Top Scoop Stories - 11 August 2008 News Summary

Monday, 11 August 2008, 2:00 pm
Article: The Scoop Editor

Today's Top Scoops - 11 August 2008

LEAD STORY:

Gordon Campbell: National's Welfare Policy, Tauranga and Georgia

NZ POLITICS:

Media: 'Hidden labour Agenda' Launches Wishart Online Paper
STATE OF IT: Recordings + Rumour + Innuendo = Historian's Rant
Health: National Accused Of Electioneering Over Herceptin
Grieving In Union: National And Labour Wellington Candidates Mourn Crossways
Media/Politics: Gordon Campbell on the ethics of taping politicians

BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH:

Potato Watch: Still Months To Celebrate The Jewel of the Garden
Property: Understanding Housing Bubbles

WORLD:

South Ossetia: Georgia Orders Its Troops To Cease-Fire
Int'l Day Of The World's Indigenous People: Calls For UN Members And Indigenous Peoples To Work Together
Afghanistan: Senior Taliban Extremist Commander Captured By Australian Special Forces
Giants In The Earth: Basketball Star Yao Ming Becomes First UNEP Champion
Barrier To Life: Restricted Access To Hospitals Puts West Bank Pregnant Women At Risk

COMMENT:

Syed Akbar Kamal: Lockwood Smith Interview
Uri Avnery: A Knight on a Gray Horse
Harvey Wasserman: McCain's Michigan melt-down madness
South Ossetia: The War has Begun!
Ex-CIA Official: Cheney Likely Behind Forged Letter Linking Iraq, Al-Qaeda
Ramzy Baroud: United by Misery - Two Boys from Gaza and Nilin
Sherwood Ross: Is America Fascist?

LIFESTYLE:

Theatre: Creative Anachronisms Form Basis For Romance
Cross Cultural Relations: Governor General Kicks off Islam Awareness Week
Winners: Top Student Chamber Music Afficiacanados Named
Arts: Sara Hughes Awarded Berlin Visual Art Residency

Gordon Campbell: National's Welfare Policy, Tauranga and Georgia - Will John Key's policy announcement on welfare this afternoon do much to resolve the problems it claims to address ? Hardly. The measures seem entirely punitive if - as mooted - they do entail a part time work requirement of 15 hours a week for solo parents once their youngest child turns six. More >> [1]

[1] - http://election08.scoop.co.nz/campbell-on-national%e2%80%99s-welfare-policy-tauranga-and-georgia/

Media: 'Hidden labour Agenda' Launches Wishart Online Paper - Newspaper publishing has taken a new direction with the launch this weekend of TGIF Edition, a 20 page "paperless" newspaper being emailed to thousands of readers. Publisher Ian Wishart says the digital newspaper is fully interactive with embedded video and rich media links. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Family First - Labour Agenda of Recognising Polygamy 'Disturbing' [2]
• The Family Party - Labour gearing for more social engineering [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0808/S00129.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0808/S00123.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00171.htm

STATE OF IT: Recordings + Rumour + Innuendo = Historian's Rant - Scoop co-editor Selwyn Manning writes: Much energy has been directed this week by politicians and journalists to identify the individual who secretly recorded senior National Party MPs at the party's pre-conference cocktail soiree. That is obviously the prerogative of our peers. However, the ridicule directed at Scoop Media and two of its reporters by historian Dr Michael Bassett (pictured right), is in need of reply. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00103.htm

Health: National Accused Of Electioneering Over Herceptin - National is ignoring the scientific evidence for the 9-week Herceptin treatment and is cynically making an empty promise to New Zealand women and playing on the fears of women suffering from breast cancer. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Herceptin Decision [2]
• PHARMAC - Confidence reaffirmed in 9 week treatment [3]
• District Health Boards - DHB's response to PHARMAC's decision [4]
• Roche - Herceptin decision continues to disappoint [5]
• National - Herceptin decision: Women let down [6]
• NZ First - Herceptin Decision A Disgrace [7]
• ACT - Herceptin Decision Saves Money, Not Lives [8]
• Greens - Herceptin decis'n a blow, not politicians' to make [9]
• Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition - Shameful PHARMAC Decision on Herceptin [10]
• NZ Breast Cancer Foundation - Foundation disappointed in Herceptin decision [11]
• Researched Medicines Industry Association - Herceptin decision - system is failing NZers [12]
• Women's Health Action Trust - Consultation could never change Herceptin evidence [13]
• TV3 Video - Pharmac says Herceptin debate not clear cut [14]
• TV3 Video - 'Herceptin Heroines' devastated as further funding rejected [15]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00136.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00116.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0808/S00033.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0808/S00035.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0808/S00037.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00123.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00126.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00143.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00149.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0808/S00038.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0808/S00040.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0808/S00052.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0808/S00039.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/lifestyle/11481.html
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/national/11455.html

Grieving In Union: National And Labour Wellington Candidates Mourn Crossways - Loss of the Crossways Community Centre after its sale for $1.3m by the the Presbyterian Church is a setback for Mt Victoria, National Candidate for Wellington Central, Stephen Franks said today. "I feel a personal sense of loss." More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Grant Robertson - More >> [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0808/S00113.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0808/S00114.htm

Media/Politics: Gordon Campbell on the ethics of taping politicians - Pretty doggedly, the mainstream media have stuck to their guns and kept the storyline on the secret tapes fiasco firmly focused where the National Party would prefer it to be - on Who Taped It, rather than (a) what is on the tapes or (b) what such content might indicate about the mindset and agenda of the likely next government. Bear with me. I know, there is nothing more unedifying than journalists banging on about ethics. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Audio - Audio: Nick Smith On KiwiSaver + Crosby Textor [2]
• Young Labour - Young Labour requests an apology from John Key [3]
• Labour - Key leaves constituents to the dogs [4]
• Scoop Full Coverage - National Conf + Secret Recordings [5]

[1] - http://election08.scoop.co.nz/gordon-campbell-on-the-ethics-of-taping-politicians/
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00076.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0808/S00072.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00139.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00074.htm

Potato Watch: Still Months To Celebrate The Jewel of the Garden - With less than five months to go before the International Year of the Potato (IYP) officially ends, potato advocates continue to promote this jewel of a vegetable in a variety of imaginative and sometimes surprising ways. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0808/S00151.htm

Property: Understanding Housing Bubbles - The Press (Christchurch, New Zealand) article Leaky homes and the housing bubble - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz (Saturday, August 9) provides an excellent example of how too many economists and property commentators appear unfamiliar with the "Law of Supply and Demand" More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0808/S00149.htm

South Ossetia: Georgia Orders Its Troops To Cease-Fire - Georgia says it has ordered its troops in the breakaway region of South Ossetia to cease fire, after withdrawing its troops from South Ossetia's capital. There was no direct response from Russia to Georgia's offer to negotiate an end to fighting. More >> [1]

SEE ALSO

• United Nations - UN Security Council Meets Again On Georgia Crisis [2]
• UK Govt - Latest On Georgia: Continued Heavy Fighting (FCO) [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0808/S00160.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0808/S00162.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0808/S00161.htm

Int'l Day Of The World's Indigenous People: Calls For UN Members And Indigenous Peoples To Work Together - In a message to mark the Day, the first observed since the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted last year, Mr. Ban said the Declaration "provides a momentous opportunity for States and indigenous peoples to strengthen their relationships. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0808/S00165.htm

Afghanistan: Senior Taliban Extremist Commander Captured By Australian Special Forces - Mullah Bari Ghul, the Taliban extremist 'Shadow Governor' for Oruzgan province, was the key facilitator in the provision of equipment, money and foreign fighters to extremist operations and coordinated the actions of individual insurgent cells. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0808/S00166.htm

Giants In The Earth: Basketball Star Yao Ming Becomes First UNEP Champion - Yao Ming will work with young people around the world to raise awareness about green issues, tree planting, use energy-efficient light bulbs, harvest rain water and personally advocate for a healthier environment, UNEP said in a press release. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0808/S00164.htm

Barrier To Life: Restricted Access To Hospitals Puts West Bank Pregnant Women At Risk - In between the dreams of hopeful mothers-to-be and safe medical care, stands an electric gate. This barrier is manned by Israeli soldiers and remains unconditionally closed at night. Even daytime crossings are less than certain. Many pregnant women are currently living in fear. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0808/S00154.htm

Syed Akbar Kamal: Lockwood Smith Interview - Do you think public interest lies at the core of the secret tapes fiasco? Lockwood Smith: I think there will be mixed feelings in the public-I think some members of the public will be quite disgusted that someone would lie about who they are to gain entry...More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00126.htm

Uri Avnery: A Knight on a Gray Horse - This week, many of Barack Obama's admirers were shocked. Up to now, it had been believed that the huge sums of money flowing into the coffers of his campaign came from anonymous citizens, each sending a check for 100 or 200 dollars. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00128.htm

Harvey Wasserman: McCain's Michigan melt-down madness - McCain says he wants at least 45 more US reactors as part of his "do everything" campaign for American energy independence. Apparently that strategy does not include inflating car tires, long known as one of the easiest, cheapest and most reliable way... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00131.htm

South Ossetia: The War has Begun! - The night of August 7, Georgian forces launched an attack on Tskhinvali, which Tbilisi cynically described as an effort to restore the constitutional order. Just hours earlier, Saakashvili declared a ceasefire in the conflict zone, but the move was ... More >> [1]

EARLIER:

• Georgia, Washington and Moscow - A Nuclear Geopolitical Poker Game [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00117.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00102.htm

Ex-CIA Official: Cheney Likely Behind Forged Letter Linking Iraq, Al-Qaeda - In a new book published this week, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ron Suskind wrote that the Bush administration committed an impeachable offense by ordering the CIA to create a forged document showing a link between Saddam Hussein and the terrorist ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00124.htm

Ramzy Baroud: United by Misery - Two Boys from Gaza and Nilin - Ahmed Moussa was a 12-year-old Palestinian boy from the West Bank village of Nilin, near Ramallah. Mohamed Bahloul is a 12-year-old Palestinian boy from Gaza City. The former was shot and killed 29 July by Israeli forces following a peaceful protest ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00120.htm

Sherwood Ross: Is America Fascist? - If it hasn't gone the way of Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany, it's sure teetering on the brink. America is a nation in deepening crisis, a nation whose leaders repeatedly plunge their citizens into, and make them pay for, serial wars ... More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00119.htm

Theatre: Creative Anachronisms Form Basis For Romance - Martin attends the Camelot Club, a medieval society where he learns to fight, behave and live like the knights of old. Then he meets Stacey, whose dark secret forces him into a real life duel. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0808/S00079.htm

Cross Cultural Relations: Governor General Kicks off Islam Awareness Week - In an increasingly multi-cultural and diverse ethnic landscape of Aotearoa Gov-Gen Anand Satyanand underscored the need to channel efforts in realizing religious understanding while launching the 5th annual Islam Awareness Week More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0808/S00091.htm

Winners: Top Student Chamber Music Afficiacanados Named - Christchurch's Bedrich Quartet has taken the title as the country's top student chamber music ensemble at the New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest National Final in Auckland. More >> [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0808/S00071.htm

Arts: Sara Hughes Awarded Berlin Visual Art Residency - New Zealand artist Sara Hughes is the recipient of the 2008/09 Creative New Zealand Berlin Visual Artists Residency at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin. The biennial 12-month residency provides an opportunity for visual artists to work on their approved project, gain professional development, build international networks and generally increase awareness of New Zealand visual arts. More >> [1]

ALSO:

• Creative New Zealand - Pacific Arts Committee calls for nominations [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0808/S00066.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0808/S00067.htm

ENDS

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