Atlasian Public Acts - Publication of the Game Engine

[It’s so Joever]

DOMESTIC

LGBT FLAG BAN SPLITS MICHIGAN TOWN IN TWO
July 11, 2023
By Weatherboy

HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN -
In 2021, Hamtramck became the first town to elect a muslim-majority city council and mayor. Some celebrated, saying that it was a symbol of the diversity of the area. Now, the city council and mayor have approved a resolution to ban the display of the pride flag, among others, which has acted as a lightning rod for massive protests within the town. Mayor Farouk Aamir drew comparisons to the national Embassy Neutrality Act, and stated the protests were led by “outside agitators” who operated like “a form of militia against the people of Hamtramck”.

Wildfires blazing across Fremont, including Hawaii, Kansas, and California
By Forumlurker

Denver, Colorado
The Fremont region is in turmoil as not one, not two, but three distinct massive wildfires have devastated Colorado, California, and Hawaii respectively. Although firefighters and volunteers from across the country rallied to fight the wildfires in Colorado, continuous drought conditions have seriously hindered the impacts of these efforts. Although the original community where the fire was suspected to have started from (with locals claiming it was a firework that triggered it) has burned out, the fires have spread rapidly, hitting the communities of Hartman, Holly, and even crossing the Kansas border, threatening the town of Coolidge. Meanwhile, two new distinct fires have emerged. The first is a fire which has emerged in the Mojave National Preserve and has rapidly become the biggest fire by land area of the three. Luckily, few settlements have been impacted due to the extremely sparse population, but containment efforts still are ongoing. FInally, a wildfire in Maui blazed the historic town of Lahaina, prompting large scale evacuations and the possible destruction of a treasured town on the island. The total death toll from these three fires is 59, with 55 being from the Lahaina fire, and 4 from the Colorado fire. While alarming, many experts have praised the responses of Colorado and California, noting that prompt evacuations likely saved countless lives.


Hollywood on strike!
By Forumlurker

Los Angeles, California
After a narrow vote passed, the SAG-AFTRA union which boasts numerous high profile actors in its ranks has gone on strike for the first time since 1980. Starting on July 14th and still ongoing, the entertainment world has been put at a screeching halt. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has sought to find a quick resolution between the union and the studios, but with neither side budging, an agreement has not been reached. Insiders believe that the studios are holding out in the hopes of the union solidarity falling apart, while the unions continue to press their original demands. Although so far, the entertainment world is arguably at a high since Covid-19 with the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, many in the industry predict the impact will be felt by consumers in the fall if a resolution is not reached.

Flooding across Vermont
By Forumlurker

Montpelier, Vermont
As the Western half of the country has collectively gone into flames, the Northeast, especially the state of Vermont, has had the opposite problem in recent weeks. Heavy rainfall triggered massive flash floods in several parts of the state, causing at least one death and over fifteen injuries so far. The capital city, Montpelier, had to be evacuated as the streets swelled with water. The weather station at Burlington recorded the highest amount of rainfall per day in history, even topping the rainfall caused by Hurricane Irene which also hit the region. With communities across Vermont, Northern New York, and New Hampshire having been affected, locals fear that they will be forgotten due to the extensive media coverage of the wildfires further out.
“I care about the fires in Colorado, my cousin is out there right now and we miss him dearly. But our farm is gone, everything we have was damaged. I just hope Nyman is listening to everyone.”-local resident Molly Wainwright.


Inflation spike after May/June turmoil:
By Forumlurker

Nyman, Atlasia
Although many have since moved on from the political turmoil of the past few months caused by the Southern Secessionary Crisis, the Atlasian economy has not returned back to normal. The spike in unemployment has not reverted, leaving the Atlasian unemployment rate now at 5.3%. Even worse, inflation, which previously had been going down from record highs, has surged up to 6.9% and experts believe such growth will continue in spite of anti-inflationary measures taken to reduce the worst of the effects. Finally, consumer confidence continues to remain at levels not seen since 2008, with some rumoring of an upcoming recession. The one area of growth is the manufacturing sector, ironically enough, with the white collar tech sector and the service sector seeing heavy losses.

INTERNATIONAL


UGANDA PASSES SWEEPING ANTI-LGBT+ LEGISLATION, ACTIVISTS URGE SANCTIONS
August 4, 2023
By Weatherboy


KAMPALA, UGANDA,
 After much delay due to quorum not being met in Uganda’s Parliament, the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act, enforcing life sentences for homosexuality, has passed, drawing international outcry. This comes after 2 previous bills, including a notorious one in 2014, were stuck down on procedural grounds and vetoed by the President, respectively. The vote, which was barely over quorum, was nearly unanimous as opposition mostly boycotted the vote on the bill, causing the final vote to be 348 for, 1 against, and 208 absent.
Already, activists in Atlasia and Europe have urged sanctions on Uganda for the act, including potentially removing them from the African Free Trade Agreement recently passed under President Tack. More conservative groups urge leniency however, especially those concerned about foreign policy moves, saying that any extreme action could pull Uganda into China’s sphere of influence. Some far right fringe groups have even praised the law, in particular the God’s Word Coalition, led by one Frederick Todd, is calling for a similar one to be implemented in Atlasia.
The European Union, meanwhile, is considering sanctions on Uganda as well, although efforts have been blocked for the moment by Hungary as well as some legislators from Poland. So far, 5 nations have sanctioned Uganda until the bill is repealed: Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. Efforts are ongoing in Italy, France, Ireland, and the UK.

Swedish ambassadors expelled amidst rising tensions
By Forumlurker and Joseph Cao

Baghdad, Iraq
After a protest in Stockholm by Swedish citizens which involved the burning of a Koran, the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was stormed by hundreds of protestors and set ablaze. Although the Iraqi government condemned the attack on the embassy and arrested over 20 suspects, the government also threatened to completely sever diplomatic ties with Sweden and expelled the Swedish ambassador along with halting several Swedish operations within the country. Several other countries with strongly Muslim populations, including Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, have made similar threats, though as of this writing none have expelled their respective Swedish ambassadors.

The Swedish government has criticized these actions and strongly condemned the attack on their embassy, with support from other Western countries. The stoking of tensions in Iraq and across the Muslim world is hardly a new story, but a trend that some fear may be accelerating in the post-Covid era due to the
cost of living crisis worldwide.

Spanish elections end with no government formation, likely new elections:
By Forumlurker

Madrid, Spain
The race for control of Spain’s parliament ended inconclusively, with PSOE retaining an extremely narrow plurality of seats. After extremely difficult negotiations and rumors of a potential secession crisis in the making (largely spread by VOX affiliates) Pedro Sanchez has managed to form a broad coalition of his own PSOE, Sumar, and several regionalist parties who gained notable leverage and concessions in the next government. Although technically a victory for Sanchez who was expected to lose completely, PP leader Feijoo has lambasted Sanchez for “placing the needs of fringe secessionists above the Spanish people” A sentiment which may well further serve to polarize the issue of separatism in a country which is more divided than it has been in decades.


Results:

PSOE 124
PC 118
VOX 47
SUMAR 32
ERC 7
JUNTS 7
BILDU 6
EAJ 5
Other 3





Coup in Niger
By Forumlurker

Niamey, Niger
After successful coups against Pro-Western governments in Mali and in Burkina Faso, many observers wondered whether another Sahel nation would be “the next domino”. Earlier this month, that question was answered with gunfire in Niamey, the capital city of the landlocked West African nation of Niger. The Democratically elected government was overthrown by the military, leading many to question the future of the country and the broader region in global politics. French president, Le Pen, who has previously been attacked for being sympathetic to Russia, shocked the world by declaring the coup “a travesty” and promising swift retaliation. Although links to Russia are not established, there is speculation of Wagner involvement in the orchestration of the coup and within the new government. ECOWAS in talks with France has considered military intervention, although few think such a situation is likely. No matter what, the coup symbolizes yet another point in a continuing proxy conflict over the West African Sahel between France and Russia.

Kabul Falls
By Forumlurker

Kabul, Afghanistan
After nearly two years of vicious combat, hundreds of thousands of refugees flooding neighboring Pakistan, and a near humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan’s largest city, the capital of Afghanistan and one of the last holdouts of the Atlasian-supported Afghani government has surrendered. Although some remaining bits of the country remain under contention, including the infamous Panjshir Valley, Taliban control over Afghanistan has largely solidified, with cities falling one by one in the past few months with a sudden yet predictable collapse in the weary Afghan military ranks. President Ashraf Ghani, who shocked the World with his surprising bravery and “Churchillian resolve” was captured attempting to flee the city by Taliban special units and now is under detainment for an indefinite period of time. What this will mean for the country is uncertain, especially for the millions of Afghan women who saw massive improvements in their personal rights under the previous government. With the Taliban in charge, those rights likely will be stripped, possibly reverting the country back to where it was over twenty years ago, and prompting the question of whether the countless lives and resources invested into the war was even worth it in the first place.



Protests in Kenya
By Forumlurker

Nairobi, Kenya
Despite running a populist campaign themed on prioritizing Kenya’s needy, President Ruto now faces escalating protests from his own supporters. What originally started off as a wave of protests surrounding the results of the 2022 election which saw Ruto gain power in the first place has since morphed into a broad movement to express dissatisfaction with current conditions, more specifically the cost of living crisis in Kenya. This crisis was exacerbated with Ruto’s decision to cut subsidies for petrol and food, and a more recent decision to increase taxes on petrol. These policies may have indeed helped reduce serious deficits the Kenyan government faced, but certainly have made life far more difficult for the average Kenyan citizen today

[It’s so Joever]

Team vote was unanimous

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

confirming unanimous vote.

[Joseph Cao]

Confirming unanimous vote.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

UPDATE REGARDING PREVIOUS STORY


The GM Team has deliberated on the exact text of the Hamtramck ordinance. By vote of 3-0, the following was decided to be the canon text of the ordinance:

WHEREAS, the City of Hamtramck is one of the most diverse cities in the United States, in which we should proudly promote and embrace its diversity; and

WHEREAS, each religious, ethnic, racial, political, or sexually oriented group is already represented by the country it belongs to; and

WHEREAS, the City does not want to open the door for radical or racist groups to ask for their flags to be flown; and

WHEREAS, this resolution does not in any way, shape or form infringe upon the fundamental right of an individual or business in the City of Hamtramck to engage free speech in its proper time, manner, and place. Nor does this resolution limit speech by public employees provided that such employees engage in such speech in a protected time, manner and place.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hamtramck, Wayne County, Michigan, that the government of the City of Hamtramck does not allow any religious, ethnic, racial, political, or sexual orientation group flags to be flown in the public view of the City’s public properties, and only, the Atlasian flag, the Lincoln Flag, the flag of the State of Michigan, the Hamtramck Flag, and the Prisoner of War flag on City property.

[Joseph Cao]

Confirming 3-0 vote.

[KoopaDaQuick 🇵🇸]

Apologies if this has been asked before, I'm too lazy to check, but are the 2023 Hollywood strikes canon?

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Apologies if this has been asked before, I'm too lazy to check, but are the 2023 Hollywood strikes canon?

Yes

[ReallySuper]

Apologies if this has been asked before, I'm too lazy to check, but are the 2023 Hollywood strikes canon?

this is the gm story from a little over a week ago that inspired my bill:

Hollywood on strike!
By Forumlurker

Los Angeles, California
After a narrow vote passed, the SAG-AFTRA union which boasts numerous high profile actors in its ranks has gone on strike for the first time since 1980. Starting on July 14th and still ongoing, the entertainment world has been put at a screeching halt. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has sought to find a quick resolution between the union and the studios, but with neither side budging, an agreement has not been reached. Insiders believe that the studios are holding out in the hopes of the union solidarity falling apart, while the unions continue to press their original demands. Although so far, the entertainment world is arguably at a high since Covid-19 with the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, many in the industry predict the impact will be felt by consumers in the fall if a resolution is not reached.

technically doesnt say if the writers are also on strike like irl but ig we can assume so unless the gms explicitly say otherwise

[It’s so Joever]

Yes the writers are also on strike.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Please place questions and requests in the appropriate thread. I’d prefer that this thread was just the stories and people don’t have to sift through arguments and questions to find the news headlines

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

SPECIAL ISRAEL-PALESTINE UPDATE


HAMAS SENDS “50TH ANNIVERSARY GIFT TO ZIONIST COLONIZERS”: 3000 MISSILES

October 6, 2023

By Weatherboy

Tel Aviv, Israel - The 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war was not expected to be a quiet one for many Israelis, and fears were proven correct when air raid sirens sounded around 6:30 am local time. Approximately 3000 missiles were launched from Gaza into locations around Israel, with many being shot down. However, many cities still were struck by one or more missiles, including Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, and Gedera. At least half a dozen Israelis were killed in the attack, but according to many it could have been far worse.

Prime Minister Benny Gantz gave a speech minutes after the launches were detected, threatening direct action into Gaza should Hamas make any more moves, and it appears that either the threat worked, or there was no further action planned. Either way, the missile attack complicates the efforts for Atlasian brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, despite the Authority making a public statement that Hamas “does not represent the Palestinian people in any way, shape, or form” and stressed the importance of “coming to a peaceful solution for all parties to prevent more instances of violence like this”.

Public demonstrations both in support of Israel and Palestine have occurred worldwide. Meanwhile a small uptick in violence against Jewish and Muslim civilians in other nations has been reported, including one unfortunate case in Atlasia, where a Chicago landlord stabbed a Palestinian tenant and her 6-year old son, killing the boy and seriously injuring the mother. He has been arrested and faces a first-degree murder charge.

The Atlasian response has been difficult to gauge, in part due to delayed news to the State Department, thanks to Israel’s decision to expel the Atlasian ambassador in September of last year.



Update was approved 2-0-1

[It’s so Joever]

Confirming vote

[Joseph Cao]

Confirming vote, which I abstained from given potential conflicts of interest in the Senate.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Special Capital Update


ALL CAPS IN KEOKUK
By Forumlurker and Joseph Cao

November 15, 2023

KEOKUK, IA — In a sleepy town lying on the banks of the Mississippi, in the far Southeast of the state of Iowa, residents are completely stunned. A recently-signed federal bill will put Atlasia in a unique group of countries who have changed their capital in the 21st century. The new capital district, as currently planned, is to be drawn out in a square fashion much like Nyman was originally (before the part of the district south of the Potomac was ceded to Virginia) centering on the tri-point of Fremont, The South, and Lincoln.

Proponents of the change point out the importance of national unity post-secession crisis and the significant role that a capital which incorporates all regions could play. On the other hand, residents of both the former and the proposed capital district have been staunchly opposed, with thousands of Nyman residents protesting the sudden change out of concern of a complete city- and state-level collapse which would jeopardize the economy of not just Nyman proper, but the greater metropolitan region which is heavily reliant on government jobs. As one business owner from Annandale put it: “We got slammed with the loss of business from the pandemic, and now the Senate just arbitrarily decided to kill our city. And for what? People live here, this isn’t just some dot on a map, this is my community and we care about what we do. No more government jobs means no more customers and then what? What is left for us?”

To complicate matters further, reporters on the ground in Keokuk and its surrounding communities have noted staunchly divided opinions on the matter. In a typical Atlasian diner situated along the “downtown”, a short drive from the waterfront, two self-described lifelong friends began to bicker when pressed about the decision. One, a trucker who has asked to not be identified, expressed his frustration with the decision, noting that such a change was forced arbitrarily on a community with no choice at all. “It's like we're being forced out of our own land!” His friend hastily cut him off, noting the potential for economic growth and a possible boom in his construction business. Although the debate remains vivid and heated, polling from famed Iowatologist Ann Selzer does reveal that approximately 7/10 people in the Southeast Iowa region disapprove of the decision, suggesting a clear majority on the issue among the people most affected by it.

While residents of Illinois and Missouri who would likewise be affected were harder to track down, Hamilton resident Jimmy Corcoran expressed disbelief at the proposal: "I thought those feds woulda come knockin' yesterday if they're going to take our land to build all this stuff. Not them Feds like the party, either, the *really* shifty feds."

Either way, residents of the three affected counties have braced for impact, ready for the cornfields and the general stores to make way for lobbying firms and corruption.

City of Joseph? Theories Abound Regarding Capital Move

By Joseph Cao

November 15, 2023

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The proposed capital change has attracted significantly more unmoored speculation from several quarters of the Internet. Prominent among these is a theory believed to have originated on an online server for players of a popular series of videogames, which holds that the new location of the capital was decided by “a secret cabal of Mormons controlling the top levels of government.“

When contacted, a user of the server elaborated on the reasoning behind this theory, pointing to the site’s proximity to the former Mormon city of Nauvoo, IL and the “obvious cash grab” that an influx of federal dollars would bring to managers of the Joseph Smith Historic Site and other Mormon-owned tourist destinations in the city: “Why do you think the new capitol’s going to be directly on a line of sight from that huge ass Mormon temple up there? It’s obvious what their game is.” The user also asserted the Church of Latter-Day Saints’ ownership of land on the site of the new capital, which had been offered to the federal government in order to further a “Mormon infiltration” of federal agencies to be relocated to the new district.

Other proponents of the theory have gone so far as to name members of the federal government they believe are complicit in the “takeover,” including President Spiral, former Vice President Lumine, and Senator Lakigigar. Speculation has centered on the ex-Utahn Lumine, whose step back from the vice presidency announced at around the time the new capital was proposed is seen in these quarters as “VERY suspicious.”
Small groups of protesters, believed to be linked to this theory, were sighted two weeks ago and on Tuesday outside a Utah property previously owned by Lumine. The former VP was at his home in Gibraltar on both occasions and is said to have been notified of the incidents.

The LDS Church could not be reached for comment.

At press time, other conspiracy theorists contacted to sound out their thoughts are upset that their theory, which claims that the capital was relocated close to the indigenous city of Cahokia in order to correct “karmic imbalance” in the federal government’s decisions, has not gained the same traction as the Mormon one.



Vote was Unanimous

[It’s so Joever]

Confirming the vote.

[Joseph Cao]

Confirming unanimous vote.

[Lumine]

“a secret cabal of Mormons controlling the top levels of government.“

Other proponents of the theory have gone so far as to name members of the federal government they believe are complicit in the “takeover,” including President Spiral, former Vice President Lumine, and Senator Lakigigar. Speculation has centered on the ex-Utahn Lumine, whose step back from the vice presidency announced at around the time the new capital was proposed is seen in these quarters as “VERY suspicious.”

Small groups of protesters, believed to be linked to this theory, were sighted two weeks ago and on Tuesday outside a Utah property previously owned by Lumine. The former VP was at his home in Gibraltar on both occasions and is said to have been notified of the incidents.

The LDS Church could not be reached for comment.

Can confirm I am a member of a secret cabal controlling the top levels of government, and my actions are almost always very suspicious.

But I am NOT, nor have I ever been, a Mormon!

[Joseph Cao]

Atlasian Public Acts – DOMESTIC NEWS


Capitol Referendum: Move to New Location Aborted

By Weatherboy

KEOKUK, IA. — Construction equipment that had been at the ready for groundbreaking on new buildings for the proposed new capital of Atlasia began to be loaded onto trucks and sent home on Monday morning, as the results of the national referendum became clear, showing that after the debacle of choosing a name for the proposed city, over half of those voting wanted to scrap the idea entirely, with only ⅓ wanting the construction to continue under the name of Incitatus.

Reactions in Keokuk and surrounding areas seem to be positive on the cancellation. We tracked down the two friends who were interviewed previously, with the trucker opposed to the project saying he was “glad that people were able to come around and not force our tight-knit community to become a government swamp.” His friend replied that they believed the idea was still solid but they were strongly critical of the naming suggestions, saying that “the names suggested with little exception made the process a joke, I mean, the name of a mad Roman emperor’s horse and ‘Globohomo Village’? That was the best that the Senate could come up with?”

Polls in the area from Ann Selzer and others have shown that the new Capital proposal was disapproved of by roughly 70% of those in southeastern Iowa and up to 65% in northeastern Missouri. The only area that approved of it was the Illinois portion, with 60% approving of it there. It’s believed that the portion of Illinois closest to the proposed capital, sometimes called “Forgottonia”, approved of the proposal due to the lack of federal infrastructure and investment in the region, something that would likely change with the capital so close by. A resident of the town of Golden, Illinois gave us this statement: “Once again when we try to get some positive change around here rather than constant stagnation, everyone outside of here votes it down. It’s no wonder my kids left for Peoria. What is there for them here other than potholes and run-down towns?”


Violence As Pro-Palestinian Rally Winds Down in Denver

By Forumlurker

DENVER, CO. — Nearly one month after the initial outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a pro-Palestinian protest in the city on December 10 quickly descended into violence as night fell. At 9:04 MST, the first acts of violence were reported by a local store owner on Larimer Square, who saw via security footage their windows smashed and the store getting ransacked. Further clashes continued intermittently hroughout the night with many being between police/regional forces and civilians. Although no deaths have been reported, 22 have been reported injured and the property damage has been evaluated to be over $40 million, much of it on public infrastructure such as streetlights and roads. Asked to describe the setting the next day, local residents described it as “a warzone” with cars razed and blood splattered on the sidewalks.


Slate of “Medieval” Legislation Passes in the South

By Forumlurker

ATLANTA, GA. — Over the past several months, numerous controversial bills have passed in the South over calls into question regarding their constitutionality, creating chaos as local officials have attempted to reconcile the stark differences between Atlasian law, Southern law, and even their own morals.

The list of laws passed which have received scrutiny by human rights groups is long, but the ones which stand out the most in prominence thus far include the law which overturned women’s suffrage, the law which banned “bastardy” (children of unmarried couples) and a law which effectively has banned “moors, Bosniaks, and gypsies” from entering the region entirely. Of interesting note is the current Atlasian president who himself has publicly identified as Bosniak in past statements and former Upper South Senator LT who also has identified as such, leading some experts to wonder whether some of the new legislation was driven out of political malice.

However, as many in the South have learned, it is one thing to pass a law and another to enforce one. Various interpretations and degrees of enforcement of these new laws has rendered the South essentially a patchwork of kingdoms, each one with varying degrees of restrictiveness on the aforementioned activities. A plurality of municipalities simply have outright ignored the laws, while some such as Fulton County have even outright declared these regional laws null and void, petitioning the federal government to crack down on “human rights abuses.”

As a result of these laws, many companies have begun withdrawing operations and sales from the South. Industrial giants such as Google, Walmart, McDonald’s, and Wells Fargo have announced plans to downsize or completely withdraw activities within the Southern Region over concerns over these new laws and possible liabilities for their company image. Foreign reactions have also been swift. Russia has officially sanctioned Atlasia over these new laws, labelling them as genocide of ethnic minorities. The EU has considered but has not acted upon similar calls by many left-leaning MEPs. Furthermore, countries such as Rwanda which had previously committed to gradually improving LGBTQ rights have since backtracked in a series of public statements, citing “sheer hypocrisy” by the Atlasian government. Although transparent figures have become difficult to source at this point in time, the GDP of the Southern Region could shrink by over 5% in the next year, with a projected net population loss as many choose to move elsewhere for employment and living.

In response, Southern civilians opposed to these acts have begun forming militias of their own, with local SNP politicians having seen their houses burned by these groups. Meanwhile, several counties in Southeast Kentucky are considering officially seceding from the Southern Region at this point in time.


Pent-Up Ill-Will Over Proposed Amusement Park

By Forumlurker

BRIDGEPORT, CT. — Local parental rights groups have staged mass sit-ins at both the Bridgeport town hall, and the Lincoln State Capitol over federal plans to fund an amusement park on Pleasure Beach. Outraged at the prospect of an amusement park with a name which is a reference to a dirty joke “Pen Island”, these groups have demanded the resignation of Weatherboy from all positions and the conversion of Pleasure Island to a monument to honor chastity as a virtue. As one local parent, Richard Cummings, puts it, “Our kids shouldn’t be hearing jokes about diddlies. It's immature and I will sit on my knees here at the state capitol until this act is withdrawn.”


Euthanasia Legalized in Fremont

By Forumlurker

DENVER, CO. — Long a highly controversial issue which even the sitting president refused to touch, euthanasia as a last-resort palliative care practice has been legalized in Fremont, making the region the first and only place such operations are now legal. In the meantime, the Senate voted down a bill by Senator Christian Man addressing the same issue from the opposite direction that is already attracting its share of controversy among the usual series of organizations.

Other countries such as the Netherlands and Canada are known for having euthanasia legalized under certain conditions, although those countries as well (especially Canada) have experienced their share of controversy over these policies. Proponents argue the practice ends suffering humanely in a way which preserves the dignity of those who have no chance of survival. On the other hand, opponents argue the policy is both morally problematic in nature and, in the case of Canada, is overused to a point where some have warned of legalized “eugenics.” Medical experts are also divided on the issue from an ethical standpoint, demonstrating the complexity of the topic. However with this new law, it appears Fremont has made its stance clear.


Atlasia Continues to See “Stagflation” Trends

By Weatherboy and Forumlurker

NYMAN, D.C. — Despite hopes that the national economy would stabilize with the end of the Southern secession crisis earlier this year, with each passing month economists have become increasingly pessimistic as key indicators continue to fail to reach even the most cautious of expectations. Over the past few months, unemployment has skyrocketed from 5.3% to 8.1% while inflation remains high at 7.4% (7.9% for core inflation) The Fremont and Southern Regions are disproportionately impacted by unemployment, with the Bay Area in California reporting an over 20% unemployment rate at this point in time, rivaling numbers in countries such as Spain and Greece. A very likely contributor to unemployment spiking recently is outsourcing, with a record high number of approximately 55,000 Atlasian jobs having been outsourced in the month of November alone.

The impacts of the economic crisis have hit hard with more than 70% of Atlasians polled reporting having to cut expenditures in the past year and 82% of Atlasians believing the economy to be in “Poor” condition.

[Joseph Cao]

Atlasian Public Acts – INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Argentine Elections: Bullrich Market

By Weatherboy

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — As the last ballots were tabulated in Argentina’s elections, cheers rang out at rallies for Patricia Bullrich as it became clear she would be elected the new president of Argentina, beating out Economy Minister Sergio Massa in the second round of the Presidential election.

This comes after a tumultuous 1st round, where hard-right anti-Peronist and anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei came in a strong 3rd place, showing a strong opposition to the current economic policies of the nation. It’s believed that Milei’s failure to reach the 2nd round, as some polls had indicated, was due to his momentum being severely blunted by Atlasia’s instability in the middle of the year, placing extreme doubts on his wish to tie the nation far closer to Atlasia and undergo dollarization. Whatever the reason, Milei fell short, and endorsed Bullrich in the 2nd round, which led to an 8-point win for her. However, she will have to rely on Milei and his Liberty Advances alliance for support, as her Together for Change coalition only holds 99 of the 257 of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Presidential Election, Argentina (1st Round):
Economy Minister Sergio Massa (UP): 37.1%
Fmr. Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich (JxC): 27.7%
Deputy Javier Milei (LLA): 25.9%
Fmr. Governor Juan Schiarett (HxNP): 6.6%
Deputy Myriam Bregman (FIT-U): 2.7%

Presidential Election, Argentina (2nd Round):
Fmr. Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich (JxC): 54.1%
Economy Minister Sergio Massa (UP): 45.9%


Polish Elections: Tusk Strikes Back – Is the Global Right Surge Fading?

By Weatherboy

WARSAW, POLAND — Polish voters kicked out their incumbent right-wing populist government in an election that made many an EU official breathe a sigh of relief, as Donald Tusk will become Prime Minister of Poland once again, at the head of a 3-alliance coalition between the liberal Civic Coalition, the christian democratic and agrarian Third Way, and the progressive Left. The victory did not come easy, as many institutional hurdles needed to be cleared for a win, but in the end the souring global economy, and the popular backlash to the “Lex Tusk” law which was targeted at potentially barring Tusk from office, propelled the opposition to victory.

Polish Parliamentary Election:
United Right (PiS and Allies): 36.1%, 201 seats
Civic Coalition (PO and Allies): 30.2%, 153 seats
Third Way (PL2050, PSL and Allies): 14.2%, 63 seats
The Left (NL, Razem and Allies): 8.5%, 25 seats
Confederation: 7.4%, 19 seats
Nonpartisan Local Government Activists: 1.8%, 0 seats
There is One Poland: 1.6%, 0 seats
Others: 0.4%, 0 seats

Government: Civic Coalition + Third Way + The Left (241/460 seats)

President Andrej Duda named incumbent PM Mateusz Morwiecki as his nominee for another term, but this was roundly criticized by the opposition, as PiS was far short of a majority, and even hypothetically with the far-right Confederation coalition’s support would be unable to reach a majority. The Sejm deposed Morwiecki in a vote of no confidence, and Tusk was sworn in as Prime Minister last month.

With Tusk’s victory, some commentators have asked if this may be an end to the right-wing populist surge in Europe, which has brought both President Le Pen and Prime Minister Meloni to power in France and Italy respectively. Indeed, polls in France have indicated that Le Pen will have difficulties being re-elected, with her approvals tracking very similarly to the support for leaving the EU, with 35 percent approving and 58 percent disapproving. However, other analysts have pointed out that this may be more of a sign of a general anti-incumbency trend, rather than any turn against the populist right.


Thailand Elections: That’s a Wrap

By Joseph Cao

BANGKOK, THAILAND — It’s been all downhill for the anti-establishment progressive Move Forward Party since its commanding performance in May’s elections, at which it rode a groundswell of popular discontent with Thailand’s long years of stuttering democracy and military juntas to become the largest party in Parliament.

Thailand Parliamentary Election:
Move Forward and allies: 312 seats
    Move Forward: 153 seats
    Pheau Thai: 142 seats
    Prachachart: 9 seats
    Thai Sang Thai: 6 seats
    Thai Liberal: 1 seat
    Fair Party: 1 seat
Palang Pracharat and allies: 169 seats
    Bumjaithai: 71 seats
    Palang Pracharat: 38 seats
    United Thai Nation: 38 seats
    Democrat: 22 seats
Chart Thai Pattana: 10 seats
Chart Pattana Kla: 2 seats
Pheau Thai Rumphalang: 2 seats
Others: 5 seats

Beginning with the swift arrest and detention of Move Forward’s leader Pita Limjaroenrat in the weeks leading up to the first sitting of Parliament, where he was already facing an uphill battle to convince enough members of other parties and the junta-appointed Senate (which retains a say in the prime ministerial vote) to back his attempt to form the government, the party has been dealt severe blows by a conservative establishment determined to close ranks against what local political commentator Sirikanya Dopphoopha describes as “a perceived existential threat.“

Pita was picked up in a sensational overnight detention in July shortly before Thailand’s Constitutional Court was scheduled to hear a case brought by the Election Commission regarding his potential violation of election regulations, which forbid MPs from holding shares in media companies. Pita is understood to have inherited shares in the defunct broadcaster iTV as the executor of his late father’s will, and declared prior to the election that they had been transferred to relatives. In a statement publicized after the arrest, the EC’s own investigative panel recommended that the charges should not be pursued. The Court nonetheless suspended Pita as an MP pending its decision.

Without Pita, Move Forward failed dismally in its bid to form government and its erstwhile ally Pheau Thai joined a coalition of conservative parties which installed Pheu Thai’s Srettha Thavisin, a real estate magnate, as the new prime minister. Several of these parties are led by key figures behind a 2014 coup that ousted the then-Pheu Thai government in favor of the military junta that has led the country since. Move Forward has appointed secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon as its replacement leader, and although the party publicly expresses hope that Pita’s case will be ruled in his favor, the speed and severity of his detention makes that outcome unlikely.

In the meantime, even Move Forward’s status in the opposition is under threat from several fronts. Under law, the opposition leader is drawn from the biggest party not in government (currently Move Forward), unless that party has members serving in Cabinet positions or as parliamentary presiding officers. A Move Forward MP, Padipat Suntiphada, had already been elected deputy speaker. Padipat has since assented to his expulsion from the party (seen as a way for Move Forward to retain the LOTO post) and has applied to join a Move Forward-aligned microparty, the Fair Party. MPs from Pheu Thai have submitted a motion to the House seeking to remove Padipat from the deputy speakership, viewing his switch as a “charade” and “under the board,” according to government chief whip Adisorn Piengkes, who proposed the motion. The Bhumjaithai Party, another opposition party, has submitted a petition to the Election Commission seeking to overturn Move Forward’s expulsion of Padipat, which could result in his MP status automatically lapsing if the move is found to be incompliant with the party’s disciplinary process.

More seriously, Bhumjaithal’s petition also urges the EC to petition the Constitutional Court to disband Move Forward altogether. The party is already facing that court over its policy to amend Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, the “lese-majeste” law which has been a popular target in Move Forward’s campaigning; this push for “structural reform” is believed to have won much of its popular support in May’s election. The Court is hearing arguments that this violates Section 49 of the Thai Constitution, prohibiting the “overthrow [of] the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State.”

The success of either move would result in Move Forward sharing the fate of its predecessor, the Future Forward Party, which was dissolved by the Court in 2020 for accepting a loan from its then-leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit that was ruled to be illegal. Pita and Chaithawat held positions in Future Forward prior to its dissolution and continue to be close to Thanathorn, despite his 10-year ban from politics. Whether Move Forward’s current members and support base could switch to a third incarnation of the party, if the Court successfully disbands them, is still an open question. In the words of Dopphoopha, the commentator, “the reformist movement in Thailand is clearly not about to go away, but the powers that be are also clearly eager to do whatever it takes to ensure that it does.”


China’s Nine-Dash Line Crosses Lines With Neighbors

By Joseph Cao

SINGAPORE — The monthslong fallout continues over the 2023 edition of China’s “standard map” released in the dying days of August by Chinese authorities at the Ministry of Natural Resources, which maintains the country’s unilateral claim over the South China Sea. Having drawn much sharper criticisms from its near abroad than in previous years, a concerted rallying of opposition to Beijing’s expansionism appears to be underway.

Leading the charge is Philippine President Leni Robredo, who has butted heads repeatedly with Beijing in her year-plus in office, most recently over Chinese attempts in October to restake their claim over the Second Thomas Shoal where the Philippines maintains a marine outpost. International media outlets were able to confirm that Chinese coast guard ships rammed a Philippine supply boat bound for the shoal; this is the first time China’s ships have been reported to hit vessels in the area. Chinese officials described the collision as an “accident” involving “wayward fishing boats” and would not comment further on the incident.

Robredo, a longtime advocate of strengthening her country’s defences against Chinese territorial incursions, has used the two incidents to win regional support for a coalition of nations to pressure China over its claims. A key convert has been Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, who maintains a narrow lead in the presidential election to replace outgoing leader Joko Widodo and is likely to make efforts to lend Indonesia’s diplomatic heft to the nascent movement if victorious next February. High-ranking Vietnamese and Malaysian leaders have also voiced support. Malaysia had filed a diplomatic protest with the UN over China’s map, being the first Southeast Asian nation to register its concern as fresh domestic attention was drawn to last year’s discoveries of new oil reserves in its territorial waters.

It is probable that these countries have been emboldened by the failure of China’s Taiwan blockade last year, which also marked a noticeable hardening of opinion against its activities and investments in Southeast Asia. Thus far Beijing appears to have decided that the nine-dash line is unlikely to draw the same concrete international response that Taiwan did – hence its continued activities in the area.

As several of the countries involved maintain contests against each other’s claims as well as against China’s, there remain real hurdles to establishing a coalition capable of asserting itself against its perceived common threat. Doubts also persist as to whether Robredo’s strong pro-Atlasian stance might hamper attempts to cobble together a coalition of countries that have increasingly striven to be aligned to neither superpower.

The ASEAN summit, to be held in Jakarta in late January, will be the obvious next stage of scrutiny for Robredo’s effort to prove Beijing wrong; it remains to be seen whether opposition to China’s recent actions is able to crystallize into something diplomatically significant, as ongoing tensions in the South China Sea are all but guaranteed to be a primary focus of the summit.


China to Begin “Support Operations” in Myanmar

By Forumlurker

MANDALAY, MYANMAR — Under heavy request from the current de facto military government leading Myanmar after their coup in 2021, Chinese remier Xi Jinping announced in early December that China would support the military (Tatmadaw) in their objectives of retaking land from a number of opposition groups. Myanmar has been plagued by internal strife throughout its history, but this recent chapter has been one of the bloodiest yet, with tens of thousands of casualties in the past year, largely through Tatmadaw bombing efforts which the UN has described as “indiscriminate.” Following a relatively unexpected surge in gains by opposition forces, the Tatmadaw called upon China for support, one which Xi has responded to affirmatively as of now.


AdiEU, Vows Le Pen

By Forumlurker

PARIS, FRANCE — In a monumental speech at the Luxembourg Palace, French President Marine Le Pen openly declared her intent to have France withdraw from the EU as soon as 2025, citing a “lack of respect” for national autonomy and major disagreements on issues such as immigration. Many are skeptical that Le Pen even has the political capital to get such a vision fulfilled, but if done, the departure of France would represent an even greater challenge to the struggling union than even the infamous “Brexit”. Current polls do not show a majority support for withdrawing from the EU in France, with 54% of voters surveyed responding negatively and only 38% positively.

In the case such a proposal did ever come to pass, the EU would be severely damaged. Unlike Britain, which had long been a relative outlier in the group, France was a fundamental member of what would become the EU and the Franco-German relationship has held the EU strong throughout its history. Whether a new country will be able to step up to replace Paris or whether the alliance will continue to decay would be an interesting question. However as of now, it does not seem likely France will be leaving the EU, despite the wishes of Le Pen.


Turkey for Christmas in Beijing

By Forumlurker

ANKARA, TURKEY — Earlier this week, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping travelled to Turkey on the invite of current president Reccep Tayip Erdogan to discuss urgent issues facing both countries. In a press conference later that day, Erdogan expressed his desire for greater Turkish-Chinese cooperation on both economic and defensive fronts. Major issues discussed in the meetings were Israel/Palestine, Cyprus, and Atlasia.

No new binding agreements were made at this time, but what was especially noteworthy was Erdogan’s expressed willingness to work with China on defensive matters. Traditionally, Turkey has been a crucial ally of NATO, an organization predominately led by Atlasia which views China as a major geopolitical rival. However, Erdogan’s open support of Chinese defensive cooperation has left many intelligence and national security experts of Atlasia and Western Europe concerned of possible security risks and Chinese breaches of critical information.


LGBTQ U-Turns From Ugandan President

By Forumlurker

KAMPALA, UGANDA — Despite assurances given to Western leaders when discussing free trade treaties meant to bolster the economy of the country, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has continued to express support domestically for the incarceration of the LGBTQ community, even outright mocking Western politicians for forcing “degeneracy” onto the nation. When pressed about his comments in comparison to the promises made earlier this year, Museveni argued that Atlasia has been hypocritical on the issue, infamously saying, ”100% of women are allowed to vote in our country. Can Senator Lakigigar say that?”

Other countries involved in the East African free trade agreement have been considerably less forceful on the issue, although NGOs active in the region say that thus far none have implemented any pledges to improve conditions for their domestic LGBTQ populations.



Update approved 3-0.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

confirming unanimous vote

[It’s so Joever]

Vote confirmed

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Atlasian Public Acts - Early February 2024 Edition

"CITY TO PRINCE: DROP DEAD", DIRECT RULE DECREES CAUSE CHAOS IN SOUTH

By The GM Team

ATLANTA, GA - Following decrees that enforce direct rule over the city, the former mayor (or still current mayor depending who you ask) has made multiple statements, with signed support of 14 of the 16 members of the city council and a majority of Lieutenant or higher ranking officers in the Atlanta PD, saying that Prince Saint's "tyrannical and illegitimate decrees would not be recognized". Already protests have broken out in Atlanta, mostly against the Prince's actions. Signs have been seen saying everything from "stop the tyranny" to "misogynists f**k off" to "where's Sherman when you need him?" Despite expectations, the protests have been mostly peaceful, possibly in part due to Atlanta PD officers often joining the protests. Only scattered reports of looting have been made, although one protest became a brawl when meeting another, smaller group that was protesting in favor of the Prince's decision.

The situation in Atlanta has led to many other cities becoming flooded with mass protests, with
Birmingham, Miami, Mobile, Charleston, Greenville SC, Charlotte, Raleigh, Richmond,
Baltimore, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Memphis all seeing major protests.

Nyman has seen a massive ongoing protest at the National Mall, with the intent of "making sure the Senate can't do business without hearing our pleas". Attendance there is estimated at a steady 300,000 during the day, and tens of thousands going so far as to stay all night too. Peaks of attendance have reached over 500,000. Similarly a protest has sprung up outside of the Southern Capitol in Nashville, with tens of thousands protesting daily. This has been the one that has been cracked down upon the most, with at least 15 arrests due to defacing the Tennessee Map Plaza, or in one case, inciting violence by bringing a guillotine to the protest with an effigy of Prince Saint placed in it.

The place where tensions are reaching a true boiling point, however, is Southeastern Kentucky.
Shortly after the decrees were issued, county executives in Harlan, Letcher, Bell, Leslie, Perry, Knott, Pike, Clay, and Knox counties issued a joint statement, saying that if the Southern government does not "back away from their extreme, anti-liberty authoritarianism", that they would secede. Included in the statement were several polls with statements that the "people of Southeastern Kentucky have had enough". Polls taken in the past month have shown that a small majority (from 55 to 60%) of residents favored separating from the south, including over 80% of women. A poll from Gallup taken of 754 residents over the past 2 days has shown that number jump, with 66% in favor of secession from the south, 28% opposed, and 6% unsure, with a 4.4% MoE. Experts have been skeptical that such a secessionist state would be sustainable without outside aid, but the fact that the area is still considering it nonetheless shows how much damage the decrees have caused .

Weekend At Spiral’s?

By Joseph Cao

As the quietest presidential race in living memory gets underway, President Spiral has not signaled whether he intends to run for a third term. If he did, the electoral outlook would be much better for him than the last time a two-term president attempted the same feat, as residents of the town where the former president in question resides are quick to note.

But there is a more immediate problem that President Spiral, or else his successor, will have to face – the hollowing out of the Cabinet.

Registrar General thumb21 resigned last week, citing personal reasons and apologizing for his recent difficulties with the job. He joins former Attorney General Mr. X, who deregistered late last year and thus opened up a vacancy for his position; in the meantime Deputy AG John Dule has been representing the administration in a slew of cases currently being heard by the Supreme Court. Both vacancies remain unfilled as of this writing. Though Secretary of State razze remains in office, a number of private and public requests for clarification on foreign policy – including in the Senate, of which he is a member – have gone unanswered, and it is possible that a replacement for his position may be under consideration.

The composition of the Cabinet, or lack thereof, will impact the presidential race in other ways. Vice President Cathcon has also had some activity issues (with the 119th Senate's legislative business delayed by over a week after he left a PPT vote open); he may retire regardless of whether Spiral runs again, which would necessitate a fresh VP pick. SoIA Sirius is already running for president and if she is successful she will have an extra Cabinet vacancy to deal with: her own.

At press time, the Department of Federal Elections appears to be functioning as usual. When contacted for comment on the remarkable state of normalcy prevailing in his department, the Secretary replied 'What the [inks] is happening?' and paused briefly before letting out a hollow laugh.


Update approved 3-0.

[It’s so Joever]

Atlasian Public Acts - Early February 2024 Edition

"CITY TO PRINCE: DROP DEAD", DIRECT RULE DECREES CAUSE CHAOS IN SOUTH

By The GM Team

ATLANTA, GA - Following decrees that enforce direct rule over the city, the former mayor (or still current mayor depending who you ask) has made multiple statements, with signed support of 14 of the 16 members of the city council and a majority of Lieutenant or higher ranking officers in the Atlanta PD, saying that Prince Saint's "tyrannical and illegitimate decrees would not be recognized". Already protests have broken out in Atlanta, mostly against the Prince's actions. Signs have been seen saying everything from "stop the tyranny" to "misogynists f**k off" to "where's Sherman when you need him?" Despite expectations, the protests have been mostly peaceful, possibly in part due to Atlanta PD officers often joining the protests. Only scattered reports of looting have been made, although one protest became a brawl when meeting another, smaller group that was protesting in favor of the Prince's decision.

The situation in Atlanta has led to many other cities becoming flooded with mass protests, with
Birmingham, Miami, Mobile, Charleston, Greenville SC, Charlotte, Raleigh, Richmond,
Baltimore, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Memphis all seeing major protests.

Nyman has seen a massive ongoing protest at the National Mall, with the intent of "making sure the Senate can't do business without hearing our pleas". Attendance there is estimated at a steady 300,000 during the day, and tens of thousands going so far as to stay all night too. Peaks of attendance have reached over 500,000. Similarly a protest has sprung up outside of the Southern Capitol in Nashville, with tens of thousands protesting daily. This has been the one that has been cracked down upon the most, with at least 15 arrests due to defacing the Tennessee Map Plaza, or in one case, inciting violence by bringing a guillotine to the protest with an effigy of Prince Saint placed in it.

The place where tensions are reaching a true boiling point, however, is Southeastern Kentucky.
Shortly after the decrees were issued, county executives in Harlan, Letcher, Bell, Leslie, Perry, Knott, Pike, Clay, and Knox counties issued a joint statement, saying that if the Southern government does not "back away from their extreme, anti-liberty authoritarianism", that they would secede. Included in the statement were several polls with statements that the "people of Southeastern Kentucky have had enough". Polls taken in the past month have shown that a small majority (from 55 to 60%) of residents favored separating from the south, including over 80% of women. A poll from Gallup taken of 754 residents over the past 2 days has shown that number jump, with 66% in favor of secession from the south, 28% opposed, and 6% unsure, with a 4.4% MoE. Experts have been skeptical that such a secessionist state would be sustainable without outside aid, but the fact that the area is still considering it nonetheless shows how much damage the decrees have caused .

Weekend At Spiral’s?

By Joseph Cao

As the quietest presidential race in living memory gets underway, President Spiral has not signaled whether he intends to run for a third term. If he did, the electoral outlook would be much better for him than the last time a two-term president attempted the same feat, as residents of the town where the former president in question resides are quick to note.

But there is a more immediate problem that President Spiral, or else his successor, will have to face – the hollowing out of the Cabinet.

Registrar General thumb21 resigned last week, citing personal reasons and apologizing for his recent difficulties with the job. He joins former Attorney General Mr. X, who deregistered late last year and thus opened up a vacancy for his position; in the meantime Deputy AG John Dule has been representing the administration in a slew of cases currently being heard by the Supreme Court. Both vacancies remain unfilled as of this writing. Though Secretary of State razze remains in office, a number of private and public requests for clarification on foreign policy – including in the Senate, of which he is a member – have gone unanswered, and it is possible that a replacement for his position may be under consideration.

The composition of the Cabinet, or lack thereof, will impact the presidential race in other ways. Vice President Cathcon has also had some activity issues (with the 119th Senate's legislative business delayed by over a week after he left a PPT vote open); he may retire regardless of whether Spiral runs again, which would necessitate a fresh VP pick. SoIA Sirius is already running for president and if she is successful she will have an extra Cabinet vacancy to deal with: her own.

At press time, the Department of Federal Elections appears to be functioning as usual. When contacted for comment on the remarkable state of normalcy prevailing in his department, the Secretary replied 'What the [inks] is happening?' and paused briefly before letting out a hollow laugh.


Update approved 3-0.

Confirmed

[Joseph Cao]

Confirming unanimous vote.