bustedinfo: 09/01/2003

Monday, September 29, 2003

Political State

Political State of Marijuana Law in New Zealand

The laws regarding possession or supply of marijuana appears to be an issue that balances between the partners of the Helen Clark Labour coalition government. United Future and Green are fundamentally opposed in their views on marijuana law reform. Skillful politics may mean balancing between the push of opposing forces, and that appears to be the state of play. Green MP Nandor Tanczos is actively seeking to change laws, including cleaning the slate of previous convictions for possession of marijunana and law change regarding its legal status.

The laws regarding police search for marijunana are also a target of Green political moves. If its classification is reduced it would change the status of the drug under the Misuse of Drugs act that allows police to search without warrant by invoking the act.

The Greens produced a report that promotes a more healthy approach than prohibition may following the successful Dutch model of legalisation that has resulted in reduction of problematic use by youth leading to criminal associations, truancy and educational interference. In a NORML survey, 65% of its members believed types of partial prohibition control (a little like alcohol) was valid, with another 25% prefering free and open trade of the drug.

Sunday, September 28, 2003

New Zealand News - NZ - Parents speak of 'P' heartbreak

P Tragedy

P claims lives. It is truly sad.

This victim had used the drug it seems for less than one year. Six years of cannabis may not have done him any good, but it did not kill him. LSD and Ecstasy may have contributed to depression but it was P that convinced him that life was not worth it. Tragically, he may have been right. P quickly inflicts irreversible damage.

Being addicted to a frightfully expensive and unremitting habit that destroys your brain quickly is simply not the same as the millions who take "party drugs" every weekend and yet survive in jobs and life.

It is easy to say "legalise dope" as it is relatively harmless. To argue that it leads to other drugs is social blindness. It is drug dealers who deal in both that makes other drugs available to those who frequent "tinnie houses".

Do not accept P into your body, and if you have, and want more, then please get in touch with Odyssey House or a drug counciller before you also become a statistic. You do not need to wait until you run foul of the law, but if you do, then you will need a lawyer as well as help with the addiction.

New Zealand News - NZ - Police to introduce booze questioning

Police target alcohol

In a move supported by Accident Compensation, the police may interview people to identify where they had their last drink. This seems to include not only those behind the wheel of a car, but also violent offenders, those involved in domestic violence and even rape victims.

It seems laudable enough. Let's find the cause behind the crime and if someone is lagging drunk enough to start a fight then the pub that served their last four triple vodkas may be liable.

There are dangers here, not just in police time use and possible time wasted, but in making the police endlessly broaden the net and raise new unanticipated charges (or investigation) based on heresay provided by an offender who is drunk; and then, not being able to make the charges stick.

Making the vendor responsible for the crimes of others is one thing, but encouraging responsible drinking (if there is such a thing) may have some impact. It also raises the issue that the advertising of alcohol is just as responsible as the errant alcohol vendor.

And an interview that reveals the corner wine shop as the culprit may lead to the dead end of "Yes officer, I did sell that 40oz bottle of whisky to the suspect. He was quite sober and rational at the time," may not actually deal to the cause of domestic violence.

Thursday, September 25, 2003

STUFF: HOME - STORY : New Zealand's leading news and information website

P escalation fears

This is evil shit, man. As NZ's top lawyer gets the TV star a home detention on a P supply charge and society fails to respond this time to the NZ Herald's baying for blood, we see very disturbing indications that the problem with P is only going to get worse.

Addiction is evil as it makes people do things that they would not normally consider. Think hurting others. Think dangerous driving, really dangerous. Think about it before you smoke a P pipe. Will you be able to think about it afterwards? Naw, doubt that, chum.

And youthful bravado adds kindling to the fire, providing fresh meat to infect with the P plague.

Kids are telling us to accept them and it is human instict to outdo one's parents usually botching up our lives in the attempt. By the time kids reach maturity, they look back in horror.

The trouble with something like P is no one believes the media about people eating their own hands. Nobody believes it because they put people in jail for cannabis and that is harmless and because they get their P from the same place, hell, it is harmless too! Such is the logic of a partly grown human mind or a reckless party animal.

A handful of people drown or dehydrate after dancing for 36 hours on E. Yeah, like so what? More people have drowned in their cars! If it is harmful or not is rarely examined. E has been around for a very long time and it is not addictive. It may cause dysfunctions in the brain's happiness (serotonin reuptake) functionality. But if you deal E, you risk very harsh jail sentences.

If you deal P, you may get off because it is so dangerously addictive is a mitigating factor. Is that legal logic or is there a reflection of the socio economic (class) clout of the typical P user being more like a young media exec than typical E users, burnt out bisexual nightclubbers?

There is a hint of the unproductive in our drug laws. As customs removed 265,447 E tablets (doses) from the drug economy they also removed 530,000 tablets (raw material) of ephridrine & pseudo ephridrine (legal cold medicines). But that is 265,000 instances of mad nightclubbers looking for a hit, and maybe only 50,000 instances of P taking removed. The market is thus more likely to be trained into P abuse.

The police and customs are trained to do a great job enforcing the law. The law itself could be a little more smart. If you run foul of it, its time to seek speak to a lawyer. But if you take P a few times, you may well need help to stop before it kills you.

Saturday, September 20, 2003

STUFF: HOME - STORY : New Zealand's leading news and information website

Coral's Body Found

Missing child, Coral Burrows body laid partially clothed hidden in a Toetoe bush. The police have used hundreds of hours of police time and have as a result of their searching charged the girl's step father with murder.

A national campaign drew a lot of phone calls to the police, but Steven Williams was already in custody. It is sad to turn out this way, but it is essential that the police case against Steven Williams be at worst, accurate.

Sunday, September 14, 2003

STUFF: HOME - STORY : New Zealand's leading news and information website

Teen Crime

Teenager crime statistics are on the increase and a poll shows that opinion is divided if the Government is "to blame".

We have our theories. One of these is that the heroising of "gangsta rap", another is hypnotically violent popular immersion computer games like CounterStrike, combined with a political permission as demonstrated by the American solutions to terrorism being war - these social conditions combine to make direct retaliation a solution in the growing minds of the less than successful.

Another factor is whatever lies behind ADD/ADHD problems. Another is child abuse. Another factor is that it is simply difficult to be a parent, and the added pressure of a welfare society failing its participants, with depts lashing out at each others' ineffective organisation.

Another factor, may be the media using polls in place of real analysis of facts and this being the keystone of policy motivation.

The youth justice system can get a child help when they commit crimes as a result of problems the family has not been able to solve. It is a slow and arduous process for parents, perhaps too slow to catch the rapid changes that occur with the onset of puberty.

Bustedinfo.org is watching out stories about child/teen crime in New Zealand, what happened, no names, what the consequences are.

The Government may be to blame for great economic pressure on the education system. We expect a left wing government to do more than wing it when it comes to our future. Too many cut-backs, too few quality teachers and your statistics of peope who have negative motivation increases gradually over years.

But these are all rather general causes. If you know a kid getting involved in crime (we must insist on no names) we would like to hear from you, and ask if the Government systems helped or not.

Thursday, September 11, 2003

Law and Order News from NZCity

P Story

P is short for Pure, a highly addictive form of Speed. Readers are invited to send in their stories (anonymously) so we can pass these on without judgement. Is P a one way ticket to hell for some people?

Addiction is a state of desperation that can drive a person to do things that they would never have otherwise considered. This story from an ex-P user shows just how horrible it is.

Submitted Story

I have tried it. I know it is highly addictive. I would go to work out of my brain. I would feel wonderful for about an hour or two, then i would start to come down. And boy did i come down. I would be violently ill all day, cramps headaches, dry retching. You name it!

I stopped because the cost was too high and I saw what it did to my friend. he went from having every thing to having nothing. A wonderful family, a great job, good friends, and a lot of money. Now he's broke, lost his job, lost his family and his kids are scared of him. He's a pathological liar, he steals and in his mind it is all our fault. Not his.

I will never touch P again. It's too easy to get hooked and I couldn't bare to do to my family and friends what he has done to his.

Anon.

If you need help with Drug Addiction, contact Odyssey House. If you need help with the law, contact your lawyer.

Links:
Auckland teacher charged with supply of P to students

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

NZOOM - ONE News - National

Featherston

We wish the people of Featherston strength and hope in the quest to find the missing 6 year old girl, Coral Burrows.

Each and every person that knows about the disappearance of a child is upset about it and some are very prone to speculate endless chains of fates. It is more right now important to focus on where the child is and to assume the child is alive.

Are the police able to use heat scanning sensors on helicopters at night? Yes they may find animals but they may also find a sleeping child, lost and alone in the wild. Proceeding in a manner consistent with the child being alive upon finding only makes sense. Focus and maximise on outcomes not get discouraged by possible demises.

If the child had met any demise, the result is done. It does not matter how long they search, the result does not change.

Day three after the disappearance is way too early for the pessimists to start to pitch in with their energy draining nonsence. Put everything you have into the search for a living girl.

It is vital those who are closest to the victim retain hope and dignity.

When a child disappears the stress created for those closest to the child is extraordinary. Out of this world.

When it becomes, within 24 hours, also subject to huge national media attention, the stress multiples with every phone call until someone calls in with news.

Let us not be victim to the surges of anguish but may the seven million eyes of the nation be sharp and on the lookout for anything that may help the police to do their job and bring the child to safety.

Operation Coral - News Update
NZOOM - ONE News - National

Missing Children

Missing Child

A six year old girl was discovered to have not entered school after her mother dropped her off. 24 hours later the rural disappearance dominated the pages of every news outlet in the country and has ever since.

A team of over 100 searchers have been scouring the countryside for signs of the girl perhaps being trapped somewhere but no sign or clue has been found. Increasingly the family is worried that something may have happened.

If it is a case of abduction or murder it is most unfortunate that the school failed to notify the parent of the non arrival of the 6 year old girl. In 8 hours much distance may be travelled, even on foot.

Bustedinfo.org offers any support possible and appeals for sightings of the girl to immediately contact the police. Do not delay. Speak up.

Coral was last seen wearing a teal blue and pink jacket, blue polar fleece top, long-sleeved blue top with a cat on the front, red track pants with white stripes down the side and carrying a dark blue backpack.

Operation Reef head Detective Inspector Rod Drew held "grave concerns" for Coral.

The police hotline for information is 0508-677-333 or 0508 OPREEF.

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

The Courier-Mail: Newsreader hopes fame will keep him out of jail [08sep03]

Celebrity Myth

Darren McDonald was a news reader on Australia's Nine and Seven networks before working in his profession here in New Zealand. The Australian media speculated if he would be kept out of jail due to his celebrity.

In New Zealand, United Future MP Marc Alexander has criticised the result stating that Mr McDonald got preferential treatment.

Barrister Marie Dyhrberg clarifies home detention in another case, and rejects the description of "flashy" used by the MP.

MPs would be at an advantage if their research occured by examination of facts, and what Government Depts do rather than speculation in the international media.

Opinion

Bustedinfo Opinion

Manufacturing Heroes

In the small country of New Zealand there is an observable tendancy to install heroes. News readers are more influential than politicians.

We subscribe to a media that represents itself with a Hollywood style star system.

It is fairly natural perception that special treatment was afforded to McDonald as a news reader may stir people. In fact that is true, the Judge directed the offender to a home detention rather than serve his sentence of 8 months behind bars due to the acknowledged availability of drugs in NZ prison. The same thing would have happened if McDonald was not famous, but we would not have heard about it.

News readers have to ensure what they say is legitimate and reasonable or suffer complete rejection. MPs however can say what they like under protection of parliamentary privilege without fear of the courts.

NZ's Prime Minister in the 70s, Sir Robert Muldoon was an acknowledged alcoholic. This was kept secret from or by the media of the day.

Monday, September 08, 2003

stories

Have you tried P?

If you have tried P or have a problem with it, we would like to hear your story. Please email us with your questions or stories - DO change all names, places and times.

Google Search: dyhrberg

STUFF: NATIONAL NEWS - STORY : New Zealand's leading news and information website

Crown will not Appeal High Court Decision

Crown lawyers announced that there would be no appeal against the sentence imposed on drug addict and former TV3 newsreader Darren McDonald. He was sentenced to 8 months jail, but the Judge said that he may apply for home detention to enable him to recover from his addiction.

The New Zealand Herald reacted strongly against the High Court decision.

Saturday, September 06, 2003

'Homeless hacker' may surrender to FBI | CNET News.com

Super Highwaymen

The abundance of Internet Cafés is one of those social phenomena that absorbs loose parts of society. For example truants and runaways may spend the night playing war simulations through the night avoiding education. The staff can only shrug, what can they do? It is better these kids are not on the street.

Crime finds its dark corners to market and 24 hour establishments may be prime meeting places for those seeking to recruit criminal accomplices.

Criminal activity is like drug addiction, it spreads through the cultural development of the person emerging from their childhood whereas developing responsibility is part of our social order, promoting healthy interdependent relationships that allow peaceful enterprise.

It is of course a good thing to provide safe spaces where family can access high speed networks as it is natural to have a TV in the house. The Web Café is a smart environment to provide controlled access. Some 24 hour cafés become late night sweat parlours of virtual mayhem, then doss houses for game addicts and street people. They attract kids to inexpensive and overwhelming overnight meltdowns of gaming intensity.

All-night web cafés are like all-night pubs, a potential hazard to children who feel safe in the familiar environment of a game or chat room. Allowing open access to the internet to children and pedaphiles may allow the law to catch pedaphiles, but it is also tainting the internet medium as a sleazy environment.

That some internet client programs (the browser) can be turned into an anonymous attack monster that costs billions is a dangerous state of affairs. That the indigent or homeless, unfairly sacked and agressive, yet talented, and armed with with cheap and powerful web access plus a widespread operating system that allows passive terminals to be highjacked, is a risky state of affairs.

Kids with a hacking competence and a total disregard for consequences play pranks. Some of these pranks are more calculated and effective than others. Cars can also be used to create chaos, but the risk to damage to the self prevents this being a common method of revenge against the world. Hacking provides an armchair opportunity for world fame and notoriety.

The dominance of one world power over all others, whether it be in politics or operating systems, may be seen to be a grave evolutionary mistake.

Marie Dyhrberg Leading NZ Barrister

mariedyhrberg.com

Jail averted for news reader

Auckland barrister, Marie Dyhrberg successful defence of TV3 newsreader Darren McDonald on charges that could have brought a long jail sentence hit the front page in this high profile case. Darren McDonald pleased guilty to a supply charge of ecstasy and a methamphetamine charge of conspiring to supply. The maximum penalties of 14 and 10 years behind bars.

Defence Lawyer Marie Dyhrberg said McDonald's case showed what addiction does. He had been on his way to having it all, but spun out of control until the wake up call of an arrest. McDonald needed to continue with rehabilitation but would be singled out in prison.

"Sadly, drugs are available in prison. It is not as if he can quietly hide away."

The result was that Darren McDonald was sentenced to 8 months prison, but instead of serving time, Justice Marion Frater said he may apply for home detention.

Monday, September 29, 2003

Sunday, September 28, 2003

Thursday, September 25, 2003

Saturday, September 20, 2003

Sunday, September 14, 2003

Thursday, September 11, 2003

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

Monday, September 08, 2003

Saturday, September 06, 2003

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