Academe

Academe

Flag of Academe
Motto: Remind me again why my work is relevant?
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Region	United States of Beacon
Capital	Robarts
Official Language(s)	Tour Ivoirien
Leader	Procrast Ina Tion
Population	approx. 500 Million
Currency	Federal Grant
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Academe is a small archipelago in Lemuria. Its climate is chilly, with constant south winds that bring storms throughout the year. Most of the archipelago is covered with lush bamboo forests; the largest of these -- the Groves of Academe -- is the country's oldest national park and most popular tourist desitnation. In recent years, the nation's commercial and industrial sectors have made inroads into the Groves, leading some to declare that the integrity of the Groves is threatened. Debates flourish perenially over whether businesses should be allowed to operate within the Groves or should be kept out of them entirely.

The people of Academe are renowned for their committment to peace and social welfare. Health care and education (including four years of university) are free, and subsidized housing and child-care are widely available to those in financial need. Defense spending is low.

Civil Rights

Personal freedom and privacy are valued highly in Academe. Security cameras are prohibited in public space, although they may be used on private property. Police have minimal powers of search and seizure, and they must present evidence to a judge before they can engage in prolonged surveillance of any individual.

Narcotics, prohibited in much of the world, are legal, as are prostitution and gambling; these industries are heavily regulated and taxed. Large pharmaceutical companies are dedicating an increasing amount of their research & development to the creation of designer recreational drugs. These are generally considered safer and less addictive than so-called "street drugs," which are now virtually unknown in Academe. Some medical professionals are concerned, however, about the ease and profitability of designing and manufacturing these drugs. They argue that this "sideline" of the pharmaceutical industry is draining resources from the research & development of therapeutic drugs. In response to this, the government has launched a massive program of funding therapeutical drug research and is drafting legislation which would require fifty percent of a company's recreational drug profits either be channelled to that company's therapeutical research or (in the case of companies which manufacture only recreational drugs) be contributed to the government's funding program.

Abortion, euthanasia, and the refusal of medical treatment are legal although strictly regulated. These laws and the Living Will Program are is described in detail under "Health," below.

Groups of up to four people, of any combination of genders and all of the age of majority may marry. Lately, citizens have been agitating for the rights of larger groups to marry. Divorce is granted by local magistrates upon the request of any party in a marriage. Every former member of a marriage group is required to contribute thirty percent of his or her income to the care of children born while he or she was part of the group. Custody is divided equally among those parents who request access, unless there is proof of abuse or neglect by that parent. Because of its liberal legislation, many countries do not recognize marriages or divorces granted in Academe.

Public nudity is permitted, although sexually explicit behaviour in most public places is illegal (there are a few legislated exceptions).

Workers are encouraged to form collective bargaining units, and special interest groups are welcomed to demonstrate and to engage in public debate. They may propose laws, and if one-third of the voting population sign a petition supporting a proposed law, a binding referendum is held. There, however, are a number of restrictions on political freedom: Campaign finances are subject to full public disclosure, no corporation or union may donate more than $100,000 per year to a political party or its members, and political advertising is censored by non-partisan volunteer committess in order to minimize negative content.

Crime in Academe is virtually unknown. Critics of the government charge that this is is simply because the liberal laws make very few activities illegal and a tiny minority of these are classified as criminal offenses. The government and its advocates, however, argue that the low crime rate is due to Academe's strong education and social welfare programs as well as its rehabilitative model of criminal justice. This model involves regular counselling, meetings with the victim and his or her family, and extensive community service. Contrary to rumour, however, Academe does have prisons. These are reserved for those criminals who have committed particularly violent crimes or who have not responded to rehabilitation efforts. Even in prison, however, human and civil rights are respected: Prisoners may vote, they may express opinions publicly, and their religious beliefs are accomodated within reason.

Health

The citizens of Academe place great value on education and knowledge. Medical and scientific research is heavily funded. Emphasis is placed on the development of technologies that will improve long-term health and allow industry to grow in harmony with the natural environment. The cloning of human embryos for research purposes is allowed, although any study which will create or use cloned embryos must be approved by an ad-hoc ethics committee comprised of government officials, members of the scientific community, and private citizens. The use of harvested organs for research purposes is preferred over that of cloned embryos. In order to meet the needs of medical researchers while protecting the first rights of those in need of a transplant to viable organs, organ donation is compulsory. Exemptions are available on religious grounds; in order to attain one, an individual must file an affadavit with the Ministry of Health and, signed by tow ordained ministers.

First-trimester abortions are legal and easily obtained at walk-in clinics. Abortion in the third trimester is illegal. Second-trimester abortion is a "grey" area; the procedure is legal but there is a mire of red tape surrounding it, which includes mandatory grief counselling and registration in a "family planning" program. Many doctors are suspected to regularly underestimate the ages of fetuses when they know the mother wishes to terminate the pregnancy. Stem cells and organs are harvested from the aborted fetus for research purposes; after this, the mother may choose to have the remains ceremonially buried or cremated.

Euthanasia is legal if a patient requests it directly or through a living will and has been diagnosed as in the final stages (less than two weeks to live) of a terminal illness. This diagnosis must be anonlymously seconded by a doctor unfamiliar with the case. All doctors are required to review such diagnoses from time to time; their names are drawn semi-randomly, and files are sent to them with identifying information obscured. If a doctor recognizes the patient or doctor whose file he or she is asked to review, he or she is required by law disclose this and to decline the case.

Patients are allowed to refuse medical treatment that would prolong life at the expense of comfort. Doctors and caregivers are required to provide quality end-of-life care, including pain management, emotional/spiritual counselling, and a comfortable environment, to their dying patients.

In order to ensure that a citizen's wishes are respected, the government has instituted the Living Wills Program. Under this program, all adults are strongly encouraged to register a living will with the Ministry of Health and to update it annually. This living will states an individual's preferred course of medical treatment (euthanasia, end-of-life care without prolonging or shortening life, or indefinite prolongation of life) for a variety of conditionsm as well as grantng power of attorney to a spouse, living relative, friend, or lawyer. Living will registration forms and free counselling are available at all places of worship and public libraries.

Economy

Due to intense taxation and strict labour and environmental regulations, Academe's economy has become completely socialized, with personal and corporate taxes at 100%. .

The largest industry is the information technology sector. Government spending priorizes health and education: Lifelong health care and education up to the fourth year of university are provided to all citizens and landed immigrants free of charge. Welfare and old age pensions are generous. A massive public transit system including monorail systems in the largest cities is constantly undergoing renewal.

Energy prices are high due to bans on oil-drilling in national parks on the construction of new dams on federal land. To avoid an energy shortage and the possibility of rotating brown-outs, the government of Academe has initiated several projects: Wind farms on South and Lost Islands; financial incentives to install rooftop windmills and gardens; and the Procrast's Mandated National Austerity Program (PM NAP)whose aim is to encourage businesses and private citizens alike to reduce their use of electricity by 30% over three years.

The minimum wage in Academe is FG 12.50, having been increased by 25% over the last year.

Despite high wages, strict labour and environmental regulations, and high energy prices Academe aims to attract foreign investment with its highly-educated work force, easy availability of advanced communications technology, and a very high quality of life.

Government waste is estimated to be in the billions, and unemployment hovers near 10 percent.

Environment

Academe is renowned for its near-pristine environment, which its government and citizens alike guard jealously. The Government of Academe has introduced strict environmental laws for corporations and individuals, programs which encourage reduced energy consumption and the production of wind energy, and a massive public transit system.

Academe's isolation, its bamboo forests, and its mild climate combine to produce some spectacularly bizarre animals. Perhaps the most notable of these is the research assistant (adiutrix exquisita), academe's national animal. This pale, timid creature, whic makes its home in the Groves of Academe, usually spends its time eating, sleeping, playing games, and gazing in wonder at its enormous navel. This routine is sporadically interrupted by frenetic bursts of solitary, sisyphean hard work in underground burrows; these often last several days without breaks even for rest or grooming. The research assistant startles easily. If disturbed during a work phase, it may exhibit signs of panic: Disorientation, fainting, aggression, and prolonged fits of weeping. Although a. exquisita is a protected species, there is a small black market for its tiny brain, which is considered by many South Islanders to be a tasty delicacy.

Academe is actively engaged in the exchange of national animals and zoological curiosities with other nations. A pair of cute fuzzy puppies (catella dulciselanita), the national animal of Smukkeland, were recently exchanged with Queen Smukke for a pair of research assistants. To the surprise of Academian scientists, the cute fuzzy puppies consorted not with one another but with a colony of wild research assistants. The offspring of these unions, a bizarre-looking species known as adiutrix exquisicana (colloquially, "research assistantdogs"), has been problematic both for the local environment and for neighbouring ranchers, as a. exquisicana is a predatory animal with a large appetite and no natural predators. Resisting requests from both ranchers and environmentalists to eradicate the species, the government has isolated the research assistantdogs in wildlife preserves where they can be observed by biologists.

Fast Facts

• The official language of Academe is Tour Ivoirien.
• The title of the elected leader of the Academe government is Procrast. The current Procrast of Academe is Ina Tion, an ex-linguist from the University of South Island.
• The five islands of the archipelago of Academe are Northy, South Island, Lost Island, Easter Island, and Central Island.
• The capital city of Academe is Robarts, a city on the Eastern shore of Central Island, known for a predominance of the brutalist architectural style.
• Nearly a third of the nation's inhabitants live in Robarts.
• Academe is a member in good standing of the United Nations.
• The government's largest spending priorities are health care, education, medical research, and public transit.
• Academe has no military.
• Academe has only 20 police officers per 100,000 population.
• Academe has nearly five thousand teachers and fifteen thousand medical doctors per 100,000 population.

Cabinet Members

• Procrast: Ina Tion

• Minister of Art & Culture:
• Minister of Citizenship & Immigration:
• Minister of Ethics, Spirituality, & Religion:
• Minister of Education, Science & Technology: Lux Sapiento
• Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, & Energy:
• Minister of Finance & Revenue:
• Minister of Gaming & Recreation: A. Atanarjuat
• Minister of Health & Medical Services:
• Minister of Justice & Rehabilitation:
• Minister of Social Services & Welfare:
• Minister of Transport: