95bFM: The Thursday Wire with Hamish Fletcher

The bFM WIRE Today: 12 - 2pm weekdays

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Coming up on the show:

1230 – Jim Anderton, MP Progressive Party

We’ve been reporting on the bFM news service this morning the sudden rise in tobacco excise tax which Parliament announced and agreed to last night, with little to no warning. The law change increases tax on cigarettes immediately by 10 per cent and will increase it by a further 10 percent each year for the next two years. The tax on roll-your-own tobacco also went up by 24 per cent over night, and will increase by 10 percent each year in 2011 and 2012. The tax hike was agreed to across Parliament, but not without comments on the seemingly hypocritical stance of the Government to be gun-ho in rising the tax on tobacco but not on alcohol. Jim Anderton was one MP who voiced this opinion and he joins me on the Wire at half twelve.

1245 – Joe Carolan, Socialist Aotearoa

Blair Peach was a New Zealand born teacher who was killed in April 1979 during an anti-racism protest in London. 14 witnesses came forward accusing the London Metropolitan Police of being responsible for his death, after seeing Peach being beaten by authorities. The findings of a police investigation into Peach’s death, undertaken by Commander John Cass from 1979-80, was made public this week, including findings that it was highly likely Peach’s death was caused by a blow to the head from police. Yet apparently at the time, there was not enough evidence to identify the officer responsible and to prosecute those involved. Even though the Cass report is now in the public sphere, commentators say a prosecution is still not very likely. To give us more background on Blair Peach and the ongoing campaign to have his killer brought to justice, I’ll be joined on the show by Joe Carolan of Socialist Aotearoa.

1310 – Detective Inspector Stu Alsopp-Smith

On Tuesday, police executed nationwide raids as part of Operation Lime, cracking down on businesses selling equipment that can be used to grow cannabis. An estimated 6000 cannabis plants have been seized since the raids began and around 250 people have been arrested and 750 charges laid. To discuss the raids and Operation Lime in more detail, I’ll be joined by Detective Inspector Stu Alsopp-Smith.

1330 – Dear Science, with Peter Griffin from the Science Media Centre
Dear Science is your weekly probe on the Wire into the world of science and technology. This week, Peter takes us over the fuss following the latest iPhone prototype being lost in a bar and we’ll also look at how the media has been covering the follow up investigation to the Climategate scandal.

1340 – Papercuts, with Pennie Black (thanks to MagNation)

This week on Papercuts, Pennie will review Uppercase magazine which claims to be inquisitive, inspired, adventurous, eclectic and playful. Pennie will tell us if it is all of these things and if it indeed cuts the mustard.

ENDS

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