Spotlight on:

“Because Big Mama Says So!”

The Republic of Heaste is a colossal, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Mabel the Magnificent with an iron fist, and notable for its irreverence towards religion. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 5.558 billion are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

The tiny, corrupt, pro-business government is mainly concerned with Defence, although Law & Order and Commerce are on the agenda. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Fort Mabel. Income tax is unheard of. A substantial private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

An increasing percentage of the population's youth have homosexual parents, chess hooliganism is on the rise after the banning of organised sports, Heaste's fine wines are renowned throughout the region, and Heaste has been greatly criticised for its isolationist policies. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Heaste's national animal is the jellicle cat, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is Devout Atheism, and its currency is the widget.

Heaste is ranked 2nd in the region and 6,113th in the world for Largest Basket Weaving Sector.