THE WEST PACIFIC News & Info

[Willania Imperium]

May the passing of eras from Badger to Dave lead to another Golden Era of TWP!

[Digory Kirke]

Congratulations to Dave on his new post, and may history record Badger as a noble and proactive delegate.

[Kylia Quilor]

Congratulations on a long and successful Tenure, Badger.

[Solorni]

Badger is incredible and was an amazing delegate. I'm exciting to see what Daveland's can do and what Badger will do now

[Altino]

HAPPY SPOOPY DAYS!

It is finally October! It's 80F and we wish it was cold, we're too busy to actually watch those annual Halloween movies if we're being totally honest, and hiding our secret adoration of Pumpkin Spice products is getting pretty tough, but whatever! This is the best part of the year. To celebrate TWPAF is hosting an R/D Costume Contest. We fully intended to just have an internal contest, but the sweeter parts of our hearts demanded that we give other orgs the chance to lose against us. <3

Your goal will be to raid a region (we don't care which region, go nuts) and deck it out as sPoOpY as possible. The only requirements are:
1) Flag must be custom. As long as it's original and you don't just throw up a picture of Jack Skellington, it'll be fine. You can use your regular raiding flag if you want, but that's boring.
2) Custom flags can't be made by any of the Judges. Right now the judges are Bran Astor, Rigels Light, and Imkihca. I'll let you guys know if for some reason we change judges.
3) One entry per team. Your org as a whole can have as many teams as your numbers can handle, but only one entry per team. And no, you can't have the same people in a bunch of teams, either. :p


That's all! Otherwise, just be creative. Make a cool WFE, a scary flag or one with a good costume, and whatever else you feel like doing to make your tag as spooky as you can. Maybe even have your team make cool custom flags for their nations or Halloween themed nations. Throw a creepypasta in a dispatch, idk. Be creative.

All entries are due by October 29th. Please send screenshots of your tag by TG or Discord DM to Altino. Both Raiders and Defenders from any orgs are welcome to play. Winners will be announced on October 31st.
Please try to let me know in advance if your org plans to participate and how many teams you think you'll have, so I'll know who to expect to hear from.

Ps: Here are a couple flags for inspiration.

Bran just knows how to party.

I'm not that great at flags, but if you don't take time out of your day to make a flag for your Spice Girls puppets, what are you even doing?

[The Noble Thatcherites]

Ohh. This looks like fun! The Union of Democratic States Armed Forces (UDSAF) will be participating!

[Altino]

Awesome! I've got you on my RSVP list. ❤️

[Marilyn Manson Freaks]

I'll be participating!

[Executordv]

Im in. What team am I doing?

[Altincredible]

Halloween and all related Zombie Apocalypses have now ended, so let us introduce the Halloween R/D Costume Contest winners for this year! Thank you to TWPAF, The North Pacific, Osiris, The East Pacific, Caer Sidi, and The Kingdom of Great Britain for sending entries! It was fun to play with you guys this year. And sorry to all the orgs who didn't get their entries in early enough to be judged! Being eaten by Zombies can slow a person down, I know.

The Contest winners were determined by our Judges, Rigels Light, Bran Astor, Imkihca, and Brunhizzle. Each entry was given points based on their flag, their WFE, and overall. The highest combined scores won.

Entries:

Total Points: 10

Total Points: 16

Total Points: 9

Total Points: 24

NPA didn't give us a bigger version of their flag. Sorry. We didn't ask for a bigger version, they were just given to us, sooo.

Total Points: 9

Team Overthinkers:


Team Badger:

Total Points Overthinkers: 38
Total Points Badger: 27

Since TWPAF submitted two entries we've taken the highest of their two scores and omitted the other. Everyone was able to submit more than one team entry, but only TWPAF did, so we're just being fair.

Our top three scores are The West Pacific, Osiris, and Caer Sidi
Congrats to all three of you and thanks for playing! Here's a really cool badge for you to hang on your walls in celebration.

[The Atlae Isles]

Congrats to all who played!

*looks at participation prize*

[KhanterWinters]

BADGER!
Seriously the 12 hrs Trigger!
At least we had fun at it

[Overthinkers]

Team TWPAF had to win, and I'm glad we did. And while I'm not complaining, I find that margin of victory to be alarming...o.o

[Mghnb]

I'll get you next time

[Altincredible]

Lol! The flag and the poem pushed you way over the edge in those votes. ^-^ Good job!

[The Holy Principality of Saint Mark]

The West Pacifican Volume 8 Has Been Posted

This new edition contains 5 great articles!

1. The Delegate's Discourse
2. How Should a Feeder Deal With Z-Day?
3. What's Happening in The West Pacific
4. Pirates Ahoy!
5. Spooky Story Contest Winner

Dispatch Version:
Coming Soon
Web Version:
http://thewestpacific.com/the-west-pacifican/the-west-pacifican-volume-8/

[Brunhizzle]

Great article, Halo and TWP!

[Davelands]

This evening I made the decision to pull The West Pacific from the NationStates World’s Fair. Since the opening day, the moderators have shown themselves to be incompetent in their ability to control harassment and other poor behavior by a number of the attendees. In a World’s Fair whose theme was to bring awareness to online harassment this is unacceptable to us and goes against everything that The West Pacific stands for. We have pulled our booth from the event and request that the nations of The West Pacific boycott the rest of the Fair.

[RiderSyl]

Online harassment continues to be an issue for the NationStates community, and persons in authority continue to let us all down in dealing with it.

[Willania Imperium]

This is disgusting. It's a hypocritical move that we cannot tolerate. I've withdrawn from the fair and have adjusted the profile in the NSWF to show it. I also encourage the boycott, for we cannot support such hypocrisy.

[The Holy Principality of Saint Mark]

Today, the regions of Lazarus and The West Pacific announce the signing of The Chol Covenant

Our regions pursued this treaty with a desire to strengthen both the friendship between each other, as well as bolster our positions in the world at large. The West Pacific and Lazarus have supported each other in crucial moments of NationStates history and this treaty will stand as a monument to that cooperation moving forward.

We seek to provide a foundation upon which we may create a stronger bond between our respective communities and we hope to stand together as a voice for sovereign ideals throughout the World.

The Chol Covenant

Preamble

Desiring that there shall be lasting peace and friendship between Lazarus and The West Pacific, this treaty is declared to be agreed upon by the governments of both regions, broadening and rejoicing in both the present and future friendship between the two regions. Each region shall respect the independence, sovereignty, and principles of the other and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the other, working only toward the betterment of each.

Article I - Recognition of Sovereignty

A. The members of this treaty recognize the independence and sovereignty of the current government of each region and agree to recognize any legal government that follows.
B. Each member region recognizes that the sovereignty of each government is vested in the delegate and reflected in the decisions they make, and the authority they maintain as symbols of unity and stability for their region.
C. Both regions agree not to take up arms against one another, nor undertake any action that is aimed at the subversion of the legitimate government of either region.
D. Neither region shall enact law which cedes sovereign control of its government to a third party not native to its region.

Article II – Mutual Defense

A. Signatories of this treaty agree to provide defense for one another and may call on each other in times of crisis, or any other circumstance that is deemed a threat to the legal governments of either region.
B. Such defense is not limited in scope, and the regional governments of both regions may request any form of help that they feel is necessary in trying circumstances, which can include everything from a statement by the other regional government, to a call for military assistance.
C. A Request for military assistance may only be filed by the lawful Delegates or heads of the regional militaries.
D. If a request cannot reasonably be fulfilled by the region, they may respectfully reject the request, but some form of help must be provided.
E. If one region comes into possession of intelligence that could put the other region at risk, such information must be reported to the other regional government’s officials as quickly as possible. Any information shared between the parties of this treaty will be kept confidential to the greatest capability of both regional governments, and such information will not be presented publicly unless the regions have both agreed.

Article III – Military Cooperation

A. Signatory regions shall not engage in military hostilities against each other. This includes direct military operations and engaging in military operations in assistance of an opposing force of the other region.
B. Individual military operations do not need the approval of the other region as long as it does not violate Article III, A.
C. The signatories of this treaty agree to the principle of military cooperation, and will try to work together when possible to increase the effectiveness, strength, and respect of each other’s military.
D. Both regions agree to recognize that the militaries of each regions are independent entities, protected under the right of sovereignty, and that they may engage each other on opposite sides of the battlefield in typical military gameplay; moreover, such engagements should and will not offend either region, but be greeted with respect in the spirit of competition.
E. Though strongly encouraged, neither region is obligated to participate in any military operation of the other, with the exception of the mutual defense agreements spelled out in this treaty.

Article IV – Diplomatic Cooperation

A. Each signatory will endeavor to provide diplomatic support to the other signatory, where it is possible for them to do so, while being consistent with their own internal policies.
B. Signatory regions shall provide an embassy for the other signatory on their forums and shall provide a representative from their region who will act as an ambassador from their region.
C. Each signatory will endeavor to keep the other up-to-date on their regional affairs.
D. Each ambassador shall behave in a respectable manner towards the signatory region. This includes, but is not limited to, obeying regional laws where it is applicable and following any ambassadorial protocol that the signatory region has already in place.
E. Either signatory region may request that the ambassador sent to them by the other signatory be replaced if it is deemed that clauses IV.C or IV.D have not been followed appropriately by that individual.

Article V – Cultural Activities

A. Each signatory will endeavor, where appropriate to engage in social and cultural activities with the other signatory. This can include, but is not limited to, festivals, competitions, and other shared events.

Article VI – Termination of Treaty

A. If either regional government is considering withdrawal from this treaty, representatives from both regions must first meet and make a good-faith effort to find a solution to the issue(s) causing withdrawal.
B. If that good-faith effort fails, then either member of this treaty may withdraw by posting a notice in the embassy of the other region.
C. There will then be a five-day period before the treaty cancellation is considered final.
D. Termination of this treaty shall not be seen as an act of war or hostility by either side.

[Davelands]

NOTICE ON THE SITUATIONS IN THE EAST PACIFIC AND LAZARUS

The West Pacific has a long and proud history of supporting the sovereignty of the Delegacy. Recently, a couple of regions have tested that resolve.

The East Pacific has witnessed some unique changes this past week. Some of those changes have been extremely positive and some, quite frankly, have been perplexing. However, we stand strongly behind The East Pacific and their Delegate. The changes are in line with what a legitimate Delegate can do and although the moves have not been universally accepted, they are legal. We remain as always close friends with The East Pacific.

Unfortunately, Lazarus is now in a quite different situation. Although the Delegate is legitimate, and it is his right to make the changes he deems necessary, the changes that were made and the way they have been executed goes against TWP’s values. Because of that I am announcing the following:

1. Effective immediately, all piling troops from TWPAF will exit the region. In our opinion, the crisis to the Delegacy has passed and there is no further need to tie up troops in a region with a secure Delegate.

2. Also effective immediately, The West Pacific is suspending The Chol Covenant. The changes made in Lazarus by the Delegate has thrown the region into chaos and (more importantly) the handling of this chaos has only caused more strife both inside and outside of the region. We have confidence that the leadership of Lazarus can take concrete steps to diffuse their situation and become a stable, reliable GCR partner so we can reopen The Chol Covenant in the future.

[Queen Yuno]

While this post is completely surprising to me, thank you for the statement of support towards TEP. We've had...quite a ride.

[Feux]

A small slap on the hand for Lazarus.

[Davelands]

NOTICE OF JOINT ACTION

3/27/2018

Effective immediately we are hereby blacklisting The Black Hawks. TBH is an exemplar of values incongruent with our own. Exploiting the GCRs for gains and attempting to manipulate their regional communities to capitulate into demands for support while offering nothing of substance in return.We solemnly believe that this constitutes a significant risk to the continued stability and sovereignty of our governments.

What this means, in plain English:

- Embassies and Consulates with TBH will be closed if applicable.

- All members from TBH will be denied entry and residency.

- TWPAF and EPSA will cease supporting TBH-led or backed operations.

- Failure to disclose membership in TBH for new members is cause for immediate removal.

- All individuals who are a member of TWP or TEP and are concurrently a member of TBH have one week from the posting of this notice to decide which community they will remain in. The deadline, so that it is explicitly stated, is Tuesday April 3rd.

Signed -

Delegate of The West Pacific Davelands

Supreme Loligarch Yuno

Minister of Foreign Affairs, TEP - Aeneas Prime