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Enter the Wolf!

Hi and welcome to the 38th edition of Werewolf. This month’s cover story outlines NZ resident Kim Dotcom’s struggle to (a) remain in this country and (b) require the US to disclose sufficient evidence for the extradition hearing so that Dotcom can reasonably challenge the allegations against him. Unfortunately, the Extradition Act was formulated pre 9/11, and our extradition treaty with the US was signed 40 years ago. As Werewolf has found, the rules about evidence deemed appropriate to an extradition hearing – at least as the Court of Appeal has interpreted them - haven’t kept pace with modern economic and security realities, much less with the bad faith and incompetence that states requesting extradition have commonly displayed, post 9/11. Dotcom deserves fair treatment before he gets separated from his family and shipped off to a US prison – but can our extradition process deliver it?

The passion for de-regulation and workplace cost cutting has left New Zealand with one of the worst health and safety records among developed countries. The Pike River aftermath may change that. But in her inspiring story about veteran timber industry campaigner Joe Harawira, Alison McCulloch shows the grassroots struggle required to achieve adequate health safeguards in workplaces, in the face of economic forces that promote a culture of denial. March 2003 marks the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, and US migrant Peter Dyer contributes a fascinating 2003 diary that celebrates New Zealand’s – and his own - defiance of the Bush/Cheney rationalisations for going to war. Since oil was one of those rationalizations, we also analyse who – these days - controls and benefits from Iraq’s oil bonanza.

Currently, New Zealand is teetering on the brink of selling down its publicly owned energy assets. In timely fashion, Rory MacKinnon reports from the UK about Britain’s privatization of its energy companies, and the illnesses and preventable deaths still being caused among ordinary citizens by the subsequent profit-driven hikes in electricity prices. Elsewhere in this issue, Laura Gribbon writes about Egypt’s downward spiral of violence. Our usual film critic Philip Matthews is temporarily absent this month, but in the wake of the post-Oscar love fest for Jennifer Lawrence, we consider whether the Pixie Dream Girl stereotype really is a spent force, or not. In this month’s issue, Werewolf also analyses the blurring between television and politics, and how this could be fostering greater voter/viewer tolerance of political incompetence. In his satirical column this month, Lyndon Hood waxes poetical about the sausage machine of politics, and finds his own point of gastro-political rejection. Finally, in the Complicatist music column, we provide a second serving of obscure soul music tracks, this time mainly featuring the late 60s/early 70s soul genius, Lee Moses.

Thanks to Lyndon and Alastair for helping me post this online. And thanks to everyone who’s got this far, and shown an interest in reading Werewolf and keeping it going. Thanks a lot. If you want to be involved and want to talk over some story ideas, contact me at gordon@scoop.co.nz

Cheers,
Gordon Campbell
Werewolf/Scoop
gordon@werewolf.co.nz

The contents of this edition are:

The Show (And Tell) Trial
Is Kim Dotcom bound to get a raw deal at his extradition hearing?
by Gordon Campbell

Toxins In The Timber Mills
The remarkable struggle of Joe Harawira and the Sawmill Workers Against Poisons shows it will take more than good rules to keep workers and the environment safe
by Alison McCulloch

At Home, Far From Home
Ten years on, an American recalls being in New Zealand on the eve of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
by Peter Dyer

Who Controls Iraq’s Oil?
Ten years on from the invasion, it is not the Americans
by Gordon Campbell

London Calling : Sold, and Cold
Selling off state-owned energy companies has been a disaster in Britain
by Rory MacKinnon

Beyond The Pixie Dream Girl
Silver Linings Playbook, Liberal Arts and the universal love for Jennifer Lawrence
by Gordon Campbell

Egypt In Freefall
The Morsi government is leading and feeding the spiral of violence in Egypt
by Laura Gribbon

From The Hood : Ich Bin Ein Wiener
The French have A Word For It
by Lyndon Hood

Blurring the Boundaries
The convergence of television and politics is a disease without a cure
by Gordon Campbell

The Complicatist : Lee Moses, and Friends
More obscure soul music gems from the vaults
by Gordon Campbell

* * * * * WEREWOLF ISSUE 37, February 27, 2012 * * * * *
The February 2013 Edition of Werewolf
by Werewolf

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from Scoop General Manager Alastair Thompson

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