Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Monday, 10 October 2005, 5:08 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS:
Oxfam Reports Up To 300,000 Affected By Pakistan Quake
Alleged Organised Crime Gang Of Ten Appear In Manukau Court
Pacific Media Association Recognises David Robie With Freedom Award
Exploding Trousers win Ig Nobel Prize for Kiwi Academic
A Week Of It: PM's Chief Press Secretary Gives Campaign A Once Over
Waitangi Tribunal Releases Major Report Regarding Criminal Offending
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
The al-Qaeda Environmentalism Bridge
'Can You Help Us Bury Our Dead?' Survivors Asking Aid Agency
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
CA Prof. Spills The Beans On The Dorak Mystery
Stateside: Rosalea Barker Is The Virtual Spectator
Masalai i tokaut Uncovers Forest Abuse In PNG
Portland, Where The Thought Of The '06 Election Is Chilling
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics):
National’s Chief Of Staff, Richard Long, Resigns
POLITICS HEADLINES:

Oxfam Reports Up To 300,000 Affected By Pakistan Quake

Shaista Aziz, an Oxfam aid worker who is helping to coordinate the response from Islamabad said, "Following our initial assessments Oxfam is gearing up to supply emergency aid to approximately 300,000 people in some of the areas worst affected by yesterday's earthquake. Communications systems have collapsed in parts of the country and roads have been severely damaged by the disaster. Oxfam is working with our network of partners on the ground to get aid to people in need. See... Oxfam: 300,000 people affected by the earthquake [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00155.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00037.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00157.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00156.htm

Alleged Organised Crime Gang Of Ten Appear In Manukau Court

- A depositions hearing gets underway in the Auckland High Court today which is the result of thousands of hours of work carried out by Police from the Auckland City and Counties Manukau Districts. See... Alleged Organised Crime Gang Appear In Court [1] MORE LAW & ORDER NEWS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0510/S00062.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0510/S00060.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00069.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00068.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00041.htm

Pacific Media Association Recognises David Robie With Freedom Award

- Kate Fisher writes that the PIMA two-day Pacific media conference was capped today with the annual awards and an AUT journalist and academic, David Robie, won the major prize - the Pacific Media Freedom Award. The judges of the third annual awards, organised by the Pacific Islands Media Association (PIMA), say they were excited by the calibre of the nominations at the conference with the theme “Our voices, our faces, our words, our dreams... See... David Robie Wins PIMA Pacific Media Freedom Award [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00121.htm

Exploding Trousers win Ig Nobel Prize for Kiwi Academic

- Massey University's James Watson was presented with the 2005 Agricultural History Ig Nobel prize at the 15th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony at Harvard's Sanders Theatre on Thursday night. This prestigious award was made in recognition of his paper published in Agricultural History "The Significance of Mr. Richard Buckley's Exploding Trousers: Reflections on an Aspect of Technological Change in New Zealand Dairy-Farming between the World Wars". See... Massey Lecturer Awarded Top Science Prize [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0510/S00016.htm

A Week Of It: PM's Chief Press Secretary Gives Campaign A Once Over

- Kevin List writes for much of the last nine years Mike Munro has been working seven day weeks living, breathing and talking politics. Whilst willing to chat about the just-completed election campaign Mr Munro retained the noble desire to keep himself mostly out of the limelight, declining to be immortalised on the internet pictured with his steaming hot chocolate. See... A Week Of It: Beehive Musings And Rockin' Refugees [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00102.htm

Waitangi Tribunal Releases Major Report Regarding Criminal Offending

- The Waitangi Tribunal has today released its report on certain policies and procedures used by the Department of Corrections in relation to the assessment of offenders. Offender Assessment Policies Report considers two specific assessment tools (tests) that have been designed and used by the Department. The tools help to identify and assess offenders who are at high risk of reoffending, and are intended to assist the development of programmes that can work on reducing Maori reoffending. See... Offender Assessment Policies Report [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00052.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00050.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0510/S00150.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0510/S00152.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00041.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00059.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0510/S00153.htm

The al-Qaeda Environmentalism Bridge

- Paul G. Buchanan writes that one of the less studied aspects of al-Qaeda’s global strategy of irregular warfare is the environmental element of the campaign. As it turns out, the jihadi project meshes neatly with the concerns of Western environmental groups, especially those who practice unconventional politics against governmental and corporate agencies. The latter directly target environmental policy making in Western democracies, whereas the former do so indirectly via terrorism. Contrary to those who claim that Islamic fundamentalism desires to colonise the West and create a Caliphate stretching from the Arabian Peninsula to the Indonesian archipelago, the main thrust of al-Qaeda’s strategic campaign has been defensive in nature. See... PG Buchanan: Al-Qaeda’s Perverse Environmentalism [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00119.htm

'Can You Help Us Bury Our Dead?' Survivors Asking Aid Agency

- World Vision is sending assessment teams to three of the most severely damaged areas of Pakistan and India affected by today's earthquake. "The situation is desperate, several villages have been decimated," says Sigurd Hanson, World Vision director in Pakistan. "The people I've spoken to have asked World Vision for relief supplies and burial cloths, saying, 'We know you. Can you help us bury our dead?" Working along side other humanitarian organisations, the World Vision teams will be conducting assessments in Mansehra, Kashmir and the Shangla and Kohistan districts, Hanson said. See...

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00153.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00155.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00060.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00057.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00056.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00054.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00061.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00058.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0510/S00064.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00154.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00168.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00167.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0510/S00162.htm

CA Prof. Spills The Beans On The Dorak Mystery

- The Dorak mystery flower has opened at last. Earlier this week in phone conversations I had with David Stronach, Professor of Near East Archaeology at the University of California - Berkeley, Stronach disclosed that Jimmie Mellaart invented Dorak. He called it a "dream-like epsidode". See... Suzan Mazur: The Dorak Affair's Final Chapter [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00120.htm

Stateside: Rosalea Barker Is The Virtual Spectator

- According to a Today in History listing, on October 9, 1776, Spanish missionaries settled in what would become known as San Francisco. Two hundred and twenty-nine years later about a million people are out there enjoying the sunshine and watching the Blue Angels and the Red Bull aerobatic teams do their thing. Or they're over at the golf course watching Tiger et al do their thing. Or, if they're like me, they're sitting inside at their computer and watching all those things on the various websites streaming video of them. See... Stateside With Rosalea: It's All About Timing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00117.htm

Masalai i tokaut Uncovers Forest Abuse In PNG

- As we celebrate 30 years of Independence, it is timely that we examine the effective loss of sovereignty over an entire Province. In the last few years, Malaysian corporate giant Rimbunan Hijau has illegally seized control of almost the entire forests of Gulf Province. See... The Rape of Gulf Province - Independence Special [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00123.htm

Portland, Where The Thought Of The '06 Election Is Chilling

- If I want to generate a little fear-based insomnia, all I have to do is remind myself just before bedtime that the 2006 elections are barely a year away. Suddenly I'm awash in cold sweat and my heart starts pounding like a steam piston. No, please, somebody stop the clock. It's too soon. We can't hold the elections until we get our right to vote back. See... Robert C. Koehler: Ballot And Soul [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00107.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00082.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00003.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00118.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00109.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00112.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00111.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00115.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00122.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00114.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00113.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00116.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00110.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00108.htm

National’s Chief Of Staff, Richard Long, Resigns

- National Party Leader Don Brash says today he has received, with regret, the resignation of his Chief of Staff, Richard Long. “Richard has advised me that he does not wish to commit to another term in opposition and we have accordingly agreed that it is time to put in place a transition.” Dr Brash says Mr Long brought dual skills of staff management and media knowledge to the role. He has agreed to see through the transition to a new appointment. See... National Party staffing change [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00035.htm

POLITICS HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00043.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00042.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00037.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00039.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00044.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00038.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00036.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00040.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/news/parliament.html

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.

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