Difference between revisions of "Nation/The Oan Isles"

Revision as of 04:04, 5 July 2018

Realm of the Oan Isles Kōa
Motto: "Haere a mutu" ("Continue Regardless")
Anthem: u Oa u makaaki u Rangitanga-ta-i-Moana ("God bless the Emperor")
Region		The East Pacific
Capital		La Rochelle (Tokapa)
Largest city		Port of the Rock (Kokoru)
Official languages		Oan language (Reōa)
Ethnic groups		Oan (majority) and other Polynesian peoples
Demonym		Oan
Government		Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy
-	Emperor (Rangitanga-ta-i-Moana)	Oaloanu
-	Head of Diplomacy and Immigration (Upoko ta ku Hautoa e ku Manene)	Locklyn Le Roy
Legislature		National Assembly
Establishment
-	Amalgamation	800
-	Autonymy of Konoa	August 2017
-	Annexation of Kōhatu	September 2017
Area
-	Total	44,150 km2 17,046 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	2017 estimate	8610000
-	Density	195/km2 505/sq mi
GDP (nominal)		2017 estimate
-	Total	340 billion KRB
-	Per capita	39,500 KRB
Gini (2017)		39.5 medium
HDI (2017)		0.835 very high
Currency		Oan Dollar (OAD)
Time zone		+11
Date format		yyyy/mm/dd
Drives on the		left
Calling code		+1275
ISO 3166 code		OAN
Internet TLD		.oan
a.	Excludes the Kōhatu Isles

The Realm of the Oan Isles (Reōa: i Rohe ta i Kōa) is an island nation in the south Pacific Ocean. Lazlowia lies to the west. The country has an area of approximately 44,150km². It has a warm, humid and rainy climate. It has many forests and mountains. The first humans inhabited the island approximately 2,000 years ago. They were united by Ahua I 800 years ago.

The largest city is the Port of the Rock (Reōa: Kokoru): the biggest port in the land. It is followed by the capital, La Rochelle (Reōa: Tokapa), a major financial and cultural centre. The total population is approximately 8.6 million people. The official and most spoken language is Reōa. The largest ethnic group is the Oan nation (Reōa: Iwi Oa). The largest religion is the Polynesian branch of the Evangelical Protestant tradition of the Christian religion.

The country is a developed one. It has a Pacitalian Development and Advancement System rating of A. It has a GDP (nominal) of 340 billion kiribs. It is led by services such as banking and information technology. It had exports of 62 billion kiribs. The biggest export goods are high tech products and fish. Although the Auroran-Pacific War had a negative effect on the economy, the HDI remains high, poverty and unemployment remain low and inflation and growth remain moderate. Its strongest trade, diplomatic and military allies are the Staynish-Caltharus Empire and Kuthernburg

The country is regarded as a great power in international politics. The National Defence Service forms the military of the Oan Isles. It has a budget of 11.5 billion kiribs and an active manpower of 86,100 personnel, and 30 commissioned vessels among which is a light aircraft carrier. The country is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The Emperor (Reōa: Rangitanga-ta-i-Moana) is the ceremonial head of state.

Geography

Oan Isles is located on the planet Urth on the eastern end of the Pacific Ocean. It lies between 140°E and 155°E, and between 5°S and 15°S. It is an island nation. The country is made up of approximately 33 islands. It shares a land border with the Staynish Pacific Territory on one of its islands. Lazlowia lies to the west, and the Staynish Pacific Territory lies to the west and north. Oan Isles has an area of 44,159 square kilometres which is also 17,246 square miles.

Oan Isles has an average height above sea level of 50 metres. The lowest point is sea level. The height here is 0 metres above sea level. The heighest point is Karaka Mountain. Most islands are topographically similar. The largest body of fresh water is Matomato Lake. It has a surface area of 340km². The longest river is the Nakahi River. It is 200 kilometres long. The biggest island is Toka Island.

Oan Isles was formed millions of years ago from movement in the Urth's tectonic plates particularly the Pacific and Yasteria Major tectonic plates. The mineral composition of the island reflects this process. Most of the islands are geologically similar due to the uniformity of the process by which they were formed. Most of the rock is sedimentary rock. Over millions of years, layers of sediment formed and hardened into rock. Kōa has generally fertile soil. Various minerals are present in the ground, particularly iron, copper, nickel and aluminium.

Biodiversity

The Oan Isles has a large amount of animal, plant and fungal species. Some of these are only found on Oan Isles. There are rainforests, wetlands, sand dune islands, pseudo-alpine and thicket biomes. The biodiversity of Oan Isles faces many challenges. Deforestation for housing and farmland threatens forests and the organisms that live in them. Pollution from industries also poses a risk to the organisms. Kōa is very close to the equator. It is often very humid, rainy and hot. Vegetation thrives under these conditions. Most of the country is covered by rainforests. There are numerous tree ferns such as Ponga (or silver fern), Mamaku or Tuakura. There are numerous conifers such as Kauri, Kahikatea and Manoao. There are numerous flowering trees such as Akeake, Kanono and Hīnau.

There are many birds. Birds are the dominant non-human warm blooded animals. There are flightless birds such as kiwi, cassowary and the moa. There are numerous flying birds such as Haast's eagle, tropicbirds, toroa (or albatross), Wikipedia:Takapu (a type of gannet), Karuhiruhi (a type of cormorant), Putangitangi (a type of duck), ibis, spoonbill, Torea (a type of oystercatcher), pheasant, Tuturuatu (a type of plover) and Weka (a type of crake). There are numerous reptiles and amphibians. There are reptiles such as tuatara, Oligosoma (skinks such as aorangi, kakahu, tatahi, small eared, small-scaled, spotted, shore, green and moko) and geckos (almost all of which are viviparous such as kawekaweau, takitimu, green, jewelled, common, forest and black eyed). There are numerous frogs of the Leiopelma genus such as the hamiltoni, horchstetteri, pakeka and waitomo. There are few indigenous terrestrial mammals and these are the kurī dog, kiore rat, and three types of bats: short-tailed, lesser short-tailed and long-tailed. Almost all other mammals are domestic animals.

There are many marine animals. There warm blooded animals such as whales, dolphins and porpoises. There are many types of crabs, lobster, shrimp and prawns. There are many types of rays. There are many types of Moray eels. There are many types of salt water fish such as herring, haddock, pilchards, hake, tuna, sailfish, and angelfish. There are many types of freshwater fish such as elephantnose, pufferfish, catfish, butterflyfish, bushfish, mudfish and lungfish.

Climate

Oan Isles has a monsoon jungle climate. It rains for much of the year. It is humid. It is generally warm. This stems from its proximity to the Aequator. It is classified as a tropical monsoon jungle climate. Precipitation averages above 60mm, although it is higher in the monsoon season and lower in the drier months of the year. Extreme weather is not uncommon. Cyclones sometimes occur. For example, Cyclone Mable tore through the area in 2017, causing damage to infrastructure and death to livestock.

Politics

Main Article: Politics of the Oan Isles

Oaloanu, the Emperor of Polynesia

The politics of the Oan Isles take place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The Constitution of the Oan Isles forms the constituting document. It established the Crown of Polynesia as the source of the sovereignty of the nation and the authority of the government. Although it establishes the Emperor of Polynesia (Rangitanga-ta-i-Moana) currently His Serene Majesty, Oahoanu, of the royal house of Ahua as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the power to rule is divided among three branches: the judiciary, the executive and the legislature.

The executive branch is comprised of the Council of Ministers. The head of government and leader of a multi-party system is the Prime Minister, currently Maui Uye-Ahua (the leader of the Konoa People's Party). The Council of Ministers executes the law. Each minister oversees a portfolio. The Prime Minister appoints each member of the Council of Ministers with the approval of a majority of the National Assembly. The National Assembly can force the government to resign by a vote of no-confidence. The current executive is comprised of ministers from the Pacifist Party, Green Party and the Konoa People's Party.

Oan National Assembly Building

The National Assembly forms the unicameral legislature. It has the power to make and amend laws (excluding the Constitution of the Oan Isles which can only be amended by referendum). The National Assembly is elected by party list proportional representation in single member constituencies. The largest parties are the Pacifist Party and Green Party which form a majority by forming a coalition called the Polynesian National Congress. There are three minority parties: the Konoa People's Party (which forms the opposition), the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party.

The judicial branch is helmed by the Supreme Court. This court is appointed by the Prime Minister with the approval of the National Assembly for life. Other courts are appointed by the Minister of Justice with the approval of the Cabinet for life. The second level of the appeals section of the judicial branch (the first level being the Supreme Court) is made up of several Provincial Courts, followed by trials courts (made up of regional and local courts). Judges are civil servants appointed on the basis of merit, who must have particular qualifications and pass strict exams to be eligible. The judicial branch interprets and enforces the law.

Foreign Relations

Main Article: Foreign Relations of the Oan Isles

The foreign relations of the Oan Isles are framed around four principles: increased cooperation with democratic nations, multilateral problem-resolution frameworks, respect for nation sovereignty and pursuing diplomacy instead of aggression. The latter two points have been brought into question by notable critics due to the invasion of the Yor Isles in 2017 and aggressive diplomatic politicking in Aurora. The nation presently forms a part of the Auroran Union. It has a personal union with the Asian Pacific Islands. The nation is a member of the Peacekeeping Forces of Urth.

It is a close partner of ths United Kingdom and Kuthernburg. It worked closely with these nations as a part of the Allies, a coalition of like minded nations against the Axis, a fascist coalition of dictatorships in Aurora (as well as Stratarin). It has been shaped by the experiences of the Auroran-Pacific War. While it has drawn closer to the UK and Kuthernburg, it has developed very cold and tense relations with former allies Stratarin and Xagrurg citing the latter as the primary obstacle to Auroran reunification such as in a white paper published in 2017.

The Oan Isles maintains relations with nations on almost every continent on Urth. It maintains particular focus on Auroran affairs followed by Atlantia. It has trade links with many nations around the world. These trade links have led to its relative security. The nation has not been invaded in over a century. In fact it expanded its territory by absorbing the Kōhatu Isles (also known as Gemica) in 2017.

Military

Main Article: Military of the Oan Isles

Chernakov J-10 multipurpose combat jet from Stratarin

The military is comprised of the Oan Defence Service (Kaha Kōrero Kōa). It is responsible for defending Oan territory and projecting military power. It also carries out search and rescue, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, counterintelligence, anti-piracy, terrorism and poaching. It is made up of three branches (the Navy, Army and Air Force) under the Chief of Staff who runs the General Staff. The symbolic commander-in-chief is Emperor Oahoanu, but the political direction and daily administration rests with the civilian government, particularly the Council of Ministers through the Minister of Defence. The power to declare war, appropriate funds and constitute the armed forces rests with the National Assembly.

The armed forces have a combined manpower of approximately 86,100 personnel (about 1% of the population). It has a budget of approximately 10 billion dollars (roughly 3% of GDP and 7% of the national budget). The navy is responsible for maritime combat and naval defence. It is formed of nearly 20,000 personnel. It has 50 vessels (40 combat and 10 support craft). It has the largest budget allocation and is considered a green-water navy. The army carries out terrestrial combat and has over 40,000 personnel. The air forces carries out air defence and aerial combat. It has approximately 10,000 personnel and nearly 500 aircraft (200 fixed-wing and 300 rotary). Joint and Special Operations Commands coordinate joint and special operations over defined theatres of war.

The Oan Defence Service has seen combat in numerous operations over the years. It contributes personnel and equipment to peacekeeping, humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations through the Peacekeeping Forces of Urth. It has participated in peacekeeping operations in Fortuna (after the annexation of southern Eridani Theta into Fortuna and the independence of northern Eridani Theta as the vulpine-majority state Ambravia) and relief and aid operations in Imperial Fandom. It provided arms and aerial support to rebels in Gemica. Precipitated by an attack on civilians and its assets, it invaded and occupied Gemica, which resulted in its annexation into the Oan Isles.

Its largest deployment to date was through its involvement in the Auroran-Pacific War. After bombings of the National Intelligence Service Headquarters were linked to terrorists on the Yor Isles, it invaded those islands in a joint operation with Furnifold and Kuthernburg. After the Xagrurgian invasion of Kostoria-Obertonia, it invaded Kostoria-Obertonia in retaliation to repel those forces. Unfortunately many of its men were slain in a nuclear meltdown that irradiated the capital, Nuremberg and the surrounding towns and hinterland. It also conducted aerial strikes of Imperium, Fort Wahington and Eidenburg and conducted a naval assault and land invasion and occupation of Eidenburg. Its navy sank most of the surface vessels of the Xagrurgian Navy in the Battle of the Azure Sea.

Economy

The economy of the Oan Isles follows a mixed socialist and free market model. High taxes, welfare programs and state regulation are employed to control the private sector, promote income equality and redistribute wealth. The state undertakes entrepreneurial activities and invests in industry. Private enterprise is permitted and even thrives. Inequality continues to be a major concern. Wealthy families own most of the nation's wealth through trusts that own and manage their pooled assets.

The Oan Isles has a wealthy economy. The Oan Isles has a nominal GDP of 340 billion kiribs and a per capita distribution of 39,500 kiribs. It has a growth of 2.9%. The Oan Isles has a diverse economy. The primary sector makes up 1% of the economy. The secondary sector makes up 39% of the economy. The tertiary makes up 60% of the economy. The largest sectors of the economy are financial services, transhipment, telecommunications, information technology, tourism, consumer electronics and high technology products.

The Oan Isles has an export driven economy. It's largest trade partners are Asian Pacific Islands, the United Kingdom and Kuthernburg. It has imports of 54 billion kiribs. They include metals, fuel, food, sand, cement, weapons, and machines. It has exports of 62 billion kiribs. They include consumer electronics, high tech products, fish and wood.

The Oan Isles has several companies. The largest companies include the Metatron Corporation (electronics), Standard National Bank (banking), Cafe Net (internet services), Oan Industrial and Commercial Bank (banking), and Floating Market (retail). Approximately 10 Oan companies appear on the Auroran Stock Exchange 100 Largest Companies in Aurora Index.

The Oan Isles has stable public finances. The Oan Isles uses the Oan dollar as its legal tender. It has a stable exchange rate of 7 OAD to 1 SHD, and 4.1 OAD to 1 KRB. It has an interest rate of 1%. It has reserves of 100 billion kiribs. It has managed to remain buoyant on its debt of 162 billion kiribs through beneficial repayment agreememts. The state generates revenues of 148 billion kiribe and expenses of 147 billion kiribs.

Ultimately the Oan economy is helped by an active and competent government, highly technically skilled, innovative and hardworking population, strong cooperative wealth generation and management tools, strategic geographical position, prudent investment choices and a policy that actively pursues interaction with other nations.

Infrastructure

The Oan Isles has a developed infrastructure system. There is a extensive system of paved roads. Tunnes and bridges link different islands. The Oan Isles has some of the best ports, harbours and shipyards in the south west Pacific ocean. The biggest shipping company is the multinational Pacific Trading Company. A ferry system links more remote islands. The biggest airport is the Maui International Airport. The flag carrier is Oan Air. There is an over and underground bullet train system.

The Oan Isles has well developed water management infrastructure of dykes, levees and drains to mitigate the effects of flooding. The water distribution and sewage system is well developed. Trash collection services are reliable and cover the whole nation. The nation has an extensive broadband internet system and WiFi is available in public places. The primary sources of fuel are oil and cellulosic ethanol. The largest source of electricity is coal followed by solar, geothermal and hydroelectric power.

Demographics

Main Article: Demographics of The Oan Isles

The Oan Isles has a population of 8.6 million people and a density of 198 people per square kilometers. Over the past few centuries large families were encouraged due to abundant food and a high standard of living. As space shrank and resources became scarce, restraints were applied to the liberal family planning that prevailed. A one child policy was introduced forcing parents to have merely one child. Emigration has been encouraged to mitigate the effects of over population, resulting in a large diaspora scattered throughout Aurora and the South Pacific, and stagnant to negative population growth.

The largest ethnic group is the Oan ethnic group (known in the Oan language as Iwi Oa) followed by the Noa people, the Kōhatu (Gemite) people and the Islander (Hia) people. The largest religion is the Polynesian branch of the Evangelical Protestant tradition of the Christian religion followed by a number of folk religions. Many people practice syncretism. There are few actual atheists. The Oan language is the official and most spoken language followed by Noan, Islander (specifically the Ainu dialect) and Gemican. Staynish is the most spoken foreign language.

The Oan social structure is based on a strict (but not inflexible) hierarchy of wealth, family and gender. The Oan philosophical school establishes a system in which an individual is part of and responsible to the whole, being grouped into and exerted expectations pertinent to the group into which they are grouped. This governs political, economic and social relations, with strict guidelines for how the young and old, male and female, rich and poor are to interact and what place, power, property and potential is accorded to and behaviour is expected from each. This system coalesces around the clan, the base of the Oan social structure, that distributes wealth, power and status according to the clan one belongs to. A gradual shift is being made from this system, broadly called the Oan clan system.

The Oan Isles is a developed country by all accounts. The people have a high standard of living. Absolute poverty is virtually nonexistent, although the Oan Isles uses a higher measure to judge itself, which leads "poverty" to seem higher than it actually is. Healthcare, education, basic food and housing, basic electricity and water are virtually free. Many people often consume far more than their needs and live beyond mere survival, leading to a high cost of living. Education is considered the bedrock of society, with almost total final year pass rates, but surprisingly low tertiary enrolment rates

Culture

Dress and appearance

A photograph of women in traditional Oan dress

Oan people usually let their hair grow long, wearing it lose or in a bun. They sometimes put a comb or pin through it. This is usually made of wood or whale bone. It is typically decorated with carvings which usually include swirly forms reminiscent of clouds or waves. Some people also wear feathers in their hair. Males often have extensive intricate tattoos over their face, chest and arms. These are called moko. Females usually only have a tattoo under the lips and over the chin and like to wear black lipstick.

Both men and women wear skirts and dresses. Dresses typically go across the chest, leaving the neck and shoulders exposed. Men sometimes wear skirts that expose their buttocks. Skirts are typically worn with a wide belt. Skirts and dresses typically have geometric patterns such as chevrons repeated. People sometimes wear mantles and cloaks. These cloaks and mantles can be made from the feathers kiwi bird or moa bird. Fabrics are usually made from flax. Earth, Wikipedia:potash rock, plant resin or other dyes.

Social norms and everyday life

Most Oan people live in the cities. People often work and study. Life in the cities can be busy and fast-paced. Most households typically have a monogamous couple raising one to three kids. Fertility rates have decrees and households have shrunk as women became educated and people left the rural areas to find opportunities for work. There is a relatively high cost of living in the cities, so many people stay in apartments or lease townhouses. Middle-class and upper-class people are able to enjoy life in quiet suburban spaces. Cities offer many amenities that make life more convenient such as shops and public transport and have easy access to entertainment such as pubs, theatres and museums.

In Oan society people who are intimate or familiar greet each other by pressing their noses against one another. Women and men are treated equally. Men and women share equally in domestic tasks. Children are taught to respect their elders. Elders occupy places of esteem in society. Oans are generally polite and courteous. They can be boisterous when inebriated or in the company of close friends. Oans have strong cultural and spiritual links. They often pray and meditate in private and in public as individuals or groups. They partake in many ceremonies and rituals such as lighting incense and offering crop sacrifices to honour the dead. They have many festivals and feasts such as the annual parades of young men and women. They typically enjoy choral music and sports.

Education

Oan children go to school at a very young age. They go to early childhood development centers from as young as 2 years where they are taken care of during the day and their reading and writing skills and social and emotional growth is developed. They attend school for the next 9 years primarily focusing in language and quantitative skills. They then choose to specialise between years 10 and 12 while some go up to year 14. Many people enter vocational training and go into apprenticeship training after completing high school. Some people go to university. Entrance is granted to their highest scoring students in competitive and rigorous university entrance exams.

The university system in the Oan Isles is famous for the research output it produces and rigorous and comprehensive content it teaches. The University of La Rochelle is the most prestigious university in the country, ranking highly in national rankings and comparing favourably with foreign universities. It is, however, not the only Oan university to do well. There are, among many, the National University of the Oan Isles, the Ata University, Ana University, Kokoru University and Maunga University. A large portion of Oan universities have A-rated researchers in their faculties and research chairs. They produce many research papers and have many patents. Many foreign students come to study. Many Oan universities collaborate with foreign universities on research and exchange programs for staff and students. Many of them also participate in national and international competitions.

Sport

The Oan national rugby team, (the Matā Kai Kutu) performing a haka (traditional war challenge)

The Oan Isles has a large number of sports fans, players and teams. Some of the leagues are internationally rated in their respective disciplines. The biggest sport, by far, is rugby. The Oan Isles produces many international players, participates and does very well in international tournaments and has world-class venues and training facilities dedicated to the sport. The second is boxing. Oans typically enjoy water sports. These include canoeing. Open sea and river rapid canoeing are popular. Canoeing was use by the ancient people to voyage between islands. Voyagers turned this into a sport that has survived until now. Oans also enjoy surfing, diving, sailing, wind-surfing and competitive swimming. They also enjoy sports such as competitive tree-climbing, mountain-climbing and stick fighting.

Art and performance

Various utensils made from whalebone or wood that exemplify traditional Oan art.

Oans enjoy open air live shows such as outdoor theatre and choral music. Theatre arose from the ancient past-time where people would gather around a fire to tell stories and sing. Theatre often employs music, dance and poetry. Oan music typically involves singing particular in groups. There is often very little instrumental accompanyment such as woodwind or percussive instruments. Oans have a war chant called a haka. This war chant was used in the ancient days to instill fear in the enemy. It is now a form of cultural expression and is commonly used by the Oan national rugby team before a match. There is a rich culture of carving and tapestry. Homes are often decorated with intricate carvings on panels and poles. Tapestries are often hung in people's homes.

Gastronomy