Sacco and Vanzetti

Sacco and Vanzetti

Flag of Sacco and Vanzetti
Motto: Good people don't need laws to act responsibly
see below
Region	Anarchism
Capital	Huxley-on-Sea
Official Language(s)	Many
Leader	None
Population	More than two billion
Currency	None
NS Sunset XML

Overview: Geography & History

Presentation showing the various elements of the Commonwealth

Sacco & Vanzetti is a People's Commonwealth of islands and settlements stretching across two continents, currently with a combined total population of more than two billion.

The twin islands of Sacco and Vanzetti, as well as settlements in Kerla and First Outside, are in what has become known by some as the Greater Aperin continent but within the Commonwealth is referred to as Aperin. The archipelago known as The Malatesta Islands and settlements in Anarchy In Motion and The Wyrm Tribe are located in the tACA continent (now known as the geographic location of The Anarcho Communist Alliance).

In the 1960s forced re-settlement of much of the population of Sacco's capital city, Huxley-on-Sea, (formerly Port Huckslee) led to the major transportion to, and occupation of, a small chain of islands in the tACA continent.

However, the retention of historical, cultural and family links meant that when revolution came to the parent islands of Sacco and Vanzetti, it spread rapidly to the far-flung settlement. The citizens of the distant archipelago adopted the new name The Malatesta Islands and became equal partners in social and political organisation with their original home. More recently, a number of further settlements have occurred in exchanges within the tACA continent under a scheme known as The Peoples International Proliferation Agreement.

Location of two main islands in the Aperin continent

It was following these additions that the communes agreed they should choose a more appropriate title to represent the areas where their shared culture and history were prevalent. All settlements and islands voted in favour of being known under the umbrella name of The People's Commonwealth of Sacco & Vanzetti. The short form of the title is Sacco & Vanzetti, abbreviated to S&V, the ampersand denotes the difference between the Commonwealth and the two islands of the same name.

Classified by the United Nations as "Civil Rights Lovefest" the lush ancient forests are a particular draw for tourists - and to those who bring their minds as well as their cameras, the style of government (or non-government) is intriguing.

The 200-year known history of Sacco & Vanzetti includes long periods of colonial occupation and withdrawal, as well as attempts at corporate control, focused around plantations (tobacco - failed), mining (uranium - failed) and manufacturing (automobiles - failed).

During periods of external control much of the food for the peoples of the islands came from the sea, which was one of the key sources for the indigenous population even before the arrival of the first Spanish colonists. Little else is known of this "pre-history" period anc culture because of the extent of the destruction during the "Conquista Vacía".

tACA continent showing The Malatesta Islands

Sustainable fishing techniques and grounds have been developed alongside those of The Weegies, Free Outer Eugenia and Watfordshire.

Over two centuries the islands were held by the Spanish, the English, the French (briefly) and the Americans. The populace has been self-governing since the end of a bloody 15-year war of attrition against corporate control by motor giants the multi-national General Fjord company.

After the final withdrawal of the corporations, 18 years ago, the commonwealth was dogged by pockets of control by warlords, which took two years to eradicate. Although essentially anarchist in spirit for many decades, the understanding of the last pieces of the jigsaw of delegated control from the people downwards came from revolutionaries within Free Outer Eugenia.

The Ton Ton Macoute

A Ton Ton Macoute icon

The colonial history of Sacco & Vanzetti was marked by the establishment of an underground religious and political movement, centred around a creature which was known among the natives as the "Ton Ton Macoute".

Although little is known of this period, a few artifacts have been collected. The first example is a framed miniature, which may be a religious icon of some sort. The inverted Cross, "bloodheart". jungle background and the skeletal figures are images synonymous with the movement.

The second is one of the few surviving original documents. It is believed to be an invocation, perhaps chanted as a children's rhyme or even a prayer.

The third resembles a coin. However, there is no mention of such a coin in any historical studies concerning trade or currency and it is thought to have had a religious rather than a financial purpose. Experts suggest clues to the unravelling of the mystery of this token may be found in the single recovered sheet of a diary kept by an English explorer who went missing more than a century ago. The full text of these two pages is reproduced below.

The Legend of the Rule of Three

The following text is an extract taken from the last entry of the recovered journals of gentleman anthropologist Jonathan Forshaw who came to the islands in the 1890s to study the traditions and customs of the indigenous population.

The natives in the interior of these islands are a study to behold. They appear all deference and submission (not but a single man appears unstooped whenever I am in their presence). But spite all this nodding at command their movement to fulfill orders is sluggish and hints even at disrespect.

None talks but that you question him direct and even then will not look you in the eye, as a man would, but shifts his feet and murmurs into his chest until you charge him to “speak up, speak up”, as you would a child.

A children's rhyme or prayer

It is only through the most painstaking and, it must be admitted, frustrating persistent questioning that anything of the heathen traditions of these savages can be unravelled. More than once I have wished a company of King’s Own Highlanders was at hand to whip the history out of them.

(Although, of course, it is many years since the Highlanders have marched proud here, the islands now run by some despotic foreigners, not much better than the natives lounging in the villages).

Imagine my delight then that in this present sortie amidst these villages I have drawn my most valuable find to date. A quaint artefact no less! And the man who brought it to me must have been in rum as he explained the full meaning of the trinket he brought.

It seems it is something known as a Rule of Three – a tribal miscreant, guilty of some misdemeanours in a village, would, one day, find such a token bestowed upon him. (The first may come as a gift, or handed by an elder) It is looked on as somewhat of a warning.

Now, if the miscreant does not heed the first token and persists in his ways, a second will arrive, this time as if by accident, jumbled in his bedrags or slipped unseen into his pocket, or his bowl of soup or such.

This second is a warning that the third token, called, I believe, a “Ton Ton Macoute” is on its way to him and he must flee, fly and runaway, for the third will mean his death.

Of course I was delighted that I should actually have got my hands on one of these trinkets as these islands have been most tedious in their lack of fruitfulness for the educated historian.

A "Rule of Three"

For weeks I had found nothing of note that could sit as an exhibit upon my return to the civilised world and then, having been given one of these trinkets by the old man, it was but the next day when I chanced upon a second that had somehow become wrapped in my linen.

It is with some impatience that I now seek for a so-called “Ton Ton Macoute” for that will give me the set of three and as marvellous a collection as these tawdry islands are likely to spew forth.

Tomorrow I shall find and question this old man most persistently – tonight I have finished my journal entry and shall walk out into the jungle for a spell before settling into my tent.

Lies, Half-truths & Pirate Publishing

The only extensive document related to the Ton Ton Macoute is a discredited, badly-written, badly-spelt, poorly-translated children's book called La Temps des Passions (sic). This was published by the Shiree Pirate Press, based in Watfordshire, and claimed to be a collaboration between the Ton Ton Macoute and The Avatarist.

Even these tacky and untrustworthy products are now extremely rare. They appear to have no collectible value and the primitive printing process used in their production made the pages unsuitable as firelighters.

An example of one of the scrawled and childish illustrations and a short extract from the text is provided below:

But Lorna knew her god was not here. No almighty of the meek dare nuzzle amidst the brimstone passion of these Zephaniah peoples. No New Testament compassion among these worshippers. Here was all blood and revenge and slaughter. Here was a God of passion and fear. Her words murmured the rituals of a lesser god. Deep inside, her heart trembled to the passion of a greater faith.

A Living Legend

Suggestions that the faith is still practised today are met with instant and uproarious laughter by any citizens who are asked about the contemporary evidence of its existence which springs into the public domain from time to time.

Nonetheless, such evidence is persistent. Copies of leaflets similar to the torn sheet shown below are often seen being passed around at demonstrations (usually sparked by United Nations proposals).

People

The Commonwealth enjoys a diverse racial and cultural mix, mainly due to the number of occupations over the centuries by different colonists who brought their own "under-classes" as either bonded or wage-bonded servants.

When not partying or working (Sacco & Vanzettians usually have two regular areas of work, one of which is manual) they generally enjoy pondering pure mathematics as a pastime, which is probably why chess is played throughout the Commonwealth.

Much of the partying expertise comes from natural inclination and the close influence of the peoples of Watfordshire.

Media

Citizens throughout the Commonwealth share a love of media of all sorts. The absence of licensing controls brings forth a rich crop of new products almost daily, most of which run for a short period as the people running them find something else to do with their leisure time.

Over the past decade a significant movement has grown in favour of the establishment of more regular media channels and the communes have accepted that activity in any one of these can be considered as meeting work requirements. The impact of this has been twofold. Firstly, the newspaper The People’s Blast, the radio station S&V Islands Radio FM and the television station S&V Satellite TeeVee are seen as the base media for the Commonwealth. Secondly, the establishment of these products means others can justifiably describe themselves as pirate products, a branding which offers a great deal of attraction to readers, listeners and viewers.

The People’s Blast began publishing in the very first days of revolution and is still a much-loved newspaper, as can be seen by the constant protests and outcries over its content, its style, its production and distribution, its staff and, most of all, its editor.

In the early days of regular publication, after the revolution, the editorship was rotated among the staff on a monthly basis. However, many found they could not face the mountains of mail, telephone calls from irate readers and arguments whenever they were out in public.

The rotation system was replaced by the election of a permanent editor.

Bluff, opinionated and outspoken, Johnny Kubrick was elected, the staff believing his iron nerve and thick skin would serve him well in the position. Kubrick’s other place of work was a pig farm and it was commonly said that he had acquired characteristics similar to his charges, particularly when debating issues.

But in less than a year, he had quit the post and moved to a remote mountain community to keep bees and to study their community spirit.

For many months The People’s Blast ran without an editor, which caused an even greater furore as readers felt there was not a proper point of contact for them to air their views.

In the end, a committee of readers and staff was able to persuade Xi Chunder to become editor. Chunder had been, and still is, first mate of the trawler Daisymast, a boat renowned for its long service at sea, calling in to harbour only to drop its catch before returning to the deep blue. Fifteen years later Chunder is still editor. Regular readers and the staff are united in their condemnation of rumours that Chunder was lost overboard in particularly bad weather 13 years ago.

A phantasmagoria of music, debate, phone-ins, plays, quizzes and quick quips, S&V Islands FM Radio is the delight of most citizens. Many a street café debate has been sparked by conflicting views about whether the station is a parody or a genuine debacle of taste, common sense and decency. Many a late-night brawl has ended with the issue still unsettled.

Perhaps its greatest star is presenter Roo McGruder. Her claim to broadcasting fame is based not only on 27 years of being on air but also that she once completed a mighty 72 hours of non-stop live radio. Many listeners who witnessed the event contend she was more comprehensible after three nights without sleep than she has been throughout the rest of her career.

Another favourite slot is Philosophy Hour featuring Big Red and Nuke War Dave. The conspiracy theory debate concerning Karl Marx as the love child of Pocahontas and Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, still defies all chronological and genetic fact to top the bill of the greatest number of listeners in the station’s history.

Bizarrely, S&VSTV began life as a unit within the Buenaventura Durruti Academy of Streetfighting, alongside the shadowy Angry Brigade and Project Mayhem. It was the brainchild of media expert Nando Santa, who believed satire would become the post-modern instrument of revolution.

As the channel came together, it grew rapidly beyond its original concept and became an independent service months before it was on air.

The first show, broadcast throughout the continent, won plaudits from many peoples despite initial technical problems which brought the channel to a halt for a number of hours.

Resource Allocation

Proportions of resources allocated in S&V

Trading, in terms of exchanges of goods based on a "value" system, does not exist. Items, from food to manufactured goods, are produced and distributed according to requirements. Production levels are geared to meet expected need and surplus production is seen as unnecessary waste.

The figures in the chart are a combination of the amount of citizens' time allocated to projects during an average week and the physical resources required to meet the planned delivery of services.

High-quality educational facilities, opportunities and services - especially in the context of life-long learnin - have always been a high priority throughout the Commonwealth. However, surveys have shown that the communities in the "pocket cultures" (see below: PIPA and IPPA) allocate slightly fewer resources to this area.

It is likely that this is linked to the voluntary population control exercised under the terms of the two agreements and children in these areas (sometimes the entire commune if there is a high proportion of children) from these areas are often spend the early learning years with relatives or comrades on one of the larger islands.

The pocket cultures also account for higher allocations under the "Admin" and "Equality" due to their particular structure.

Fishing Fleets

The Commonwealth has four distinct fishing fleets: the Southern Fleet, based in Vanzetti, the Northern Fleet and Western Fleet, based in Sacco, and the Malatesta Fleet.

The Southern Fleet uses the three village ports which comprise The Martyrs at the most southerly tip of the island of Vanzetti and maintains fish nurseries off the western coast close to the town of Lexington and another along the eastern coast.

Not surprisingly, given that crews are mostly Vanzettians, the fleet has a perhaps undeserved reputation for aloofness. Although historically they have shown comradeship throughout the Commonwealth, their choice of ports in the coldest, most windblown villages is often seen as a statement of their rugged individuality.

The Northern Fleet, operating from Meltzer-super-Mare on Sacco, maintains fish nurseries to the east of the island. As it is the fleet most commonly used by overseas travellers it is renowned for the easy-going nature of most crews – and, a little unfairly, is thought of as the soft option for service.

The Western Fleet, operating from the main city of Sacco, Huxley-on-Sea, does not currently maintain a nursery, which is a source of much debate and contention among the various communes of the Commonwealth.

Proud of its regular contact with dignitaries, politicians, military personnel and diplomats, crews of the Western Fleet play down an incident in which they faced off a Ruhr taskforce and the subsequent sinking of Ruhr aircraft carrier Rapier. One experienced female trawler captain shrugged off the incident as “just bad driving”.

The Malatesta Fleet is organised with mixed crews from all four islands. Some communes are concerned that this arrangement leads to more debating than fishing. However, citizens are working to identify problems and find solutions.

Flags and Emblems

Although most citizens profess to have little or no interest in the "impedimentia" of "nations", they seem remarkably fond of flags and will concoct a new emblem for almost any group, collective, commune or neighbourhood.

Some examples above are:

• The first is the flag flown by the trawler Daisywheel - since its exchange with the Ruhrian taskforce.

• The second and third are the emblems of two of the organisations run from the Buenaventura Durruti Jungle Academy of Streetfighting, respectively being Project Mayhem and The Angry Brigade.

• The fourth flag below is the first emblem adopted by the communes to represent the Commonwealth. However, it was decided upon reflection that it was unsuitable as a flag, mainly because it was a photograph of a sculpture. A period of change and experimentation ensued, until, eventually the current black Fivestar arrangement on an orange field was agreed.

Treaties

As well as being members of CACE and IFTA, the Commonwealth has pioneered two special agreements, both aiming to provide a mechanism for the productive diversification of cultures and interactions between peoples around the world.

The first, the International Peoples Proliferation Agreement (IPPA), was offered to members of CACE. The second, the Peoples International Proliferation Agreement (PIPA), was offered to members of the Anarcho Communist Alliance.

Even though the take-up of both was limited, together they account for a number of the Commonwealth's smaller settlements.

International Peoples Proliferation Agreement

I. Definitions

A “pocket culture” is a settlement of no more than 500,000 peoples in a designated area set aside by a host peoples. The area set aside should be suitable to achieve self-sufficiency for the settling culture.

II. Aims

The IPPA aims to enable peoples from around the continent of Aperin to exchange land in order to establish “pocket cultures” that are geographically diverse but which remain culturally intact. The Agreement is aimed specifically at members of the Coalition of Anti-Capitalist Economies who have established centres of population within the Aperin map. Any similar agreements between non-CACE members or between a CACE member and a non-CACE member are not covered by the IPPA. The proliferation of peoples aims to provide a standard for the dispersal of political and cultural structures and governance in pockets throughout the continent. This is to ensure the continuance of the political, socio-economic and cultural aspects of these populations in the face of war, natural disaster, upheaval and acts of God. It further allows interaction between cultures which are currently separated by the sheer size of the continent.

III. Mechanics

Signatories will usually be in pairs where there is an agreement between two peoples to exchange land for the establishment of a pocket culture. However, more extended exchanges may take place where there exists agreement between three or more peoples to each provide space for each of the other signatories. Upon agreement of the size of land to be exchanged the host peoples will immediately withdraw from any settlements or other such infrastructure within the designated area. The size and resources of this land should be appropriate to the aim of self-sufficiency for the pocket. A “cultural barrier” around the site of the pocket will be agreed in order to prevent settling cultures and host cultures from dilution through contact. This does not prevent distinct interaction where required but does ensure cultural integrity.

IV. Restrictions

Although the settling peoples will have total autonomy within their pocket, the settlers and their parent culture agrees that the pocket shall not contain, develop, service, store, manage, maintain or promote any military capability defined as air, sea, land, orbital, space or special forces. The settlers and their parent culture agree not to develop, construct, plan or impose heavy industry, energy usage, mineral acquisition, polluting products or by-products, or any activities which cause unsustainable damage to flora or fauna to the territory of the host peoples. The host peoples agree not to develop, construct, plan or impose heavy industry, energy usage, mineral acquisition, polluting products or by-products, or any activities which cause unsustainable damage to flora or fauna to the territory of the pocket culture. The settlers, their parent culture and the host peoples agree not to interfere directly across the “cultural barrier” with the cultural, political, socio-economic procedures and processes of either the pocket culture or the host culture.

V. Amendments

Amendments to the International Peoples Proliferation Agreement shall only be made with the unanimous approval of all signatories, regardless of any direct exchanges of “pocket cultures” between them.

VI. Signatories

An updated list of peoples who have agreed an exchange of "pocket cultures".

i. First Outside/Sacco and Vanzetti

ii. Kerla/Sacco and Vanzetti

iii. Duke Watfordshire/Sacco and Vanzetti*

• denotes agreement is subject to The Watfordshire Protocol

The Watfordshire Protocol

This is a planned experiment to explore cultural mixes across the boundaries of a pocket culture. It is a protocol in addition to the IPPA. It upholds all of the tenets of the IPPA but seeks positive exploration of the phrase "does not prevent distinct interaction". As it is experimental, the precise nature of the protocol will change by agreement of the parties concerned.

Peoples International Proliferation Agreement

I. Definitions

A “pocket culture” is a settlement of no more than 500,000 peoples in a designated area set aside by a host peoples. The area set aside should be suitable to achieve self-sufficiency for the settling culture.

II. Aims

The PIPA aims to enable peoples from the region of the Anarcho Communist Alliance (tACA) to exchange land in order to establish “pocket cultures” that are geographically diverse but which remain culturally intact. The proliferation of peoples aims to provide a standard for the dispersal of political and cultural structures and libertarian self-governance in pockets throughout the region. This is to ensure the continuance of the political, socio-economic and cultural aspects of these populations in the face of war, natural disaster, upheaval, acts of nature and acts of God. It further allows interaction between cultures which are currently separated by great geographic distances.

III. Mechanics

Signatories will usually be in pairs where there is an agreement between two peoples to exchange land for the establishment of a pocket culture. However, more extended exchanges may take place where there exists agreement between three or more peoples to each provide space for each of the other signatories. Upon agreement of the size of land to be exchanged the host peoples will immediately withdraw from any settlements or other such infrastructure within the designated area. The size and resources of this land should be appropriate to the aim of self-sufficiency for the pocket.

Although there will be no barriers of any kind around the site of the pocket it is expected that peoples from both the host and the pocket culture will agree contact between them will mostly be of the nature of international diplomacy in order to preserve the cultural integrity of both the settling cultures and host cultures. Cross-border relations could normally include social, trade, product and resources exchanges, political and diplomatic. These specific contacts are not mandatory, nor is the suggested list exhaustive. Contacts may of any nature specifically agreed between the two (or more) peoples brought into direct contact through the agreement.

IV. Restrictions

Although the settling peoples will have total autonomy within their pocket, the settlers and their parent culture agrees that the pocket shall not contain, develop, service, store, manage, maintain or promote any military capability defined as air, sea, land, orbital, space, nuclear, bacteriological, chemical or special forces.

The settlers and their parent culture agree not to develop, construct, plan or impose heavy industry, energy usage, mineral acquisition, polluting products or by-products, or any activities which cause unsustainable damage to flora or fauna to the territory of the host peoples.

The host peoples agree not to develop, construct, plan or impose heavy industry, energy usage, mineral acquisition, polluting products or by-products, or any activities which cause unsustainable damage to flora or fauna to the territory of the pocket culture.

The settlers, their parent culture and the host peoples agree not to interfere directly (except through agreed political, social or diplomatic channels) with the cultural, political, socio-economic procedures and processes of either the pocket culture or the host culture.

V. Amendments

Amendments to the PIPA shall only be made with the approval of all the signatories of a specific exchange and shall be posted as such, the amendment itself being validated by each of the original signatories and counter-signed by them.

VI. Signatories

i. Anarchy In Motion and Sacco & Vanzetti

ii. The Wyrm Tribe and Sacco & Vanzetti

iii. Walter & Theodor and Clapton Pond

iv. Watfordshire and Sacco & Vanzetti*

VII. List of Amendments

i. The Watfordshire Protocol

Following an experiment under the predecessor to the PIPA, the International Peoples Proliferation Agreement, signatories may additionally agree the Watfordshire Protocol, which aimed to explore cultural mixes across the boundaries of a pocket culture. This protocol upholds all of the tenets of the PIPA but seeks positive exploration of close cultural contact.

As this is likely to be a continuing experimental process, the precise nature of the protocol may change by agreement of the parties concerned but signatories are recommended to post the specifics of their agreed contact for their own and for the international community’s benefit and awareness.

PIPA signatories agreeing the Watfordshire Protocol will be marked * under the Signatories section.

CIA World Factbook

The CIA World Factbook is not particularly complimentary about the Commonwealth, or its peoples, as can be seen from these samples:

Background

The so-called People's Commonwealth of Sacco & Vanzetti is not a country as such but an eclectic residue of citizens who were regarded as unsavoury in their original, mainly European, homelands and former slaves.There is no shred of evidence of the existence of a bona fide government on any of the islands.

Environment - current issues

Rumoured reports of a savage, unidentified, apelike beast in the untamed interior.

Age structure

• 0-14 years: (37% - from local sources, likely to be deliberate falsehood)
• 15-64 years: (37% - from local sources, likely to be deliberate falsehood)
• 65 years and over: (37% - from local sources, likely to be deliberate falsehood)

Constitution

Most people seem quite sinewy with the occasional fat bastard and the odd bean pole.

Anarchism World Factbook Entry

This region rejects notions of so-called anarcho-capitalism, anarcho-individualism, anarcho-primitivism, laissez-faire capitalism and anarcho-christianity as being mere decadences possible only through the furtherance of capitalism.

This region embraces concepts of collectivism, democracy through communes, class war, revolution, the overthrow of capitalism and communal responsibility.

Anarchism is a political movement, not a lifestyle.

UN Delegate: None.

Founder: The People's Commonwealth of Sacco & Vanzetti

Tributes

The Commonwealth is named as a tribute and in remembrance of Italian anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti.

"If it had not been for this i might have live out my life talking at street corners to scorning men. I might have die unmarked, unknown, a failure. Now we are not a failure. This is our career and our triumph. Never in our full life can we do such work for tolerance, for justice, for men's understanding of man, as we now do by an accident, our words - our lives - our pains - nothing! The taking of our lives - lives of a good shoemaker and a poor fish peddler - all! The last moment belongs to us - that agony is our triumph!"

Bartolomeo Vanzetti, statement in court before being sentenced to death.