Thursday, April 07, 2005
An Auckland lawyer, who's stupidity and greed meant he was defrauded of $1.2 million wants the government to make a new law to block the transfer of large amounts of money out of the country. Forget personal responsibility - it was the government's fault he fell for a con artist!
The UK Association of University Teachers is about to debate a proposed boycott of Israeli academics who refuse to denounce their government's policies in the occupied territories. But the motion will 'exclude "conscientious Israeli academics and intellectuals opposed to their state's colonial and racist policies".' So in true totalitarian tradition, those who denounce their own will be permitted to have a livelihood.
The Affirmative Action Myth. In the wake of the US Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold university admissions preferences, affirmative action remains a deeply divisive issue. But Marie Gryphon, from the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, says recent research shows that college admissions preferences do not offer even the practical benefits claimed by their supporters, because preferences do not help minority students.
That won't deter the EU, which has established a Commission to promote gender equality in scientific research. In a recent report entitled 'Women and Science: Excellence and Innovation - Gender Equality in Science', disparities between women and men in high level science are diminishing too slowly. In the European Union, women represent 44% of graduates in science and technology, but only 14% of high level academics are women. In order to reverse this trend the Commission proposes to take various actions such as the allocation of 2 million euro to the creation of a European Platform of Women Scientists.
A Treasury paper obtained by the Herald under the Official Information Act shows concern at the growing state sector wage bill, which has grown by between $750 million and $1 billion every year since Labour came to power. Total state sector staff numbers in May 1999 stood at 245,201. By last September that figure had grown to 278,831 - up 33,630.
Suicide in NZ has dropped to its lowest rate since 1985 but is still the leading cause of fatal injuries. The figures for 2002 show that 460 people died by suicide, compared with 507 in 2001 and 458 in 2000. New Zealand's overall suicide rate of 10.7 per 100,000 people was the sixth highest among OECD countries with comparable data, but was higher than other OECD countries for females 15-24.
Labour has been accused of selling out Maori voters over its decision to support the first reading of a bill changing Waitangi Day to New Zealand Day. The member's bill was introduced by United Future leader Peter Dunne and passed its first reading in Parliament yesterday. The bill would rename Waitangi Day and see the new New Zealand Day celebrated on the Monday of the week in which February 6 occurs.
Tailpiece: It's been a busy week for Jean Wright – a 90th birthday on Monday and a wedding yesterday. The Paraparaumu retirement home resident yesterday married her sweetheart, fellow nonagenarian Tony Cleghorn.
The UK Association of University Teachers is about to debate a proposed boycott of Israeli academics who refuse to denounce their government's policies in the occupied territories. But the motion will 'exclude "conscientious Israeli academics and intellectuals opposed to their state's colonial and racist policies".' So in true totalitarian tradition, those who denounce their own will be permitted to have a livelihood.
The Affirmative Action Myth. In the wake of the US Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold university admissions preferences, affirmative action remains a deeply divisive issue. But Marie Gryphon, from the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, says recent research shows that college admissions preferences do not offer even the practical benefits claimed by their supporters, because preferences do not help minority students.
That won't deter the EU, which has established a Commission to promote gender equality in scientific research. In a recent report entitled 'Women and Science: Excellence and Innovation - Gender Equality in Science', disparities between women and men in high level science are diminishing too slowly. In the European Union, women represent 44% of graduates in science and technology, but only 14% of high level academics are women. In order to reverse this trend the Commission proposes to take various actions such as the allocation of 2 million euro to the creation of a European Platform of Women Scientists.
A Treasury paper obtained by the Herald under the Official Information Act shows concern at the growing state sector wage bill, which has grown by between $750 million and $1 billion every year since Labour came to power. Total state sector staff numbers in May 1999 stood at 245,201. By last September that figure had grown to 278,831 - up 33,630.
Suicide in NZ has dropped to its lowest rate since 1985 but is still the leading cause of fatal injuries. The figures for 2002 show that 460 people died by suicide, compared with 507 in 2001 and 458 in 2000. New Zealand's overall suicide rate of 10.7 per 100,000 people was the sixth highest among OECD countries with comparable data, but was higher than other OECD countries for females 15-24.
Labour has been accused of selling out Maori voters over its decision to support the first reading of a bill changing Waitangi Day to New Zealand Day. The member's bill was introduced by United Future leader Peter Dunne and passed its first reading in Parliament yesterday. The bill would rename Waitangi Day and see the new New Zealand Day celebrated on the Monday of the week in which February 6 occurs.
Tailpiece: It's been a busy week for Jean Wright – a 90th birthday on Monday and a wedding yesterday. The Paraparaumu retirement home resident yesterday married her sweetheart, fellow nonagenarian Tony Cleghorn.
