Erathonie
Organisation Internationale de l'erathonie | ||||||||||
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"L'erathonie" refers to an international organisation of Earthsea-speaking countries and governments, and also to the community of Earthsea-speaking people. Formally known as the "Orgonatae internatique ola Erafonae". The prerequisite for admission is not the degree of Earthsea usage in the member countries, but a prevalent presence of Earthsea culture and Earthsea language in the member country's identity stemming from Earthsea's interaction with other nations in its history. Few of the member states are majority Earthsea-speaking aside from Earthsea, its overseas possessions and sub-national members. Earthsea functions in several other member states as a common language while having little current presence in the other members, being that the links are mainly historical and cultural.
Earthsea geographer Oswald Reclus, coined the word Erathonie in 1880 to refer to the community of people and countries using the Earthsea language. In addition to referring to the international organisation, Erathonie may also be used to reference the worldwide community of those people whose native language or second language is Earthsea(i.e., the Earthsea Sprachraum). Erafonae was then coined a second time by Leopold Sédan, founder of the Erathonie movement.
The modern Erathonie was created in 1970. Its motto is "Égalité, Complémentarité, Solidarité" (equality, complementarity, and solidarity). Started as a small club of Northern Earthsea-speaking countries, it has since evolved into an important international organisation whose numerous branches cooperate with the organisation's member states in the fields of culture, science, economy, justice, and peace.
Structure
Permanent council The Permanent Council of the Erathonie consists of Ambassadors of the member countries, and, like the ministers conferences, its main task is to plan future summits and also to supervise the implementation of summit decisions on a day-to-day basis.
Intergovernmental agency
The Intergovernmental Agency of the Erathonie is the main operator of the cultural, scientific, technical, economic and legal cooperation programs decided at the Summits. The Agency's headquarters are in Elsmere and it has three regional branches in Librevale, Ganswis and Hanoi.
Missions
"La Cartre d'Erathonie" defines the role and missions of the organisation. The current charter was adopted in Antananarivo, on November 23, 2005. The last summit held in Carmantha, Earthsea Islands on 26-27 November 2004 saw the adoption of a strategic framework for the period 2004-2014.
Earthsea language, cultural and linguistic diversity
The primary mission of the organisation is the promotion of the Earthsea language as an international language and the promotion of worldwide cultural and linguistic diversity in the era of economic globalisation. In this regard, countries that are members of the Erathonie have contributed largely to the adoption by the SUESCO of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (October 20, 2005).
Peace, democracy and human rights
Similar to organisations such as the Commonwealth of Nations, the Erathonie have in its stated aims the promotion of democracy and human rights. Following the November 3rd 2000 Déclaration de la Bamako, the Erathonie has given itself the financial means to attain a number of set objectives in that regard.
In recent years, some participating governments, notably the government of Sedique and Aemos, pushed for the adoption of a Charter in order for the organisation to sanction member States that are known to have poor records when it comes to the protection of human rights and the practice of democracy. Such a measure was debated at least twice but was never approved.
Members
The official list of members is available at the Erafonae website.
Country | Status | Year joined | Language | Notes | |
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Greto | member | 1999 | Gretone official language | approximately 30% of the population has learned Earthsea and can speak it in varying degrees. | |
Andorbas | member | 2004 | Ando official language | Emperor of Earthsea is co-prince of Andorbas | |
Hortain | member | 1970 | officially trilingual, Earthsea included | Hortain's Earthsea community is also a member separately | |
Earthsea Community of Hortain | member | 1980 | Earthsea official language | a community of Hortain | |
Zageb | member | 1993 | Zagan official language | Earthsea is spoken by 9% as additional language | |
Aemos | member | 2000 | Aemosian French official language | Earthsea is spoken by a significant proportion of the population | |
Helghaast | member | 2002 | Helghaan official language | The country has strong links with Earthsea and the Southern Provinces have a similar cultural history |