Difference between revisions of "Nation/The Oan Isles"

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The Oan Isles is almost entirely urbanised. Infrastructure is excellent.
 
The Oan Isles is almost entirely urbanised. Infrastructure is excellent.
  
50% of water is imported from the [[Asian Pacific Islands]] and [[Konoa]]. 50% of water is desalinated. Rain water is not collected due to its acidity. Levees, walls, dykes and storm drains prevent and/or mitigate destruction and flooding caused by sea waves and rain storms. In fact, [[Kuthernburg]] invested 18 billion dollars in infrastructre for the Oan Isles. The national grid provides 75% of Oan energy needs. Independent systems such as generators and batteries make up the other 25%. Fuel (gas imported from [[East Polynesia]], oil imported from [[Staynes]] and alcohol imported from [[Dragonia]]) provides a third of Oan energy needs. Electricity imported from [[Konoa]] and [[Asian Pacific Islands]] provides a third of Oan energy needs. Nuclear power (using uranium imported from [[East Polynesia]]) provides the remaining third of Oan energy needs. Although the Oan Isles is a world leader in the production of solar technology, the development of solar power for widespread commercial is hampered primarily by a lack of space, rain and humidity. Some independent systems use solar power.
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50% of water is imported from the [[Asian Pacific Islands]] and [[Konoa]]. 50% of water is desalinated. Rain water is not collected due to its acidity. Levees, walls, dykes and storm drains prevent and/or mitigate destruction and flooding caused by sea waves and rain storms. In fact, [[Kuthernburg]] invested 18 billion dollars in infrastructre for the Oan Isles. The national grid provides 75% of Oan energy needs. Independent systems such as generators and batteries make up the other 25%. Fuel (gas imported from [[East Polynesia]], oil imported from [[Staynes]] and alcohol imported from [[Nation/Dragonia|Dragonia]]) provides a third of Oan energy needs. Electricity imported from [[Konoa]] and [[Asian Pacific Islands]] provides a third of Oan energy needs. Nuclear power (using uranium imported from [[East Polynesia]]) provides the remaining third of Oan energy needs. Although the Oan Isles is a world leader in the production of solar technology, the development of solar power for widespread commercial is hampered primarily by a lack of space, rain and humidity. Some independent systems use solar power.
  
 
The Oan Isles has 170,000 kilometres of roads and 75,000 kilometres of railways. A quarter of all roads and railways are underground. The half of commuters use public transport. Car ownership is low. 60% of car users use rented cars. There is universal broadband internet access and fast public WiFi. Communication and broadcast is entirely digitised. There is universal access to basic services. A quarter of property is owned by the state, a quarter is owned by businesses, a quarter is owned by or in trust and a quarter is owned by private individuals. 75% of businesses rent or lease property instead of owning it. 98% of adults do not own property personally. They rent or lease property, live in state owned public housing or live in family-owned properties.
 
The Oan Isles has 170,000 kilometres of roads and 75,000 kilometres of railways. A quarter of all roads and railways are underground. The half of commuters use public transport. Car ownership is low. 60% of car users use rented cars. There is universal broadband internet access and fast public WiFi. Communication and broadcast is entirely digitised. There is universal access to basic services. A quarter of property is owned by the state, a quarter is owned by businesses, a quarter is owned by or in trust and a quarter is owned by private individuals. 75% of businesses rent or lease property instead of owning it. 98% of adults do not own property personally. They rent or lease property, live in state owned public housing or live in family-owned properties.

Revision as of 02:37, 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 automotive and aircraft assembly and reassembly and shipbuilding, and 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: water, energy, automotive parts, aircraft parts, 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 Cafe Net, 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 small 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 population of 58,900,500 people. It has an approximate population density of 2045 people per square kilometre. It is the most densely populated nationstate on Ur:-(th. The "one-child" policy replaced the "two-child" policy in 1990. After the first child (or set of children in the event of twins and so on), a mandatory hysterectomy is performed on the mother and a vasectomy is conducted on the father. Should the child (or set of children) die before the age of 18, the procedure can be undone if the parents want another child. Additionally, other contraceptive methods are easily available and openly encouraged, although abortion (except in the case of danger to the mother's health) is forbidden. Immigration is heavily discouraged and emigration is high. The population growth rate is very low. A third of the population is made up of children and two thirds are made up of adults. Gender distribution is almost even. The life expectancy is 90 years of age. A tenth of the population is above the age of 60.

The Oan Isles is homogeneous. 95% of the population is made up of ethnic Oatunu, with the rest coming from other Polynesian countries. Almost everyone speaks Oalanu. Codexian is spoken by some members of the elite. The Polynesian branch of Protestant Christianity makes up two thirds of the population while Polynesian traditional religions (including Ainuism) make up the remaining third of the population. All people live in urban areas. The largest city is the Port of the Rock, followed by La Rochelle. All adults can read and write. All people have access to education, shelter, sanitation, healthcare, clean water and healthy food. Narcotics consumption is virtually non-existent. Violent crime is virtually non-existent. Although polygamy is legal, monogamy is universally adhered to. Homosexual marriage is illegal. Homosexuals are almost non-existent. Divorce is extremely low. Alcohol consumption is high, with an average 8 litres per capita.

Culture

Main article: Culture of The Oan Isles

Further reading: Oan Clan System

The Oan culture forms part of the Polynesian family of cultures. It shares similarity with other Polynesian cultures. Oalanopapo is the official script. It is derived from a very early form of the script used in Ziseshouwei over 12,000 years ago. It developed entirely around the Oan language. It resembles a mosaic of dots and lines. Although the age of majority is 18, initiation is required to be recognised as an adult within Oan custom, the culmination of which is a tattoo. Tattoos are often added with ones feats and are considered a symbol of achievement. Family plays an important role in society. Different clans (and by extension their members) are ranked in a rigid hierarchy of wealth and social status called the Oan Clan System. Opposition to the collective interests of the clan is considered disgraceful. Manners and protocol are determined by social status ranging from greetings to personal conduct. The old are to be honoured and the wealthy are to be respected.

Fish is widely consumed. In fact most people will eat their body weight or more every year in fish. The staple grain is rice. An expensive tea made from the Firerose plant and a meal prepared with the edible wood of the Spicewood tree are considered delicacies. Beef and lamb are considered luxuries. Oan fashion is totally different from modern "Western" fashion. Traditional frocks or skirts are popular and are worn by both men and women. Oan clothing tends to be highly revealing, with the freedom to expose a lot of skin including ones buttocks. Visual arts are made up of the Māoric school of art: using geometric monochromatic patterns or allegories with rigid symbolism on clothing, ones domicile or even skin to describe the owner thereof and identify their place in the social order. Musical genrae entirely native to Polynesia; foreign influence is almost non-existent. Prose and poetic skill are lauded. Chord, percussion and woodwind instruments are widely used. Theatre is more popular than film and television. The more widely available "street theatre" is a social gathering and a source of entertainment while the highly lauded, "Firelight" theatre is a staple of the rich and powerful.

Sports are extremely popular. The most popular indigenous sports are traditional forms of wrestling, bodybuilding, pentathlon, field and track athletics - singular sports used to decide prowess. Sports evolved as a peaceful means for the wealthy or for clans to determine superiority. Team sports are also popular such as Puta-puta where two teams push against each in feats of strength. The most popular imported sport is rugby (both union and sevens), with Oan players (and the Oan national team) regarded among the best in the world and the Oan rugby competitions regarded among the highest calibre in the world. Oans have a love for culture and for live experiences such as attending concerts, going to museums and cinema and going to sporting matches.

There are 20 public holidays. Oans are considered some of the hardest working people on Urth, working an average 45 to 50 hours a week. Holidays are used to give them rest. Almost all of them, however, are used in some form or other to commemorate events such as battles, birthdays, popular movements, rituals and ceremonies, and religious celebrations. The 26th of October is the Emperor's birthday. The Oan Isles uses the Māoric calendar, which is used throughout Polynesia. It has twelve months based around the movement of the moon, although it uses the Gregorian calendar's BC and AD, delineation of eras and years. The Oan Isles has a rich history of symbols: the Spix macaw is the national bird, the Katuna is the national animal, the Butterfly orchid is the national flower, the Spicewood is the national tree, the Five Colour Banner is the national flag and the epic "Loanu ne taka" is the national anthem.

Infrastructure

The Oan Isles is almost entirely urbanised. Infrastructure is excellent.

50% of water is imported from the Asian Pacific Islands and Konoa. 50% of water is desalinated. Rain water is not collected due to its acidity. Levees, walls, dykes and storm drains prevent and/or mitigate destruction and flooding caused by sea waves and rain storms. In fact, Kuthernburg invested 18 billion dollars in infrastructre for the Oan Isles. The national grid provides 75% of Oan energy needs. Independent systems such as generators and batteries make up the other 25%. Fuel (gas imported from East Polynesia, oil imported from Staynes and alcohol imported from Dragonia) provides a third of Oan energy needs. Electricity imported from Konoa and Asian Pacific Islands provides a third of Oan energy needs. Nuclear power (using uranium imported from East Polynesia) provides the remaining third of Oan energy needs. Although the Oan Isles is a world leader in the production of solar technology, the development of solar power for widespread commercial is hampered primarily by a lack of space, rain and humidity. Some independent systems use solar power.

The Oan Isles has 170,000 kilometres of roads and 75,000 kilometres of railways. A quarter of all roads and railways are underground. The half of commuters use public transport. Car ownership is low. 60% of car users use rented cars. There is universal broadband internet access and fast public WiFi. Communication and broadcast is entirely digitised. There is universal access to basic services. A quarter of property is owned by the state, a quarter is owned by businesses, a quarter is owned by or in trust and a quarter is owned by private individuals. 75% of businesses rent or lease property instead of owning it. 98% of adults do not own property personally. They rent or lease property, live in state owned public housing or live in family-owned properties.

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)