Pre-ChaNES: Into the Void

FROM: Russian Federation
TO: European Union
CC: Global Release

The irony of European arrogance in preaching ecological compatibility with the local biosphere to the Chinese while denying the Russian colonists on Zenit the type of advanced technology necessary to prevent a relapse into industrial wastage, which is rapidly becoming the only option for such a colony under the absolutely ridiculous taxes levied by the European Union, has been noted. Expenditure estimates and depletion rates of goods and machinery sent with the colonists have been attached so that the hypocrisy of Europe may be fully known, and that Russian colonists may not be blamed for taking measures which may be required to ensure their own survival.

Furthermore, in light of the highly vindictive and irrational nature of the taxation rate upon goods to Zenit, which the government Russian Federation finds unbecoming of a supposedly mature and "established power," it is hereby announced that a blanket embargo of all imports from the European Union has officially been enacted, and transit privileges to all Russian controlled areas outside of Earth has been restricted (excepting immigration of the groups outlined in President Kerensky's recent speech) and that both these measures will remain in place until such time as the European Union has recovered from it's tantrum.

The Russian government at no time betrayed any "trust" of the European Union. We were not obligated to tell the European Union where our colony ship was going, we were not obligated to tell it that we had a technology which it cannot match, and we were not obligated to provide it fair notice of our intentions unless it has the gall to suggest that it had some sort of innate and manifest right to colonize 091-322. We will therefore not consent to being treated as inferiors, to be scolded like some petulant grand-daughter being lectured by her babushka. We will continue to uphold this position until the European Union exercises the proper respect in dealing with its fellow nations. That is all.
 
Official statement from President Sheng Jianguo
In response to President Nikolai Kerensky of Russia

The People's Republic of China has long recognized and sought to minimize potential future risks through the use of what Russia calls singular ethnic-streaming. And while we acknowledge and agree with the goals and methods stated by the Russian president, we strongly reject the notion that the use of such methods by the People's Republic would stem from any motive other than the future peace and prosperity of all of mankind's interstellar colonial efforts.

While the People's Republic recognizes and applauds the proposed efforts of Russia to help less fortunate nations to establish colonies, we reject the notion that Russia, through the proposed ASTRIS project, should have the sole right to determine what planets and systems to send such colonists to. The People's Republic requests equal influence in the ASTRIS project, preferably transferring its control to a separate international body.
 
To: Russian Federation
From: European Union

We may be willing to ease the taxation on European Sigma Skimways which we offered to you as a sign of friendship if you drop your ridiculous policy of delineating the future populations of planets by ethnicity- a practice which we had hoped most of the developed nations of the world had gotten over. Suggesting that landing a single colony gives you supreme moral rights to and legal possession of a system is naught but arrogance.

By declaring that all planets should be 'ethnic preserves', you are only sowing the seeds of conflict and strife in the future.
 
FROM: Russian Federation
TO: People's Republic of China
CC: Interglobal Release

The Russian government clarifies upon its position in two ways.

Firstly, it was never stated that ASTRIS would solely determine colonization for all powers, merely for its member-states. As far as the Russian government is concerned, the existing policy which has already been documented in determining colonization priority remains in effect—unless the Chinese government would care to join the European Union in presuming it has some sort of mandate from heaven to colonize certain bodies.

Secondly, ASTRIS is an international organization, albeit one that has been nationally founded. These are not at all without precedent—ASEAN, the initial EU, or the former NATO. Members will present to the assembled body their minimum requirements for a celestial body to settle on and the body will return with an estimate of expenses for vehicle construction, transit costs, and ongoing defense requirements. If both the group as a whole and the member in question arrive at a reasonable agreement, the operation will commence. The Russian government is not dictating anything, it is providing the forum and resources to respect and carry out the collective ambitions of multiple powers.

Those clarifications made, the Russian government officially rejects the inclusion of a state with as abysmal a record—and ongoing performance—in the realms of human rights, political freedom, open dialog with peer states, and peaceful expansion as the People's Republic of China into the ASTRIS group. In its activities thus far it has demonstrated in deed that it is opposed to virtually every principle on which the organization was founded, and we would find it inappropriate for it to be included. This matter may, of course, be revisited again in a Joint Council Meeting at a later time, should the situation change.
 
From United States of America
To Russian Federation

Your thoughts on ethnic-streaming seem to be grounded in extremely archaic and racist ideas. The nation of America is founded on the ideals of near free immigration, and as such is multi-racial in every way. To say that all nations should be a part of this "ethnic-streaming" is an insult to the success of American Interstellar Colonization. We in America feel that nationalism and patriotism are much stronger binds than the archaic binds of ethnicity ever were and could ever be.

EDIT: Read clarification, so most of this post is now irrelevant...
 
FROM: Russian Federation
TO: European Union
CC: Interglobal Release

If the European Union carefully reviews the speech issued by the Russian President, it will find that at no time was any assertion made that possession of the core terracompatible planet conveyed exclusive ownership to the rest of the system. Although that may be a logical extension of the idea, we have not proposed it.

Furthermore, we apparently have a fundamental disagreement. The difference is that our position, as demonstrated by the happenings at Damen and Bacchus, has so far accurately predicted that cultural mingling on a given planet is unlikely in the extreme. We are only fortunate as a species that so far such forced deportations have not become violent. Conversely, the Russian-proposed system has yet to be tried as no planet outside of Earth and perhaps Mars is totally self-sufficient, leaving Europe's argument as nothing but baseless conjecture.

Lastly, if Europe will not reduce its taxation, the Russian government will simply take its business elsewhere. It would also advise all other independently minded nations to do the same. Our national policy is not dictated by the blackmail of another power, nor should that of any nation be. This nation did not rally world opinion by defying the nuclear holocaust of the Islamic Confederation only to submit when Europe tries its hand at playing Nostradamus and mercantile economics.
 
To the European Parliament
From the Tree-hugging Liberal Body Politik
CC: Media and Voters

The Arcadian Body Politik has passed a resolution confirming that it will never pursue the concept of "ethnic-streaming" as an organized policy, and that it will actively choose to promote diversity, tolerance, and multi-racial cooperation among the citizens of the Olympian colony, in line with the concepts that formed the core ideals of the European Union, of which the Colonial Republic of Arcadia is a full member-state and intends to continue to be so.

Various further resolutions are under consideration by Premier Stoiber and the Body to further the goals of this resolution, and our representatives to Parliament are instructed to make clear Olympia's opinion of ethnic-streaming, and those to practice it, in their votes during the coming years.
 
zxcvbnm said:
So any positions I could take? Iggy suggested governing an European colony but are there any good colonies to govern?
Click to expand...
Indeed, there are. Several blue and green rings systems have opened this turn. You may wish to wait until after the stats have been updated to make your decision, though. Some of the systems don't have their planets listed in last turn's stats.
erez87 said:
What about my joining? I guess I can't join yet...
Click to expand...

Apologies if I didn't make it clear last turn, but I didn't mean to shut you out from playing. Rather, I had assumed that you would move onto the next step of approaching a major power to base yourself in or just sending orders for your entity if you still wanted to play.

However, all potential players should keep in mind that due to Russia's cooperative effort at streamlining colonization processes for middle-tier powers, many new nations could be considered good candidates for colonization this turn. For example, I would list Japan, Israel, and Australia, among many others, as now being well suited to player control.
 
erez87 said:
What about aliens btw :)? sentient that is...
Click to expand...
{ Aw don't start that, the moment we get aliens in the game my interest will drop significantly. :p }
 
erez87 said:
What about aliens btw :)? sentient that is...
Click to expand...

Alas, humanity has not yet discovered an alien society. It's one thing for a species to perhaps be capable of society, and it's another for such a society to have actually developed. In any case, the creatures in question from Zenit don't have any more language than the basic signals that dolphins use to communicate.
 
FROM: Russian Federation
TO: United States of America
CC: Interglobal Release

The Russian government notes that American citizens, sharing as they do both a common language, a common set of values, and a common background beyond the third generation of any immigrant regardless of their time of arrival, already constitute a singular ethnicity, which may be defined as American or North American, depending upon how broadly one wishes to define the category. Race, religion, et cetera, are not the defining values around which ethnicity is here being defined.

Under this definition, America has likewise already begun a similar policy as Russia is now proposing. It could be argued that America is inclusive of immigrants within its home country, and this would be accurate. We notice however that despite its proud multicultural heritage, America is not sending Mexicans, Chinese, or Africans to Mars and hoping they will get along with the descendants of those who have become Americanized. They are being culturally integrated on Earth over being integrated in situ. This is ultimately no different in practice than our stated objective. America is sending Americans to the stars and attempting to have American-descended colonies. Just as China is, and just as Russia is.

The only nation which is not by definition practicing ethnic-streaming is the European Union, which still retains cultural inhomogeneity as a direct result of its government structure and recent formation. Were it fully culturally integrated, rather than just politically, it would be no different. There is, in short, nothing revolutionary, archaic, or racist about either Russia's first or second principles of colonization, other than designating a planet as a sole preserve, which has thus far simply not been explicitly stated or universally practiced. It is the third principle and the founding of ASTRIS which sets Russia apart.

However, all potential players should keep in mind that due to Russia's cooperative effort at streamlining colonization processes for middle-tier powers, many new nations could be considered good candidates for colonization this turn. For example, I would list Japan, Israel, and Australia, among many others, as now being well suited to player control.
Click to expand...
OOC: If nobody does I fully expect/demand some NPC replies, or negotiations regarding precise terms and conditions.
 
Official Transcript
President Nikolai Kerensky
Televised and Netcast Address
Original Air Date: 1200GMT, December 21, 2125AD
Broadcast From: The Kremlin, Moscow, Russian Federation

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen of the Russian Federation, Earth at large, and all mankind.

There has been much discussion in all manner of walks of life as to morality of the plan which I announced to you some months ago. There have been accusations of racism, elitism, nationalism, and all other manner of nonsense which dilute the basic intent of the plan. I feel it is time to dispel such notions, at least as regards ASTRIS.

Let us consider first what is meant by “ethnicity,” as many are stuck in old notions of the meaning of the word. “Ethnicity” as defined here, is broadly speaking a shared sense of identity. In many ways this is functionally similar to the technical definition of “nation.” Some may ask why that word was not used, and I say simply because it has all too-often become confused with the technical definition of “state.” Today it is often considered proper that a state should not exist unless it is representing a nation. The irony is that nations often formed because of the imposition of a state. Both concepts are imperfect to convey what is meant by the use of the word “ethnicity” as many of these cultural values often transcend the borders of nation-states, and those words have become so polluted with different meanings as to make them unsuitable.

Let us consider why this must be done along ethnic lines as opposed to national lines or free colonization. Some have contested that as long as colonization is conducted under the supervision of a single strong authority, free colonization is not a problem. To this I say first that such a goal is not the intent of ASTRIS, as outlined later and I also say that it is a very short-term view. The instances where colonists from different nations have been integrated together have been by force or the threat of it, such as on Damen or Bacchus. In other instances, such as on Mars or Carmenta, they have not really integrated at all. It is a natural human tendency to exclude outsiders in small groups. It is also a natural human tendency to lay blame upon them. A colony world is a relatively harsh and stressful place to be as it is. By removing different ethnicities from the equation, we remove also culture shock, any latent racism, and the ability to blame a minority. We create what is effectively a more harmonious society by eliminating the possibility for cultural misunderstanding or animosity, and thus better free the colonists to complete the business of colonization. The sooner that is completed, the more capable the world becomes of accepting and assimilating others. In short, it is the best way of ensuring the colonization process goes as smoothly and quickly as possible, and also fulfills the mission goal of ASTRIS in the process.

With that matter addressed, let us consider what the benefit of a single planet being considered a colony is. It is estimated that, depending on the quality of the world, somewhere between 200 and 500 years will be required to turn a given planet into a world comparable to Earth in self-sufficiency and standard of living. However, it may be assumed that this will be a more or less innately stable process both during and after completion. Many have raised concern over infighting between colonists. I and my advisers disregard this as a major possibility given the degree of effort required to complete such a transition in that time-frame what has taken on the order of 7000 years on Earth. The colonists do not have to fight their home country for independence, because that is built into the agreement upon its start up. The colonists are unlikely to fight each other because they are all of a roughly similar background. The different colonies do not even have to fight each other, as they have the resources and living space of an entire world to utilize toward their own ends. Furthermore, different colonies cannot fight among each other, not in wars of conquest—the resources to launch an aggressive campaign against a world of an entirely different cultural background requires first a fully industrialized planet and second makes conquest virtually impossible to maintain. The only option that might remain is genocide, most forms of which would render the planet unusable, and all of which would meet with harsh interstellar condemnation and military response by such a time. In short, this proposal guarantees the future stability of mankind in space.

Let us now address the matter of cultural homogeneity. Let it be known that anything which is not stated to be so may assumed to be negative. At no point was it ever stated that the situation of direct-ethnic streaming would last unto perpetuity. The intent of the procedure is to ensure that a world develops an expression of the culture in question which is large and durable enough to absorb and adapt to its own ends what may come later. This is in many ways exemplified by past immigration trends in the United States and Europe. The difference is that these plans, as conceived of by their state sponsors, are designed to be expressions of an existing culture rather than a new mix of different ones. That is not to say that ASTRIS is opposed to such mixtures; as was said by a recent European Prime Minister, there is room for all of us in space. It is simply that Russia has dedicated itself to operations within ASTRIS out of a desire to practice this particular form of colonization, as too have its fellow members. Once a world is sufficiently developed to retain the overall goal of its original character, whatever that may be, there is no reason not to allow immigration, as assimilation will naturally follow.

It may also be fully anticipated that developments in interstellar travel will rapidly outstrip the developmental capability of a planet, enabling much easier, cheaper, and more routine travel to and from one world to another. In this way idea diffusion, cultural cross-pollination, and indeed tourism will all continue to function healthily. We will not see an expansion of xenophobic, racist, exclusionary worlds across space. What we will see as a result of this is a cosmopolitan universe in which each Earth tradition may express itself to the fullest without fear of cultural invasion.

Having further delineated this process and its considerations, I hope it becomes clear to the world at large that Russia is not attempting to set up an exclusionary organization. We are not trying to impede the formation of new cultural identities, as seen by the first example on Bacchus. We are simply choosing to execute colonization in the way we believe to be most efficient and most stable in the long-term. If you disagree, that is your right as a private citizen of whatever state to which you belong. That being said, however, we do not intend to change our policy, and we feel confident that there are several others who agree with its basic fundamentals.

Good day, and may God bless Mother Russia and all of humanity.
 
From America
To Russia

For the record, the United States of America has sent American citizens of African, Chinese, and especially Latin American origin to our planets in Sol and Infinitas. Your accusations are unfounded, and your statements false; our people on Mars have transcended petty ethnic conflicts through excellent education and the greatness of morality and character of American society.
 
FROM: Russian Federation
TO: United States of America
CC: Interglobal Release

Our "accusations" are simply facts. We note they are African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans, and so forth. As we have stated, their place of origin and their skin color is wholly irrelevant to the fact they are American ethnic in outlook and culture. You are not importing Kenyans or Mayans. Our point was that you are sending people who share your culture, not sending people who don't and assuming they simply adopt it later. As we have stated, that is precisely what our intent is as well. The only difference is that we have bothered to state it. We therefore find your reaction somewhat out of place.
 
Symphony D. said:
FROM: Russian Federation
TO: United States of America
CC: Interglobal Release

Our "accusations" are simply facts. We note they are African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans, and so forth. As we have stated, their place of origin and their skin color is wholly irrelevant to the fact they are American ethnic in outlook and culture. You are not importing Kenyans or Mayans. Our point was that you are sending people who share your culture, not sending people who don't and assuming they simply adopt it later. As we have stated, that is precisely what our intent is as well. The only difference is that we have bothered to state it. We therefore find your reaction somewhat out of place.
Click to expand...

OOC: Well, if you're gonna use a crappy definition of "ethnicity"...

IC: Also, the planet of Carmenta, currently shared between America and the EU, has done great.
 
Head Serf said:
OOC: Well, if you're gonna use a crappy definition of "ethnicity"...
Click to expand...
Let us consider first what is meant by “ethnicity,” as many are stuck in old notions of the meaning of the word. “Ethnicity” as defined here, is broadly speaking a shared sense of identity. In many ways this is functionally similar to the technical definition of “nation.” Some may ask why that word was not used, and I say simply because it has all too-often become confused with the technical definition of “state.” Today it is often considered proper that a state should not exist unless it is representing a nation. The irony is that nations often formed because of the imposition of a state. Both concepts are imperfect to convey what is meant by the use of the word “ethnicity” as many of these cultural values often transcend the borders of nation-states, and those words have become so polluted with different meanings as to make them unsuitable.
Click to expand...
OOC: I don't mind when you people make asses of yourselves by either ignoring or deliberately misinterpreting what I say, because it lets me come back with these awesome rejoinders pointing out how flawed your logic is and makes my position so much the better looking, but it does get kind of old after awhile.
 
OOC:* Such insults in such an informed age can only be precursors to war. The international media is obviously trying to do a Bismarck to get the USA and the Russian Federation into a state of war because they're bored.

*,↓: Okay, it's neither out of character nor out of context. It's either I change it or I create a completely new backronym for it. So, for this specific post only, OOC stands for Outrightly Overlooking ChaNES (i.e. lurking openly).
 
Head Serf said:
OOC: Well, if you're gonna use a crappy definition of "ethnicity"...

IC: Also, the planet of Carmenta, currently shared between America and the EU, has done great.
Click to expand...
Indeed, we have no serious issues here, no more than should be expected in any other society.

Symphony D. said:
FROM: Russian Federation
TO: United States of America
CC: Interglobal Release

Our "accusations" are simply facts. We note they are African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans, and so forth. As we have stated, their place of origin and their skin color is wholly irrelevant to the fact they are American ethnic in outlook and culture. You are not importing Kenyans or Mayans. Our point was that you are sending people who share your culture, not sending people who don't and assuming they simply adopt it later. As we have stated, that is precisely what our intent is as well. The only difference is that we have bothered to state it. We therefore find your reaction somewhat out of place.
Click to expand...
Europe would like to note that it has taken many Non-Europeans on its expeditions to outer space, and that a sizeable percentage of our extrasolar population consists of Muslims of Middle Eastern descent, as well as other minorities.
 
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