Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 26 August 2004, 4:02 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House
LEAD STORY: Prebble Defends Use Of Racial Epithets In House
Govt Announces Lowest Crime Rate Since 1983
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Darfur: UN Seeks Urgent Funds To Cover Aid Shortfall
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Sanders & Fitts: The Ever So Deceptive U.S. Dollar
Hard News Is There!
Simon Pound: Dealing With ACC And Poisoned Pot
Are Major U.S. Oil Refiners And Distributors Holding Back
Translated From Hebrew: In The Mirror Of History
The Wrong War That Won't Go Away
Reading The Entrails From The Venezeulan Referendum
A Critique Of Left Apologetics Regarding Palestine
More Feedback On Meningitis Vaccine
The Real Deal: Meditations On American Politics

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Small Biz Group Produces Controversial Recommendations
Nat Suggests Voluntary Disclosure For Sperm & Egg Donors
More Civil War Remarks Draw More Flak
GDP Blunder Ought To Embarrass Tamihere
Marc Alexander Is Concerned About Prisoners Rights
Jim Sutton Talks Wine To Winegrowers
Greens To Inspect Eastern Bottleneck
Baldock Seeks Resolution To Kahawai Stoush
So Much For The Zebra, What About The Patients!
Pharmac Considering More Dispensing Intervention
Financial Planners And Advisors May Be Regulated
Cullen Heads Off To Chile For APEC Conflab
Three New GMO Guardians Appointed
Tourism Research Funding

TO CHANGE MY SCOOP OPTIONS OR UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS LIST
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/myscoop/signin.html
IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR PASSWORD
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/myscoop/newpass.html

...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00277.htm
How Deceptive Is The U.S. Dollar?
Analysis By Chris Sanders & Catherine Austin Fitts

Scoop Is In The House

- For today's questions see... Questions for Oral Answer: 26 August 2004 [1] . For Wednesday's Q&A see…Questions & Answers for Oral Answer 25 August 2004 [2] . For Tuesday's see... Questions & Answers for Oral Answer 24 August 2004 [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00457.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00445.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00411.htm

LEAD STORY:
Prebble Defends Use Of Racial Epithets In House

- ACT’s Former Leader, Richard Prebble, yesterday questioned why New Zealand continued to accept refugees who were ''illiterate Afghani camel drivers''. See... Prebble Defends 'Illiterate Camel Drivers' Remark [1] MORE: - Amnesty - NZ's Commitment to Refugees Should be Strengthened Not Weakened [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00271.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0408/S00241.htm

Govt Announces Lowest Crime Rate Since 1983

- The Govt says official crime statistics released by Police today show recorded offences per 10,000 head of population for the year to June 2004 numbered 1,053.7. This is the lowest rate since 1983. See... Lowest crime rate since 1983 [1] MORE: - Greens - Cannabis busts down in latest crime stats [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00453.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00470.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0408/S00332.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0408/S00325.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0408/S00237.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0408/S00239.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0408/S00238.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0408/S00320.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00449.htm

Darfur: UN Seeks Urgent Funds To Cover Aid Shortfall

- With Sudan facing mass displacement from strife in its western Darfur region, a flood of refugees returning to its war-ravaged south and humanitarian emergencies nationwide, the United Nations today appealed for desperately needed funds to fill a huge shortfall ... See... Sudan UN Seeks Urgent Funds For Huge Aid Shortfall [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0408/S00251.htm

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0408/S00255.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0408/S00252.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0408/S00250.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0408/S00249.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0408/S00248.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Sanders & Fitts: The Ever So Deceptive U.S. Dollar

- The United States government has operated a secret budgeting and spending program for decades outside the framework of the American Constitution. The institutional and political roots of this system of clandestine finance reach back to at least a century. See... Sanders/Austin Fitts: The Negative Return Economy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00277.htm

Hard News Is There!

- The new house needs a new motto, we decided after a frenzied, sweaty month of scrubbing and sanding and painting and plastering. On the previous owner's watch, a sepia-toned Jesus smiled woozily down on the front hall under the catchy Polish phrase ''Boze ... See... Public Address 26/08/04 - Royal Flush [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00280.htm

Simon Pound: Dealing With ACC And Poisoned Pot

- Sooooooo. It has now been over 11 weeks since I sliced my hand whilst at work in a small yet brilliantly disabling accident. See... Simon Pound: ACC And Response, Or Lack There-Of [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00279.htm

Are Major U.S. Oil Refiners And Distributors Holding Back

- The Bush Administration is putting a happy face on the near-doubling of the world price of crude oil to $50 a barrel during the last 18 months, a price explosion brought on by the Iraq War and other bungled adventures in petroleum producing countries. ... See... Mark G. Levey: Bush's Gas Pump Ploy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00278.htm

Translated From Hebrew: In The Mirror Of History

- The Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike seems to have already dropped out of the headlines. But it is early days yet and as Israeli journalist Yehuda Litani points out below, the outcomes of such strikes are not easily predictable. See... Yehuda Litani: In The Mirror Of History [1] . See also…Damian Clarke's Update From Palestine - 3 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00276.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00269.htm

The Wrong War That Won't Go Away

- Where do you draw the line between what is politically correct and what is in bad taste when it comes to a veteran’s military record? See... Patricia Johnson: The Wrong War That Won't Go Away [1] MORE: - Doug Giebel - Swift Boat Larry: The Kerry Master-Plan [2] - William Rivers Pitt: Your Children are Burning [3] - Doug Giebel A Pilot Incomplete [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00274.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00275.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00261.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00256.htm

Reading The Entrails From The Venezeulan Referendum

- Hugo Chavez's victory will have repercussions beyond the borders of Venezuela. It is a triumph of the poor against the rich and it is a lesson that Lula in Brazil and Kirchner in Argentina should study closely. See... Tariq Ali: Venezuela - Why Chavez won [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00273.htm

A Critique Of Left Apologetics Regarding Palestine

- It’s particularly interesting in the case of Palestine to see where US intellectuals and progressives decide that it’s necessary to be ''realistic'' and where ''principled''; where they choose to accept more or less the general media consensus about ''the boundaries of acceptable discourse'' and where they reject it. See... Chomsky & Apologetics For Injustice In Palestine [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00272.htm

More Feedback On Meningitis Vaccine

- The MoH response does not actually address any of the claims in the article. Instead, two forms of expert authority are drawn on to defend the rather evasive MoH position. One is the autocratic tending, professional vs lay structure that is institutionalised ... See... Letters To Editor; Meningitis Vax Dangerous? (2) [1] and Letters To The Editor; Meningitis Vax Dangerous? [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00270.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00267.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00265.htm
Barbara Kinsey Willits Fitts and Dr. William Thomas Fitts, Jr.

The Real Deal: Meditations On American Politics

- She leaned over the banister to say hello and goodbye that sunny February morning. My father being in Chicago for a medical conference, I was the last member of the family to see her alive. I was the first member of the family to arrive the next .. See... See... Real Deal: Meditations At The Crossroads [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0408/S00265.htm

Small Biz Group Produces Controversial Recommendations

- Small Business Minister, John Tamihere, today took up the challenges put to him by the Small Business Advisory Group in their first annual report. See... Small Biz Advisory Group Sets Challenging Targets [1] MORE: - ACT - It's Official: Too Tough To Do Business In NZ [2] - National - Time will tell if Govt listens to small business [3] - CTU - Small Business Report Badly-Informed and Unfair [4] - Fed. Farmers - Big Ideas For Small Business [5] - Roundtable - Small Business Advisory Group Report Welcomed [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00446.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00448.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00469.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0408/S00314.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0408/S00313.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0408/S00333.htm

Nat Suggests Voluntary Disclosure For Sperm & Egg Donors

- National Party Associate Health spokesman Paul Hutchison has introduced a Supplementary Order Paper to the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, that would allow donors and donor offspring who have been involved with treatment prior to the commencement ... See... SOP Voluntary donor register for Reproductive Bill [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00451.htm

More Civil War Remarks Draw More Flak

- Auckland University Professor of Maori Studies Margaret Mutu's irresponsible threats and outrageous assertions before the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Foreshore and Seabed Bill must be challenged, Committee Member and ACT MP Ken Shirley said today. See... Margaret Mutu Must Be Challenged [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00450.htm

GDP Blunder Ought To Embarrass Tamihere

- "Statistics Minister John Tamihere might like to believe he is a 'red blooded male', but after today's botch-up of the first quarter GDP figures he will be red faced as well," according to National Party Finance spokesman John Key. See... Growth blunder should leave Minister red faced [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00471.htm

Marc Alexander Is Concerned About Prisoners Rights

- Something is seriously wrong when prisoners jailed for denying their victims' rights - in one case the right to live - can turn around and demand their "supposed rights" from society, United Future's Marc Alexander said today. See... The cost of the Bill of Rights [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00468.htm

Jim Sutton Talks Wine To Winegrowers

- Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. It’s a pleasure to be here for this 10th anniversary Romeo Bragato conference. See... Jim Sutton Speech - Romeo Bragato Meeting [1] MORE MINISTERIAL SPEECHES - Mark Burton - Quality on show: New Zealand Tourism Awards 2004 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00467.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00465.htm

Greens To Inspect Eastern Bottleneck

- Green Party Co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald, are visiting Auckland tomorrow (Friday 27th August) to see for themselves the implications for the community and the environment of the latest Eastern Motorway proposal. See... Green Co-leaders to visit Eastern bottleneck [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00466.htm

Baldock Seeks Resolution To Kahawai Stoush

- United Future fisheries spokesman Larry Baldock today called on the fishing industry to be reasonable in its demand for kahawai, and to recognise that it is taking its share directly from the country's recreational fishers. See... Baldock Calls For Cool Heads In Fishing Industry [1] . See also... United Attempting to Horse Trade Property Rights [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00464.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0408/S00318.htm

So Much For The Zebra, What About The Patients!

- ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy today said she hoped that Canterbury District Health Board's pet zebra was living a fulfilled and happy life - but that the same could not be said of those suffering from mental illness living in Christchurch. See... It's A Jungle Out There [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00463.htm

Pharmac Considering More Dispensing Intervention

- Having not achieved its predicted savings with a move to three-monthly dispensing, Pharmac is now considering even greater control of the way in which medications are dispensed, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today. See... Pharmac Failure Leads To Dispensing U-Turn [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00462.htm

Financial Planners And Advisors May Be Regulated

-Commerce Minister Margaret Wilson today announced a significant government initiative to look into the regulation of financial intermediaries. See... Govt. looks at regulation of financial advisers [1] and Margaret Wilson Speech to Financial Planners [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00460.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00461.htm

Cullen Heads Off To Chile For APEC Conflab

- Finance Minister Michael Cullen is to attend the 11th meeting of APEC Finance Ministers in Santiago from 1 to 3 September 2004. See... APEC Finance Ministers meeting in Santiago, Chile [1] . See also... Goff announces new Ambassador to Chile [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00459.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00458.htm

Three New GMO Guardians Appointed

- Environment Minister Marian Hobbs today announced the appointment of three members to the Environmental Risk Management Authority, the decision-making body that regulates hazardous substances and new organisms. See... Appointments to ERMA New Zealand [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00455.htm

Tourism Research Funding

- Tourism Minister, Mark Burton announced funding of $1.407 million, over three years, for a major new programme of tourism research to be led by Lincoln University, at the New Zealand Tourism Awards Gala event in Taupo tonight. See... Tourism Research Funding announced [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0408/S00452.htm

ENDS

© 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