Top Scoop Stories December 21st 2009 News Summary
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LEAD STORY------------
Protesters blockaded the New Zealand Stock Exchange this morning frustrated with global inaction on climate change and
critical of market-based systems being proposed to tackle the problem. Activists occupied an office on the second floor
of the exchange and nine people were arrested blockading the south entrance to the building.Another group of protestors
scaled the Foreign Affairs and Trade building and unfurled a large banner singling out Fonterra as an environmental
terrorist. More »[1]
ALSO:
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NZ POLITICS------------
A peer-reviewed Landscape Assessment of the Coromandel Peninsula completely contradicts statements by Energy and
Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee, that some Coromandel conservation land presently close to mining has low conservation
values and could be mined for gold. More »[1]
ALSO:
At a time of the year when family care and social generosity should be on everyone’s mind, we find Finance Minister Bill
English announcing the government’s intention to get tougher on welfare in 2010. More »[1]
ALSO:
The official geographic name for the city of Wanganui will be the alternatives ‘Whanganui’ or ‘Wanganui’, Minister for
Land Information Maurice Williamson announced today. “My intention to assign... More »[1]
ALSO:
Madam President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. New Zealand came to Copenhagen with great hope of achieving a
binding agreement that had developed and developing countries working together to respond to the challenges of climate
change. [Image: TV3 News] More »[1]
ALSO:
Comments Peter Jackson made at the press conference for his recent Lovely Bones premiere in Wellington – which, in odd counterpoint to the recent 2025 Task Force report by Don Brash, highlighted an
alleged need for New Zealand to keep up/catch up with Australian incentives on offer, or imminent. More »[1]
ALSO:
The Government is to make addressing the drivers of crime a whole-of-government priority, Justice Minister Simon Power
and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced today. More »[1]
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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH------------
The drowning of 30,000 animals during the sinking of the Panamanian-flagged ship Danny F II near Lebanon last week
serves as a harsh reminder to the New Zealand Government of why it should not allow this country’s live sheep trade to
resume. More »[1]
Watching the Copenhagen climate change summit from Wellington today brings to mind the Pineapple Lumps ad where the Kiwi
turns up late, hits the button, and is delighted to receive a toothsome booby prize while other countries make off with
the riches. More »[1]
Conservation staff at the groundbreaking ZEALANDIA eco-sanctuary in Wellington believe they have found the first New
Zealand falcons to have hatched in the city since the species disappeared as a breeding population in the Seventies. More »[1]
ALSO:
[2] - http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/otago/86523/trust-buys-28-farms-south?page=0%2C0" target="_blank [2]
[8] - http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/copenhagen-looking-for-a-breakthrough-its-in-the-leaders-hands/ [8]
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00468.htm [10]
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00473.htm [11]
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00467.htm [12]
- More »[1]
ALSO:
Retail investors need warning labels on high risk products, simpler disclosure documents, and a deeper range of choices
to put their money into, says the Capital Markets Development Taskforce, in its report released this morning by Commerce
Minister Simon Power. More »[1]
ALSO:
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00398.htm [10]
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00395.htm [11]
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COMMENT------------
Grand Ayatollah Hosein-Ali Montazeri has passed into the history of the Iranian Revolution as he was, potentially at
least, about to create another. Thirty years ago, he was a vital figure in unseating the Shah, and well placed within
the circle of the Ayatollah ... More »[1]
A Russian leader once said, the best way to conquer America is to dump a few inches of snow on Washington, D.C. Then
the people panic, the city and suburbs are paralyzed and nothing gets done. That is only partially true in this, the
great snowfall of... More »[1]
The verdict is in. Copenhagen proved that national governments and international institutions, even led by the
wunderkind Barack Obama, cannot and will not provide an adequate response to the man-made ecological crisis. More »[1]
With heavy defections from Blue Dog Democrats, the House of Representatives still narrowly passed Wednesday evening, 217
to 212, a $154 billion jobs package. It included funds for states to retain front-line workers, aid to the unemployed
and transportation ... More »[1]
It's all a game of deception in Washington where the truth often lies buried under meaningless and deceiving figures. No
where is that more obvious than in the bureau of labor statistics. More »[1]
The most recent pointers we have on Jackson’s thinking about the local film industry were comments he made at the press
conference for his recent Lovely Bones premiere in Wellington – which, in odd counterpoint to the recent 2025 Task Force
report ... More »[1]
A just and peaceful solution to the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict is only possible when the US ceases to block
every attempt made towards it. This assertion might raise many questions, for example, just how is one to define a just
and peaceful resolution? And for what reasons would the... More »[1]
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LIFESTYLE------------
The organisers of the Rugby World Cup have pulled out all the stops to bring the cream of international rugby to
grassroots New Zealand, Rugby World Cup Associate Minister Gerry Brownlee said today. More »[1]
ALSO:
Like most early New Zealand settlements, Wellington was sited on the edge of a good harbour... By 1900 it was
overcrowded, land prices were rising, and new suburbs were urgently needed on or beyond the hills. More »[1]
James Cameron’s Avatar has been hyped for years now and heralded as the next big thing in movie making. And with good
reason; visually this 3D epic is pretty damn mind-blowing… More »[1]
ALSO:
Wellington's Courtenay Place was closed off and carpetted today to celebrate the NZ Premiere of Peter Jackson's latest
movie, Lovely Bones. More »[1]
ALSO:
To mark the festive season, Statistics New Zealand has estimated the cost of traditional and barbecue Christmas dinners
for a family of two adults and two children. More »[1]
ALSO:
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WORLD------------
The ‘climate deal’ announced in Copenhagen today is a triumph of spin over substance said Oxfam International. The
agreement – which was announced by the US, India, China and South Africa - has not been endorsed by the EU and many
other countries. More »[1]
In 2002, Argentina was at the forefront of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights debate when it
became the first country in the region to allow same-sex civil unions. More »[1]
As a direct result of a citizens’ advocacy campaign in Catalonia, local politicians have approved a debate on changes to
the Catalan Animal Protection Law. Currently, all animals except bulls and horses used in bullfights are protected by
this legislation. More »[1]
The Samoan tsunami was the most closely followed news story in 2009 followed by the bushfires that devastated Victoria
in February. More »[1]
Global warming skeptics from CFACT yesterday pulled off an international climate caper using GPS triangulation from
Greenpeace's own on-board camera photos to locate and sail up long-side of the infamous Greenpeace vessel, Rainbow
Warrior. More »[1]
Southern Ocean - Sea Shepherd’s ship Steve Irwin is ten days at sea after departing Fremantle, Australia, and has had a
Japanese tail ship for nine of those days, the Shonan Maru No. 2. This Japanese security ship is reporting the Steve
Irwin’s location, ... More »[1]
ALSO:
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00516.htm [10]
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00456.htm [11]
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00485.htm [12]
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00487.htm [13]
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00480.htm [14]
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00473.htm [15]
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00462.htm [16]
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00461.htm [17]
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00460.htm [18]
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00459.htm [19]
[20] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00444.htm [20]
[21] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00432.htm [21]
[22] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00430.htm [22]
[23] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00428.htm [23]
[24] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00414.htm [24]
[25] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00420.htm [25]
[26] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00422.htm [26]
[27] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00424.htm [27]
[28] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00425.htm [28]
[29] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00378.htm [29]
[30] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00380.htm [30]
[31] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00390.htm [31]
[32] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00409.htm [32]
[33] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00418.htm [33]
[34] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00297.htm [34]
[35] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00355.htm [35]
[36] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00350.htm [36]
ENDS