Top Scoop Stories - 07 February 2008 News Summary

Thursday, 7 February 2008, 2:01 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - 07 February 2008

LEAD STORY:

Environment: Greens Decry Wellington Port Fumigation

NZ POLITICS:

Scoop Photo Essay: Out N About At The Gov-Gen's Waitangi Day Garden Party
Police: Man Has Heart Attack After Pepper Spray
Foreign Affairs: MFAT Mourns Death Of Dep. Secretary Alan Williams
Protest Action: Bridge Festooned With Maori Sovereignty Flags

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Astronomy: Partial Eclipse Of The Sun This Afternoon
Statistics: NZ Overrun By Employees
Science: Dope Smoking Not Groovy For Gums
Employment: Wages Catch Up Needed
Predators: Release Of Rare NZ Falcon Chick

WORLD:

United Nations: Water Shortages Are Increasingly Driving Conflicts
Body Of Work: UN-Backed Container Exhibit Spotlights Plight Of Sex Trafficking Victims
Burma: UN Rights Expert Dismayed Over Continued Arrests, Detentions
Chad Crisis: UN's Top Rights Chief Urges Protection Of Civilians In War-torn Chad

COMMENT:

Pablo Ouziel: Geopolitical Rebirth
Bill Berkowitz: Freedom's Watch - Pushing Buttons, Raising Millions
Martha Rosenberg: Slaughter Video Forces USDA Into Damage Control
David Swanson: Can Your Town Ban The Military From Recruiting Anyone Under 18?
Richard Ehrlich: Backpackers Rescue Ancient Hoi An
Vote Watch: California Primary Election Integrity Assessment

LIFESTYLE:

Fringe Starts Friday: Micetro Bring Improv To The 'Burbs'
Theatrical Feast: Chocolate Madness Tours The South!
Art and Entertainment: Beyond The Blue: Adventure, Passion, Discovery And Rebellion

Environment: Greens Decry Wellington Port Fumigation - The Green Party is calling for an immediate halt to Methyl Bromide fumigation at Wellington's port, following revelations today that this potentially hazardous activity is taking place right next to Westpac stadium, Victoria University's campus at the railway station, and visiting cruise ships. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Greens - Council must front up with explanation [2]

• New Zealand Police - NZ Police Alert: Fire At Patea Freezing Works [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00065.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00074.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00054.htm

Scoop Photo Essay: Out N About At The Gov-Gen's Waitangi Day Garden Party - Photo Essay: Out and about at the Governor General's garden reception at Government House in Auckland. This invite-only event was attended by representatives of all cultures that live in Aotearoa New Zealand. At this reception, the Governor-General gave his annual Waitangi Day address. Graphic by Lyndon Hood. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Anderton: We all have a stake in the Treaty of Waitangi [2]
• (TV3): Maori business encouraged to push the Maori edge [3]
• (TV3): The coolness of Maori culture [4]
• (TV3): PM should get over Waitangi problems - Key [5]
• (TV3): Waitangi commemorations begin [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00067.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00073.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/4813.html
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/business/4810.html
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/4804.html
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/international/4793.html

Police: Man Has Heart Attack After Pepper Spray - "The death of a man while being arrested in Mangere today is a tragedy, and we extend our sympathies to his family," Police Association President Greg O'Connor said today. "It is the worst possible outcome, and every officer's nightmare, to be involved in a situation that results in the loss of a life." More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Greens - Time for review of pepper spray use [2]
• Maori Party - Maori Party Raises Question about Police Weaponry [3]
• Global Peace And Justice Auckland - Pepper-spray review urgently needed [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00058.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00067.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00071.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00055.htm

Foreign Affairs: MFAT Mourns Death Of Dep. Secretary Alan Williams - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade deputy secretary Alan Williams died on Sunday following a battle with cancer. He was 50. "We are all deeply saddened by Alan's death and our thoughts are with his family," Foreign Affairs Secretary Simon Murdoch said. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00052.htm

Protest Action: Bridge Festooned With Maori Sovereignty Flags - Members and supporters of the sovereignty group Te Ata Tino Toa gathered today to fly the largest known Tino Rangatiratanga flag above the Auckland Harbour Bridge. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Te Ata Tino Toa - Tino Rangatiratanga flag Ready For Bridge "Flyby" [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00060.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00053.htm

Astronomy: Partial Eclipse Of The Sun This Afternoon - In Auckland the partial eclipse starts at 4.48pm when the sun is half way up the sky in the west and finishes about 2 hours later at 6.51pm. At the time of maximum eclipse (5.52pm) 47% of the Sun will be covered as seen from Auckland. Maximum eclipse will occur in Christchurch at 5.37pm when 53% of the sun's face will be covered by the Moon. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0801/S00042.htm

Statistics: NZ Overrun By Employees - In seasonally adjusted terms, the unemployment rate was at its lowest level in the December 2007 quarter since the survey began in March 1986. The survey also recorded the highest number of people in employment and in the labour force, as well as the highest labour force participation rate. Over the December 2007 quarter the unemployment rate dropped 0.1 percentage points to 3.4 percent. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Triple achievement in employment [2]
• Council of Trade Unions - Record low unemployment figures good news [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0802/S00088.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00077.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00071.htm

Science: Dope Smoking Not Groovy For Gums - Using data gathered through the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS), which tracks a group of 1000 people born in Dunedin in 1972-73, an international study has found heavy cannabis smoking was responsible for more than one-third of the new cases of gum disease by age 32. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0802/S00012.htm

Employment: Wages Catch Up Needed - "The labour market has been tight for 6 years - yet wage growth has been modest to say the least in that period," CTU Economist Peter Conway said today... "Statistics released today show that the pace of wage increase is unchanged from a year ago. Wages were up by 3.3% in 2007 compared with 3.2 percent for 2006. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• J P Morgan - NZ labour cost index was unexpectedly strong in 4Q [2]
• Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce - Labour Shortage: Increased Migration Needed [3]
• finsec - New stats show collective bargaining delivers [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00044.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0802/S00064.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0802/S00068.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00049.htm

Predators: Release Of Rare NZ Falcon Chick - Hamilton Zoo has today released a NZ falcon chick at Kakepuku Mountain, celebrating the city's first successful raising of this rare bird of prey. Once widespread throughout New Zealand, there are now only isolated populations of 3000 to 4500 pairs nationwide, reflected by this bird's classification as Vulnerable to Endangered. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0802/S00007.htm

United Nations: Water Shortages Are Increasingly Driving Conflicts - Many of today's conflicts around the world are being fuelled or exacerbated by water shortages and climate change is only making the situation worse, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the General Assembly today. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00070.htm

Body Of Work: UN-Backed Container Exhibit Spotlights Plight Of Sex Trafficking Victims - A new exhibit using transport containers to illustrate the brutal experiences of women sold into the sex trade will be featured next week at a United Nations forum focusing on the global billion-dollar human trafficking industry. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00074.htm

Burma: UN Rights Expert Dismayed Over Continued Arrests, Detentions - Nearly five months after Myanmar's forceful crackdown on peaceful protesters, political and human rights activists continue to be arrested, detained and sentenced to prison, an independent United Nations expert said today. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00058.htm

Chad Crisis: UN's Top Rights Chief Urges Protection Of Civilians In War-torn Chad - As civilians continue to flee fighting between rebels and government forces in Chad, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today called on both government forces and rebel groups "to respect international human rights and humanitarian law and to take all appropriate measures to protect civilians."More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00060.htm

Pablo Ouziel: Geopolitical Rebirth - What we are witnessing are the repercussions of a divided world between the rich and the poor and the East and the West. Despite all this, the truth remains that if we observe closely enough there is right now a structural battle being fought which will determine the future of the next generations and our own. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00073.htm

Bill Berkowitz: Freedom's Watch - Pushing Buttons, Raising Millions - Over the past couple of years, a number of right wing groups have been contending for the unofficial designation of the conservative version of MoveOn.org. These days, Freedom's Watch appears to have a leg up on them all. Founded by a group of former White House aides and wealthy Bush supporters, Freedom's Watch is building a powerful organisational infrastructure, and may wind up spending as much as a quarter of a billion dollars in this year's presidential election. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00072.htm

Martha Rosenberg: Slaughter Video Forces USDA Into Damage Control - You wouldn't think you could ''spin'' a video that shows slaughterhouse workers electric shocking downer cows, ''water boarding'' them, jabbing their eyes with herding paddles and ramming them with forklift blades while they squeal in pain... But the United States Department of Agriculture is trying! More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00059.htm

David Swanson: Can Your Town Ban The Military From Recruiting Anyone Under 18? - Localities can avoid the consequences of the No Child Left Behind law by challenging the ability of recruiters to be on school campuses, but also by prohibiting any recruiting activities that involve kids under 18. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00058.htm

Richard Ehrlich: Backpackers Rescue Ancient Hoi An - Foreign backpackers and the United Nations have helped Vietnam's communists rescue this exquisite town, which became dilapidated after wealthy shippers and merchants abandoned it more than 100 years ago. This small port on central Vietnam's Thu Bon River began attracting big money in the 15th century, when East Asia's ships came to nestle, and procure fresh supplies. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00056.htm

Vote Watch: California Primary Election Integrity Assessment - This assessment is part of a DU Election Reform project to provide summaries of the election systems in states with upcoming primary elections, and a prognosis about election integrity. This summary provides many tools and pointers on where to look for problems as the returns come in Feb 5-6, in this vast and complex state. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00050.htm

Fringe Starts Friday: Micetro Bring Improv To The 'Burbs' - Need a good laugh at the end of a hard day, but don't want to drive back into the city? Wellington Improvisation Troupe has the answer - crash and burn elimination improvisation where the audience decides the winner. Comedy for those that need it most! More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Wellington Improvisation Troupe - The Young and the Witless - an improvised soap! [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00067.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00066.htm

Theatrical Feast: Chocolate Madness Tours The South! - Hardworking duo Alex Ellis and Phil Ormsby from Flaxworks Theatre are back on the road again, this time touring New Zealand with their second production 'Murder by Chocolate'. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00064.htm

Art and Entertainment: Beyond The Blue: Adventure, Passion, Discovery And Rebellion - Pandemonium Theatre (The Butcher's Daughter and Black Ice) and THE EDGE bring to the stage a show devised by twelve young aspiring actresses who collectively weave visually stunning tales of feisty women and their daring escapades. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00061.htm

ENDS

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