[PASSED] The Central Library Compact

[Imperium Anglorum]

NORTH: This here is a question of costs and money. We believe that the ability to preserve and protect cultural documents is primarily dependent on the will to do so. There is basically always the ability to do so, in some form, via copying, preservation, memorisation, etc. in all societies. Any society which has the will to protect cultural documents is going to be one which does. Thus, the only societies which will utilise this service are those which do not have the will to protect their culture by themselves, and rather, want to put the responsibility to do so on others.

Second, there is the question what exactly is so important about culture. The primary importance of culture isn't the arts produced, rather, it is the values held by that cultural body, the bases upon which that culture builds its life. A way of life is not something which can simply be protected by throwing money at a library or museum.

[Gages Icelandic Army]

Our nation shouldn't have to preserve ancient literature or artifacts if we don't want to. We don't activly destroy them, and we preserve what we can, but this resolution doesn't give us the power to let things rot that should just rot.

Further, Requires all WA nations adopt standards governing the preservation, restoration, and security of historical, cultural, or important written works; How do we quantify important? What value does this bring to the WA?

[Sierra Lyricalia]

NORTH: This here is a question of costs and money. We believe that the ability to preserve and protect cultural documents is primarily dependent on the will to do so. There is basically always the ability to do so, in some form, via copying, preservation, memorisation, etc. in all societies. Any society which has the will to protect cultural documents is going to be one which does. Thus, the only societies which will utilise this service are those which do not have the will to protect their culture by themselves, and rather, want to put the responsibility to do so on others.

"Come on," Steph scoffs. "Even shouldering the White Man's Burden can't make you that dense," she quips as she takes an afro-pick to her newly sky-blue mohawk. "Most of the cultures you're so snootily dismissing there are letting their cultural treasures get ransacked by looters and 'connoisseurs' cause they're too busy getting their homelands carved up by colonial empires to focus on preserving it. Or if they do manage to find a safe spot for it, half the time it gets found and stolen anyway; and if they're lucky it winds up in the colonial museum back in the imperial capital. No culture makes a choice not to preserve itself; cultures are murdered, whether purposefully or through negligence, for the greater glory of the empire. You gotta be kiddin' me with that smug social-Darwinist bullshit." Steph shakes her damn head.

Second, there is the question what exactly is so important about culture. The primary importance of culture isn't the arts produced, rather, it is the values held by that cultural body, the bases upon which that culture builds its life. A way of life is not something which can simply be protected by throwing money at a library or museum.

"Quite right. Perhaps we should have insisted on a clause whereby the nation or nations claiming territorial jurisdiction over a given culture are responsible for financing the restoration of that culture's full pre-conquest economic setup!"

"Or maybe you should just pay for the fucking library. You broke it, you bought it. It's quite literally the least you could do."

Steph finishes picking at her hair and commences work on a snub-nosed paper airplane. When it's finished, she slides the hairs off of the comb and tucks them gently into the middle-front of the plane, takes careful aim at North's face, and lets fly. The airplane does a swift arc up into the air and crosses the debate chamber swiftly. It does not hit Mr. North, but it does hit the desk in front of one of his aides, coming in almost vertically and impacting squarely with a loud WHAP! The blue hairball is jolted from its place, but doesn't do anything besides sit there in a disappointingly tidy lump.

Steph shrugs, with a barely perceptible smirk.

[The Candy Of Bottles]

Well, bit late now, but I've just spotted a typo- "conduct this import work". 'Import' should clearly be 'Important'. Right in the second paragraph too.

Edit: Small typo.

[Bakhton]

"For the betterment of world literacy and education and the mutual understanding between nations, we hereby with approval of the Supreme Court and National Congress cast our vote in favor of this resolution. We will hereby be establishing the World Assembly Library Compact Admittance Program (WALCAP), to choose which pieces of national Bakhtonian literature to send to the WACLC because we love bureaucracy and books." Lara Qzu proceeds to sniff the pages of an old book with yellowed pages moaning with delight at the smell.

[Imperium Anglorum]

"Most of the cultures you're so snootily dismissing there are letting their cultural treasures get ransacked by looters and 'connoisseurs' cause they're too busy getting their homelands carved up by colonial empires to focus on preserving it. Or if they do manage to find a safe spot for it, half the time it gets found and stolen anyway; and if they're lucky it winds up in the colonial museum back in the imperial capital. No culture makes a choice not to preserve itself; cultures are murdered, whether purposefully or through negligence, for the greater glory of the empire. You gotta be kiddin' me with that smug social-Darwinist bullshit." Steph shakes her damn head.

NORTH: This doesn't occur. The largest amount of cultural destruction occurs due to two different factors: (1) economic ones, as changing production methods mean that older ways of life are unable to provide increased expected standards of living, and (2) political destruction of those cultures. Colonial empires would find it extremely hard to govern, really, anything, if they engaged in a mission of remoulding colonies to the metropole's values. Empirically, such a thing happens to be rather rare.

The largest reason for the destruction of former ways of life has to do with economic changes. 17th century farmers in a wooded valley are unlikely to keep their ways of life if their descendants expect significantly higher standards of living. The other main element of cultural destruction comes from political reasons.

OOC: Cultural revolution. There's a rather good reason why China has much less cultural material than many other nations. It has been torn down and destroyed over the last five decades by government policy and popular mobilisation to destroy the old, followed by economic forces leading to their destruction. Similarly, the destruction of much of the cultural artefacts of the Middle East has less to do with foreign invasion and much more to do with internal warfare (especially as inter-state warfare is increasingly rare, due to greater and greater power of the state), itself caused by incompetent administration.

Cultures make the choice to change themselves. Empirically, we see how foreign attempts to change culture fail. Mongolian attempts to change China during the 14th century led to the Red Turban rebellion. Qin attempts to destroy the rest of China's culture led to their destruction within two decades. Qing Empire attempts to destroy Chinese culture over the 17th century took five decades of civil war and led to their wholesale adoption of the Chinese way of life. Consider the alternative as well. How are you going to convince thousands of people to change their way of life without agreement? How could you possibly get and pay for the administrators necessary to do such a thing?

Hong Kong, where my family is from, for example, moved from a fishing village to a modern post-industrial city mostly because of economic pressures and effective governance that set it up as the best place to do business in East Asia. The reason why it became a liberal haven is because its people chose to do so. The political forces trying to change it into just some city in China are strongly opposed by the younger population. They say no.

Writ large, I think it is certainly curious that your conception of history relies so heavily on the state that it cannot conceive of popular interactions that lead to different outcomes. Many of these narratives pretend that the colonised were passive actors that were acted upon by colonial regimes, and therefore, that the colonised bear no complicity. It certainly is in vogue right now for the West writ large to place the blame of all the world's evils on colonisation. Not only is that factually incorrect, there isn't much moral culpability to be assigned even if it were correct. Any civilisation which finds itself in a position where it is technologically, scientifically, and institutionally more advanced their its neighbours comes under pressures to expand.

But however that is—

NORTH: It is an extreme degradation to the rights of the populace to force them into ways of life which reduce their own expected utility. We would much rather support economic modernisation than damning people to economically outmoded ways of life by incentivising behaviour which reduces output and leaves them with no skills should those subsides end.

[Kotarya]

ООС:

I don't see why some people have a problem with this. This is planned to be a place, where old written works are going to be stored. It says that they will be restored and protected. There's nothing wrong with that. Moreover, it would be great that so many works will be stored in one place, which means that there will be higher standards and tougher regulations, and people could just go there and look for what they want. It even says that those, who want their works back, will get them.
Yes, it is easier to look for something online. So what's the problem. They could scan everything and then upload the newly scanned pictures on the Internet. But it is better if it's done by whole institution and the program also encourages those nations which would not restore their works themselves etc.
To cut a long story short, it's just easier to give what you've got, they restore it, keep it, protect it and your ownership is retained.

[Calladan]

I am afraid I am as against this as I was when it was first brought up.

And while part of it is the fact that locking information and stories into physical books is - in a digital age - the act of Luddites and crazy people who have no sense of the future (no offence), my main objection is still the idea of one single, central library for the entirety of The World Assembly.

An organisation made up of several hundred thousand nations spread across BILLIONS of light years should not have one central library in an arbitrary location that could be millions or billions of light years away from many of the nations - it's unfair and just wrong.

Also - my government is not convinced that sending our most precious documents halfway across the known world to be looked after by strangers who are not us is a wise idea, especially since the proposal makes no mention of compensation should something untoward happen.

Finally - while we accept this is voluntary, and that even if this passes we will not be compelled to get involved in this godsforsaken and idiotic scheme - we still think The WA has better things to be doing and so we will vote against it.

Also - it should be noted if it does pass we can categorically state we are not going to get involved in this godsforsaken and idiotic scheme. We will not be sending books across the world, we will not be handing anything over to The ULC and we will - in general - be doing everything we can to ignore this.

In regard to the parts where we are mandated to comply, we will review them and see what we can come up with - probably involving scanners and very large hard drives.

(Note - this does not mean we will be withdrawing from The Universal Library because we find THAT to be wise and sensible and something we can support wholeheartedly).

[The United Royal Islands of Euramathania]

Affirms that all donors retain cultural ownership of all written works donated to the WACLC, and may elect to remove their work from circulation by providing written notice to the ULCEC;

What does that mean? Someone can remove something from circulation why?

So that if you choose to donate a work and then -let's say in a year- you no-longer feel it is relevant you can ask the WACLC not to share that worl. Donors from your nation retain full control over the availability of the work, in accordance with the belief that cultural values belong to each nation.

Our nation shouldn't have to preserve ancient literature or artifacts if we don't want to. We don't activly destroy them, and we preserve what we can, but this resolution doesn't give us the power to let things rot that should just rot.

Further, Requires all WA nations adopt standards governing the preservation, restoration, and security of historical, cultural, or important written works; How do we quantify important? What value does this bring to the WA?

Firstly, that would be in compliance with the resolution as it is written. If you wish to increase the amount you preserve the WACLC shall be there to aid you with the techniques and resources it has developed.
Secondly, The resolution states that the Executive committe will work with nations to define what is importnant and relevant
Lastly this resolution promotes the value of an international exchange of ideas, along with providing a group dedicated to the preservation of those ideas. While the WA already preserved these ideas in electronic form, the goal of this resolution is to insure that if something were to happen to those digital records, that some of our oldest and most fragile texts are not erased from existence.

.
An organisation made up of several hundred thousand nations spread across BILLIONS of light years should not have one central library in an arbitrary location that could be millions or billions of light years away from many of the nations - it's unfair and just wrong.

Yet we have also mandated the OBM provide access to said location much as it does the the HQ. That you have no difficulty reaching the headquarters along with all the other members, means that you will have no difficulty reaching the new library.

.
Also - my government is not convinced that sending our most precious documents halfway across the known world to be looked after by strangers who are not us is a wise idea, especially since the proposal makes no mention of compensation should something untoward happen.

We have asked the OBM to ensure the site is protected against the natural phenomena which would result in the loss of your works. Further that each donor still retain ownership of their written work would mean to me that they have the right to seek agreements with the executive committee when they donate the work that would compensate them in the unfortunate, albeit unlikely senario, that you have mentioned.

Finally - while we accept this is voluntary, and that even if this passes we will not be compelled to get involved in this godsforsaken and idiotic scheme - we still think The WA has better things to be doing and so we will vote against it.
Also - it should be noted if it does pass we can categorically state we are not going to get involved in this godsforsaken and idiotic scheme. We will not be sending books across the world, we will not be handing anything over to The ULC and we will - in general - be doing everything we can to ignore this.
In regard to the parts where we are mandated to comply, we will review them and see what we can come up with - probably involving scanners and very large hard drives.

We recognize and support your right to not to participate in the volunatary donation of written works as well as to disagree over the nature of the WA and it's mission. We believe that the the WA promoting the rights on individual nations and showcasing them as through this library is a fine international purpose that brings us into closer harmony with one another. As for compliance might I recommend a place to store the originals when you are finished scanning them, As the Resolution also mentions preservation.

NORTH: This here is a question of costs and money. We believe that the ability to preserve and protect cultural documents is primarily dependent on the will to do so. There is basically always the ability to do so, in some form, via copying, preservation, memorisation, etc. in all societies. Any society which has the will to protect cultural documents is going to be one which does. Thus, the only societies which will utilise this service are those which do not have the will to protect their culture by themselves, and rather, want to put the responsibility to do so on others.

Lastly to those concerned over cost, we recognized this as a potential concern and included that the executive committe shall work with member states to seek ongoing sources of revenue for the operation of this project. While that will mean international pledge drives in the future, we believe that there is enough charity among member states to ensure that this project works for the benefit of all member states. Thank you for your time and for your consideration of this legislation.

[Unoriginalia]

I wholeheartedly support a central repository of knowledge, shared amongst all nations. Education is, as a fellow member state succinctly put it, the silver bullet.

However I believe this central repository of knowledge should consist of digital copies. The original content to stay with the origin nation.

Due to the low likelihood of finding a location that is acceptable to all nations, the logistics of transporting and holding items of varying quality and material in suitable environs, the scale on which such a structure and attendant infrastructure would need to be to accommodate the collected physical works of thousands of years of millions of nations, the sad reality of what is likely to be deemed worthy and transportable by individual nations of differing inclination, not to mention the hubris of holding all your eggs in one basket, and the lessons learned from the Great Library of Alexandria, I can't find my way to supporting this.

Make it digital, and I might be on board. Even the cost of the highest possible security measures would be cheaper than what is currently being proposed. Digital can corrupt, true, but I'd argue that information that is of continued relevance disseminates widely enough to ensure an uncorrupted version would be found, not to mention the original physical edition(s) could be consulted.

Also, when this legislation passes, I imagine we'll see a repeal shortly presented and also passed in due course.

[Diyaristan]

We are still rebuilding from a major war against "Islamic" terrorists! How can we possibly afford this?

[Bohseon]

I genuinely really like this proposal
This is separated from the aggressive "make more nukes and make a trade barrier" proposals, nice to see a more moderate, cultural preservation proposal
I would definitely contribute some documents if this were to be real though haha.

[Calladan]

.
An organisation made up of several hundred thousand nations spread across BILLIONS of light years should not have one central library in an arbitrary location that could be millions or billions of light years away from many of the nations - it's unfair and just wrong.

Yet we have also mandated the OBM provide access to said location much as it does the the HQ. That you have no difficulty reaching the headquarters along with all the other members, means that you will have no difficulty reaching the new library.

I am one person and I just assumed my presence in the WA building was a virtual avatar of me and I never actually left Calladan.

But even if that is not the case, I am just one person and my travel to and from the WA building is funded by my government (because I am their representative to The WA). The same can not be said of the entire population of Calladan (which currently stands at just over 1.3 billion people). Asking them to pay for themselves to travel there and back to see books that - before now - would have been on display in Andromeda or Lesser Leadworth seems a tad over the top and mean.

.
Also - my government is not convinced that sending our most precious documents halfway across the known world to be looked after by strangers who are not us is a wise idea, especially since the proposal makes no mention of compensation should something untoward happen.

We have asked the OBM to ensure the site is protected against the natural phenomena which would result in the loss of your works. Further that each donor still retain ownership of their written work would mean to me that they have the right to seek agreements with the executive committee when they donate the work that would compensate them in the unfortunate, albeit unlikely senario, that you have mentioned.

Fair enough.

Finally - while we accept this is voluntary, and that even if this passes we will not be compelled to get involved in this godsforsaken and idiotic scheme - we still think The WA has better things to be doing and so we will vote against it.
Also - it should be noted if it does pass we can categorically state we are not going to get involved in this godsforsaken and idiotic scheme. We will not be sending books across the world, we will not be handing anything over to The ULC and we will - in general - be doing everything we can to ignore this.
In regard to the parts where we are mandated to comply, we will review them and see what we can come up with - probably involving scanners and very large hard drives.

We recognize and support your right to not to participate in the volunatary donation of written works as well as to disagree over the nature of the WA and it's mission. We believe that the the WA promoting the rights on individual nations and showcasing them as through this library is a fine international purpose that brings us into closer harmony with one another. As for compliance might I recommend a place to store the originals when you are finished scanning them, As the Resolution also mentions preservation.

As I said, we are still going to be a part of the ULC, and people from all over The WA can read the great works of Calladan when they are submitted to that. More people, I would hazard a guess, would read them via that than if we submitted them to this, since digital copies are 10 a coin, while there will only ever be one original Book of Zorp.

We have nothing against harmony and peace and universal understanding. We just think this is not the way to do it. The internet is the single best information dissemination tool that we have at our disposal - it is the first and greatest wonder of the modern age - and it should be used to its full potential to share information, spread knowledge and so forth. And when we have such a tool at our disposal - something that can disseminate knowledge amongst so many people on such an equal footing, where almost anyone in the WA can access it and get their hands on the great works of our time - the idea of stuffing these great works into a single place where you have to actually visit to read them just seems utterly insane.

Knowledge should be free - it should be out there amongst the people. You should not have to go to some great almighty monolithic type building to beg to get it. It should be at your finger tips so you can use it, learn from it and apply it in life.

[The United Royal Islands of Euramathania]

-snip-

You make it sound as though we are not wanting the same things. Nothing in this proposal deprives your people of accessing the works through the ULC same as they have been doing. For the common man the access to information is as affirmed and upheld as it was before this resolution. So it's unfair characterization to claim that your people will be put out by this and that somehow we are expecting them to make long costly journeys to the WACLC to check out a copy of E.Z. Williams refections of shoes.
Before an older work can be properly digitized for the common man to read it must be carefully preserved to insure that it survives the scanning. We wish to expand the benefits of our knowledge in this area to all nations. Now as to why it should also be a library, is the symbolic importance of shared cultural knowledge. While your common man might not make the (insert whatever insanely large distance you want here) to come and view orginals, your scholars and universities may wish to compare the Book of Zorp with an original set of the 181 Scrolls of Wa, or whatever's related to the cross cultural literacy and heritage they are promoting.
Let's make it clear: the category isn't literacy -there is already a resolution that covers that. We have all the 181 scrolls on ebook, and they circulate just fine through the ULC. I recommend the 152nd scroll personally. But the process of securing and protecting them is hard, before we could even consider digitizing them the scrolls were in bad shape. Restoring old documents is long and complicated work, and once restored you must be careful how you protect them going forward. The aim of the WACLC is simple, providing all members the knowledge, standards, equipment and a place to do that work. While Calladan may feel comfortable in its faculties for doing such works, many smaller nations might not be, nor are nations which do not share our respect for and admiration of knowledge. That we can also use that place to display and give access to those same works and replicas, insures the broader mission of securing cultural heritage and sharing amongst members. The value a single monolith provides is being a symbol to all nations everywhere that WA takes serious these values. While the ULC may be more practical for member-states and their citizens, the WACLC will be a public face and presence declaring its intention.
We cannot consider this as being opposed to digitizing works nor supplanting it's important mission, but rather an extension and fulfillment of that goal. We agree that knowledge must serve a purpose, but is also must be protected, so that it can remain free for future generations to come.

[The United Royal Islands of Euramathania]

We are still rebuilding from a major war against "Islamic" terrorists! How can we possibly afford this?

As mentioned the ULEC shall seek out ongoing funding from donors. No one nation will have to pay to build the WACLC nor maintain it.

.

Make it digital, and I might be on board. Even the cost of the highest possible security measures would be cheaper than what is currently being proposed. Digital can corrupt, true, but I'd argue that information that is of continued relevance disseminates widely enough to ensure an uncorrupted version would be found, not to mention the original physical edition(s) could be consulted.

Also, when this legislation passes, I imagine we'll see a repeal shortly presented and also passed in due course.

Welcome to the World Assembly fellow ambassador. The WA already has a resolution to digitize and distribute works. This resolution merely provides an archive to those nations wishing to display important written works, or if they need assistance in restoring or repairing the ones that have been damaged. It also serves the piurpose of comparing orginals to the digital archive in the event of data corruption. Further we are not removing orginals from their home countries, except those which are donated. All works given to the WACLC must be voluntary. I hope this clarifies any concerns you may have. We thank you for your feedback and perspective, and welcome you to these hallowed halls.

[Lord Dominator]

DeeDee: Having read the resolution in question, and listened to some of the arguments presented, I have chosen to cast my vote for this resolution. Anything that puts this much flammable material in one location is fine by me. I shall eagerly await the passage of this resolution, which seems likely.

[Calladan]

-snip-

You make it sound as though we are not wanting the same things. Nothing in this proposal deprives your people of accessing the works through the ULN same as they have been doing. For the common man the access to information is as affirmed and upheld as it was before this resolution. So it's unfair characterization to claim that your people will be put out by this and that somehow we are expecting them to make long costly journeys to the WACLC to check out a copy of E.Z. Williams refections of shoes.
Before an older work can be properly digitized for the common man to read it must be carefully preserved to insure that it survives the scanning. We wish to expand the benefits of our knowledge in this area to all nations. Now as to why it should also be a library, is the symbolic importance of shared cultural knowledge. While your common man might not make the (insert whatever insanely large distance you want here) to come and view orginals, your scholars and universities may wish to compare the Book of Zorp with an original set of the 181 Scrolls of Wa, or whatever's related to the cross cultural literacy and heritage they are promoting.
Let's make it clear: the category isn't literacy -there is already a resolution that covers that. We have all the 181 scrolls on ebook, and they circulate just fine through the ULN. I recommend the 152nd scroll personally. But the process of securing and protecting them is hard, before we could even consider digitizing them the scrolls were in bad shape. Restoring old documents is long and complicated work, and once restored you must be careful how you protect them going forward. The aim of the WACLC is simple, providing all members the knowledge, standards, equipment and a place to do that work. While Calladan may feel comfortable in its faculties for doing such works, many smaller nations might not be, nor are nations which do not share our respect for and admiration of knowledge. That we can also use that place to display and give access to those same works and replicas, insures the broader mission of securing cultural heritage and sharing amongst members. The value a single monolith provides is being a symbol to all nations everywhere that WA takes serious these values. While the ULN may be more practical for member-states and their citizens, the WACLC will be a public face and presence declaring its intention.
We cannot consider this as being opposed to digitizing works nor supplanting it's important mission, but rather an extension and fulfillment of that goal. We agree that knowledge must serve a purpose, but is also must be protected, so that it can remain free for future generations to come.

I think this is one of those things where we are never going to agree because we just have diametrically opposite views.

You don't make knowledge free for everyone by imprisoning it in a building. You make it free by distributing as far and as wide as you can. The more people who have a copy of a book, the more people can read it. And discuss it, and compare it with other books.

Given that, and given the success of The ULC - it has been around since the dawn of time (relatively speaking) - we just do not see the point of spending the time to erect a large building that will essentially set us back a hundred thousand years in terms of progress. And I realise it won't hurt Calladan - we are going to ignore it - but if Calladan joined The WA purely for self-interest reasons then we would be a pretty crappy country and even crappier human beings.

But - like I said - it's quite probable you are never going to understand where I am coming from and why I just see this as utterly pointless, and I am never going to understand why you think this is such a worthwhile endeavour, so *shrug* there you are.

[Separatist Peoples]

"The Calladanian ambassador has a penchant for refusing to accept alternative viewpoints, Ambassador Meridian, I wouldn't be concerned."

[The United Royal Islands of Euramathania]

But - like I said - it's quite probable you are never going to understand where I am coming from and why I just see this as utterly pointless, and I am never going to understand why you think this is such a worthwhile endeavour, so *shrug* there you are.

I can accept our mutual disagreement over a point of view fellow ambassador, what would the WA be without minute variations on a thousand different points of view? Plus I believe in these last few speeches we have fairly summarized over a month of argument from when this was being drafted. Some public good surely must come from that at least. We thank you for your bigorous and empassioned debate.

"The Calladanian ambassador has a penchant for refusing to accept alternative viewpoints, Ambassador Meridian, I wouldn't be concerned."

I was happy to engage in this discussion, and feel I have represented well of my bill. The ambassador was just doing her job as well and providing a counterview. Hopefully this discussion will be enlightening for this body as members make up their minds as to the merits of this proposal.

[The Cavian State]

Does anyone remember the Chinese Cultural Revolution when they got rid of all these old books? Nations should have the right to do that.

[Excidium Planetis]

An organisation made up of several hundred thousand nations spread across BILLIONS of light years should not have one central library in an arbitrary location that could be millions or billions of light years away from many of the nations - it's unfair and just wrong.

Blackbourne raises his eyebrow. His right one. "Hundreds of thousands? Quite the exaggerated figure. And I don't see why a central library billions of lightyears away would be a problem. Member nations obviously made it here somehow."

[Calladan]

An organisation made up of several hundred thousand nations spread across BILLIONS of light years should not have one central library in an arbitrary location that could be millions or billions of light years away from many of the nations - it's unfair and just wrong.

Blackbourne raises his eyebrow. His right one. "Hundreds of thousands? Quite the exaggerated figure. And I don't see why a central library billions of lightyears away would be a problem. Member nations obviously made it here somehow."

It has already been pointed out to me I may have been over estimating the size of the WA ever so slightly. But to be fair I am a time-traveller from around 200 million years in the future when WA membership is mandatory and every NationState Nation is a member

(That may or may not be true - it depends on whether or not my next proposal gets enough support.....)

"The Calladanian ambassador has a penchant for refusing to accept alternative viewpoints, Ambassador Meridian, I wouldn't be concerned."

(smile) So if I were to suggest that The WA outlaw gun ownership, forbid freedom of speech, ban all religions and ban the death penalty in ALL member states, and enact various repeals and resolutions to make those four positions so, every member state would agree with me? Or would they refuse to accept my view point that they are all perfectly cromulent positions for The WA to take and member states to enforce?

*shrug* The WA is a vast and diverse world - IDIC at its very best. And we, for one, like it that way

[Patrykstan]

Patrykstan is against this proposal, on the basis that the cost and land use required to create a central library for nearly 27,000 nations all with their own cultures and trillions of citizens as well as guaranteeing "adequate access to transportation to & from the WACLC & WA Nations" is insanity.

This is a bad idea, a tremendous waste of cash and is literally impossible to achieve. Why did the person writing the proposal not consider a digital easy-to-access solution that connects libraries and museums across the net? How on earth are you going to provide security for such important cultural aspects? What if a terrorist group blows the library up?

There are many, many problems with this proposal, and Patrykstan's government is disturbed at the massive support for this proposal.

[Kitzerland]

Patrykstan is against this proposal, on the basis that the cost and land use required to create a central library for nearly 27,000 nations all with their own cultures and trillions of citizens as well as guaranteeing "adequate access to transportation to & from the WACLC & WA Nations" is insanity.

This is a bad idea, a tremendous waste of cash and is literally impossible to achieve. Why did the person writing the proposal not consider a digital easy-to-access solution that connects libraries and museums across the net? How on earth are you going to provide security for such important cultural aspects? What if a terrorist group blows the library up?

There are many, many problems with this proposal, and Patrykstan's government is disturbed at the massive support for this proposal.

Whiskers breaks off from doodling mustaches over pictures of the secretariat and notices the Patrykstani ambassador. "Well, not all nations have internet. Rural nations, nations whose technological advancement is not developed enough, and nations such as my own who have no internet whatsoever. There are, however, very few nations with no eyes. At least eyeless nations with book."

[Separatist Peoples]

Patrykstan is against this proposal, on the basis that the cost and land use required to create a central library for nearly 27,000 nations all with their own cultures and trillions of citizens as well as guaranteeing "adequate access to transportation to & from the WACLC & WA Nations" is insanity.

This is a bad idea, a tremendous waste of cash and is literally impossible to achieve. Why did the person writing the proposal not consider a digital easy-to-access solution that connects libraries and museums across the net? How on earth are you going to provide security for such important cultural aspects? What if a terrorist group blows the library up?

There are many, many problems with this proposal, and Patrykstan's government is disturbed at the massive support for this proposal.

"We also considered this. Fortunately, we know it wouldn't be C.D.S.P. territory being used. Not unless the GA grew an army overnight. That's why the issue didn't bother us!"