Nation/Cezanne
| This page is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final. |
| The Maritime Community of The Cezanne | ||||||
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| Motto: The awareness of our own strength makes us modest | ||||||
| Anthem: Anthem of Cézanne | ||||||
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| Official languages | No Official | |||||
| Main Language(s) | English | |||||
| Ethnic groups (2014) | Unknown | |||||
| Demonym | Cezannois | |||||
| Government | Dictatorship | |||||
| - | Captain | Antoine Cezanne | ||||
| Unrecognized Maritime Community | ||||||
| - | Ordered | 21 Oct 2009 | ||||
| - | Laid Down | 13th June 2010 | ||||
| - | Launched | 2 Feb 2014 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | 0.364 km2 (16 resident decks) 0 sq mi |
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| - | Length | 350 m | ||||
| - | Beam | 65 m | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2014 estimate | 8,000 + | ||||
| Currency | Cezannois Virtual Wallet | |||||
| Date format | dd-mm-yyyy | |||||
| Calling code | +371 | |||||
| Internet TLD | .cez | |||||
The Cezanne is a private residential ship serving as a maritime community, which operates in the 10,000 Islands, staying in most ports approximately three days.
Since its launch in 2014, The Cezanne has continuously circumnavigated the globe, spending extensive time in the most exotic and well-traveled ports.
At 350 metres long with a beam of 65 metres and sixteen resident decks, The Cezanne is one of the largest privately owned yachts on the planet.
It has 2,500 residences, ranging for small studio apartments to luxery penthouses, boasting accommodations for up to 12 passengers. In addition there is a 300 room hotel aimed primiarly at guests of the Residents. A total of 5,000 Residents, 2,500 staff and an average hoel occupancy of 500 have created a residental community of some 8,000 people. Some Residents live on board full time while others visit periodically throughout the year
Despite operating amost entirely independant of regulation the community has to date refused to claim any kind of sovereignty, rather operating under various flags of convience, usually organized through financial arrangement with various governments in the 10,000 Islands. Despite this the community charges no taxes of any type on Residents or businesses operating on the Cezanne and may be considered soewhat of a tax haven.
Over the years the families strong pro business leanings and and promotion of civil rights has led to the development of a libertarian nation supported by oil money and has become home to a vast number of free thinkers, liberals and business leaders.
The Cezanne family focuses on maintaining the community but true to their liertarian values they leave many of the traditional functionals of government to the private sector including healthcare, education, road construction and insurance. They focus mainly of security and settlement of disputes.
There is a small national army and security force formed mainly from international recruits which is supported by a far larger mercenary force.
There are no official languages on the isles however English is spoken as the universal language of the platforms by 98 percent of the population.
Cezanne suffers from a shortage of water with no fresh water sourse. The country relies heavily on rain as well as a desalination plant to provide household water.
While the platforms have always represted a refuge for artisans as well as businesses, there has in recent years been a push to diversify its income and industry from oil and its derivitives. New industries focused on aquaculture, fishing, finance, pharmacuticual, technology, green technologies and light construction has been pushed heavily with notable successes.
While there is no state religion and citizens are free to worship or not as they desire the most popular religion is that of Logos, a popular logic based faith which has its base on the platforms.
As the national capital, it is the location of all current diplomatic missions maintained by other countries with all of the current embassies being located within the highly modern and guarded 'International quadrant'. The various institutions that make up the country such as the national parliament, supreme court and the majority of the operations of the government such as the national cabinet and the foreign office which maintain the positive image of the nation abroad are located within the beating heart that is the central business district
Contents
Etymology
History
Recreation
Healthcare
Climate
Cezanne has a subtropical climate with very mild winters (on the coast) and warm to hot summers. Snow is possible only in the Black Mountains in the central part of island. Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry. The average annual temperature on the coast is around 25 °C during the day and 12 °C at night. Generally, summers last about eight months, beginning in April with average temperatures of 21–23 °C during the day and 11–13 °C at night, and ending in November with average temperatures of 22–23 °C during the day and 12–14 °C at night, although in the remaining four months temperatures sometimes exceed 20 °C. Temperatures in the Black Mountains range from -10 to 12 °C.
Average annual temperature of sea is 24–26 °C, from 19 °C in February to 28–30 °C in August (depending on the location). In total 7 months – from May to November – the average sea temperature exceeds 22 °C. This is possible by the unique lagoon environments.
Sunshine hours on the coast are around 3,000 per year, from an average of 5–6 hours of sunshine per day in December to an average of 12–13 hours in July.
Biodiversity
Wild Animals
Rat
House Mouse
Bats
Feral Cats
Birds
Pigeon
Gulls
Cormorant
Gannet
Osprey
Owing to humans occupying the territory of Cezanne for thousands of years, little is left of the original vegetation. Protected areas of Cezanne are left to the discretion of the landowners and many are used for the timber industries.
These natural environments are shaped by diverse flora, and include widespread species of pine, the chestnut, the cork-oak, the holm oak and eucalyptus . All are prized for their economic value. Laurisilva is a unique type of subtropical rainforest found in few areas of the Central Pacific Empire and the world, there are large forests of endemic Laurisilva forests found throughout the nation.
There are several species of diverse mammalian fauna, including the fox, badger, lynx, Wolf, wild goat, wild cat, hare, weasel, polecat, chameleon, mongoose, civet, brown bear and many others.
Cezanne is an important stopover for migratory birds, in places such as the Black Mountains and the lagoon, where thousands of birds cross from Islands/ 10,000 Islands during the autumn or in the spring (return migration). Five hundred bird species occur in Cezanne (either for nesting or during the course of migration), and annually there are new registries of nesting species.
The national animal is the peacock and can be found on the national flag.
There are over 100 varieties of freshwater fish species, especially in the rivers and lagoon areas varying from the giant catfish to some small reef and endemic species that live only in the lagoon. Some of these rare and specific species are highly endangered because of habitat loss, pollution and drought. Upwelling along the coast of Cezanne makes the sea extremely rich in nutrients and diverse species of marine fish. Marine fish species are more common, and include thousands of species, such as the sardine, tuna and mackerel in the deeper waters or wrasse, parrott, grouper, clownfish etc found in the reefs. Bioluminescent species are also well represented like the glowing plankton that are possible to observe in some beaches.
There are many endemic insect species, most only found in certain parts of Cezanne, while other species are more widespread like the stag beetle and the cicada.
Water supply
Cezanne suffers from a shortage of water. The country relies heavily on rain to provide household water and for many years now, the average annual rainfall seems to be decreasing. Cezanne has a total of 113 dams and reservoirs.
Dams remain the principal source of water both for domestic and agricultural use. Water desalination plants are gradually being constructed in order to deal with recent years of prolonged drought. Water desalination plants which have supplied almost 50 percent of domestic water since 2001. Efforts have also been made to raise public awareness of the situation and to encourage domestic water users to take more responsibility for the conservation of this increasingly scarce commodity.
Economy
The lack of a central government authority has led to a very pro business environment with many of the traditional roles of government provided by private corporations. There is a complete lack of taxes, either private or corporate, has created a hub for regional and international businesses.
The lack of regulation has led to a self regulating industry with may have kept wages lower than comparably developed nations and can at times mean a hostile or dangerous working environment. There are no laws governing employee conditions, working hours or ages. This can mean vast difference between employee working conditions depending on the employer but generally speaking, and with several notable exceptions, conditions are generally average and improving due to the influx of new companies offering alternate and competitive employment.
In recent years business services have overtaken more traditional industries such as fishing, textiles, clothing, footwear, cork, wood products and beverages.
Primary sector
Agriculture in Cezanne is based on small to medium-sized family-owned dispersed units. However, the sector also includes larger scale intensive farming export-oriented agro-businesses. The country produces a wide variety of crops and livestock products, including tomatoes, citrus, green vegetables, rice, corn, barley, olives, oilseeds, nuts, cherries, bilberry, table grapes, edible mushrooms, dairy products, poultry and beef.
Forestry has also played an important economic role among the rural communities and industry (namely paper industry, engineered wood and furniture).
Traditionally a sea-power, Cezanne has had a strong tradition in the fishing sector and is one of the countries with the highest fish consumption per capita. Cezannois processed fish products are exported through several companies under a number of different brands and registered trademarks.
Cezanne is a significant minerals producer and is ranked among the leading copper producers. It is also a noted producer of tin, tungsten, uranium and has some hydrocarbon exploration potential. The country has vast iron and coal reserves, mainly in the north.
Secondary sector
Industry is diversified, ranging from automobile, aerospace, electronics and textiles, to food, chemicals, cement and wood pulp.
Modern non-traditional technology-based industries like aerospace, biotechnology and information technology, have been developed in several locations across the country. Since after the turn of the 21st century, many major biotechnology and information technology industries have been founded and are concentrated in the metropolitan areas of Logan.
Tertiary sector
Travel and tourism continue to become extremely important, with visitor numbers forecast to increase significantly over the next years. The lagoon area is world famous for its natural, unspoilt beauty and private companies go to great extents to ensure its continued survival. The comparative low costs of staying in Cezanne adds to its lure as a destination.
The banking and insurance sectors performed well until the Gothic financial crisis, partly reflecting a rapid deepening of the market in Cezanne.
Labour market
Although a developed country and a high income country, Cezanne has a comparitively low GDP per capita in comparison to similarly developed nations in the Central Pacific Empire and its population has one of the lowest incomes per head in the region.
Unemployment normally stands at around 4 percent.
Transport
Available modes of transport are by road, sea, and air. Roughly half the roads are paved and in the hands of private toll companies, private companies also control roads in the cities charging a daily rate for use.
Per capita private car ownership is very high mainly due to low costs, made possible by lower costs of construction, lower safety standards (which are improving due to competition) and no taxes on either import, export or sales. Private bus and train companies offer a well developed network of available routes at reasonable prices.
Cezanne has several heliports and its main international airport in based in Logan, the largest city and de facto capital, which also serves as the largest harbour serving cargo and passenger cruise ships.
Communications
ACN (Cezannois Communications Network) manages most telecommunications and Internet connections on the island. However the sector is incredibly competitive with many smaller local companies. ANC has been accused of anti competitive practices in stamping out this competition.
Energy
Cezanne has considerable resources of wind and river power, the two most cost-effective renewable sources. Since the turn of the 21st century, there has been a trend towards the development of a renewable resource industry and reduction of both consumption and use of fossil fuel resources. One of the largest solar power plants in the Central Pacific Empire operates near Logan, while the world's first commercial wave power farm, opened in the Northern region. Currently 60% of the country's electrical production was from coal and fuel power plants, while 40% were derived from hydroelectric dams, and 6% by wind energy. This has been led by private companies who can charge greater fees for clean renewable energy.
Demographics
Unofficial estimate put the population at more than 10 million, of which 52% was female, 48% was male, however the lack of a central authority to oversee census data makes data unreliable, oven provided by companies. This population has been relatively homogeneous for most of its history: a single religion and a single language have contributed to this ethnic and national unity, however there is no official language or religion and immigrants are free to come and go however they are expected to adapt to the communities while there.
Native Cezannois are a Caucasian ethnic group. The most important demographic influence in the modern Cezannois seems to be the oldest one; current interpretation of Y-chromosome and mtDNA data suggests that Cezannois have their origin in peoples that began arriving around 45,000 years ago. All subsequent migrations did leave an impact, genetically and culturally, but the main population source of the Cezannois remains unchanged. Studies of mitochondrial DNA suggest that between 5–9% of modern Cezannois have some ancestry from other Central Pacific Empire nations.
Immigration
Cezanne has an open immigration policy which allows foreigners to come and stay in the nation for as long as they desire without restriction. This has led to waves of immigration into the nation, especially in recent years, as the economy develops.
However the nation does not differentiate between foreigners and natives under the legal system, nor are ambassadors or foreign representative granted dispensation. In fact senior community leaders are held to a higher standard and foreign diplomats can face serious punishments in the event of wrong doing. Furthermore there is no immunity granted to anyone regardless of nationality or stature.
Religion
There is no state religion in Cezanne and approximately 20% of the population belong to various other churches however the dominant religion is that of Cezannois Orthodoxy. Despite its name it has almost no connection to other faiths and developed natively on the islands.
The central belief is of two supreme beings, a god and a goddess. When in balance the world is harmonious while times of strife are attributed to a lack of balance between the two.
Cezannois believe that faith in both gods are essential and an equal division of faith is necessary for balance.
It is accepted that all things are connected by energy which can be neither seen or touched but connects and binds everything. As such murder for example is not just a crime but a sin which will come back in a form of energy later on. This is comparable to the concept of Karma.
The is no belief in an afterlife with good deeds rewarded during life and bad deeds punished.
While there are many beautiful religios buildings there is no central religious authority with each church belonging to the community.
As with all of the Tyrfail, Deception was colonized by settlers from accross the region and beyond. Many of these had to some extend integrated into their former communities and brought with them their varying religions. This has resulted in a wide range of religions in the city. The two main are Christianity and the official church of the Islands, the Covenant Church which is the traditional faith of the travelling peoples.
More then 10% of the people consider themselves atheist and a far greater percentage are nonpractising. Perhaps due to the more pressing concerns of city life the issue of religion has not become an issue.
The Covenant Church is the only major religion to be growing in numbers, peraps due to thier charitable works which include basic level schooling, emergency housing, medical facilities and food distributation centres. In truth the Church has established a powerful position in the city which rivals the authority of the official city leadership. This has led to some concern but with the essential role they play and level of support they enjoy the government has so far allowed the Church great authonomy in their actions.
Languages
There is no official language however Cezannois is spoken by 90% of the population. The influx of immigrants has seen the native language decrease from a high of 96%.
Education
Cezanne has a highly developed system of primary and secondary education all of while is provided by private companies. The high quality of instruction can be attributed to the large fees charged while a sliding scale is available with the poorest receiving little or no education at any level.
Many companies include child education as one of their employment benefits, discouraging movement of staff. While they also sponsor promising students through college, which is generally only available for wealthy families or those which patrons from companies.
Various international schools are privately available and cater to most of the worlds languages and curriculums.
Culture
Cezanne has developed a specific culture while being influenced by various civilizations in 10,000 Islands. All museums or galleries are run by private for profit companies and several were former collections of wealthy individuals.
Architecture
Traditional architecture is distinctive a style known as Cezannois Gothic, a sumptuous, composite Cezannois style of architectural ornamentation of the first decades of the 16th century. A 20th-century interpretation of traditional architecture, Soft Cezannois style, appears extensively in major cities, especially Logan.
Cuisine
Cezannois cuisine is diverse. Cezannois consume a lot of trout, for which there are hundreds of recipes. Fish has been the stable protein of the island for centuries. Typical Cezannois meat recipes, that may be made out of beef, pork, lamb, goat or chicken.
Cezannois have a culture of good food and throughout the country there are myriad good restaurants and small typical cafes serving local produce. The consumption of food is to be savoured and meals can run for hours.
Cezannois wines have deserved international recognition since the foundation of the nation. Today the country is known by wine lovers and its wines have won several international prizes. Cezannois Port is well known around the world.
Music
Cezannois music encompasses a wide variety of genres. The most renowned is a melancholy urban music, usually associated with the guitar and saudade, or longing.
In addition to urban and folk, the Cezannois listen to pop and other types of modern music.
Sport
Football is the most popular sport in Cezanne. The AFA (Cezanne Football Association) is a private for profit company which controls the most popular league in Cezanne, the Cezanne Championship. 12 teams compete playing at home and away, after 22 games the league is divided into 2 with each team playing the other 5 in their division home and away again. Each team can easily fill their stadiums with very lucrative television contracts.
Other than football, many Cezannois sports clubs compete in several other sports events with a varying level of success and popularity, these may include hockey, basketball, handball, volleyball, equestrian, track and field, rugby and aquatic events.
The country has also achieved notable performances in sports like fencing, judo, kitesurf, rowing, sailing, surfing, shooting, triathlon and windsurf and wrestling.
In motor sport, Cezanne is internationally noted for the Rally of Cezanne, a challenging international rally championship attracting teams from across the world.
Other popular sport-related recreational outdoor activities with thousands of enthusiasts nationwide include airsoft, fishing, golf, hiking, hunting and orienteering.
National Identity
Cezanne may have no central governmental authority but despite this or perhaps because of it most Cezannois have a very strong sense of national identity. Most recognize that the liberties they enjoy in their lives are impossible in other nations and must be defended.
While there are no official insignia of the nation, the national flag, national animal (peacock) and anthem (We who are free) have for centuries been proudly associated with the nation and act as the de facto symbols of the nation and all Cezannois take great pride in them. Immigrants and foreigners while in Cezanne are expected to act likewise.
Ethnic groups
The many differnet people who migrated to Deception in the 80's and 90's relocated from dozens different countries throughout Ixnay and the wider world. Each brought their differing cultures and customs with them when the nation was founded, it is fair to say that Deception is a true melting pot. As with much of the rest of the nation a Desolation Island culture is slowly emerging but many differences remain. Loyalties are often split between family groups, historical nationality, current neighbourhoods and to the islands as a whole.
Government & Politics
Cezannois Common Law is the polycentric legal system of Cezanne. Under this system, elders and community leaders serve as judges and help mediate cases using precedents. As a nation without any central government or authority figure it is an example of how common law works within a stateless society and closely resembles the natural law principle. Even though the common laws may be centuries old, it serves more than adequately as the legal system of a modern, well-functioning economy. Common Law seems to have evolved organically in Cezanne with little outside influence.
Under common law, there is no authority that dictates what the law should be. The law is instead discovered by judges as they determine the best way to resolve a dispute. As such, the Cezanne by tradition is a stateless society; that is, Cezannois have never accepted the authority of any central government, their own or any other. Under Common law, Cezanne forms a libertarian kritarchy and conforms in many respects to natural law. The lack of a central governing authority means that there is a slight variation in the interpretation of Common Law amongst different communities. The laws that are widely accepted are called National Common Law and those particular to a specific community are referred to as Regional Common Laws.
As with other law systems, the common law legal system also demands a certain amount of specialization of different functions within the legal framework. Thus, one can find judges, jurists, detectives, attorneys, witnesses and officers to enforce the law.
Contemporary use
Law and, consequently crime, are defined in terms of property rights. The law is compensatory rather than punitive. Because property rights requires compensation, rather than punishment, there is no imprisonment, and fines are rare. Such fines as might be imposed seldom exceed the amount of compensation and are not payable to any court or government, but directly to the victim. A fine might be in order when, for example, the killing of an animal was deliberate and premeditated, in which case the victim receives not one but two animals. Fines figure in another interesting way. It is expected that a prominent public figure such as a religious or political dignitary or a policeman or a judge should lead an exemplary life. If he violates the law, he pays double what would be required of an ordinary person. Also, since the law and crime are defined in terms of property rights, the Common Law is unequivocal in its opposition to any form of taxation.
In order to assure that compensation will be forthcoming even in cases where the perpetrator is a child, or penniless, or mentally ill, or has fled abroad, the Common Law requires that every person be fully insured against any liability he might incur under the law. If an individual cannot make the required payment, a designated group of his community are responsible. If the family or community tires of bailing out a repeat offender, they can disown him, in which case he becomes an outlaw. Not being insured, he/she forfeits all protection under the law and, for his safety, must leave the country.
Every Cezannois has his own judge, appointed at birth, who will sit on the court that will judge him. The judge, is chosen carefully, following weeks or months of deliberation by the family. He has no authority over the family but is chosen solely for his knowledge of human affairs and his wisdom, and he can lose his position if his decisions are not highly regarded in the community.
A virtue of each person knowing from birth who will be one of his judges, and vice versa, is that a judge knows each person and can observe and counsel him before what might seem to be a small problem escalates into a crime.
Court procedure
When an offense is committed, the offender/defendant always goes first to his/her judge who then forms a court with the judge of the plaintiff. If the two judges cannot resolve the matter, they form another court made up of non partisan judges unassociated with either party. Common Law cases prevent several different types of individuals from participating in dispute adjudication; persons who have close family relations with the parties, persons who have personal grievances against either party, and persons who have previously sat in judgment of the same case are all excluded. Religious leaders are also not allowed to be judges in a case.
Once a court is formed and has accepted jurisdiction over a case, its first action is to appoint a recorder who will memorize, repeat and summarize the oral proceedings for the judges. The court then announces when and where it will hear the case.
When the court session opens, the court invites the plaintiff to state his case. The plaintiff has the right to appoint a representative to make the presentation on his behalf. During the presentation, the plaintiff has the opportunity to confer with his judge to make sure that he has not forgotten anything. When the plaintiff has finished, the court asks him to summarize his case and state his demands. Lastly, the court asks the defendant to present his defense and any counterclaims.
Then the court adjourns to deliberate on whether any witnesses should be heard. If the judges allow it the parties can also call in experts and character witnesses. When the plaintiff has elaborated his case with witnesses and evidence, the defendant is given a chance to refute the plaintiff's charges, arguments, and evidence.
Finally, the court adjourns again to evaluate the evidence. Punishments such as death and execution are reserved for murder, bodily harm, rape or child abuse. All other crimes will result in a financial compensation being awarded. There are no prisons.
Common Law is accepted by the people. All agreements are reached and all disputes are resolved through consensus. There is no fighting over verdicts or appeals. The communities decision is final.
National Representatives
While there is no central authority the judges meet once each year in Logan to discuss common law and agree amendments to National Common Laws. If no agreement is reached the laws may still be kept as Regional Common Laws and no judge can be forced to adopt a regional law but must follow National Common Laws.
Also at this meeting two judges are selected as representatives of the nation to represent it in the in the World Assembly and in the council of [http://www.nationstates.net/region=10000_islands/ 10,000 Islands. These representatives are the only two people authorized to speak for the nation.
Since these national representatives are selected some have argued the nation falls under the category of republic however most Cezannois would reject this claim.
Foreign relations
Twin Cities
Partly from a desire to boost awareness of the plight of the Deception and the Tyrfail the national government has organized a town twinning program. The following cities had been granted twin status with Deception after they officially expressed their interest to the local government authority.
Alliances
Embassies
Trade Agreements
Government and Authority
Deception is the capital city of the Tyrfail and as such is home to all major government offices and foreign embassies. It is also home of the national courts and the residence of the Governor.
The city itself is divided into seven councils, each led by a district council under the control of the district Governor
Besides the city itself, the municipality comprises 11 other suburban localities: 6 towns and 5 communes.
Administration
Deception is governed by the Governor of Deception who is elected once every four years. The current City Governor is Andrzej Niculescu. Under the Constitution of the Deceptiion Isles there are no term limits and Niculesu is currently serving his third terms,originally being elected in 2003. During his 11-year term, Niculesu has committed himself to protecting international interests and the ensuring the safety of the diplomatic quarter. The city outside of this singe district has seen seady decline in infastructure which was poor even to begin with. He is widely believed to be in the pay of various international companies and local gang leaders whose activities have long been ingored. He has accumulated a significant property portfolio outside accross the region.
The latest elections took place on 10 May 2011. Only 21% of voters participated, just above the required 20% turnout, although the figures and the result are widely suspected of being rigged. The next scheduled election will be in 2015. Niculesu enjoys the support of the National Governor and with few opponants there seems to be little doubt he will continue in his role for the foreseeable future.
Law enforcement
Law enforcement in both the city of Deception and the surrounding districts is carried out by the Deception Metropolitan Police Service. The organization suffers from a cronic lack of manpower and resources mainly due to ongoing funding issues. The service has a very poor reputation and is often openly courting bribes. Many believe that large portions of the service are openly in the service of criminal elements. As a result crime is a huge problem. Street violance, robbery, murder and other crimes are commonplace as are riots and clashes with street fights with the police.
In essence the Service is primiarly concerned with the safety of the Diplomatic quarter, which is moderately safe. Other areas are seriously neglected.
Economy
Prior to the 1983 establishment of Deception as the capital of the newly formed nation it was a small town dependent on the fishing industry and cottage industries. These was no industrial base of any nature. To some extent fishing still plays a part however small.
Desolation Airways has its head office on the property of Despair International Airport.The airport is one of the main sources of stable employment.
The city is notable for the lack of large international chains (although some do exist) instead a plethora of small industries for grocers, bakers, car repair and many others can be found throught the city. Most are family run and specialize in certain areas. The central market or bazaar is the most popular area. Most of the businesses are small scaleand run down with the population generally vastly underemployed Many people have several jobs.
Official unemployment stands at around 20% but at least a further 30-40% are considered underwmployed and unable to earn sufficiant income.
The Desolation Circus, as well as many smaller operations is active and popular. Many of the shows tour accross the region, showcasing the traditional arts of the Tyrfail various peoples.
The diplomatic sector offers some work in the various national and diplomatic buildings.
Almost all national industries including the news, print, television industries have there headquarters here as the the international aid agency, The Tyrfail Foundation
List of foreign companies operating in Deception
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Geography
Deception is located on the island of Rat, the most earterly of the seven islands making up the Tyrfail. The island is exposed to the Coscivian Sea and can suffer from high winds. The municipality comprises 749 km2.
The city is surrounded by a karst-landscape and relaticely infertile lands. A mountainous, hilly landscape is broken by serveral valleys and large wetlands, which has allowed for cultivation of crops and animal farming.
Climate
Deception has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification), characterized by hot dry summers and windy cold winters. Winter temperatures are often below 0°C, although rarely droping below -14, they have been known to drop as low as -26°C. In summer, the average temperature is approximately 25°C, however, temperatures sometimes reach 35 in mid-summer in the city centre. Although average precipitation and humidity during summer is low, there are infrequent yet heavy storms. Spring and autumn temperatures vary between 16 to 2°C, and precipitation during this time tends to be lower than in summer but with more frequent yet milder periods of rain.
Natural Enviroment
Deception has the same flora and fauna as the rest of the Deception Islands, but there are some differences. While moose are a common sight here, there are few caribou which seem to prefer more inland or mountain areas.
The extreme changes in temperature brought on by the humid continental climate where average temperatures fluctuate between -6 and 26 degrees Celsius, allow many different animals to coexist on the same region that might otherwise not do so. Much of the area which is not rock or wetland is covered by coarse grasses, mosses and lichens.
The fauna of the region is unusually rich for this latitude. This is because of several factors, such as availability of open water with the sea not freezing even in winter and some protection from the winds due to the bay. The land animals include lemming, bears, otters, elk, marten, fox, hare, beaver, caribou, stoat, lynx, muskox, bear, boar, beaver and moose. Wolf used to live in the area, but disappeared in the 1990s due to hunting. Birds are represented by geese, swan, eider, duck, guillemot, auk, puffin, gull, kittiwake, tern, diver, raven, snowy owl amongst others. Most of them are migrating species and form large colonies which may contain up to millions of individuals (for little auk).
Fishes of the area include char, halibut, cod, cuttlefish and shark. Aquatic mammals are dominated by seals (ringed, hooded, harbor, bearded and harp seal) which feed on fish in winter (mostly cod) and crustaceans in summer. Larger species include Atlantic walrus, narwhal and sometimes beluga whale. Atlantic walrus feeds on mussels, fish and ringed seals. Narwhals consume polar cod, Greenland halibut, cuttlefish and pelegaec crustaceans.
The major flora of the region comprises spruce, beech, and various species of oak and fir Vegetation in the marshland is dominated by reeds,Among the flora are medicinal plants such as wolf's bane, cowslip, coltsfoot and belladonna.
Hunting
There are no protected areas around Deception and hunting has become a serious problem. Hunting has been part of life in the city since its foundation to supplement incomes and provide food. However combined with poor soils, hunting as seen large game such as lynx, bear and moosealmost wiped out in the area. Wolves are already through to be extint. This has effected tourist numbers as the already low number who visit do so primiarly for the natural enviroment. As the number of predators has fallen so to has the number of grazing animals, such as rabbit and hare, increased which has led to overgrazing of the little grass and further enviromental damage.
- Puffin Mrkoww.jpg
Puffin
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Moose
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Lynx
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Stoat
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Fox
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Seal
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Muskox
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Boar
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Bear
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Beluga Whale
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Beaver
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Caribou
Tourism
| Travel Warning | WARNING: Travel to Deception is still not advised due to the deteriorating security situation and personal safety concerns. |
Deception is a city blighted by numerous problems including the lack of piped water, absence of sewage pipes in most areas, overcrowding, poor quality housing and lack of central heating. Unemployment has crippled the city which keeps crime rates staggeringly high. Violance is commonplace. Many governments do not recommend travel to Deception unless absolutely necessary. The main travellers here are international advisors, humanitarian personnel as well as a small number of naturalists drawn by the unique climate and natural landscape.
Get in & around
Due to the low level of infastructural development, travel into and around Deception is never easy however it's possible to take a flight to the city or use a bus or car. There is no railway or tram system.
By plane
Desolation Airways is one of the few airlines with regular flights between Deception and the rest of the world as well as several of the other islands comprising the nation. The planes are small and antiquated with a poor safetyand service record.The flights are extremely guarded due to ongoing threats, so expect delays. The airport is mainly a collection of portacabin buildings suarded by a high wall. Customs officials, airline crew and the border guards all expects a payment for ensuring your safety.
By car
Road travel is particuarly hazardess around Deception. There are no paved roads and the tracks often resemble little more then gaot trails. The cars on the island are old and heavily repaired. It is a common scam to rent cars which will break down only to charge more for the repair and collection of the stranded passangers. Even within the city itself there are no paved areas. Animals are often found wandering on ararent roads, there are also no traffic lights and few direction or warning signs making road travel dangerous at the best of times. Taxis are available however unless arranged in advance by a reputable agency are best avoided as many forginers have been attacked, robbed or disappeared from taxis.
By bus
Buses leave reguarly for most of the other cities on Rat. They are generally overcrowded and fairly antiquated. as with car travel, the poor condition of the unpaved roads can make for an unplesent and potentailly hazardess journey. Theft is commonplace on the buses as are drivers who refuse to stop unless additional payments are made.
Sleep
There are few hotels in the city but several can be found around the diplomatic district which offer reasonable service and are fairly safe. Outside of these the quality plummets rapidly as does the safety.
See & Do
- The main attraction to Deception is the surrouding enviroment and nature, with most of the few tourists who visit leaving the city quickly. Guides are highly recommended and trips planned well in advance.
- One attraction you may also want to see is the Church of the Covenant, the centre of the faith in the nation. The building is mainly decrepit although this does not stop many ordinary islands praying here each day.
- Another good place to go is to the Deception Market which features hundreds of small stalls and traders selling everything from live animals to old cars and clothing.
- On weekends, you can go and watch some football, with FC Deception playing in the Desolation Championship.
- Other popular sports include dog racing and boxing and trips can be arranged through hotels.
Eat & Drink
Eating and drinking outside of your hotel can be dangerous and foreigners are advised to bring a guide with them. Prices are unmarked and can be expensive if not advised in advance. Hygine standards are low.
Safety
Tourists are advised to try to blend in with the population and use common sense. The majority of the people are friendly but you should always stay in the main areas and guides, preferably prearranged by a rebutable agency are strongly advised.
Many foreign governments strongly warn their citizens not to travel to Deception under any circumstances. They report that there have been many incidents of their citizens visiting there having their belongings stolen as well as some citizens killed, or kidnapped for ransom.
Demographics
|
Population of Deception | |
|---|---|
| 1981 AD | 5,000 |
| 1983 AD | 47,000 |
| 1990 AD | 110,000 |
| 2000 AD | 600,000 |
| 2010 AD | 750,000 |
Density
The city since its foundation, has been the single most densly populated area in the Tyrfail due to incoming settlers as well as very large natural population growth. The city has increased from around one thousand inhabitants to almost three quarters of a million in just over fifty years. As expected, this often leads to many problems regarding infrastructure and increased inefficiency as the population continues to rise. The city already has no sewage or water connections, no central electric or gas supply and no government provided education or recreational services. The constant increases in population have meant any attempt to improve services are rapidly overwhelmed. A average of 7 people live per house which is often little more then one room. Toilets are often communal, shared between several families.
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