Difference between revisions of "Tanah Burung"

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One of the most readily evident features of the country is the almost total lack of roads. There are many footpaths through the rain forest and rice paddy, but cars are almost unknown. Only cars fuelled by natural vegetable oils are permitted, and then only in urban areas. Trasport between cities is done by walking, bicycle, on an extensive rail network connecting all major cities in Tanah Burung and [[Eauz]], and by inter-city hot-air balloon flight. The major cities are linked by the country's famous kapal-terbang, or airships (blimps, zeppelins). Airship service also links Tanah Burung to many other countries. The only airport at which jets can land is located in Tiga Burung City.  Coastal tranport is also available by regualr ship between the country's four major ports and beyond via fishing-boat charter. Recently a high-speed coastal maglev line was built connecting Loro Sae, Ukun Rasikan and BYMD City with Brazillico to the north and [[Oglethorpia]] and [[Kingsford]] to the south.  
 
One of the most readily evident features of the country is the almost total lack of roads. There are many footpaths through the rain forest and rice paddy, but cars are almost unknown. Only cars fuelled by natural vegetable oils are permitted, and then only in urban areas. Trasport between cities is done by walking, bicycle, on an extensive rail network connecting all major cities in Tanah Burung and [[Eauz]], and by inter-city hot-air balloon flight. The major cities are linked by the country's famous kapal-terbang, or airships (blimps, zeppelins). Airship service also links Tanah Burung to many other countries. The only airport at which jets can land is located in Tiga Burung City.  Coastal tranport is also available by regualr ship between the country's four major ports and beyond via fishing-boat charter. Recently a high-speed coastal maglev line was built connecting Loro Sae, Ukun Rasikan and BYMD City with Brazillico to the north and [[Oglethorpia]] and [[Kingsford]] to the south.  
  
==Religion==
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There are three major faiths and a multitude of minor cults. The major faiths are [[Roman Catholicism]], [[Wikipedia:Islam|Islam]] and the Church of the Rocks and Trees, an indigenous nature [[religion]]. One Catholic diocese has begun performing same-sex marriages; this is disputed by the church internationally (especially the more conservative [[Syskeyia|Syskeyian]] church.) Still, Tanah Burung remains in communion with the [[Holy Vatican See]] for the time being. Cults tend to form around the fortunes of the nation's sports teams. They include the 24-Hour Church of Gil, the International House of Smiting, and the Church of the [[Holy Wombat]].
 
+
There are three major faiths and a multitude of minor cults. The major faiths are [[Roman Catholicism]], [[Wikipedia:Islam|Islam]] and the Church of the Rocks and Trees, an indigenous nature [[religion]]. One Catholic diocese has begun performing same-sex marriages; while this is at odds with traditional Roman Catholic teaching, the said diocese claims to reamin in communion with the [[Holy See]]. Cults tend to form around the fortunes of the nation's sports teams. They include the 24-Hour Church of Gil, the International House of Smiting, and the Church of the [[Holy Wombat]].
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[[Category:Tanah Burung]]
 
[[Category:Tanah Burung]]

Revision as of 19:45, 21 October 2004

Tanah Burung
east_timor.jpg
Flag of Tanah Burung
Motto: Flock together
Map of Tanah Burung
Region The Emerald Heights
Capital rotates among six cities
Official Language(s) Tetemelayu (national), English (international)
Leader collective presidency of 11
Population 3.7 billion
Currency loonie 
NS Sunset XML

Tanah Burung is a sun-drenched tourist trap making occasional forays into world politics. The country's name means "the land of birds."

The land & people

Tropical, with lush rainforests on the coast and great mountains inland, Tanah Burung is sunny and warm throughout the year, and very wet during the monsoon. The people of Tanah Burung are known for their anarchistic spirit and their friendliness to visitors. They come from many races and cultures. Most are indigenous, coming from Malayo-Polynesian or Melanesian descent.

Provinces & politics

There are 6 autonomous states - Matebian (mountains), Burung Paradis ("bird of paradise," the densest rain forest), Loro Sae ("where the sun comes up," eastern coastal), Ukun Rasikan ("independence," central coastal), Burung-yang-membuat-dunia ("bird that created the world," western coastal), Tiga Burung ("three birds," a large offshore island). Tanah Burung is an anarchy is governed on libertarian socialist principles of direct democracy. All major decisions are taken by national referendum, with protections built in for minority rights and ecological protection. There is no national capital. The collective presidency rotates among the six state capitals, each named for its province. The presidency is made up of the six provincial governors plus five elected people's representatives (ministers): foreign affairs, territorial defence & sports, social justice, economic affairs, and justice. There are no political parties.

The current elected people's representatives are:

Silas Simparieff, Governor of Loro Sae, is concurrently people's representative for the environment.

Economy

Mired for decades in poverty, Tanah Burung made common cause with other less-developed countries such as Larkinia, Hell Bovines, and Iansisle at the first Developing Nations Summit in Golden Agate, and hosted the second summit in Matebian. The country has experienced rapid economic growth since joining the International Fair Trade Agreement. Tanah Burung's leading trade partner is its western neighbour, Eauz while important trade is carried on with other IFTA signatories in Aperin and the Non-Human Union. The economy is driven by gambling and tourism under the direction of the occasionally truthful Sunny Tanah Burung Trade and Tourism Bureau (motto: Your Dreams Made Flesh).

Tanah Burung is active in sporting competitions such as the Cherry Cup and the World Cup. It has finished second in both competitions and hosted World Cup 5 as well as the inaugural Field Hockey World Cup.

History

The land of birds

Stories tell that a great raven created the world and populated it with birds of all kinds, and then with other animals. When the birds had no place to land, the Creator Bird called up a great crocodile, and the bird rested on its back. The crocodile grew and grew over the years, until it became solid and fixed in place, and its body became the earth that is Tanah Burung. Six kelurahan (roughly, kingdoms with varying degrees of centralization) held sway over most of what is now Tanah Burung: the northern mountains of Matebian, the inland Burung Paradis (bird of paradise), the southern coastal principalities of Loro Sae, Atsabe, and Burung-yang-membuat-dunia (the bird that created the earth), and the offshore island of Tiga Burung (three birds), itself a welter of small principalities.

Early modern trade

The four maritime kelurahan came under the influence of Portuguese traders in the 16th century and absorbed many aspects of Portuguese culture, including the Catholic faith and spots like cockfighting and football (soccer) which quickly became national passions. This is why many Tanah Burung citizens have Portuguese names. (However, the language has all but died out.) The maritime areas were integrated into Portuguese-controlled international trading networks, but political control remained with local rulers (and more usually, with local village assemblies practicing consensus-based democracy). Portuguese traders were heavily resented, and many people turned to another new religion, Islam. Muslim traders offered the same economic links but were more sensitive to local concerns and less militaristic than the Portuguese. The Liurai (ruler) of Burung Paradis was the most prominent convert to Islam. Jayawarnam I named himself as the first Sultan of Burung Paradis and began to centralize the kingdom.

The colonial period

In the nineteenth century, Tanah Burung was brought under colonial rule. Traders from the Knootian East India Company first took over the island of Tiga Burung by force, and gradually began to extend their economic dominance over Tanah Burung. At the same time, coastal kelurahan came under pressure from the expanding Burung Paradis inland empire under Jayawarnam III, who brought Matebian, Loro Sae and Atsabe under his rule and weakened Burung-yang-membuat-dunia to the point where it became easy prey for the Knootians. Eventually, Tanah Burung became a colony of Knootoss. After the death of Jayawarnam VI, the Sultanate fell into a succession dispute. Rival claimants emerged and after Knootian intervention, the kingdom was split into three parts, based in Burung Paradis, Atsabe and Loro Sae. The court of Atsabe came under Knootian dominance and allowed the Knootians to establish their capital at a city they called New Hoorn. From here, they extended their colonial rule by stages until all of the present land of Tanah Burung was united as the Knootian East Indies, a colony owned by a European corporation.

Nationalism & revolution

Anti-colonial movements began early in the twentieth century. Rejecting the name East Indies, the nationalist movement began to teach that the colonized “natives” were in fact a single people. Tetemelayu, the language of Tiga Burung and parts of Burung-yang-membuat-dunia, was declared as the national language. (Such was the anger at the colonizers that English quickly replaced Dutch as the second language.) The country was dubbed “Tanah Burung,” the land of birds, as a sign of unity among its people. A national flag was chosen bearing the colours red for the blood of the patriots, black for the soil and the resolute spirit of the people, and yellow for the sun.

Finally, the flag of independence was raised in New Hoorn and in the Matebian mountains. The Knootians were quickly able to re-establish control of their capital, but the revolution continued from the interior. It gained the support of the Liurai of Loro Sae and the Sultan of Burung Paradis, while the Liurai of Atsabe remained loyal to the colonial rulers. (As a result, after the revolution, the Atsabe kelurahan was abolished and renamed Ukun Rasikan, which means independence.) The events around Tanah Burung Independence remain disputed, but independence was achieved under the leadership of people like Markus Rumbiak. The resistance practiced guerrilla warfare and blended in with the people who supported them almost universally as active participants in the territorial defence system. The war was too expensive, and they cut their losses, though not without great emotion. Tanah Burung was independent at last.

Independence

After gaining its independence, Tanah Burung remained in isolation for some years, building itself up. Tetemalayu became the national language, and along with English is spoken by all citizens alongside their indigenous languages. A major accomplishment was universal literacy. Education is in fact the central concern of the government. Lovefest University in Ukun Rasikan City is a world-class university and symbol of the country’s commitment to educational excellence. Gradually, democracy was built from the village level up. Six provinces were established and given extensive autonomy. Burung Paradis and Loro Sae were ruled by their traditional Liurai at first, but the struggle for internal democracy finally transformed these two into constitutional rulers. Finally, national elections were held for an 11-member collective presidency to replace the revolutionary council that had governed Tanah Burung since independence.

International Relations

Tanah Burung's foreign policy is based on the promotion of international peace and human rights (human rights is understood to mean rights for all sentient life forms). This includes an extrensice network of embassies in overseas countries as well as regional neighbours. Foreign policy is directed by the elected people's representative for human rights. The first representative was Violeta Bi Bere but the office is now held by Mari Alkatiri.

International Memberships

Transportation

One of the most readily evident features of the country is the almost total lack of roads. There are many footpaths through the rain forest and rice paddy, but cars are almost unknown. Only cars fuelled by natural vegetable oils are permitted, and then only in urban areas. Trasport between cities is done by walking, bicycle, on an extensive rail network connecting all major cities in Tanah Burung and Eauz, and by inter-city hot-air balloon flight. The major cities are linked by the country's famous kapal-terbang, or airships (blimps, zeppelins). Airship service also links Tanah Burung to many other countries. The only airport at which jets can land is located in Tiga Burung City. Coastal tranport is also available by regualr ship between the country's four major ports and beyond via fishing-boat charter. Recently a high-speed coastal maglev line was built connecting Loro Sae, Ukun Rasikan and BYMD City with Brazillico to the north and Oglethorpia and Kingsford to the south.

There are three major faiths and a multitude of minor cults. The major faiths are Roman Catholicism, Islam and the Church of the Rocks and Trees, an indigenous nature religion. One Catholic diocese has begun performing same-sex marriages; this is disputed by the church internationally (especially the more conservative Syskeyian church.) Still, Tanah Burung remains in communion with the Holy Vatican See for the time being. Cults tend to form around the fortunes of the nation's sports teams. They include the 24-Hour Church of Gil, the International House of Smiting, and the Church of the Holy Wombat.