Top Scoop Stories - 24 September 2007 News Summary

Monday, 24 September 2007, 2:01 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - September 24, 2007

LEAD STORY:

Scoop Doco: From Beyond The Rabble-Free Fence

NZ POLITICS:

Politics: National To Consider SOE "Mixed Model"
Climate Change Policy: NZ Unveils Carbon Credit Trading
Loval Govt: Waitakere Attempts To 'Give Peace A Chance'
Police: Boy Racing And Random Stabbings In Godzone Over Weekend
Milkgate: White Gold Still Cool To Drink - NZFSA

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Tourism: Waihi Hopes That 'There Be Gold' In New Venture
Economy: Trade More Balanced Than Expected<
Finance: Getting the best banking deal for small businesses
Business News: Credit Union Person of the Year announced

WORLD:

Touching On Burma: Secretary Rice With Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi
Cool News: U.S.-Russia Agreement on Polar Bear Conservation
Mercury Rising: Protests By Monks, Nuns And Civilians Escalate In Rangoon
Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi Makes Rare Appearance
Last Words: Conference Ends With Strong Support For The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

COMMENT:

Dr. Abbas Bakhtiar: Consequences of a forced regime change in Iran
Sherwood Ross: How Powerful Is "Israeli Lobby" In The U.S?
Jason Leopold: Experts say Schwarzenegger Plan, Industry Give-Away
George Lakoff: Oil and Betrayal in Iraq
David Swanson: Where to Spend Iraq Moratorium Day / Intl. Day of Peace
Photo Essay: Ethiopians Celebrate Millennium

LIFESTYLE:

Fitness News: New Race for Cycle Enthusiasts
No Budget Films: Waikato Film Nominated for Best Foreign Feature!
Sport/Oddspot: Chinese Army Falls In Love With Footy
Retirement: Lashings Of Life in Puppeteering Octagenarian
Writers News: Centre of Modern Writing - Shadbolt House

Scoop Doco: From Beyond The Rabble-Free Fence - Scoop Video Doco:< Distance seems to be the reason why Australia's prime minister John Howard is losing popularity. He labeled many Sydneysiders "rabble" for objecting to his APEC showcase, but as 8-10,000 gathered in Central-Sydney Scoop found they had one common message in reply: "Peace!" Here is the story from the other side of the "Rabble-Free" fence... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00404.htm

Politics: National To Consider SOE "Mixed Model" - The National Party says it will consider selling parts of New Zealand's state owned power companies if it forms the Government next year. Speaking on TV One's "Agenda" National Deputy Leader Bill English said; ".clearly those kinds of assets are very topical at the moment, some of them are running very well, they're making substantial profits for Government.. Yeah we'd look at partial floats of those." More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - National's privatisation policy exposed [2]
• NZ Govt - English contradicts himself on SOE fire sale [3]
• Agenda - Bill English IV Transcript [4]
• Agenda - National To Consider SOE "Mixed Model" [5]
• English - Climate Change For The "Political Elite" [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0709/S00320.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0709/S00400.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0709/S00413.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0709/S00321.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0709/S00320.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0709/S00323.htm

Climate Change Policy: NZ Unveils Carbon Credit Trading - (Video + Images) - Video on demand of this morning's media briefing on the government's newly announced Emissions Trading scheme - the centerpiece to NZ's efforts to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Treaty. More >>> [1]

More Coverage:

• Scoop Audio + Images - Ministers Talk Up Emissions Trading Scheme [2]
• Scoop Audio Fitzsimons on Emission Trading Scheme [3]
• (TV3):Govt's new carbon credit trading policy unveiled [4]
• No Right Turn - Climate Change - Preliminary Analysis [5]
• See also... SCOOP FULL COVERAGE: Emmissions Scheme Launch [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00362.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00366.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00363.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/1634.html
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00364.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00370.htm

Loval Govt: Waitakere Attempts To 'Give Peace A Chance' - Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres acknowledged Waitakere Council for its city for peace initiative. Waitakere city mayor Bob Harvey presented the declaration at a civic ceremony to celebrate United Nations International Day of Peace today. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Waitakere City - City for Peace Declaration [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0709/S00324.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0709/S00281.htm

Police: Boy Racing And Random Stabbings In Godzone Over Weekend - Christchurch Police ran a high profile campaign targeting Boy Racers over the nights of 21 and 22 September 2007 to coincide with an increase in Boy Racer activity associated with a car show. The Operation was run in conjunction with vehicle testing officers from Land Transport New Zealand, and Ministry of Justice Collections staff. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Stabbing And Pedestrian Fatality In New Plymouth [2]
• Canterbury - Missing Person [3]
• Whangarei: reported rape attack investigated [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0709/S00277.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0709/S00284.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0709/S00291.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0709/S00290.htm

Milkgate: White Gold Still Cool To Drink - NZFSA - The New Zealand Food Safety Authority's (NZFSA) expert opinion that milk, whether A1 or A2, remains safe to drink has not changed after careful consideration of Keith Woodford's book. "The book provides no evidence that would lead us to change our opinion that milk is anything but safe," says Dr Donald Campbell, NZFSA Principal Adviser. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Prof Woodword - Shifting from A1 to A2 milk [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0709/S00088.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0709/S00089.htm

Tourism: Waihi Hopes That 'There Be Gold' In New Venture - New Zealand is to get a $20 million gold discovery centre designed to attract additional tourist spending and provide a mid-way stopover between the visitor hot points of Auckland and Rotorua. The Waihi Gold Discovery Centre is to be built on the rim of the Martha Mine at the top of Waihi's main street and only metres from State Highway 2. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Waihi Gold Discovery Centre - The Background [2]
• Waihi Gold Centre - About the participants [3]
• The Waihi Gold Discovery Centre The experience [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00431.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00432.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00433.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00434.htm

Economy: Trade More Balanced Than Expected< - The seasonally adjusted current account deficit decreased by $162 million in the June 2007 quarter, down to $3,415 million, Statistics New Zealand said today. More >> [1]

ALSO:
• NZ Govt - Balance of payments reinforces need for KiwiSaver [2]
• J P Morgan - NZ current account deficit widened in 2Q [3]
• NZ Wool Services - Wool values gain on the dollar [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00366.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0709/S00354.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00377.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00386.htm

Finance: Getting the best banking deal for small businesses - Four out of five small businesses could be paying more than they need to in bank charges, say Waikato Management School finance researchers. But they say making the right choice isn't easy as banks use different fee structures, and costs vary. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00419.htm

Business News: Credit Union Person of the Year announced - Janet Gibb, CEO of Credit Union Waikato was named Credit Union Person of the Year at the New Zealand Association of Credit Unions' conference and AGM in Rotorua on 15 September. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0709/S00371.htm

Touching On Burma: Secretary Rice With Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi - About the rising protests in Burma: "We are watching very carefully and the President has been very outspoken about what is happening in Burma. The Burmese people deserve better. They deserve a life to be able to live in freedom, just as everyone does. And the brutality of this regime is well known, and so we will be speaking about that and I think the President will be speaking about it with many of his colleagues" Secretary Rice. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00589.htm

Cool News: U.S.-Russia Agreement on Polar Bear Conservation - An agreement between the governments of the United States and Russia to protect the shared Alaska-Chukotka polar bear population became effective on September 23, 2007. The agreement calls for the active involvement of native people in both countries in managing the polar bear population. It will enhance long-term joint efforts in the conservation of the species and its habitats, and will also require biological data collection. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00563.htm

Mercury Rising: Protests By Monks, Nuns And Civilians Escalate In Rangoon - Buddhist monks, accompanied by civilians, march on a street in a protest against the military government in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, 23 Sept. 2007 Thousands of Buddhist monks have been joined by an equal number of civilians, marching in Burma's commercial capital, Rangoon, for a sixth consecutive day. Analysts are concerned the military may soon use violence to end the protests - as it has in the past. The rallies began six days ago and have steadily increased in size. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00582.htm

Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi Makes Rare Appearance - Detained pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, appeared at her front gate yesterday as several hundred courageous monks marched through barricades blocking access to her home in Rangoon. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Burma Protests Escalate [2]
• Burma At Crossroads [3]
• UN Needs To Act Fast [4]
• No Choice But Dialogue [5]
• Images: Burma Monks Protest [6]
• Generals Play Waiting Game [7]
• Monks Step Up Pressure [8]
• Monks Defy Junta [9]
• Free Aung San Suu Kyi [10]
• Burmese Generals Gag Opposition [11]
• Heavy Prison Sentences [12]
• Burmese National Convention Ends [13]
• More Protests Over Inflations [14]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00574.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00582.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00573.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00572.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00562.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00455.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00539.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00426.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00453.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00382.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00385.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00259.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00095.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0708/S00618.htm

Last Words: Conference Ends With Strong Support For The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty - The 5th Conference to promote the CTBT has concluded with urgent calls for hold-out States to sign and ratify the Treaty. A strongly worded Final Declaration was adopted on the final day of the Conference with a clear political message in support of the Treaty, describing the ban on nuclear testing as an "effective measure of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects".More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0709/S00575.htm

Dr. Abbas Bakhtiar: Consequences of a forced regime change in Iran - "Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace." (Charles Sumner)... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00442.htm

Sherwood Ross: How Powerful Is "Israeli Lobby" In The U.S? - Some answers may be contained in "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy"(Farrar, Straus & Giroux), by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, reviewed in the Sept. 23 New York Times, and "Rulers and Ruled in The U.S. Empire," subtitled "Bankers, Zionists, Militants" by James Petras, just published by Clarity Press. Mearsheimer teaches at the University of Chicago and Walt teaches at Harvard... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00440.htm

Jason Leopold: Experts say Schwarzenegger Plan, Industry Give-Away - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's $12 billion health care plan is a flawed piece of legislation that would place an enormous financial burden on low-income families and individuals while enriching the coffers of the country's largest insurance ... More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Jason Leopold - Schwarzenegger Leads on California Health Reform [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00428.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00414.htm

George Lakoff: Oil and Betrayal in Iraq - Alan Greenspan should know. It was oil all along. The former head of the Federal Reserve writes in his memoir, "The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World," "I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil." Greenspan even advised Bush that "taking Saddam Hussein out was essential" to protect oil supplies... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00419.htm

David Swanson: Where to Spend Iraq Moratorium Day / Intl. Day of Peace - Note: it says this is open to the public, but if you contact the staffer listed below he'll tell you that they will only allow people holding capitol hill press passes to use laptops. Token members of the public can cram in the back of the room but cannot use computers. They're obviously tackling all significant dangers at once: armed outlaw mercenaries, corrupt war profiteers, and bloggers... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00417.htm

Photo Essay: Ethiopians Celebrate Millennium - Photo Essay: At midnight on September 12 Ethiopians the world over celebrated their new millennium. The Ethiopian calendar, the Ge'ez, is based upon the older Alexandrian or Coptic calendar. It has 12 months of 30 days, plus 5 extra days -and every 4 years. The Ethiopian government used the uniqueness of the event to try and raise international awareness of Ethiopia, which had suffered through years of conflict and poverty. Projects to help the country such as the opening of reserves were run and an... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00416.htm

Fitness News: New Race for Cycle Enthusiasts - Tarmac lovers are building up for New Zealand's newest and most scenic cycle race at Twizel. The 4 Lakes - Tekapo Canal Road Race début is to take place on Sunday 21st October and is part of the Labour Weekend line up of sporting events in the Mackenzie region More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0709/S00232.htm

No Budget Films: Waikato Film Nominated for Best Foreign Feature! - Down by the Riverside", a self-financed feature film made in Waikato, New Zealand has been nominated for best foreign feature at the B-Movie Film Festival in New York! More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0709/S00263.htm

Sport/Oddspot: Chinese Army Falls In Love With FootyNational's Ethnic Affairs spokeswoman, Pansy Wong, is thrilled that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has fallen in love with our national game. "Rugby has been declared the official game of the PLA, who will be playing several games during their inaugural visit to New Zealand this week. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0709/S00408.htm

Retirement: Lashings Of Life in Puppeteering Octagenarian - At 87 years of age, Frankie Wood is leading the kind of lifestyle that would put most 20-year-olds to shame. Frankie has agreed to share her story as part of the events marking the International Day of Older Persons on Monday, 1 October. More>> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0709/S00259.htm

Writers News: Centre of Modern Writing - Shadbolt House - Waitakere has ensured that the legacy of one the country's most well-known authors - Maurice Shadbolt - will live on while simultaneously helping create an environment to nurture New Zealand's future writers. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0709/S00231.htm

ENDS

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