Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 5 May 2003, 4:33 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Curious George Visits A Carrier And Meets The Tellytubbies
Stateside: Rosalea Sets Out On The 2004 Campaign Trail
Why The NYT's Thomas Friedman Is Like A Hamster
Hard News Is Here!
Homefront: Rumsfeld's Bid For Absolute Power And Zero Accountability
Homefront Opinion: It's Time To Restore Civil Liberties To Americans
Homefront Opinion: Sane Intelligence Veterans Weigh In On WMD Hunt
No Joy For George Yet - Update On The WMD Hunt
Legal U-Turn By Slave Trading Company Awarded Iraq Law&Order Contract
Kidd Millennium: The Joker In The Pack
A Global Charter For A Free Press
Mana Maori Media Unimpressed With MP's Math
*** Scoop Global Economy Special *** It's The Economy Stupid ****

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
John T Says Maori Seats Must Stay
Buggering Belching Bombs
Environment Ought Not Suffer Due To Previous Bad Governance
Hodgson Eyes Lowering Lake Limit Option
Cullen Welcomes IMF Report
Encouraging Alliances Between Schools
Heeeere’s The Voucher Scheme… Again
Top Toss-Out Schools Named
Willie Jackson Heads National Urban Maori Authority
Fisheries Commission Disappointed At Media Tactics
Look What Lurks With That Spray
Preview To Budget 2003
How To Smoke Dak In Dunedin’s Police Station & Remain Free
US And NZ Customs Shake Hands On Border Control Deal
Let’s Reduce Workplace Deaths Together: Unions
Going Straight
Preb’s Letter
Let’s Give The Ombudsman Some Power
Princes Street Branch Welcomes Raft Of Ed Policies
H&S Research Amendments Enacted

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0305/f73ce007bddaab08ebe9.jpeg

BUSH: "Soldier, if you ever question the legitimacy of my authority again I'll karate chop that stupid grin right off your face with my arm of mass destruction!"
or
BUSH:"I can never remember. Am I supposed to put my hand on my forehead or yours?"
For More Scoop Reader Captions - Click Here

- We have had an outstanding reaction to our "Mother Of All Photo Opportunities" photo caption competition. A big thank you to all the readers who entered. Your wit and insight can be viewed below. To those whose entries are missing, remember this is a family friendly website. See... Captions: The Mother Of All Photo Opportunities [1] . See also GWB's speech aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln…. Bush Announces Combat Operations in Iraq Ended [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00024.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00017.htm

Stateside: Rosalea Sets Out On The 2004 Campaign Trail

- 2004 Presidential Election - I surrender. You just looked too, too good, Mr Prez, in your flying suit. Where do I get a job as the presidential strap-tightener? And when's the AWOL George action figure coming out, so I can put it with my GI Joe? See... Stateside: Lifeless dummies on a closed course [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00023.htm

Why The NYT's Thomas Friedman Is Like A Hamster

- If you ever had a pet hamster when you were young, you know what I mean about hearing its regular scrambling and spinning on the exercise wheel. The squeak-squeak sound becomes an amusing background noise of everyday life. See... John Chuckman: Friedman's Life As A Pet Hamster [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00022.htm

Hard News Is Here!

- So, according to the Dominion Post and One News Helen Clark has told Britain and America they might live to regret unleashing the "law of the jungle" through their war in Iraq. But, oddly enough, she didn't. See... Hard News 05/05/03 - Helen's Travels [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00031.htm

Homefront: Rumsfeld's Bid For Absolute Power And Zero Accountability

- Below are a series of links to recent articles concerning the latest legal developments in the War on Terror on the U.S. home-front. See... Scoop Links: CIA & Pentagon Push For Total Control [1] and Congress Begins DoD Civil Service Overhaul Debate [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00030.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00024.htm

Homefront Opinion: It's Time To Restore Civil Liberties To Americans

- During this lull in the fighting between the 2002 election cycle Iraq conflict and the soon-to-come 2004 election cycle conflict, it's a good time to (anonymously) sit in a library or bookstore and browse "The Turner Diaries" and Gore Vidal's "Perpetual War For Perpetual Peace." See... Thom Hartmann: The Crime Of The Century [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00025.htm

Homefront Opinion: Sane Intelligence Veterans Weigh In On WMD Hunt

- The Bush administration's refusal to allow UN inspectors to join the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in U.S.-occupied Iraq has elicited high interest in foreign news media. See... Weapons of Mass Distraction: Where? Find? Plant? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00029.htm

No Joy For George Yet - Update On The WMD Hunt

- Despite the U.S. having secured military control in Iraq, the Bush administration has not yet uncovered Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. See... No Sign of Alleged Weapons of Mass Destruction [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00026.htm

Legal U-Turn By Slave Trading Company Awarded Iraq Law&Order Contract

- Dyncorp, the US company, which dealt with the contracts of American officers working for the international police force in Bosnia and who has recently won the contract to supply police officers to Iraq, has withdrawn their appeal against Southampton Employment Tribunal’s decision that they unfairly dismissed Kathryn Bolkovac. See... Dyncorp Last Minute U-turn In Whistleblowing Case [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0305/S00022.htm

Kidd Millennium: The Joker In The Pack

- Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, the former Information Minister of Iraq delivered mega doses of comic relief offsetting a war filled with images of bedlam and mayhem. See... Kidd Millennium: Joker’s Wild [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00028.htm

A Global Charter For A Free Press

- Saturday 3 May 2003 was International Press Freedom Day, and newspapers all over the world are reprinting this charter. See... A Free Press Means A Free People - Charter [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00027.htm

Mana Maori Media Unimpressed With MP's Math

- There's one reason ­ among many perhaps ­ why Rodney Hide (the ACT MP) and Katherine Rich (from National) don't have a job with Mana, and are unlikely to land one. It's to do with getting things right. See... Unemployable? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0305/S00020.htm

*** Scoop Global Economy Special *** It's The Economy Stupid ****

- Live Prices - NZ Dollar/US Dollar Graph- Euro/US Dollar Graph

John T Says Maori Seats Must Stay

- The Maori seats must be retained because they remain an important safeguard against the tyranny of the majority, Associate Maori Affairs Minister and MP for Tamaki Makaurau, John Tamihere said. See... Maori seats safeguard against majority's tyranny [1] ALSO: - Greens - Greens call on Labour to protect Maori seats [2] - NZ First - Stealing Policies Won't Save Bill Says Winston [3] - ACT - ACT Tautoko For National's Kaupapa [4] English’s Maori Campaign Continues - One of New Zealand's worst problems is the number of young Maori men in prison. See... Bill English Address Lower NI Regional Conference [5] PM’s Jungle Comments Damage NZ Says English - Prime Minister Helen Clark is persisting to damage New Zealand's international interests with her latest outburst saying Britain and the United States have unleashed the "law of the jungle" on international relations, says National Leader Bill ... See... 'Law of the jungle' comments damage NZ interests [6] ALSO: - ACT - Clark Looks For Next Job [7] - Greens - Greens back 'return to jungle' warning [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00089.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00092.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00082.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00074.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00079.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00081.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00078.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00071.htm

Buggering Belching Bombs

- The Labour-Progressive Government, with the support of the Greens, is developing a number of programmes to address vehicle emissions and their social, environmental and economic effects, Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard announced today. See... Government working to improve vehicle emissions [1] ALSO: - Govt -Vehicle Emissions Q&A [2] - Greens - Greens drive home vehicle emission message [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00084.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00085.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00073.htm

Environment Ought Not Suffer Due To Previous Bad Governance

- New Zealand's fragile environment should not be made to pay the price this winter for decades of bad energy decisions by successive governments, Green Party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said today. See... The real cost of keeping the lights on [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00072.htm

Hodgson Eyes Lowering Lake Limit Option

- Energy Minister Pete Hodgson confirmed today that lowering minimum hydro lake levels is a possible response to the prospect of power shortages this winter, but said it was "well down the list". See... Minimum hydro lake levels [1] ALSO: - Nats - No wonder anger is building over power crisis [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00068.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00066.htm

Cullen Welcomes IMF Report

- This year’s round of regional conferences takes place against the most uncertain and disturbed international environment for many years. In this situation New Zealand is profoundly fortunate to have a Helen Clark led Labour Government in power. See... Cullen speech, in response to IMF report [1] ALSO: - Cullen’s Statement - Cullen welcomes IMF report on NZ [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00070.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00069.htm

Encouraging Alliances Between Schools

- Education Minister Trevor Mallard is inviting schools to make use of a new $1 million annual fund designed to encourage alliances between schools, and to support innovative new ways of learning. See... Innovations fund to help school alliances [1] ALSO: - ACT - Mallard Closes Schools - And Then Does Nothing [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00093.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00086.htm

Heeeere’s The Voucher Scheme… Again

- Liberty Belle In Cambridge (2) Education vouchers in Britain? It’s not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’. By Deborah Coddington M.P See... Liberty Belle: Education Vouchers In Britain [1] - Mallard -Deborah Coddington needs maths lessons [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00083.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00067.htm

Top Toss-Out Schools Named

- Four schools suspended more than one-in-ten pupils last year, ACT New Zealand Education Spokesman Deborah Coddington revealed today. See... Minister Names Top Suspending Schools [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00076.htm

Willie Jackson Heads National Urban Maori Authority

- Former Alliance MP and current Mana Motuhake leader Willie Jackson has been selected as the first Chairman of the newly created National Urban Maori Authority which held its first meeting at Nga Whare Waatea Marae Mangere on Saturday. See... JACKSON selected as Chairman of NUMA [1] - Fisheries Commission - New Urban Maori Authority Unlikely To Change Model [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00029.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00028.htm

Fisheries Commission Disappointed At Media Tactics

- "It is disappointing the Iwi that is to receive the greatest proportion of the Maori Fisheries Settlement is choosing to air its concerns through the media, and not constructively through direct dialogue with the Commission," the Chief Executive ... See... Fisheries Commission Response To Ngai Tahu [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00027.htm

Look What Lurks With That Spray

- Revelations of the "secret" ingredients of painted apple moth insecticide Foray 48B have brought a new call from Green MP Sue Kedgley for an urgent Government-funded independent inquiry into the health effects of the spray. See... DIY detectives reveal 'secret' spray ingredients [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00087.htm

Preview To Budget 2003

- The 15 May Budget will help support the government’s aim of building and maintaining solid levels of economic growth through innovation. See... 9th of May - Smart growth through new ideas [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00090.htm

How To Smoke Dak In Dunedin’s Police Station & Remain Free

- More than 70 smoking cannabis law reform supporters occupied the Dunedin Central Police Station this afternoon to show their disagreement with the continued criminalisation of cannabis users. Although people were smoking cannabis openly in the Police lobby ... See... Pot Smoked en Mass in Dunedin Police Station [1] ALSO: Cops Explanation A Cop-Out! - Organisers of Saturdays Police Station prohibition protest are unsatisfied with the police reaction to Saturday’s smoke in, when around 70 Dunedin people openly smoked cannabis outside and inside of the Dunedin Central Police Station. See... Police Reaction to Pot Smokers a "Cop Out". [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00030.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00042.htm

US And NZ Customs Shake Hands On Border Control Deal

- The United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the New Zealand Customs Service met today and agreed to build on their strong working relationship to enhance security, particularly in the area of container trade. See... US And NZ Customs Discuss Container Security [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00037.htm

Let’s Reduce Workplace Deaths Together: Unions

- “The death toll in our workplaces can be dramatically reduced if employers co-operation with unions on the implementation of new health and safety law,” Council of Trade Union president Ross Wilson said today. See... Work With Us to Reduce Workplace Death Toll [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00036.htm

Going Straight

- In the ten months to April 30, 2003 Fresh Start field officers and volunteers placed 252 clients (21 during April – effectively just 3 weeks) into full time paid employment. See... Fresh Start’s Ex-offender job placements over 250 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00035.htm

Preb’s Letter

- Labour’s solution is to bring huge pressure to get those who hold Maui Gas contracts to sell. Maui Gas “take or pay” contracts supply gas at a price that’s about half the world price. Pressure is going on to the owners of the methanex plant that converts ... See... Prebble's Letter From Wellington [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00100.htm

Let’s Give The Ombudsman Some Power

- ACC claimants are calling for the insurance ombudsman to have increased powers and some control over ACC practices following further revelations over the weekend that America's largest disability insurance company, UnumProvident, has been fined $1 million after Georgia insurance officials investigated complaints about its claims handling. See... ACC Claimants Call For More Ombudsman Powers [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00031.htm

Princes Street Branch Welcomes Raft Of Ed Policies

- The raft of policy ideas on education and the environment at the recent Auckland Regional conference of the Labour Party was welcome by the chair of the Auckland University Branch Tristan Rossiter-Sheehy See... Focus On Education and Environment at Conference [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0305/S00040.htm

H&S Research Amendments Enacted

- Amendments to the Health and Safety in Employment Act that come into force today encourage employers and employees to work together to create safe, healthy and more productive workplaces. See... Budget 2003: Health and safety research [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0305/S00088.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.

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