International Union of Equality and Freedom (IC)

[Leepaidamba]

A small bearded man walked into the Meeting room and began to speak: "Representatives of the member nations of the UEF, let me introduce myself. I am Pim Knobbelteen, Representative of the Grand Duchy of Leepaidamba to the International Union of Equality and Freedom." He paused for a short moment to get an A4-sized sheet of paper out of his suitcase. "As you may know the Grand Duchy has made official acceptance and ratification of the Charter of the Union conditional on amending said charter to include Gnomes as a race protected by the Union. Gnomes are at present not protected under the Charter, even though they - what am I saying - we are a sapient species, and there are various states and autonomous areas that are or have been ruled exclusively or primarily by Gnomes or were installed with the interests of the Gnomes in mind. Examples include the Gnomocratic Commonwealth of Pongotopia, the former Gnome Republic of Bradiak and the former Federal Republic of Bradiak's state of Gnomeland. As such I will now propose that we right this wrong and amend our charter so that Gnomes are mentioned in it as a protected race. I request a vote be held immediately on this issue, if no other Representatives have any further comments on the matter." He went away from the microphone towards a seat behind a small desk on which a small reading "the Grand Duchy of Leepaidamba" had been placed and set himself on the seat. The seat was a little high, probably built for a Dwarf and not for a usually far smaller Gnome, even though a seat had been requested adjusted for the Gnomish size.

[Crystal Spires]

"We of Crystal Spires approve of making gnomes as a special protected race, and further add that Spireans have already protected Gnomes under the umbrella of demihuman entities. We do however understand the struggle for Gnomish rights, and so we agree that they should be added to the protected races in the charter." Maven said with a nod.

[Elyomia]

'Good morning, Mr. Knobbelteen. It is a pleasure to meet you, and I hope we can make some important decisions which will benefit both of our people.' Crown Prince William looked over to the man and nodded. He then looked back towards his laptop, and addressed the room. 'I'd like to draw your attention, esteemed delegates, to a quite serious matter beginning to form. As you may have seen, several nations are beginning to condemn and declare war on a radical Islamic organisation, Al-Ummah, who is known to shelter and train terrorists and terrorist groups. It claims to have killed over 3,000 people in its quite short existence. Even though they are very new in the world of terrorism, this is quite a serious issue. If we let this continue, the organisation will grow and will cause deaths around the globe. We need to step in and send a clear message to this organisation - they must not continue their actions, and engage in peaceful negotiations.'

[Aravea]

Sadly, the Aravean military and its allies have had to resort to violence to defeat this group

[Leepaidamba]

"Your Royal Highness, it is vital that we watch this terrorist organization, but stopping them will be far from easy. More importantly, so long as they will remain a non-state organization, there is little they can do. At best they can kill people whom they'd oppress if they controlled a state, although all deaths caused by Al-Ummah, and indeed all unnatural deaths, are too many. The best we can do is insure that Al-Ummah does not get hold of any state government and that no state government supports them." The little Gnome said. "May I also ask you, and all others present, to vote on the proposal I have made in name of the Grand Duchy of Leepaidamba to amend the Charter."

[Crystal Spires]

"While you were both discussing the in Al Ummah, we amended the charter in current use to reflect the necessary protections. It is as I said, I do understand the needs and struggles for gnome liberation, and so I've amended it as I believe the protections are more than necessary." Maven said as he brushed his tired eyes off, and his wings gently batted involuntarily. "I am also in favor of sending a message on behalf of the UEF to the Al Ummah Terrorists if the fellow members agree that action must be taken. To add to this situation the protests in Tskhinvali has led to ethnic cleansing so I think we must act quickly to save equines while we still can."

[Elyomia]

'I applaud your amendment of the charter, High Chancellor. We do believe that gnomish rights should be upheld in all member nations of the UEF.' Crown Prince William continued. 'Mr. Knobbelteen, we do agree that this organisation will be hard to eradicate. Terrorist groups such as these are very very difficult to even trace at times. We believe that we need to send a message to Al-Ummah and keep pressure on them, as well as attempting to stop them from gaining any official leadership of any nation. Even if they are not in government, they are still oppressing and killing innocent people, and we need to send a message to them that violence is not the answer to anything. Also, we agree that we must also send a message to both the Al-Ummah terrorist group and those who are initiating the ethnic cleansing in Tskhinvali.'

[Crystal Spires]

"That is not the only news we have heard lately. Eames has sent word of a public execution to be witnessed by women and men for simply being feminists! I have sent my warning to the offenders and we believe that they will still possibly progress with this madness, but what disturbs me is this support for such barbarism that is rising out of the woodworks." Maven said as he pulled out a box of lemon drop candies. "Can I interest you in a lemon drop?" He offered to the delegates.

[Aravea]

"Sure, why not" Nagase answered

[Crystal Spires]

"Ah, yes the delegate from Aravea? Please take it and enjoy." Maven said as he handed Nagase a lemon drop with a smile. "I cannot remember your name, please forgive me as I am terrible with names, but good with faces. I'd also like to know a little bit about the nation of Aravea, if you'd be willing to tell me."

[Aravea]

"Well Aravea has just finished its transtion into a new government which is known as the Unified Republic of Aravea. The URA is made up of 6 constituent states and is a multi party democracy. Beyond that there's not that much other than our harsh stand on defeating terrorism" the woman said

[Free Republic China]

"This i can attest to. With their help, my country was able to repel a terrorist group called The Black Dagger. we believe they were aided by this Islamic terrorist group of which all of us seek."

[Crystal Spires]

"I'm happy that we've been able to make progress. From what I am aware there has been quite a few crises averted by our actions, but we can't just allow ourselves to become complacent. Also how do you think we could possibly find more ways to help other sapient beings and avert international crises?" Maven asked as he ate another lemon drop.

[Yorobia]

A man walked in looking straight at Maven. He's been listening in from the side of the area. "We can't possibly be running out of ideas!".

[Leepaidamba]

"Oh, you are definitely right. I for one have quite a few ideas on what to do, how to do it and who should do it." Mister Knobbelteen said. "However, let's not be impolite. Please introduce yourself first."

[Yorobia]

"Excuse me for my sudden outburst. My name would be Henry Lansbury. I am part of the Yorobian Colony and I'm here for the same reason as you."

[Teddy Bear Republic]

A bear stood near the shadow of the door, waiting to make his entrance. He wished not a grand one, and felt it rude to enter immediately after another delegate and steal his attention.
His aide had just finished assembling the sheets. "They're all in order now, sir."
The bear took them, and nodded. Offers of help from various ministries - war, communications, etc - to the international community.
He yawned a little. Government chartered planes were comfortable, but he had never slept well on them. Neither had his warring ancestors, who stayed firmly on the sea, if that made sense.
He yawned again, and resumed his wait.

[Crystal Spires]

"It's an honor to have you in our midst!" Maven said with a cheerful smile and his monocle fell to the ground. He reached down to pick it up and put it back in and continued to greet the others. his monocle was foggy and he took it out and polished it. "I am not thinking that we're out of ideas, but I'm more to thinking of new and innovative ways to get the genocidal maniacs under control. Although shame, blame, pain and loss are a powerful motivator, it sometimes isn't enough for those who aren't afraid of watching their international reputation plummet, those who do not care what words are exchanged, what kind of destruction war can bring, and it doesn't matter to them how many sapient beings are lost. Such a person is incredibly difficult to convince. I have thought perhaps public humiliation would work, but that depends on sheer numbers and pragmatic use of words. It needs to mask rage and instead mock." Maven said as he looked at the delegates. "It is a powerful motivator because leaders do not like to have their personal 'face' affronted."

[ArghNeedAName]

Form For Full Members
Nation Full Name United States of ArghNeedAName
Nation Head of State President Malcolm Whitacre
Nation Head of Government Prime Minister Tony Bacon
Do you Support Democracy Yes
Time of Government(Monarchy,Republic,etc) Federal semi-presidential/parliamentary republic
Do you Accept this Charter Yes

Freedom of Speech [check]
Freedom of Press [check]
Freedom of Assembly [check]
Freedom of Movement [check]
Freedom of and From Religion [check]
Rights of Customs [check]
Freedom from Slavery [check]
Freedom to all Genders [check]
Freedom of Sexual Preferences [check]
Freedom of Political Ideology [check]
Freedom from Discrimination [check]

[Crystal Spires]

Form For Full Members
Nation Full Name United States of ArghNeedAName
Nation Head of State President Malcolm Whitacre
Nation Head of Government Prime Minister Tony Bacon
Do you Support Democracy Yes
Time of Government(Monarchy,Republic,etc) Federal semi-presidential/parliamentary republic
Do you Accept this Charter Yes

Freedom of Speech [check]
Freedom of Press [check]
Freedom of Assembly [check]
Freedom of Movement [check]
Freedom of and From Religion [check]
Rights of Customs [check]
Freedom from Slavery [check]
Freedom to all Genders [check]
Freedom of Sexual Preferences [check]
Freedom of Political Ideology [check]
Freedom from Discrimination [check]

"We accept your membership! Welcome!"

[Leepaidamba]

[application]

You know, that was supposed to go in the OOC thread but who really cares.

IC:

Mister Knobbelteen stood up. He saw a bear standing at the door but took little notice for he was eager to finish his thought. "Methods are available in great abundance. Mockery, economic sanctions, military threats, even actual war are all at our disposal. What I think we ought to do first is prioritize the threats based on their urgency and on the prospected efficiency with which we can remove the threat. Terrorism is definitely one of the most inefficient threats to remove and so, although we must certainly make efforts to end it, we must insure that it does not take too much of our time and resources. We must also decide what method or methods to apply to each threat. War should be avoided at all costs and be used only defensively, be it to defend our Union or to defend the allies of, friends of and states in agreement with the Union. Mockery should be used virtually everywhere and always, for it shows people who they truly are so that they may rethink their decisions and actions. Economic sanctions and military threats will only work if we can perform them on a large, Union-wide or even larger scale. However we must not underestimate the power of sound argument. Those in the right have nothing to fear from argument for it will only show their truth. As for the prioritization, I leave that up to you for I have not been here that long yet." He sat down again and began to unwrap a lemon drop. He had been waiting to say his say for some time and had clearly been looking forward to taking a sweet reward.

[Teddy Bear Republic]

The bear realized it was time, and walked through the door as silently as he could. He wished not to interrupt the diplomat from Leepaidamba in case he wasn't finished. He took his seat, then, upon realization that the speaker had indeed closed off, stood up again and began to speak.
"Fellow diplomats, as Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the good bears of the TBRE, we wish to inquire further into this group - Al-Ummah. What is it's purpose? Is it to destroy what it sees as decadence? Is it to bring awareness? Anything interesting on its short history? Who is its leader? By knowing the actual nature of this group, perhaps then we would know what to do in order to succeed."
The bear looked around, nodded, then sat back down.

[Elyomia]

'Hello, Minister, it is an honour to meet you. What is your name?' Crown Prince William asked. He begun to answer the Minister's questions as he awaited his response - 'Al-Ummah is a very new terrorist organisation. There is very little information known about it. We know that it has killed 3,700 people since its beginning, and its leader is Khomeini Alkani. It states that it is fighting nations who offend Allah (may He be glorified and exalted).' William had studied the Qu'ran during his university years, and had the opportunity to live in Jordan for several months. He always knew to give the proper title to Allah. 'So, in a nutshell, it's an Islamic extremist group that's going to, if not already, killing hundreds of people.'

[Teddy Bear Republic]

The Minister stood up again, and bowed.
"My apologies. Sir Raulph Porkof, Minister of Foreign Affairs since 1987. Considering the number of people that it has killed in a short time, it's a risk that we're taking by trying to bring this group to the peace table. But considering the remaining options, especially the military ones, we suggest it's a risk that we take. Is there any way to make further contact with this group?"

[Crystal Spires]

"Certainly. We can introduce a network of communications which I was considering working on, and pardon me for failing to introduce myself. I'm High Chancellor Maven Auryn." Maven said to Sir Raulph Porkok. "I was considering perhaps a hand held device like the ones I use to contact the High Council when I am out on international meetings and when I am busy with the Coaltion of Ponyist States and the likes. It's so I don't lose contact and still am able to keep up on my work." he said as he held out his phone. "Making it available and usable by all species is what Spirean engineers are working on."