Scoop Top Stories For April 7, 2010 News Summary

Wednesday, 7 April 2010, 7:32 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Scoop: http://www.scoop.co.nz/
Gordon Campbell: http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/
Scoop Business: http://business.scoop.co.nz/
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LEAD STORY

Werewolf: Gordon Campbell On Taking GST Off Food

NZ POLITICS

Waihopai Case: Crown Will Not Appeal Verdict

Justice System: Government Details Further Changes To Legal Aid

Army: Kiwis In Afghanistan Meet The Prince Of Wales

Gordon Campbell: On The Child Abuse Scandal Within The Catholic Church

Crime Statistics: Violent Crime Keeps On Rising

April 1: Greens Explore Various Options

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH

Mokihinui Decision: Forest & Bird Damns Dam

Scoop Business: Fonterra Surprised By Milk Powder Auction Strength

Carbon Hoofprinting: Lamb Industry Creates Carbon Footprint Benchmark

Scoop Business: Tough Times Persist For SMEs

Farmers' Markets: The $40,000 Easter Trading Facts

Weather In March: Good Drying Weather

COMMENT

WikiLeaks: "Collateral Murder, Baghdad July 12, 2007"

Uri Avnery: “Hold Me Back!”

Julie Webb-Pullman: Cuban Elections: Part One - Candidate Nominations

Neo-Cons, Fundies, Feddies, and Con-Artists: Bush to Obama

Hating Obama, Scorning Rudd: Why have they become so unpopular so quickly ?

Left Coasting: Una Casa Dividida

Binoy Kampmark: Dumping Hu And Saving Rio Tinto

LIFESTYLE

Letters: Renaissance-Man Songster To Be Michael King Writer-In-Residence

Werewolf: Harriet The Spy (1964) By Louise Fitzhugh

Carnival: Thousands Flock To National Jazz Festival

US & NZ Dates: Dimmer (+ The Clean) To Play At Sold-Out New York Chris Knox Benefit

WORLD

Communication Breakdown: Noisy Welcome Promised For New Israeli Embassy

Online News: Net News Likely To Stay Free In NZ

Terrorism: Condemnation Of Deadly Subway Bombings In Moscow

Werewolf: Gordon Campbell On Taking GST Off Food
Dead certainties are a rarity in politics, but it’s a safe bet that GST will be raised to 15% in the May Budget, to help fund the income tax cuts the government has in mind.Rather than tax what people earn, more weight will be given to taxing what they spend – a shift that will leave more money in the pockets of the relatively well off, and place a heavier burden on workers on low incomes, and on beneficiaries.That’s because those on benefits and the working poor have less discretionary income, and spend a higher proportion of their income on basics, such as food. More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/do-the-right-thing/

ALSO:

• Hating Obama, Scorning Rudd [2]


• Travelling Light: Into the Ruined City [3]


• Left Coasting: Una casa dividida [4]


• From the Hood: Boraxing poetical [5]


• Harriet the Spy (1964) by Louise Fitzhugh [6]


• Cartoon Alley [7]


• And much more... [8]

[2] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/hating-obama-scorning-rudd/ [2]

[3] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/travelling-light-%e2%80%93-into-the-ruined-city/ [3]

[4] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/left-coasting-una-casa-dividida/ [4]

[5] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/from-the-hood-boraxing-poetical/ [5]

[6] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/classics-harriet-the-spy-1964-by-louise-fitzhugh/ [6]

[7] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/cartoon-alley/ [7]

[8] - http://werewolf.co.nz/ [8]

Waihopai Case: Crown Will Not Appeal Verdict
The Solicitor-General has concluded that the Crown cannot appeal the jury’s verdicts acquitting the three persons accused of causing intentional damage to the Waihopai satellite dish cover. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00057.htm

Justice System: Government Details Further Changes To Legal Aid
Justice Minister Simon Power today announced a comprehensive package of reforms for legal aid services. “The Government has largely accepted Dame Margaret Bazley’s report on transforming the legal aid system and plans to implement her key recommendations over the next two years,” Mr Power said. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00054.htm

Army: Kiwis In Afghanistan Meet The Prince Of Wales
New Zealand Defence Force personnel working at International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, met The Prince of Wales recently. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00055.htm

ALSO:

• Protocol's State of the Administration [2]


• Obama calls nuclear strategy 'significant step' [3]


• PM Heads To Washington And Ottawa [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00064.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/34811.html [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00450.htm [4]

Gordon Campbell: On The Child Abuse Scandal Within The Catholic Church
At the school I attended as a child, any and all queries by parents about the standard of teaching or the content of the syllabus would be met by the stock response: “Take your child elsewhere, then.” … More »[1]

[1] - http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/06/g-campbell-catholic-churchs-child-abuse-scandal/

ALSO:

• Government Must Support Anti-Whaling Protester [2]


• Australia Attacks Key’s Whaling Plans [3]


• NZ’s Stance About Saving Face In Tokyo, Not Whales [4]


• NZ Must Take Firm Line In Peter Bethune Case [5]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00035.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00034.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00036.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00026.htm [5]

Crime Statistics: Violent Crime Keeps On Rising
The 2009 calendar year crime statistics today showed violent offending increased 9.2 percent last year... Police resolved 14,199 more offences in 2009 than in 2008, to increase the national resolution rate from 46.7 percent to 47.8 percent – the highest since electronic records began in 1978. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00009.htm

ALSO:

• An equal society is a safe society [2]


• Decisive Action Needed To Tackle Violent Crime [3]


• Leaked crime statistics report misleading [4]


• Highest Resolution Rate on Record for Police [5]


• BOP drug operation makes continued inroads [6]


• Two aggravated robberies in two hours [7]


• Culpable Death Report [8]


• Concerned at risk drivers taking to avoid arrest [9]


• Canterbury District [10]


• Mayor Ogden welcomes drop in crime [11]


• Stop the war on our people [12]


• Crime Statistics Shame Our Country [13]


• Rising numbers mean more work [14]


• Excusing crime directly responsible for crime rate [15]


• Police Chase Rethink Praised [16]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00014.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00025.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00010.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00011.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00021.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1003/S00373.htm [7]

[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00007.htm [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00024.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00003.htm [10]

[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00008.htm [11]

[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1003/S00499.htm [12]

[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00022.htm [13]

[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00011.htm [14]

[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00022.htm [15]

[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00023.htm [16]

April 1: Greens Explore Various Options
The Greens have appointed the following new spokespeople: Kennedy Graham (International Transport); Russel Norman (Water-based Transport); David Clendon (Motorbike Transport); Catherine Delahunty (Time Transport); and Metiria Turei (Active Transport except cycling or walking - eg Roller Derby). More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00012.htm

ALSO:

• Two trees for Auckland's One Tree Hill [2]


• Shotover Jet sets sights on Formula 1 motor racing [3]


• Floating hotel and golf course for Lyttelton [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00001.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1004/S00007.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1004/S00025.htm [4]

Mokihinui Decision: Forest & Bird Damns Dam
Conservation organisation Forest & Bird is astounded at the decision to destroy the West Coast’s Mokihinui River by building a hydro dam. “This will be the greatest inundation of conservation land for a hydro scheme that New Zealand has ever seen,” Forest & Bird Top of the South Field Officer Debs Martin says. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00046.htm

ALSO:

• Meridian welcomes Mokihinui consents [2]


• Dunne: Mokihinui Dam decision narrow-minded [3]


• Mokihinui decision disastrous [4]


• Brownlee’s foot in mouth over West Coast dam [5]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00074.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00042.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00039.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0911/S00041.htm [5]

Scoop Business: Fonterra Surprised By Milk Powder Auction Strength
Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world largest exporter of dairy products, put today’s 21% surge in the price of whole milk powder on its online auction trading platform down to tighter supply as Australia and New Zealand near the end of the production season. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/07/fonterra-surprised-by-milk-powder-auction-strength/

ALSO:

• 21-month high for Fonterra milk powder prices [2]


• Lift in milk powder prices will lift confidence [3]


• Fonterra proposes share trading only among farmers [4]


• Public investment in Fonterra proposed [5]


• Open letter: Trading amongst farmers? [6]


• Natural Dairy launches broadside at Fonterra [7]


• Failure to name our pastoral method fails NZ [8]

[2] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/07/21-month-high-for-fonterra-milk-powder-prices/ [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00119.htm [3]

[4] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/07/fonterra-proposes-share-trading-only-among-farmers/ [4]

[5] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/07/public-investment-in-fonterra-proposed/ [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00104.htm [6]

[7] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/07/natural-dairy-launches-broadside-at-fonterra/ [7]

[8] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/07/failure-to-name-our-pastoral-method-fails-nz/ [8]

Carbon Hoofprinting: Lamb Industry Creates Carbon Footprint Benchmark
The New Zealand lamb industry now has a strong understanding of how it can improve its emissions performance, thanks to a new and comprehensive study examining the full carbon footprint of New Zealand lamb exported to and consumed in its key European market. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00081.htm

ALSO:

• Key: Speech to opening of Global Research Alliance [2]


• Govt’s ETS uncertainty threatens credibility [3]


• Global Research Alliance meeting welcomed [4]


• Science Gathering in Wellington a Positive Step [5]


• NZ goes where other global alliance members don't [6]


• Science, Climate Change and Integrity [7]


• Failure to name our pastoral method fails NZ [8]


• Select Committee Recommends Changes to Patents [9]


• Dylan Horrocks Cartoon: S92A Copyright Blackout [10]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00044.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1004/S00046.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00048.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1004/S00005.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00075.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1004/S00006.htm [7]

[8] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/07/failure-to-name-our-pastoral-method-fails-nz/ [8]

[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00053.htm [9]

[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0902/S00360.htm [10]

Scoop Business: Tough Times Persist For SMEs
Small, medium-sized firms and those without national reach are still doing it tough, as the gap between hopes and the reality of economic recovery remains wide, according to the latest quarterly survey of business opinion from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. More »[1]

[1] - http://business.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/06/tough-times-persist-for-smes-qsbo/

ALSO:

• Auctions Least Effective - Survey [2]


• March Monthly Economic Indicatiors (MEI) [3]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00048.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00076.htm [3]

Farmers' Markets: The $40,000 Easter Trading Facts
Farmers' Markets New Zealand (FMNZ) that represents 50 farmers' markets from Invercargill to Bay of Islands is supporting it member markets who trade on Easter Sunday. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1004/S00047.htm

ALSO:

• Easter Trading Issues Far Worse, Govt Must Step In [2]


• Dept Of Labour Tries To Spin Easter Prosecutions [3]


• Easter trading rule changes will be opposed [4]


• Easter trading laws a "tricky issue" - John Key [5]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00032.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1004/S00036.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0911/S00636.htm [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/34763.html [5]

Weather In March: Good Drying Weather
Extremely dry in the north and east of the North Island, and parts of Canterbury and Otago. A record dry March for Auckland. Wet in Fiordland and parts of Southland. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1004/S00002.htm

ALSO:

• 2009 a benign year for natural disaster claims [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1004/S00001.htm [2]

WikiLeaks: "Collateral Murder, Baghdad July 12, 2007"
(April 5, Washington, DC) Julian Assange and Wikileaks kept their promise of February 20 by releasing a video tape that shows civilians and reporter deaths from an attack by United States forces. The tape was presented at a 9:00 am press conference at... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00015.htm

ALSO:

• Iraq Shooting Military Investigation Docs Released [2]


• ACORNing WikiLeaks? Web Publisher Under Attack [3]


• Collateral Murder [4]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00024.htm [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00313.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00055.htm [4]

Uri Avnery: “Hold Me Back!”
“HOLD ME back!” is a part of Israeli folklore. It reminds us of our childhood. When a boy has a scuffle with a bigger and stronger boy, he pretends that he is going to attack him any moment and shouts to the spectators: “Hold me back, or I am going ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00023.htm

Julie Webb-Pullman: Cuban Elections: Part One - Candidate Nominations
I have taken up the invitation of Ricardo Alarcon, President of the Cuban National Assembly, to observe the Cuban electoral process, beginning with going to a couple of nomination meetings, then interviewing the successful candidates, or potential ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00025.htm

Neo-Cons, Fundies, Feddies, and Con-Artists: Bush to Obama
It is now a matter of public record that immediately after the terrible tragedy of 11 September 2001, U.S. Secretary of War Donald Rumsfeld and his pro-Israeli Neo-Conservative Deputy Paul Wolfowitz began to plot, plan, scheme and conspire to wage a war of aggression ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00022.htm

Hating Obama, Scorning Rudd: Why have they become so unpopular so quickly ?
New Zealand has long been out of ideological sync with the USA. Labour Prime Minister David Lange crumpled ANZUS and threw out nuclear ships during the Reagan years. Helen Clark decried the war on Iraq, and said it wouldn’t... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/hating-obama-scorning-rudd/

Left Coasting: Una Casa Dividida
Aposter reproduced in Kenneth C. Burt’s 2007 book The Search for a Civic Voice: California Latino Politics accompanies his discussion of the events surrounding the 1966 CA gubernatorial election. At the top of the poster are two words... More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/left-coasting-una-casa-dividida/

Binoy Kampmark: Dumping Hu And Saving Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto’s attempt to rinse its red blood of any association with the practices of its former employees Stern Hu (an Australian national) and Chinese nationals Liu Caikui, Wang Yong and Ge Minqiang, is troubling. Business in the international mining... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00008.htm

Letters: Renaissance-Man Songster To Be Michael King Writer-In-Residence
William (Bill) Direen, a writer and well-known figure in New Zealand music circles, has been selected for a six-month residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in Devonport from July this year. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1004/S00072.htm

Werewolf: Harriet The Spy (1964) By Louise Fitzhugh
Ever since Harriet the Spy was published in 1964, the book has steadily grown in stature – to the point where one US critic has put it up alongside Charlotte’s Web and Where The Wild Things Are as one of the three masterpieces of postwar children’s literature. More »[1]

[1] - http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/04/classics-harriet-the-spy-1964-by-louise-fitzhugh/

Carnival: Thousands Flock To National Jazz Festival
Around 20,000 people enjoyed sunshine and jazz music at the National Jazz Festival’s Downtown Carnival today in Tauranga. The carnival is a free event as part of the National Jazz Festival and continues on Sunday with four stages featuring a diverse range of jazz music styles. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1004/S00037.htm

US & NZ Dates: Dimmer (+ The Clean) To Play At Sold-Out New York Chris Knox Benefit
Shayne Carter’s Dimmer make their first foray to New York City in May, playing shows including a just-announced Chris Knox benefit gig. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1003/S00425.htm

ALSO:

• The Chris Knox Benefit at Le Poisson Rouge Has Already Raised $40,545 [2]


• Chris Knox withdraws from Mountain Goats slot [3]

[2] - http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2010/03/the_chris_knox.php" target="_blank [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1004/S00062.htm [3]

Communication Breakdown: Noisy Welcome Promised For New Israeli Embassy
A campaign formed in Wellington to oppose the opening of an Israeli embassy says nobody would want the embassy as its neighbour. NIEW – No Israeli Embassy in Wellington – is a coalition set up to oppose Israel plans to open an embassy in Wellington ... More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00072.htm

ALSO:

• OnPoint: Iraq, from the air [2]


• Iraq Shooting Military Investigation Docs Released [3]


• Wikileaks: Video of Baghdad firefight [4]


• Harvard's Gitmo Kangaroo Law School [5]


• ACORNing WikiLeaks? Web Publisher Under Attack [6]


• NYTimes.com: U.S. Admits Role in Killing of Afghan Women [7]

[2] - http://publicaddress.net/6553#post6553" target="_blank [2]

[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00024.htm [3]

[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/world/34775.html [4]

[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1004/S00014.htm [5]

[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1003/S00313.htm [6]

[7] - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/world/asia/06afghan.html" target="_blank [7]

Online News: Net News Likely To Stay Free In NZ
AUCKLAND (NZ Herald/Pacific Media Watch): Media magnate Rupert Murdoch has upped the ante over free news content on the web. Murdoch's News Corp is to charge £1 ($2.11) a day and £2 a week for people to read the Times and Sunday Times websites. More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00024.htm

Terrorism: Condemnation Of Deadly Subway Bombings In Moscow
The United Nations refugee chief has added his voice to the chorus of international condemnation at this week’s suicide bombings in the Moscow subway system, describing the twin attacks as “an appalling and heartless crime.” More »[1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00007.htm

ENDS

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