Ariddia
05-10-2003, 12:00
THE ARIDDIAN ISLES
=>Ariddia
ARIDDIA (People’s Democratic Social Republic of)
Random facts
Official name: The People’s Democratic Social Republic of Ariddia (La Republique Populaire, Democratique et Sociale d’Ariddia)
Shortened names: Ariddia, PRA (Ariddia, RPA)
Capital city: Revane
Leader: Prime Secretary A. Endor
Government type: Communist democracy
National anthem: Dream
Some of Ariddia’s twenty islands:
Oceanland (Terre-Oceane) – largest
Newland (Terre-Nouvelle)
Brulliand (Brouillande)
Whitefoam (Creteblanche)
Limea (Limea)
Vertland (Vertelande)
Awayalun (Awayalune)
Yowaga (Yowaga)
Virginland (Terre-Vierge)
Ayegon (Ayegon)
Visiting Ariddia
Things to see:
Progress Tower. The tallest building amongst the many skyscrapers of Revane. On its roof is a giant, perpetual, carefully shielded flame within a huge transparent box. The tower is empty, save for the lower levels in which food, shelter and counselling is offered to those in need.
High Point Waterfalls. On one of the northern shores of Oceanland, an impressively high waterfall comes crashing down directly into the ocean. You can visit High Point, or go on a boat trip to see the waterfall from below.
Immigrating to Ariddia:
- as a refugee. Any person fleeing a country with a dictatorial or capitalist regime (or both) and wishing to settle in Ariddia is automatically considered a refugee and, in most cases, welcomed. A refugee will receive substantial government aid for up to a year, during which time he or she is expected to find a job and housing. Any person coming from a democratic non-capitalist country but fleeing persecution (be it ethnic, sexist, religious or other) will most often also be welcomed as a refugee.
- as a non-refugee. A non-refugee immigrant will receive government aid for up to four months, after which, if he or she wishes to stay, he or she must find or accept a job and housing.
Ariddia can be reached by air or by sea; it is a group of islands, and has no teresstrial border with any other nation. Ariddian Airlines links the country to the rest of the world, and visitors arrive, for the most part, in Revane International Airport (though there is one other airport in Revane, and three more throughout the country). Ships of various sizes link Oceanland to the smaller islands, and some of those smaller islands to each other. The island of Limea can only be reached from the small coastal town of Lyoyal in Oceanland, and specifically through Fraternity Sealines.
As Ariddia is a vegetarian nation, it is illegal to enter the country carrying meat, fish or products containing gelatine or animal fat. It is also illegal to bring in weapons of any kind. To check what classifies as a weapon in Ariddian immigration law, please contact the nearest Ariddian embassy or consulate.
Going from Ariddia to West Ariddia
Travel is not prohibited, but all travellers must journey by ship using Fraternity Sealines. All ships are operated by mixed Ariddian and West Ariddian crews. Luggage is screened and x-rayed… and you will be too, on departure and on arrival. Do not be alarmed if you see armed guards of both nations on the ship.
Going from Ariddia to North-West Ariddia
This is currently impossible, due to West Ariddian ships blocking any Ariddian ship approaching the city of Nouvel Espoir (ie, North-West Ariddia). Planes coming in from any Ariddian airport are barred from approaching the city, and this is enforced by West Ariddian fighter planes. NWA has only a tiny airport, built after its declaration of independence from West Ariddia. Journeying from West Ariddia to NWA is likewise impossible for the time being. In fact, the West Ariddian authorities have made NWA virtually inaccessible from the rest of the Ariddian isles.
Highest (natural) point: Marsh Hill, 96 m.
Life expectancy: Men: 79 years; women: 84 years.
Average number of children per woman: 3.2
Politics:
The main party is the Democratic Communist Party, which holds all but four of the ninety-nine seats in the People’s Prime Parliament. By law, Ariddia is a multi-party nation, but in reality few other parties even bother to campaign any more, knowing that a vast majority of citizens will systematically re-elect the DCP. Other parties include:
- the Movement for a Democratic Alternative, whose ideals are close to those of the West Ariddian government.
- the People’s Party; although fully approving the DCP’s social commitments, the PP feels that political freedoms should be sacrificed in favour of a stronger economy. Nor do they share the DCP’s ecological concerns.
- the Union for Ariddia, a small right-of-centre movement.
The Office of Secretaries (government ministers) and the People’s Prime Parliament, both democratically elected every six years (roughly at the same time) submit new law ideas to each other. Any major law proposal will furthermore be submitted to the citizens’ approval by referendum. To pass, a law proposal must obtain a favourable majority of two thirds in the PPP (and, if put to referendum, of the citizens’ votes). Hence the nation’s claim (included in the national anthem) that "the people are the government".
The government is fully centralised; the islands are in no way independent from each other, and do not have local governors.
Economy:
The nation’s economy is in tatters. The government pumps enormous amounts into social security, health care, education and other social concerns, its main priority being the well-being of the people. International trade is extremely limited. The ariddian credit is worth virtually nothing abroad, which poses considerable problems to Ariddians visiting other nations. Private enterprise was outlawed years ago when the DCP first came to power, and everyone is employed by the government, which is gradually striving towards eliminating the concept of money altogether. Ariddia is classified as an under-developed, third-world nation.
Most of Ariddia is covered in beautiful, thick forests. The ecologically-minded Ariddians build their cities upwards rather than sprawl them outwards, and thus the islands are in great part an untouched green paradise dotted with cities made up of awe-inspiringly high sky-scrapers – a necessity, to house the country’s hundreds of millions of inhabitants.
Wymgans.
The Wymgans are also referred to as Native Ariddians; they inhabited the isles long before White settlers arrived. Though there are no official statistics, it is thoughts they make up about 30% of today’s Ariddian population. Wymgans are a pale brown of skin, and their language, Wymgani, has recently been made Ariddia’s third official language; hence, all government and legal texts are written in French, English and Wymgani. Some of the islands still bear their original Wymgani name. Few Wymgans express a sense of spirituality, but most view themselves and all humans as a part of nature, and strive to preserve a balance in their natural environment. When the isles were first colonised, settlers and Wymgans mostly ignored one another. Later, conflicts broke out, before mutual tolerance was finally established. In recent years, Wymgans have massively moved from Limea to the other islands, due to the ecological damage caused by the West Ariddian government; many of those who remained in the capitalist state became politically and ecologically active, backing the DCP and the Green Party.
Ariddia's flag: black for the ideal of anarchy, red cross and red star for communism, green stripes for ecological concerns.
A few extra details:
Legal voting age: 16
Legal age for marriage: 18
Legal age for a driving licence: 16
Legal drinking age: 16
Justice system:
Whatever the case may be, three trained jurists are selected at random to collect all possible evidence, which they then present in a neutral and objective fashion to a hearing of six other jurists likewise selected at random; the latter then must make a just decision, by a majority of at least five. There are three further levels of appeal, based on the same system. All parties involved make a written testimony, but do not appear at the hearing.
International carplate: A
Internex suffix: .ari
International sporting events abbreviation: ARI
=>Ariddia
ARIDDIA (People’s Democratic Social Republic of)
Random facts
Official name: The People’s Democratic Social Republic of Ariddia (La Republique Populaire, Democratique et Sociale d’Ariddia)
Shortened names: Ariddia, PRA (Ariddia, RPA)
Capital city: Revane
Leader: Prime Secretary A. Endor
Government type: Communist democracy
National anthem: Dream
Some of Ariddia’s twenty islands:
Oceanland (Terre-Oceane) – largest
Newland (Terre-Nouvelle)
Brulliand (Brouillande)
Whitefoam (Creteblanche)
Limea (Limea)
Vertland (Vertelande)
Awayalun (Awayalune)
Yowaga (Yowaga)
Virginland (Terre-Vierge)
Ayegon (Ayegon)
Visiting Ariddia
Things to see:
Progress Tower. The tallest building amongst the many skyscrapers of Revane. On its roof is a giant, perpetual, carefully shielded flame within a huge transparent box. The tower is empty, save for the lower levels in which food, shelter and counselling is offered to those in need.
High Point Waterfalls. On one of the northern shores of Oceanland, an impressively high waterfall comes crashing down directly into the ocean. You can visit High Point, or go on a boat trip to see the waterfall from below.
Immigrating to Ariddia:
- as a refugee. Any person fleeing a country with a dictatorial or capitalist regime (or both) and wishing to settle in Ariddia is automatically considered a refugee and, in most cases, welcomed. A refugee will receive substantial government aid for up to a year, during which time he or she is expected to find a job and housing. Any person coming from a democratic non-capitalist country but fleeing persecution (be it ethnic, sexist, religious or other) will most often also be welcomed as a refugee.
- as a non-refugee. A non-refugee immigrant will receive government aid for up to four months, after which, if he or she wishes to stay, he or she must find or accept a job and housing.
Ariddia can be reached by air or by sea; it is a group of islands, and has no teresstrial border with any other nation. Ariddian Airlines links the country to the rest of the world, and visitors arrive, for the most part, in Revane International Airport (though there is one other airport in Revane, and three more throughout the country). Ships of various sizes link Oceanland to the smaller islands, and some of those smaller islands to each other. The island of Limea can only be reached from the small coastal town of Lyoyal in Oceanland, and specifically through Fraternity Sealines.
As Ariddia is a vegetarian nation, it is illegal to enter the country carrying meat, fish or products containing gelatine or animal fat. It is also illegal to bring in weapons of any kind. To check what classifies as a weapon in Ariddian immigration law, please contact the nearest Ariddian embassy or consulate.
Going from Ariddia to West Ariddia
Travel is not prohibited, but all travellers must journey by ship using Fraternity Sealines. All ships are operated by mixed Ariddian and West Ariddian crews. Luggage is screened and x-rayed… and you will be too, on departure and on arrival. Do not be alarmed if you see armed guards of both nations on the ship.
Going from Ariddia to North-West Ariddia
This is currently impossible, due to West Ariddian ships blocking any Ariddian ship approaching the city of Nouvel Espoir (ie, North-West Ariddia). Planes coming in from any Ariddian airport are barred from approaching the city, and this is enforced by West Ariddian fighter planes. NWA has only a tiny airport, built after its declaration of independence from West Ariddia. Journeying from West Ariddia to NWA is likewise impossible for the time being. In fact, the West Ariddian authorities have made NWA virtually inaccessible from the rest of the Ariddian isles.
Highest (natural) point: Marsh Hill, 96 m.
Life expectancy: Men: 79 years; women: 84 years.
Average number of children per woman: 3.2
Politics:
The main party is the Democratic Communist Party, which holds all but four of the ninety-nine seats in the People’s Prime Parliament. By law, Ariddia is a multi-party nation, but in reality few other parties even bother to campaign any more, knowing that a vast majority of citizens will systematically re-elect the DCP. Other parties include:
- the Movement for a Democratic Alternative, whose ideals are close to those of the West Ariddian government.
- the People’s Party; although fully approving the DCP’s social commitments, the PP feels that political freedoms should be sacrificed in favour of a stronger economy. Nor do they share the DCP’s ecological concerns.
- the Union for Ariddia, a small right-of-centre movement.
The Office of Secretaries (government ministers) and the People’s Prime Parliament, both democratically elected every six years (roughly at the same time) submit new law ideas to each other. Any major law proposal will furthermore be submitted to the citizens’ approval by referendum. To pass, a law proposal must obtain a favourable majority of two thirds in the PPP (and, if put to referendum, of the citizens’ votes). Hence the nation’s claim (included in the national anthem) that "the people are the government".
The government is fully centralised; the islands are in no way independent from each other, and do not have local governors.
Economy:
The nation’s economy is in tatters. The government pumps enormous amounts into social security, health care, education and other social concerns, its main priority being the well-being of the people. International trade is extremely limited. The ariddian credit is worth virtually nothing abroad, which poses considerable problems to Ariddians visiting other nations. Private enterprise was outlawed years ago when the DCP first came to power, and everyone is employed by the government, which is gradually striving towards eliminating the concept of money altogether. Ariddia is classified as an under-developed, third-world nation.
Most of Ariddia is covered in beautiful, thick forests. The ecologically-minded Ariddians build their cities upwards rather than sprawl them outwards, and thus the islands are in great part an untouched green paradise dotted with cities made up of awe-inspiringly high sky-scrapers – a necessity, to house the country’s hundreds of millions of inhabitants.
Wymgans.
The Wymgans are also referred to as Native Ariddians; they inhabited the isles long before White settlers arrived. Though there are no official statistics, it is thoughts they make up about 30% of today’s Ariddian population. Wymgans are a pale brown of skin, and their language, Wymgani, has recently been made Ariddia’s third official language; hence, all government and legal texts are written in French, English and Wymgani. Some of the islands still bear their original Wymgani name. Few Wymgans express a sense of spirituality, but most view themselves and all humans as a part of nature, and strive to preserve a balance in their natural environment. When the isles were first colonised, settlers and Wymgans mostly ignored one another. Later, conflicts broke out, before mutual tolerance was finally established. In recent years, Wymgans have massively moved from Limea to the other islands, due to the ecological damage caused by the West Ariddian government; many of those who remained in the capitalist state became politically and ecologically active, backing the DCP and the Green Party.
Ariddia's flag: black for the ideal of anarchy, red cross and red star for communism, green stripes for ecological concerns.
A few extra details:
Legal voting age: 16
Legal age for marriage: 18
Legal age for a driving licence: 16
Legal drinking age: 16
Justice system:
Whatever the case may be, three trained jurists are selected at random to collect all possible evidence, which they then present in a neutral and objective fashion to a hearing of six other jurists likewise selected at random; the latter then must make a just decision, by a majority of at least five. There are three further levels of appeal, based on the same system. All parties involved make a written testimony, but do not appear at the hearing.
International carplate: A
Internex suffix: .ari
International sporting events abbreviation: ARI