Post by albiorix on Jul 4, 2016 2:56:18 GMT
Only in the darkness can you see the stars
We wish you a pleasant read! ❤
The Way Forward
Written by Estradia, Chancellor of the INWU
The June-September term has commenced, and so has one of the most pivotal times in choosing the fate of the INWU’s future. These next couple of months are going to be crucial in deciding the outcome of the INWU. This administration is one of the last chances the INWU has to spring back to its former glory. As such the goals and plans for this term need to be laid out. Having the public know what will be happening, and what they can do to be involved, is vital if we hope to get the INWU to a new golden age. So here are my, and this administration’s, plans for the next couple of months.
Decisions, decisions...
The major goal for this administration is to revitalize the culture of the INWU. The culture of this region is at the core of what makes the INWU the INWU. It’s what gives the INWU that special flair we all know and love. As such rebuilding, and improving, the INWU’s cultural identity will be taking center stage for this administration’s efforts. By improving our cultural identity we can grow closer as a region, raise activity and even grow our image on the regional stage. This revitalization process will have three parts: Reactivation of the RC, Addition & Improvement of Regional Cultural Activities and Improvement of Interregional Standing. These three parts will each be explained in their own paragraph, starting with the Reactivation of the RC.The Reactivation of the RC is already in full swing with the unanimous passing of the LinkEmergency RC Reinstatement Bill. The RC is going to play a big role in improving culture in the INWU. The RC allows the passing of cultural events and holidays, such as LinkFounding Day. By having more holidays and events people have more things to do. Not only can this improve activity but it will make our region more appetizing to new nations. Now that the RC is now back open for business this process can start in full. For anyone interesting is sharing their ideas you can sign up for the RC Linkhere.
The second part of the revitalization process is the Addition and Improvement of Regional Cultural Activities. What this basically means is creating, and encouraging the creation, of various cultural activities, ideas, projects etc in the region. Examples of this are putting greater emphasis on Nation of the Week or the INWUball or the INWU Radio. Things like these help increase the enjoyment people have with the region along with giving more things for people to partake in and enjoy. This, again, helps increase activity. Encouraging the creativity of our members, new and old, really helps keep our region pumping with joy, it helps give people a break from the otherwise serious nature of running a region. As the term goes on I personally plan to start taking a look at regions like TRR, Wintreath, Lazarus, etc. to see what they do to keep their regions joyous and active. What they do to make their regions lively could very well do the same for ours.
A recent advertisement raising awareness for the government's new plan
The third part’s, the Improvement of Interregional Standing, goal is to increase name recognition and relations with our embassies. One of the goals this region has had from the very start is to increase our presence on the world stage. By getting our name out there and participating in interregional events, whether it be Rock Paper Scissors with The Rejected Realms, Werewolf with Wintreath or other events with our various allies, we improve our regional standing and culture. Being involved on the larger scale can only bring good things for our region.This is a good plan that can greatly improve our region if followed correctly. But it has a great vulnerability, and that is it’s reliance on motivation and participation. Every part of this plan relies on the people of the INWU to be active and participate in regional and interregional events in order to be effective. A lack of motivation and participation has plagued this region from almost the very beginning. This NS Summer is a great opportunity for people to get serious about participating in (inter)regional affairs. If everyone takes part in the revitalization of the INWU then we will undoubtedly bring this region back to glory. But it can no longer be only a small group of people shouldering the load. If people really care about the future development of the INWU, then participating in the revitalization of the INWU is of utmost importance. The INWU cannot, and will not, survive if people do not take part in its healing process. I know in my heart that we all care about this region’s survival. Now all that needs to be done is show our efforts and our conviction in this success.
The INWU is running out of chances to come back from these turbulent times. This summer is the most opportune time to get this region back on its feet. If this 3-part plan is followed and the public shows its support for our amazing region we will bounce back. Here’s to a great next 2 and a half months and long live the INWU!
Diversity in Issues?
Written by Savalen, Chief Editor of the NorthWest Star
NS issues. You see them everyday and you chose a way to answer them, depending on how you want your country to be run. There’s not a lot that’s difficult other than sometimes making the decision. All the issues are different (some more similar than others) and they all have different answers and outcomes. But are these issues really ones that can be seen from all the viewpoints? Or are they all painted with the rose-tinted glasses of the “Western world”?
Well first of all, I’m just going to say that “western world” is an ambiguous term, but if I were to use the 1st world definition, set out during the cold war, I don’t think I would be too far from the mark, so if you were looking for a definition, use this.
Now a second problem – what are the range of issues available? Well, it depends on the current state of the country. A communist country will have “communist” issues and “centrists” will have “centrist” issues, etc, etc. But what is the point of the article then?
My point is this – most (not all, some of the user submitted ones, especially, are orientated for other types of nation) of the issues are seen through this viewpoint of the “western world.” The issues have certain answers, which means that some viewpoints may be missed and as such these nations may feel “left out”. This might be better explained with an example. As a person that regularly leaves issues for a week or so, I remember getting some strange issues for one of puppets, a communist state, but I will go with one that I received recently on this account, my main.
#032: One Wife Is Never Enough, Say Polygamists [Fantasan]
The Issue
A small religious group is lobbying the government to allow them to take multiple wives.
The Debate
1. "It's about time we had our religious rights recognized," says @@randomname@@, a devout member of a faith that is never made quite clear. "Who is the government to tell me I can't love more than one woman? The government doesn't know how much of me there is to go around!"
2. "This is nothing more than sexual deviants using religion as a pretext for perversion!" says Reverend @@randomname@@. "Marriage is one man, one woman, and death do we part. What's so hard to get? Anything else is a perversion, and must be banned."
3. "Multiple wives? Excellent!" says passer-by @@randomname@@. "Presumably we will allow multiple husbands, as well. And gay marriages, of course. In fact, now is probably the time for the government to butt out of marriage altogether. Let people marry their cats, if they want.”
Seems quite normal, no? But Savalen, a country where LGBT rights are equal (or getting there), has not got a “right” answer to this question. I do not want to allow bestiality, but I want to allow polygamy for all people (including the LGBT community). How do I answer this question?
A recent Pride Parade in Savalen
I have to discard it usually, but I went for the 3rd option. To my surprise, my weather went down, as did my ideological radicality. The second part is understandable under the bestiality part, but the weather? How, please tell me, is the weather affected by gay people being allowed to marry? But then, some people see this measure as a bit of a joke one. But then I noticed something else. My trout fishing industry went down. I looked again. There is was – the drop was small, but there. I still have no idea why.But how does this fit in with the original statement, the issues are view through the eyes of the “western world”? Well imagine now that your nation works differently, take a communist government for example. All the issues seem to have a rise in this or that, which isn’t always related to your answer, and you feel annoyed when the way you answer an issue, in this case, increases the wage gap, despite you answering in the most equal way possible. The issues are not bad, by any means. They are the base, the lifeline of NS. They are there, no matter how boring the RMB or the forums may be at that moment, to entertain you. But I think they need a slight tweak.
Firstly, I think that there should be a slight tweak in the mechanism – I hate to call upon the developers to do something so small and probably insignificant, but I think that all 541 issues need to be gone over and checked to make sure that they fit all of the nations – having issues about income inequality in a “perfect” communist nation is strange.
But the developers, I’m guessing, sometimes don’t have enough issues from all viewpoints to allow this. This is where we, the nations of the INWU and NS in general come in. We have to fit into the shoes of other countries, ones with problems different to the “western view”. I, for one, would love to see an issue about Tahiti's problem with obesity, or how they put WiFi over the whole country. I will be trying to make a few new issues and I hope you join me.
Best RMB Post of June 2016
Written by Grand Duchy of Nardin, INWU Citizen
BREAKING NEWS
~~~
After being elected once again, second-term delegate Topsail Empire has, as one eyewitness claims, "stepped up to the proverbial plate." Just seconds after winning the regional election for WA delegate, Topsail took exactly one step forward, no more, no less. This sparked no small amount of confusion among the citizens of the region. "I just don't know man, I just don't know," spoke former delegate Gatito on Monday, "that one step forward could be some kinda metaphor for the beginning of world peace, or a symbol for a new era of conquest for the INWU. If you ask me, we should all be afraid; very afraid..."
While nearly all sources state that Topsail took one step forward, there are those who claim that he in fact took not one, but two steps, back. Chancellor Estradia spoke out in support of these claims in a recent press conference. "Did I see him take a step back? No, no I didn't. I saw him take two steps back. It is my belief that Topsail intends to resurrect the dead region of Strategos Prime, or maybe defect to the Hanover Republic! Don't quote me on this or anything but I say we should take him 'out of the picture' before its too late! Wait, is that a camera - "
Wildly differing reports of "The Step" have continued to flood the office building of the NorthWest Star, with thousands of pieces of hate mail being delivered every hour and scores of protesters storming the revolving doors. Chief Editor Savalen was interviewed on the scene, helping the unpaid interns block the doors with anything not bolted down. "WHAT?! YOU GOTTA SPEAK UP!!!" he screamed over the chaos. "YES, THIS IS A TIME OF GREAT UNREST FOR THE REGION," he stated, ducking under a brick chucked through a window, "BUT THAT'S NO REASON TO DEVOLVE INTO ANARCHY! ALL WE NEED TO DO IS CHECK THE SHOE SIZE OF OUR DELEGATE AND -" *here the editor could no longer be heard*
~~~~~
Reports say that Kolyma Gulag is fit to bursting with political refugees. A hastily conducted interview with Warden Tracian Empire revealed that nearly all inmates are supporters of El Fiji Grande, former delegate, who would rather sit safely in prison than be caught up in "The Step" Scandal. The Warden further revealed that many of the new prisoners brought with them millions of dollars in cash as donations to expand the prison's capacity.
Our Monthly INWUBall!
Created by Gatito, Comic Designer
Election Speech
Organic Government
Written by Albiorix, Graphic Designer and Assistant Editor
It seems like everything, from food to clothing to construction materials, is organic these days. Most people, save for a few conspiracy theorists, agree that although these organic products cost more, they're generally better for our health and our environment. As the all-consuming tide of crazed organicists sweeps over the INWU, I propose we bow down to our new minimal-emissions overlords with a new organic appointment system.
An official governmental structure diagram, made by Albiorix
Something to consider for our 2-week old administration would be to move towards lesser roles for more people. The pretexts are already there. Midland South States has been appointed as our official forum administrator, and Raventsvo has been appointed as our border official. These appointments follow the formalization of RP Council appointments as well as ambassadors taking on more specific roles within the foreign affairs department.
By organically assigning miscellaneous roles to citizens who possess unique skills and desire to be involved in that particular job, we could use our resources most effectively in enacting any sort of occasion, enforcement, or management.
Another core axiom I believe the INWU should introduce is reducing governmental stratification. Whenever there's an issue of any scope within the INWU, the same four or five individuals are called upon to make spot decisions and are expected to deal with the problem expertly despite differing circumstances. We should be enlisting the best person for the job for each individual task.
I truly believe this is something that our executives should look into when considering personnel changes in the future. By involving more people in our government, we can increase our resources and our flexibility while ensuring we always have enough options to get by any issue.
Editor's Notes
I hope you've had a great read and join us next month! ❤
This issue was produced by interim chief editor Albiorix. So please don't hound Savalen over my mistakes.Has something happened over the past month that you want to write about? Do you think you can make the Newspaper look better? Or do you just want your name here -->
Apply now for loads of different positions, we would be happy to have you on board!
For those who do want to point out my mistakes or if you want to personally thank me
post your comments here.Links to other issues:
Issue I
Issue II
Issue III
Issue III signed July 2nd, 2016
The INUit of Albiorix
