Atlasian Public Acts - Publication of the Game Engine

[Climate change is a force for good]

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

[Climate change is a force for good]

Team vote was unanimous

[GM Team Member and LGC Speaker WB]

confirming unanimous vote.

[Joseph Cao]

Confirming unanimous vote.

[GM Team Member and LGC Speaker 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?

[I stand with Rashida]

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

[Climate change is a force for good]

Yes the writers are also on strike.

[GM Team Member and LGC Speaker 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 LGC Speaker 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

[Climate change is a force for good]

Confirming vote

[Joseph Cao]

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

[GM Team Member and LGC Speaker 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

[Climate change is a force for good]

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!