NationStates

  

  GREAT Nortend has reached the grand Final of the Astyrian Cup of Nations for the first time in history. Even if Great Nortend do not win against the seasoned Scottopian Isles team, the premiership team of 2020, simply leading the Nortish XIs into the stadium in Bratislav will be the culmination of a twelve-year-long career for Mr. Miles Spenser-White, the long-time Captain of the national football team and star player of the Royal Causildon Football Club as he plans to retire from the game at the age of 35.

  An amazing 3 to 2 win against the Blackhelm Confederacy cemented the seemingly unstoppable rise from mediocre insular team to international football stars this year, from the first 5 to 3 win against the joint host Berique, 3 to 1 win against Arimathea and a 2 to nil win against Kelonna. A gripping 4 to 3 win against Monsa in overtime sealed Great Nortend's place in the Quarter Finals, before a narrow 2 to 1 win against the San Joaquin Valley propelled the red-and-swart-hooped guernsey to hitherto never-trodden realms.

  Dunham-Green, kicking the last goal in the last quarter of the Semi-Final match stoked the hearts of the nigh 1,000-strong Nortish contingent at the game, which swelled with national pride and fervour as the gangly low-denomination defenders Copping and Farthing managed to head off any attempts by Blackhelm to level the score, ably assisted by the goalkeeper Sextant. A last-minute shock attack by our midfielder Oldgate was successfully defended by the burly Blackhelm goalkeeper, but the die was cast and Great Nortend would be heading to Slovertia for the long-dreamt-for grand Final match.

  Lord Bath-Hellborough, the sometimes manager of the team, fronted the reporters after the match beaming from ear to ear. His Lordship joked that, „This will be surely enough excitement to last us for the coming decade.” He said that he was very proud of all players on the nineteen-strong team, and that their continued diligence and discipline would be essential if Great Nortend were to have a chance of beating the Scottopian Isles. Mr. Spenser-White praised his teammates and said that „Whilst Great Nortend plays in leather boots and woollen guernseys, we still know how to kick a ball! I know my Team and I will do all that we can to bring glory to His Majesty's fair kingdom,” before ending with the first line of the team song, „Yea, when our feet shall strike, who shall stand against us?”

  With the nation gripped by the live radio and cinema broadcasts of the game against Blackhelm, ticket sales opened immediately after the win was declared. Around 14,000 tickets have been specially allocated to the Nortish Association Football League for seats in the National Stadium, and it is expected that all will be sold out by tonight for the game in Bratislav on Saturday evening, with kick-off scheduled for 5 p. m. local time. Fans desiring to buy a ticket are warned to purchase only through an accredited agent of the League, as other tickets may not be honoured.

  

  DESPITE their best efforts, the Nortish national football team was unable to stand in victory on Saturday, losing 1 to 4 against Scottopian Isles in the game of the century that should never have been. Our lads overcame the hurdles to place in the Astyrian Semi Finals for the first time in history, only to astonish the world and claim a place in the Grand Finals. However, the 2020 premier team of the Scottopian Isles proved to be the worthier side, easily holding their position notwithstanding able performances from the Red-and-Swarts.

  The Captain of the Team, Mr. Miles Spencer-White, who announced his retirement before the Grand Final on Friday, was resigned to the knowledge that he would not lead Erbonia to her first victory. However, Mr. Spencer-White emphasised that it was a great privilege to have been able to lead the team to their first grand final game, even one where victory seemed impossible. There was a brief glimmer of hope in the second quarter, when 27-year-old Pike hooked a goal to level the score 1 to 1. However, this was soon dashed as the Nortish defence let in the second, the third and utterly the fourth goal by the third quarter. Nortend maintained her position in the last quarter, mainly owing to the efforts of midfielders Baker, Eastman and Gilford, but the die was cast by then.

  The mood of the Nortish contingent in Bratislav, unexpectedly, was nonetheless jubilant, and the stirring strains of „Yea, when our feet shall strike” sounded through the night air as Scottopian fans triumphed in their expected victory. The team manager and the Chairman of the Association Football League, Lord Bath-Hellborough, congratulated the Scottopian team on their „much deserved” win. „Clearly we still have much to improve upon, and in my eyes from the box at least, I can say that the Bluebirds played beautifully. But we will be back, and thus so before the world knoweth, mark my words.”

  Even if they were not winners in Bratislav this time, the 19-strong Nortish team will receive a festal welcome upon their arrival back at home. The Board of Sports has announced that Mr. Spenser-White, brother of the well-known stinning player Richard Spenser-White, will become a Companion of the Order of the Horn. Lord Bath-Hellborough thanked Mr. Spenser-White for his long-time service to the game and the national team, in addition to his duties with the Royal Causildon Football Club. „As an amateur league, we rely on the dedication of our players to survive and thrive, and under the leadership of our good friend Miles Spenser-White, every man can see that the Association Football league has not only survived, but thriven.”

  

  THE Lord High Treasurer Sir Spencer de Stornton announced to Scodelier and Conservative party members yesterday evening that the Cabinet was making plans for a long term Coalition government, according to several sources. Sir and Lady Stornton were joined at the formal evening party by other members of Parliament and Council, party and government officials, donors and stalwarts and their wives, including the former Lord Treasurer the Duke of Limmes who was the highest ranking guest that night.

  The Company of Scodeliers and the Conservative Party have controlled the Cabinet and ministry for over five and sixty years since 1940, excepting the combined fourteen years of the Chesvoir and Davies Drougher ministries precipitated by the death of George II and the Lord Treasurer, the Duke of Fivewells, respectively.

  Sir Stornton, aged 31 this year, reportedly impressed on the audience of the need to ensure the „lively” spirit of the 20th century was not lost as the nationalist conservative political orthodoxy entered its second century. His Lordship addressed the hot topic of the lack of difference between the Droughers and the Coalition, and spoke in favour of a clearer statement of what the Conservatives and Scodeliers believe, declaring, „We believe in the inborn right of all Nortchmen, now and for ever, to live in a Nortish commonship of measured plenty, ordered freedom and peaceful safety.”

  The former Comptroller of the Exchequer signalled that nonetheless, the party would limit attacks on the Droughers „for the benefit of the nation’s political stability”. Sir Stornton declared that he would obviously prefer a „democratic nationalist” Droughe party led by Lord Stavenson over a Drougher party which shifted its approach towards a foreign position more in favour of the „Marxist evils” of „internationalism” and libertarianism, which would „potentially do irreparable damage to the Great Nortend we hold and love”.

  Sir Stornton outlined broad approaches the Government would be taking in the next few months to increase its appeal to voters, including potential reforms of public alms and a more balanced relationship between masters and workers, both aimed at increasing voteshare amongst the working classes. His Lordship pointed to the eagerness with which many in poorer neighbourhoods had embraced their duties of Civic Brightening, with many previously dark and dingy streets and courtyards cleaned and brightened with flowers, leafage and new paintwork facilitated under the programme.

  Unmarried women would also be a focus, with the Government concerned that the perennial lack of funding and attention towards their education and employment would reduce their vote with the awareness of internationalist theories on women’s rights spreading rapidly through the country. Hitherto, Sir Stornton said, „we have pointed to the benefits of a male-dominated industrial workforce which women naturally desire not to join”.

  However, His Lordship mooted that greater support was needed for unmarried women, to emphasise that the Government did not hold to their „inferiority” to men in the slightest, and that, in addition to marriage to join with their husbands to begin their greatest duty to the Fatherland and mankind, the Government would enthusiastically support their employment in all reasonable occupations and pursuits of life.

  With an election several years away, this focus on reform of the stagnant political life is a sure sign that the Lord Treasurer is not shrinking away from cementing his place in Lerdenstone. Indeed, with both His Majesty and Sir Stornton in the first half of life, the Lord Treasurer would be capable of remaining in the position for two decades or more, potentially surpassing the Lord de Foide-Huston as the longest serving Lord Treasurer. Provided, of course, he maintains the confidence of the King, Parliament, Party and people at the ballot.

Twenty-five years ago this week four St. Louis policemen - all white, were acquitted of savagely beating Bouna Traoré, a black man. The beating was caught on camera by bystanders, which was broadcasted across the nation.

Fury over the acquittal - in a city fractured along religious and racial lines, what people often described as "sitting on a powder keg", spread into the streets, resulting in five days of rioting in St. Louis and in the death of 25 people. This was not only the first major racial riots since 1963 but also the first violent incident to result in more than 20 deaths since the uprising of 1967.

The response over the verdict was divided on racial lines in banlieues (suburbs) of St. Louis. According to a survey conducted by the University of St. Louis - only 5% of black respondents believed that justice was served, while 78% of white respondents replied in the affirmative.

A year earlier, in 1995, Traoré - who was on parole for robbery, was stopped for driving under influence. He was ordered out of the car and beaten with batons for 15 minutes. The video showed a dozen officers standing by and commenting - not one of them dared to raise a voice against this horrendous act. The video went, in what was one of the earliest instances of "going viral" in the late 1990s - the start of the internet era. The video was shared across websites and displayed by news channels across the country. The police brutality remained a topic of discussion for the ensuing few weeks.

A year later, in 1996, a large crowd (approximately 500) armed with sticks, batons, holding rocks, and even carrying firearms- a fundamental right of Mizia citizens, consisting mainly of blacks from the surrounding banlieues stood in front of a heavily barricaded courthouse guarded by not more than 100 officers of the St. Louis Police Department - mainly whites residing in more niche suburbs. The police was unarmed, according to instructions from the Municipal Commissioner for Public Peace and Security, who wanted to "diffuse" the building up tensions in the black majority community and display a more "humane face" of the police. This was to prove a costly mistake.

No sooner were the acquittals announced - by a 10 member jury, consisting of 9 whites and 1 black, the crowd attempted to break through the barricade. Stoning and firing started as judges and jury members were escorted out of the courthouse. Reinforcements were called for but proved too late for  two officers who were killed. What followed was five days of the worst instance of "revenge" by police force, who were to be later held complicit in rioting and "differential racial attitude", according to the 'First Justice Commission' set up to investigate the role of police. The police could hold off the increasingly violent protestors for not more than three hours before they rampaged and destroyed the courthouse building. Lambert Simon, former Municipal Commissioner for Public Peace and Security, blamed the policy of 'restrain' and 'defensive not offensive' attitude with 'no arrests whatsoever' adopted by the police at that time. Gunther Jo, Professor of Criminology at the University of Euskania blames this outbreak on the policy of 'less than restrictive gun ownership'. He points to the fact that many protestors were armed before a 'relatively, less lethally armed police'. They rampaged for more than 20 minutes before being brought under control by reinforcements of the police force.

Meanwhile, disturbances amounting to riots and 'disruption of public order' were reported from banlieues surrounding St. Louis. Situated at distances from 50 to 100 km from the city centre, these suburbs are administered by highly autonomous 'Communal Councils' and 'Municipal Councils'. The police and law and order are responsibilities of these autonomous bodies. Causes of the five-day rioting, are 'inherent in the socio-economic problems' faced by these areas, opines Gunther Jo. It was not a riot in response to the Traoré verdict, but a manifestation of violence inherent in the banlieues which are mainly inhabited by two of the most downtrodden ethnicities in Mizialand - the Blacks and the largely migrant Muslim community. Unemployment rates hover more than 50%, with youth unemployment exceeding 60%. Excluded from the 'Special Economic Zone (SEZ)' of St. Louis, the industrial jobs created during the post-war economic boom of the 1930s contributed to the emergence of a middle class in St. Louis proper, and not in sparsely populated suburbs which were granted autonomy in the 1980s. In the 1980s, a wave of immigrants, mainly guest workers, occupied the low paying job structure vacated by the emerging middle class which moved over to the job in the service sector. Lack of skilling and restrictive naturalisation coupled with missing integration policies and discrimination faced in the 'white majority areas' forced the migrants to move to sparsely populated outlying suburbs. As Mizialand transitioned to a postindustrial economy, job losses and lack of relevant skills contributed to the problem of 'structural unemployment' among the second generation of migrant. Simply put, jobs are there, but skills are not. The ensuing fear and anger, argues Gunther Jo, erupted in the form of the most violent riots seen by Mizialand since the uprisings of the 1960s.

However, A M Fischer at the International Institute of Social Studies, argues that the riot was a 'brewing confrontation between the Muslims and the Blacks' exacerbated by criminal gangs. Gangs in St. Louis are primarily divided along neighbourhood and ethnic lines. Law enforcement estimates that more than 200 gangs operate in and around St. Louis with over 20,000 members. According to Dr. Fishcer, the reason for the conflict was worsening race relations between the Muslims and the Blacks. Muslims owned around 65% of commercial establishments in the banlieues worst affected by the riots. 'Delegations' from Muslim shop owner associations had met government officials, and even sent a letter to Her Majesty complaining against the constant threat faced by them in the form of violent armed robberies often perpetuated by 'the blacks' and a lack of police response in this regard forcing them to adopt 'self defence measures' in form of weapons and heightened security in and around their shops. The association blamed the blacks of crimes and the police of taking no action. Consequently, criminal gangs, alleges Fischer, emerged to arm rioters with weapons which were used in violent confrontation between Muslims and Blacks. For Fischer, the riot was 'an armed confrontation between Muslims and Blacks' and the role of Traoré verdict had been exaggerated. Violence was brewing, the verdict was a spark. A riot was soon to happen in this 'powdered keg'.

Had that been so, why did the rioters then attack whites? Fischer answers that the 'myth of whites being attacked' was a 'hand in glove propaganda' of the police department and the newspapers, both run by a white majority leadership. Following the death of two police officers, the Representation of the People Act (the basis of local government autonomy) was revoked in the affected areas, placing the police directly under the control of Her Majesty's Government. The police, according to the First Justice Commission, was complicit in riots, taking but few steps to stop the spread of violence and even propagating it in some places. Few whites were attacked, simply because a few lived in the areas affected by the riot. The police and the media exaggerated the reports of whites being attacked to gain the approval of a white majority in favour of the ensuing brutalities. Public floggings, reminiscent of medieval times, were reported. Police opened fire and killed an unidentified number of rioters with impunity. Arbitrary arrests and detention became the order of the day. Rioting entered its third day and showed no signs of subsiding. Her Majesty's Government, now running the administration of the affected areas, ordered armed forces on the 4th day and rioting was controlled by the fifth day. The government estimated 35 deaths and 1,890 injuries. Other sources estimate 230 - 250 deaths and 3,000 -3,500 injuries. Nearly 10,000 rioters and looters were arrested. Daily life stood still: schools and offices were closed, mail delivery stopped, and a curfew remained for the next month. The RPA was restored after fresh elections held in late 1997. Life slowly returned to normalcy.

The Traoré verdict was overturned by a higher court, and two of the four officers accused of brutality were sentenced to 30 months in prison. The other two officers were fired by the St. Louis Police Department.

Societal tensions still remain. Issues such as police brutality and racial profiling are as evident now as they were then. "Ain't nothing changed but the year it is," says Professor Gunther Jo.

Heleventia: Mizialand agreed to legalise civil marriage and the right to adopt children for same-sex couples by a nearly two-thirds majority in a referendum on Sunday.

According to results provided by La Frachière (Mizialand's Parliament) , 64.1% of voters voted in favour of same-sex marriage in the nationwide referendum that was conducted under Mizialand's system of direct democracy.

"We are very happy and relieved," said Anita Raven of "Mizialand Civil Liberties Union", adding supporters would celebrate in Mizialand's capital Heleventia on Sunday.

Stonewall International said in a statement that opening civil marriage to same-sex couples was a "milestone for equality".

However, Monika Rueegger of Mizialand's right-wing Mizialand People's Party (SVP) and member of the referendum committee "No to Marriage for All" said she was disappointed. "This was not about love and feelings, it was about children's welfare. Children and fathers are the losers here," she told MiziaNews.

The amended law will make it possible for same-sex couples to get married, and to adopt children unrelated to them. Married lesbian couples will also be allowed to have children through sperm donation, currently legal only for married heterosexual couplesIt will also make it easier for foreign spouses of a Mizia individual to get citizenship.

Mizia Law and Order Minister Anouk Deniel told a media briefing the new rules would likely come into force on July 1 next year.

This week in Brativas an arson attack on a Sloverti owned shop in the majority Mazurian north side of the city has led to a re-opening of old wounds that many thought had been left firmly in the past. The attack led to violent clashes between Slovertis and Mazurians on the streets of the capital for the first time in over fifteen years. But the division in Brativas was never fully reconciled compared to the rest of the country. More effort must be made on both sides of the river to overcome this and ensure that scenes like those that occurred this week never happen again.

In Brativas the Stará rieka acts as a border between the majority Mazurian north side of the city where Mazurians make up 65% of the population and the majority Sloverti south side where Slovertis make up 85%. When travelling to the northern side the divisions between the two groups are made abundantly clear. Bilingual street signs have the Sloverti language scratched or scored out, a statue of the monarch Aleksander III often seen as a national symbol has been defaced and police have had to intervene in several attempts to tear it down, signs in shops and bars all display signs stating “We won’t speak Sloverti!”. On the south side divisions take a similar path. Students at a Mazurian language school in the south of the city were reportedly spat on by members of the public walking home from school.

This is not acceptable in the capital of our nation. Brativas is a beautiful place with more to offer than violence and divides. It took an embarrassingly long amount of time for the Prime Minister Rupet Wilmar to even acknowledge the events never mind condemn them. This is a worrying trend amongst Sloverti politicians who seem to believe that if they just don’t acknowledge the issue it will go away.

There are brilliant efforts being made by people across the city through charities and community groups to foster a sense of understanding between the two groups that share Brativas, realising that the other side aren’t so different is the first step towards reconciliation.

I haven’t had to write something like this since the 90’s. We know that violence brings nothing but suffering and pain. We know that we can’t go down this path again.