NationStates Jolt Archive

Here is a highly revised version of my original draft, modified at the requests and expressed worries of various nations. Please read this draft in its entirety and respond with any helpful feedback you can think of. If you are against this bill after thoroughly reading, explain why and perhaps we can compromise.


Freedom of Vital Knowledge Act

International Security: Mild.

REALIZING that international terrorism is a threat to all nations in one form or another;
GRANTED that it is the right of nations to protect themselves by taking appropriate counter-terrorist action;
ACKNOWLEDGING that the United Nations is an institution of many nations trying to work towards smoother diplomatic policies;
ACKNOWLEDGING FURTHER that the United Nations should feel obligated to lend support to one another in times of international crisis;
RECOGNIZING that terrorism can quickly find itself in the category of international crisis;
DEFINING terrorism as the use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against right-possessing civilians with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments;
DEFINING right-possessing civilians as civilians that have not, for any reason, lost their rights of citizenship;
DEFINING FURTHER terrorism as inapplicable in times of war unless committed by a warring nation on an uninvolved nation, or vise versa;
EXCLUDING intranational coups from being considered terrorism for the purpose of this resolution unless said coup is initially endorsed with military aid or funding on an international level;
ACKNOWLEDGING FURTHER that terrorism can be committed by any of the following: individuals, small followings, large followings, international organizations, nations, regions;
LET IT BE MANDATED that, in the event of terrorist-level international crisis, the following measures be taken by UN member nations:

1.) All member nations release any information to the offended nation that is in their possession with regard to the offending terrorist party, so that they are better-equipped to handle the situation.

2.) Nations that would feel threatened by revealing such information may request protection, and be exempt from provision one (1) until said protection has been delivered. This protection must be given voluntarily.

3.) Noting that terrorism is a term which can be interpreted a variety of ways, let the United Nations vote on all acts that may fall under this heading, and let the majority agree that an action is a terrorist one before information is sought out under this resolution. This should prevent abuse of this resolution if there is a reasonable suspicion that the nation is attempting to gather information illegally. --May Have to Be Removed--

Your title does not represent fairly what the resolution entails.

Still a no go for us, though. Our strict policy of overt neutrality would be raped by this resolution.

Without reading the actual text, the title is far too long. There's a 30 (?) character maximum.

Ok, here I go...

First off, fix the title. As Fris said, it's way to long, and it kinda sounds overly pretentious. Try "Terrorism Info Exchange" or something.

Also, I'd put this under Mild. While it does have a strong effect, it doesn't do much to actually boost military budgets, which is what that category does. A "Strong" rating would boost stats far more than what this should.

ACKNOWLEDGING FURTHER that terrorism can be committed by any of the following: individuals, small followings, large followings, international organizations, nations, or regions;

Take this out, because it's already covered by your definition of terrorism. It's kinda rhetorical. If you do leave it in, though, add the word "or" where I have it highlighted.

3.) Noting that terrorism is a term which can be interpreted a variety of ways, let the United Nations vote on all acts that may fall under this heading, and let the majority agree that an action is a terrorist one before information is sought out under this resolution. This should prevent abuse of this resolution if there is a reasonable suspicion that the nation is attempting to gather information illegally.

Illegal. This is Metagaming and/or Game Mechanics. You cannot have the UN vote on anything other than resolutions - it just doesn't work.

4.) If a nation is found to be in breach of this resolution, let all UN nations place an embargo on that nation for a minumum of ten years or until that nation complies.

Two things - nations are forced to comply, so I don't think this is needed, and also, check your spelling.

That's all I've got for now.

First off, fix the title. As Fris said, it's way to long, and it kinda sounds overly pretentious. Try "Terrorism Info Exchange" or something.
Will do, was not aware of the 30-character limit, apologies.
Also, I'd put this under Mild. While it does have a strong effect, it doesn't do much to actually boost military budgets, which is what that category does. A "Strong" rating would boost stats far more than what this should.
Ahhh, I see. My bad, I thought the rating was for level of importance, misunderstood that.
Take this out, because it's already covered by your definition of terrorism. It's kinda rhetorical. If you do leave it in, though, add the word "or" where I have it highlighted.
I would like to leave it in, if for nothing other than to serve as clarification, and, since it's a list introduced by a colon, I'm not sure it should have an "or." Maybe I'm wrong, though. If anyone knows how this is supposed to work, chip in.
Illegal. This is Metagaming and/or Game Mechanics. You cannot have the UN vote on anything other than resolutions - it just doesn't work.
Crap, I really wanted to leave that in so that terrorism wouldn't have a chance of being incorrectly defined. Might you suggest another way I can do this?
Two things - nations are forced to comply, so I don't think this is needed, and also, check your spelling.
Wow, I did it again. As for the nations being forced to comply, consider the embargo thing removed.



Your title does not represent fairly what the resolution entails.
Mind explaining that a little bit?

If you are having problems shortening the title, just use the initials and put the title as the first line in your proposal.

Crap, I really wanted to leave that in so that terrorism wouldn't have a chance of being incorrectly defined. Might you suggest another way I can do this?

Try forming a (mythical) commitee, although you'd better make sure it complies to the revised rules.

Ahhh, thanks for the idea, I'll look into that, thanks. OOC: Unfortunately, I won't be doing that for a few days, gotta go to a wedding six hundred miles away. Bah. Thanks again. Everyone keep making suggestions I'll get them all when I'm back on Monday.