NationStates Jolt Archive


The United Socialist States of Stoddenia- Almanac Entry

Stoddenia
02-11-2005, 22:40
For those interested, the Government of Stoddenia has provided an entry from their most recent Almanac, Concerning the National State of Stoddenia.

Almanac Entry, for The United Socialist States of Stoddenia

FLAG OF STODDENIA
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/stoddenia.jpg

PHYSICAL MAP OF STODDENIA
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/doceopterix/Stod.jpg

BACKGROUND
Sometime in the late 1990's, the movement known as the "Red Partisans" began forming in the hills of Stoddenia. The RPs were known for their mixed use of propaganda and handouts to the peasants. At this time, the government of Stoddenia was a oligarchy that had been indicted fourteen times for graft, civil rights abuses, and war crimes charges in the world court.

The Red Partisans formed an alternative to this activity. Following a Cuban Model, the Red Partisans built their headquarters high in the lush jungles of the southern tier of their country. They did not stay there however. Constantly among the population in the two main cities, the regional capitals and the small farming villages that dot the tiny republic, The Red Partisans exploited the lack of sufficient government interest in their activities, and were very successful acquiring goods traveling to and from the port of Oatmeal City on the coast. These goods were redistributed among the population of the countryside, and through this, the Red Partisans developed their strength.

By mid 2005, the Red Partisans, now known as the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Stoddenia (RSPS) encouraged activists in the cities to call for elections. When the Government of Stoddenia refused, the RSPS declared open warfare on the regime, and swept down enmasse from their mountain bases toward the capital. The matter met little resistance, and the people of the Capital joined in the struggle, and swept the old oligarchy from existance once and for all...

The members of the Oligarchy were put on trial for their crimes, and by the will of the people, were executed. These public executions were followed by a law outlawing capital punishment. Over then next couple months, the RSPS transistioned into an institutionalized government, complete with provisions of Absolute Civil Liberties, radical redistribution of what little wealth remained in Stoddenia, and egalitarianism as the founding principle. A provisional Election was conducted, and was open to all Parties. Only one party ran against RSPS candidates, and he was soundly defeated.

Since the victory of the RSPS in the very short, bloodless revolution, the Government of Stoddenia, as the RSPS is now called, has had little trouble balancing the desires for egalitarianism and radical democracy with the needs of restoring the economy to prosperity. One measure alone has been enacted with the aims of improving the economy. Political Freedom is at an all time high, civil liberties are untouched and absolute, and the people of Stoddenia are happy.

PHYSICAL FEATURES
Location- Stoddenia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, in the Subtropical Climate zone. It is in the region of Revolutionary Socialists, of which it is currently the only member.

Land Area- 601,500 square Miles (slightly larger than the Nation of Botswana)

Coastline- About 150 miles, including Oatmeal Harbour.

Maritime Claims- Edge of the Continental Shelf represents an exclusive economic zone

Climate- Generally Warm and Rainy on the coast. Drier past the mountains as the Mountains form a moderate rain shadow. Mountain environment realizes extremes of cold. Great Plains around the capital realize extremes of warmth.

Terrain Features- Very short coastal plain, aproximately 10 miles wide, sloping uplands to old volcanic mountain range, which disect the country. Deep gorge-like and well watered valleys cut into Volvanic Mountains. Followed by Great Plains which are flat except for a few uplands and lakes. Northern and Northeastern frontiers are covered by swamp jungle that is extremely difficult to pass without swamp boats.

Highest Point- Mount Partisan, 9,800 feet (in the Partisan Mountains, at Stoddenia Pass)

Lowest Point- Stoddenia Swamp, averaging 25 feet below Sea Level (northeast of Stoddenia City)

LAND USE
Arable Land- 38%
Permanent Crops- 36.5%
Irrigated Land- 22%
Other Usage- 63.5%

POPULATION STATS
Population- 6,192,000 (Nov 2005 Estimate)

Age Structure- (0-18) 65%; (18-50) 33%; (50 and up) 2%

Birth Rate- 26.15 per 1000 people

Death Rate- 9 per 1000 people

Net Migration Rate- 20 immigrants per 1000 people

Nationality- Stoddenian (noun) Stoddenic (adjective)

Religions- Monotheism (18%); Secular Humanist (52%); Militant Atheist (15%) Other (15%)

Language- English (78%) Local dialects (22%, mostly in the mountain districts); Stoddenian Patois (58%)

Literacy- (defined as those who can read at grade/age level, as determined by the Ministry of Public Education) 98%; male- 97%, female 99%

GOVERNMENT STATISTICS
Conventional Long Form- The United Socialist States of Stoddenia

Conventional Short Form- Stoddenia

Government Type- Constitutional Confederated Democratic Republic

Capital- Stoddenia

Administrative Divisions- 12 Districts (including Capital District) Stoddenia CD; Oatmeal; West Oatmeal; Doceopterix; Lindsayia; Derek Valley; Georg Valley; Jaxon Valley; Riveria; Montania; Lake City; East Point

Sufferage- 16 years; Universal and compulsory

Government Organization- The President of Stoddenia, and various ministers as he names from time to time. All other details are unknown, but the bureaucracy is extremely complex and forms the glue that cements the confederation together.

Political Parties- The Revolutionary Socialist Party of Stoddenia, various issue and oppositional oriented small parties.

Flag Description: Black Field above a red field, embossed with a white seven pointed star representing the seven planks of the RSPS' pre-revolutionary platform.

National Animal- the "Oatmeal" a beloved breed of rabbit which has a mythical origin, and is found throughout the entire area of Stoddenia, and in no other part of the world. Several areas of the country as well as the chief port are named for this animal.

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW
While the economy of Stoddenia is weak now, the government is putting into place policies that balance the needs of the economy to prosper and the liberties, freedoms and rights of the population. To this end, the government has so far only sponsored one measure that somewhat limits marijuana usage inpublic, with the aim at growing productivity for Stoddenia's workers.

The Nation's infrastructure leaves many things to be desired. There is one main road, the Capital road that links the capital to several cities on the Great Plains and to the Port of Oatmeal City. The valleys of the country are linked to this Capital road by foot paths. It is not likely that this situation will change anytime soon, however, as the lack of efficient transportation methods serves to protect the liberties of the valleys themselves from government intrusion. Additionally, each valley is self sufficient, growing and producing all it needs to support its population,a nd the foot paths are used primarily to export the few items that each valley produces to the country. The people of each of these valleys have set up defensive lines on the only entrances into their home territories to discourage invasion over the mountains.

Oatmeal City, however, is an ultra modern port. It was the focus of attention for the last 5 governments, who all sought to make it a world class port, that is capable of out competing any port on the face of the Planet.

There are no railroads in the Country, and automobile usage is limited to transportation of goods and people over the Capital road between cities on the Great Plains and to and from Oatmeal City. Since this is really the only road to speak of in the country, all highway monies have been put into improving the technology of this road, and it now can handle the heaviest cargoes and take the most wear of any known road, without showing the slightest signs of deteroriation itself.

Chief Imports- Stoddenia is extremely self sufficient, with all necessary resources to be found within the national territory. Therefore, tis primary imports are kitschy items that interest people.

Chief Exports- Food stuffs, raw minerals, Steel, petroleum, plastics, other hydrocarbon products, Zinc, Cement, Gypsum, textiles, furniture.

Merchant Marines- 15 Ships, including 2 super tankers to aid in the petroleum export industry.

Market Status- Government monopoly on all commodities. Local, small scale production by individuals is permitted.

Airports- One regional Airport in Stoddenia, One international Airport in Oatmeal City, 2 dirt airstrips, one in Georg Valley City and one in Riveria City

MILITARY STATISTICS
Standing Military- 0

Citizens' Militia- 5.3 Million. The nation of Stoddenia prides itself on the discipline and organization of the Citizens' Militia. Each valley composes one division of the Citizens' Militia and each are charged with defense of their valley. In the Great Plains, defense is coordinated by Stoddenia CD. Each Citizen, regardless of age, maintains a weapon in their home, and drills with their division once a year between the ages of 14 and 50. During drill, all other activity stops, and citizens who fail to report for drill report to the brig instead. The Coastal regions split their citizenry between the Citizens' Militia and the Citizens' Navy, which patrolls long distances out to sea to spot any invasion force incoming, and transmits information back to the cities on the coast. Their cutters are also extremely heavily armed and have achieved distinction in their destruction of the oligarchic navy's destroyers and submarines. These highly trained partisans are extremely lethal in their tasks and take no prisoners.

Military Branches- Citizens' Militia, Citizens' Navy.

TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES
Stoddenia has just endured an threat of assult on its territory by the Empire of Torontia. It has not established firm (reciprochal) diplomatic relations with any other country as of the time of this publication.
Guffingford
03-11-2005, 15:20
Very detailed and well written. It is nice to see new players who can write like this without getting some sort of training or 'schooling' before starting to play the game, keep it up!

PS: the map isn't working.
Stoddenia
03-11-2005, 16:00
OOC:

Yeah, I don't know about the map. it is a beautiful map that I made, and i have been encouraged to post this info in the Wiki, but for some reason that program will not let me upload the map, and the flag only works some of the time. I'm stuck.

(and i'm not new at online rp-ing... I was a huge player of a wrestling e-fed for a very long time, and now I play Cantr II, so I'm not really such a big noob after all, it's just that these tags are so strange compared to standard HTML, which is what I taught myself SOOOO long ago, I look dense. And I don't speak l33t in my posts, so, people easily confuse me with a n00b... )

Cheers,
:sniper:
Stoddenia
03-11-2005, 17:39
Scratch that... I got it done, and the entry looks fantastic
Gruenberg
03-11-2005, 17:43
OOC: Nice work, and on the Wiki too. We look forward to making IC contact at some point.