NationStates

The Liberal Democracy of Oiseaui (pronounced /wa.zoē/) is a massive, economically powerful sovereign state, comprising a sizable island, and four smaller surrounding islands. Located in the region of Capitalist Paradise, Oiseaui's international activity has ebbed and flowed with the changes in government. It is notable for unlimited speed roads, consistently low taxes, and overflowing freedoms.

A large nation, Oiseaui's land mass is 7,692,024² (2,969,907 mi²) and consists of mountains, some rivers, lowland equatorial evergreen rain forests, semi-evergreen seasonal forests, montane rain forests, and the beaches which surround the island. Industrialized early on, Oiseaui has a trade surplus of B$483.81 billion with B$4.77 trillion made in exports. It has all of the makings to be a strong cultural, economic, political, and military influence in the international landscape however other than exports, sports, and its World Assembly Membership, Oiseaui is generally isolationist.

Oiseaui is a unitary semi-presidential republic, bound by its legal code the Declaration on the Rights of Oiseauian Peoples. The declaration defines the government as transparent, accountable, democratic, and social. With over 1 billion people, Oiseaui enjoys a high-standard of living perpetuated by the belief in freedom of choice. Oiseauians also benefit from an exceptionally high level of education, which receives 30% of the government's budget. People are free to live their life as they choose, as long as their choices do not effect non-consenting individuals. Oiseaui also enjoys a high life expectancy.

Oiseaui has an expansive active military force, and is a recognized nuclear weapons state. The last military census (January 1, 2011) reported an Oiseauian military of of 20,090,000 (12,054,000 active, 8,036,000 reserves) and ~700 active warheads. Due to its isolationist policies, Oiseaui is currently not a member of any international military groups, though the current government has expressed interest.

Motto (English): "Liberty consists in doing what one desires."
Translated (French): "La liberté, c'est à faire ce qu'on désire."
Translated (Latin): "Libertas consistit cupito faciendo."



Region: Capitalist Paradise
Capital: Pion
Three largest cities: Pion, Khamisi, Jumaane,
Spoken Languages: English (official), French (unofficial)
Demonym: Oiseauian
Government: Semi-Unitary Republic
President: Ashbourne Garnett
Prime Minister: Émilie Berezi
Establishment
- as tribes: circa 1,210 BC
- as Ois e Aui: March 12th, 1790
- Parliamentary Monarchy: January 12th, 1835
- as unified Oiseaui: August 5th, 1936
- as a Semi-Unitary Republic: November 1st 1945
Population: ±1,000,000,000
GDP
- Total (B$): $37,046,202,088,180.00
- GDP/capita (B$): $31,936.38
Currency: Breixo (BRX)
Time Zone: CET +0100
International Abbreviation: OIS
Military Branches:
- Army: Ground Forces
- Air Force: Air Support
- Navy: Maritime
- Marines: Special Support
National Anthem: Oiseauian Canticle
National animal:
- Lynx Silva aka Taigan Lynx
Internet TLD: .oa
Calling Code: +722
World Assembly Status: Member
PDAS Rating: C+ (68th Percentile)

History

Etymology
The name "Oiseaui" comes from the merger of two culturally similar nations, "Ois" and "Aui," which bordered each other on the large island territory.

In the since lost native languages, the two nations' names were understood to have represented Mother Ocean and Father Tree, respectively. The separate names were monikers which represented the nations for ~3,000 years until the creation of La Grãne Natçión di Oise a Aui in 1790.

After centuries of in-fighting, the two nations aligned under a common King and/or Queen; the nations still represented two diverse states. However, in 1895 there was a strong nationalistic political movement towards complete unification. After extreme political instability for three decades the political environment eventually changed and a new, joint nation emerged. The Confederation of La Grãne Natçión di Oiseaui was born. By late 1935 - early 1936 the name Oiseaui had formally replaced all references to the nation and had become the only recognized name in circulation.

Monarchy to Democracy
Previous to 1790, the nations of Oise and Aui had two separate tribal monarchs. Ois was a Matriarchal society; it revered women as political and religious leaders. Ois was peacefully brought together by, "Mother Ocean, Katerina Anthea." Following the death of the Queen who brought the seaside dwelling tribal nations together, her second daughter took the reigns and led the nation. Thus a precedence was set where the second daughter of each Anthea Queen was crowned the new Queen. Conversely, Aui was a Patriarchal society who believed in the strength and leadership qualities of men. Following the aggressive and violent, "Father Tree, Tendaji Meine" the tribal nations were forced together. Despite initial forced compliance, the nation began to love and respect their ruler. With adoration, they vowed to follow their rulers blood line hoping that his sons would naturally hold the same strength.

In 1787 Ois was ruled by, age 23, Queen Noémie Anthea and Aui was ruled by, age 29, Aniketos Meine. Though Aniketos had been King since he was 27, Noémie was the newly crowned Queen of Ois and thus the two met to establish diplomatic relations. Immediately the two began an elaborate and public relationship; in 1790 they were married. This was the first marriage between the two nations, and The Confederation of La Grãne Natçión di Oise a Aui was born. While both Ois and Aui were still sovereign states it represented the joining of cultures and the permanent alliance. Also established was a new method for choosing the Monarch; to respect both nations simply the second born child, regardless of gender, became the new monarch upon the death of both parents. The newly monarch then ruled over both nations with appointed councils representing the nations separate interests. This was the beginning of the governments split from a pure monarchy.

After 45 years under this style of rule, King Efstathios Meine believed in involving his people in the government. Thus in 1835, King Efstathios established separate parliaments in each nation in a style similar to the current parliament with the Assemblies being elected by the people and the Senate being appointed by the King's primary advisers. For the first time since the founding of their nations, the people of Ois and Aui had power. They were electing members of their communities to represent them to the King and general happiness of the nations grew.

In 1895, King Efstathios' daughter Nerea Meine was crowned Queen of Ois and Aui. Having grown up in a society where the two nations were nearly indistinguishable, Queen Nerea believed it was time for the nations to come together. Using her connections to the nations' Universities and educated elite, she polled her people and the majority of both nations were supportive of the unification. Wanting to support the government systems that her father put in place, she introduced legislature to both Parliaments which would unite the nations. In Ois the legislature passed with an overwhelming majority, and in Aui the legislature squeaked by. However, with the support of both parliaments, she issued an edict which officially joined the two nations. The international world, was much less accepting. Over the course of the next 30 years, Queen Nerea fought for recognition and after a lifetime of political turmoil the new nation was finally accepted. In 1936, Queen Nerea's nation of Oiseaui was born.


Finally, in 1944, Queen Nerea who was then 96 years old passed away. As the nation mourned the loss of Oiseaui's first Queen, her son Thaddaeus Tiras Meine was crowned King. Being raised by Nerea, with the ideals of his grandfather firmly instilled, Thaddaeus was truly a revolutionary. Immediately after being crowned King, Thaddeus brought together a group of Political Scientists and Policy makers. Though the government had historically been transparent in its actions, these meetings were behind closed doors which initially led to skepticism and questioning of their King's motives. On November 1st 1945, 21 months after being crowned King, Thaddeus signed the Declaration on the Rights of Oiseauian Peoples into law. The Oiseauian Monarchy, which had been in place for thousands of years, was demolished and elections were to be held in 2 months. The current elected Parliament was to run the government for two months, and the former King Thaddeus announced his intention to run for President.

On January 1st 1946, former King of La Grãne Natçión di Oiseui, Thaddaeus Tiras Meins was elected as the first President of The Liberal Democracy of Oiseaui. President Thaddeus elected Iulius Claudius as his Prime Minister. The government of Oiseaui as we know it was born.

Insignia & Colors
The Oiseauian insignia, seen on both its flag and emblem, is the Meine Skull. In battle, Tendaji would hold his blade around his skull signifying the beginning of war. When the great king passed, he was buried with his knife in the same fashion. Superstitiously, the Aui warriors believed that if they continued to use this symbol, the ferocity of their dead king would aid them in battle.

When Ois and Aui were unified, and superstitions about Tendaji had long passed, the symbol remained not only in respect to the Aui beginnings, but as a warning to all who may question unified Oiseaui's strength.

Government

Government Type
The Liberal Democracy of Oiseaui is a unitary semi-presidential republic. The Declaration on the Rights of Oiseauian Peoples emphasizes the authority of the executive in relation to parliament. The executive branch itself has two leaders: the President of the Democracy, currently Ashbourne Garnett, who is head of state and elected directly by universal adult suffrage for a 8-year term, and the president-appointed Prime Minister, currently Émilie Berezi, is the head of government. In periods where the President and Prime Minister do not represent the same party, the president heads foreign affairs whereas the prime minister heads domestic policy. Ashbourne Garnett has been the President of the Democracy of Oiseaui since 2010.

The Oiseaui parliament is a bicameral legislature comprising a Oiseauian Assembly and a Senate. The Oiseauian Assembly deputies represent local constituencies and are directly elected for 5-year terms. The Assembly has the power to dismiss the Prime Minister, and thus the majority in the Assembly determines the choice of government. Senators are chosen by an electoral college for 4-year terms, and one half of the seats are submitted to election every 2 years.

The Assembly's legislative powers is limited; in the event of disagreement between the two chambers, the Senate has the final say. However, as a control of Senate power the Prime Minister has limited veto power. The Prime Minister may veto four times in their tenure; a fourth veto is also a resignation from position. Thus, the Prime Minister has a strong influence in shaping the agenda of Parliament. In the history of Oiseaui, only one Prime Minister, Philippe Antoine Rokus, has used all four vetoes.

Bureau of Ministers
The Bureau of Ministers of Oiseaui is the cabinet of the Oiseauian government. Members are nominated by the prime minister and require confirmation by the president. Accordingly, the bureau serves beneath the president with the prime minister as its highest ranking member. Currently there are 9 Ministries: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finances, Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Nature, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Entertainment and the Ministry of Education. A month after being elected, President Garnett and Prime Minister Berezi gave a dual-announcement in which they stated they'd be pushing for a younger government to address the modern concerns over the next 8 years.

Political Parties
Since the creation of Parliament under King Efstathios, there has been a varied and colorful political environment in Oiseaui. Originally, the Oiseaui Tribalism Division maintained power as people both loved yet feared the idea of Democracy. However, while the citizens of Oiseaui have come into their own and established themselves and their provinces the Classic Liberal party has slowly but surely grown. The Oiseauian people love their government, and Oiseaui is fiercely nationalistic, but still they enjoy the freedom afforded to them by the historically free tribal government.

The Oiseaui Classic Liberal Party is the party of the current President and Prime Minister. The party's doctrine stresses individual freedom and limited government. This includes the importance of human rationality, individual property rights, natural rights, the protection of civil liberties, individual freedom from restraint, constitutional limitation of government, free markets, and a gold standard to place fiscal constraints on government. In the recent elections it received 36% of the vote, or 250 seats.

The Concerned Socio-Economic Movement currently holds the second highest number of seats in the National Assembly. It advocates the elimination of the state and the provision of security from aggression against person and property by the private sector in a free market. In the socio-economic society, law enforcement, courts, and all other security services would be provided by voluntarily-funded competitors such as private defense agencies rather than through compulsory taxation. Personal and economic activities would not be politically regulated, because the natural laws of the market – rather than politics – would order society. In the most recent elections it gained 25% of the vote, or 170 seats.

The Green Conservative Party is a conservative party concerned about the mass deforestation that has occurred on Oiseaui. They promote the maintenance of traditional institutions and support, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. They seek to preserve things as they are and emphasize stability and continuity. There is also a great focus on environmental conservation and improvement of the state of the environment. It gained 17% of the vote, or 120 seats.

The first of the lesser parties to holds seats in the National Assembly is the, Oiseauian Tribalism Division. Concerned that Oiseaui is losing its tribal roots, this party believes in relatively simple structures, with few (if any) significant social distinctions between individuals other than a Monarch. They hold that other than the Monarch, all people should be treated as equals and have the same political, economic, social, and civil rights. Generally it applies to being held equal under the law and society at large. There is also the vague notion of private property. In the last election this party held 15% of the vote, or 105 seats.

The final party to hold an assembly seat is the, National Pacifist Party. Members of this party believe that international disputes can and should be peacefully resolved and reject the use of physical violence to obtain political, economic or social goals. Their doctrine holds that the costs of war and inter-personal violence are so substantial that better ways of resolving disputes must be found. This is also seen in their economic system in which land, capital goods, and other resources, are owned, operated and traded by private individuals or corporations for the purpose of profit. In their system private control of these productive enterprises is protected by the rule of law. After the last elections they held 7% of the vote, or 48 seats.

Law
Oiseaui uses a civil law system, with the power based in the legislature. Judges do not make law, but simply interpret it. However, some interpretation can be as strong as civil law. The Declaration on the Rights of Oiseauian Peoples states law should only prohibit actions detrimental to society. That is freedom is the rule, and its restriction is the exception; if an adult consents to any action, it is not the place of the government to restrict their choices. Law should lay out prohibitions only if they are needed. If the inconveniences caused by this restriction do not exceed the inconveniences that the prohibition is supposed to remedy, the law is unconstitutional and has grounds for repeal.

Oiseaui law is divided into private law and public law. Private law includes, in particular, civil law and criminal law. Public law includes, in particular, administrative law and constitutional law. However, in practical terms, Oiseaui law comprises three principal areas of law: civil law, criminal law and administrative law. Oiseaui does not recognize religious law, nor does it recognize religious beliefs or morality as a motivation for the enactment of prohibitions. As a consequence, Oiseaui has consistently been a safe-haven for people of all beliefs and ideals. Criminal laws can only address the future; ex post facto laws are prohibited. Laws protecting race, sex and gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other personal identifier are tantamount. If one is found discriminating based on any protected identity, there are steep consequences including jail time, fines, etc.

Military
Oiseaui is home to a technologically advanced and expertly trained armed forces, which currently has zero deployments. At this time, total defense spending accounts for 35% of total national GDP. The Oiseauian Army, Oiseauian Air Force, Oiseauian Marine Force, and Oiseauian Navy are collectively known as The Oiseauian Defense Forces. The four forces are managed by the Ministry of Defense, chaired by the Minister of Defense. The Ministry of War headquarters is located in Pion, Oiseaui and referred to as the Oiseaui War Machine.

As of the last census, the Army had a reported strength of 5,022,200, the Air Force had 7,045,000 personnel, the Marines reported 4,000,300, and the Navy 4,022,500. The Special Forces, such as the Oiseauian Presidential Shadow Pilots and Oiseauian Marine Force Shadowmen, provide troops trained for quick, mobile, military responses in counter-terrorism, land, maritime and amphibious operations, often where secrecy or covert tactics are required. There are reserve forces supporting the Active military. Active and reserve duty military personnel combined total approximately 20,090,000.

The Oiseaui Navy is an expeditionary navy armed with 18 supercarrier-sized aircraft carriers, 15 amphibious Assault ships, 22 ballistic submarines, 13 guided missile submarines, 30 attack submarines, 27 guided missile cruisers, 87 destroyers, and 16 frigates. Due to a more prevalent international presence, it is the only section of the Oiseauian Defense Force with its inventory released to the public. The Air Force is a technologically advanced force with numerous bombs, missiles, aircraft guns, and small arms. Currently there are 4 space launch vehicles, and over 50,000 commissioned aircraft consisting of bombers, fighters, cargo planes, tankers, search and rescue, reconnaissance, utility, and non-designated special forces aircraft. The Army focuses on ground warfare and individual & crew-served weaponry. There is also a focus on maintaining a diverse vehicle inventory. The Marines operate a separate aviation sector which contains both unmanned aviation and numerous fixed-wing and and rotary-wing aviation. There is also a maritime and ground forces section of the Marines, though little information is declassified. It is generally understood that nearly all Special Forces teams, originate from the Oiseauian Marine Force.

The OMF Shadowmen
The Oiseauian Marine Force Shadowmen (OMFS) are the elite special forces of the Oiseauian Marine Force. Its core capabilities are direct action, special reconnaissance and unconventional warfare. OMFS has also been directed to conduct counter-terrorism, information operations, and foreign internal defense. Beginning in 1965 as a test in creating ruthless soldiers, the program has not only held strong but has grown to be the most advanced Special Forces in Oiseaui.

Selection of the right personnel begins with a rigorous screening process designed to identify the right Marines for the right billet within OMFS. Screening takes place in 3 stages: record screening, physical screening, and a psychological evaluation. Stage 1, record screening, screens previous military achievements, issues, and histories. Only men who have shown excellence on every mission, regardless of how many, are chosen for Stage 2. Stage 2, physical screening, ensures that all soldiers meet the exact physical requirements. They must be a minimum of 6'0", have no more than 10% body fat, and be capable of long distance-sprinting while carrying an upwards of 200lbs of equipment. Stage 3 consists of psychological evaluations which aim to figure out a soldiers alignment. The preferred alignment is Lawful Evil, though Lawful Neutral is also accepted. By the end of Stage 3 only the most loyal, ruthless, physically domineering, and historically engaged soldiers remain. Those who join the OMFS are widely regarded as the most fearsome men in Oiseaui. OMFS operational billets are open only to males.

All Shadowmen are issued a standard combat uniform: MARPAT BDUs, 8" Tactical Sport SZ Boots, Advanced Tactical Knee Pads, Omega Elite Thigh Rig, Light Bearing Tactical Drop Leg Holster, Commando Load Bearing Suspenders, ECWCS Gen 2 Parka, Lightweight Extra-length Ballistic Ceramic Plate Flak Jacket, Padded Modular Utility and Ammunition Belt, Tactical Urban Assault Phalanx Utility Vest, Combat Assault Gloves with Kevlar, Environmental Data Bicep Rig, Falcon II Versipack (Backpack), Full-Cover Ballistic MICH Helmet, Helmet Affixed full-face Air Purifying Respirator, and Light-Sensitive in Helm HUD. For weaponry, dependent upon the mission, Shadowmen are issued combinations of: Model 16 Special Fighter Blade, Fairbairn Commando Dagger, USP45 Tactical Handgun, Oiseauian Modified FAMAS G2, Oiseauian Modified FN F2000, Oiseauian Modified AR15, Oiseauian Modified M110 SASS, Oiseauian Modified M32 MGL, and Modified Tactical Tomahawk.

Currently the Shadowmen's capabilities are being tested on the popular television show, "The Deadliest Warrior". The Shadowmen were chosen as one of the final contestants for their section, "Modern Technology"; they're not expected to make an appearance until the end of the first season.

International Relations
Currently not a member of any international organizations, other than the World Assembly, the government of Oiseaui has been traditionally isolationist and often neutral. Other than Non-Aggression Pacts, or Free-Trade Agreements, Oiseaui has avoided alliances that would entail military, political, or negative economic action. For this reason, despite Oiseaui's political policy of transparency, nearly 98% of Oiseauian military action has been classified. And then, only when military action is taken against Oiseaui has the government then engaged the Oiseauian Defense Forces.

Despite traditional neutral beliefs, the current government has moved to become a larger military and/or political force in the international realm. As a means to this end, President Ashbourne Garnett recently constructed three large-scale Embassy complexes in the non-developed areas surrounding Pion. The first complex, referred to as North Complex sits directly outside of the Northwestern Pion border. The second complex, referred to as Center Complex is located at the exact center point between Pion and Lake Danail (the 2nd largest lake in Oiseaui; West of Pion.) The third and final complex, referred to as the South complex borders the Northeast edge of Lake Danail. Now that the formal application process has been developed, letters of interest are accepted by President Garnett. Conversely, President Garnett has begun submitting embassy applications on behalf of Oiseaui within other nations. Each chancery is roughly 20,000 ft2 and includes a service kitchen, street and roof access, 5 bedrooms & 4 bathrooms (for Ambassador use), service quarters, an intelligence room, five offices for embassy staff (space for 2 secretaries), four large meeting rooms, and three multi-purpose rooms which may be used as each nation chooses. Theoretically, a nation may choose to rearrange the chancery though no building or construction may occur. No chancery will be given more or less space; no nation is superior and therefore deserves a superior space. In a press release on this movement towards globalism President Garnett was quoted as saying, "In order for our nation to grow beyond the confines of our island, we must first recognize that friends are necessary, and that without them we will inevitably equate to nothing." Accordingly, Oiseaui has changed its international policy from isolationism to multilateralism and regionalism.

Demographics

Population
Currently, the Oiseaui population sits at ±1,000,000,000. Even though Oiseaui has a large land-mass, their population has at times been a strain on their resources. Through legislature proposed by The Green Conservative Party the government has made changes to respect the world around them. It will take generations before those changes come into effect, but change is projected in the long term.

Religion
The original, indigenous Ñaháū Faith in Oiseaui began in Aui in 1602 and rapidly spread through the rest of the island. Ñaháū beliefs and ways of thinking are deep in the subconscious fabric of modern Oiseauian society. The afterlife is not a primary concern, instead there is much more emphasis placed on fitting into this world, rather than preparing for the next. Ñaháū has no binding set of dogma, no holiest place for worshipers, no person deemed holiest, and no defined set of prayers. Instead, Ñaháū is a collection of rituals and methods meant to mediate the relations of living humans and spirits. Conversely, Ñaháū had and continues to have an impact on the practice of other religions within Oiseaui.

Despite the importance of Ñaháū to the majority of the Oiseauian population, there is no official Oiseauian religion. Each new parliament the issue is fiercely debated, however, most politicians agree that there should not only be a separation of church and state but that no one faith should be isolated from the rest.

Health
The Oiseaui healthcare system receives only 9% of the government's spending budget. The health system is privatized and people are expected to be able to afford their own health care. Due to 100% privatization, patients who are not upper or middle class generally cannot afford basic healthcare and suffer from simple illnesses. However, due to the high levels of education, what would be considered the lower class is relatively small.

Even though obesity is a constantly growing epidemic, the upper and middle class in Oiseaui have the reputation of being some of the thinnest people in developed countries. The lower class however have an increasing rate of obesity due mostly to the replacement of traditional healthy Oiseaui cuisine by inexpensive junk food. The top 10% also have an increasing rate of obesity due mostly to overeating. As a result, the highest cause of death in Oiseaui is Heart Disease at 35%.

Education
Oiseauian education is privatized, though regulated by the Ministry of Education with guidelines and restrictions on curriculum. This ensures all degrees are federally protected and ensured. Even though Education is privatized, it still receives 30% of the government's funding; grants are awarded to institutions which produce excellent students. Children are required to attend school from the age four, until they matriculate through University or Trade School.

They begin in Transition School at age four, which aims to prepare students for classes and their future education. They then enter Primary School which consists of Grade 1 (age 5) through Grade 5 (age 9). They then enter Middle School, or Grade 6 (age 10) through Grade 8 (age 12). After middle school, children choose between three Secondary Schools (age 13): Science & Mathematics, Liberal Arts, or General Studies. Most students choose General Studies Secondary School as they're unsure what they intend to do post-education. However, for students who excel in Science & Mathematics or Liberal Arts they do have the choice to take steps towards a specific education. At age 17, students matriculate to University or Trade School. For students who intend on joining the labor force, such as Carpentry or Mechanics, they can attend 2-4 year Trade Schools. The alternative is University; students attend school minimally for 2 years to receive their Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) in a specific subject (Psychology, Biology, etc.) Students may also attend University for an additional 2 years to receive their Bachelor of Arts (BA) or their Bachelor of Sciences (BS). After University or Trade School, students are no longer required to attend school though many choose to go on further to receive higher level degrees.

Most Universities also offer higher level degrees, which are also federally protected degrees. These can include Medical Degrees, Law Degrees, etc or even higher specific degrees such as the Master of Laws (LLM).

Literacy
* ''Definition:'' Ages 4+ can read and write
* "Total population:'' 99.8%
* ''Male:'' 99.9%
* ''Female'' 99.7%

Races and/or Ethnic Groups
Tribal people on isolated islands for thousands of years, allopatric speciation has created a visually distinct Oiseauian people. This isolation has prevented large migration flows aimed at colonizing the Oiseauian islands and as such, Oiseauians has proven to be an endemic population.

Physical Characteristics
Due to the height of resources on Oiseaui, the population has evolved to be taller; on average, men are 1.829 m (6 ft 0 in) and women are 1.728 m (5 ft 8 in). Due to the prolonged sun exposure, the Oiseaui population has developed an olive skin tone, more capable of combatting skin damage. Their skin tone can range anywhere from a pale olive, to a much deeper tanned olive tone. Accordingly, the rates of skin cancer or other skin ailments are very low. Similarly while the Oiseauian hair type is typically darker and curly, there are the occasional blond Oiseauians; King Aniketos sported long gold tresses. For eye color, Oiseauians range from Brown/Green Type Iris to Blue Type Iris. Furthermore, water and the ability to successfully use it as a resource, has for centuries been an integral aspect of Oiseauian daily life and the people have evolved accordingly. Underwater, Oiseauians can see better than the average populous due to a natural film-like covering over the eye. However, their non-underwater vision has suffered some due to this same film; some Oiseauians choose to have it surgically removed.

Racial Percentages
* ''White'' 41%
* ''Mulâtre'' 22%
* ''Black'' 18%
* ''Asian'' 12%
* ''Other'' 7%

Geography

Country Name
* Previous: La Grãne Natçión di Oiseui
* Long Form: The Liberal Republic of Oiseaui
* Short Form: Oiseaui
* Country Code: OIS

Area
* Total area: 7,692,024km²
* Metropolitan Oiseaui: 980,456km²

Terrain
Mountainous, some rivers, lowland equatorial evergreen rain forests, semi-evergreen seasonal forests, and montane rain forests.

Elevation Extreme:
* Highest point: Mount Basima 4,205 m

Land Use
* Arable land: 15%
* Permanent crops: 10%
* Permanent pastures: 16%
* Forests and woodland: 37%
* Lakes and Rivers: 7%
* Other: 15%

Natural Resources
Coal, fish, lumber, chromite, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, and semi-precious stones.

Natural Hazards
Flooding, cyclone, earthquakes.

Provinces
* Varinia (VA)
* Eusebius (EU)
* Ozihel (OZ)
* Achaicus (AC)
* Menachem (ME)
* Vehan (VE)
* Ambakoum (AM)
* Mattityahu (MA)
* Nadezhda (ND)
* Siran (SI)
* Kohinoor (KO)

Culture

Society
Oiseaui is globally seen as having a high quality of life due to its fair cost of living, deep-rooted culture, accessible leisure, successful economy, abundant freedoms, and sturdy infrastructure. Historically, Oiseaui has strong ties with Human Rights, due to their beliefs of self-determination.

Oiseauian National symbols reflect the heritage of Aui, generally forgoing Ois symbolism. This is seen in the national symbol, the Meine Skull, and national colors which represent Father Tree. Since Oiseaui focuses on the patriarchal aspects of its heritage, it is generally deemed a masculine and misogynist culture. This belief is false. Generally unknown is that Queen Noémie Anthea chose to continue these colors and symbolism upon the confederation of nations, in exchange for maintaining the birth right of the 2nd child as heir to the throne.

Beverages
Oiseaui's most renowned products are variations of whiskey and wine, both of which are daily beverage staples and two of the primary exports of the Oiseauian economy. All Oiseauian wines are produced in the Imaculana region of Oiseaui, i.e. the area that immediately surrounds the port city "Imaculana" on the Truus river in Menachem, Oiseaui. The Imaculana region produces simple wines for the everyday drinker, as well as some of the finest wines in the world. Currently the most expensive Imaculana is worth an upwards of B$1600 per bottle. Imaculana wine is a protected title under the Oiseauian government; in order for a bottle of wine to be classified as such, the grapes must be grown in the Imaculana region. Generally, beyond being classified as an Imaculana wine, the bottles are named after their vineyard of origin. Of the wines crafted annually, 62% are red wines, 28% are sweet white wines, and the remaining 10% are rosé and sparkling wines. Oiseaui does not produce dry white wines. Currently the most expensive Imaculana wine is the Château Severina, Pinot Noir at B$1500 per bottle. Château Severina is often described as having a delicate and fresh taste. The aromatics are often fruity with light notes of damp earth or worn leather. It is often paired with Oiseauian Lamb though it also pairs well with oilier fish such as Salmon, as well as pairing nicely with poultry.

Most Oiseauian Whiskey distilleries are located in the Ozihel province, including the oldest licensed Oiseauian distillery "Bonifacio Distillery," founded in 1632. Additionally, "Oiseauian Whiskey" is a protected title under the Oiseauian government; all Oiseauian whiskey uses malted barley, is distilled in a pot still, and must be aged for at least 5 years in casks of a capacity exceeding no more than 550 litres. Furthermore, all Oiseauian whiskey is single malt and generally may be purchased anywhere in the range is 5 year, 12 year, 16 year, and 25 year. The Bonifacio Distillery produces this range in addition to a 30 year single malt which is the most renowned Oiseauian whiskey. During the distilling process, Oiseauian producers often age their whiskey in Gaea sherry casks, before additional aging in Visitación drums.

Cuisine
Oiseaui cuisine is renowned for being one of the finest in the world. Oiseaui cuisine is extremely diverse with varying traditional recipes. The former Ois territory uses olive oil, whereas the former Aui territory uses butter. Oiseauian cuisine is also regarded as a key element of the quality of life. The food is elegant, elaborate and generally rich. Meals tend to be heavy, especially due to the use of cream and either large portions or many smaller portions. There is also a strong emphasis on presentation; the ability to prepare and serve a traditional Oiseauian meal is taught to all children regardless of gender.

Beginning in ~950 BCE major trade routes were established between the coastal regions of Oiseaui and the rest of the world. Immediately the Oiseauians traded for olive trees, grape vines, cows, and goats among other things; large scale Oiseauian groves and cattle-farms were established and the produce was immediately worked into Oiseauian cuisine. The economic prosperity that followed, and the natural skill with which Oiseauians raised cattle are attributed to the rich meat dishes and cream sauces used in Oiseauian cuisine.

Modern Oiseauian cuisine focuses on using herbs and creamy ingredients rather than spices. There is a large emphasis on the incorporation of goat milk and/or cheese of any variety into daily meals. With now endemic varieties of olives, cattle, fish, spices, herbs, etc, Oiseauians know that the best food is made from local ingredients, which are fresher and generally of better quality than items which have been transported long distances. Consequently, coastal regions will use seafood as their protein and will use it more often and in more varied ways than inland areas. Likewise, the mountainous regions focus on cattle and goat, and the jungle regions often use gazelle and poultry.

Structure
Breakfast
Breakfast is a quick meal which generally consists of bread with fruit or cream spread. The most popular spread is a savory sun-dried tomato and herb goat cheese spread, which originates from the mountains of Ozihel. Generally, a Oiseauian breakfast is eaten with a glass of chilled coffee with organic milk (goat and/or cow), and steamed raw sugar. Instead of coffee, children drink the milk and sugar warmed slightly.

Lunch
Traditionally, Lunch is not an important aspect of Oiseauian cuisine due to long work or school hours. Most people choose to lunch at school or work, in cafeterias which serve soups and salads in addition to sandwiches or other simple staples. While wine and whiskey are both large parts of Oiseauian culture, alcohol is generally disallowed during Lunch as to retain focus.

Dinner
Oiseauian dinners are a four course meal which consist of a small opening course, a main meal, a palette cleanser, and a dessert course. The small opening course is generally a salad, soup, or small teaser course. The most popular Oiseauian opening course originates from Menachem: Oiseauian beach dates stuffed with goat cheese, and wrapped in veal sashimi. Following the opening course is the primary meal which varies greatly dependent upon locale and personal taste. As the primary meal is generally exceedingly rich, it is followed by a palette cleanser. Oiseauians generally favor tropical fruit waters and/or juices, blended together before being frozen into a sorbet. The most popular of these hails from Eusebius: a mango-pomelo water frozen and made into a sorbet. Following the palette cleanser is a rich dessert course, which similar to dinner, can change entirely dependent upon the province and/or personal taste. Throughout a Oiseauian meal, bread is readily available as is whiskey, wine, and purified Oiseauian water.

Sports
Popular sports played in Oiseaui include gridiron, football, wrestling, lacrosse, and baseball. Despite sport affinities, Oiseaui is in its infancy, in regards to making its mark on the international field. The most iconic stadium in Oiseaui is Anthea Coliseum in Zulfiqar, Mattityahu though the largest is Aniketos Stadia in Jumaane, Varinia.

Until recently, Oiseaui had maintained its love of sports within national borders. However, under the current Executive, there has been a push for re-organization and a larger international presence. The executive appointed Hugues Orianne, former Captain of The Pion Lions Lacrosse team to the position of Minister of Entertainment.

Under Orianne's leadership, Oiseaui secured its first tournament title as Champions of the Baptism of Iron VIII. The Pion Post stated, "The hopes of the Oiseauian people now sit on the shoulders of our first champions. The pressure of securing an international sports presences is their own. The question is, will they carry that pressure to a further title as Champions of World Bowl XIV or buckle beneath the weight of our nation?" Oiseaui is also currently playing in the World Lacrosse Championships XI. Though Oiseaui had additionally hoped to make an appearance in the 55th World Cup, they missed nation sign-up by a month. However, they still have begun training a team. Come the next Baptism of Fire, the Oiseauian team is anticipated to make a showing. Oiseauian Sports Analysts have stated the failure to sign-up for the 55th World Cup worked to the benefit of the fanbase, as their loyalty and time was only divided amongst two international sport arenas.

Originally the national sports teams all had their own names, however, in the initial foray into international sports the Oiseauian fans had trouble keeping the teams separated. Thus the decision was made to begin referring to all Oiseauian national teams as "The Immortals" concluding World Bowl XIV and World Lacrosse Championships XI.

Current Official Oiseauian Correspondence Example:

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To:
From:
Subject: RE:

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To whom it may concern,
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

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Placeholder.

This factbook, it is nice, yes, very nice indeed [We should RP sometimes, even ^__________^]. But I have a question, pertaining to your Oiseauians, do you classify them as humans, a subspecies or an entirely new species? If a new/sub species, please specify the mental, psychological, instinctive, emotional and general differences of the Oiseauians to humans.

-Deus- wrote:This factbook, it is nice, yes, very nice indeed [We should RP sometimes, even ^__________^]. But I have a question, pertaining to your Oiseauians, do you classify them as humans, a subspecies or an entirely new species? If a new/sub species, please specify the mental, psychological, instinctive, emotional and general differences of the Oiseauians to humans.

Thanks!

In regards to Oiseauians, they are classified as humans. Modern World Italians as well as other populations have experienced similar controlled genetics due to geographical blockades to immigration though I would not classify them as sub-species. Rather, I would classify them as a different race and/or ethnicity.

OOCly, I remember in high school (as an IB student) we discussed an Asian and/or pacific islander population who relied on fishing, etc, greatly and due to their dependency on water had actually genetically developed the ability to see better underwater. This did inhibit their ability to see on land in some ways, though not by much. I used this vague knowledge as the basis for differentiation between Oiseauians and other populations. I then took it a step further (hence my MT, tentative PMT categorization) and thought about how animals through allopatric speciation can develop genetic differences. Merging these two ideas, I made the decision to have them have undergone near allopatric speciation, hence the lens development without having actually evolved into a new species.

Oiseaui wrote:

-Deus- wrote:This factbook, it is nice, yes, very nice indeed [We should RP sometimes, even ^__________^]. But I have a question, pertaining to your Oiseauians, do you classify them as humans, a subspecies or an entirely new species? If a new/sub species, please specify the mental, psychological, instinctive, emotional and general differences of the Oiseauians to humans.

Thanks!

In regards to Oiseauians, they are classified as humans. Modern World Italians as well as other populations have experienced similar controlled genetics due to geographical blockades to immigration though I would not classify them as sub-species. Rather, I would classify them as a different race and/or ethnicity.

OOCly, I remember in high school (as an IB student) we discussed an Asian and/or pacific islander population who relied on fishing, etc, greatly and due to their dependency on water had actually genetically developed the ability to see better underwater. This did inhibit their ability to see on land in some ways, though not by much. I used this vague knowledge as the basis for differentiation between Oiseauians and other populations. I then took it a step further (hence my MT, tentative PMT categorization) and thought about how animals through allopatric speciation can develop genetic differences. Merging these two ideas, I made the decision to have them have undergone near allopatric speciation, hence the lens development without having actually evolved into a new species.

Oh, I see. Hrmm, well this is quite interesting indeed. And how did this come about? Because it isn't specified in the factbook [unless I'm just not reading correctly].

-Deus- wrote:Oh, I see. Hrmm, well this is quite interesting indeed. And how did this come about? Because it isn't specified in the factbook [unless I'm just not reading correctly].

As stated in the factbook, it's been generations of reliance on water which inevitably led to survival of the fittest. The Oiseauian population has relied on the ability to successfully cultivate fish and general water resources since its inception. From its beginning, the original Ois population was completely reliant on water (hence Queen Anthea's designation as Mother Ocean, or Mother Water). In order to survive, the people with the greatest ability to use water were the ones who had the most opportunities to mate and succeed. Over thousands of years, this caused an evolution of features as seen in other populations, most commonly, Darwin's finches.

Oiseaui wrote:

-Deus- wrote:Oh, I see. Hrmm, well this is quite interesting indeed. And how did this come about? Because it isn't specified in the factbook [unless I'm just not reading correctly].

As stated in the factbook, it's been generations of reliance on water which inevitably led to survival of the fittest. The Oiseauian population has relied on the ability to successfully cultivate fish and general water resources since its inception. From its beginning, the original Ois population was completely reliant on water (hence Queen Anthea's designation as Mother Ocean, or Mother Water). In order to survive, the people with the greatest ability to use water were the ones who had the most opportunities to mate and succeed. Over thousands of years, this caused an evolution of features as seen in other populations, most commonly, Darwin's finches.

Hrmm, but many RL nations have been and are, extremely reliant on water. Humans as a whole need water for a multitude of things. What I myself don't get, is how this reliance on water caused this slight evolutionary change.

-Deus- wrote:Hrmm, but many RL nations have been and are, extremely reliant on water. Humans as a whole need water for a multitude of things. What I myself don't get, is how this reliance on water caused this slight evolutionary change.

Many nations are reliant on water, but they aren't actively in the water. That is to say, many nations are reliant on fishing, utilizing the water, etc. They themselves are not actively swimming to depths to engage their economic staples. That is the difference. I should say, rather than being reliant on water they are reliant on the ability to be in the water and to thrive successfully.

Oiseaui wrote:

-Deus- wrote:Hrmm, but many RL nations have been and are, extremely reliant on water. Humans as a whole need water for a multitude of things. What I myself don't get, is how this reliance on water caused this slight evolutionary change.

Many nations are reliant on water, but they aren't actively in the water. That is to say, many nations are reliant on fishing, utilizing the water, etc. They themselves are not actively swimming to depths to engage their economic staples. That is the difference. I should say, rather than being reliant on water they are reliant on the ability to be in the water and to thrive successfully.

Hrmm. So why are they so reliant on the ability to be in the water? What stops/has stopped others from simply poisoning the water and killing a large part of them off? Or, what stops/has stopped an invasive specices, be it intentional or otherwise, from wandering in and crippling the ecosystem?