Strathdonia
04-01-2005, 01:05
OOC: Unless youa re part of the Modern World Roleplay group then this thread probably isn't of much interest to you. of course if youa ren't a part of it and are still interested in my sad attempts at protraying a small african nation struggling to drag itself from the gutter feel free to psot OOC comments etc.
Military details can be found in this thread:
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=361557
there still much more to come (regions, cities, law and order etc)
People:
Population: approx 12million
Population growth rate: 2.2%
Life expectancy:
Male: 46.2years
Female: 47.54years
HIV/Aids prevalence rate: 9.76%
Ethnic groups:
Various African: 75%
European: 15%
Asian/Arab: 10%
Religion:
Protestant: 70%
Catholic: 10%
Muslim: 15%
Other: 5%
Language: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally
Literacy total population: 69.8%
Compared to the state of affairs in the Malawi of the late nineties, Strathdonian is, on paper at least, a virtual paradise. In terms of the Aids issue the nation is finally out of the top 10 of most afflicted countries (currently sitting at no11) the government puts this down to massive awareness campaigns and investment in medical services although many would claim it has more to do with the recent upsurge in Christianity and the Free Church of Malawi’s head lining abstinence campaign while others would put it down to the strides made in bringing forward the rights and education of women within society.
The recent gains made by the protestant church have troubled many with claims of distinct bias towards those of a catholic or non Christian faith. In reality the laid back liberal side of Scottish Protestantism is pretty prevalent amongst the majority of the population with most content to live and let live although it must be said that membership of a church, boys/girls brigade or the orange order (yes that particular aspect has somehow made the jump from Scotland) will generally make progress up the social/job ladder that little bit easier. While the majority of the population still exists on a basic agricultural/rural basis the recent strides forward have lead to the spread of a relatively wealthy middle class within urban environments. Generally concerned and holding quite a degree of power though their influence with the churches they have made strides to help alleviate the usual urban slums that surround the cities of a developing nation by pushing heavily for huge investment in social housing. In the end this drive is probably more from economic interests and a desire to keep a potential working class in conditions to improve productivity.
Government:
Form of Government: Multi party democracy.
Head of State: President (currently Donald Livingston)
Head of government: First minister of the Strathdonian parliament (currently Danso Mambala of the SNP)
Capital: Lilongwe
Junior house: National Parliament (193 seats mix of first pass the post and proportional representation)
Senior house: Representative Assembly (42 seats, elected representative of each district, regional Colonels, president, first minister/home minister and leader of the opposition).
Elections: President once every 5 years (fixed dates), NP (at least every 5 years 1st min calls date), RA (always 1 year after presidential election).
Political parties:
SNP: Strathdonian National Party (vaguely right of centre)
CD: Christian Democrats (more right wing)
ALC: Alliance of Liberal Christianity (left of centre/Lib Dem)
WA: Worker’s Alliance (raving socialists)
GR: Gaia’s Representatives (green party)
Percentage of the vote (NP election)
SNP: 59%, CD: 17% ALC: 11% WA: 5% GR: 2% other/independent: 6%
Economy:
GDP composition:
Agriculture: 51%
industry: 25.8%
services: 23.2%
Agricultural products:
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats, Alcoholic drinks
Major Industries:
Tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods, alcohol, automobile manufacturing, aerospace engineering
The vast majority of the Strathdonian industry is focused on agriculture and the industry has undergone major reforms since the trouble. Most farm land is now part of extremely large holdings owned either by a wealthy individual (of either African or European descent) or one of the increasingly common community cooperatives. These large holdings combined with the government pouring huge sums into developing farming techniques has allowed farming to reach levels of efficiency more akin to land in western Europe or the united states. More traditional farming still takes place and is generally contracted to supply various Fair trade or high quality organics companies in the west. The net results of the improvements are that Strathdonia now produces a significant surplus even after the government has ensured the population is fed. Additionally major strides have been taken to allow processing and other “value-add” aspects to be undertaken within the nation despite fierce opposition from the developed world. The actual types of produce grown has also diversified with the recent introduction of vineyards in the more elevated areas and some traditionally European crops making appearance (this has largely led to the development of the alcohol industry which produces wines of competitive quality and a range of basic bears and high quality Malt Whiskeys roughly comparable to Scotland).
Outside of agriculture heavy industry consists of small scale coal, uranium and aluminium mining (although not smelting). A small automobile manufacturing sector consists primarily of a factory in Blantyre that produces a range of cars licensed from the Rover group (primarily land rovers with a mix of metros, 800s and 45s). A particularly tiny aerospace industry is concerned primarily with the upkeep of the nation’s air force but is capable of accepting contracts to provide new engines and general overhaul work for most of the common African aircraft, license produced versions of the JSA Seeker and Stormer planes and the R44 helicopter are the extent of the production capabilities (although talks are underway with Augusta Westland for a gazelle license).
Military details can be found in this thread:
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=361557
there still much more to come (regions, cities, law and order etc)
People:
Population: approx 12million
Population growth rate: 2.2%
Life expectancy:
Male: 46.2years
Female: 47.54years
HIV/Aids prevalence rate: 9.76%
Ethnic groups:
Various African: 75%
European: 15%
Asian/Arab: 10%
Religion:
Protestant: 70%
Catholic: 10%
Muslim: 15%
Other: 5%
Language: English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages important regionally
Literacy total population: 69.8%
Compared to the state of affairs in the Malawi of the late nineties, Strathdonian is, on paper at least, a virtual paradise. In terms of the Aids issue the nation is finally out of the top 10 of most afflicted countries (currently sitting at no11) the government puts this down to massive awareness campaigns and investment in medical services although many would claim it has more to do with the recent upsurge in Christianity and the Free Church of Malawi’s head lining abstinence campaign while others would put it down to the strides made in bringing forward the rights and education of women within society.
The recent gains made by the protestant church have troubled many with claims of distinct bias towards those of a catholic or non Christian faith. In reality the laid back liberal side of Scottish Protestantism is pretty prevalent amongst the majority of the population with most content to live and let live although it must be said that membership of a church, boys/girls brigade or the orange order (yes that particular aspect has somehow made the jump from Scotland) will generally make progress up the social/job ladder that little bit easier. While the majority of the population still exists on a basic agricultural/rural basis the recent strides forward have lead to the spread of a relatively wealthy middle class within urban environments. Generally concerned and holding quite a degree of power though their influence with the churches they have made strides to help alleviate the usual urban slums that surround the cities of a developing nation by pushing heavily for huge investment in social housing. In the end this drive is probably more from economic interests and a desire to keep a potential working class in conditions to improve productivity.
Government:
Form of Government: Multi party democracy.
Head of State: President (currently Donald Livingston)
Head of government: First minister of the Strathdonian parliament (currently Danso Mambala of the SNP)
Capital: Lilongwe
Junior house: National Parliament (193 seats mix of first pass the post and proportional representation)
Senior house: Representative Assembly (42 seats, elected representative of each district, regional Colonels, president, first minister/home minister and leader of the opposition).
Elections: President once every 5 years (fixed dates), NP (at least every 5 years 1st min calls date), RA (always 1 year after presidential election).
Political parties:
SNP: Strathdonian National Party (vaguely right of centre)
CD: Christian Democrats (more right wing)
ALC: Alliance of Liberal Christianity (left of centre/Lib Dem)
WA: Worker’s Alliance (raving socialists)
GR: Gaia’s Representatives (green party)
Percentage of the vote (NP election)
SNP: 59%, CD: 17% ALC: 11% WA: 5% GR: 2% other/independent: 6%
Economy:
GDP composition:
Agriculture: 51%
industry: 25.8%
services: 23.2%
Agricultural products:
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats, Alcoholic drinks
Major Industries:
Tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods, alcohol, automobile manufacturing, aerospace engineering
The vast majority of the Strathdonian industry is focused on agriculture and the industry has undergone major reforms since the trouble. Most farm land is now part of extremely large holdings owned either by a wealthy individual (of either African or European descent) or one of the increasingly common community cooperatives. These large holdings combined with the government pouring huge sums into developing farming techniques has allowed farming to reach levels of efficiency more akin to land in western Europe or the united states. More traditional farming still takes place and is generally contracted to supply various Fair trade or high quality organics companies in the west. The net results of the improvements are that Strathdonia now produces a significant surplus even after the government has ensured the population is fed. Additionally major strides have been taken to allow processing and other “value-add” aspects to be undertaken within the nation despite fierce opposition from the developed world. The actual types of produce grown has also diversified with the recent introduction of vineyards in the more elevated areas and some traditionally European crops making appearance (this has largely led to the development of the alcohol industry which produces wines of competitive quality and a range of basic bears and high quality Malt Whiskeys roughly comparable to Scotland).
Outside of agriculture heavy industry consists of small scale coal, uranium and aluminium mining (although not smelting). A small automobile manufacturing sector consists primarily of a factory in Blantyre that produces a range of cars licensed from the Rover group (primarily land rovers with a mix of metros, 800s and 45s). A particularly tiny aerospace industry is concerned primarily with the upkeep of the nation’s air force but is capable of accepting contracts to provide new engines and general overhaul work for most of the common African aircraft, license produced versions of the JSA Seeker and Stormer planes and the R44 helicopter are the extent of the production capabilities (although talks are underway with Augusta Westland for a gazelle license).