[PASSED] Circulation of World Assembly Law

[Lord Dominator]

Stop the WA from meddling too much in regions!! vote against this Law!

I have no idea ambassador what this has to do with your 'regions,' so please explain.

Dee Vytherov-Skollvaldr
Ambassador to the Festering Snakepit

[Arasi Luvasa]

Stop the WA from meddling too much in regions!! vote against this Law!

The ambassador from Arasi Luvasa looks incredulously at the ambassador from the Atlantican States. "Ambassador, if you do not wish for the WA to meddle in the affairs of your country then you are welcome to secede from it." Ariela says calmly before taking a sip from her flask. "After all, nothing is forcing your nation to cleave itself to the World Assembly."

[Essu Beti]

“Against,” says Inan. “The nation of Essu Beti is trying to keep the World Assembly secret from the rest of the nations on our planet; we’re a relatively defenseless nation, and there’s concern that if it becomes known, someone will invade to try to take control of our portal to the World Assembly. The more our citizens know of the WA, the more likely it is that someone will leak this information to those other nations. We can, of course, ensure that the laws themselves are known, just by making them regular laws, but if these texts contain information about the World Assembly itself...”

[Arasi Luvasa]

"Excuse me ambassador, I am confused. How is it that you intend to prevent other nations from divulging knowledge of the World Assembly to it's inhabitants? All you could possibly do is prevent your own citizens from obtaining that knowledge."

After briefly talking to one of her assistants, Ariela turns back to the ambassador from Essuu Betti

"And as was mentioned earlier; there are few good reasons, if any, to deny your own citizens access to the systems of law and why they exist."

[Essu Beti]

"Excuse me ambassador, I am confused. How is it that you intend to prevent other nations from divulging knowledge of the World Assembly to it's inhabitants? All you could possibly do is prevent your own citizens from obtaining that knowledge."

After briefly talking to one of her assistants, Ariela turns back to the ambassador from Essuu Betti

"And as was mentioned earlier; there are few good reasons, if any, to deny your own citizens access to the systems of law and why they exist."

“Essu Beti is the only nation on our planet that has access to the World Assembly,” explains Inan. “And the only access to our planet from here is through a portal that leads to an undeveloped swamp in my nation. There is no possibility that, for example, your own nation could tell, for example, Creatan, about the World Assembly, because your nation has no means of contacting them.”

“Our citizens are well aware of the laws passed by the World Assembly. They just, for the most part, assume that they’re our laws, and that the ones the citizenry would have the most objection over were put into place in order to gain support from more powerful nations.”

[Arasi Luvasa]

Ariela's eyes widen with the mention of another world, after a minute of silent contemplation she turn to her aides. "Be certain to remind me that I must inform the Patriarch of this at once when we return. Also I will need to inform our researchers, and build up a dossier on this nation."

[Essu Beti]

Ariela's eyes widen with the mention of another world, after a minute of silent contemplation she turn to her aides. "Be certain to remind me that I must inform the Patriarch of this at once when we return. Also I will need to inform our researchers, and build up a dossier on this nation."

Inan blinks in apparent confusion. “I don’t see what your leader needs to be informed of? I mean, there are far too many nations in the World Assembly to fit on one planet, so it seems pretty obvious to me that they’d have to be spread out among different ones.”

She thinks for a moment. “Unless what you’re surprised about is our law policies, which also doesn’t seem all that surprising.”

[Xanthal]

It's an awful lot of fuss over not much benefit if you ask me; harmless enough I suppose, since it shouldn't require much financial outlay to comply, but the whole thing feels a bit gratuitous. I'd say the main failing here is tunnel vision. Instead of trying to promulgate knowledge of WA canon specifically, far more good could be done by increasing freedom of information protections in general for the residents of our member nations. Why stop at protecting and encouraging access to this one thing when we could be promoting greater knowledge and awareness in their own right?

As it is, I have to vote against: the greatest favor we can do for promoting interest and understanding of our work here in the General Assembly is to refrain from further bloating our register of laws with resolutions the positive effect of which are outweighed by their word count. In other words, you don't make the law more accessible by adding laws, you only make it more arcane. We should be judicious in seeing that the laws we do pass actually matter to the quality of our people's lives, lest the WA become an impenetrable mass of thousands of resolutions with tiny scope such that only those who make it a hobby or a career are able to untangle it all.

[Grenartia]

"Excuse me ambassador, I am confused. How is it that you intend to prevent other nations from divulging knowledge of the World Assembly to it's inhabitants? All you could possibly do is prevent your own citizens from obtaining that knowledge."

After briefly talking to one of her assistants, Ariela turns back to the ambassador from Essuu Betti

"And as was mentioned earlier; there are few good reasons, if any, to deny your own citizens access to the systems of law and why they exist."

“Essu Beti is the only nation on our planet that has access to the World Assembly,” explains Inan. “And the only access to our planet from here is through a portal that leads to an undeveloped swamp in my nation. There is no possibility that, for example, your own nation could tell, for example, Creatan, about the World Assembly, because your nation has no means of contacting them.”

“Our citizens are well aware of the laws passed by the World Assembly. They just, for the most part, assume that they’re our laws, and that the ones the citizenry would have the most objection over were put into place in order to gain support from more powerful nations.”

It seems, ambassador, that your nation is already running afoul of WA legislation, as your very presence in this body constitutes a secret treaty on your part. Which was banned in GA 408.

[Essu Beti]

It seems, ambassador, that your nation is already running afoul of WA legislation, as your very presence in this body constitutes a secret treaty on your part. Which was banned in GA 408.

“Would you care to explain how anything my nation is doing is a “secret treaty?”” asks Inan.

[Grenartia]

It seems, ambassador, that your nation is already running afoul of WA legislation, as your very presence in this body constitutes a secret treaty on your part. Which was banned in GA 408.

“Would you care to explain how anything my nation is doing is a “secret treaty?”” asks Inan.

Its a rather simple matter, ambassador. Quite frankly, its so simple, I'm shocked I have to explain it to you, unless you're being deliberately obtuse.

Your nation's membership in the WA required a treaty to be signed. The fact that your government has kept the existence of the WA classified from public knowledge means it is secret.

Therefore, a secret treaty.

[Jocospor]

“Would you care to explain how anything my nation is doing is a “secret treaty?”” asks Inan.

Its a rather simple matter, ambassador. Quite frankly, its so simple, I'm shocked I have to explain it to you, unless you're being deliberately obtuse.

Your nation's membership in the WA required a treaty to be signed. The fact that your government has kept the existence of the WA classified from public knowledge means it is secret.

Therefore, a secret treaty.

A most ridiculous law, too. We've mind to repeal it. Oh wait, we tried - ah, but we didn't forum draft it, so it didn't pass. Bother. Maybe we should try it again? I'm sure now we'd have the ambassador from Essu Beti's support.

This flawed World Assembly...

[Lord Dominator]

Its a rather simple matter, ambassador. Quite frankly, its so simple, I'm shocked I have to explain it to you, unless you're being deliberately obtuse.

Your nation's membership in the WA required a treaty to be signed. The fact that your government has kept the existence of the WA classified from public knowledge means it is secret.

Therefore, a secret treaty.

A most ridiculous law, too. We've mind to repeal it. Oh wait, we tried - ah, but we didn't forum draft it, so it didn't pass. Bother. Maybe we should try it again? I'm sure now we'd have the ambassador from Essu Beti's support.

This flawed World Assembly...

"Ha! I highly doubt forum drafting would save a repeal of that. Better off doing the research to find something else to do here. Or better yet, leaving so you stop annoying us!"

[Hamstan]

"The people and government of Hamstan value education and knowledge, especially of the law. Should this resolution pass, we will gladly make information on resolutions available through WALDS. As long as it can be guaranteed our public corporations will have the exclusive rights to publish these reports inside our borders, we gladly vote for this resolution"

[Essu Beti]

Its a rather simple matter, ambassador. Quite frankly, its so simple, I'm shocked I have to explain it to you, unless you're being deliberately obtuse.

Your nation's membership in the WA required a treaty to be signed. The fact that your government has kept the existence of the WA classified from public knowledge means it is secret.

Therefore, a secret treaty.

“Hold that thought,” says Inan. She then turns to the back of the room and calls out, “Naditu Desai!”

Marsanis Desai, a stern-looking priest in samar garb comes over. “Yes?” they ask.

“I ran out of memorized lines. Can you take over for now? They think we’re in violation of GAR #408.”

Marsanis turns to the ambassador of Grenartia as Inan plucks a thick and heavily bookmarked notebook from her pocket and starts flipping through it. “There is no treaty or even international agreement that Essu Beti is under, that is not public to the members of the World Assembly. It is also public knowledge to those other nations on our homeworld that we do publish and follow laws pressed upon us by other nations, and receive foreign aid from these or other nations. The only secret is that we have possession of a portal leading to a multinational body, and that it is this multinational body from which most of our foreign aid comes. These details are not a treaty by any means, shape, or form.”

“Furthermore, if you actually read GAR #408, I believe you’ll find that even if it were to be considered a treaty to acknowledge the WA by name, we are in full compliance. Every agreement we enter is indeed published in the World Assembly and registered with the Judicial Committee of the Compliance Commission.”

They continue. “Regardless, if you truly believe us to be in noncompliance, you are welcome to bring the matter to the attention of the Independent Adjudicative Office. I am quite certain they’ll find in favor of us.”

[Wallenburg]

The only secret is that we have possession of a portal leading to a multinational body, and that it is this multinational body from which most of our foreign aid comes. These details are not a treaty by any means, shape, or form.”

"Well, that's an entirely different matter!" interjects Ogenbond, smiling benevolently. "There exist no World Assembly resolutions requiring you to reveal the means of your contact with the World Assembly, nor will this resolution require you to reveal the existence or location of your portal. As far as your neighbors are concerned, should they become aware of your public archives of World Assembly resolutions, you are a member of an international legislative body. They probably all know that already, unless your government is magically immune to foreign espionage."

[Lord Dominator]

The only secret is that we have possession of a portal leading to a multinational body, and that it is this multinational body from which most of our foreign aid comes. These details are not a treaty by any means, shape, or form.”

"Well, that's an entirely different matter!" interjects Ogenbond, smiling benevolently. "There exist no World Assembly resolutions requiring you to reveal the means of your contact with the World Assembly, nor will this resolution require you to reveal the existence or location of your portal. As far as your neighbors are concerned, should they become aware of your public archives of World Assembly resolutions, you are a member of an international legislative body. They probably all know that already, unless your government is magically immune to foreign espionage."

"And if they find out, just pass it off as the works of talented children! Or just deny and obfuscate until they go away."

[Shaktirajya]

We, the People's Hindu Matriarchy of Shaktirajya, vote FOR this resolution in the interest of spreading cosmopolitan values and education throughout member states and the rest of the world.

Vaktaha Samajavadinaha Matarajasya Shaktirajyasya

[Lemmingtopias]

Good Morning Delegates and Amassadors,

I have provisionally vote in favour of this Proposal and it currently has unanimous support in my region.

However, there has been concerns raised that this proposal would force nations that do not allow reading or writing, for religious or other reasons, to overturn national laws banning such. Furthermore, the resolution would have little effect in nations that do not have reading and writing or have low literacy rates.

Iason Kretheus,
WA Delegate for Atlantis

[Imperium Anglorum]

Sucks.

The government has to read the resolution. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30&p=4026148&hilit=read#p4026148

And bans on reading are prohibited by WA legislation, viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30&p=13323627&hilit=read#p13323627 , more specifically,

No person shall be punished for reading, nor for enabling oneself and/or another to read, nor for acquiring knowledge and/or cultural enrichment from non-readable media or reading media adapted for individuals with disabilities, provided that the material was legally published with the intention that it be publicly available.

[Kenmoria]

Sucks.

The government has to read the resolution. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30&p=4026148&hilit=read#p4026148

And bans on reading are prohibited by WA legislation, viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30&p=13323627&hilit=read#p13323627 , more specifically,

(OOC: Those two resolutions do not mean that a nation has to allow all its citizens access to WA resolutions. The government itself has to read the resolution, and the people cannot be punished for reading, but there is nothing stopping a government from classifying all WA resolutions, making it impossible for a normal member of society to know of them.)

[Bears Armed]

Sucks.

The government has to read the resolution. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30&p=4026148&hilit=read#p4026148

And bans on reading are prohibited by WA legislation, viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30&p=13323627&hilit=read#p13323627 , more specifically,

(OOC: Those two resolutions do not mean that a nation has to allow all its citizens access to WA resolutions. The government itself has to read the resolution, and the people cannot be punished for reading, but there is nothing stopping a government from classifying all WA resolutions, making it impossible for a normal member of society to know of them.)

(OOC: however resolutions take effect within member nations as part of those nations' own law-codes, and there's already a resolution saying that those have to be made publicly available...)

[Kenmoria]

(OOC: Those two resolutions do not mean that a nation has to allow all its citizens access to WA resolutions. The government itself has to read the resolution, and the people cannot be punished for reading, but there is nothing stopping a government from classifying all WA resolutions, making it impossible for a normal member of society to know of them.)

(OOC: however resolutions take effect within member nations as part of those nations' own law-codes, and there's already a resolution saying that those have to be made publicly available...)

(OOC: Whilst it is a petty distinction, member nations do not have to say which of their laws come from the WA and which come from their own systems of governance. Thus, this could give citizens the impression that these laws are subject to change and possible to repeal or amend, despite this not being the case.)

[Wallenburg]

Sucks.

The government has to read the resolution. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30&p=4026148&hilit=read#p4026148

And bans on reading are prohibited by WA legislation, viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30&p=13323627&hilit=read#p13323627 , more specifically,

(OOC: Those two resolutions do not mean that a nation has to allow all its citizens access to WA resolutions. The government itself has to read the resolution, and the people cannot be punished for reading, but there is nothing stopping a government from classifying all WA resolutions, making it impossible for a normal member of society to know of them.)

OOC: Which is why I wrote this resolution. If the inhabitants of member states already were guaranteed access to World Assembly law, this would be illegal for duplication.

[Imperium Anglorum]

(OOC: Those two resolutions do not mean that a nation has to allow all its citizens access to WA resolutions. The government itself has to read the resolution, and the people cannot be punished for reading, but there is nothing stopping a government from classifying all WA resolutions, making it impossible for a normal member of society to know of them.)

It does, however, remove concerns that

this proposal would force nations that do not allow reading or writing, for religious or other reasons, to overturn national laws banning such

because such nations do not exist in the World Assembly, which is what my post was responding to.