Top Scoop Stories - 21 February 2008 News Summary

Thursday, 21 February 2008, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - 21 February 2008

LEAD STORY:

Munitions: Cluster Bomb Victims Stage Wellington Protest

NZ POLITICS:

Questions For Oral Answer - Thursday, 21 Feb 2008
Questions And Answers – Wednesday 20 February 2008
Book Launch: Text+Video: Child Discipline Law Gets Big Tick
Hospitals & Healthcare: Raising The Quality Bar In Health
Education: Select Committee Report Mocked

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Environment: Citizens Encouraged To Report Tagging Of Wildlife

WORLD:

Sudanese-Chadian Border: Fresh round of aerial bombing in West Darfur forces UN staff to relocate
Pakistan: Secretary-General Lauds Peaceful Conduct Of Pakistan Polls
Fidel Castro: Message From The Commander In Chief
U.S. State Department: Putting The Impact Of Cluster Munitions In Context

COMMENT:

David Swanson: No Iraqi Oil Law! International Days Of Action
Bobby Ramakant: Japan's Obstructionist Position On Illicit Trade Protocol
Glen Ford: Obama's White Men - Do They Hear Something Blacks Don't?
David Swanson: 19% Of Americans Approve Of Bush

LIFESTYLE:

Technology: Fringe Fest Breaks New Ground For 'Txt-Ertainment'
Theatre: 'Forever Blonde' Coming To Downstage

Munitions: Cluster Bomb Victims Stage Wellington Protest - Yesterday in Wellington cluster bomb victims were joined by members of the public in a protest at the impact of cluster munitions. The impact of cluster bombs would have been brought home to many a lunch-goer in Wellington's civic square who stumbled across various cluster bomb amputees brandishing placards. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Cluster Munitions Coalition - Kiwis Show Support for Treaty to Ban Cluster Bombs [2]
• Cluster Munitions Coalition - Cluster Bomb Survivor Speaks [3]
• Cluster Munitions Coalition - Global Push To Ban Cluster Bombs At Crossroads [4]
• Amnesty International - Ban on Cluster Munitions Only Sane, Humane Option [5]
• NZ Govt - Opening address of Conference on Cluster Munitions [6]
• Greens - Minister gets it wrong on cluster bomb investments [7]
• The Scoop Team - Intl. Cluster Munitions Conf. Opens In Wellington [8]
• US State Department - Putting the Impact of Cluster Munitions In Context [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00216.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00260.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00214.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00213.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00207.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00274.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00283.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00205.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00233.htm

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

• Questions For Oral Answer - Thursday, 21 Feb 2008 [1]
• Questions And Answers – Wednesday 20 February 2008 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00336.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00335.htm

Book Launch: Text+Video: Child Discipline Law Gets Big Tick - NZ has been congratulated by leading international children's advocates for its ground-breaking new law banning physical punishment of children and heralded as an example for other countries to follow. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Unreasonable Force – Book Launched [2]
• Greens - Green MP speaks at S59 book launch [3]
• Plunket - Positive move for parenting in New Zealand [4]
• Barnardos - Unreasonable force - a story worth telling [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00228.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00229.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00288.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00239.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00255.htm

Hospitals & Healthcare: Raising The Quality Bar In Health - A report that examines the status of healthcare in New Zealand is critical of standards. But the Ministry of Health states that "New Zealand compares well with wealthier countries from the OECD on a range of indicators, including patient safety, timeliness and efficiency," says Director-General of Health Stephen McKernan. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Ministry of Health - National reporting framework for serious events [2]
• Ministry of Health - Commentary On Sentinel & Serious Events [Word Doc] [3]
• NZ Govt - Transparent Events Reporting a Step Forward [4]
• National - Reported sentinel events tip of an iceberg [5]
• Waikato DHB - Waikato Focussed on Quality and Safety [6]
• Southland District Health Board - Reporting of adverse events enables improvements [7]
• NZ Nurses Organisation - Nurses Support Nationwide Hospital Safety System [8]
• Public Service Association - PSA Supports Reporting Sentinel Events [9]
• Safe Staffing Healthy Workplaces - SSHW Supports National Quality Improvement Effort [10]

AND:

• NZ Govt - Minister Acts over Hawke’s Bay DHB [11]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0802/S00075.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0802/S00083.htm
[3] - http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0802/SSE_DHB_Report_19_Feb.doc
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00310.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00329.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0802/S00076.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0802/S00073.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0802/S00074.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0802/S00080.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0802/S00084.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00317.htm

Education: Select Committee Report Mocked - A select committee inquiry into New Zealand’s schooling system has produced results that are almost “cosmically irrelevant”, PPTA president Robin Duff says. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• New Zealand Principals' Federation - NZPF slams latest lightweight report [2]
• NZ Govt - Minister welcomes latest stats on school staffing [3]
• NZ First - Lost Tribe Of Children Raise Welfare Concerns [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0802/S00040.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0802/S00045.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00287.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00302.htm

Environment: Citizens Encouraged To Report Tagging Of Wildlife - The Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust is once again encouraging New Zealanders to ‘get tagging’... “ [Last Year] There were 336 reports of finding tagged butterflies – although most of the flights showed that butterflies were staying in the community in which they were released.” More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust - Tagging supported by teachers [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0802/S00039.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0802/S00041.htm

Sudanese-Chadian Border: Fresh round of aerial bombing in West Darfur forces UN staff to relocate - The UN refugee agency has had to withdraw its staff from the volatile Sudanese-Chadian border area after a series of aerial bombardments over the past two days in West Darfur that have also sparked deep concern from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00251.htm

Pakistan: Secretary-General Lauds Peaceful Conduct Of Pakistan Polls - Ban Ki-moon has commended the people of Pakistan for the largely peaceful conduct of yesterday’s parliamentary elections. Mr. Ban “is encouraged by the commitment of all concerned to respect the democratic process.” More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00247.htm

Fidel Castro: Message From The Commander In Chief - Last Friday, February 15, I promised you that in my next reflection I would deal with an issue of interest to many compatriots. Thus, this now is rather a message. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• COHA - Cuba Votes as Fidel Castro Steps Down [2]
• VOA - Mixed Reaction To Castro Retirement Announcement [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00231.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00253.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00225.htm

U.S. State Department: Putting The Impact Of Cluster Munitions In Context - To find an acceptable way of addressing the humanitarian aspects associated with cluster munitions, all relevant facts should be considered. Unfortunately, much of what is said by certain advocacy groups on this issue is not accurate. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0802/S00233.htm

David Swanson: No Iraqi Oil Law! International Days Of Action - This Friday, Feb 22, marks one year since the US managed to pressure the Iraqi cabinet to pass an oil law that the US concocted to allow foreign multinational oil corporations unprecedented and undue control over Iraqi oil for the next 30 years. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00221.htm

Bobby Ramakant: Japan's Obstructionist Position On Illicit Trade Protocol - The illicit tobacco trade makes up approximately 10 percent of global tobacco sales and costs governments between 40-50 billion dollars (27-34 billion euros) every year. "Transnational companies benefit in a number of ways from the illicit trade in tobacco," said Kathyrn Mulvey, Director of International Policy, Corporate Accountability International (CAI). More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00219.htm

Glen Ford: Obama's White Men - Do They Hear Something Blacks Don't? - Once whites demonstrated their willingness to vote for a "certain type" of Black man, in Iowa back in January, it was a foregone conclusion that African Americans would line up in overwhelming numbers behind the Illinois Senator. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00222.htm

David Swanson: 19% Of Americans Approve Of Bush - George W. Bush's overall job approval rating has dropped to a new low in American Research Group polling as 78% of Americans say that the national economy is getting worse according to the latest survey from the American Research Group. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00220.htm

Technology: Fringe Fest Breaks New Ground For 'Txt-Ertainment' - The New Zealand Fringe Festival is reporting a very positive response to its trial of text-based services, including Quik Txt 'people-reviews', targeted information and a huge response to a 'secret' high-profile trapeze and dance spectacle. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00224.htm

Theatre: 'Forever Blonde' Coming To Downstage - Experience two hours of intimacy with the actress who convinces you that she really is Marilyn Monroe. This is not an impersonator, but award-winning American actress Sunny Thompson, reprising the role that has heightened her to star status in America. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• TV3 Video - All Stars on Lindsay Lohan's 'Marilyn' portraits and more [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0802/S00193.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/entertainment/5221.html

ENDS

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