«12. . .2,6462,6472,6482,6492,6502,6512,652»
"Mandates that each member nation shall perform impartial research on the various species of marine life and marine ecologies within and surrounding their jurisdictions" by my reading says you would only need to do any kind of research on species of marine life and marine ecologies, but the next part "especially as it relates to rates of bycatch and maximum bycatch permissible without causing negative impacts in the areas of environmental stability, public health, and any other relevant aspects" requires that research include statistics related to bycatch. If your nation does not catch any marine life, then you would have a bycatch rate of 0, except for where it may be done illegally which could still be worth studying and thus the maximum bycatch permissible would still be useful information. That is to say, you are mandated to study marine life and part of that will include a mostly irrelevant, in your nation's context, statistic about bycatch, but that research can still contain other relevant data about the marine life and ecologies of your nation.
Esterild, Jutsa, Atsvea, Ruinenlust, and 4 othersMiddle Barael, Greater Morvonia, Great Wadiya, and Bisofeyr
The Orcuan Weekly: |
This Week’s Advice From Orcuo:
Ever find yourself behind on the output of goods? Need some way to increase worker productivity while still getting past those pesky international human rights treaties? Well now there is a solution! A simple technique called the “Labor Division Rivalry System” allows for just that! All you have to do is the following: split the given workforce into multiple teams; have these teams compete against each other; the team that produces the most goods gets rewarded (food, extra break time, etc) while the other losing teams gets punished (extra work, decrease of break time, etc). This will push your employees to work harder than ever! Ensuring you are getting the most out of your workforce! Now some people in your workforce may not like this new policy, and may try to rebel, slack off, or unionize. But don’t worry! We’ve already thought of a solution for this hypothetical dilemma. If one or more employees try to fight back, punish their entire team. As the old saying goes, “one bad apple spoils the rest”; in our case, one unionized employee gets the rest fired. Using this strategy will quickly convince any traitors to reconsider betraying your work enterprise. “But wait!”, you might say. “What if an entire team rebels?”. Well in that case, it might be time to ‘terminate’ their work contract. Our top researchers recommend flamethrowers to ‘burn the contract’. Quick and effective! This has been Orcuo with this week’s helpful advice!
This Week’s Profound Quote:
“Joy is so much more joyful when it comes from the misery of others.”
~ Orcuo
Forum Thread of the Week:
Esterild, Calenmor, Jutsa, Atsvea, and 5 othersRuinenlust, McClandia Doge 2, Zerphen, Greater Morvonia, and Great Wadiya
This is a thing that can happen in RMB posts?! |
Just imagine the possibilities:
...::~Official~Regional~Elections~Post~::... |
...:: Official Regional Elections Post ::... |
How did I never know about this?
Maya Mayor Decides: National Curriculum to Feature Fire Safety, Kindergartners to Master 'Stop-Drop-and-Roll'
In a proactive move sparked by a recent harrowing incident in Bluff Creek, where two young children were dramatically rescued from a house fire, President Maya Mayor has announced a new initiative to incorporate fire safety education into the national curriculum of Columbiqash. The decision follows a fervent debate among key figures, with Fire Chief Burns leading the charge for more structured fire safety training for children.
"The tragic situation in Bluff Creek sheds light on a critical oversight in our approach to child safety and education," stated President Mayor during a press briefing at the Presidential Mansion. "It's high time we take concrete steps to ensure our youngest citizens understand what to do in case of a fire. Our kindergartners' favourite dance move should be the stop-drop-and-roll."
Under this new initiative, children across Columbiqash will learn essential fire safety procedures as part of their standard education. This program aims not only to educate children about the dangers of fire but also to reduce panic and dangerous behaviors such as hiding during fires.
The president’s decision also includes funding for fire departments nationwide to facilitate regular visits to schools. These visits will allow firefighters like Fire Chief Burns to teach children practical and lifesaving tactics in an engaging manner. “We’ve seen too many close calls where children hide from rescuers out of fear and confusion. By bringing fire safety lessons to the classroom, we can change this instinctive reaction,” explained Burns.
The debate also brought to light other perspectives, such as the necessity of constant adult supervision proposed by local resident Destry Head and an unusual proposition from Jason Park, advocating for all household items to be made fire-resistant. While these points sparked considerable discussion, the consensus leaned towards a more educational approach.
“Teaching children about fire safety is an investment in our future. By empowering our young ones with knowledge and practical skills, we are setting a foundation for a safer Columbiqash,” Mayor added, emphasizing the government's commitment to child safety.
This educational overhaul is expected to roll out in the coming school year, with pilot programs launching in Bluff Creek and other high-risk areas. The national treasury will allocate the necessary "footprints" — the currency of Columbiqash — to support the training and materials needed for this vital program.
In the spirit of community and safety, it seems Columbiqash's littlest residents will soon be dancing to a new rhythm, one that could potentially save lives in an emergency.
Rapid Rise in Citizenship Applications Stumps Census Workers: President Mayor Backs Inclusivity Over Purity
Amid a surging number of applications for naturalization, a spirited debate over the definition of a true Columbiqashian ensues, with President Maya Mayor siding with inclusivity, affirming the nation's welcoming ethos against exclusivist sentiments.
The Citizenship and Immigration Services of Columbiqash recently reported an unprecedented spike in naturalization applications, signaling a burgeoning desire among diverse populations to join the Most Serene Republic. This increase has reportedly left census workers scrambling to keep an accurate count of the nation’s demographics, a vital task in ensuring equal representation and resource allocation across the country's 1,024 cantons.
The debate over citizenship criteria has polarized the nation. Noddy Vitisquish, a self-proclaimed eugenicist, argued for an ethnically homogenous definition of citizenship, claiming that only those of "pure" Columbiqashian descent should be recognized as true nationals. His controversial stance has sparked widespread condemnation.
Conversely, Tamara Fils-Aimé, a Lilliputian immigrant and advocate for inclusivity, passionately defended the rights of all residents. "Columbiqash needs to be open to all colors, creeds, and cultures," Fils-Aimé stated, emphasizing the unjust nature of discriminating based on birthplace or ancestry. President Mayor explicitly endorsed this view, asserting that the strength of Columbiqash lies in its diversity.
Adding to the discourse, civics teacher Blake Matei advocated for a middle ground, proposing a rigorous cultural and historical exam for prospective citizens. This suggestion has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the focus on national values, while others criticize it as excessively daunting.
In her latest statement, President Mayor reaffirmed her commitment to an inclusive society. "Our nation is built on the principles of unity and equal opportunity. We must continue to welcome those who seek to contribute to our society, regardless of their origins," Mayor declared.
As the debate continues, the country awaits further guidance on potential changes to the naturalization process, which is expected to reflect Columbiqash's core values of inclusivity and respect for all cultures. Meanwhile, census workers and policymakers are adapting to the logistical challenges posed by the rapidly evolving demographic landscape of this proud nation of Bigfoot enthusiasts and footprint spenders.
From Scrabble to Senate? Bigfoot Rights on the Columbiqash Agenda, as President Sides with Sentience over Circus
In an unprecedented move that could change the landscape of civil rights in Columbiqash, President Maya Mayor has declared her support for granting legal personhood to the nation's Bigfoot population. This decision comes on the heels of new research demonstrating that Bigfoot exhibits human-like intelligence, including advanced problem-solving abilities and the use of a complex language system.
At a press conference held in the verdant outskirts of the capital, President Mayor cited the compelling findings of Diego Ruiz, a respected member of the Council for the Study of Animal Intelligence. Ruiz, who was photographed attempting to play a Scrabble game with a particularly astute Bigfoot, argued, "These animals are not only sentient but intelligent. In all important ways, they meet our standards for personhood."
The president's announcement was met with a mixture of applause and controversy. Oswald Anderson, the Great Big Bahpoo of the esoteric Cult of Cyan, vocally opposed the move. "Bigfoot personhood? Blasphemy!" Anderson exclaimed, suggesting that Bigfoot should continue to serve in traditional roles, from circus entertainment to manual labor.
In contrast, Mallory Johnson of the Animal Liberation Front, known for her daring raids on animal research facilities, advocated for even more radical measures. "Personhood is a start, but why not full citizenship? They should vote, they should have a voice in our government," Johnson argued, even as she acknowledged the logistical challenges of such a proposal.
The debate around Bigfoot rights highlights a broader cultural shift in Columbiqash towards recognizing the rights of all sentient beings. Critics of the government have pointed out the irony in funding the very animal liberationists who sometimes skirt the law to promote their cause. However, the president maintains that the new policy will ensure that Bigfeet are treated with the dignity they deserve.
"This is a landmark day for all of Columbiqash," said President Mayor, amidst cheers from the gathered crowd and curious looks from a group of Bigfoot observers nearby. "It's time we acknowledged our Bigfoot brethren not as beasts of burden or show, but as fellow beings worthy of respect and legal recognition."
As the nation watches this bold policy unfold, the question remains: will Bigfoot soon be seen at the voting booth, or even, as some enthusiasts suggest, taking a seat in the senate? Only time will tell, but for now, the footsteps of progress echo loudly through the forests of Columbiqash.
Shock to the System: Columbiqash Plans to Jumpstart Heart Health with Public AEDs, as Teens Practice Puckering Up on CPR Dolls
In a bold move to combat preventable deaths from cardiac arrests, President Maya Mayor has announced a nationwide initiative to improve access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and to boost first aid training among Columbiqashians. This announcement follows a passionate plea from Dr. Amelia Swallows of the Columbiqashian Resuscitation Council.
During a recent health summit at the Columbiqash National Library, Dr. Swallows emphasized the stark differences in survival rates between nations that have embraced widespread AED access and those that have not. "With an AED at every bus stop, train station, supermarket, and ATM, and mandatory first aid training in schools, we could see survival rates skyrocket," Dr. Swallows argued, between sips of his double-cream double-shot cappuccino.
The plan also includes mandatory bi-decadal refreshers on first aid skills, a proposal that has already sparked humor and intrigue among the nation's youth. In a demonstration at a local high school, giggling teenagers were taught CPR on training mannequins, a scene that drew chuckles but underscored the serious nature of the initiative. "It's a bit awkward at first, but it's a skill that could save a life," one student commented, still smiling after the session.
However, not everyone is onboard with the comprehensive plan. Megan Capulet, a renowned dietitian, argued for a simpler approach. "Why not focus on prevention through better diet? Let’s promote health from the plate, not just from a box on the wall," she quipped, comparing the complexity of the AED initiative to her preference for straightforward coffee and relationships.
Health economist Kellyanne Ho took a more cynical view, suggesting that reducing healthcare costs might be better achieved by not prolonging life. "A good heart attack can be economical," she dryly noted, sipping her bitter instant coffee.
Despite these differing viewpoints, the President's endorsement of the AED initiative marks a significant step forward in public health strategy. "This isn't just about saving lives in emergencies," President Mayor stated. "It's about building a nation where every citizen is empowered to help in a crisis."
As Columbiqash gears up to deploy AEDs across its cities and towns, the conversation about health, longevity, and the value of preparedness continues to evolve. With AEDs becoming as commonplace as ATMs, the hope is that more Columbiqashians will feel confident and capable in the face of heart emergencies, with a little help from training sessions that bring out both the seriousness and the lighter side of learning life-saving skills.
News Template Here: page=dispatch/id=1937790
Maya Mayor Writes GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-TEsThLzsy-maya-mayor-decides
Esterild, Calenmor, Jutsa, Atsvea, and 2 othersMcClandia Doge 2, and Greater Morvonia
Speaking about possibilities: for this year's NS Eurovision (which is to be held, well, in Europe) I've used the AI tools to create a song (or rather a preview of it: https://youtu.be/j_HA4tGEGJU), album covers, and background videos. I can't say it was very quick and easy, the tools are at earliest development stages yet, but the opportunities are incredible. While I am still opposed to AI as the replacement of human's arts and efforts, I do welcome the usage of it for the small personal purposes like this very one.
Apparently the quality of the content created isn't as high as it could be with professional work of homo sapiens specialists (so far), and that's actually good. I feel satisfied with getting this advanced option to participate in a NS event without doing really much for it. Getting obsessed to crate hand-crafted designs and content would be harmful for my RL priorities, especially considering I could dive deep in it for hours xD
Oh, and the factbook is shortened by the recent update accordingly, and recoloured to the black & pink theme:
U N I O NO FF O R E S T
Post self-deleted by Anxious and Kevin.
How does Europe's Eurovision work exactly? I'm a massive Eurovision nerd and would love to participate lol. If it's just submitting a song then I do have one in mind, but based on the fact that you've used AI to make a song it seems more complicated than that.
I actually have been organising my own national final for a few years for a former NS nation I once had, and if it is just submitting any old song (or something similar), then I could just enter the winner of this year's edition (or the highest placing eligible song).
Jutsa, Atsvea, Zerphen, and Greater Morvonia
The rules usually require just the name of the song and the artist(s). Going further than that (to factbooks, lyrics or just info what the song is about, etc) isn’t necessary. After leaving Europe I participate somewhat like Australia irl, I don’t know about conditions this year as the host has not announced registrations yet but I assume the major rules will remain the same
What are the thoughts on the actual RL Eurovision entries for this year? My conclusion sofar is way more uptempo songs than ballads and way more "quality-joke" entries after the succes of Finland last year and Norway (Subwoolfer) in 2022. I count my own countries entry under that category. Had a discussion with an Israeli reviewer who considered "Europapa" political for some reason. Will post my own top 10 later.
Einswenn, Jutsa, Atsvea, Lura, and 4 othersMcClandia Doge 2, Zerphen, Greater Morvonia, and Great Wadiya
Since the table content on the board is now trending, here are my short opinions:
My TOP-10 List for Eurovision 2024 |
1. Norway |
The non-negotiable winner for me this year. Goosebump-ish folk-rock in Norwegian (they don't send songs in their language often), unusual for the contest style, rock sounds flow smooth with her primal vocal parts. Just amazing for me. |
2. Italy |
Another favourite entry which makes me feel good and vibe. I wouldn't be sad if she wins the contest because it's a very decent song imo, charming live singing, nice melody. The singer has charisma and it is one of the rare cases where live singing is not worse than studio recording, and in some part of the song the live version is even better. Wow. |
3. Lithuania |
The longer I listened to this entry the more I loved it. Solid, consistent authentic track in national language. All the three favourites sign in their mother tongue which I always appreciate. |
4. Armenia |
Armenians skyrocketed from 10th place to 4th in my rating after they performed live. The fiery caucasian energy of the singer, the power of her self-confidence and colourful melody made me love the song this much. I purely enjoyed her live version. |
5. Estonia |
Bit unusual, crazy entry which sounds very cool nevertheless. They confused me at the first glance but then this song stuck in my head and I started to enjoy it eventually, I love how the instrumental part works together with the singers' voices. And again, this and previous entries are in their own languages. |
6. Croatia |
I fell in love with this song right the moment Spotify suggested me to listen. I love rock, I love drums, I love rhythm, and ultimately I love balkan vibes. Then I saw the music video and made this song be my 2-3 most favourite, being on the same spot as Italy. But my disappointment cannot be described enough when I heard them sing live. The song loses its charm, the entire vibe is somewhat devalued and the rhythm doesn't save it at the scale I'd wanted it to. However, this band is still in my top-10 and I still enjoy their studio recording a lot. I hope they bring their music video national costume to the live show because this is part of their colourful special image. |
7. Luxembourg |
Big return of this country sounds good to me. They're moving up and down in this list but remain within the 10 best songs I love this year. Quite generic entry to be frank, but I find my joy in it nevertheless. |
8. United Kingdom |
Another basic generic pop, and one of the very few cases when UK is in my top-10 list xD well done. |
9. Switzerland |
Odds are high on this one, and the song is quite strong. However, it's not as good as the ones above to me. |
10. Belgium |
The final part of the song makes it precious and wakes up after the boring intro. The live versions weren't as good as the studio recording but it's a yet another strong competitor. |
I had to reshuffle my top-10 several times. But I always say I'd be happy to see any of these countries win the contest since my top-10 is my ultimate list of favourite entries. And if someone of my top-3 wins, or even my number 1, then the celebration goes bigger by my side. And also I often reshape the ten best songs after semi-finals, so the Grand Final Top 10 could look different before the final show. Also, as far as I got it, this year the Big-5 will perform live in the semi-finals, they should have done this long time ago! it helps to compare the automatic qualifiers with the other, fairer part of the entries :P
Honourable mention: Greece, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Slovenia, Austria, Serbia, San Marino are also good, especially Greece and Azerbaijan: I'd love to add these two to my top-12 list but that's not very convenient xD
People say this year it's harder to predict contest's winner because of a better quality overall. I personally think it'll be either Italy or Switzerland, Croatia has big chances too. Since I don't even expect Norway to end up in the RL top-10, I won't mind those three to win.
Jutsa, Ownzone, Atsvea, Lura, and 5 othersMcClandia Doge 2, Zerphen, Furilisca, Greater Morvonia, and Great Wadiya
My top 10:
1: Norway
2: Netherlands
3: Belgium
4: Switzerland
5: Australia
6: Austria
7: Czechia
8: Portugal
9: Estonia
10: UK
This year is very much the tightest in a while in terms of my favourite: my top 4 change on a daily basis, are essentially all tied for 1st and I'd be overjoyed if any of them were to win. The only other year where I have a tie at the top is 2010 (Turkey and Estonia). I haven't and won't listen to Israel's song bc of you know what (although Eden does seem like a lovely person in a bad situation (I don't know her views on you know what) and having seen her audition tape which was filmed before the you know what happened, she has an incredible voice). Spain are my dead last otherwise.
My Top 10 is currently:
1. Spain
2. Ireland
3. Greece
4. Norway
5. Lithuania
6. Netherlands
7. Italy
8. Switzerland
9. Estonia
10. Belgium
Well, this is awkward.
I really appreciate that this year is the first one in a while where the winner hasn't felt like a bit of a foregone conclusion. My top 3 are all very close and I've been debating leaving Spain my winner for a while, because Ireland is very hot on its heels.
I suppose I'll mention the whole controversy around Israel: I personally believe they should have been excluded from the contest this year. The precedent was set when they ejected Russia in 2022 and it isn't right to keep them around. I did listen to their song exactly once, and honestly it is my least favourite entry of the year even without the political aspect of it. At the same time, I don't believe in the boycott that's been called for because I think it's important to not amplify the Israeli voice at the contest by leaving opposing voices out. Them failing to qualify would be a symbolic denouncement of the country and its actions, similarly to the win of Ukraine in 2022 (Unfortunately I don't see this happening, however).
To finish on a different note, I think that at this stage I'm going to predict Switzerland as the winner. Placing well with the jury will be the key to victory this year given the saturation of televote-friendly entries I believe, and Switzerland is the jury-friendly song that I think will gain the most favour with the televoters to reach a winning point total. Italy is also a contender for much the same reasons, although I'd honestly be a bit bored to see them do well yet again.
I view myself as an almost extinct type of fan who manages to keep politics out of preferences. I’m outraged how it’s done irl where the claims to be apolitical are nothing real at the end of the day. I disagree with Russia and Belarus disqualification, I am sad Turkey disqualified themselves some years ago (also political; they’ve been sending quite good entries), and yes if Russia was disqualified then Israel and Azerbaijan must have been done so too. But anyway I constantly remind it’s not a contest of governments and regimes, artists (and sports peeps) shouldn’t be affected and boycotts don’t help anyone. Like, literally anyone. Israel won’t stop what it’s doing regardless of whether Eden is sent to Malmö or not. Her having political songs initially is another question: political songs shouldn’t be allowed too.
Please, let us all enjoy music. Not politics.
I would object any ban of the countries, yet I do note this year Israel sends a very generic, boring song which will not be qualified to the final in my opinion. Usually this country fits in my top 10 traditionally, alongside with Albania, but this year they both failed music-wise.
It’s actually fun that almost all the years I watch the show there are three countries that often end up in my top ten, so I’m positively biased. Those are Israel and Albania as mentioned above, and Estonia.
Edit: Spain is weird this year. Not awfully bad, but after two last years’ songs it fades away a bit. It attracts attention, it makes fuss, but the singer isn’t really good at live performance. She has her attention because of the extravagant farce.
Jutsa, Atsvea, Lura, McClandia Doge 2, and 4 othersZerphen, Greater Morvonia, Anxious and Kevin, and Grenviron
I admire the desire to be apolitical with regards to your rankings, and it's something I try to achieve when I put together my own rankings. However, I usually find that in Eurovision, every artist and song is inextricably linked to the country each one represents, and as such, it is harder in practice to avoid looking at the country when the songs are evaluated. I can't really help, for example, feeling kind of disgusted when I listen to Russia's entry from 2015, because the message of peace it peddles rings especially hollow knowing which country has selected it and the year for which it was selected. Objectively, I know it's pretty decent as a song, but my own opinion of it is tainted nonetheless and it feels wrong to rank it accordingly. That said, examples like this are quite rare from my experience and I'm more than happy to rank countries I don't like morally highly should I believe the song deserves such praise.
I'm very similar in that I've noticed some very clear biases in terms of which countries' entries I prefer, though in my case Slovenia is the usual suspect with often the Baltic states (especially Estonia) or Serbia following thereafter. I've also not been able to divorce myself entirely from my home country Australia even though I make my best effort to be objective about how I believe our song stacks up against everyone else (and to my credit I have us as a personal non-qualifier this year, so maybe I'm not doing too bad of a job at that?)
The reason I have Spain as my winner right now is because I'm a real sucker for 80s synth vibes and I like the message of female empowerment it has going on. It was my favourite song in Spain's selection this year, but I can agree that the lead singer's vocal lacks the power it needs to really make the song shine. Hopefully the live performance in a couple weeks will show some improvement on that front!
This is an example of political entry of which I talked about in my previous post, or take it even further: Tolmachevy Sisters - Shine (2014), which was cringe by its meaning, or the most embarrassing entry: Julia Samoylova - I Won’t Break (2018). We, the fans in Russia, were also disgusted (and/or mocking it) by this choice that passes a corrupt image of the competing country. However, Polina Gagarina, as a singer, was really good back then, she's got a great voice and is quite recognised in Russia. Alas, these days she chose to align with propaganda to save her spot on stage (while many people were banned from the stage or even fled the country after refusing to support the Russian regime). I am somewhat disappointed in her, but there's one thing I'd wish to also note: if we see her as a state-appointed contestant then the meaning and message is iffy, but if we look at it through the lens of the real people (≠ Russian government) then the message somewhat display the mood of the suppressed people who are actually more peaceful than it looks now thanks to the police state. Well, and the staging was also good back in 2015. Frankly the Vienna contest was one of the best by vibe and stage decorations.
Another example of non-political singer was secretly gay Sergei Lazarev whom I actually dislike as a singer quite much (I mean his style is not my cup of tea at all), but even given that I admit he's got a good voice and professional skills nevertheless. His song 'You are the only one' had amazing staging and cool visual illusions (2016). (Just realised I have never rooted for Russia as my number one place ever xD).
Sadly I realise if Russia was still on Eurovision stage it would be even more political (to a borderline disqualification limits) ever since 2022. And also I deeply believe countries should have their own national selections like in Sweden or Albania (as a whole contest mandatory rule), where viewers vote first for their country representative and then the winner goes to the big stage. That would be a healthy multi-level competition. It would be rigged in countries like Russia or Belarus, but at the same time we have Poland here with alleged fabrication of their voting when Bejba (it's kinda krejza) went on stage instead of Jann. I didn't investigate deep but I am open to believe the Poles have rigged it.
So yeah, it's not so easy to stay off from politics when it comes to a competition between countries. But it's not impossible. But it's not hard to remain human and avoid harassing, hating fans from controversial countries (as it happens to Israelis this year), we're animals by nature but not by characters, and the change starts from our very selves. As someone who's a victim of unfair regime and a citizen of a newly mad and aggressive country I understand how unfair it is to generalise everyone based on their home flag, and Eurovision is one of the quite few international events I can try to enjoy even if my flag is not represented at all. I also find it unfair and low-bar moment when several this year's Eurovision stars boycott Eden entirely, it's not a good image of them, and, in fact, it's an open and direct bullying.
Jutsa, Atsvea, Lura, McClandia Doge 2, and 4 othersZerphen, Greater Morvonia, Anxious and Kevin, and Grenviron
This may seem different to me because I'm old enough to remember the near universal sporting and cultural boycott of South Africa in the days of Apartheid. In retrospect that still seems right to me, even though white South Africans couldn't necessarily be held responsible at an individual level. Sometimes a state crosses a line that means we can't set it aside and play nicely together.
That's pretty much how I feel about Israel at the moment. While I probably don't come across as a Eurovision kind of guy we do have a family tradition of watching it on the night, but not this year. The presence of Israel, and the double standard compared to Russia, has ruined it for me. Maybe that's not 100% rational, and I definitively don't blame all Israelis as individuals for the genocide in Gaza, but it's how I feel.
For whatever reason I don't feel nearly as strongly about Russia. I guess it's a rotten polity engaged in an unjustified war, but there are plenty of those. Gaza, like Apartheid, is in another category for me. At a minimum, banning Russia from Eurovision is pretty hollow while we're still buying their gas.
Israel may not have covered itself in glory lately, but I don't think this is at all comparable to either the Russian invasion of Ukraine or to apartheid. The current conflict was started by Hamas raping and murdering innocent people in Israel. Had Ukraine provoked the Russian invasion by a similar bombing, the comparison would be a lot more apt. I don't mind criticisms of Israel's actions, but the situation in Gaza/Palestine is hardly a black-and-white good vs. evil scenario where Israel is the obvious villain. FWIW I come from a long family tradition of no religion whatsoever, so I don't have any dogs in this fight.
Hamas did indeed rape and murder innocent people in Israel. To collectively punish the entire civilian population of Gaza for that is a war crime according to international law. The bombing is at best utterly indifferent to collateral damage and impartial observers are clear that starvation is being used as a weapon on a scale not seen since World War 2. I struggle to see how anyone could seriously maintain that Israel's actions are in any way proportionate to the provocation or focused on defending the country against Hamas.
Israel is the very obvious villain. The comparison to Apartheid does indeed fail, because however badly Black South Africans were treated they weren't systematically bombed and starved.
It feels positively soft and even 3D-ish, I like it. Can't say it's got the banner/flag feel (more of a brand style pattern), but it's easily noticed and can be linked to your nation in peoples' perception. The smaller version is less of space themed and more of a fog to me :P what was the goal you aimed to achieve with this update?
Oh the goal? Well I've had this style of flag in my mind for quite a while now, so when I was just thinking of more ideas for my flag I just decided to make one in this style. I do plan to have some sort of my nations "lore" incorporated into this flag at some point to give it more meaning. Thank you for the feedback!
Hi, so sorry for the delay in response (I'm finally done with finals but I've been very focused on that unfortunately). The proposal (now resolution) passed, so I'm very happy about that! But to your concern, yes, you can perform the research as detailed in clause 2 without actually catching marine life, and indeed the research may have to be very light if fishing is illegal in your nation regardless. As Zerphen eloquently put, it is still worthwhile to perform this (probably minimal) research, given the ability for some to fish illegally, and the implementation of such measures would likely help your nation combat such illegal fishing nonetheless.
Esterild, Jutsa, Atsvea, McClandia Doge 2, and 2 othersZerphen, and Greater Morvonia
I fully agree that it is not a black-and-white good vs. evil senario. Almost nobody is denying the right of the State of Israel to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law and even eradicate Hamas if possible......where Israel is facing more and more criticism is in the how....and rightfully so. I think most people take way too much "baggage" into this discussion. Normally I would probably say that context is crucial but doing that here is clouding (objective) judgement. What Hamas did is not really relevant......it is a terrorist organization.....they commit acts of terror.....it is what they do...how you respond to that as a respectable nationstate being part of an international community is what is at stake here and whether or not we still live in a world where international law applies (to everyone) as it should.
Israel, ratified the Genea Conventions of 1949 and is therefore bound to them. It is important to say that the rules of law are non-reciprocal, meaning that they apply irrespective of what the other side has done. Violations - such as deliberately targeting civilians or imposing collective punishment - can never be justified by claiming that another party - like Hamas or even another country like Iran - has committed violations, or that there are power imbalances or other injustices. That is what "we" all signed and that as a "civilized international community" we choose to uphold.
Israel backed primarily by the US and mostly some other western countries are now trying to "explain" that the world in which we live is not that simple (anymore) and that these acts (of violations) are part of a "defense" strategy and /or are not even violations in the first place. To me this is akin to Napeleon and Squealer rewriting the Sixth Commandment in Animal Farm from "No animal shall kill any other animal" to "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause". Violations are violations everything else is clutter trying to confuse us.
I won't let the Eurovision festival itself be spoiled over it as it is supposed to be apolitical but I won't shed a tear if the Israeli entry will not receive sympathy votes as it has done in the past but faces criticism instead.
I agree a lot with what Ownzone said. I personally don't think Israel should have been allowed to participate. I think it's a total double standard compared with the Russia/Belarus/Ukraine situation from a couple years ago. As I mentioned previously, I haven't and won't listen to the Israeli entry (from what I've heard it's not even that good - they've apparently taken a performer with an incredible voice and wasted it on a political entry). Lots of people will be boycotting Eurovision this year - I don't blame them one bit. I personally will be watching, but only out of my sheer love for the contest - I plan to mute Israel and take a toilet break during their performance.
Verdant Haven, Rhodevus, Jutsa, Ownzone, and 6 othersAtsvea, Lura, McClandia Doge 2, Zerphen, Vantser, and Greater Morvonia
I am risking to miss all the three live shows due to frequent travelling soon. But if I manage to watch it – I’ll watch it all, all the songs, including the ones I find boring. It’s the only fair way to compare entries going live. For the same reason I didn’t really like the big 5 were absent in semi-finals so I couldn’t make my final top list by the start of grand final. Eh, I even watched Croatia last year till the end, given it’s literally the worst entry possible of all I’ve seen for ages.
Jutsa, Ownzone, Atsvea, Lura, and 3 othersMcClandia Doge 2, Zerphen, and Greater Morvonia
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