Kheion
| |
| Flag of Kheion | |
| Motto: Be all you can be. | |
| Kheion | |
| Region | Europe |
|---|---|
| Capital | Arden |
| Official Language(s) | English |
| Leader | Prime Minister Josh Saunders (FR) |
| Population | 153 million (after 10% rule) |
| Currency | Euro |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Contents
Geography
"The island jewel in the Eastern Sea"
- IN SHORT
Kheion is a small but beautiful island nation that is located in North-Eastern Europe*. It lies in the northern parts of Eastern Sea and the mouth of Myrthian Channel. Western Kheion has dense forests and hills and a lowland of plains and low hills, that is covered with the largest population centres in the nation. Central Kheion is characterized with a highland, or a minor mountain range called the Mercadias. Eastern parts of the island have a mixture of hills and lowlands of fertile soil and grasslands, a minor mountain range called the Silver Mountains and a fertile coastline with beautiful beaches. Kheion's highest point is Mt. Ephesos at 3541 meters above sealevel and it's lowest point is Crystal Valley at -19 meters above sealevel. The climate is mediterranean, similar to RL Northern Italy.
- NATURAL RESOURCES
Kheion has small amounts of iron, copper, silver, nickel and minor amounts of coal. Some oil and many natural gas pockets have been found in the seabed in close proximity to the coast.
National Factbook
- PEOPLE
Life Expentancy, Total population: 78.05 years
Total Fertility Rate: 2.16 children born/woman
Ethic groups: 92 % white, 8 % black, primary ethnicities are Anglo-Saxon and Nordic
Religions: 64% atheists, 30% protestants, 6% catholics
Languages: English
Literacy (people over 15), Total population: 99,99%
- GOVERNMENT
Country name: Long conventional form: Republic of Kheion Short conventional form: Kheion Abbreviation: RoK
Government type: Republic
Administrative divisions: Central administration controls the capital and the surrounding vicinity. The rest of the state is split into 24 other local administrations.
Independence: 15th of August, 1749
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: Chief of state and head of government: Prime Minister Josh Saunders.
Cabinet: Council of State (12 ministers), appointed by the Prime Minister and responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (250 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms). Latest election results: percent of seats per party, government parties mentioned first:
The Free Right (FR) (33%) Kheionists (nationalist conservatives) (11%) The Rural Voice (RV) (centrist party) (12%)
Enduring Development (ED, right-leaning liberal enviromentalists) (16%, in the opposition) Socialist Labour Party (SLP) (21%, in the opposition) Collectivist Future (CoFu, hardline socialists) (7%, in the opposition).
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court of Arden
Diplomatic representation in the European Affairs: Supreme Ambassador Kane Tienkim
- ECONOMY
GDP - real growth rate: 4,1%
GDP – per capita: € 35000
GDP – composition per sector: Agriculture: 4%, Industry: 27%, Services: 69%
Population below poverty line: 10,05%
Unemployment rate: 2,5%
Budget:
Revenues: 55,4% of GDP
Expenditures: 55,3% of GDP
Industries: Military industries, industrial & construction and mining machinery, medical technology, biotechnology, ships, motor vehicles
Agriculture – products: Wines, fish, fruits, wheat, beef, pork
Exports: 25,5 % of GDP
Imports: 25,2 % of GDP
Un-renewable energy sources:
Oil
Production: 2.356,000 bbl/day
Consumption: 8.796,500 bbl/day
Proved reserves: 7,194 billion bbl
Natural gas
Production: 37.6 billion cu m
Consumption: 37.33 billion cu m
Proved reserves: 1.006 trillion cu m
Imports: 1.5 billion cu m / year
Electricity production by source:
Nuclear: 67 %
Wind / hydro: 22 %
Natural gas: 11 %
Society: History and people
The Past and Recent
- THE ORIGINS
The island the oldest maps call Northfort, which today makes up the Republic of Kheion (RoK), was colonized by Gunnlandian, Great Brittanian and Scandinavian colonists during the early 17th century. The provincial capital of Arden was found in 1649, only months before a peaceful separation from colonial rule and a declaration of independence both occured. The nation was forced to become self-sustained, where it excelled quickly by concentrating on trading, banking and industrial innovation, becoming a central marketplace in the area within few decades. Hard-working and business-wise Kheionians attracted foreign interest, especially traders and industrial investments. Early Kheionians understood the value of a powerful defence after a series of pirate invasions into many coastal cities, and built a network of guard towers and forts along the coasts of the island. Always manned with the best soldiers, should they be Kheionians themselves or foreign mercenaries, and equipped with the best weapons of war, this defense proved worthy of all expectations and Kheion was made free to pursue prosperity and development.
- THE RECENT HISTORY OF KHEION
The Republic of Kheion hasn't always been a primarily right-wing nation. More than two decades ago Kheion was a welfare state of the Scandinavian type, with democratic socialists, farmers and leftists in the control, and rightists in the opposition. Taxes and unemployment were high, and the nation was very dependant on foreign imports, energy and investments.
- The beginning of the end for the Kheionian welfare state
Twenty-three years ago Kheion was struck with a depression of a historical magnitude. The welfare state had slowly been closing its doom as economic experts indicated, basing their views in the stiffness and stubborness of labor unions and overloading of the social services. This Great Collapse seemed to decapitate the whole welfare system. Huge amount of foreign investments were lost, hundreds of thousands lost their jobs and purchasing power, the healthcare and social service systems crumbled and gave in as the nation was buried in foreign debt.
- The Collapse and the domestic crisis
It all changed all most overnight. In panic, many Kheionians ran to the streets in search for answers. The Government had only empty answers, and in a week it resigned wholly. This act of desperation only fueled the fire which was engulfing the nation, as protests and riots escalated in every major city. Like in every similar situation, a few men rose through the ranks and into the spotlight.
The leaderless state was fighting for its survival. The Parliament was ravaged by intensive argues over who would rule next as the new Prime Minister. The beaten Labor Party was also in the clash - old mistakes where blamed on the old Prime Minister Cullins, as a new power figure, MP Jason Ashley, emerged. However, this political crisis gave strenght to the Conservative Party, who rallied behind their candidate, MP Mark Walker. Walker was on top, however, and would have become the new Prime Minister if not for a certain J.G. Ritter..
- The Nation Divides - The Assassination of Mark Walker and the Communist Uprising
As the arguing continued in the Parliament, riots in the cities intensified. Many people, who earlier had been very rational and somewhat indifferent about politics but now had lost their jobs and savings, were outraged and demanding action. As nothing was done by the Government, many of these angry people organized politically, either joining an already existing Party or creating one with others who had similar ideals. A never-seen-before rise of Communism could be seen and heard in the streets. The conservatives, and the ones who had survived the Collapse (and intended to keep their wealth) didn't stay passive, but rather got organized too as an answer to the power-mongering communists. Overall most of the people didn't react so politically - the average citizen of Kheion was rational enough to understand that inflammatory speech and rioting didn't help solve the already bad situation.
A month and a half had passed after the Black Day of the Collapse, when the Parliament, only nearly, had reached a decision of some sort. The Chairman of Parliament, decided to let the leader of the Conservative Party, Mark Walker to become the Prime Minister and choose the new Government. But as Walker was giving his speech of thanks and future plans to the Parliament, a tall, mysterious man rose from the public stands and with a swift, accurate aim, shot PM Walker to the head, killing him instantly. The shooter was Jonathan Gerard Ritter, a middleman of the Communist Party. Only seconds later, after shooting two random shots towards the seats belonging to the Conservative Party (shots hit no-one) he was shot by a security officer. The situation calmed as fast as it had began, but the effects were horrendous.
The Communist Party was been arming itself in secrecy constantly following the Collapse. It had also demanded the Parliament to let it in so it could take part in the political decision-making, but it had been soundly rejected - only they who had been voted into the Parliament were allowed to participate, and the Communist Party hadn't had a single member in the Parliament in years. This enraged the party leadership, and a vicious plan was laid - a plan that would change the face of the nation. The new party leader, Edward Greenwood, was the perfect icon for the party - this frantic but impressive person accumulated dissapointed souls under the leadership of the communists by the tens, even hundreds of thousands. By soon, the party had grown to a point where its leaders decided to act. The assassination of PM Walker was only the start. Everything had been primed by the communists who had allied themselves with the hardline socialists and centrists who in turn feared the possible new Government. The second move was the uprising.
to be continued..
Society
The community of individuals made true
- Social sense of responsibility - superseding the bureaucratic and unflexible social welfare
- Rational Relativism and Christianity - Securality vs. religion in Kheion
State
Ideologies
The face and driving force of Kheion
- CAPITALISM
Kheion's engine of success is its evergrowing, vibrant and innovative market economy. Only few regulations exist and those are mainly focused in protecting the rights of workers and the environment. Kheion's ability to compete globally is envied by other, more stagnant nations, especially by more socialist nations.
- LIBERALISM
Kheion's core is its people. The State is designed in a way that it minimizes its guardian status over citizens: the emphasis is put on continuous communication and notification, so that the people would be able to do the right choices in life without direct interference from the State.
- RATIONALISM
Kheion is very secular and meritocratic. Fanatic ideals have no place in Kheionian politics and the hiearchies in both corporate and public instances are expected to respect equality and common sense.
- RESPONSIBILITY
The freedoms the State gives to its citizens bring great personal responsibility as well. Everyone is expected to take care of themselves, although the upbringing and education of all children equally is viewed to be on the agenda of the State as well as the parents themselves. Be all you can be is the national motto for a reason. Even as the society is secural, it still retains a strong sense of protestant work ethics: a day's work is the road to salvation. Work isn't a value itself however, but all reasonable Kheionians rather strive to better themselves and their direct environment.
- UTILITARIANISM
Utilitarianism is a concept that appears especially in the legislation. It is the power that confronts Kheionian liberalism face-to-face and thus brings balance to the State and Society. For example euthanasia, death penalty and abortion are all legal. Death penalty is very utilitarian: whereas it could be said that it infringes upon the rights of the sentenced, it on the other hand removes a strain to society - an individual that couldn't be reintroduced into the population with any means possible.
Government
Small, centralized and effective
- Three layered system of administration: Parliament - Greater Districts - Local Committees
- Ministries
- Policies
- Legislation
- INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Kheion is a founding member of Free Market States (FMS) that is currently the most vigorous capitalist alliance in Europe*.
- PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY OF PRIME MINISTER JOSH SAUNDERS
Josh Saunders
Josh Saunders is a 34-year-old Master of Economics who was born in Westport. He is the only child of Dr. Maxwell Saunders, a well-known chief surgeon of Port Memorial hospital and Sarah Saunders, principal of Harton private school.
After graduating from Westport University with excellent grades and with already a wide range of experience in international trade, having participated in numerous private and public endeavours, 23-year-old Saunders landed a job as an special consultant of international business affairs from Above and Beyond Inc., a global developer of ICT (information and communications technology) solutions and consultation.
Saunders was promoted to Director of Business Development of A&B after working vigorously for seven years, and coincidentally joined the Free Right Party, the leading political entity in Kheion. None more than two years passed and Saunders was named the CEO of A&B, an event many thought to come too early for the then 32-year-old Saunders. The innovative, ambitious and determined man however choose to take on another path in life.
For two years he had risen through the ranks of Free Right very much like in A&B, gaining political prestige and credibility. He decided to run in the next Parliamentary Elections, aiming to become a prestigious Member of Parliament. He combined his position and status at that time to a daring campaign and after a struggle, achieved his goal and was elected. Labeled by his striking campaign, he was called the "Young Hotshot" by many of the other, older MPs from Free Right and other parties. Saunders, however, didn't seem to notice this - he was poised to advance.
Saunders joined the Committee of Foreign Trade, a relevant body within the Parliament. He left his position as CEO of Above and Beyond, but remained in the Board of Directors. After a year of serving as a MP, Saunders was able to achieve something no-one couldn't have thought possible.
Prime Minister Tom Hobbes had been in control of the Government for eleven straight years when he without any further notice made public his intentions to leave office and retire. Officially he claimed to have physical problems, which had harassed him since the almost-deadly car accident three years earlier. Hobbes however surprised the entire political spectrum when he announced to support the "Hotshot" Josh Saunders as his successor as the Chairman of Free Right and through that, Prime Minister of Kheion. With the help of this mind-blowing support, Saunders was able to defeat Nicholas Meyer, then Minister of Commerce and who many had predicted to be the certain successor of Hobbes, in the rally for the chairmanship. As Chairman of Free Right, with the support of the government coalition of Free Right, Rural Voice and Kheionists, his was elected Prime Minister in a single vote.
He has risen in a blaze of glory and only history will tell how far he will be able to reach.
The Special Features of Kheion
Business in Kheion
The backbone of Kheion's success
- History
- Andersen Plan: Companies as legal persons - teaching businesses to behave responsibly
- Large businesses - Kheion's international impact
- Small and medium businesses as the foundation of national economy
- GEC - an international success story
- K24 - Kheion's leading media corporation
- Parker-Fulcrum Group - an example of innovative and daring business management
Former Prime Minister Tom Hobbes's article about business in Kheion
Responsibilities of the European businesses
Business has never been better in Europe*. Profits are made like no tomorrow, and I can happily note the great impact free market has had in Kheion. I, like many others, believe that trade is the key to a peaceful Europe* and should be promoted constantly. But ever-growing economies and the ever-freeing trade create especially social problems. These must be dealt with before they threaten the flow of goods and services, and ultimately the way of life of the European* citizens. In this article I shed some light to policies that have made Kheion thrive and prosper under the years I’ve been Prime Minister.
Businesses have similar rights to normal people. Many, like I, support this, since a business that has its personal freedoms and rights like other persons, creates possibilities for many separate individuals to succeed in life with cooperation. Good business creates innovative and durable communities of hard-working, honest people. Business however, has its problems aswell. The inequality of people that “the invisible hand of capitalism” creates is perhaps the most noteworthy of these. Whereas Kheion for example strives to guarantee its every citizen with an equal basis to succeed in life, our system has its flaws as well, it doesn’t always work. (Nothing always does, so don’t believe the communists.) But when we think of the problems the institution of business or company has, we’re often reminded of the contradiction with its rights and responsibilities. Some say that businesses have the rights of men but not their responsibilities. It is in my view, and this is coming from a staunch supporter of businesses, that as we (as in the State and the Society) grant freedoms to individuals and coincidentally indoctrinate and teach them to function by certain, grantedly open, responsibilities, we should as well act similarly with businesses. If by law they are legal persons, then they should be held as such in every other instance.
I support freedoms, liberalism, in its every form, should they concern individuals or companies. However I also support a healthy sense of responsibility aswell. It is my view that you can have a lot of freedoms but still be responsible, to yourself and your environment, both society and nature. In Kheion, this forever war of liberalism, free market and responsibilities reflects on the whole nation and its society. My views might sound like I’m campaigning against the freedom of the market, but I see my views as an ambition to make businesses and people equal both in good and bad. It’s in the law books anyway, all around Europe*.
Kheion Defence Force
The defense of the homeland has always been a prime concern of all community-minded Kheionians, as such the Ministry of Defense currently receives 21% of total annual government budget. The large portion is also explained by the numerous threats that loom - the threats of socialism and communism are often used in the highest levels of political discourse.
- FIVE BRANCHES OF KDF
The peak of the chain of command is held by the High Command, that organises, coordinates and oversees all operations. It also controls the military satellites. KDF is separated into five sub-divisions, which are:
Marine Core, under the authority of Marine Command
Armor Core, under the authority of High Command
Air Force, under the authority of Air Command
Navy, under the authority of Naval Command
Special Forces, Rangers and SCO (Special Combat Operatives), under the direct authority of High Command
- THE PRIDE OF KDF: THE AIR/COASTAL DEFENSE NETWORK THANATOS
THANATOS has an important place in Kheionian military history. Its roots go back to the late 18th century, when early Kheionians built great defences along the coast in order to protect traders, industries and coastal cities from pirates and foreign invaders. Never has Kheion stopped developing its coastal defenses, and in the 1940s a new tier or a level of protection, the air defenses, were added. A substantial percentage of Kheion's defense budget goes into maintenance and development of the air and coastal defense network, which today fields a massive repertuary of hundreds of missile bases and thousands of mobile missile platforms. Facing multiple potential enemies, THANATOS of today has been designed to counter, in cooperation with KDF Navy, an invasion fleet of hundreds of ships at once. Only a foolish enemy commander would try to attack homeland Kheion without a massive superiority.
