Difference between revisions of "Nation/The Oan Isles"

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== Foreign Relations ==
 
== Foreign Relations ==
  
The Oan foreign policy agenda is shaped by the country's recent history. The [[Auroran-Pacific War]] was a massive conflict between the Allies and the Axis powers that was precipitated by a coup d'etat in Xagrurg by an entity called the Greater Xagrurgian Empire, against whom the Oan Isles declared war. A clandestine usurpation of the Drugov regime in [[Nation/Statarin]] by former Procurator–General Mikhail Starikov, led to Stratarin's withdrawal from the Allies and subsequent joining of the Axis powers. Diplomatic friction eventually sparked open conflict. After months of conflict, the war ended, shaping the post–War peace for a very long time. The Oan Isles regards Stratarin, Ethalria and Xagrurg with disdain and hostility maintaining almost no diplomatic and economic links. The Oan Isles as a former member and currently an observer in the [[Auroran Continental Assembly]] regards its members with warmht especially [[Staynes]], [[Caltharus]], [[Tuvaltastan]], [[Kostoria-Obertonia]] and [[Blueacia]] among others.  
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The Oan foreign policy agenda is shaped by the country's recent history. The [[Auroran-Pacific War]] was a massive conflict between the Allies and the Axis powers that was precipitated by a coup d'etat in Xagrurg by an entity called the Greater Xagrurgian Empire, against whom the Oan Isles declared war. A clandestine usurpation of the Drugov regime in [[Statarin]] by former Procurator–General Mikhail Starikov, led to Stratarin's withdrawal from the Allies and subsequent joining of the Axis powers. Diplomatic friction eventually sparked open conflict. After months of conflict, the war ended, shaping the post–War peace for a very long time. The Oan Isles regards Stratarin, Ethalria and Xagrurg with disdain and hostility - maintaining almost no diplomatic and economic links. The Oan Isles as a former member and currently an observer in the [[Auroran Continental Assembly]] and regards its members with warmth, especially [[Staynes]], [[Caltharus]], [[Tuvaltastan]], [[Kostoria-Obertonia]] and [[Blueacia]] among others.  
  
Further afield the Oan Isles has friends and even allies, the greatest of whom are from the continent of Atlantia: [[The Atlae Isles]], [[Mexregiona]], [[Kuthernburg]] and [[Tretrid]]. [[Atiland]], [[Nacata]] and [[Latianburg]] which together form an alliance helmed by Kuthernburg and the Gordic countries (who form the [[Gordic Council]]) consisting of Crania, Kasmiyland and Subrovenia are considered close partners. The Oan Isles has strong ties to [[Furnifold]] in Yasteria. It has an icy relationship with [[Packilvania]], [[Free Sylvin]] and [[Fortuna]]. In spite of mutual interaction and aid, insurmountable ideological differences have led to lukewarm relations with [[Celannica]]. In general the [[FPA|Fire Pact Alliance]] is regarded with neutral, but vigilant peace. The dissolved [[South East Pacific Coalition]] was considered a foreign policy obstacle and debacle, loathed by the Oan state.
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Further afield the Oan Isles has friends and even allies, the greatest of whom are from the continent of Atlantia: [[Nation/The Atlae Isles|The Atlae Isles]], [[Nation/Mexregiona|Mexregiona]], [[Kuthernburg]] and [[Nation/Tretrid|Tretrid]]. [[Atiland]], [[Nacata]] and [[Latianburg]] which together form an alliance helmed by Kuthernburg and the Gordic countries (who form the [[Gordic Council]]) consisting of Crania, Kasmiyland and Subrovenia are considered close partners. The Oan Isles has strong ties to [[Furnifold]] in Yasteria. It has an icy relationship with [[Packilvania]], [[Free Sylvin]] and [[Fortuna]]. In spite of mutual interaction and aid, insurmountable ideological differences have led to lukewarm relations with [[Celannica]]. In general the [[FPA|Fire Pact Alliance]] is regarded with neutral, but vigilant peace. The dissolved [[SEPC|South East Pacific Coalition]] was considered a foreign policy obstacle and debacle, loathed by the Oan state.
  
The Oan Isles' primary focus is the [[Polynesian Union]]. It shares a close legal, political, cultural, economic and social bond with the other member states. This close link is most visible in the sharing of a monarch with its other four members called the "[[Emperor of Polynesia]]". It regards [[Konoa]], [[Asian Pacific Islands]] and [[East Polynesia]] as its strongest allies. The Oan Isles further forms a part of the [[Staynish Commonwealth]], a international forum for dialogue among former colonies of the [[Morstaybishlian Empire]]. The Oan Isles also participates in the [[Peacekeeping Forces of Urth]], an international organisation focused on post-war peacekeeping and reconstruction and pre-war conflict prevention, and disaster relief and other efforts.
+
The Oan Isles' primary focus is the [[Polynesian Union]]. It shares a close legal, political, cultural, economic and social bond with the other member states. This close link is most visible in the sharing of a monarch with the other three members called the "[[Emperor of Polynesia]]". It regards [[Konoa]], [[Asian Pacific Islands]] and [[East Polynesia]] as its strongest allies. The Oan Isles further forms a part of the [[Staynish Commonwealth]], a international forum for dialogue among former colonies of the [[Morstaybishlian Empire]]. The Oan Isles also participates in the [[Peacekeeping Forces of Urth]], an international organisation focused on post-war peacekeeping and reconstruction and pre-war conflict prevention, and disaster relief and other efforts.
  
 
== Military ==
 
== Military ==

Revision as of 00:06, 27 June 2017

This page is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final.
The Realm of The Oan Isles
Motto"Kia hoa a ro komotua" ("Continue, Regardless")
Anthem"u Loanu e taka" ("The Boy and the Sea")
Regional Map
Regional Map
CapitalLa Rochelle
Official languages Oalanu
Ethnic groups Oatunu
Demonym Oan
Government Constitutional monarchy and direct democracy
 -  Emperor of Polynesia Oaloanu
 -  Chief Councillor Locklyn Le Roy
Legislature National Assembly
Area
 -  Total 22,000 km2
8,494 sq mi 
Population
 -  estimate 58900550
GDP (nominal) estimate
 -  Total 2.225 trillion
 -  Per capita 37,775
Gini40.2
medium
HDI .785
high
Currency Oan Dollar (OAD)
Date format MM-DD-YYYY
Drives on the left
Calling code +1275
Internet TLD .oa

The Realm of The Oan Isles (Oan: Luounuatika ta Oareatu) is located in The East Pacific on the planet Urth to the east of Xiopothos, to the south of Konoa, to the north of Asian Pacific Islands and to the west of East Polynesia. It is the most densely populated nationstate on Urth. It is entirely urbanised; all wilderness has been covered with urban development. It has warm, rainy and humid climate. It has an area of 22,000km2. It has a population of almost 60 million people almost all of whom belong to the Oatunu ethnic group, speak Oalanu and write in the Oalanopapo script. The Polynesian branch of Protestant Christianity is the largest religion.

The Oan Isles is a developed country with high rates of literacy, access to basic services and high rates of development. It has a diverse private-sector-led economy of approximately 2.225 trillion dollars reliant largely on services followed by manufacturing. It has high income inequality and uneven wealth distribution, and a rigid and stratified social order, built on family affiliation, called the Oan Clan System. The Oan Isles shares a ceremonial monarch with members of the Polynesian Union (who are also is closest allies and largest trade partners), the Emperor of Polynesia. It has separation of powers among three branches and a democratic political dispensation helmed by the Chief Councillor, Locklyn Le Roy.

History

Main Article: History of The Oan Isles.

First Settlers and the Polynesian Kingdom

The first human settlers to arrive in the Oan Isles were from Ziseshouwei, approximately 12,000 years ago. An eclectic group of intrepid explorers - with a range of skills and talents -traversed over the mighty and seemingly indomitable southern portion of the Pacific Ocean. They were a sizeable group of people who travelled on fairly advanced navigable rafts or even ships, settling throughout the islands of the South Pacific. They settled first on South Western Gondwana in what today forms the mainland part of Eastern Polynesia. They established the Kingdom of Polynesia, a small city-state on the east coast Through the sanction of the King Li Shingyang, other explorers moved throughout the land, building settlements, mining metals and quarrying stones, cutting down trees in service of the central government seated in the east.

They were talented and skilled craftsman, farmers and intellectuals, who had acquired knowledge and expertise from Ziseshouwei. They used their skills to tame the land and subdue the wilderness, cleaving a home for themselves and their progeny. Masons, smiths, carpenters, writers and artists were part of this group. As the years went by, the appetite of the Shingyang kings seated in the east waxed, the pioneers in the west were vexed. Coupled with their own ambitions and interests, war was inevitable. They formed small autonomous groups with small pieces of territory, stopped paying tributes and ceased all interactions and communications with the east. Pertubed and perplexed by the silence of their pioneers, the Shingyang king dispatched an expedition to investigate what had happened. Upon arrival, it was clear that sedition had been committed. To embolden their cause and frighten the King, the Rebels killed the expeditionaries.

They achieved the opposite effect and in fact wrought the King against them. He sent his armies to subdue them. They came face to face with the might that befell the expeditionaries. The pioneers were neither weak, broken nor savage. They had essentially built for themselves small organised kingdoms. This self determination was met with aggression. War ensued. The western small kingdoms banded together. They fought relentlessly with the Polynesians, gaining and losing ground. The Western Union, as it was deigned, became fickle. Some pushed for continued war and others called for peace. The Western Union eventually splintered. War was the only language spoken in the land. After nearly a century of back and forth strife (after having lived here for five centuries), a massive portion of the Rebels left for other islands.

Scattering across the South Pacific

For all its gains against the Western Union, the damage that the war had caused was irreversible. Blood was spilt by the truckload. Suspicion and fear, famine and drought, and epidemics dealt a decisive blow to these people. They died a sudden and ignominious death. Their Kingdom fell apart after a century. The few who were left struggled to survive - gradually dying out. The few who remained, left for the other islands. The Rebels were facing no better fate. Although the setting was idyllic, the circumstance was harsh. They struggled to survive. They foolishly welcomed the new group who had left Gondwana.

Unfortunately disease proliferated and the group dwindled. A few, who had remained uninfected and strong, abandoned their comrades for fear of their own survival. They left for what is today the Asian Pacific Islands. They settled there, with their own experiences and circumstances and distinct history. A second group left for the what today comprised the Oan Isles. They settled on the Rock Island. Early on, there was friction. Two charismatic leaders arose with divergent views and ideals.

Polynesian Settlement and Separation

The group believed that war and personal ambition were the root of their downfall. On that, they saw eye to eye. Unfortunately they disagreed intensely on how this primal nature should be abandoned. The first group was led by Noa and the second was led Oa. Noa advocated for a return to a more natural and primitive lifestyle. He argued for a purely naturalist and pacifist society. His followers became known as Noanists and his ideas became known as and are known as Noanism and form the basis of Ainuism.

Oa disagreed. He believed that industry and scientific development was the only solution to mankind's inadequacies and violent tendencies. His group became known as the Oanists. They tried to live harmoniously, but it was impossible. Oa believed that the Noanists had to be eliminated before their inferior thinking eliminated the entire group. Clandestine raids were carried out against the Noanists. Noa eventually found out. Rather than face the Oanists in the same primal combat that had driven them from Polynesia in the first place, they fled for the north in what is now Konoa. Noa advocated for absolute simplicity. His people lived without borders or centralised structure. The people took his teachings and live by them for thousands of years.

Oa became an iron fisted dictator. The people eventually named their nation after him. They underwent a ruthless process of growth. Scholarly research was encouraged. Science and technology were lauded above all else. They grew and grew, expanded and expanded for thousands of years. They exploited the land. They cut the trees and sucked the land of all of its nutrients. Roughly three centuries ago, they had already depleted the land. They became one of the most advanced nations in the world. A century before, the leaders of Oareatu saw that their nation was headed for doom.

War for Konoa

They planted the seeds of the Wayanatunu. They took a small tribe in the extreme north of Konoa. They indoctrinated with belligerence and hypermasculinity. By that time, the Morstaybishlian Empire had already attacked parts of Konoa, and proved a troublesome nuisance (More infomation is available on the History section of article "Konoa" regarding the Morstaybishlian invasion of western Konoa). The Wayanatunu believed that only under a single king and in a united nation could the Konoans resist the "untattooed" Morsts.

The Wayanatunu spread their destruction thoughout Konoa. They attacked without mercy. Although the secret alliance with the Oans was lucrative, the Morsts presented a bigger opportunity. The Wayanatunu struck a deal with the Morsts. They agreed to bring the Morsts slaves, in return for weapons and resources to take these islands. They struggled to take the strongholds of Tranquility and Harmony City. The Oans eventually found out that they were being double-crossed.

The Oans tried to band some of the Konoans against the Wayanatunu and Morstaybishlians to destroy the assailant that they had contrived. After a protracted war of 50 years, a bitterly won peace was agreed to. The Oans captured by the Morsts would be freed. The Morsts would fall to their modern day border on Silence Island and on other islands. The Oans absorbed Konoa into the Oan Isles

Reconquest of the South Pacific

For a century, there was relative peace. The scuffles of neighbouring countries was largely ignored and easily deflected. Even The Auroran Imperial War did not shake them. For six centuries, the Defenders ruled with prudence. Ambition found itself again, as the Oans wanted more resources and space in the mid 20th century. The little travelled islands and the former Polynesian kingdoms were rediscovered. The Oans took over these islands and country and built a great Empire over the south Pacific. After decades of exploration, they reclaimed their land.

Partition of the Oan Isles

Main Article: Partition of The Oan Isles

Further reading: Auroran-Pacific War, Strataro-Oan War and the Islander Civil War

Geography

Main Article: Geography of the Oan Isles

The Oan Isles is an archipelago in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It has an area of approximately 22,000km². It lies between 15° and 30° latitude and 155° and 160° longitude. It was formed from volcanic activity and forms part of a submerged mountain range. It has an average elevation of a few metres above sea level. Its highest natural elevation is a ridge called Blackstone Ridge that rises 100m above the sea. The islands' mineral content is comprised largely of igneous rock and lacks mineral resources such as ferrous metals.

The islands have a tropical monsoon jungle climate. It is generally hot, humid and rainy. There are three seasons: hot, dry, monsoon. Massive storms characterised by powerful winds and torrential rains, with the to cause floods and landslides, occur at the height of monsoon season. Earthquakes and the large waves they cause, are cause for concern and occur sometimes. Through policy, infrastructure and technology such as early warning systems and mandatory emergency drills and first aid training, the effects of disasters, however frequent, are significantly reduced.

The ballooning population and growing Oan economy have made difficult demands of the natural environment. Ultimately the natural forests that once covered the islands and the indigenous plants and animals that lived here are extinct. Urban sprawl covers almost every part of these islands and in fact additional land has been reclaimed from the sea. Although policies have been adopted and technology has been developed to mitigate the effects of pollution and have been successful in that regard, the appetite of the people and the economy for space and resources has caused irreversible and inescapable air and water pollution, soil erosion and undersea sedimentation. For the past decade, the state has introduced the "Greenification" policy. Disused infrastructure was demolished and old landfills were covered up and new parks and wildlife sancturies were established. Throughout the country, thousands of trees have been planted. Although the effects of deforestation have not been solved, nature has slowly crept back. The Oan Isles is one of the few countries to enter the current century with more trees than it had in the preceding one.

Politics

Main article: Politics of the Oan Isles

The politics of the Oan Isles take place in the framework of a centralised parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The Constitution divides the power to make, execute and enforce laws among the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the government respectively. The Crown of Polynesia is the source from which the power and authority to govern emanate, yet the Emperor of Polynesia exercises this power by and on the advice of elected officials. He is subsequently renderred with little legal power and he is considered a ceremonial figurehead. Although a democratic government exists, it is heavily influenced by powerful and wealthy families. Through his leadership of the wealthiest and most powerful family in the land (the Ulua clan) and its vast portfolio of assets and businesses, the current Emperor, Oaloanu, has a large amount of personal rather than political power and influence on the government and national politics.

The National Council, appointed by the Emperor with the approval of the National Assembly and on the advice of the Chief Councillor, forms the executive branch. It handles the work of actually running the country. At its helm is the Chief Councillor: Locklyn Le Roy. He receives his mandate from the National Assembly which forms the law-making branch. Through quadrennial elections and the first past the post electoral system, a body of 225 representatives is elected to represent the people. The largest party therein is the National Party, followed by four largely equally apportioned parties.

The judicial system follows common law and the adversarial system. A single professional judge adjudicates a case. The highest court in the land, the last court for appeals and the only court for judicial review is the National Court. Provincial Courts form the lower tier of the appeals level of the judicial system. Regional and Local courts tackle trials. The right to an attorney, freedom from double jeopardy and from self incrimination are guaranteed. The judiciary is free from interference. Civil rights in general after the "Partition of The Oan Isles" were curtailed eg. rescinding of gay marriage, illegalisation of marijuana and abortion etc. Although Provincial, Regional, Local and Ward Assemblies exist to provide a platform for political debate, real power lies in the hands of elected Governors of provinces and Mayors of towns and cities.

Foreign Relations

The Oan foreign policy agenda is shaped by the country's recent history. The Auroran-Pacific War was a massive conflict between the Allies and the Axis powers that was precipitated by a coup d'etat in Xagrurg by an entity called the Greater Xagrurgian Empire, against whom the Oan Isles declared war. A clandestine usurpation of the Drugov regime in Statarin by former Procurator–General Mikhail Starikov, led to Stratarin's withdrawal from the Allies and subsequent joining of the Axis powers. Diplomatic friction eventually sparked open conflict. After months of conflict, the war ended, shaping the post–War peace for a very long time. The Oan Isles regards Stratarin, Ethalria and Xagrurg with disdain and hostility - maintaining almost no diplomatic and economic links. The Oan Isles as a former member and currently an observer in the Auroran Continental Assembly and regards its members with warmth, especially Staynes, Caltharus, Tuvaltastan, Kostoria-Obertonia and Blueacia among others.

Further afield the Oan Isles has friends and even allies, the greatest of whom are from the continent of Atlantia: The Atlae Isles, Mexregiona, Kuthernburg and Tretrid. Atiland, Nacata and Latianburg which together form an alliance helmed by Kuthernburg and the Gordic countries (who form the Gordic Council) consisting of Crania, Kasmiyland and Subrovenia are considered close partners. The Oan Isles has strong ties to Furnifold in Yasteria. It has an icy relationship with Packilvania, Free Sylvin and Fortuna. In spite of mutual interaction and aid, insurmountable ideological differences have led to lukewarm relations with Celannica. In general the Fire Pact Alliance is regarded with neutral, but vigilant peace. The dissolved South East Pacific Coalition was considered a foreign policy obstacle and debacle, loathed by the Oan state.

The Oan Isles' primary focus is the Polynesian Union. It shares a close legal, political, cultural, economic and social bond with the other member states. This close link is most visible in the sharing of a monarch with the other three members called the "Emperor of Polynesia". It regards Konoa, Asian Pacific Islands and East Polynesia as its strongest allies. The Oan Isles further forms a part of the Staynish Commonwealth, a international forum for dialogue among former colonies of the Morstaybishlian Empire. The Oan Isles also participates in the Peacekeeping Forces of Urth, an international organisation focused on post-war peacekeeping and reconstruction and pre-war conflict prevention, and disaster relief and other efforts.

Military

Main Article: Military of the Oan Isles

The Oan Isles was a pacifist nation, but quickly abandoned that notion at the beginning of the Auroran-Pacific War. The Oan doctrine follows nonaggression, maintain open channels of communication for dialogue, defensive combat and maximum protection of human rights. In spite of its industrial, economic and human muscle, it has a fairly small armed forces. The military is subservient to the civilian government. The Minister of Defence Kiahuaeni Luawuye, tackles the political direction and daily operations and administration of the military. The Chief of Defence, Tukama Uataka reports to her.

His Imperial Majesty's Armed Forces of the Oan Isles is the successor of the Defence Forces of the Oan Isles. It consists of three branches: a navy, army and air force. It has a budget of 100 billion dollars, spent mostly on procurement and prevention. It has an active force of 100,000 men and 200,000 reserves. 50,000 are in the army, 30,000 are in the navy and 20,000 are in the air force. The Oan navy has 50 commissioned ships with one air craft carrier, 20 auxiliary vessels, 20 submarines. The Oan air arsenal has 1,000 aircraft in total: 700 combat craft, 250 support craft and 50 strike and surveillance drones. The Oan Isles maintains an anti-missile shield. It maintains a network of 3 satellites. It maintains 20,000 artillery pieces, armoured assault vehicles and armoured personnel carriers and 5,000 auxiliary vehicles.

The Oan Isles has an indigenous arms manufacturing industry. This massive industry has its own research and development in both software and hardware, domestic construction and assembly. The design branch of the former Metatron Corporation, Metatron Technologies, has a 30 billion 100 year contract to produce computers and manage logistics and communication system. Shipwrights, aircraft builders, and arms manufacturers are present in the arms industry. Sometimes the Oan Isles does import weapons (eg. from Stratarin and Staynes) to compensate for a short fall here or there.

Economy

Main article: Economy of The Oan Isles

The Oan economy is diverse. Three quarters of the economy are made up of services, and a quarter is made up of manufacturing. The largest industries of the services sector are banking and insurance, reexport, shipping and logistics, telecommunications, software development and information technology, tourism, entertainment and hospitality, real estate and construction. The largest sectors of the manufacturing sector are the production of robotics and electronics, solar panels, industrial transformers and converters, optic fibres, microchips, convection systems, water filtration and management technology, and chemicals and pharmaceuticals, textiles and weapons. The largest imports are made up almost entirely of raw materials: wood, sand and cement, salt, petroleum, petrochemicals, raw plant fibre, raw metals and alloys, grain, fish, fruits, dairy and meat. Although the Auroran Pacific War reduced economic output, the post war economy achieved a positive trade balance. importing 589 billion dollars and exporting 624 billion dollars.

The GDP is around 2 trillion dollars and GDP per capita is around 40,000 dollars. The average household income is 100,000 dollars per annum. There is a great degree of uneven wealth and income distribution. The top 5% of the population own 60% of the nation's wealth and earn over 10 times as much as the lowest half of the population. There is, however, a large and prosperous middle class. The least financially affluent portion of the population benefit from allowances, subsidies, free education and healthcare and tax cuts. The country has a massive debt of 5.250 trillion dollars, absorbed largely by the massive corporations, wealthiest families and the government. The country has a relatively high portion of small and medium-sized enterprises, with 1 per 20 people, yet the larger companies such as the Metatron group of companies and the Standard National Bank are dominant forces in their respective industries – in fact they are some of the biggest companies in Aurora.

The Bank of the Oan is the central bank of the country, regulating the banking industry and money supply and issuing the national currency: the Oan Dollar. The free floating currency trades at 7 OAD for 1 SHD. The Oan Isles has 340 billion dollars in reserves. The Oan Isles has a free trade arrangement with nations of the Polynesian Union, the Atlantian Coalition, the Gordic Council, the Staynish Commonwealth and Veikayun Union, whom it counts as its largest trade partners. State dominance of the economy has been significantly reduced from a staggering 75% of GDP to 25% of GDP, raising 700 billion dollars in capital gains from wealthy families. The annual budget with a focus on health, housing and infrastructure, welfare and subsidies, education and business support, takes up 78% of GDP with most revenues raised from capital gains and taxation, for the first time in 25 years, avoiding a deficit.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of The Oan Isles

The Oan Isles has a large, ethnically, linguistically and religiously heterogeneous population of approximately 90 million people. The largest ethnic group is the Oan ethnic group (after whom the country is named), the official and largest language is Oan and the largest religion is the Oan Christian Church, a branch of the Christian religion. Three quarters of the population live in urban areas with the largest city being Port of the Rock followed by La Rochelle, the capital city.

The Oan Isles has a high rate of development. All adults can read and write with virtually all of them completing mandatory and free education. The people benefit from an efficient and free health care system, with an average life expectancy of over 90 and an infant mortality rate of virtually none. Due to the urban lifestyle, family planning and restrictive immigration policies (regardless of travel agreements signed with the ACA), the population grows at a rate of less than half a percent.

Culture

The Oan Isles has a very vibrant cultural scene. Oans frequently attend their thriving concerts, theatres and cinemas among a myriad of cultural attractions. They have a unique culture, that is blend of many cultures.

Music

The Oan music scene is diverse, robust and lucrative. The most prolific genres are tropical, Afrobeat, reggae and dancehall, hip-hop, jazz and R&B. Most music is rhythmic and relatively fast or medium paced, with a beat. There is a strong appreciation of both vocal and instrumental music. Most instruments feature percussion such as marimba and drums, and chord instruments such as acoustic guitar or strummed cello. Oans have an appreciation and preference for live shows such as concerts, music festivals, jazz clubs and open air street parties.

Literature and media

Oans have a vibrant culture of literature. There is a strong culture of teen fiction, due to the popularity of espionage, fantasy, science fiction and alternative universes. Adults generally historical fiction and crime dramas. In the Oan Isles there are warnings for age inappropriate content.

The most prolific publications are The Critic and The La Rochelle Times. The Critic has a magazine, weekly newspaper and online platform. It is begrudgingly sponsored by the state. The government is often the subject of scathing articles in The Critic. The government has tried repeatedly to supress The Critic, but the publication has easily deflected these attempts as it is mandated by the law and shielded by the courts. The exchanges and conflict are often the subject of public entertainment. The La Rochelle Times is a more muted paper, favoured by the middle class. Raisson Rouge began as a Wachovian language magazine, but has blossomed into a fashion, lifestyle and tabloid magazine. Its less restrained counterpart, La Rue poisson, is known for defamation and exaggeration.

Social media

The social media site, Café In™, is owned by the internet services giant, Café Net. One can share videos, pictures and text through a personal messaging component or a publically visible timeline. One can either follow or connect with users. Another social media service, also provided by Café Net, is an application called Vibe™. This application facilitates video and voice calls and messaging to one user or to multiple users of the application at once.

Art

The Oan Isles has several types of preeminent art forms. These are wood sculpture, tapestries and murals. Major public areas often have totems. These are large wooden poles into which abstract secular or religious motifs and figures are carved into the wood. The most famous one is the Wawiyawaye, a 5 metre totem in a park in La Rochelle, on top of which is carved a man thinking, as birds and words seemingly pour out of his minds.

Tapestries are rather non-traditional. Intricate patterns and complex imagery are made by weaving dyed grass or plant threads/fibres. The most famous example is a twenty metre tapestry in the gallery of the National History and Art Museum. It features a complex story of the establishment of the Oan Isles.

Murals are main form of painting. They feature traditional Oan geometric and abstract figures and patterns, decorating large public spaces. A newer form is hip-hop inspired street art. Many public areas such as tunnels, bridges, buildings and public wall galleries feature works commissioned by the state or private patrons.

Drama, Film and Television

Many theatre pieces, films and television shows are locally produced, and written. Theatre is very beloved. The most common form of theatre is open air short comedies or dramas, portraying stories in the old Oan style. The major theatres are well attended. The television scene is dominated by drama series and mini-series. Films are characterised by their personal and intimate nature and low budget. There are, sometimes, large scale blockbuster films such as At the Edge of Time, a science fiction film of a dystopic Oan Isles in which vulpines have driven humans to near-extinction. It was highly controversial upon release.

Infrastructure

The Oan Isles is highly urbanised and has a developed infrastructure network.

Communications

The Oan Isles has a large Information Technology sector. Its entire television broadcasting network is digital. The network uses satellites to move content and handle communications. The internet and other telecommunications networks use optic fibre cables. The average internet speed is 50Mbps. The Oan Isles also has a high fibre density or concentration due to high urbanisation. There is a large availability of public and free WiFi in public spaces.

Transport

The Oan Isles has an advanced transportation infrastructure network. It has thousands of kilometres of paved roads. In urban areas, space is saved by stacking roads of top of each other in urban areas or digging them into the ground. Unfortunately this results a complex traffic system and high traffic jam rates. The Oan Isles is mostly dependent on public transport, mostly buses. This significantly reduces the frequency and impact of traffic jams. This also saves Oan citizens and businesses money and time. It also reduces the impact of noise and air pollution generated by cars. This also results in low car ownership. Cars in the Oan Isles are fairly expensive especially when compared to buses. The cars and other private vehicles on the road are almost entirely electric and some use a potent mixture of methane, aerated plant-sourced alcohol and ethane called Oanfuel.

There is an extensive network of railways. They are either aboveground or underground. The system is used for both passenger and freight transport. They trains are punctual and effecient. They travel throughout the country. The largest station is the Ocean Throne Central Station in the Port of The Rock with tracks connecting La Rochelle, Port of the Rock and Heavenly City.The Oan rail network is mostly made up of high speed bullet trains with an average speed of 300km/h. It comprises the bulk of inter-island locomotion, making use of artificial or underground tunnels to move people and goods between islands.

Energy

The Oan Isles has a good energy network. It was strained by the lack of coal and was marred by the pollution it caused. The government resolved to use renewable energy. This bolstered new technologies to produce energy for the Oan Isles. It replaced the conventional system with renewable and less polluting industry.

The Oan Isles uses nuclear energy for 10% of its energy needs. It uses Uranium brought in from Oan Gondwana and imported from Aurora. The radioactive materials or waste products are disposed of in a place called the Cracks of Fire. This is an open area in the crust when molten rock and fire bubble out from deep beneath the urth.

The Oan Isles also uses solar energy. It uses a combination of conventional solar farms and self powered buildings and homes. The Oan Isles is often bright and sunny. Many residential areas have solar panels. Large buildings have had their windows converted to transparent solar panels. They generate electricity and sometimes have enough to feed the main power grid. Solar power produces 30% of The Oan Isles' energy needs. Solar is often stored in massive batteries. This allows people and businesses to have power even when the sun is not shining.

The Oan Isles also uses geothermal energy. The Oan Isles has many volcanoes and hot geysers. It uses these open sources of heat to produce over 30% of its energy needs. The Oan Isles also uses wind energy to produce 5% of its energy needs. This relatively small proportion is due to the fact that the Oan Isles has a small amount of space. The Oan Isles also uses hydroelectric energy to produce 5% of its energy needs. It uses cellulosic ethanol and methane for 10% for its other needs, often in private utilities such as cooking at home. Cellulosic ethanol is found in waste plant material of any kind. Methane is taken from the decomposition of waste in ancient landfill sites, underground deposits and from livestock.

The Oan Isles has found a way to store the carbon dioxide generated from using electricity. The gas is sent into the basalt layer beneath deep beneath the urth, where it reacts with other elements and solidifies. This is the reason why the Oan Isles has very clear skies.

Water

The Oan Isles has a lot of rain. It rains for eight out of twelve months almost torrentially. The Oan Isles government built overground and underground channels to move water to massive underground resevoirs. This enables the Oan Isles to have easy water access and to reduce the need for dams. The Oan Isles has a good water treatment and redistribution system. The country also recycles most of its waste water. This allows The Oan Isles to have abundant water. The Oan Isles also has undersea water pipelines to transport water between islands. There is some desalination. Oan Gondwana Territories are supplied by the massive Five Valleys Dam in the Truimphant Mountains where the Salania River has been redirected to an area where five valleys converge. This dam can provide watet and energy to Rijelv as well.

Social programs

Welfare

The Oan Isles exudes many characteristics of a socialist economy, but it is more accurately a welfare state. The Oan government has provided free healthcare to its citizens (which will be discussed more extensively under the section health) and free education (which will be discussed under the section education). There are social programs whicu will be discussed herein.

People who get married for the first time, have a single child or buy an apartment or house for the first time receive an allowance. People who are disabled or above a particular age, suffer from chronic illness, adopt a child, are injured out of their own accord or engage in charity work instead of actual labour, and single mothers and women who have been raped receive an allowance or compensation from the state. Their needs and circumstances are assessed according to a complex matrix of formulae to pay them a necessary amount.

Essential foods such as fruits and vegetables, staples such as bread or rice, and milk are subsidised by the state. Poorer families, in fact receive free food (except for meat and nonessential items). Transport costs especially for the poor or low income earners, the elderly or disabled, are subsidised by the state. Fuel and electricity costs especially for the worst off citizens, are subsidised by the state. Medical costs for essential surgery or treatment are subsidised by the state. Education is compulsory and free while the costs of tertiary education for able and willing learners are subsidised. People who work in essential industries such as emergency, medical, defence, education or police services receive an allowance. Essential research is funded by the state.

Education

In the Oan Isles, primary and secondary education is free and compulsory. Schools are built and managed by provinces, governed by parents and their content is determined by universities, while their assessments and the system in which they are taught is controlled by the national government. Oans have a relatively low tertiary education compared to most developed countries. This is attributed to the fact that there is a strong emphasis on preparing students for their careers during their primary and secondary education instead of tertiary education, allowing many to practice and work without additional or tertiary schooling.

School starts from the age of 7, rather late by most comparisons. At Level 8, with each level being a year long, students are diverted into their careers. They are grouped into one of three faculties: Humanities, Science and Technical. They take additional practical training as apprentices under a working professional ovet several months for five years, earning an additional qualification along with their "Matriculation Certification" at the end of their schooling: "The Apprentice Certification". They are subsequently qualified to work in many fields. More specialist careers such as medicine, physics and law, require further education. This is often accomplished at one of our distinguished universities.

The Oan Isles has several universities. The most distinguised is the University of La Rochelle and the largest is the National University of The Oan Isles. The National University is an open learning distance education university enrolling 1 million people mostly diploma courses or short courses. The University of La Rochelle is research focused. It's School of Science is renowned for its R&D, with several patents including carbon fibre tech used in cellphones, developed with its close partner, the Metatron Corporation. The University of Serenity is the host and operator of the Oahuana II Large Particle Collider, in which the graviton was discovered, in collaboration with the National Science Council of The Oan Isles. The University of Crystal Island is renowned for hosting one of the highest large telescopes in the Aurora-Gondwana area: The Stargazer Telescope Array, rising 2,000 metred above the sea. The University of Heavenly operates the massive Medical School Academic Hospital, with close to 5,000 beds, responsible for innovations in hydro colon therapy and gastrointestinal disease treatment and prevention. The University of Tranquility and Harmony is a new addition and has the largest overall reach, servicing students at campuses and through open distance learning in The Tranquility and Harmony Provinces, and the Oan Gondwana and Pacific Territories. The UTH is slowly being split up, however.

Health

The Oan health system is regarded as of a high quality. It has a large number of hospitals and clinics, equiped with the necessary materials and machines, and staffed by competent doctors and nurses. In the Oan Isles, healthcare, for citizens is mostly free. The state pays for most essential surgeries and treatments for chronic and non-chronic conditions. Prescription spectacles are free, immunisation, especially for young children is free. Non essential surgeries and treatments such as sex-change are not covered by the state.

Oans have a life expectancy of 90 years. The oldest man currently alive is 130 years old. The Oan Isles' citizens benefit from healthy and abundant food, clean air and water, access to medical and sanitary facilities or amenities and frequent exercise, and safe working conditions. The Oan Isles is focused on disease prevention ranging from lifestyle choice to immunisation against communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and measles. The Oan diet is characterised by a large amount of vegetables and fish. Meat and oily foods are often expensive, thus diabetes, heart disease and high/low blood pressure are not major health issues. The deadliest disease, among prevalent fatal diseases is cancer, killing 1 out of 20,000 people each year.

--The Oan Isles (talk) 23:14, 18 March 2017 (EDT)