Arctic

Date: December 2019
Population: 1104
Delegate Endorsements: 308
Forum: http://10000islands.proboards.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/mw27pug
Twitter: https://twitter.com/the10000islands

Has your region been invaded, or do you want to get in touch with TITO? If so, contact one of the following nations:
~Chief Executive: Markanite.
~Field Commander: Kanta Hame.
~Tactical Officers: Shy Guyia, Smugglers and Mercs (EF), Mingulay Isle, THX1138.
~Executive Officers: Aschente, Hakketomat.

As of this report’s publication, the Government of 10000 Islands consists of:
~Chief Executive: Markanite
~WA Delegate: Kuriko
~Senior Senator for Blue Canaria North (Emissary Report): HumanSanity
~Senator for Lyonnesse East (Houses): The United Royal Islands of Euramathania
~Senator for New Republica South (Debates and Discussions): Aschente
~Senator for Himes West (RP): Marxist Germany
~Minister of Labor: Paffnia
~Minister of Immigration: The Knights Apprentice of Sargon Reman
~Minister of Education: The Tasmanian Islands

Information about other government officials of 10000 Islands can be found here.

Additionally, some of you will have new people delivering this report this month! Haivon has been appointed emissary to Portugal, Dandhican has been appointed emissary to The North Pacific, and Dorab has been appointed emissary to Middle Earth. Congratulations to all our new emissaries!

-The Mayor of Shelter's Taco Island, Louisistan has closed the general election for the Taco Island Parliament. The Dragon-Gold Coalition, under its leader Tuga Nation has the plurality of seats and the opportunity to form a government. We will see how 2020 plays out in the Taco Island Parliament and Senate under Prime Minister Tuga!

-Several nations, under the leadership of Haivon have banded together to create the 10000 Islands Space Program or XKISP. We look forward to monitoring their progress as they race for the heavens!

-Following the release of Season 2 of NS Trading Cards, several XKIers have begun putting together their 10000 Islands sets! Additionally, Minister of Education The Tasmanian Islands has made a list of Epic and Legendary cards of 10000 Islanders for reference.

-Chief Executive Markanite rang in the holidays with some festive cheer including snowflakes for the forum and the ability for members to partake in a gift exchange! Happy holidays to all!

-Minister The Tasmanian Islands named Libraziland the Featured Nation for December in recognition of their RMB and forum participation and sweet flag design!

-WA Secretary The Knights Apprentice of Sargon Reman has released new WA Secretariat Engagement Awards to reward Islanders for endorsing each other, endorsing the Delegate, and other milestones. Thanks to Isles of metanoia for their hard work on this! Additionally, in preparing for the newly established WA Secretariat, Markanite has restructured our WA voting polls! As a reminder, our discussion threads are always open to non-Islanders to come give their pitch so Islanders can read and decide how they're going to vote! The Secretariat will also be releasing occasional reports, and Secretary Reman has released the first report including an interview with Molly Muse about the future direction of the Secretariat!

-Delegate Kuriko with the help of Marxist Germany has organized a Cultural Event with The South Pacific! The event is hosted on the RMB of the region TSP XKI Cultural Event and in an event Discord server. We're sure it'll be a barn burner and help us get to know our new treaty allies!

-In celebration of the New Decade, Markanite has opened a thread for Islanders to share their goals for the upcoming Decade! Take a look here: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38174/new-decade-approaches

-10000 Islands enjoyed exceptional RMB activity throughout the month of December, with many new nations joining the region and saying hello. There was, of course, lots of well-wishing around the holidays, but also lively debate, and a great deal of discussion around developing RP activity. Please enjoy this month's curated collection of posts since the last report:

We begin with a subject that was the talk of the region, relating to our Delegate, Kuriko page=rmb/postid=37095593
The always helpful Jabberwocky lends some perspective on NS economics page=rmb/postid=37102200
The Islands are always open to trying new things, but this might be a bit radical page=rmb/postid=37111144
Just when you think you're out, they drag you back in page=rmb/postid=37166225
It is what it is, says Marxist Germany page=rmb/postid=37172056
Being late to the party can be confusing page=rmb/postid=37207680
Imbibing too much at the party can lead to this sort of thing page=rmb/postid=37217506
And sometimes, you just need to get back to basics page=rmb/postid=37252843

Regional Poll of the month asked Island residents to roll the dice page=poll/p=150829

-Lastly, congratulations to all! Taco Island, 10000 Islands' legendary and beloved hang out zone, has hit 100 pages! Join us in our celebration

I wanted to start the WA section of the report by highlighting a few developments.

First, following the formation of the WA Secretariat, we have restructured the WA section of our forums. Our friends abroad will still have access to our public discussion threads to give their input and lobby for 10000 Islands' vote.

Second, Delegate Kuriko has opened a thread listing her proposal "approvals" and to lobby her to approve a proposal. Check it out here: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38200/approved-proposals-1-20-3

Third, Congratulations to WA authors from 10000 Islands!
-Congratulations to author Kuriko and co-author THX1138 for their work on SC #291: "Commend Duxburian Union" for Duxburian Union's service to our embassy regions of European Union and The Order of the Grey Wardens

-Congratulations to author Kuriko for her work on SC #292: Repeal "Liberate Aurelia". After the passage of the resolution, the region Aurelia has been password protected and returned to native hands.

-Congratulations to author Kuriko, co-author THX1138 and the nominee 10000 Islands Chief Executive Markanite on passage of SC #293: Commend Markanite! Markanite is the current Chief Executive of 10000 Islands, a Knight of TITO, a former WA Delegate and longtime Minister of Education, and a recipient of the prestigious Heart of the Islands award which is bestowed by the Council of Nine on those who are dedicated to the spirit of the betterment of the Islands. This Christmas Day resolution represented the third Commendation for a 10000 Islander in 2019, following Woonsocket and Paffnia's Commendations.

Dec 2, 2019 SC Commend Duxburian Union: Emphasizing the many contributions of the target to their native region, and to the international community, through proxy, with specific emphasis on their work as a defender.
Author: Kuriko
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38083/sc-resolution-commend-duxburian-union
Regional vote: For 13 | Against 0
Delegate vote: For (weight 307)
Final WA vote: For 10731 (84%) | Against 2111 (16%)
Result: Passed Dec 5, becoming SCR#291

Dec 6, 2019 SC Repeal “Liberate Aurelia”: A brief resolution repealing the previous liberation, thus allowing defender forces to permanently secure the region from invasion.
Author: Kuriko
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38103/sc-resolution-repeal-liberate-aurelia
Regional vote: For 13 | Against 1
Delegate vote: For (weight 303)
Final WA vote: For 13497 (94%) | Against 911 (6%)
Result: Passed Dec 9, becoming SCR#292

Dec 8, 2019 GA Repeal: “Promoting Natural Sciences in Schools”: An effort to strike recently passed legislation, citing vague definitions and the lack of any requirement that educational material be peer reviewed.
Author: Kaschovia
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38112/resolution-repeal-promoting-natural-sciences
Regional vote: For 7 | Against 8 | Delegate’s Prerogative 2
Delegate vote: Against (weight 304)
Final WA vote: For 5657 (38%) | Against 9059 (62%)
Result: Failed to pass

Dec 12, 2019 GA Repeal: “Ban on Secret Treaties: Another in a series of attempts to repeal the target, this one focusing specifically on the use of an out-of-context and confusing definition, that some consider frivolous.
Author: New Waldensia
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38121/proposal-repeal-ban-secret-treaties
Regional vote: For 10 | Against 0
Delegate vote: For (weight 307)
Final WA vote: For 7132 (49%) | Against 7296 (51%)
Result: Failed to pass

Dec 16, 2019 GA Repeal: “Civilian Aircraft Accord”: Seeking repeal due to concern that assisting aircraft in distress in foreign airspace could lead to conflict.
Author: Bitely
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38123/proposal-repeal-civilian-aircraft-accord
Regional vote: For 1 | Against 12
Delegate vote: Against (weight 310)
Final WA vote: For 3693 (25%) | Against 10796 (75%)
Result: Failed to pass

Dec 20, 2019 GA Ensuring Commercial Vessel Navigation: Mandating universal standards for national oceanic charting, and requiring all commercial vessels ready access to that information .
Author: Terttia
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38125/proposal-ensuring-commercial-vessel-navigation
Regional vote: For 7 | Against 1 | Delegate’s Prerogative 2
Delegate vote: For (weight 309)
Final WA vote: For 11876 (85%) | Against 2056 (15%)
Result: Passed Dec 24, becoming GAR#478

Dec 22, 2019 SC Commend Markanite: Celebrating the achievements of the target in the areas of regional leadership, WA Delegacy, defence of founderless regions, and international engagement.
Author: Kuriko
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38153/sc-resolution-commend-markanite
Regional vote: For 18 | Against 0
Delegate vote: For (weight 311)
Final WA vote: For 10192 (82%) | Against 2208 (18%)
Result: Passed Dec 25, becoming SCR#293

Dec 24, 2019 GA Don’t Shoot Strangers Act: A resolution seeking to make illegal a violent response on first contact with an unknown individual or group.
Author: Umeria
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38139/ga-proposal-shoot-strangers-act
Regional vote: For 4 | Against 8 | Delegate’s Prerogative 3
Delegate vote: Against (weight 306)
Final WA vote: For 2776 (21%) | Against 10269 (79%)
Result: Failed to pass

Dec 28, 2019 GA Repeal: “Convention on Animal Testing: An effort to revoke recently passed legislation due to concerns around definitions and potential difficulties with enforcement that could result.
Author: Concrete Slab
10000 Islands discussion on this resolution: http://10000islands.proboards.com/thread/38149/resolution-repeal-convention-animal-testing
Regional vote: For 5 | Against 3 | Abstain 1
Delegate vote: For (weight 306)
Final WA vote: For 11532 (91%) | Against 1193 (9%)
Result: Passed Jan 1, 2020, becoming GAR#479

This month I sat down with Free Earthian Yap who is our new Deputy Cartographer-General and alongside Paffnia has added a new Trade Routes and Pacts concept for the regional map.

HS: How did you originally hear about NationStates? When you signed up what were you expecting? How has that differed from why you've stayed around?

Yap: I have found out about Nationstates by an accident really, as i remember i was searching for news or trying to find an old article i have read. I didn't know about Max Barry or Nationstates, thought even finding it was exciting, I played many strategy games similiar to it couple of them were actually text based, idea of creating a nation, whole culture even a language sound intriguing, also I always liked designing flags, symbols, and best part was role playing with others, since then nothing actually changed I still like the whole system Nation states was based on.

HS: What are some interesting things about how you designed the flag or symbols of your nation?

Yap: I actually have many other puppet nations just made them to create, design flags. Flag of Free Earthian Yap isn't that good because its was my first try yet I am going to keep for a time. On Free Earthing Yap I first imagined a post-apocaliptic environment, people united under one state. Influenced from fallout games I was spending lots of times during the creation, then I wanted to add some cultural, ethnic flavors to it, I took some parts from asian countries and i made sure these were ironic/dark humored parts.
I was aiming to become an anarchist-royalist/anarco-monarchist but end up becoming an anarco-capitalist 'state', so i went with it.I also wanted to create an in depth factbook with language and more but,now i don't have enough time for it because of personal issues.

HS: Where did you get the idea for the trade routes/pacts idea that you and Paffnia released for the regional map? What direction are you expecting Islanders to take this improvement?

Yap: I'm going to tell you the entire story, when XKI was looking for a new cartographer general,i wanted to apply because i had an idea of creating an entire new map for the XKI,i found it a bit old.I wanted to modernize it as much as i can because i'm a part of this society and wanted to improve it yet i didn't know what others would think i didn't know how to proceed and many of the rules,thought i have messaged paffnia for the position believing i could learn during the process, then i saw paffnia has become the new cartographer general which was good for me because i talk to him before,so i just told him of my idea of making a new map,he said work on it and send me the files,the idea of creating trade unions or agreements was inspired from EEA,i believed it would create great opportunities for roleplaying. Throughout the process he help me a lot, guiding me to what to do, what are our basic rules for XKI's archipelago map,most of flags came from him because many Tito Knights has lost their active nation status,he send me web archives to find it,still doing the work i should do,i have to trace newly found trade unions and nations who wants a different spot on RP Maps,but like i said i don't have much time to read it all and make it all so just sends me news so i can update map weekly.
Many thanks to paffnia for it,without him this whole idea wouldn't work.
What i expect or what i hope islanders will do is create trade unions,create their own forum pages to make micro-transaction and have fun doing roleplays.I believe, if we have a live,active and fun community more nations would be eager to join us.

HS: Who apart from Paffnia are people you connected to early on in 10000 Islands' community? What else drew you to the region?

Yap: I can say New Fjordland recruited me in to XKI,formerly i was a member of 2d anime girl region which wasn't looked like that when i first joined,got weirder every day,the second i decided to leave i get a recruitment telegram from him.Also i use to in contact with Jiru namstansal,somethings on Jiru namstansal made me believe he was an alt nation of someone in XKI,if you are still out there Jiru namstansal,i miss you,please come and tell me more about your infinite long caterpillars and cola product of yours looks like cola but tastes better with less sugar.

HS: What is one of your favorite things you've done in this game or the time you've laughed the hardest? What's one of the more stressful or frustrating things you've done?

Yap: My favored thing to do is roleplaying HARD,like defending the ideology of my nation,even if i don't care about it,i like to make fun of extremist invaders whenever i see one.I don't remember the time i laughed the hardest,but the most frustrating things for me are events,as a region we are always uncoordinated like the last zombie event,for me i wanted to create zombie hordes but after seeing people working on cures,i started to work on cures until someone came to kill my entire population,i believe people should do whatever they want,we don't have work like ants but without coordination in such events,people doesn't get to have fun and feels excluded.
After all we are all here to pass time, have fun and socialize.

Interview lightly modified for readability