s e v e n i s a j o u r n e y

Yesterday was a good day in NZ.

(1) Parliment passed the Civil Unions bill. It comes into effect April 26 next year. Pretty much all the same marriage rights to same sex couples (or any couple that would prefer a Civil Union to a marriage).

(2) The supreme court released Ahmed Zhoui (sp?) on bail. He has spent the last 2 years in prison without charge, a human-rights blight. He claimed to be a refugee, the SIS (Security Intelligence Service) said he was a terrorist, and held him based on secret information they had from other countries. Ahmed was a memeber of the elected Islamist parliment in Algeria who had to flee when the military annuled the elections, seized control, and ignited a really bloody civil war. Algeria really wants him back, and not in a good way. He is now living with a Dominican order of monnks in Auckland (and its really nice to see the Christians and Muslims getting along!)

(3) Yesterday at midnight the smoking ban came into effect. No smoking in public places, including restauants and bars! Woo! This will make it much easier to find a place to eat pleasantly without choking on someone elses smoke. Plus anything that might reduce the rate/incidence of smoking a bit is a great thing.