Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 20 January 2003, 7:12 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Rosalea Reports On Mass USA Anti-War Protests
Guest Protest Portrait: From Inspired In D.C.
Kiwi Film Sweeps Karachi Film Fest
John Cory: The View From Ground Zero
John Kaminski: The Sad State Of Democracy In The Home Of The Brave
Inflation Remains Stubbornly High
Big Brother Comes To The Land Of The Free
Flying On Deceit
Is the Smallpox Threat Hot Air?
Questionable Motives: In 1999 Bush Said He’d “Take Out!” Hussein
Will the USA’s Bloodlust be Satisfied?
Satire: Saddam’s War Diary
New Oil Shock Could Be Just Around The Corner
Countdown To War: Iraq War Talk Is Distracting - Anderton
Countdown To War: Inspectors Find Empty Chemical Warheads In Iraq
Countdown To War: Hawk Talk

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
PM Pays Tribute to Sir John Turei
Greens Ask PM to be Decisive on Anti-War Message
Families For Non-Violence Marches
Suicide Policies Challenges by Yellow Ribbon
Health Minister Must Fix Bed Crisis
Grave Warning: Health Waiting List Seriously Long
Health Minister Speaks!
CYFS Ships Children from Pillar to Post
Govt Wobbles on WTO Negotiations
Economy First A Worthy Goal
Condoms and Contraceptives in Short-Supply
Greens Stuck In Cold War Time-warp?
Is This Minister Aware of Threats?
Teachers Congratulated Over NCEA Achievements
Treasury Staff Creaming It
Govt Accountability Required on Iwi Funding
Labour West Auckland MP Pressured to Act
Security Concerns Raised As Hercules Upgraded
Heritage Ought Not To Rot!
Transport Bill Submissions Welcomed
New Copyright Tribunal Chair Announced
Libs Consider Direction of Freedom

TO CHANGE MY SCOOP OPTIONS OR UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS LIST
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/myscoop/signin.html

...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

J18 - Day Of Peace Around (And Under) The World
http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0301/b46af0fe476ec2f9cf2a.jpeg

-----------

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

------------

- "George Bush, get a clue! The people of the world are not with you. George Bush, get a clue! The people of the world are not with you." The chant is swallowed up by a kind of Mexican-wave cheer that is passing from the back of the march up to the front… See... Stateside With Rosalea: What would Mary do? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00064.htm

Guest Protest Portrait: From Inspired In D.C.

- It was reported that some 500,000 gathered in D.C. today. I don't know about numbers, but I do know that pictures taken from a helicopter showed a sea of people forever and ever and ever! See... Guest Opinion: The Awakening.. Jan 18 [1] MORE: - Call To Action - Jan. 18 March On Washington To Demand No War [2] - Links For Live Coverage (From Sunday NZT)- DC Indymedia [3] - San Francisco Indymedia [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00065.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00084.htm
[3] - http://dc.indymedia.org
[4] - http://sf.indymedia.org

Kiwi Film Sweeps Karachi Film Fest

- The Karachi International Film Festival 2002 also known as 2nd KaraFilm Festival concluded on Sunday with an impressive awards ceremony in which a New Zealand film "A Small Life" walked away with 8 awards. See... New Zealand Film Sweeps Karafilm Awards [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0301/S00048.htm

John Cory: The View From Ground Zero

-The game is afoot as they say. While Ari Fleischer keeps denying that the war is inevitable, you cannot walk around Kuwait, or parts of Bahrain, without tripping over American military equipment and personnel or reporter-celebrities in safari suits. John Cory In Saudi Arabia: The Games of War [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00067.htm

John Kaminski: The Sad State Of Democracy In The Home Of The Brave

- In short, there is no place for the average American citizen to turn for relief. This terminal disease of political corruption extends downward through the states, counties and muncipalities, where all elective offices are occupied by people able to pay their way into the ruling system, through alliances with corrupt judges and party bosses, with all machinations based on bribery and deception. See... John Kaminski: The System Can't Be Fixed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00066.htm

Inflation Remains Stubbornly High

- The Consumers Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.6 percent in the December 2002 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. This follows an increase of 0.5 percent in the September 2002 quarter. See... CPI Rises 0.6 Percent [1] and Food Prices Fall 0.7 Percent [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0301/S00041.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0301/S00042.htm

Big Brother Comes To The Land Of The Free

- The United States has now reached the point where a total “surveillance society” has become a realistic possibility, the American Civil Liberties Union warned in a report being released today. See... 'Big Brother' is No Longer a Fiction ACLU Warns [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00081.htm

Flying On Deceit

- Lyndon Johnson is remembered for lying about Vietnam, Richard Nixon for lying about Watergate, Bill Clinton for lying about adultery. George W. Bush is known as a straight shooter. What’s wrong with that picture? See... Bush Is Racking Up "Frequent Liar Miles" [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00062.htm

Is the Smallpox Threat Hot Air?

- We are told that there is new grave threat to our welfare. Smallpox. If we are indeed in danger of a smallpox outbreak (which is contradicted by medical testimony), the threat appears to be inflated. See... Smallpox in America: Into the Garden of Delights [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00061.htm

Questionable Motives: In 1999 Bush Said He’d “Take Out!” Hussein

- Here's a history lesson. Go back to December 1999 when President Bush was still governor of Texas and wasn't even the Republican candidate for President yet. Back then, Bush Jr. had said that if elected President of the United States he would use military force to "take out" Hussein and Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Most Americans believe Bush first mentioned the possibility of a war with Iraq after the September 11 terrorist attacks. See... Jason Leopold : Bush Sticks Closely To His Script [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00059.htm

Will the USA’s Bloodlust be Satisfied?

- For a year now, US President George Bush's administration's top foreign policy goal has been violent “regime change” in Iraq. On October 22, on the basis of a leak from the White House, the New York Times reported that the Bush administration plans to install a US military proconsul in Baghdad — along the lines of General Douglas MacArthur's six-and-half-year rule in post-1945 Japan — before handing Iraq over to a puppet government.. See... Green Left Weekly: Bush Plans Bloodbath In Iraq [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00060.htm

Satire: Saddam’s War Diary

- Dear Diary: This is a tough one. If I hang in there, I may just survive to carry out my plans. But if I make a wrong move, or misinterpret the wide variety of signals coming my way, I'm vaporized toast. See... Bernard Weiner: Inside Saddam Hussein's War Diary [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00058.htm

New Oil Shock Could Be Just Around The Corner

- The oil executives strike in Venezuela is beginning to bite on the United States mainland with conditions ripe for a further spike in crude oil prices to levels not seen since the oil shock of 1973. Scoop Editor Alastair Thompson reports. See... Oil Price May Spike As Venezuela Strike Bites US [1] MORE: - OPEC -123rd (Extraordinary) Meeting of OPEC [2] - US DoE - Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data - January 10 2002 [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0301/S00055.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00065.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0301/S00028.htm

Countdown To War: Iraq War Talk Is Distracting - Anderton

- "Media speculation about a possible unilateral U.S.-led war in Iraq is damaging the world economy and diverting democratic nations' attention from the much more important issue of combating international terrorism," Progressive Coalition Leader Jim Anderton says. See... Talk of War on Iraq is Damaging World Economy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00108.htm

Countdown To War: Inspectors Find Empty Chemical Warheads In Iraq

- United Nations inspectors today found empty chemical warheads at a storage area in Iraq, according to a spokesman for the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) in Baghdad. See... Inspectors report finding empty chemical warheads [1] . See also NZ Govt. response... Judgement on weapons finding must await evaluation [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00080.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00112.htm

Countdown To War: Hawk Talk

Rather: Earlier today, I talked exclusively with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. I asked his opinion on the possibility that Saddam Hussein might choose exile instead of war. See... Rumsfeld Interview with Dan Rather, CBS News [1] , Wolfowitz And Afghan Foreign Minister Availability [2] and Downing St Briefing 16 Jan. War On Terror / Iraq [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00078.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00077.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0301/S00076.htm

PM Pays Tribute to Sir John Turei

- Prime Minister Helen Clark today paid tribute to the late Sir John Turei who passed away this weekend in Auckland. See... Sir John Turei [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00122.htm

Greens Ask PM to be Decisive on Anti-War Message

- Green Foreign Affairs spokesperson Keith Locke is urging the Government to listen to the thousands of New Zealanders who took to the streets around New Zealand over the weekend to voice their opposition to any involvement in America’s “oil war”… See... Greens tell PM to pass-on the anti-war message [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00132.htm

Families For Non-Violence Marches

- New Zealanders, Violence comes in many forms; We are tired of the violence in our communities and families. We invite the Public and organisations to join us at one of the 4 venues planned for the wider Auckland region. See... Families for Non-Violence and Peace Marches [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0301/S00058.htm

Suicide Policies Challenges by Yellow Ribbon

- Recent research suggests that, under certain circumstances, exposure to suicidal behaviour may protect individuals from attempting suicide. See... New Research Challenges Govt Suicide Policies [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0301/S00055.htm

Health Minister Must Fix Bed Crisis

- National is calling on Health Minister Annette King must step in and immediately address a shortage of neonatal beds for premature babies, after reports that many are being moved around the country. See... Poor planning separates mothers & premature babies [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00128.htm

Grave Warning: Health Waiting List Seriously Long

- Revelations that patients are dying waiting for cardiac surgery are not surprising, ACT Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today. See... Patients Die Waiting for Minister to See Reason [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00138.htm

Health Minister Speaks!

- New Zealand will continue to be a strong and committed supporter of the Action Programme agreed to by 179 countries at the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994. See... Annette King Speech to Pacific Health Ministers [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00134.htm

CYFS Ships Children from Pillar to Post

- The Government must stop playing pass the parcel with the nation’s most vulnerable children and make greater efforts to provide permanence in their lives, says National Social Services Spokesperson Katherine Rich. See... Too many CYFS children moved around [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00125.htm

Govt Wobbles on WTO Negotiations

- “Six months ago the government received ‘requests’ from other WTO members to commit more services to the free trade rules of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). With ten weeks to go before it has to reply… See... Govt in shambles over WTO services negotiations [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0301/S00056.htm

Economy First A Worthy Goal

- Business people will welcome the Prime Minister listing New Zealand's economic health as Government's number one priority, along with the objectives of lifting skills, investment, innovation and infrastructural improvement, says Alasdair Thompson. See... Economy First Welcomed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0301/S00059.htm

Condoms and Contraceptives in Short-Supply

- The shortage of contraceptives and other family planning, maternity and sexual health supplies in the Pacific will be the focus of a high level meeting involving several Commonwealth and Pacific Health Ministers, Pacific policy makers and NGO’s in Auckland ... See... Pacific Faces Condom And Contraceptive Crisis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0301/S00057.htm

Greens Stuck In Cold War Time-warp?

- ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Ken Shirley has slammed the Green Party, branding them Luddites for opposing the bid by Air New Zealand's engineering operation at Christchurch International Airport to win a huge new contract to service Hercules ... See... Somebody Tell the Greens: The Cold War is Over [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00137.htm

Is This Minister Aware of Threats?

- Conservation Minister Chris Carter is - at the very least - allowing a ministerial employee to intimidate Auckland University over its plans to sell land at Waikawau Bay, ACT New Zealand Tertiary Education Spokesman Deborah Coddington revealed today. See... Did Carter Know About Auckland University Threats? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00136.htm

Teachers Congratulated Over NCEA Achievements

- The arrival of the first NCEA results is a credit to the secondary teachers who designed and implemented the new NCEA system, Education Minister Trevor Mallard said. See... Mallard congratulates teachers on NCEA results [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00133.htm

Treasury Staff Creaming It

- Helen Clark’s frugal Government has turned into bloated Government, National says after revealing huge salary increases within Treasury. See... One in three Treasury staff earn more than $100k [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00129.htm

Govt Accountability Required on Iwi Funding

- National is calling for more accountability in the Government funding of iwi organisations after revelations that a Government-funded iwi company has been building homes for family members. See... Accountability needed in Govt funding to iwi [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00127.htm

Labour West Auckland MP Pressured to Act

- A group opposed to the aerial spray program, placed pressure today on local Labour MP Lynne Pillay, as the MAF-led aerial spray campaign continues to cause ill health and nuisance to Waitakere and Auckland citizens. See... Spray Group Pressure Local Labour MP [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0301/S00053.htm

Security Concerns Raised As Hercules Upgraded

- The upgrade of New Zealand’s five Air Force Hercules has prompted security concerns because no contingency plan has been put in place, says National Defence Spokesperson Richard Worth. See... Hercules upgrade prompts security concerns [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00126.htm

Heritage Ought Not To Rot!

- Green MP Sue Kedgley is calling for the Government to instruct Transit to immediately begin the restoration of heritage buildings in the path of Wellington’s proposed Motorway bypass, following the announcement funding will be delayed for at least ... See... Wellington’s heritage should not be left to rot [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00135.htm

Transport Bill Submissions Welcomed

- Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard has welcomed today’s agreement by Auckland’s Mayoral Forum to develop a comprehensive, citywide and united plan for the region’s transport system. See... Submissions on Land Transport Management Bill [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00124.htm

New Copyright Tribunal Chair Announced

- Associate Minister of Commerce Judith Tizard today announced the appointment of Judge David Harvey of Auckland as Chair of the Copyright Tribunal for a five-year term. See... Copyright Tribunal: Appointment of Chair [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0301/S00123.htm

Libs Consider Direction of Freedom

- “The freedom of every New Zealander is at this moment, being put to the test. How a number of people and agencies play this one out will leave us all with a clear understanding as to our direction in regards to individual freedom.” See... The Persecution of Ike [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0301/S00054.htm

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

• Linkedin
• Twitter - @althecat
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz