NationStates

The Truth Will set you free wrote:MODEDIT: Trolling screenshots removed

The free Snipping tool on windows takes better fake screenshots then yours.

Why have we spent the past two hours debating a couple of screenshots that the mods do not want being shared on forum.nationstates.net?

There's no debate. We all agree they were bad and the player that faked them should feel bad.

Yokiria wrote:There's no debate. We all agree they were bad and the player that faked them should feel bad.

Can we point and laugh?

Current Corporate Management

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Chief Executive Officer (Delegate): Tubbius
Chief Operating Officer (Vice-Delegate): New Rogernomics
Managing Director (Prime Minister): joWhatup

Current Board of Directors (Cabinet of Lazarus)

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Director of Citizenship: Director of the Guard: Whatermelons
Director of Internal Management: Mzeusia
Director of Public Relations: None
Director of Shareholdership: McChimp

Current Auditors of Lazarus (Council of Lazarene Security)

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Speaker: Debussy

Current Human Resource Officers (Court Justices)

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Human Resource Officers: Amerion, Atlantica, and Wymondham

A non-aggression pact between Lazarus and the North Pacific was ratified in Lazarus on the 28th of May, and in the North the next day. We hope that this will help build a bridge between us and the North.

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Last month the Speaker Roavin resigned and the Delegate appointed Deputy Speaker Debussy as the new Speaker, he was confirmed shortly thereafter.

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Following the Prime Ministers appointments of Domais as Director of Public Relations, Mzeusia as Director of Internal Management and McChimp as Director of Shareholdership, they were all confirmed shortly thereafter. Domais would resign over controversial comments he made on the NSGP Discord and Forum, these were of his personal opinion and aren't reflective of the regions views: The Full text of his resignation can be found here.

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Last month the FA team opened forum embassies with Anteria, Grace of Gaia and the New West Indies; and opened in-game embassies with Anteria and Grace of Gaia.

To all whom it may concern,

Recently, Lazarus was made aware that a person leaked information from a legally restricted area to NSToday. The Lazarene government proceeded to request of this organization that they refuse to publish the information they have obtained, as, to our understanding, they would be committing espionage or at least aiding in such efforts according to our laws.

Section 3 of our Criminal Code regarding Espionage states:

(1) Any person who knowingly communicates information contained in a restricted area of Lazarus, in part or in whole, to a person or entity which does not have access to that restricted area, shall be guilty of espionage.

However, NSToday repeatedly refused to comply, stating that they would publish any article they so desire whilst flagrantly violating our laws and regulations regarding legally restricted information. We see this as an unacceptable breach of our rule of law and a threat to violate our criminal code, and thus we must condemn it as such. However, despite this sheer disregard for our sovereignty, we still wished to continue efforts to resolve this peacefully and privately. It was our desire to act reasonably and with professionalism. It is unfortunate that NSToday decided to open the gates to unnecessary public melodrama for an issue that could have been resolved with serenity and rational behaviour.

We can no longer trust NSToday to respect the privacy of the regions they interact with. Illegally leaking or threatening to leak restricted information from Lazarus to the wider world is not something we can tolerate. Our trust in NSToday as a respectable media corporation has evaporated. We condemn NSToday for their blatant disregard of our laws and thus we shall cease any such cooperation with this organization. Let it be known that, no matter how important or widespread any person or entity is, they are not above Lazarene law. The Lazarene government has a duty to implement Lazarene law and defend Lazarene sovereignty, no matter the cost.

If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

There you go again, slamming another region full of perfectly respectful people for going against what you think is correct. Learn from your past Uni.

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

Free press is good when it’s not illegally obtained.

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

The democratic nature of our regional governance is clearly laid out in our constitution, the Twelfth Mandate. All Lazarene citizens have the opportunity to participate in all areas of our community, and all citizens can run for the position that commands the executive branch of our government.

We refuse to condone threats to openly break our laws due to a sense of erroneous journalistic privilege or accept pressure to ignore these violations, and thus we acted on that assertion in a respectful and professional manner. Our region does not apply the law in an arbitrary fashion, and the interregional press has no special position in our criminal code. There are no two sets of enforcement that differ and value irresponsible journalists over everyone else. That is all there is to it.

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

I wasn't aware that members of the free press were allowed to break the law in a democracy.

Oh, wait. They're not.

Yokiria wrote:

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

I wasn't aware that members of the free press were allowed to break the law in a democracy.

Oh, wait. They're not.

Lazarene Ryccia wrote:

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

The democratic nature of our regional governance is clearly laid out in our constitution, the Twelfth Mandate. All Lazarene citizens have the opportunity to participate in all areas of our community, and all citizens can run for the position that commands the executive branch of our government.

We refuse to condone threats to openly break our laws due to a sense of erroneous journalistic privilege or accept pressure to ignore these violations, and thus we acted on that assertion in a respectful and professional manner. Our region does not apply the law in an arbitrary fashion, and the interregional press has no special position in our criminal code. There are no two sets of enforcement that differ and value irresponsible journalists over everyone else. That is all there is to it.

I'll address these points together: you've effectively criminalized routine investigative journalism in Lazarus.

The proviso that "we allow a free press, provided it is consistent with our laws" is meaningless when the laws preclude the publication of internal discussions and developments that you don't want published. That is not what a 'free press' means in any objective sense.

This is the kind of behaviour you see in authoritarian regimes - you allow the press to operate, but criminalize enough elements of the investigative process and output to deter, condemn, and prosecute bad press all the while clinging to some modicum of legitimacy.

Drop Your Pants wrote:

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

There you go again, slamming another region full of perfectly respectful people for going against what you think is correct. Learn from your past Uni.

I see you've learned to adopt age-old NPO talking points into everyday conversations.

We might as well move all government discussion to the RMB then. Some things need to kept secret mate.

Unibot III wrote:I'll address these points together: you've effectively criminalized routine investigative journalism in Lazarus.

I have as much power to criminalize things in Lazarus as you do knowledge to talk about Lazarene law.

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

They’re a sovereign government, it’s not their job to convince you of anything

Unibot III wrote:

Yokiria wrote:I wasn't aware that members of the free press were allowed to break the law in a democracy.

Oh, wait. They're not.

Lazarene Ryccia wrote:The democratic nature of our regional governance is clearly laid out in our constitution, the Twelfth Mandate. All Lazarene citizens have the opportunity to participate in all areas of our community, and all citizens can run for the position that commands the executive branch of our government.

We refuse to condone threats to openly break our laws due to a sense of erroneous journalistic privilege or accept pressure to ignore these violations, and thus we acted on that assertion in a respectful and professional manner. Our region does not apply the law in an arbitrary fashion, and the interregional press has no special position in our criminal code. There are no two sets of enforcement that differ and value irresponsible journalists over everyone else. That is all there is to it.

I'll address these points together: you've effectively criminalized routine investigative journalism in Lazarus.

The proviso that "we allow a free press, provided it is consistent with our laws" is meaningless when the laws preclude the publication of internal discussions and developments that you don't want published. That is not what a 'free press' means in any objective sense.

This is the kind of behaviour you see in authoritarian regimes - you allow the press to operate, but criminalize enough elements of the investigative process and output to deter, condemn, and prosecute bad press all the while clinging to some modicum of legitimacy.

What would happen if a citizen leaked legally restricted information? They would be violating Lazarene law.

What would happen if a person, outsider or not, receives leaks of legally restricted information and decided to publish them despite knowing it is illegal? They would be violating Lazarene law.

Simply put, if someone leaks legally restricted information, they would be violating Lazarene law by committing espionage. It could not be clearer.

No one is above the law, and our criminal code does not provide a special immunity for irresponsible reporters who make light of the privacy of our community to discuss sensitive issues in peace and without disturbance. Whether you are a journalist or not, the law does not care for your status. It applies equally. The information in question could make us look good or bad, and it would not matter: the law as is currently written does not care for such distinctions, and it would be enforced the same.

If anyone wishes to publish any legally restricted information without the proper authorization, they are free to do so, but they must be aware of what shall follow. They must know that they are not exempt from the law, and as a sovereign region with its own set of laws, we are bound by responsibility to enforce them.

You erroneously mischaracterize our system as a misguided outsider. Unless you secretly took an AP course on the Lazarene political system and outsmarted everyone in the government, you have no experience nor any special knowledge that qualifies you to slander Lazarus in such a fashion.

Unibot III wrote:I'll address these points together: you've effectively criminalized routine investigative journalism in Lazarus.

The proviso that "we allow a free press, provided it is consistent with our laws" is meaningless when the laws preclude the publication of internal discussions and developments that you don't want published. That is not what a 'free press' means in any objective sense.

This is the kind of behaviour you see in authoritarian regimes - you allow the press to operate, but criminalize enough elements of the investigative process and output to deter, condemn, and prosecute bad press all the while clinging to some modicum of legitimacy.

If in the unlikely event a higher-up in a defender org leaked the details of an upcoming operation to NSToday, do you think they would respect the right of the free press to publish those details?
The Free Press is not a badge that allows you to ignore the "Classified" label on a document. Whistleblowing is one thing, but this is not that. If you're entrusted with restricted information, breaking that trust is wrong.

Honeydewistania wrote:Free press is good when it’s not illegally obtained.

I'm Richard Nixon, and I approve this message.

Kanaia wrote:

Honeydewistania wrote:Free press is good when it’s not illegally obtained.

I'm Richard Nixon, and I approve this message.

Lazarus hasn't hired people to break into a building, so I think that comparison is rubbish.

What would happen if a citizen leaked legally restricted information? They would be violating Lazarene law.

What would happen if a person, outsider or not, receives leaks of legally restricted information and decided to publish them despite knowing it is illegal? They would be violating Lazarene law.

...

You erroneously mischaracterize our system as a misguided outsider. Unless you secretly took an AP course on the Lazarene political system and outsmarted everyone in the government, you have no experience nor any special knowledge that qualifies you to slander Lazarus in such a fashion.

I don't need an AP course to understand your case, you're plagiarizing Kissinger and unflattering excerpts of New York Times Co. v. United States.

See these grey hairs? *points to his head* I'm old. Ancient. I've been around the block. Every dictatorship, illiberal conglomerate, cult, conspiracy, and crank in this game uses the same response when they get caught.

First, you defend yourself based on the rule of law. And then you say that only 'insiders' can understand and judge our laws.

I was a young man when NPO used to use that crap on their critics ... and Balder did too ... and Osiris ... and the Empire ... and TSP ... and TWP ... and TEP ... and Europeia

Over my long career with TRT, I was routinely threatened by supposedly freedom-loving sovereign governments. And I salute NSToday for reporting the facts. That is what the press does - if someone hands you confidential information that the public should know, you publish it. In a democracy, the press is protected from the de facto decriminalization of their work. In an autocracy, not so much.

Honeydewistania wrote:

Kanaia wrote:I'm Richard Nixon, and I approve this message.

Lazarus hasn't hired people to break into a building, so I think that comparison is rubbish.

He's probably referring to the Pentagon Papers.

Aurum Raider wrote:

Unibot III wrote:I'll address these points together: you've effectively criminalized routine investigative journalism in Lazarus.

The proviso that "we allow a free press, provided it is consistent with our laws" is meaningless when the laws preclude the publication of internal discussions and developments that you don't want published. That is not what a 'free press' means in any objective sense.

This is the kind of behaviour you see in authoritarian regimes - you allow the press to operate, but criminalize enough elements of the investigative process and output to deter, condemn, and prosecute bad press all the while clinging to some modicum of legitimacy.

If in the unlikely event a higher-up in a defender org leaked the details of an upcoming operation to NSToday, do you think they would respect the right of the free press to publish those details?
The Free Press is not a badge that allows you to ignore the "Classified" label on a document. Whistleblowing is one thing, but this is not that. If you're entrusted with restricted information, breaking that trust is wrong.

I can assure you I would have sought the source of the leak and I would have dismissed them from the UDL. I would not have sought to censor or condemn a public newspaper for reporting a leak. These are two entirely different ethical questions.

Varanius wrote:

Unibot III wrote:If you want to convince people that Lazarus is in fact democratic, respect for a free press would be a good start.

They’re a sovereign government, it’s not their job to convince you of anything

And it's not my job to kiss ass either.

Unibot III wrote:I would not have sought to censor or condemn a public newspaper for reporting a leak.

Ignoring the rest because it was completely irrelevant to my point, that's a load and you know it. If NSToday publicly leaked any GP org's operation, they'd be on that org's shitlist for all of eternity and you know it.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that publishing a reigon's secrets is kind of a big deal, and makes you untrustworthy. It doesn't matter who the leaks came from, what matters is that you didn't respect the region enough to keep their secrets a secret.

Aurum Raider wrote:

Unibot III wrote:I would not have sought to censor or condemn a public newspaper for reporting a leak.

Ignoring the rest because it was completely irrelevant to my point, that's a load and you know it. If NSToday publicly leaked any GP org's operation, they'd be on that org's shitlist for all of eternity and you know it.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that publishing a reigon's secrets is kind of a big deal, and makes you untrustworthy. It doesn't matter who the leaks came from, what matters is that you didn't respect the region enough to keep their secrets a secret.

? As an editor myself, I published reports of cabinet-level developments that other regions most certainly did not want published. I always did so under the presumption that the free press does have a role to play in casting daylight on important internal discussions. I would have been an absolute hypocrite to then criticize another newspaper for printing leaks under my domain.

Public Relations Department
July Update

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Current Corporate Management

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Chief Executive Officer (Delegate): Tubbius
Chief Operating Officer (Vice-Delegate): New Rogernomics
Managing Director (Prime Minister): joWhatup

Current Board of Directors (Cabinet of Lazarus)

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Director of the Guard: Whatermelons
Director of Internal Management: Mzeusia
Director of Public Relations: Ryccia
Director of Shareholdership: McChimp

Current Auditors of Lazarus (Council of Lazarene Security)

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Chairman: New Rogernomics
Auditors: Aflana, McChimp, Leonism, Ryccia and Killer Kitty

Current Speakership

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Speaker: Debussy

Current Human Resource Officers (Court Justices)

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Human Resource Officers: Amerion and Atlantica

New Treaty with Thalassia!
By Agalaesia

Taking a celebratory sip from a mug of red wine, Lazarene shareholders officially signed the treaty of Le Port with the user created region Thalassia. The treaty, passed on the 20th June, includes mutual recognition, a pact of non-agression while ensuring that the regions are incentivised to collaborate culturally. 

If you are winedering about where to red the full treaty, your thirst for information will be quenched here: 

https://www.nslazarus.com/thread-1529.html

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New Director!
By Ryccia

Following Domais's resignation from the office of Director of Public Relations due to controversy surrounding his personal statements, there was a need for someone to fill his vacancy. Prime Minister JoWhatup nominated Ryccia to fill that position. After the required timeframe of debate, the nomination was confirmed by the Assembly with unanimous consent, with only one abstention. Ryccia had previously served as Director of Public Relations until December 2019. He is now returning to this role, serving a second time in this capacity.

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Military Activities
By Ryccia

The Guard has done its duty the past month. Led by the Director of the Guard, Whatermelons (also known as Honeydewistania), a force of three paralegals raided the region of Liberty Block. Acting on the Guard's lawful capacity of fighting against those deplorable regions that espouse fascism and other heinous ideologies, the region was successfully taken on June 13 of this year.

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Court Activities
By Domais and Ryccia

On May 27th, Vedan was charged by McChimp with conspiracy to commit misconduct and was defended by Domais. On June 11th, the court found Vedan guilty. He received a sentence that reads as follows "Vedan is to be banned from membership of the Regional Guard for 18 months, banned from holding public office for 8 months and shall have their voting rights suspended for 2 months. They may apply to have their Regional Guard ban commuted after 12 months and their ban from public office commuted after 6 months."

Wymondham, a Justice of our Court, has resigned, the second time he has done so. He had announced his intention to retire from his duties on May the 2nd, but his resignation was made official on June the 19th. 

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New CLS Member!
By Ryccia

After being nominated by the Delegate Tubbius, Killer Kitty, otherwise known as Evil Wolf, was approved by the Assembly to serve as a member of the Council of Lazarene Security. The new appointee was previously a member that was removed by the Assembly for inactivity, but this body has conferred its trust once more for EW to serve in this capacity again.

Lazarus IR Office wrote:On May 27th, Vedan was charged by McChimp with conspiracy to commit misconduct and was defended by Domais. On June 11th, the court found McChimp guilty

I thought I had him on the ropes, but before I knew it... I, the prosecutor, was found guilty.

Custadia wrote:

Lazarus IR Office wrote:On May 27th, Vedan was charged by McChimp with conspiracy to commit misconduct and was defended by Domais. On June 11th, the court found McChimp guilty

I thought I had him on the ropes, but before I knew it... I, the prosecutor, was found guilty.

Wow I’m really shaking my smh my h rn. How could McChimp do this?