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Monday, 31 January 2005, 4:54 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Iraq's First Elections In Five Decades
Flared Trousered Clip Art Caricature Leads To Political Ruckus
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
Uri Avnery Dares To Be Optimistic About A Ceasefire
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
No Right Turn: A Seditious Pamphleteer Is Targeted
Watching The Buggers – A Serial
Poll Watch: Sunday Star Times/BRC
Martin Lefevre: Self-Knowing and Consciousness
Bill Grigsby On The Lot Of The Rightwing Pundit
Bulldozing & Building In The Occupied Territories
Evelyn Pringle: More On Why Amway Is Like The Godfather
Bush & The Extraction Of Cash From Sick Americans
Mary Pitt: Quiet Christians Are On The March
Kamala Sarup On Nepal's Economic Policies
Post-Constitutional America In The History Classroom
Cartoons: Fuhrer Bush & The Late Great Carson
Sam Smith: Lessons From Auschwitz
What Is Coca-Cola Doing With Real Coca?
Ramzy Baroud: Four More Years
Bill Berkowitz: To Hell And Back
Manuel Valenzeula Dives Into History’s Cauldron

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OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Brash Says His Welfare Policies Are Tougher Than Maharey's
Hone Harawira To Stand Against Dover Samuels
Scholarship Examination Rumours Need Clearing Up
Coddington Discovers Kooky Cricket Players Conundrum
Meaningless Home Detention Needs Review - Mark
United Future Ponders The Whyfors Of The Teachers Council
Greens Walk The Walk As Well As Talk The Talk
Alexander Feels Police Robbed By Burglars Sentence
Kiwi Mexican Trade-Off Being Investigated
Disease That Caused Henry VIII's Madness Targeted By Collins
School's Back & Bigger Than Ever
Newman Discovers Mountain Of Unpaid and Uncollectable Child Support
Drug Hunt Leads To Fatal Plane Crash
Brave Kiwis Win Praise From PM

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

Brash vs Clipart - Spot The Difference!

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

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LEAD STORY:
Iraq's First Elections In Five Decades

- The 30th of January 2005 is a landmark in the history of Iraq as it is the date of the first Iraqi elections in half century. This crucial vote is drawing considerable local, regional and international attention not for the occurrence of the elections itself but rather for the heavy consequences they can have. See... Iraqi Elections: Stakes and Aftermath Scenarios [1] MORE IRAQ COMMENTARY: - Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches: High Anxiety [2] - Stateside: Inky Dinky, Kiss My Pinky [3] - No Right Turn: Disengagement [4] - William Fisher: Go, Pat, Go! [5] MORE REACTION: - NZ Govt. - Progress towards democratic and peaceful Iraq [6] - UN - Annan tells Iraqis to exercise democratic rights [7] - UK Govt. - Blair on Iraqi elections [8] - US President - President's Bush statement on Iraqi elections [9] - EU - Additional €200 million for Iraq on eve of election [10] - Peace Action Wellington - US Hypocrisy on Show [11] For Much More See… STORY OF THE WEEK: Elections In Iraq (Part 1)

Flared Trousered Clip Art Caricature Leads To Political Ruckus

- A small piece of clip art used in an NCEA exam has been identified by some members of the National Party as representing an accurate likeness of current leader, Don Brash. The nondescript be-spectacled figure with flared trousers is supposed to represent a National Party member unsympathetic to Maori interests circa 1980. The Government is accusing Dr Brash of suffering from paranoia. See... Watch out Dr Brash, the paranoids are after you! [1] Dr Brash has failed to see anything amusing in the situation and further considers that the piece of clip art represents a tall man. See... Brash Attacks 'Deeply Troubling' NCEA Question [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00290.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00291.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

Injured Mt Cook Climber Rescued [1]

Brash Orewa II Protest Report [2]

Bottom trawling threatens potential cancer cures [3]

Picket Near Indonesian Embassy Today [4]

Police Officer and Pilot Killed in Air Crash [5] & Condolences [6]

Stopping the GE Trees in Rotorua [7]

Legal Aid Staff Vote To Take Strike Action [8]

Overseas Merchandise Trade (Imports):December 2004 [9]

Manufacturing Expansion Eases [10]

Uri Avnery Dares To Be Optimistic About A Ceasefire

- Perhaps the second intifada has come to an end. Perhaps the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip will develop into a general, mutual cease-fire. See... Uri Avnery: The Stalemate [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00271.htm

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

The Death Of Hadi Saleh [1]

Launch of global poverty movement sets challenges [2]

RSF Condemns Al-Jazeera Harassment [3]

Mandate of UN force in southern Lebanon extended [4]

Sudan's deadly bombing raid on village in Darfur [5]

Condi Rice Interviews - CBS [6] , CNN [7] , ABC [8] & Fox [9]

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/index.html#lead
Iraqi Election Ballot – Image From State Dept.

SCOOP COLUMNS:
No Right Turn: A Seditious Pamphleteer Is Targeted

- The charging of Tim Selwyn with publishing a seditious statement over the pamphlets distributed as part of the axe attack on the Prime Minister's electorate office last year marks a new low for freedom in this country. See... NRT: An Archaic Law Which Must Be Repealed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00281.htm

Watching The Buggers – A Serial

- A play about the 2004 investigation into allegations of bugging the Maori Party by Tim Barcode. Serialised on Scoop, starting today. See... Watching The Buggers (Part 1 Of 12) [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00285.htm

Poll Watch: Sunday Star Times/BRC

- Labour 44 National 34 NZ First 6 Greens 6 United Future 3 ACT 2 Maori 2 Destiny NZ 1 See... Scoop Poll Watch: SST/BRC Poll 30.01.05: [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00283.htm

Martin Lefevre: Self-Knowing and Consciousness

- For the first time in two weeks, the morning breaks without fog, and the sun softly shines through a ceiling of high thin clouds. The winter’s day in California’s Central Valley grows increasingly clear. I seize the afternoon and drive to Upper Park. See... Meditations: Self-Knowing and Consciousness [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00286.htm

Bill Grigsby On The Lot Of The Rightwing Pundit

- You have to sympathize with neoconservative columnists these days. Spinning the straw that comes out of this administration into gold must be a hellish job. See... Bill Grigsby: Faith-based Punditry [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00284.htm

Bulldozing & Building In The Occupied Territories

- ''On the Ground'' is a documentary about the demolitions of Palestinian homes by Israeli Forces and the organization that rebuilds them. See... Sonia Nettnin Film Review: On The Ground [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00282.htm

Evelyn Pringle: More On Why Amway Is Like The Godfather

- Professor G Robert Blakey was retained as an expert witness in the 1998 Procter & Gamble v Amway lawsuit to issue an opinion on Amway's business practices. Blakey is one of the nation's foremost authorities on organized crime ... See... Evelyn Pringle: Amway - Mafia Like Business [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00279.htm

Bush & The Extraction Of Cash From Sick Americans

- As the debate over importation of cheaper drugs from other countries heats up, keep an eye on the politicians listed below. See... GW Bush - Top Lobbyist For Pharmaceutical Industry [1] . See also... Jeb, Marvin & Neil - 3 Profiteering Bush Brothers [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00278.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00274.htm

Mary Pitt: Quiet Christians Are On The March

- The assault on our freedoms by the ''Old Testament Christians'', those who use the Ten Commandments as their lodestar and place great faith in Jewish Law, the advocacy of Holy War, and the justifications of the ancient prophesies in their missionary zeal to control the world, are finally getting some opposition from the devout followers of the example of Jesus Christ. See... Mary Pitt: America's Holy War [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00276.htm

Kamala Sarup On Nepal's Economic Policies

- Given such a strong concern for human development and a promise to eliminate the worst forms of human deprivations, what has been Nepal's performance on the poverty front? See... Kamala Sarup: Nepals Macroeconomic Policy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00275.htm

Post-Constitutional America In The History Classroom

- Like countless thousands of history teachers in public schools across the length and breadth of this great land, I've made a career out of touting the genius of the United States Constitution, particularly its uncanny ability to strike a delicate, but durable, balance between the will of the majority and the essential liberty of the individual. See... Teaching The Constitution In A Post-Democratic USA [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00273.htm

Cartoons: Fuhrer Bush & The Late Great Carson

- Two cartoons by John Chuckman… See... Chuckman Cartoons: The Emerging Picture [1] and Kidd Millennium Cartoon: The Great Carson [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00270.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00269.htm

Sam Smith: Lessons From Auschwitz

- The 60th anniversary observance of Auschwitz brings back a question that periodically lurks in the corner: how much do we really learn from evil? See... Sam Smith: How Much Do We Learn From Evil? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00267.htm

What Is Coca-Cola Doing With Real Coca?

- Acting Publisher Luis A. Gómez weighs in today on a statement just released by Peru's drug control agency, the National Commission for Development and Life Without Drugs (shortened in Spanish to DEVIDA). See... New Proof that Coca-Cola Buys Andean Coca Leaves [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00266.htm

Ramzy Baroud: Four More Years

- When the final vote count confirmed President George W. Bush’s re-election last November, two competing analyses were offered regarding his second term in office. See... The Challenge Of Another Term With The Bush Empire [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00265.htm

Bill Berkowitz: To Hell And Back

- Iraq War veterans face formidable challenges and Bush Administration funding cuts. See... Bill Berkowitz: To Hell, And They're Coming Back [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00264.htm

Manuel Valenzeula Dives Into History’s Cauldron

- In an immoral war with no cause, in an aggressive invasion without reason, in a dehumanizing occupation with no justification, those pawns fighting the battles implemented by elite warmongers and corporatists in power have no enthusiasm to risk ... See... Manuel Valenzuela: Because There is No Cause [1] and Manuel Valenzuela: The Antiwar Movement Awakening [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00263.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0501/S00272.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0501/S00177.htm
NZ Rowing's Golden Twins New Super Sponsor

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OTHER NEWS (JUST POLITICS)

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Brash Says His Welfare Policies Are Tougher Than Maharey's

- This is a response to comments by Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey on aspects of Don Brash's speech at Orewa on January 25. See... Brash Responds To Maharey [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00295.htm

Hone Harawira To Stand Against Dover Samuels

- The Tai Tokerau electorate of the Maori Party is proud to announce their candidates selected for the up and coming General Election. See... Party Announces Candidates For Te Tai Tokerau [1] and An Interview With Hone Harawira - Candidate [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0501/S00214.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0501/S00227.htm

Scholarship Examination Rumours Need Clearing Up

- National's Education spokesman, Bill English, says the NZQA must act quickly to dispel rumours of heavily lopsided scholarship results. See... NZQA must clear up scholarship rumours [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00303.htm

Coddington Discovers Kooky Cricket Players Conundrum

– I’m back! I’m sorry for the columnus interruptus last year but it took a few months to get into the swing of writing a weekly column for the Herald on Sunday. And I must say I’m really enjoying being back in the media. I’ve missed it more than I ... Liberty Belle Is Back! [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00300.htm

Meaningless Home Detention Needs Review - Mark

- New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark says it is time the Government reviewed the rules for home detention because it is now a meaningless punishment. See... NZ First Calls For Home Detention Review [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00305.htm

United Future Ponders The Whyfors Of The Teachers Council

- The first task of the Teachers’ Council is finally complete – a code of ethics to which all teachers must comply has been introduced - but Bernie Ogilvy, United Future’s education spokesperson, questions what will it achieve. See... Finally A Code Of Ethics – To Do What? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00302.htm

Greens Walk The Walk As Well As Talk The Talk

- Green MPs are investing $50,000 in a solar water heating project to enable at least 12 Christchurch families to have solar water heaters in their homes. See... Greens To Fund Solar Water Heating Project [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00301.htm

Alexander Feels Police Robbed By Burglars Sentence

- "What's the point of police trying to do their job, often putting their safety at risk to try and catch the bad guys, when sentences being handed out completely undermine their" said United Future Law Order spokesman Marc Alexander. See... Alexander: Why Should The Police Bother? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00299.htm

Kiwi Mexican Trade-Off Being Investigated

- A joint experts group is to be formed to recommend ways of strengthening bilateral trade and investment between New Zealand and Mexico, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. See... WTO negotiations get great boost [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00298.htm

Disease That Caused Henry VIII's Madness Targeted By Collins

- National's Health spokeswoman, Judith Collins, says there must be an urgent re-evaluation of the safe-sex promotion campaign if infectious syphilis is to be halted before it becomes an epidemic. See... Call For Safe-Sex Campaign Aimed At Syphilis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00297.htm

School's Back & Bigger Than Ever

- The first of an estimated 758,300 New Zealand students will head off to school today, about 4,900 more than last year, says Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope. See... Minister welcomes back bumper class of 2005 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00296.htm

Newman Discovers Mountain Of Unpaid and Uncollectable Child Support

- ACT Deputy Leader and Social Welfare spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today released papers that reveal a staggering $284 million owed in child support has been categorised by the Government as ‘uncollectable’. See... ‘Uncollectable’ child support through the roof [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00294.htm

Drug Hunt Leads To Fatal Plane Crash

- Police Minister George Hawkins this morning expressed his deep sadness at being told of the fatal air accident which took the lives of an on-duty police detective and his civilian pilot at Queenstown yesterday. See... Queenstown detective and pilot pay a cruel price [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00292.htm

Brave Kiwis Win Praise From PM

-"These Bravery Awards recognise New Zealanders who have made extraordinary efforts to help fellow human beings, and showed great courage in doing," Helen Clark said. See... PM congratulates Bravery Award recipients [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0501/S00287.htm

ENDS

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

Top Scoops Headlines

COMMENT

Binoy Kampmark: The Australian Defence Formula, Spend! Spend! Spend!

Not only will Australians be paying a bill up to and above A$368 billion for nuclear powered submarines it does not need; it will also be throwing A$100 billion into the coffers of the military industrial complex over the next decade to combat a needlessly inflated enemy. Forget diplomacy and funding the cause (and course) of peace.

Ian Powell: New Hospital Building Trumps ‘Yes Minister’ Hospital Without Patients

Ian Powell discusses how New Zealand’s vertically centralised health system led to a new hospital surgical building without staff and its similarity with the ‘Yes Minister’ comedy and the hospital with no patients.

Mike Treen: Prices Are Still Rising - It's A Cost Of Living Crisis

New Zealand’s consumers price index increased 4 per cent in the 12 months to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ April 17. This was higher than the Reserve Bank prediction of 3.8%.

Gordon Campbell: On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism

The meaning of the word “racism” is being deliberately blurred, for political reasons. Lets re-state the obvious: when people are chronically experiencing worse social outcomes and lower life expectancy due to the colour of their skin, that’s racism. But the targeting of measures to redress those wrongs is not racism – it is justice, long overdue.

Peter Dunne: Newshub And TVNZ Tip Of Media Iceberg

There has been a positive but restrained response to the deal announced between Stuff and Warner Brothers Discovery to “save” TV3’s six o’clock nightly news bulletin, currently screened under the Newshub label. According to Stuff, the deal will mean that around 40 of the jobs involved can also be saved.

Harry Finch: Austerity – For And Against

It’s a word that politicians love to hate and as much as the current government is telling us that the measures they are taking don’t amount to austerity, by definition, they do. And as other commentators have noted, New Zealand has elected a government of austerity, so let’s weigh up the pros and cons.

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