Research in line with Alexander's book

A leading Christchurch researcher's findings that badly behaved seven-year-olds are often headed for a life of crime, drugs, teen parenthood and mental illness square with the premise and conclusions of the book launched by United Future Christchurch MP Marc Alexander this week.

"Professor David Fergusson's findings make riveting reading, and deserve a wide audience," Mr Alexander, author of Justice With Both Eyes Open said today.

Prof Fergusson released his findings to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists on Monday, pointing to early intervention as the only way to deal with social problems that have experts "wringing their hands".

"His findings are consistent with many similar schools of thought, and I completely agree," Mr Alexander said.

"At every point, and in every situation, sooner is better in terms of turning lives around.

"And this is particularly so in addressing crime and its causes, and getting to young offenders and potential young offenders before they go off the rails, and become a menace to society and themselves," he said.

Prof Fergusson leads the Christchurch Heal and Development Study which has tracked more than 1000 Christchurch children from birth to the age of 25.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>