Today's Top Scoops - 07 February 2008
Environment: Greens Decry Wellington Port Fumigation
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
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
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
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
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
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LEAD STORY
------------
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]
AND ASBESTOS:
- 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
NZ POLITICS
------------
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
BUSINESS SCIENCE & TECH
------------
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
WORLD
------------
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
COMMENT
------------
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
LIFESTYLE
------------
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