Discoveria
Contents
Introduction
The Utopian Commonwealth of Discoveria, now part of the Airborne Defense Empire, is a collection of nations united as a single political entity by a common Constitution and an ideology of Science and Altruism. The main nation of Discoveria was officially founded in January 2006 by senior members of the Utopia Foundation, previously a secret agency of an unidentified Western government and now a monolithic scientific advisory agency to the Discoverian government.
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| Flag of Discoveria | |
| Motto: In Science We Trust, All Others Pay Cash | |
| No Map Available Yet | |
| Region | Airborne Defense Empire |
|---|---|
| Capital | Las Veritas |
| Official Language(s) | English |
| Leader | President Tim Rutherford |
| Population | c. 963 million |
| Currency | Disc |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Since the Utopian Commonwealth's recognition by the United Nations, Discoverian expansionists have gone on to establish among others the Principality of DiscLosure and the Community of DiscOrdant. These sister nations retain a measure of autonomy from the central Discoverian government.
Geography
Discoverians call their larger southern island 'The Immovable Disc' or Immod and the smaller northwest island 'The Lesser Disc' or LesseDis. It is not known if these islands had other names. Immod is a large, almost circular island whose main feature is a central, towering, dormant volcano, known as Mount Ordant. Lush green forest covers the volcano's slopes, then gives way to fertile plains and a coastline that is rugged and spectacular in the southwest but gentle and sandy in the northeast. LesseDis is somewhat hilly and greener than Immod, and mining surveys have shown the presence of modest natural mineral resources on the island.
The capital city of the Commonwealth is Las Veritas, situated directly north of Mt. Ordant on the coast of Immod. Las Veritas is a gleaming hypermodern city, constantly expanding outwards and upwards, a meticulously ordered panorama of glass and steel. Other major settlements include Port Logicus, ont he east coast of Immod; Digitalis, on the NE slope of Mt. Ordant; and Transparentum, the administrative capital of DiscOrdant.
Political Organisation
Discoveria's legislative branch is the General Assembly, a Parliament-like institution whose members are directly elected by voters to represent the nation's various departments. The General Assembly elects from within its own membership a President, who may serve a maximum term of 7 years. There are relatively few political parties in Discoveria; the three main ones are the left-wing Altruist Utopian Party, the conservative Independence Party, and the centre-left Democratic Movement.
The Utopia Foundation (UF) is a highly influential NGO whose stated aim is to guide policy decisions by providing relevant scientific research. Critics have claimed that its advice is highly politicised and restrictive of civil freedoms. The UF has been repeatedly investigated for suspected high-level collusion with government ministers and illegal financial ties to the AUP.
Since its establishment the Discoverian government has endlessly promoted the two official ideologies of science and altruism. Children begin learning the principles of secular morality in primary school classrooms, while the Office Of Technological Advancement regulates all scientific research and directs the efforts of scientists towards state-approved objectives.
Government
The current President is Tim Rutherford BSc. Phd., leader of the Altruist Utopian Party. The President has an official residence at No. 1 Meridian Row, Las Veritas South Zone, where he lives with his wife Flo and their son Zak.
The General Assembly of Discoveria meets in the Alethion, in LV Administrative Zone. The Alethion is a spectacular structure of chrome and tinted glass. Four large pillars of black granite support the walls and glass roof of the building, curving in towards the centre and almost meeting at a point directly above the Assembly Hall.
The main branches of government in Discoveria are: Office for Internal Stability - responsible for border security, law and order, and intelligence services. Office of Foreign Affairs - diplomatic services. Office for Regional Defence - in charge of the Discoverian military Office for Finance and Industry - regulates the economy Office of Public Services - regulates education, healthcare, and transport. Office of National Heritage - promotes culture and regulates environmental issues. Office of Technological Advancement - regulates scientific research.
Economy
Discoveria's economy is reasonably robust, with GDP valued (by NSEconomy Analysts Service) in excess of US$ 19.3 trillion (19.4 trillion discs) at time of publication. Notable features include the new biotech industries producing aquaponically grown cocoa and sugar beet, innovative IT companies, and the chemical industry. The economy is heavily reliant on imported energy resources, and Discoverian scientists are looking at tapping the undersea methane plumes underlying the treacherous Esteria Triangle northwest of Immod. Unemployment stands at nearly 10%, but social discontent has been muted thanks to the conditioning of Discoverian cultural attitudes towards the welfare state. Businesses are highly regulated and the political climate does not encourage competitive practices.
Military
Discoveria has a small but highly trained and lavishly funded military, totalling just under 500,000 service personnel. Recruits undergo a secondary military re-education program which instils principles that would otherwise be incompatible with the state policy of Altruism. The Commonwealth also has a small air force, with a major military airfield and naval facility at Fort Tungsten, East LesseDis. The ORD denies military possession of weapons of mass destruction, but continues to resist attempts at forcing disclosure of files relating to its nuclear testing program.
Culture
The Utopia Foundation generously supports study of the sciences in Discoveria, with a smaller share of funding going to the arts and humanities. Discoverians are generally highly educated and tend to be very involved in local politics. Several private media companies, among them DiscoTV and Utopia Broadcasting, operate within the country. The publishing sector is also flourishing, despite accusations of subversion surrounding some controversial works.
Tourists often visit the country to wonder at its natural landscape and environment. The central government has designated large areas of the spectacular south of Immod as Sites of Scientific Interest. These are protected from intensive urban development. Ecologists continue to study the unusual native wildlife and flora of the island.
National Symbols
The national animal, the lanternfish, is the subject of urban myth. The story seems to have been circulated by the Office Of National Heritage as a focus for patriotism. It is said that the first Utopia Foundation explorers, upon arriving in the Esterian region aboard the survey ship Darwin, sailed through the Esteria Triangle. Suddenly the ship began to ride lower and lower in the water, and the explorers realised they had to leave the sinking ship or perish. Fortunately all the crew were able to spread out into the many lifeboats on board, two men to a boat. As the Darwin slid to the depths of the sea, the survivors saw beneath their precariously rocking lifeboats groups of faint green lights, which seemed to be following the ocean currents southwards. Following the lights, the survivors eventually reached the northern shore of The Immovable Disc. The lights were attributed to an unusual species of lanternfish that thrived in shallow tropical waters. Eminent biologists no longer question the scientific veracity of this account for fear of arousing the wrath of the ONH.
