Billopesha

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The Democratic Republic of
Billopesha
billopesha.jpg
Flag of Billopesha
National motto: "Through Sense We Prevail"
National anthem: "On Billopeshian Ground"
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View larger image

Region Rineu
Capital Billopec
Largest City Billopec
Population 115 145 858 (6th April 2007)
Suffrage All citizens aged 18 or over
Official Language(s) English (main), Latin,

Aenbreannec, Beluwreng

Government
- Prime Minister
- President of the PR
Constitutional Republic
Aaron Thorne
Harry Redway
Formation
- Billopeshian State
- Under Roman Occupation
- Split into East and West Billopesha
- Reunited
- Republic


563BC
41BC-288AD 407-411AD
1746
1772
2006

ISO Nation Code BIPA
Currency connaro (CONN)
Time Zone (UTC+5)
• Summer (DST) RST (UTC+6)
Internet TLD .bia
Calling Code +229
National Symbols
 • Sport
 • Animal
 • Fruit
 • Flower

national tennis
gecko
apple
bluebell
UN Status member
Info: NationStates NSEconomy Pipian NS Tracker XML

Billopesha (pronounced 'Billowpeesha', officially the Democratic Republic of Billopesha) is a state located among a collection of islands called The Confederates which make up part of the region of Rineu. It is the second largest country of the islands and consists of a main section on one island and three smaller islands in the northern region. In relation to other countries, the Frissian Islands are to the east, the Republic of Bironta to the south and the Empire of Hontock to the west. The islands are located near the mainland coastline that lies to the east with the vast Cordial Ocean to the far west. Off the west coast of the main island is the Golden Bay which is shared with Hontock.

Billopesha is a member of the Silvereye and holds the seat to the 'Grand Stage of Politics' which gives the nation high prestige. Billopesha is a significant historical country as it was the first state to be established on The Confederates, making it the ancestor of all the other four nations on the islands. It's capital, Billopec was the first city to be founded on the islands and is an historical world city. It has also been a member of the Justice Alliance since 1972. In the past, the country has established a grand empire, been a subject to the Roman and Tullowtan Empires and suffered during a number of wars. Billopesha has a infamous rivalry with its neighbour, Hontock, which has lasted over 2000 years.

Today, Billopesha is a parliamentary republic, but has only recently abandoned it's constitutional monarchy. The last monarch was Lord Richard VI who was replaced in 2006 by Prime Minister Aaron Thorne. Since then, Billopesha has joined the United Nations and the Republican Federation and has two Developed Productive Colonies (DPC's) located in the developing countries of Derenny and the Frissian Isles.

Name

The word "Billopesha" derives from a very ancient form of Latin meaning "modest culture" (Billo-pesha). The name was given by King Oliver Billopec who founded the country in 563BC who named it, referring to their own family name "Billopec" which similarly means "modest people" (Billo-pec). This refers back to the Billopec Family from Kenacirron.

When Billopesha formed it’s own language, Beluwreng, Billopesha was translated as "Beunaspotea" (pronounced 'Beeownusputeea'). Although this was never officially used, many of the indigenous natives referred to it as that name.

As The Confederates were once all owned by Billopesha, they were all once known as the Billopeshian Isles. This name has never been used since the formation of the other Confederate nations. The same situation was applied for the people of the Confederates, who were also collectively known as 'Billopeshians'. This label, though, has remained and is still considered valid as all native Confederate people were Billopeshians, but the reference is discouraged so is rarely used.

History

Main article(s): History of Billopesha

Parts of Billopesha’s active history can be seen in many places in Rineu. The earliest proof of human inhabitancy of the country was dated to around 170 000BC when human remains were uncovered. From there, a primitive culture formed. The country was established soon after The Confederates were discovered in 563BC by the Billopec Family when Oliver Billopec founded the settlement of Billopec and in 558BC, formally established the state. The indigenous natives were quickly displaced as the Billopeshian state expanded across all the islands.

King Oliver then formed the Billopeshian civilisation. Its languages were Belluwreng (writing) and Aenbreannec (speaking) and believed in the religion of Guduffa, one of the first religions to believe in one God. As Billopesha’s military power was weak, they were unable to stop the uprising in the Hontopeshian Revolution (207BC) where the Empire of Hontock was formed and Billopesha lost much of its territory. Billopesha’s military power grew, with a new rival at its borders, leading up to the Honto-Billopeshian War (173 – 168BC), which began with the loss of the region of Bironta. The war, which Billopesha won, and the Silvereye Revolution of 171BC saw the start of the Billopeshian Empire but the loss of much of its original territory with the formation of Bironta.

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Ruins of an ancient Billopeshian town.
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In 41BC, the Billopec Family merged with the Roman Imperial Family to form the Billopeshus Family. The Billopeshus Family subsequently made the Billopeshian Empire part of the Roman Empire and expanded through the Confederates until 288AD, when a rebellion ended the Roman Occupation. From there, the Billopeshian Empire expanded greatly and spread into mainland Rineu where it established their cultural mark there. Billopesha became a powerful, wealthy nation with a strong economy and miltary force.

It then, again, became part of the Western Roman Empire (407 – 411AD) when Contantine III inherited the throne. But Constantine's short tyrannical rule brought an end to the Billopecian Empire and brought Billopesha into a dark age. It suffered in the Tullowtan War (677-685AD).

Billopesha then had a revival in power when it joined a crusade to the Holy Land in 1223. The crusade proved more than successful when Billopesha took over Jerusalem and soon expanded to Antioch and and Damascus. It defeated the Turks and made a grand alliance with the Byzantine Empire (whose imperial families were related), before aiming towards the east. It was initially defeated by the Mongols who severely halted the empires expansion but soon gained superiority in 1256. The empire expanded to Samarkand where Billopesha made it a leading trade city. The was a Royal Crisis which lasted from 1304 - 1327. The empire lasted until 1346, when the Black Death hit the empire. The empire was weakened and then the empire was taken over by the Turks and the Mongols.

Since then, the nation has been effected by the Billopeshian Civil War (1746 – 1772) and, more recently, the Twenty-Two-Year War (1972 – 1994) against Hontock. Kings ruled it until 170BC, Emperors until AD832 and then Lords. In 2005, a small-scale conflict broke out between the Imperialist Enterprise and the Republican Federation in the Political War. The Republican Federation won and the monarchy was abolished, replaced by a constitutional republic.

Government and Politics

Main article(s): Politics of Billopesha

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Billopeshian Seal.
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In November 2005, the monarchy was abolished after over 2500 years of being established. Lord Richard VI voluntarily abdicated after a war between democracy and imperialism so the Billopeshian Senate then passed through a referendum which saw the beginning of the republic. It was then in May 2006 when the Billopesha was put under the Silvereye Constitution by the Grand Council of Principal Order, which was approved and a constitutional republic was officially declared.

Political System

The system of government in Billopesha is uniquely set up in an unusual way compared to other governments. To begin with, the system is mostly governed by the Silvereye and the political ideologies of Acumism. It would therefore be easier to read the article on the Silvereye before reading this section below.

See also: Silvereye

The government has three branches:

  • Legislative
    • The Silvereye Grand Council of Principle Order (GCPO) that has the power to make laws that are approved by the Grand Academies and the members of the Silvereye, which includes the National Parliament.
    • The Prime Minister who is able to formulate bills on Municipal Law with the advice of the National Cabinet of Improvisation, which are passed down to be approved by the National Parliament.
    • The National Parliament that consists of the Government Senate and the People's Representatives who have the power to make and pass laws as well as engage in international diplomacy and impeach officials.
  • Executive
    • The Prime Minister who decides how to administer and enforce the Municipal Laws while being head of the Cabinet who he or she appoints from the Senate.
    • The Cabinet deals with carrying out actions of enforcing the constitutional laws nationally.
  • Judiciary
    • The Silvereye judges how to institute law according to the Silvereye Constitution created by the GCPO. They elect all judges who are part of either of the two courts; the Principal Court of Judgement and the National Municipal Court. The judicary only anawers to the GCPO, not the government.

The most powerful constitution in Billopesha is the Silvereye Constitution which states all laws except the Municipal Laws and is organised by the GCPO. The highest national constitution is the Constitution of Billopesha which includes the Municipal Laws. This constitution is subject to review and change by the Senate and the laws can be overturned by the judicial branch depending on their Foundational Support.

To see what the Silvereye Constitution and the 'Municipal Laws' involve, see the Silvereye.

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Aaron Thorne is the current Prime Minister of Billopesha and has been since May 2006.
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In Billopesha, the Prime Minister is both the Head of State and the Head of Government who is head of the Cabinet and the National Parliament. The Prime Minister is also the Mayor of Billopec, Billopesha's capital, which shows that the nation's capital is the main base of power. The Prime Minister is elected by the people of Billopesha at a general election which is held every five years. There is theoretically no maximum to how many terms a PM can stay in office but a vote of no confidence would take place if Parliament believed it was time for the person to step down.

The National Parliament is a bicameral legislature with a Government Senate of 450 members as the lower house and a People's Representatives of 532 members as the upper house.

Billopesha runs with a multi-party representative democracy. In a general election, there are a number of candidates for Prime Minister who each belong to their own political party. In the election, the public directly vote in the candidate of their choice through a preferential voting system. The parties are each trying to get a majority of seats in the Government Senate; parties do not own seats in the People's Representatives. The number of seats allocated to each party is decided by proportional representation where each party gets a number of seats in relation to the number of votes they received. Each party leader then appoints a member of their party to each of the seats.

The People's Representatives, as the upper house of the National Parliament, has the 'final say' on bills which are proposed. They do not have as much legislative power as the Senate does and cannot veto bills easily. The members of the People's Representatives each represent a constituency in Billopesha and are elected in by the public using the Single Transferable Vote system. They are in charge of local government and represent their people in Parliament. They do not officially belong to a particular party as their allegiance is to the people and so are independent. This means that when they vote on a bill, they don't have to vote along with a party as what happens in the Senate. There is a President of the PR who organises the house, represents it in the Cabinet and is second in line after the Prime Minister. He or she is elected by the the public every two years and also is in charge of Public Relations with the government (conveniently abbreviated to PR as well).

Following the May 8th 2006 general election, the current Prime Minister of Billopesha is Aaron Thorne who belongs to the Central Acumist Party. The CAP therefore holds a majority in the Government Senate. The current President of the PR is Harry Redway who was elected by the public on April 10th 2003. Another election is due on April 12th 2007.

To see a diagram showing the government system, click on this link.

Foreign Relations

Billopesha is very influential in The Confederates and has close relation with the other five countries. Billopesha is a member of the Silvereye which is the international organisation that joins Billopeshian politics profoundly with the other members, Bironta, Derenny and the Frissian Isles. Foreign relations have improved over the years as Billopesha had been seen as an imperial giant in the past. When the monarchy collapsed, Billopesha joined the Republican Federation which allied the nation to the other members further. Billopesha's closest ally is Bironta. Billopesha has now gained high recognition as an important nation in Rineu which exerts good influence on other nations.

Relations with Hontock, the only Confederate nation to not join the Silvereye, are as bad as they have always been. There is still a great rivalry between the two countries that can also be seen throughout the two country's history. Billopesha and Hontock are not unified in any way and are in fact unified against each other. Billopesha put through the creation of the Justice Alliance to combat Hontock's efforts to gain superiority in 1972. All the other Silvereye nations joined the alliance and collectively declared war. Hontock set up the Sharkcutter Union Corporation to combat the alliance.

Billopesha also has good diplomatic relations with countries outside of The Confederates. Being part of the Union of Rineu and the United Nations, Billopesha is attached to many other countries politically which has enables the country's influence to further widen towards the world stage.

Administritive regions

In Billopesha, there are 34 administrative regions which are further divided into 50 constituancies.

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Subdivisions of Billopesha.
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Geography

Billopesha is the second largest country of The Confederates after Hontock with a total area of 53 770 sq km and consists of a main section located on an island shared with Hontock and Bironta and three smaller islands, two located off the north coast and one to the north west, near the Hontockain coast. The main island is surrounded by the Cordial Sea to the north, east and west with the south side bordering Hontock and Bironta. Most of the country's industry is located in the south with major ports on the coast while rural areas are to be found in the north. Billopesha is also considered as the most environmentally stunning nation of The Confederates as well as ranking high in Rineu overall.

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Edge of the Golden Plateau in Billopesha.
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Billopesha consists mostly of lowland terrain with a small range of mountain to the east of the centre called the Yennetts. This highest mountain of the range is Mt. Orbi which is also the highest of The Confederates at a height of 2013 metres. The capital, Billopec, lies at south foot of the mountain. Billopesha is known for its lush Perresta Forest which is located to the north of the Yennetts and houses a great deal of wildlife including geckos that attract a number of tourists. There are a number of small lakes scattered around the flat grassland with other areas of high rocky hills. The main rivers and estuaries of Billopesha are the Tanii, Niktus, Roose and the Billopec Estuary. The Billopeshian coastline is mostly flat, allowing for a amazing display of long sandy beaches, mostly on the north coast, to form which have become a great tourist attraction. Another famous geographical feature is the very dry Golden Plateau which has its northern region located in the south of Billopesha. This shows a great diversity in the geographical features of Billopesha caused by its diverse climate.

Climate

The climate in Billopesha is very diverse which is caused by high exposure in the north west and low exposure and warm currents in the south east. There are three main types of climate that can be found in Billopesha. These three types divide the country into three sections and are described below:

  • Oceanic Climate - This type of climate is found in the north-west region of Billopesha where there is significant exposure from the cold north-west wind that comes from the North Pacific. This means the north-east has quite warm mild winters while having summers that are not hot. The seasonal temperatures are therefore quite consistent and rainfall is apparent at any point of the year, the wettest month generally being November and the driest being June. Mist and fog are very common along the west coast due to high humidity. Average winter temperatures range from 9 - 14°C and in the summer they range from 12 - 26°C.
  • Mediterranean Climate - This type of climate is found in a smaller area to the north-east where it comes into contact with warm currents from the south. This leads to very low rainfall and warm temperatures all year round. The area is protected from northerly winds by mainland Rineu to the far north. Average summer temperatures range from 12 - 18°C while summer temperatures range from 22 - 34°C. The highest temperature in the country was recorded here at 42°C.
  • Continental Climate - This leads to irregular rainfall and high evaporation rates, leaving land arid. This climate is what created the Golden Plateau in the south where temperatures are warm in the summer but cold in the winter, causing widespread frost despite low rainfall. There is a rainy season from March to May, but rainfall remains unreliable. Temperatures are a little less extreme on the coast and the warm summers attract many visitors. The average temperatures in the summer range from 23 - 29°C and in the winter the range is from 3 - 8°C. The lowest temperature in the country was recorded here at -9°C.

Cities and Urban Areas

Largest Cities

  • Billopec ~ 10 870 000
  • Rosebury ~ 8 200 000
  • Masilla ~ 5 450 000

Largest Urban Areas

  • Greater Rosebury ~ 9.23 million
  • Inner Billopec ~ 8.45 million
  • Outer Billopec ~ 6.15 million

Demographics

Population

Billopesha has a rapidly increasing population which is set at about 115 145 800 as of 6 April 2007. It is the second largest population of The Confederates after Bironta but the population is considered low compared to the other nations of Rineu. The population density is the highest of The Confederates with the most people living towards the middle of the country and in mostly suburban areas. Billopesha has an adult literacy rate if 98%, the highest on the Confederates which is related to compulsory education from the age of 4 - 18.

Migration and ethnicity

Billopeshian is known as a mono-cultural state and has a low ethnic diversity. This is due to strong nationalism from both the government and the public. The government strongly discourages migration from and into the country, disagreeing with multiculturalism as they go by the Acumist ideology which specifies that cultures shouldn't be mixed. Despite this, migration between The Confederates is very apparent. Anyone who wishes to immigrate into the country must go through extensive testing and agree to oblige with Billopeshian culture. This includes obliging with the Christian/Acumist religion and fluently knowing the English language. Immigrants urgently escaping from danger or depravation in another country are allowed to freely migrate into Billopesha's Developed Productive Colonies but must agree to return once they have no purpose anymore. Despite the apparent anti-multiculturalism, the people of Billopesha are known to be welcoming to those immigrants who are able to enter. Emigration is frowned upon with the government stating that any concerns should be put forward and will be gladly accepted.

Ethnic Group % of total
White Billopeshian 86%
White Birontain 7%
Mixed Race 4%
Mediterranean 2%
Oriental 0.6%
Black 0.4%

Language

Billopesha has three official languages which are nationally culturally accepted. The de jure official language is English which is spoken by 98.5% of the population, whether it be a first or second language. The language was introduced gradually during the 18th Century by English-speaking immigrants and was adapted into the Billopeshian culture. The other official languages are the native dialects of Belluwreng and Aenbreannec which are spoken by 38% of the population, either as a first or second language. These were the ancient languages spoken by about 86% of the population from the 5th Century BC to the 18th Century AD. Latin is another native language spoken mostly in ancient times and is mow only used for religious and cultural purposes, spoken by 1% of the population. It was the original language that was spoken by the Billopec Family who founded the nation so was very influential in the creation of the other native languages.

Religion

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The Rosebury Monastery is the largest in Billopesha.
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Historically, Billopesha has been a very religious nation with Roman Catholicism being the most prominent of all. This has been profoundly fixed into the culture with a collection of ancient Christian monasteries built around the country, which are still in use today. The native religion was Guduffa, a religion that was one of the first to believe in one God due to early inspiration from the east. It was then replaced by Christianity, which was introduced during the Roman Invasion in AD407 and became official in the 8th Century. There were no other religions which had an affect on Billopesha until recently, when Buddhism grew in popularity. This has then staged the beginning of the ideology of Acumism which has its own set of religious principles. Since it's formation in 2001, it has grown rapidly, presenting itself as a rival to Christianity. Religious tensions, though, are low due to the apparent harmony between the two ideologies and Christianity still remains the main religion of Billopesha.

Religion % of total
Christianity 44%
— Roman Catholic 35%
— Protestant 9%
Theosophy of Acumism 28%
Buddhism 17%
Other 4%
None 7%

Economy

There is a considerable amount of farming in Billopesha as most of the country is lowland countryside. Billopesha has a significant private sector where a growing industry is centred around the capital focusing mainly on automobile manufacturing, book publishing and soda sales. There is also an industry in food processing and textiles. Tourism is also a valuable source of the Billopesha’s income, as is gold, which is received from Derenny and made into jewellery etc. Billopesha is seen as the banking centre of The Confederates and it is the richest country on the island. The tax rate stays around 35% but it projected to increase rapidly.

Culture

National Anthem

Main article(s): On Billopeshian Ground

External Links


The Silvereye Confederates
SilvereyeAcumism

Sovereign States: BillopeshaBirontaHontockDerennyBreckeFrissian Isles