Top Scoop Stories December 8, 2009 News Summary

Tuesday, 8 December 2009, 4:22 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

LEAD STORY

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Copenhagen Begins: Fourteen days to seal history's judgment on this generation
56 newspapers in 45 countries have taken the unprecedented step of speaking with one voice through a common editorial. We do so because humanity faces a profound emergency.Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security. The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation. Now the facts have started to speak: 11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year's inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00070.htm

ALSO:

Copenhagen: Cartoon Comment from Malcolm Evans [2]

Copenhagen Opportunity Must Not Be Wasted [3]

NZ Should Not Pay Climate Change 'Reparations' [4]

Save The Children Urges Action On Climate Change [5]

Climate change: Exempting one of NZ's biggest polluters [6]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00069.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00092.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00096.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00097.htm [5]

[6] - http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2009/12/climate-change-exempting-one-of-nzs.html" target="_blank [6]

Delegates aiming to replace 1997's Kyoto Protocol
- More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/30314.html

ALSO:

ETS, etc [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0911/S00181.htm [2]

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NZ POLITICS

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Treaty: Ngāti Whare Settlement Signed
The Crown and Ngāti Whare today signed a Deed of Settlement for the iwi’s historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, Minister for Trety of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced. Ngāti Whare’s rohe is centred around Te Whaiti, Minginui and the Whirinaki Conservation Park in the Bay of Plenty Region. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0912/S00099.htm

Gordon Campbell: About Those P Intercepts...
Most of the intercepts of the pseudoephedrine precursor to P that were being touted by John Key at his press conference yesterday originated from China – which suggests that Chinese criminal gangs may be at the heart of our P problem. Key though, didn’t seem to know either way. More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/08/gordon-campbell-china-and-our-problems-with-p/

ALSO:

John Key on "P" and Unemployment [2]

Tide turning in the war on P, says PM [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00066.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/30315.html [3]

S59 Review: Smacking Policies A Hit With Report Group
The review was conducted by the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development Peter Hughes, the Commissioner of Police Howard Broad, and well known clinical psychologist Nigel Latta... “Mr Latta has found that the Police and CYF responded appropriately and proportionately to the child safety concerns that were raised,” Mr Key says. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0912/S00089.htm

ALSO:

Report On S59 Review Rubbish [2]

Time to put the smacking debate behind us [3]

Law continues to be a dog’s breakfast [4]

Latest Smacking Law Review Offers No Comfort [5]

Good sense prevails with Section 59 review [6]

See you Latta, Bob [7]

Families Warned Pillow Fight May Be Assault [8]

Police response to assault charge being “petty " [9]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0912/S00093.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00095.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00094.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00090.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00105.htm [6]

[7] - http://publicaddress.net/default,6347.sm" target="_blank [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00060.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00071.htm [9]

Anti-smacking law is working - former opponent
- More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/30308.html

ALSO:

S59 Review Process [2]

87% No Vote In Smacking Referendum [3]

DimPost MP Ranking for 2009 [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0909/S00075.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0908/S00206.htm [3]

[4] - http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/dimpost-mp-ranking-for-2009/" target="_blank [4]

Multinationals: 2009 Roger Award Finalists Named
The nine finalists for the 2009 Roger Award for the Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa/New Zealand are: ANZ, BNZ, Infratil, Newmont, Rio Tinto Aluminium NZ, Rymans, Telecom, Transpacific and Westpac. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00086.htm

ALSO:

Goff IVed Over Public Labour Speech Spat [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00054.htm [2]

Linda Clark reviews Phil Goff's performance
- More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/30346.html

ALSO:

Criticisms A Media Beat-Up? Oh Common... [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00064.htm [2]

Foreign Affairs: Governments Oppose Whaling, Dangerous Protest Against Whaling
The Governments of Australia, The Netherlands and New Zealand remain resolute in our opposition to so-called ‘scientific’ whaling. We are deeply disappointed at the recent departure of the Japanese whaling fleet for the Southern Ocean. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0912/S00081.htm

ALSO:

ELECTION 1999: The Dust Begins To Settle [2]

Full 10th anniversary interview with the Green's Russel Norman [3]

The Green Party celebrate 10 years in parliament [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00050.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/30292.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/30300.html [4]

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BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

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Medical: PHARMAC Comes In On Budget By Choosing Pills
Prescriptions for government funded medicines increased by almost 4 percent last year to 36.3 million, but the rate of that growth is slowing, drug buying agency PHARMAC says. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0912/S00031.htm

ALSO:

Most businesses freeze wages; hopes to hire in '10 [2]

Total manufacturing down, industry activity mixed [3]

Residential building volume falls 40% in 2 yrs [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00168.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00185.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00184.htm [4]

$500,000 Fine: Telecom's Bands Were Not Broad Enough
Telecom New Zealand Limited has pleaded guilty to 17 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act over claims made in 2006 when promoting Xtra’s Go Large broadband plan. Telecom has been fined $500,000 in the Auckland District Court today. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00151.htm

ALSO:

The future of dairy farming? [2]

Cubicle farming opposed by PM and Fonterra [3]

Johnny Rotten invited to visit NZ free-range cows [4]

Burger Tycoon online game [5]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00172.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/30363.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0905/S00448.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.addictinggames.com/burgertycoon.html" target="_blank [5]

Dairy: Call For Fonterra To Keep More Money
Federated Farmers welcomes Fonterra’s announcement of an annual retention but believes the amount retained by the cooperative is far too small. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00136.htm

ALSO:

Submission to the 2025 Taskforce [2]

Time to give flat tax concept a decent burial [3]

Brash's prescription closes Tasman 'wealth' gap [4]

Farmers welcome 27:27:27 tax model [5]

2025 Taskforce Report [6]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00142.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00079.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00127.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00126.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00002.htm [6]

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COMMENT

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Gordon Campbell: China’s Role In Our Problems With P
Media coverage of the battle against P has tended to focus on the role of Maori gangs in the P trade. Yet most of the intercepts of the pseudoephedrine precursor to P that were being touted by John Key at his press conference yesterday... More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/08/gordon-campbell-china-and-our-problems-with-p/

ALSO:

John Key on "P" and Unemployment [2]

Cartoon by Malcolm Evans [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00066.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00069.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00069.htm [4]

Stateside With Rosalea: Stop! Water Thief!
When California’s Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, travels to Copenhagen this week to participate in Subnational Day at the UN Climate Change Conference, he and his support staff may be doing so at the expense of a wealthy business owner who contributes... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00062.htm

The Celebration Went Unnoticed: A Major Leftist Win in Uruguay
Uruguay's left wing political coalition, the Broad Front party ( Frente Amplio ), retained control of the presidency in the November elections. This wasn't just any election. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00063.htm

The "Ethical Interrogation": The Myth of Michael Gelles and the al-Qahtani Interrogation
Several public accounts of abusive interrogations at Guantanamo have praised psychologist Dr. Michael Gelles for his opposition to these abuses. Similarly, the American Psychological Association (APA) has repeatedly pointed to actions of Dr. Gelles to instantiate... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00073.htm

Anyone for table-tennis? A double fault for the Cuban Five...
Tomorrow Fernando Gonzalez and Ramon Labanino will grace the Miami court with their presence once again - for yet another re-sentencing by a judge more renowned for her grotesquely inconsistent rulings than for the administration of justice. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00072.htm

ALSO:

Dave McArthur: Imagineer [2]

Gareth Morgan and John McCrystal: Low Carbon Future? Bah! Humbug! [3]

Climate Defence Network: The Age Of Smart [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0911/S00334.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0911/S00280.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0911/S00279.htm [4]

The Height of Kitsch: Germany’s love for Israel
IT WOULD have been the epitome of political kitsch. Binyamin Netanyahu and ten of his ministers were to hold a joint meeting with Angela Merkel and ten members of the German cabinet. What for? To demonstrate Germany’s love for Israel... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00053.htm

Transgressing With Tiger: The Fall Of Mr. Perfect
It has been called the spoiling of a good walk and similar to watching flies fornicate, but golf has decided to provide a touch of entertainment for the rest of us. And it should come as little surprise that it has nothing to do with golf itself... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00050.htm

Martha Rosenberg: Fish Killed, Waterways Poisoned by State Agency... for No Reason
It's been a year since the Illinois Department of Natural Resources poisoned all the fish in Lincoln Park's South Pond to ''restore'' the water body into a ''model Illinois freshwater habitat.'' Most of the world was watching the events a mile away in Grant... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00051.htm

John Chuckman: A response to Hillary Clinton’s assertion that all nations should play a part in the Afghanistan mission
Hillary Clinton, in a just-published piece on the Afghanistan mission (see note at bottom), offers us nothing helpful or enlightening, only boiler-plate American slogans, the kind of stuff you’d hear from some provincial Congressman giving a Fourth of ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00049.htm

ALSO:

Message to People of Afghanistan [2]

Message to People of Pakistan [3]

Remarks At Press Conference at NATO Headquarters [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00108.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00107.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00106.htm [4]

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LIFESTYLE

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Film Review: None Too Precious
What is one to make of this extraordinarily gritty, brutal film by Lee Daniels? An obese 16-year-old girl from Harlem is cooking for her abusive, welfare-addicted mother in a room that rarely sees the light of day. The mother hurls an object at ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00075.htm

Sport: Kiwis Dominate Freediving Champs
New Zealand Freedivers have shown the world, that when it comes to going deep, those from down under truely have what it takes. Over 2 seperate events held in Denmark and The Bahamas, Kiwi Freedivers have won a total of 9 medals, out of a possible 22, hauling the highest Medal Tally of any country, and cementing NZ's place as the leading freedivers in the world. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0912/S00100.htm

ALSO:

Collapsing Creation - play and lecture series [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0911/S00098.htm [2]

Akld, Wgtn, Chch: Rufus Wainwright Tour Dates Announced
Break out the diary, cancel your late February plans, and surprise your loved one(s) with tickets to something truly wonderful and intimate: the one and only Rufus Wainwright is returning to New Zealand for a very special evening featuring our prodigious wunderkind in solo piano and vocal mode. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0912/S00078.htm

ALSO:

Celebrate with Auckland’s biggest Christmas party [2]

“Kids at Christmas” Charity Auction [3]

Merry Family Christmas [4]

Don't give burglars any presents [5]

Spending builds as Paymark readies for Christmas [6]

Auckland City Mission compiles 'kind heart' Christmas gift list [7]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0912/S00075.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0912/S00055.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00057.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0912/S00058.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0912/S00098.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/lifestyle/30293.html [7]

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WORLD

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International Relations: Oxfam: The Price Of Success In Copenhagen
The difference between success and failure in Copenhagen could be whether warm words are backed up by the funding to protect vulnerable people from climate change and help developing countries reduce their emissions. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00117.htm

ALSO:

Climategate Used to Settle 'Vendetta,' says Mann [2]

Copenhagen And The Quest For Climate Justice [3]

Climate Change Conference Kicks Off In Copenhagen [4]

Ambitious International Climate Change Deal [5]

Obama Decision To Attend Copenhagen [6]

Statement On Climate Change Conference [7]

Protecting The Planet On International Day [8]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00145.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00146.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00125.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00113.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00087.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00086.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00085.htm [8]

Misleading: State Department's "Background Notes" On Indonesia
The U.S. Department of State in October published the latest in its series of ''Background Notes'' regarding Indonesia. ( http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2748.htm ) The periodic series provides a useful overview of the history, culture, geography, economy and government. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00147.htm

Agriculture: Bananas Weathering Economic Crisis
Bananas are withstanding the impact of the global economic crisis more than most agricultural commodities, with consumers regarding the fruit as a necessity in their diets, according to a new report issued by the UNFAI. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00134.htm

Ikuo Hirayama: Loss Of Japanese Painter And Goodwill Ambassador
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today voiced its sadness at the death of Ikuo Hirayama, a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima who became an eminent painter and advocate for the agency’s work. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00075.htm

Blue Helmets: Two UN Peacekeepers Killed In Attack
Two Rwandan peacekeepers from the joint African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were killed and others wounded today in an attack by unidentified gunmen while collecting water at the north of the strife-torn Sudanese region. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00077.htm

Humanitarianism: South Africa’s New Strategy For Tackling HIV/AIDS
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has applauded the big leap taken by the South African Government towards achieving universal access to treatment for HIV for the country’s women and children living with the virus. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00078.htm

Conditioning of Rights: Israel Is A Democracy - On Condition
In its annual survey of the protection of human rights in Israel and the Occupied Territories, ACRI reveals an alarming trend: the conditioning of rights. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0912/S00116.htm

ENDS

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Top Scoop Stories December 8, 2009 News Summary