Difference between revisions of "Artoonia"

Revision as of 19:55, 15 October 2004

Artoonia

Flag of Artoonia
Motto: There Oughtn't Be a Law
Artoonia map
Region	The Satellite of Love
Capital	Lumo
Official Language(s)	Esperanto, ASL
Leader	Imperiestro (Emperor) Artu I
Population	1,066,000,000
Currency	malplena redonbotelo (empty bottle return)
NS Sunset XML

History

Although scholars debate the origins of the Artoonian people, what is known is this: originally, the Artoonian islands were populated by five ethnic nations: the Muzinano, the Greĝano, the Spandano, the Jagiano, and the Ajmano. Wars between these groups were frequent, until a loose confederation was established in or about 1378 C.E., following the wholesale slaughter of the Jagiano at the hands of a Muzinano-Greĝano alliance. However, infighting was still common as each of the four remaining groups fought to make itself supreme over the others. This confederation dissolved in 1733 C.E., when the Ajmano, having just ascended to dominance in the confederal council, attempted to enslave the other three groups. Fighting continued for years until a young general, Artu I, began to amass an army from among the four remaining nations.

Artu was born a Greĝano, although his mother was half Muzinano, and his father was believed to be a half-Ajmano, half-Spandino soldier. Because of his conflicting ethnic identity, Artu was cast out into the wilderness and raised by monks, who taught him their warrior code. However, his monastic upbringing also instilled in him a desire to end the conflict between his people. He began to recruit soldiers from the lower classes of their societies, and after amassing an army of three thousand soldiers, waged a guerilla war against the leaders of the four nations, assimilating them into a new "nation" he called the "Artuanoj" (followers of Artu).

Within two years, the Spandino had been completely assimilated into Artu's new nation. He then made peace with the Greĝano, then attacked the Muzinano, until they joined three years after that. He then offered peace to the Ajmano, although they declined, and a very bloody four-year conflict ensued, until Hektor, son of Ajmano general Setipo, was slain in battle on 30 March 2004. The resulting grief led Setipo to join the Artuana alliance, and on 3 April, the nation-state of Artoonia was formed.

Geography

Location: An island chain in The Satellite of Love, south of Interlocking Land, south-west of Cybertronus, north of Ninjafania, and east of Pechins. Surrounded by the Sea of Artoonia to the east, and the Sea of Pechins to the west.

Area: 846,006 km² (326,645 mi²)

Climate: Mainly temperate. Mountainous regions in Wejo generally cooler and more precipitous than the lower lands.

Elevation extremes: Vale of Takro, -32 m (-105 ft); Mt. Ŝameso, 7,243 m (23,763 ft)

Natural resources: Coal, Copper, Lead, Uranium, Bauxite, Gold, Iron, Mercury, Silver, Tungsten, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Timber

Land use: arable land: 79%, permanent crops: 7%

Irrigated land: 642,399 km² (2004 est.)

Natural hazards: mild volcanic activity in mountains, moderate flooding in river basins, forest fires

Environmental issues: fossil fuel emissions, water pollution from pesticide use, erosion from terrain renovations

Demographic and Cultural Data

Nationality: noun: Artuano (plural: Artuanoj), Artoonian (plural: Artoonians) adjective: Artuana, Artoonian

Ethnicities: White/Caucasian, 79%; Black/African, 11%; Asian/Pacific Islander, 6%; Other/Unavailable Data, 4%. Although the Ministry of Censi does not keep official records, estimates put 21% as Hispanic, but falling into one of the above classifications. All ethnic Artuanoj are considered "White" in the same.)

Religions: Christian, 86% (Church of Artoonia, 79%; Orthodox, 9%; Amish, 6%; Roman Catholic, 4%; Misc., 2%); Jewish, 9%; Other/Unaffiliated, 5%.

Patron Saint: Saint Michael the Archangel

Sex ratio: At birth: 1.021 m:f; under 15 years: 1.024 m:f; 15-64 years: 0.999 m:f; 65 years and over: 0.67 m:f; total population: 1.044 m:f

Life expectancy at birth: 79.35 years (male: 79.63 years; female: 82.42 years)

Fertility rate: 3.47 children born/woman

Languages: Esperanto and ASL (Artoonian Sign Language, very similar to American Sign Language with some regional variances) are official languages for all governmental publications (printed and audiorecorded in Esperanto, videorecorded in ASL). Most citisens are polylingual, and are likely to speak English, French, Spanish, and/or German, among other languages (being able to speak many languages is considered a mark of honour).

Literacy Rate: 98.8%

Government

Official Stile: La Sanktimperio de Artunja (The Holy Empire of Artoonia)

Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy, headed by an Emperor. Most legislative action, however, is handled by a Parliament.

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces: Ajmo, Celaja, Ejomo, Fleĝia, Greĝo, Ĥalijo, Kozinto Muzino, Spandino, Vanjo, Wejo. The capitol city of Lumo is situated geographically between Kozinto and Ejomo, although it is considered a part of neither.

National Holiday: "Imperiatago" ("Day of the Empire"), 3 April; Festo de Sanktulo Mikelo la Arĥangelsko (Feast of St. Michael the Archangel), 29 September

Suffrage: 16 years of age, universal.

Executive branch: The Emperor is both chief of state and head of government, although many functions of the latter are handled by the Prime Minister. That position was handled up to recently by J. Mikelo BIRONO, who was recently ousted from office when a no-confidence vote dissolved the Parliament. A cabinet is selected by the Emperor, although the Parliament must confirm any Ministers who are not members of the Parliament.

Elections: The Emperor is appointed for life, needing the approval of both the nobility and the Church of Artoonia, and must also be one not already disqualified from the office by decree of a past Emperor (a future Emperor cannot be disqualified, however, by virtue of immutable characteristics like race or sex). The Prime Minister is chosen from the Parliament's "People's House" by a vote of its members.

Legislative Branch: Tricameral Parliament: "The People's House", 3 seats to each colony, the remainder of 96 seats apportioned amongst the provinces by decennial census, with each province guaranteed at least 5 seats. "His Majesty's House", comprised of all holders of hereditary estates of nobility, and of any life estates if approved by the Emperor. "House of Cards", comprised of any citisen 16 years of age who attends its daily sessions.

Elections: Held at least once every three years, or as necessary when a vote of no-confidence dissolves Parliament.

Judicial: Adversarial court system. Highest court is The Imperial Court, unless the Emperor elects to hear a case. Imperial Court Justices are appointed by the Emperor with Parliamentary approval for life. A lower system of federal courts exists with judges appointed by the Emperor, with Parliamentary approval unnecessary (appeals courts work the same way). Provincial judicial systems are generally three-tiered, although their judges are usually elected.

Political Parties: (from right-to-left wing) Artoonian National Party, Rightists' Party, Artoonian Moderate Party, Leftist Party, Socialist People's Party of Artoonia; numerous smaller parties with limited success at local levels.

Flag description: three horizontal bars of equal size, white, red, and green, with an inset shield near the mast featuring a cross atop a mound against a blue background.

Economy

See also economic detail

Currency: Malplena redonbotelo (Empty bottle return)

Currency divisions: β1 is equal to ␞4 (malplenaj redonoskatoloj/empty can returns), and β5 equal μ1 (malplena redonulo/empty jug return)

Currency code: MRB

Fiscal Year, governmental: 1 Nov. - 31 Oct.

Major Industries: Agriculture, Defence Contracting, Tourism, Information Technology