The Babbage Islands
From NSwiki, the NationStates encyclopedia.
| |
| Flag of The Babbage Islands | |
| Motto: "Innovation, Wisdom, Liberty" | |
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| Region | One Big Island |
|---|---|
| Capital | Charleston, South Island |
| Official Language(s) | English, Esperanto |
| Leader | Judge Lindsay Martin |
| Population | 51 million (RP), 1.6 billion (game) |
| Currency | edison (E:) |
| NS NSTracker Sunset XML | |
The Commonwealth of The Babbage Islands (Esperanto: Konfederacio de la Babaĝaj Insuloj) is a group of seven islands with a small, pragmatic democracy. It is well-known for strong commitment to civil rights, world-renowned political freedom, and growing influence in international sport.
The Babbage Islands is a member nation of the World Assembly.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
- See also: Gazetteer of The Babbage Islands
There are seven permanently settled islands in The Babbage Islands. In order of population:
- South Island - 15 050 000
- Tesla - 10 930 000
- Verne - 7 880 000
- North Island - 6 360 000
- Daimler - 4 030 000
- Gibson - 3 570 000
- Cayley - 3 140 000
The local climate is temperate, with four distinct seasons. Lush forests characterize several of the islands. The snowy owl, the national animal, is native to North Island.
[edit] Governance
The government is a unitary representative democracy with a libertarian tradition. The constitution, called the Basic Law, is a very short document with strict limits on government functions. These are now interpreted in the light of newly-acquired World Assembly membership, an action which itself required a controversial amendment to the Basic Law.
There are four branches of government, with 55 positions enumerated in the Basic Law. No person may hold more than one of these posts at the same time.
[edit] The Assembly of Proposition
The Assembly of Proposition is a 42-member legislative chamber, with fourteen members elected each six months to serve 18-month terms. Assemblymen (the accepted title) are each elected to represent a specific island, and are limited to four terms or portions thereof. All enactments of the Assembly, except Ministerial appointments or amendments to the Basic Law, automatically sunset after five years.
The current Assembly is led by Lady Speaker June Babcock Whittaker, a third-term Liberal from Tesla. The Liberals govern in coalition with the Social Welfare party.
Seats in the Assembly are allocated in the Basic Law to each island based roughly on population at the time of adoption. South Island has 12 seats, electing four at each election. Tesla has 9 seats, North Island and Verne 6 seats each, and Cayley, Daimler, and Gibson 3 seats each. Five political parties hold seats in the Assembly: Liberal 19, Progressive-Conservative 16, National Sovereignty 3, Social Welfare 3, and Freedom 1.
[edit] The Council of Disposition
The Council of Disposition is a six-member de-legislative council whose main function is to veto enactments or strike laws that have proven bad in practice. One member is elected every six months to a three-year term; a member cannot serve more than two terms or fractions thereof. Any two Councillors can veto an Assembly enactment before it becomes law; five Councillors together can strike a law after it takes effect. The Council also selects the Judge of Resolution for a single five-year term. The current Council is led by President Elisabeth Macleod Tormey, a Liberal from South Island and former Speaker of the Assembly.
[edit] The Judge of Resolution
The Judge of Resolution is the head of state, with the duty to resolve all conflicts of laws. This may include conflicts of different Assembly enactments, of enactments with the Basic Law, or of adopted World Assembly resolutions with either. The Judge also has veto power over Assembly enactments, but this has never been exercised without a concurrent finding that the enactment conflicts with the Basic Law.
The current Judge is Richard Cahoon of Gibson, formerly leader of the Progressive-Conservatives in the Assembly. Other recent Judges have included Logan Young (171-176), Dr Lindsay Martin (166-171), Gavin Murray (161-166), Lucinda Cook (156-161), and J. David Mcleod (151-156).
[edit] The Order of Administration
The Order of Administration are the Ministers serving as heads of the six executive departments in the government. The departments are State, Law, Finance, War, Citizenship, and Nature. They are appointed and removed by majority vote in the Assembly, with appointment subject to veto by the Council or the Judge as with any other enactment. The current First Minister (longest-serving) is Minister of Citizenship Cynthia Cymbalski of South Island, formerly the only Assemblyman ever elected as an independent.
Note that unlike parliamentary governments, the Ministers are not members of the Assembly.
| Ministry | Officeholder | Ministry | Officeholder | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of State | Lindsay Martin | Minister of War | Gwenhyvar Price Owens | |
| Minister of Law | Lucinda Cook Nelson | Minister of Citizenship | Cynthia Cymbalski | |
| Minister of Finance | R. Frederick Bradford | Minister of Nature | Andrea Kendall |
[edit] Elections
Elections to the two elective branches take place every six months, on the fourth Saturday of February and August. The winners take office on the 12th of the following month, March or September. All four of these days are national holidays.
All citizens age 13 and above are eligible to take a standard civics examination to receive the franchise; it may be repeated every six months until passed.
[edit] Policy
NationStates in-game description
[edit] Economy
- See also: BX Financial Index
The national currency, the edison, traded at about E:1,00 per US$1,13 at mid-year 177. The currency's one-time reputation for instability is generally accounted to be initial compliance with World Assembly edicts. Income tax was at 6%, per capita GDP was US$25 798, and unemployment was 2,96%.
Leading international players in the nation's economy include:
- Chronowire Communications, an information conglomerate headquartered in Gernsback, Tesla.
- ClearCola, a soda manufacturer from Wye, South Island.
- Factorias Albuquerque S.A., shipbuilders from Santa Catalina, Verne.
- Fresh-Fizz, a soda manufacturer from Armagh, Tesla.
- Greenspan Bank, an international banking firm from Charleston, South Island.
- Jane Valentine LLC, a publishing house from Cardston, Gibson.
- Senfinaj Mondoj Korp., a network technology firm from Zamenhofa Urbo, South Island.
- Tesla Motors, a vehicle manufacturer from West Scoville, Tesla.
- Z Arms, a gun maker from Baden, Daimler.
[edit] Military
The Babbage Islands maintain a rather small military force for their size, with a completely defensive orientation. In order of size and importance:
[edit] Coast Guard
- See also: Coast Guard (The Babbage Islands)
As befits a maritime nation, waterborne forces are by far the largest element of the military. The Coast Guard is a brown-water navy in transition, developing some green-water capacity. The 33-ship fleet includes one destroyer, five corvettes, seven FMV flexible-mission vessels, and 20 "cutters" (inshore and coastal patrol boats).
The Coast Guard maintains two major bases at Santa Catalina, Verne and Wye, South Island. Each of the seven islands has its own smaller Coast Guard station.
[edit] Aerocorps
The air forces of the nation are oriented toward support of the Coast Guard. The Aerocorps have a particular proficiency in VTOL operations. There are three regular Aerocorps bases. Also, a Cosmotechnologists department performs research into both crewed and uncrewed space flight at Cardston, Gibson.
[edit] Militia
There is no standing army. Ground forces are entirely militia-based. Equipment and regular training opportunities are provided, and a national training center has been opened at NMTC Mountain View on North Island.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Education
- See also: Higher education in The Babbage Islands
There are no public schools in The Babbage Islands, as that term is generally understood. The only government funding of education is a uniform per-pupil subsidy to any school, regardless of affiliation, that teaches as part of its curriculum certain standard studies at the elementary or secondary level. All schools, whether elementary, secondary, or university, are privately operated. Both non-profit and for-profit schools exist.
School is only compulsory through age 13 or completion of elementary studies, whichever is first. But 97% of Babbage youth complete secondary school or equivalent training in a trade via academy or apprenticeship.
A recent newsmagazine survey of leading colleges and universities of the nation showed the following top ten:
- David O. McKay College, Brigham City, Verne - a liberal arts college using a Great Books-inspired program. The very small graduate school uses an innovative interdisciplinary approach for all doctoral candidates.
- University of Gernsback, Gernsback, Tesla - the largest comprehensive university in the nation, with a full range of programs in arts, sciences, business, and professional studies.
- Babbage Academy of Engineering, Kopavogur, Gibson - excellent in several engineering disciplines, but especially noteworthy in mechanical engineering.
- Berners-Lee College, Gernsback, Tesla - specialised in information science.
- Charleston School of Public Service, Charleston, South Island - well-regarded in area studies, political science, and non-profit administration. Extensive study-abroad programmes, mandatory junior-year internships.
- Thomas Aquinas University, West Scoville, Tesla - a small Roman Catholic undergraduate institution with an associated seminary.
- Southern University, Wye, South Island - archrivals of Gernsback, with distinguished nursing and medical schools and a world-class korfball team.
- Martin Luther Institute, Libereco, Daimler - the Lutheran version of Aquinas.
- North Island Normal School, Far Point, North Island - dedicated to teacher training.
- Ensign Peak Military Academy, East Charleston, South Island - turns out officers for the military and well-prepared undergraduates in the sciences.
[edit] Holidays and Observances
There are eight national holidays in The Babbage Islands:
- New Year's Day, 1 January
- Election Day, fourth Saturday in February
- Foundation Day, 12 March
- Labour Day, 1 May
- Pioneer Day, 24 July
- Election Day, fourth Saturday in August
- Law Day, 12 September
- Christmas Day, 25 December
Additional days are observed by various religions, islands, or communities.
[edit] Languages
The two official languages of The Babbage Islands are English and Esperanto. Both are taught in schools as part of the recommended curriculum. Several other languages find regular use in different communities within the nation, particularly Dutch and German on Daimler, Icelandic on Gibson, Lojban, Mandarin on Gibson, Spanish on Verne and South Island, and Welsh on North Island.
[edit] Religion
Babbagians are an exceptionally religious people by international standards. Freedom of religion is expressly upheld in the Basic Law. Recent survey data shows the following religious presences among Babbagians:
| Religion | % of responses | Religion | % of responses | Religion | % of responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latter-day Saints (Mormons) | 51,7% | Catholics | 3,5% | Atheist/agnostic/none | 0,4% |
| Lutherans | 23,4% | Bahá'í | 0,9% | Wicca | 0,25% |
| Methodists | 12,7% | Other Christian | 0,6% | Other response | 0,15% |
| Babbage Orthodox Church | 5,9% | Judaism | 0,5% |
[edit] Sport
- See also: University sport in The Babbage Islands
Sport is an omnipresent element of Babbage culture, from the very young to the relatively old. One unusual feature is the prominence of mixed team sports where men and women compete together. Outdoors, the primary examples are the flying disc game of ultimate and Babbage rules football. Indoors, these include korfball and five-pin bowling.
Four football codes are played professionally: American football (gridiron), Babbage code, international rules, and soccer. (Futsal, not yet organised on a professional level, is now managed by the same body that oversees association football. The Futsal World Cup team are almost all professional footballers.)
In addition to the various styles of football, other professional sports include auto racing, baseball, cricket, fivepins, golf, ice hockey, and korfball.
A wide variety of other sports are organised solely for amateurs. Some of the fastest-growing not listed above include curling, gateball, handball, rugby (in small-team variations), and tug-of-war. The nation also sent competitors to the Games of the IV Olympiad in nine disciplines and several demonstration sports, winning five medals.
In recent times the islands have played host to several major international sporting events. The most important tournaments held on Babbage soil have been World Cup 49 in association football and World Bowl VIII in gridiron. Both tournaments were the largest of their kind ever held at the time they took place.
Intercollegiate sport is governed by the Babbage College and University Athletic Alliance (BCUAA). The two most successful conferences, by far, are the Big Nine Conference and the IAAAA.
| Sport | Governing body | Championship type | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Racing | Klubo de Babaĝaj Aŭtomobilantoj (KBA) | race series | Cathy Trillium |
| Baseball | Babbage Islands Baseball (BIB) | pro league | Armagh Brawlers |
| Cricket | Babbage Cricket Federation (BCF) | pro league | Bloomfield Hills Club |
| Fivepins | Bowlers of Babbage (BOB) | masters team tournament | Scout Association |
| Football (American) | Islands Football League (IFL) | pro league | Kopavogur Mallards |
| Football (Babbage code) | National Association for Babbage Code (NABC) | pro league | Wye Whalers |
| Football (International rules) | Football Association for International Rules (FAIR) | pro league | IFC Cardiff |
| Football (soccer) | Football Federation of Babbage (FFB) | professional open cup | Bloomfield National |
| Golf | Babbage Golf Association (BGA) | professional open tournament | Mark Phillips (men); Juliet Wykeham (women) |
| Ice Hockey | Babbage Islands Hockey Association (BIHA) | pro league | Far Point Owls |
| Korfball | Korfbalo-Asocio de Babaĝaj Insuloj (KABI) | open cup | KKP Urbana |
| Ultimate | Babbage Ultimate Group (BUG) | open mixed tournament | Dimensional Warp |
[edit] Calendar
The calendar of The Babbage Islands seems to run at a time dilation of approximately 12:1 relative to standard references. One standard reference month is approximately one year in the Islands. At this writing it is year 176 in the Babbagian calendar, dated from the adoption of the Basic Law.
[edit] International Codes
- Nation code: BABB
- Internet TLD: .babb
- Telephone dialing code: +1057
- Currency code for the edison: EDI
- Automobile plate code is BI
- Sport code: TBI
