International Northwestern UnionBoard

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Inactivity Cripples Strategos Prime, New Hopes for Activity Come Summertime
06/06/14 - Topsail empire

STRATEGOS PRIME -- Over the last couple of weeks inactivity has crippled the region of Strategos Prime, seeing the region transform from one of the most active regions in the NS World to one of the lesser active large regions. The population peaked in April at about 155 nations, but the population has declined with the activity and the region now hovers at about 125 nations, but at it’s lowest in late May the population had dropped to about 116 nations. At the moment it is expected for the activity levels to increase as school lets out for the summer, but as many schools have already let out this seems to be a far off goal.

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Reformation in Region Corp - 05/27/14
William M. Griffin

Changes within the regional government of Region Corp show a resurgence of democracy in the form of elections, and a hope for a promising future. However, if the new President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are not chosen swiftly, Region Corp may face issues. Pining for the fjords, the current President, has spent the last three months building the region, but has decided that "a new President will re-enforce the principles of democracy in the region, and will hopefully bolster activity with the oncome of summer." The current President announced his official resignation earlier this day, saying that elections will begin immediately to find a replacement.

However, despite the hopes of the President for a long and prosperous future to Region Corp, TIE has worries as to how the region will progress from this moment forward. Last week, Avandris, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, formally resigned from his duties, stating that "[he] no longer feel[s] adequate for the job." While the region does continue to grow in power and influence, it is understandable that the strain on such an important Minister would grow, but it must be noted the Avandris was an extremely competent and active Minister. It will be difficult to find a replacement, especially with lowered activity in the region.

This brings the need for more recruitment. Every region needs activity to survive, and without that, one desperately needs to recruit or fall into oblivion. As such, TIE has concerns for the future of the region as activity levels continue to fall and not only is the region governed by only a few officials, there is currently very little recruitment in progress. This is one of the reasons why the President is currently resigning, as he states that "RC [Region Corp] needs more activity, and new, excited, and active officials for the region to continue to grow. I have done my place; it is now time for me to hand off the torch to a younger group of officials who will hopefully expand and empower the region."

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Bhang Bhang Duc assumes delegacy of The West Pacific.
By Matthew Quinlan - 05/19/14

It seems change is in store for the massive region of The West Pacific. Longtime WA Delegate, All Good People, is stepping down after more than a year at the helm. TWP is the fifth largest region in NS, so naturally the NS world is eager to meet his replacement.

Bhang Bhang Duc will accept the highly sought after position. He is a very experienced player who has spent every one of his ten years on NS with TWP. He brings a new way of thinking and a set of different views to the table, including his controversial "pro-marsupial" stance. TWP has long been a mostly "anti-marsupial" region for quite some time, but Bhang Bhang Duc is trying to change that. It's not a popular move, but he's not letting that get in his way.

It'll be interesting to see how this new leadership will affect the region, but I think it's safe to say TWP is in good hands. I was fortunate enough to interview the new Delegate.

Here's what he had to say:

1. I'm sure you're very excited, that's a given, but are you nervous? After all, you are taking the Delegate job of one of the biggest, most successful regions IN THE GAME!
"Of course I'm nervous, who wouldn't be. The West Pacific has had many outstanding Delegates, not least our last one All Good People. And despite the length of time I've spent in the game I've not had any experience of running a region, not even creating my own. That said while I approach the role with some trepidation I am also looking forward to doing it. Plus I can call on the experience of the West Pacific Guardians who are all former Delegates."

2. Could you explain to the people of Region Corp what it means to be "Pro-Marsupial"?
"Many years ago our Delegate TAO introduced a policy of anti-marsupialism. Marsupials, or pouchies according to TAO are the root of all evil in Nation States. This policy has been maintained by all the successive Delegates. I believe it is time for a change and that marsupials should be rehabilitated back into the West Pacific. This is not a popular move on my part, as anti-marsupialism is deeply ingrained in the psyche of TWP. However, I am sure I will eventally win over the region to this new path."

3. How do you plan to sustain the level of success that TWP has enjoyed for so long?
"Just keep doing what my predecessors have been doing. Banject badspammers and Gnatzis. Maintain the RMB as a welcoming place for our residents and new arrivals and keep Friday Karaoke going, with an even greater emphasis on prog rock!"

4. I read in another interview you did where you referred to raiding as "fun, fun, fun". Do you plan on changing TWP's tradition of defending?
"Slightly out of context there - I think I said raiders appear to have fun, fun, fun. TWP has not been a Defender region for some time. But then again that does not mean we are Raiders. I believe we will continue with the status quo, supporting our allies when requested to and pulling off the occasional surprise."

I think we all can agree that the replacement provided will do a great job, but will the people of TWP embrace his "pro-marsupial" view or will they resent his sympathies for the "pouchies"? Furthermore, will TWP evolve into a raider-esque region? Only time will tell, but this is certainly going to be interesting to watch.

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New Delegate in The North Pacific - 05/18/14
Carlos Lima

The Delegacy of The North Pacific, a massive feeder region, switched last Friday, following the election of Hms unicorn to replace McMasterdonia. Though elected six days ago, it took a total of four days for the delegacy to officially switch. McMasterdonia offered his sincere advice for HMS Unicorn, before peacefully stepping down from the position. McMasterdonia's reign for 239 days as WAD makes his term the longest in the history of The North Pacific.

Currently, there is a WA SC proposal at vote for the commendation of McMasterdonia. While one might think that McMasterdonia would be in favor of the proposal, he, and the majority of the rest of The North Pacific, are in fact against the proposal due to its poor wording. With such a hard rejection of the proposal coming from the would-be-commended himself, the proposal is currently on-track to fail. Plans are being made to redraft the proposal with The North Pacific's stamp of approval. We shall see how the general public reacts to the proposal when it comes.

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Defender Alliance Rumored - 05/13/14
Tim Weiss

Left: Unconfirmed flag of alliance

Rumors have circulated over the last several weeks about the creation of an interregional defender alliance. We have yet to see the effects of such an alliance, as massive raider regions continue at a thunderous rate. Sources are unsure as to which regions the new alliance is comprised of, or if the alliance houses any of the old strongholds of defender influence, such as TITO, UDL, or the LLA. However, while public opinion varies over the supposed effectiveness of such an alliance, sources invariably claim that the alliance will expose itself with the coming of summer, in order to better counteract Raiding Season.

Other uncertainties include the strategy of the new alliance, from how they will operate on a daily basis to their long term goals. Every experienced nation involved in military gameplay understands that major raiding regions, such as The Black Riders and The Black Hawks, are essentially undefeatable until their founders go inactive - which is a minute possibility. As such, one must wonder how the alliance ever hopes to achieve its goal of "subduing the raiders in order to create a new balance to NationStates."

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Fjordian Legislature to Consider Affirmative Action - 05/13/14 Carl Wheeler

Left: Child holds a sign in the general protest in the capital

THE CAPITAL -- The long debated topic of Affirmative Action has arisen again in Pining for the fjords. The controversy was aroused once more as the result of a congressional proposal to repeal sections of the Fjordian Civil Freedoms Act - which essentially placed a ban on judgements based on race, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity - to allow Affirmative Action to be used to aid minority groups and women in gaining access to Fjord's most elite universities and job positions. The bill seeks to balance opportunity for minority groups while in addition equalizing pay between races and genders of roughly the same position in companies. Catherine Burnham, the female congresswoman who proposed the bill, claims that "the CFA failed to consider the disadvantages of minority groups, and as such, affirmative action must be put in place to assure equal opportunity in Fjords." Her position is met with strong opposition, however, especially among mostly-young white males in Fjords. They counter that "Affirmative Action is reverse-racism. Diversity is not worth racism." Truly, the divide has never been as wide as it is now. We shall see how this bill progresses, and what the outcome of such a controversial bill will have on society.

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Inactivity Crumbles Metiva Lame - 05/13/14
Alice Fritz

In the aftermath since its occupation by military forces from Region Corp, Metiva Lame has lost its "sizzle", its "spark" of activity, its interest in a more influential future.

To review the history, Region Corp was more focused on WA domination than its current economic progress. They forged alliances through the explicit usage of embassies to coordinate WA votes and to garner more interregional influence and to have more of a say in the WA. At one point, a rogue leader from Metiva Lame signed embassy agreements with Region Corp - agreements which they almost immediately broke. Military agents were sent in to control the situation, and to discover the true reason behind the defection of the alliance. The rogue leader was discovered, and Region Corp's agents set to work to instigate a coup and install a new (Region-Corp friendly) leader. This was done, and more agents were sent in to provide continued support for the new leader. After some time, the delegacy was seized, and a new home-region loyal President took power. He quickly banjected all agents, and several of his loyal nations. Many left to join Metiva Lame V2.

While some may argue that Region Corp overstepped its bounds by inserting agents into Metiva Lame, one can hardly argue that their intentions or effects were harmful to the region. The agents were sent in to regain order to the region, and the effects resulted in a burst in activity - the largest in Metiva Lame's long and otherwise quiet history. Now, a full month or so after the insurgency, the region has once more settled into the lamenting rhythm of inactivity. The RMB has not had a single post in fifteen days, and the regional occupants, few in number, find their numbers dwindling below the time at which the situation began.

Inactivity has long been noted to be a common death of regions. It would appear that Metiva Lame and her colony, Metiva Lame V2, are bound to suffer the same fate.

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Anarcho-Capitalist Party Merges with RCB - 05/20/14
Matthew Quinlan

The ACP now controls your bank account.

Frightening? It should be.

Some think political parties have no business merging with private companies. Others do not.

Let's weigh the pro's and con's.

Say you publicly denounce an idea or proposal brought forth by the ACP? What will happen? What can the ACP do behind closed doors? I don't know if we have a good argument against their character, but the motto of the region that the founder of ACP came up with says "Greed is Good". You do the math.

I guess it's kind of a good thing that ACP, who now can afford to pay it's members ten cents a day, will be behind the bank. That being said, there's no legislation insuring your money. Who can honestly tell me that the ACP will help you during times of financial hardship? After all, what's in it for them? Greed is good, right?

I think it's a little too early to rush to judgement, but it is a little scary when a political organization has control over YOUR money. We must now look towards passing legislation to prevent any corrupted officials affecting business owners' or their employees' bank accounts.

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GMO Food Labeling Should Be Mandatory - 05/14/14
TIE Editorial Board

Genetically modified organisms are commonly sold on a daily basis in countries around the world, and comprise a large portion of the world's food. These organisms have been altered from their natural design to grow larger, be tougher, and to grow in less welcoming conditions. However, while there are many benefits to GE crops, there have been several studies exposing dark secrets about the crop - ranging from apocalyptic scenarios to the resistance and strengthened competition of other plants. One of the largest GE producers, Monsanto, has been producing GE seeds for years, and have as of late been rigorously protecting their patents on their seeds. They encourage the usage of pesticides, which, over the years, have become increasingly common in nearby aquatic environments, and are becoming a more significant component of the air. So called "superweeds" have emerged that are immune to these pesticides and weed killers, and pose a threat to modern industrial farming techniques. Today, GE corn makes up 85% of all corn grown in the US, while GE soybeans make of 90%.

Many consumers find these facts to be disturbing. Some are fearful for the future, others feel that it is wrong for a company to modify life, and yet others find the destruction of natural environments to be catastrophic. For whatever the reason, consumers have the right to know the content of the food that they are eating. Currently, in over 60 countries around the world, GMO foods are faced with mandatory labeling in stores. Why not the United States? Why not the nations of Region Corp. Why not the nations in the world of NationStates. We in the TIE Editorial Board believe that due to the uncertainties surrounding GE foods, they should not be treated the same way as other foods. With the introduction of new toxins and pesticides in mass-produced foods, there is little way of knowing what the effect of these new breeds of hybrid crops will have. As such, we believe that consumers must have a choice in knowing what is in their food - just as nutritional labeling is mandatory. If we take a closer look at the food we consume on a regular basis, many of us would be surprised at the level of GE foods in our diet.

With so many benefits for the issue of mandatory labeling of GMO foods, it is a wonder to see that people still remain unconvinced. Opponents argue that the mandatory labeling of GMO foods is a hindrance to economy, and limits international trade. They find that taxpayer loss is increased with the added regulations and testing on GE crops. However, such influences on the economy and taxpayer would be minute, and would provide crucial information to consumers to make informed decisions on what they buy. As such, GMO labeling should be mandatory and enforced, to give buyers a choice and to provide responsible government regulation on businesses that attempt to 'patent life'.

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New Tax Announced - 05/27/14
Jacob Morris

REGION CORP -- Region Corp Founder Murder corp announced the first tax laws for Region Corp to know. The tax will be $.05 per day, for a grand total of $1.50 per month, or $18.00 per year as a price to staying in Region Corp. The tax is actually being implemented in order to boost the local economy. This is intended to be accomplished by forcing nations then to acquire jobs, either politically or with this newspaper or another regional service, profits from which can be used to pay the tax. The Founder claims that such a tax will go forwards to be used by the newly formed Region Corp Treasury, which will be run by an appointed treasurer. The treasurer and president will decide the usage of the currency, with little oversight, to spend on recruitment ads, regional advertisements, and the salaries of government employees. Any remaining may be used to benefit the region more directly in numerous ways.

Although the resolution was eventually passed, it was first met with opposition from the current president, Pining for the fjords, who argued that the proposal was contradictory in nature in its ideas with regards to treasury spending and treasury loans. The idea of a tax at all was also contested. However, the conflict was settled through negotiation and compromise, and hopefully Region Corp will benefit positively from the newly passed law.

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TIE Announces IPO - 05/14/14
Julian Zotov

STOCK MARKET -- Today marks the start of The INWU Enquirer as a regional business, a transition from its earlier stage as a private company, testing the waters for interest. The newspaper plans on expanding its coverage, as well as placing a focus on gaining revenue through advertising. TIE wishes to become a prominent interregional source of NS gameplay news. In this new era of the market economy in Region Corp, hopes are high that the price of stock will soar. Prices for the ads will be calculated based on the size of the ad and the length of time it will be posted. An official statement from the company reads:

"If you are interested in advertising on The INWU Enquirer, there are several ways of doing so, including a detailed application form on the bottom of the newspaper. There are various rates for ads, each depending on the size of the ad display. Ad costs will be paid on a weekly basis, rather than by a pay-per-ad system. Large ads will cost $2.25 for one week, $2.00 per week for two weeks, $1.5 per week for three weeks, $1.25 per week for anything beyond that. Each consequently smaller ad will cost $0.25 less per week for however many weeks."

The company has assured the public that its online copy will always be free to the public - which puts a demand on a steady inflow of ads to keep the company afloat. Initial stock prices are estimated to be around $1.50 per share.

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Region Corp Economy Kickstarted - 05/13/14
Jacob Morris

STOCK MARKET -- Over the course of the last week in Region Corp, the regional economy has emerged from the dust of nonexistence to quickly growing influence, following the passage of a block of reforms to transform the region from being concerned with majority voting power in the WA, to being actively interested in a thriving economy based on real services. It was from that dust that rose the creation of several new companies, and one chain of companies.

The most prominent among these newly founded companies is the Region Corp Bank, which was founded to provide investments to later companies, and to gain wealth by owning shares among said companies as a result of their investment. In addition to the RCB, there was the emergence of CASE LAW Inc., which is the first of a chain of companies that recognize themselves as "A Grande Corporation." CLI provides legal services in a number of areas, including consulting, business management, prosecution, defense, and patent law. CLI is currently looking into gaining an investment from the Region Corp Bank. Frank Douglas, CEO of the new law firm, confirmed this this morning. "CLI recently acquired a deal with RCB, and by this time tomorrow, RCB will own 40% of our shares." He later stated in a thick Grandean accent that "We will use these funds to build our network of connections and influence, hire new employees, and get our name into the market by purchasing advertising."

Besides these first two, several other companies are in the process of being created, and their IPOs are expected shortly. This newspaper is among those companies, and is another "Grande Corporation." We seek to provide our customers with free, up-to-date and accurate information on both the region and on external current affairs. The company plans to survive by providing ad space to companies seeking brand-name-identification. Other planned companies include an advertising agency, a military contractor, and an educational tutoring program.

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