' says Mann [8]

Bombshell UN Documents Outline Climategate [9]

Copenhagen And The Quest For Climate Justice [10]

Climate Change Conference Kicks Off In Copenhagen [11]

Ambitious International Climate Change Deal [12]

Obama Decision To Attend Copenhagen [13]

Statement On Climate Change Conference [14]

Protecting The Planet On International Day [15]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00242.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00252.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00256.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00266.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00117.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00150.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00145.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00208.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00146.htm [10]

[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00125.htm [11]

[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00113.htm [12]

[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00087.htm [13]

[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00086.htm [14]

[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00085.htm [15]

Democracy: Barriers To The Ballot: The 2008 Election
2008 was a banner year for U.S. democracy and its elections. Many states saw record increases in voter registration – particularly among minority and youth voters – and record increases in voter turnout. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00265.htm

Environmentalism: World Bank Launches ‘Green’ Index Of Businesses
The private sector arm of the World Bank today launched the first ever eco-friendly stock market index that allows investors to track the carbon efficiency of companies doing business in emerging economies. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00251.htm

Global Trade: Tough Times Ahead For Shipping Industry
Around 80 per cent of global trade is transported by sea but challenging times are ahead for the shipping industry, which is faced with a surge in the supply of vessels and tumbling freight rates amid the economic crisis More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00178.htm

Ban Ki-Moon: Efforts To Thwart Rebels In Eastern DR Congo
Progress in bringing stability to the war-wracked east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is mixed, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00183.htm

World Can't Wait: Obama War Escalation Speech: War = Peace
The U.S. organization “The World Can’t Wait,” having organized weeks of protest against President Barack Obama’s escalation of troops to Afghanistan, said today: More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00159.htm

ENDS

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Top Scoop Stories December 14th 2009 News Summary