NationStates Jolt Archive

---The Confederacy of The Far Echo Islands recognizes dolphin personhood.---

“This is Senior Government Relations correspondent Jim Nickelson reporting outside of the Artica Palace in New St. Petersburg, the newly established Capitol of the Far Echo Islands. After a long period of being located in the southern city of Neo Savannah, one of the government’s first acts in the new capitol is the enactment of laws recognizing the personhood and consciousness of dolphins.Let’s go live to Grand Arbiter Lee Jackson Davis’ speech to the public right now.”

*small black spot in signal as it is reconfigured*

*The camera opens onto a stage surrounded by grass, and with a pool to the left and a statue of the Grand Arbiter to the right. In the background there are the flags of The Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands, and of several dolphin research centers and animal rights organizations. Behind all of this is the coastal government building the ‘Ice Box’ which is spiritually the White House to CFEI. This is a late night proceeding, at about 21:30 hours, and moonlight drenches everything not illuminated artificially. If no one spoke the overwhelming noise would be the crash of ocean waves on the pristine beach which bore no sea wall, only cold water on white sand. The Grand Arbiter is standing at a podium which is swamped with microphones. All around him, sitting in small chairs are some of the leadership of CFEI and some of the leaders of the organizations which the flags represent. The crowd is made up of umpteen thousands of civilians, both from the Far Echo Islands, and foreign about 200 news media stations, and a small army of national guardsmen patrol the area armed with MP7A1’s and several less than lethal alternatives. CFEI is known for its tenant of free speech and the public is allowed to ask unapproved and unlimited questions. Because of this CEFI declarations and State of the Confederacy addresses often last days. And Grand Arbiter has secretly consumed half a dozen red bulls in preparations for this possibly lengthy event. The seal of the Far Echo Islands adorns the front of the podium.*

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“As the Grand Arbiter of this fine confederacy it is with the backing of the Congress and of the general public, that I declare that dolphins, referring to any members of the family of animals know as Delphinidae, as independentaly thinking, fully functioning, emotionally capable members of society as well as delcareing that they have full human rights. While there is much debate over the human like abilities of Delphinidae, I have come here not to declare them of human like intellect, but of near enough intellect to be considered intelligent, conscious, and emotional. The likeness to human abilities of dolphins is regardless to their intelligence as they are an aquatic mammal, meaning the required skills for intelligence are varied from that of mankind. I believe that if we do not do this declaration of dolphin personhood we may have to question our own intelligence and our own qualifications of personhood.

This declaration comes with the enactment of the following laws:

1) All members of Delphinidae have full human rights
2) All members of Delphinidae have full citizenship in CFEI
3) All vessels currently at sea in CFEI waters must return and make port immediately. New fishing areas will be enacted, as not to impose on the rights of Delphinidae. Also, new regulations will be brought into effect on all vessels powered by propllers. For example, covers over the blades so as to make them less of a hazard to our aquatic citizens.
4) The punishments for crimes against dophins shall be equall to that of crimes against humans.

This is by no means a halt to dolphin reasearch, infact the budget for the next fiscial year is being reworked so as to allow at least 40 billion ice diamonds (ID) (10 billion USD, approx.) to go into reasearch of oceanic dolphins. I believe that it is nessary to better understand our nearest intellectual equal, the only way to do so is to spend more time with them.

The Government of CFEI reconiges the the rights of Platanistoidea, or river dolphins as well, but it is somewhat null because there exists no species of river dolphin in the Far Echo Islands.

We hope that this declaration will be a model for many nations in the future. We hope to eventually see the world wide acceptance of dolphin personhood and dolphin rights. I believe it is necessary for the advancement of both mankind and dolphinkind alike.

Now, I will be accepting any questions from the press or any citizen that may ask.”

Foreign Minster Donovan nearly fell out of his chair in a fit of laughter upon reading the declaration from a tiny nation known as The Confederacy of The Far Echo Islands which apparrently now recognized dolphins as people. While the Commonwealth really didn't care about such trivial matters he decided issue a response anyway.

**Diplomatic Comminque**

TO: Foreign Ministry, The Confederacy of The Far Echo Islands
FROM: Robert Donovan, Foreign Minister, Commonwealth of Tolvan

While the Commonwealth feels your latest declaration is absolutely ludicrous we have no interest in who or what your nation calls a person.

However, as Tolvanic fishing boats are known to operate near your nation from time to time I must caution you that any interference in their operations will be looked upon most unfavorably by the Commonwealth and the Tolvanic Navy.

TO: Robert Donovan, Foreign Minister, Commonwealth of Tolvan
FROM: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter, The Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands

"All should be fine, Minister Donovan, just as long as you follow our advised fishing maps, and use water jet propulsion, or use covers on your propellers, and of course do not intentionally fish for dolphins.

However, I am surprised that a nation as fine as yours does not see the overwhelming research and numerous facts and observations of dolphin intellect as to see them as something higher than just animals.

But the Far Echo Islands will remain an open water nation; it would be nearly criminal to cut off our supply of tasty arctic and tropical fish to the world, as well as detrimental to the economy. However, the fishing zones are strictly enforced, and any intent against dolphins is taken as an act against a human."

Subject: Sentient dolphins wut?
From: Dalnijrusian Foreign Ministry <ministr.mininodel.go.da>
Date: 31.7.2007 0835
To: FEI Foreign Ministry <email@address.tld>


I would seriously ask you to rescind this decision to recognise animals as being on the same level as human beings. Dolphins are intelligent, but declaring them equal on that level cheapens the word.

In addition, your reasons for doing so are very hazy: I would request a detailed rationale for review both by my government and the AFA body.



Minister Motya Niyazov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
[ address, phone and fax ]

TO: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter, The Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands
FROM: Robert Donovan, Foreign Minister, Commonwealth of Tolvan

I am assured by Interior Minister Lassiter and Commerce Minister Burke that Tolvanic fishermen do not intentionally fish for dolphins as their is no commercially viable reason to support such an endeavour. In addition Tolvanic fishing vessels almost uniformly follow dolphin safe fishing protocols as accidently captured dolphins take up valuable net space that is better suited to be filled with commercially viable and mroe numerous fish.

However, we will still not accept intereference of any kind with Tolvanic vessels as long they obey Tolvanic law and international agreements regarding commercial fishing.

TO: Robert Donovan, Foreign Minister, Commonwealth of Tolvan
FROM: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter, The Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands

Well, according to your last communiqué it sounds like your fishing industry is very legal and will be highly respected when in Far Echo Islands waters.

I hope this is a long lasting economic partnership.

Subject: Sentient dolphins wut?
From: Dalnijrusian Foreign Ministry <ministr.mininodel.go.da>
Date: 31.7.2007 0835
To: FEI Foreign Ministry <email@address.tld>


I would seriously ask you to rescind this decision to recognise animals as being on the same level as human beings. Dolphins are intelligent, but declaring them equal on that level cheapens the word.

In addition, your reasons for doing so are very hazy: I would request a detailed rationale for review both by my government and the AFA body.



Minister Motya Niyazov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
[ address, phone and fax ]




Our reasons for this declaration are based on some of the best research that can be acquired today. It has been realized that dolphin intellect is an aquatic parallel to human intellect on land.

Observing that dolphins have independent thought, or decision making of some sort was a serious consideration. The fact that dolphins have been known to exhibit higher level emotions, (i.e.: love, fear, happiness, separation). Dolphins have initiated contact with humans in the wild, no other animal has. Dolphins are one of the few species other than humans known to engage in sex, for lack of a better word, for reasons other than procreation. This has been documented in several primate species as well as dolphins, but regardless it still represents a higher level of decision making that many species are capable of. It has almost been positively proven that dolphins are self aware; for example, they look at a reflection and think 'that is a reflection not another dolphin.' This too has been demonstrated in other animals. Lastly, the fact that dolphins communicate with one another, by some sort of language, which despite lack of human understanding, certainly exists.
These are just the beginning. There are many more reasons why this declaration was made and only to dolphins, not other animals.

(ooc: for real world evidence: go here (http://www.trustedpartner.com/docs/library/000059/Etica%20animali%20Herzing%20White%201998.pdf) for more go here (http://www.wilddolphinproject.com/index.cfm?CFID=70647361&CFTOKEN=17940128) and click on the links in the library.

We give thanks to the dolphins. The Most Serene and Holy Altaic Empire of Tartarystan is a maritime nation. We must fish to feed our people. If not for the Dolphins, it would be so much harder to put food on the plates of all of our citizens everyday. - Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote

To: Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote
From: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter, the Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands

Their ability to work cooperatively with humans is yet another reason for dolphin personhood.

Yes, it is excellent we agree. I think dolphins work along with us very well. My stomach seems to always find a way to get along perfectly with our dolphin populations. Dolphin fishing makes around only ten percent of our total fishing industry, but Tartarystan fishes extensively as fish is our staple food. Tartarystan was able to fish six dozen million tonnes of fish, almost ten percent dolphins. - Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote

From the Office of Internal Affairs

While we have no interest in how you run your internal affairs, we must decline to recognise the equality and sovierign citizenship of dolphins which you have declared.

We bring to your attention numerous faults in evidence promoting the equality of dolphins, not the least of which being the claims to language. Language, which is differenht but related to communication, requires the ability to communicate abstract though. Simple communication, of which the dolphins and numerous other animals are capable of, can be quite complex and cover any real topic ranging from food to shelter to danger. Language however requires the abstract, which is an impossible thing outside of human beings. A dolphin can not discuss with another dolphin the mathematical principles of calculus, nor can they theorize philosphy, and that ability to deal in the abstract is what makes language.

Secondly we would also like to point out that numerous primates engage in non-procreational sex, for purposes of both pleasure and social bonding. Indeed there are species who engage in same-sex sexual acts for the purposes of social bonding, both within and outside of the primate sect. Surely this long researched fact has not been ignored.

And finally numerous other animals are self aware. Cats for instance quickly learn self awareness within their first few months of life, just like humans.

So following the fallacy of some claims regarding Dolphin intelectual equality, we can not recognise this citizenship, and will thusly continue with traditional classification of dolphins. As well we will not remove or reduce the very small number of limited dolhpin fishing permits that are granted each year to our fishing industry. While we do not believe fishing for dolphins en masse is a particularly environmental idea, nor is hap-hazardly fishing for fish and catching dolphins, we do hold dolphin meat as a slight delecacy and will continue severely restricted hunting of the animal in both our territorial and international waters. Your national waters we have no real interest in.

- Commanding Officer of Internal Affairs,
Lushar Reina Inarunikia

OOC: My appologies to any non-human species RPing people who read that, I have selectivly ignored the existance of such things on NS, so don't consider yourselves included.
Also, I spent some time studying the possabilities of language in animals for my linguistics degree, and I can assure you that in the eyes of most linguists, dolphins do not come even remotely close to being high on the chain of animals thought to be able to communicate to a level near that of humans. And no animal breaks that magical abstractness barrier.

From the Office of Internal Affairs

While we have no interest in how you run your internal affairs, we must decline to recognise the equality and sovierign citizenship of dolphins which you have declared.

We bring to your attention numerous faults in evidence promoting the equality of dolphins, not the least of which being the claims to language. Language, which is differenht but related to communication, requires the ability to communicate abstract though. Simple communication, of which the dolphins and numerous other animals are capable of, can be quite complex and cover any real topic ranging from food to shelter to danger. Language however requires the abstract, which is an impossible thing outside of human beings. A dolphin can not discuss with another dolphin the mathematical principles of calculus, nor can they theorize philosphy, and that ability to deal in the abstract is what makes language.

Secondly we would also like to point out that numerous primates engage in non-procreational sex, for purposes of both pleasure and social bonding. Indeed there are species who engage in same-sex sexual acts for the purposes of social bonding, both within and outside of the primate sect. Surely this long researched fact has not been ignored.

And finally numerous other animals are self aware. Cats for instance quickly learn self awareness within their first few months of life, just like humans.

So following the fallacy of some claims regarding Dolphin intelectual equality, we can not recognise this citizenship, and will thusly continue with traditional classification of dolphins. As well we will not remove or reduce the very small number of limited dolhpin fishing permits that are granted each year to our fishing industry. While we do not believe fishing for dolphins en masse is a particularly environmental idea, nor is hap-hazardly fishing for fish and catching dolphins, we do hold dolphin meat as a slight delecacy and will continue severely restricted hunting of the animal in both our territorial and international waters. Your national waters we have no real interest in.

- Commanding Officer of Internal Affairs,
Lushar Reina Inarunikia

OOC: My appologies to any non-human species RPing people who read that, I have selectivly ignored the existance of such things on NS, so don't consider yourselves included.
Also, I spent some time studying the possabilities of language in animals for my linguistics degree, and I can assure you that in the eyes of most linguists, dolphins do not come even remotely close to being high on the chain of animals thought to be able to communicate to a level near that of humans. And no animal breaks that magical abstractness barrier.

To: Lushar Reina Inarunikia, Commanding Officer of Internal Affairs, Dostanuot Loj
From: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter, The Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands

While some of your information on primates is quite revealing, some of this evidence was overlooked as no primate is native to the Far Echo Islands, and a few dozen pairs of chimpanzees on the largest island in the Carribbia province were placed there accidentally by breeders before the government banned primate breeding for profit, primates were not well looked over in the studies leading up to this declaration.

However, I must inform you that dolphins can in fact think abstractly. To what degree is still hotly debated, but they have been taught simple mathematics, think along the lines of 2 + 2 = 4, and it is apparent that dolphins recognizes hierarchy and leadership. While the exact government of entire pods is up for debate it is undoubted that dolphin’s discipline the leader of juvenile groups that misbehave, and have punished the 'leader' of human diver groups when a single diver misbehaves. By punish I mean a tail slap against the water, not directly physically. However when tail slaps are not obeyed by juveniles, physical intervention has been documented. While the understanding of hierarchy within a group is fairly simple, understanding that other groups function similarly, both human and other dolphin species, is somewhat abstract. And not to sound too left-wing, but how exactly do we know what dolphins discuss when not in the presence of humans, especially if we cannot understand their language, which I still persist is just that, a language capable of a full spectrum of communication.

And what of dolphin interactions of no benefit to either side, often when wild spotted dolphins meet and bottlenose dolphins meet there is some form of interaction that brings neither sex, fish, nor fights; seeming along the lines of a 'normal' human conversation. The only question to ask is 'about what?'

Finally, dolphins have been credited with a 'signature whistle' unique to that dolphin. If separated, one dolphin can call the other's signature whistle and if it is within hearing range it will respond; akin to names in human terms. A concept few species can truly exhibit for each individual.

Oh, and no we would never persecute you for your cultural traditions, several tribes of cannibals live freely on some of our more remote islands, but the fishing of dolphins is still illegal in our waters.

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/zukariaa.jpg
OFFICIAL MESSAGE FROM THE EMPEROR
TO: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter, The Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands
FROM: His Imperial Majesty Emperor Conrad II
RE: Recognition of Dolphins as People

"Dolphins are the only animal other than humans known to engage in sex, for lack of a better word, for reasons other than procreation."

That is what you claim as one of your reasons for recognizing the dolphin as a person. This really doesn't belong here. Have you ever heard of the bonobo? It's a species of chimpanzee whose life basically revolves around sexual procreation. This sort of thing is certainly not unique to the dolphin. I suggest you remove that from your list of reasons, unless you wish to have false information as a reason, as well.

Signed,
http://www.maj.com/gallery/Humhum/lolz/kaiser_konrad_ii_profile.png
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Conrad II

Quote:
Yes, it is excellent we agree. I think dolphins work along with us very well. My stomach seems to always find a way to get along perfectly with our dolphin populations. Dolphin fishing makes around only ten percent of our total fishing industry, but Tartarystan fishes extensively as fish is our staple food. Tartarystan was able to fish six dozen million tonnes of fish, almost ten percent dolphins.

- Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote

To: Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote
From: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter, the Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands

Hold on, I'm not sure if it's your accent or what exactly, but earlier it sounded like you were talking of human-dolphin coop fisheries, in which dolphins point to the location of fish, humans net the fish and the remaining disorientated fish are easy prey for alert dolphins. But now it sounds as if you are speaking of eating 7.2 million tonnes of dolphin meat? I am still giving you the benefit of the doubt as dolphins are not fish, they are mammals, but could you please clarify...

Zukariaa;12923648']http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/zukariaa.jpg
OFFICIAL MESSAGE FROM THE EMPEROR
TO: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter, The Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands
FROM: His Imperial Majesty Emperor Conrad II
RE: Recognition of Dolphins as People

"Dolphins are the only animal other than humans known to engage in sex, for lack of a better word, for reasons other than procreation."

That is what you claim as one of your reasons for recognizing the dolphin as a person. This really doesn't belong here. Have you ever heard of the bonobo? It's a species of chimpanzee whose life basically revolves around sexual procreation. This sort of thing is certainly not unique to the dolphin. I suggest you remove that from your list of reasons, unless you wish to have false information as a reason, as well.

Signed,
http://www.maj.com/gallery/Humhum/lolz/kaiser_konrad_ii_profile.png
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Conrad II

I will not remove it from the list of reasons, but in the overwhelming amount of scientific evidence being presented by other nations, I will remove its exclusiveness, but it is still represents a notion of decision making that many species are not capable of.

Secretariat for External Affairs
PDSRA
Official statement

The PDSRA congratulates the Far Echo Islands on its progressive stance in recognising rights for dolphins. Although the PDSRA does not extend citizen rights to dolphins, all dolphins in Ariddian territorial waters and within the Ariddian Exclusive Economic Zone are fully protected from harm by human beings.



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République Démocratique, Sociale et Populaire de l'Ariddia

What? It's a multimillion dollar industry responsible for feeding much of Tartarystan. There is no need for worry, the Dolphin population will NOT go extinct. We are fishing an optimal number to ensure that we will be able to fish next year, the year after, and etc. The Most Serene and Holy Altaic Empire of Tartarystan classifies everything from the water that we eat as fish. - Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote

http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/kirav.jpg

Kiravian Empire

Permissum Astrum Subleuco

Imperial Secriat of State

Foriegn Government Office

The Kiravian Empire applauds the Far Echo Islands on their granting of citizenship to dolphins and persons of delphine ancestry.

We, too, grant not only dolphins, but ALL members of the order Cetachea full Imperial citizenship.

The Empire officially scoffs at those who find cetachean citizenship ludicrous.

A tall man with a thick Indian accent stood up,
"This is Fahmi Mehta, with NBBC World News. Will this change the way that aquatic-themed amusement parks and childrens movies are run in the Far Echo Islands?"

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We find this whole concept laughable. How can dolphins be given human rights? They are not capable of understanding human responsibility. Such actions merely cheapen the whole idea of "human rights".

We do not debate the intelligence of dolphins - indeed, they are among the smartest of the animal kingdom. However, a dolphin cannot understand the process of the Legal System, the impact of murder, of theft, of fraud - the dolphin may not be able to commit such acts, but nonetheless is must understand them to be truly on a par with humans.

As aforementioned, a Dolphin cannot discuss Calculus, or the works of Tolstoy, or other abstract ideas. It is thus, that we feel you are making a silly and unthought-upon move.

Barronian Foreign Affairs

A tall man with a thick Indian accent stood up,
"This is Fahmi Mehta, with NBBC World News. Will this change the way that aquatic-themed amusement parks and childrens movies are run in the Far Echo Islands?"

Well, aquatic themed amusement parks, such as Oceania Experience in Neo Savannah have always been well regulated, with plenty of room for animals to move, and captive dolphins are essential to understanding our aquatic brethren, so not to much will change there, and film in the Far Echo Islands has long been a completely free enterprise, with, besides advisory ratings, no government interference as to what appears on the silver screen, of course with the appropriate rating, so as far as the movie industry goes, ask the producers and directors.

Quote:
What? It's a multimillion dollar industry responsible for feeding much of Tartarystan. There is no need for worry, the Dolphin population will NOT go extinct. We are fishing an optimal number to ensure that we will be able to fish next year, the year after, and etc. The Most Serene and Holy Altaic Empire of Tartarystan classifies everything from the water that we eat as fish.

- Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote

Than perhaps we could engage in a friendly exchange of fish, we tend to have excess arctic salmon, usually averaging 4.7 million tonnes that is dumped into the ocean annually, so we could strike a bargain, you take our excess fish, we assure you they are very tasty, and you cut back on your dolphin hunting. We are working of fish cloning programs to compensate for the voids that would appear world wide if all dolphin consumption was eliminated. This proposal has been long debated, and was well prepared for. In the next 12 months we will produce 2.2 million tonnes of various types of cloned fish, this nearly covers your dolphin fishing requirements, and you could nearly eliminate about 90% of dolphin fishing in your country. And it's either that, 6.9 million tonnes of free fish and a reduction in dolphin fishing, or a trade embargo.

The question is large the reduction will be. Tartarystan will be willing to cut its dolphin fishing in half in exchange for 6.9 million tonnes of free fish every day. - Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote

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We find this whole concept laughable. How can dolphins be given human rights? They are not capable of understanding human responsibility. Such actions merely cheapen the whole idea of "human rights".

We do not debate the intelligence of dolphins - indeed, they are among the smartest of the animal kingdom. However, a dolphin cannot understand the process of the Legal System, the impact of murder, of theft, of fraud - the dolphin may not be able to commit such acts, but nonetheless is must understand them to be truly on a par with humans.

As aforementioned, a Dolphin cannot discuss Calculus, or the works of Tolstoy, or other abstract ideas. It is thus, that we feel you are making a silly and unthought-upon move.

Barronian Foreign Affairs


1) Dolphins have been observed with types of responsibility, especially to the safety of their pods.

2) I do not believe that this cheapens the meaning of human rights, but strengthens them, because it shows that human rights extended on non human members shows the human capability of compassion, and a humbling realization that humans are not the only intelligent beings in existence, and that intelligence is varied in definition, and is context sensitive to a point to the location and lifestyle of the being in which it resides.

3) This as well emphasized my previous point; dolphin intelligence is relative to aquatic conditions. We must realize this or we would be forced to question our intelligence on land if we cannot see our parallel in the water. And so it is that dolphins are granted human rights as there are no other parameters on which to give rights without destroying the idea of human intelligence. Not to grant dolphins full human rights, even if they cannot fully use them from a legal aspect, breaks down the idea that human rights works for people, so while this may seem contradictory, it is not, after a long debate, we have come to the conclusion that the only way not to destroy human superiority is to humble humanity by this realization.

Quote:
The question is large the reduction will be. Tartarystan will be willing to cut its dolphin fishing in half in exchange for 6.9 million tonnes of free fish every day.

- Imperial Chancellor Tulisen Cirgote

This will be suffecient for now, thank you for your cooperation.

Also, as Grand Arbiter, I extend this nations thanks to all nations who give dolphins special rights and/or protection, and even more thanks to all nations who see eye to eye with us on this matter.

Aleksander Miller, the Leader of the Undershi Empire, frowned as he read over the latest list of news items from the outside world. He'd just come across a truly remarkable item, something about some nation deciding to extend human rights to dolphins. Silly, he thought, as he glanced over the remainder of the items on the list. Silly that they would think of something like that. A sure sign that they have far too much time on their hands, time to spend worrying about such things instead of struggling to survive. He thought for a moment of a delibrate insult - nations like that seemed strange to him, alien to the Undershi belief system and culture. He thought of some intentional insult, but then he decided against it. Like all Undershis, he was a pragmatist above all personal concerns.

Instead, he sat quietly at his desk and wrote up an official message from the Undershi government to the government of... he checked the news item again... The Far Echo Islands. It went:

From: Aleksander Miller, Leader of the Undershi Empire
To: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter of The Confederacy of The Far Echo Islands
Re: Dolphins
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Undershi Empire has long held that whatever any nation might choose to do within its borders is its own concern. The same holds true for your recent decision to grant dolphins "personhood." Although our fishing fleet is small and mainly concentrates itself within Undershi territorial waters, we acknowledge your right to enforce whatever laws you wish on our fishing vessels while they are within your territory. However, while we will respect your laws, we insist that you will respect our nation's rights to do as we will in international waters and our own territorial waters.

When the official comunique was completed and printed, Aleksander Miller sighed and sent it off with one of the IIS guards who waited in his office. It would soon be presented to the Grand Arbiter, or at least his government, by an official of the Undershi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Statement from the Human Order of Leafanistan

This is a tremendous step backwards for humanity. Only people are people, sentience or not. We have only two duties that everyone can agree on. Allegiance to their group, or tribe, or nation-state, and allegiance to the human race as a whole.

This is a clear violation of allegiance to the human race as a whole.

While this is not an approval of dolphin fishing, which we find despicable, we feel that the extension of human rights is a great disservice to humanity, and ultimately, the legal systems of every nation which has extended these rights to the dolphins. Why is it only rich, privileged people care about the perceived plight of the 'unfortunate'.

Why does aid go to the perceived suffering of the dolphins, when they infest Leafanistani waters to the point they are nearly a pest? The government has actually banned fishing on great white sharks and tiger sharks to help reintroduce a natural predator into Leafanistani waters.

Does not the efforts that go into saving the dolphins not be put toward eradicating the scourge of HIV, Malaria, Diarrhea? In Leafanistan, we don't legislate like this, it is frivolous, we create a group of dedicated individuals who go on a personal level to meet the problem face on and find a good solution.

We all know that Communism doesn't work beyond a small level, why are you all 'Planning' a change in the economy from the top down? Instead you should be searching for small limited answers that do the most good. Find a niche and take care of it, cure Malaria, not poverty as a whole. There are too many factors that are in poverty, but only a few in Malaria.

[END]

From: Aleksander Miller, Leader of the Undershi Empire
To: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter of The Confederacy of The Far Echo Islands
Re: Dolphins
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Undershi Empire has long held that whatever any nation might choose to do within its borders is its own concern. The same holds true for your recent decision to grant dolphins "personhood." Although our fishing fleet is small and mainly concentrates itself within Undershi territorial waters, we acknowledge your right to enforce whatever laws you wish on our fishing vessels while they are within your territory. However, while we will respect your laws, we insist that you will respect our nation's rights to do as we will in international waters and our own territorial waters.

From: Aleksander Miller, Leader of the Undershi Empire
To: Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter of The Confederacy of The Far Echo Islands
Re:re:dolphins

In response to you letter, I must say, a diplomatic 'duh.' I don't mean to insult you, but it is apparent that we cannot enforce these laws in other waters, nor international waters, however we will continue negations to eliminate dolphin fishing world wide, but no military action will be taken unless fishing levels warrant a chance for extinction of dolphins in the region. So I also agree with your views on in border actions, but since dolphins do have rights, dolphin genocide, or the likes of will not be tolerated. But other than that, I don't care what you do.

Statement from the Human Order of Leafanistan

This is a tremendous step backwards for humanity. Only people are people, sentience or not. We have only two duties that everyone can agree on. Allegiance to their group, or tribe, or nation-state, and allegiance to the human race as a whole.

This is a clear violation of allegiance to the human race as a whole.

While this is not an approval of dolphin fishing, which we find despicable, we feel that the extension of human rights is a great disservice to humanity, and ultimately, the legal systems of every nation which has extended these rights to the dolphins. Why is it only rich, privileged people care about the perceived plight of the 'unfortunate'.

Why does aid go to the perceived suffering of the dolphins, when they infest Leafanistani waters to the point they are nearly a pest? The government has actually banned fishing on great white sharks and tiger sharks to help reintroduce a natural predator into Leafanistani waters.

Does not the efforts that go into saving the dolphins not be put toward eradicating the scourge of HIV, Malaria, Diarrhea? In Leafanistan, we don't legislate like this, it is frivolous, we create a group of dedicated individuals who go on a personal level to meet the problem face on and find a good solution.

We all know that Communism doesn't work beyond a small level, why are you all 'Planning' a change in the economy from the top down? Instead you should be searching for small limited answers that do the most good. Find a niche and take care of it, cure Malaria, not poverty as a whole. There are too many factors that are in poverty, but only a few in Malaria.

[END]

I simply do not know how to respond to this comment. I must say, it is people like you that this declaration is for. You see a one sided view of intelligence which potentially blinds you from the expansion of the world; to not be capable of understanding a greater range of existence. The exact definition of intelligence must be varied, if ever the human mindset is to expand beyond its current point. Not to recognize this declaration is to stagnate the human mind. I must say that expanding the outlook of humanity is not frivolous legislation. So, why cannot humanity have an interspecies alliance? Why must we be so self centered that we are so unique and special to help one another. Why cannot the ideas of a multi-species relationship be solidified? What is so wrong with seeing that humans alone do not rule the world, but that it is a symbiosis, and we are not the only ones who are intelligent in it.

I do not mean to take away from your argument that human relief is necessary, and I do like your views of singeing out things to eliminate, but I see that dolphin rights are a necessary to advance the world.

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Official Communiqué

Open Declaration:

I speak for the entirety of the People's Sovereign Republic when I state that I am appalled by the CFEI's actions to accord the status of full citizenship to dolphins. It is an insult against the human race, a disparagement to the millennia of evolution our species underwent to get to where we are today, and a defamation of man's achievements as a species.

To demonstrate our disgust for the CFEI's decision, the People's Sovereign Republic hereby withdraws our recognition of CFEI's sovereignty, and, concurrently, will be ceasing all exports, including petrol exports, to your area.

With utmost contempt,
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The Rt. Hon. Sir Alistair Davidson, MP
Consul of British Londinium

Official Amazonian Communication to the CFEI

From the Desk of the Foreign Affairs Department

Epic Phail.

Good day, Dinners!

-Amazonian Government Communications

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Official Communique of the Most Serene and Holy Altaic Empire of Tartarystan

The Most Serene and Holy Altaic Empire of Tartarystan is disgusted by the blatant aggression that the Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands has shown toward the People's Sovereign Republic. In response to this, the Imperial government has called off the fishes for dolphins deal and has continued once again, to extensively fish and consume its dolphin population.

I suppose you can draft some Dolphins then?

Official Declaration of the Dictorial Republic of Sumer

While we had hoped this would not push beyond your misguided ways of bestiality, we see this is not the case. Thusly we shal make this simple declaration.

You have no right, legal or otherwise, to take the actions which you have against the people and government of British Londonium. Retract your claims and appologise now lest you find yourself an annexed colony of the Dictorial Repiblic. And you can be rest assured, if the latter is the course you choose, your beastiality and love for your dolphin freinds will not bode well with us.

- Head of State, Dictator of Sumer, Priestess of Inanna,
Ridingir Kisikil Dumumiapuabiak Dumuaninatumak Urukak Leshbarkingdu Kalamak Ninuru

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Official Communique of the Most Serene and Holy Altaic Empire of Tartarystan

The Most Serene and Holy Altaic Empire of Tartarystan is disgusted by the blatant aggression that the Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands has shown toward the People's Sovereign Republic. In response to this, the Imperial government has called off the fishes for dolphins deal and has continued once again, to extensively fish and consume its dolphin population.


Hold on, now is this really nessassary! I as the Grand Arbiter was only aggressive to PSRBL becasue of their contempt for my nation and my people, human and dophin. I will now ask that the Arbiter, who reflects the responsibilites of a Vice Presieient, to take over this debate and I and my arch forigen relations minister will open a line for negoations between the Far Echo Islands and British Londinium.

Sigining off,
Lee Jackson Davis, Grand Arbiter

CFEI: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=534355

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Official Withdrawl

We apologize for our Grand Arbiter's former rudeness toward PSRBL.We no longer claim their land, however the trade embargo remains imposed. We are attempting to end the war before many human and dolphin lives are lost.

We ask for an end to the war, and for peaceful negations to begin, and for British Londinium to step down to DEFCON 2, so that this peaceful declaration does not turn into a blood bath.

Sincerely,
Grant Norse
Arbiter of the Confederacy of the Far Echo Islands

OOC: Dude, this goes in the other thread.

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Official Diplomatic Message


Cookesland laudes your advancement in sapient rights, but we are curious to know how the communications between your two species and how the dolphins are able to vote and such.


Best Wishes,
Z. Delia Baker
Z. Delia Baker
Secretary of Non-Human Affairs
The United States of Cookesland

Portion of a Blog by user FerrisBuellerIsMyHero on www.mypage.co.ni

So The Confederacy of Far Echo Islands recently declared all dolphins to be citizens on their nation ...

How do they tax them? What, do they take tuna as a form of currency? What about census, military drafts, voting rights? Are there underwater poll booths now?

Honestly, this is pathetic. The Nitalian governemnt shouldn't even bother with these lunatics.

Hey! Far Echo Islands! I eat any animal I want, and not once has one told me I'm being politically incorrect!

End of Blog by user FerrisBuellerIsMyHero

For the Dolphin part of the nation, a foreign contender announced today that he would run for leadership of the CFEI.

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Although not a dolphin, this candidate can appeal to the dolphins.

His platform is "Stop Bucket Theft".

Offical Response

The Binarian Empire revokes its recognition of CFEI's sovereignty. As such, we shall be sending goverment sanctioned fishing boats to harvest dolphins and use them as cheap mine clearing devices. Have a nice day.

Dolphins with human rights is revolting. Human Rights are for humans. Are dolphins members of the Homo Sapiens race? No. They do not meet the reqirements.

~Binarian Office of International Relations

It is an insult against the human race, a disparagement to the millennia of evolution our species underwent to get to where we are today, and a defamation of man's achievements as a species.

[/FONT]

This post is not meant offencively, nor does the Kiravian Empire wish to involve itself in this conflict.

How does it insult humanity to say that our delphine kindred are equal in their inherant right as sentient beings?

Yes, we are seperated from Cetacheans by our technology, written language, socio-political institutions, art, and the fact that Humans settle in a permenent matter.

What do Cetacheans posess as a race? They have sentience, they have language, they have society, and to a small degree, tools.

It is a dishonour to our pre-paleolithic ancestors to think that we were not very much the same as Cetacheans. When the first humans were dispersing out of Central Africa, they were not but what dolphins were: Migrating groups of hunters, with only language, society, and the barest core rudiments of technology.

Of course, we are, indeed superior to our marine cousins in what we have done since, but do all the cities, nations, machines, languages, ideas, and works of art we have created automatically earn us the title of People?
Are our prehistoric predecessors not People? What defines a "Person" is open for interpretation, but can you honestly say that a member of an intellectually equal species is not a "Person" merely because it does not live as you do nor speak your tongue?

Making Cetacheans Citizens, however, is different than acknowledging their personhood. Governments, Nations, and Citizenship are all Human concepts. Dolphins are a different society, a simpler one, where government operates only on a tribal level, and where ideology, labour, and economics are all but irrelevant.

Yes, Kirav grants Cetacheans citizenship. However, we do not expect them do vote, pay tax, or voluntarily use the civic system. They are considered citizens for their protection against harmful human action, and recognition of their sentience and rights in a world run by humans.

*The higher ranking officials of government have left on official war time business, as well as many of the crowd. The only person left on stage is Sectary of State Carroll Hennessey*

As the last representative for the Confederacy of The Far Echo Islands, I speak for my superiors and my nation as I thank the Kiravian Empire for their unyielding support.

This is how our system was supposed to work, and exactly the reason for this whole assembly. It is unfortunate that the British Londiniums do not see so clearly. We whish the Kiravian Empire luck in all matters and cannot express our gratitude towards them on words.

We whish the Kiravian Empire luck in all matters and cannot express our gratitude towards them on words.

You're very welcome. We again commend your actions to defend the delphine race.

Well, aquatic themed amusement parks, such as Oceania Experience in Neo Savannah have always been well regulated, with plenty of room for animals to move, and captive dolphins are essential to understanding our aquatic brethren, so not to much will change there, and film in the Far Echo Islands has long been a completely free enterprise, with, besides advisory ratings, no government interference as to what appears on the silver screen, of course with the appropriate rating, so as far as the movie industry goes, ask the producers and directors.

Thank you.

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----------------

The United Socialist States of New Brittonia would like to extend diplomatic relations to the Far Echo Islands.

Signed,
Foreign Minister of the United Socialist States of New Brittonia
Sarah Lynch

With the act of aggression against British Londinium over, the Most Serene and Holy Altaic Empire of Tartarystan would like to restart the Fish for Dolphins agreement we had before it had started.