Saidercray

The Republic of Saidercray

Region	International Democratic Union
Capital	Amshlay
Language	English
Population  - Total (2006)	90,536,000
Leader	President Ian Woshkal
Form of government	Presidential republic
Formation	9 districts
Foundation	August 26, 1916
National flag
Motto	Cum pace et prudentia
Anthem	Loving you, our good mother Saidercray
National animal	White stork
National flower	Heartsease
National tree	Aleppo pine
Currency	1 Saidercray Thaler = 100 Saidercray Pennies
Internet TLD	.idu.sc
IDU nation code	SC

The Republic of Saidercray is a democratic republic in the International Democratic Union.

Geography

Landscape

Saidercray is a mostly hilly land. Except for a narrow flat coastal area in the east and a high mountain region in the north-west, the country is typified by woody highlands and sparsely wooded tableland between the hills. Saidercray is dotted by numerous small lakes. Saidercray´s major cities are (from the west to the east): Hilngare (756,000 inhabitants), Cuvesbridge (853,000), Dropaney (1,501,000), Jallsborough (494,000), Amshlay (7,090,000), Aresgreel (2,047,000), Wheshpilston (721,000), Telychester (849,000), Dawsingham (3,112,000), Hampmouth on Sea (1,233,000).

History

The foundation of Saidercray (1909 - 1917)

The process resulting in the foundation of Saidercray began on may 15, 1909. Henry VI., king of Cray, died without a son. Due to the succession, Charles XIII., the second son of the dead king´s sister Helen, would have become king of Cray. But three days before his coronation, Charles died during a hunt. Rumours have never stopped that his death hasn´t been an accident, because after Charles' death, king James IX. of Saider had become the actual successor of the throne of Cray. His coronation at Aresgreel on june 26, 1909, united the countries Saider and Cray that had been divided for 788 years. Only a few weeks afterwards, James was assassinated by an adherent of the old Crayan dinasty. This event loosened the Black and Blue War between the Saiderish government and the Crayan population, lead by John Haigler. While the Saiderish and the new king, John V., wanted to defend the status quo, Haigler aspired after and independent and democratic Cray in its old frontiers.

After the battle of Feshton on november 17, 1915, when the royalist troups obtained a glorious victory by fighting and killed John Haigler, king John committed the decisive fault: After three months without any combat, he believed that the civil war was over, although the Crayan hadn´t surrendered. The imperialist king grudged his country the peace after six years of war and sent his armys into World War 1, hoping that Saidercray would get some colonies after the victory. But this was too much for the exhausted country and its people. In april 1916, the Crayan population started a new revolte against the king - with an overwhelming success, because also the population of Saider began to fight for democracy. On july 20, 1916, large parts of the army refused to fight and went back to Saider. The remaining soldiers were no challenge for the hostile armies. On august 23, Saider surrendered; two days later, king John and his government where overthrown. On august 26, the Republic of Saidercray was proclaimed - one democratic state unitig Saider and Cray.

A committee of academics, priests and leaders of the recent revolution elaborated a constitution until december 27, 1916. In a plebiscite held with international help, the people approved it on january 4, 1917.

The Republic of Saidercray (1917 - 2005)

On february 8, 1917, the new state and its people held the first democratic election, resulting into a VCA-PPJ-coalition with Nelson Quarret (VCA) as first President of Saidercray. In the 1920s, Saidercray celebrated itself and its unity. The people were buoyant by a new zest for life, indulged in arts and cultural life and enjoyed the simple fact that they lived in such a time. Famous films like "Anny's Green Garden" (1923) or "When I Was Young" (1925) were shot, the "poet of the nation" Henry Nesswick wrote his expressionist rhymes, and the actors Donald Hurlm and Judith B. Larsson shocked society with a public kiss of one minute at the first performance of Bartholomew East's opera "Cupid and Psyche". In the cities, the war damages weren´t only compensated, but the chance was used to modernize Saidercray's face by building novel houses and skycrapers. Saidercray prospered, but when evrything seemed to be perfect, was struck by the world-wide economic crisis. This event made the socialist party gain a lot of strength and made the PPJ take leave off capitalism. The plentiful correspondence between the PPJ's chairman Edgar Laeni and Mahatma Gandhi also had a strong influence on the PPJ's change from a social-democratic to an anti-capitalist, non-violent party and lead the PPJ to some ideas that are nowadays considered to be central points of its politics.

In 1932, the "year of hunger", Saidercray elected its first SPS-PPJ-coalition. The new government under the socialist President Conor Kingsson passed the "Kingsson Plan" which resulted into the end of the mass unemployment. In World War 2, Saidercray wasn´t attacked and successfully recovered from the effects of the economic crisis. Therefore, the country was a popular destination for refugees and emigrants - the cause for the ethnic and cultural diversity people can still find if they travel to Saidercray.

Policy

Political system

Saidercray is a democratic presidential republic with a strict separation of powers.

The legislative branch - Parliament and the people

The legislative branch is divided into the Parliament and the people.

The parliament is elected once every year. Every Saidercrayan who is at least 18 years old is entitled to vote, but also free to abstain from voting. The parliament contains 301 seats which are distributed pursuant to proportional representation, so that the portion of seats answers the portion of votes.

Political parties

see: Political parties of Saidercray

• Green Democratic Party (GDP): The GDP is a small party mainly dealing with environmental issues and one of the topical coalition partners of the PPJ. It´s lead by Julia Pount and has gained 7% in the last election.
• Liberal Union of Saidercrayan Capitalists (LUSC): The LUSC, Saidercray´s only explicitely capitalist party, is a averagely strong party which has gained 17% in the last election. Its chairman is Jack O´Connor.
• Multinational Party for Immigrants (MPI): The MPI represents the interest of the immigrants in Saidercray. It´s lead by the Indian Divyajyoti Mandal and has gained 7% in the last election.
• National Electoral Offensive (NEO): The NEO is a right-wing extremist party lead by Montgomery Lautegger. It has gained 0% in the last election.
• Party for Peace and Justice (PPJ): The PPJ is one of Saidercray´s strongest political parties. It´s lead by Ian Woshkal, the current President of Saidercray. In the last election, the PPJ gained 27% of the votes.
• Saidercray´s Women´s Feminist Party (SWFP): The small SWFP is a feminist party. It is lead by Evelyn Redyn and has gained 1% at the last election.
• Socialist Party of Saidercray (SPS): The SPS is a socialist party. Its chairwoman is Angela Fintosthane. In the last election, the SPS gained 25% of the votes. It's one of the topical coalition partners of the PPJ.
• Virtuous Conservative Alliance (VCA): The VCA, lead by Janet Finnigan, has gained 16% of the votes in the last election.

Government

Saidercray is currently governed by a coalition of PPJ and SPS with the PPJ as the strongest party. The coalition has 52% of the seats in parliament. The topical cabinet is formed by:

• President: Ian Woshkal (PPJ), leader of the PPJ
• Vice President: Harry Old (SPS)
• Minister of Domestic Affairs: Angela Fintosthane (SPS), leader of the SPS
• Minister of Foreign Affaris: Melanie Wathers (PPJ)
• Minister of Defense: Michael Henzoc (SPS)
• Minister of Economy and Infrastructure: Takeru Yamaguchi (PPJ)
• Minister of Environment: John Donald Icclat (PPJ)
• Minister of Education and Families: Charlotte Kilph (SPS)
• Minister of Finance: Catherine O'Conor (PPJ)
• Minister of Justice: Jeffrey Carnon (PPJ)
• Minister of Health: Grace Smith (PPJ)
• Minister of Science and Research: Frank Polernd (SPS)

Economy

Tourism

Saidercray's geographic situation enables the country to offer a large variety of touristic attractions. The focal points of tourism are the mountains in the west and the subtropical beaches in the east of the country, whereas the centre hasn't been to be affeted by tourism. Depending on the season, different regions are particularly extensively visited: the coast from May until September, the mountains from November to April, when the temperatures entice climbers and hikers.

Culture

Holidays

• Jan 1: New Year's Day
• Jan 4: Constitution Day
• Feb 8: Saidercrayan Democracy Day
• Mar 21: Spring Day
• May 1: Workers' Day
• Jun 21: Summer Day
• Jul 24: Democracy Day
• Aug 26: Republic Day (national holiday)
• Sep 23: Autumn Day
• Oct 2: Nonviolence Day
• Dec 21: Winter Day
• Dec 24-26: Christmas Days
• Dec 31: Old Year's Day
• without fixed date: Easter Days, Election Day
• 1 week between Apr 1 and Apr 30: Spring Holidays
• 8 weeks between Jun 15 and Sep 15: Summer Holidays
• 1 week between Oct 1 and Oct 31: Autumn Holidays
• 2 weeks between Dec 15 and Jan 15: Winter Holidays

Religion

Education

School system

Saidercray's school system includes three kinds of schools: the elementary school, the lower school and the upper school. At the age of six, all children enter the first of six grades of the elementary school. These six grades are jointly passed by all children of an age-class. After the sixth grade, all children who have achieved an average mark of between 1.00 points and 7.49 points enter the lower school, all children who have achieved an average mark of between 7.50 points and 12.00 points enter the upper school. At the end of the 9th grade, which is the last compulsory grade, all pupils with an average mark of at least 5.00 points recieve their lower conclusion. Those who have achieved an average mark of at least 10.00 points in the 9th grade of a lower school are allowed to visit the last three grades of an upper school where they can try to get their upper conclusion. To recieve an upper conclusion, it is necessary to achieve an average mark of at least 5.00 points at the end of the twelveth grade. An upper conclusion allows its owner to study at a university.

National symbols

Flag

The flag of Saidercray since 2006

The flag of Saidercray shows a black blue stork, a yellow star and blue scales of justice on white ground. The two storks represent the two parts of the country, Saider and Cray. The yellow star represents the unity of these two parts. The scales of justice represent Saidercray's region, the International Democratic Union. Finally, the white background represents peace. Saidercray's topical flag replaced the country's hitherto existing flag due to a plebiscite in August 2006 and is designed by an artist from Stolidia. The old flag had shown a blue and a black beam to represent Saider and Cray, and a yellow star and a white background representing what they still represent nowadays. The scales of justice missed on this flag which was often called the white stork on white ground due to the extremely large white part.

The flag of Saidercray from 1952 to 2006

Anthem

The national anthem "Loving you, our good mother Saidercray" was composed in 1917 by John Jelkind:

Loving you, we see the eternal day

Which is full of honour, light and peace

Loving you, we see the eternal day

Hate has died, and joy and luck increase

We are children of your shapely shores

And your fruits have made us grow

In the very centre of our cores

Takes its rise a solemn vow

Loving you, our good mother Saidercray

We shall be your peace for all our days

Loving you, our good mother Saidercray

We shall be your noble spirit's grace

Motto

Saidercray´s motto "Cum pace et prudentia" is Latin and means "With peace and prudence".

National animal

Saidercray's national animal is the stork. The stork was the main heraldic figure in the coat of arms of king Rory III., the last Saidercrayan king before the country's division in 1121. Rory's two successors, Queen Paula I. of Saider and King Anthony VII. of Cray retained the stork as a heraldic figure to underline the in each case exclusive pretension to the crown of the whole Saidercray. For the sake of discrimination of Saiderish and Crayans, Paula coloured the Saiderish stork black (this colour should represent the many mountains and rocks of Saider), whereas Cray's stork became blue like the sea. Today, the stork is a protected species. Many Saidercrayan buildings have stork's nest on the top of their roofs, though many of them are only dummies and have never been lived in by a stork family. The stork also appears in many common sayings. E. g., "to colour a stork" means to separate things or people that belong together.

Did you know?

• The oldest living Saidercrayan is Mrs. Hermione Nyger, born March 13, 1894, and therefore 112 years old.
• For two days in summer 2006, Saidercray has already been a member of the United Nations.

Weblinks

Saidercray at NationStates: www.nationstates.net//Saidercray Saidercray at NSEconomy: http://nseconomy.thirdgeek.com/nseconomy.php?nation=Saidercray