Representing Micronational Humanities

[Chairman Ryan]

This is written as a basis for simulating micronational humanities or humanitarian efforts in the hobby. I feel that this is as much an important part of the greater hobby as recwarring, and at an early time in our history this was also the greater basis for most micronations. Most early micronations were founded on the principles of some violation of basic human rights, or where the people involved were being misrepresented to the extent they were forced to take actions into their own hands. But since the shift towards more simulation, this has fallen by the wayside.

Thus I propose a method to include humanitarian efforts within the greater simulation.

To begin with, it is commonly stated that one "real" citizen equates the micronation he or she belongs to with one million "micro" citizens. This being the simulated population. Obviously this number fluctuates as the amount of citizens at any given time is always in flux, whereas the land appropriated by a micronation is more consistent. In fact, this number could probably be doubled without much error in actual population versus available land area.

So let us say that we now have a way to determine a simulated population. Now it is important to next determine the climate and environmental constraints of the micronation being discussed. Just as Canada or Mongolia hold small populations due to climatological constraints, so a micronation should also take into account similar constraints based upon its location on a given cartographical world (either Giess, Micras, or any other). A nation situated in anything but a temperate biome is going to face challenges and different hazards that will impact the population.

For this there will be a separate discussion on micronational environmental sciences (to be published shortly).

Once the environmental limitations are observed you can begin to better ascertain what kind of events could potentially befall your micronation. A micronation located in the desert, for example, is more prone to drought, soil erosion, and famine. But at the same time that biome is least likely to be affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical monsoons, tsunamis, snow and so forth. Thus you can draw a mental picture of what to expect of as everyday hurdles for your population to overcome.

Another area of consideration is genetic stock. This is not a racism issue but one of biological importance. A nation based on an Asian theme, for example, would be more prone to avian flu. A nation based on a European theme would have a weakness against mad cow disease. And this list can continue on. Periodic breakouts can spur activity where none existed before, and help educate the real people involved with responding to them.

Just as we learn about military maneuvers and history by researching to build a background for our micronations, this takes it a step further and gives a true demographic representation to the population.

Ideally such events would be preprogrammed into a java code whereby a random distribution would deliver an event once per month. Simply for "rechumanities", if you'll pardon the expression. People should be free to implement this at their leisure however, just as one chooses to engage in recwar or not.

But just as there are those who enjoy working on such simulations as the Model UN, so micronationalism could benefit from simulating humanitarian services. This could provide incentive to economics, commerce, trade, diplomacy, healthcare, and many other areas. It basically gives a face to your population, beyond the cultural fluff of stories, the retinue of foreign affairs, and the glare of your soldiers' eyes.

[Chairman Ryan]

Going back to determining simulated populations, a proper procedure for this is spelled out below:


Step I: Determining a base population

To determine a base population of "simulated" people for your micronation, simply take the number of "real" (meaning living, participatory citizens, and not counting papels, double-logins, people who simply registered but never participate, etc) and multiply this number by one million.

So, for example, I have a micronation where I have three active citizens. 3 * 1m = 3m. Thus I have a base population of 3 million simulated people.

Step II: Determining climatological constraints

In this step you need to determine what impact the climate your micronation is situated in has on the population. A country situated in the Arctic is going to obviously have a smaller population than a country in a temperate biome.

But this can be easily discerned with simple calculations:

Biome Value * Simulated Population = Adjusted Population

Biome Values
Tundra: 0.2
Taiga/boreal forests: 0.5
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests: 0.7
Temperate coniferous forests: 0.5
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests: 0.7
Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests: 0.8
Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests: 0.9
Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands: 1.5
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands: 1.8
Montane grasslands and shrublands: 0.9
Deserts and xeric shrublands: 0.75
Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrub: 2
Mangrove forests: 0.8

Aquatic biomes are excluded since people do not live underwater (yet).

In some areas where nutrients and climate are both very favorable, a population can actually be increased, such as Mediterranean climates. But in areas such as Tundra, you only receive 20% of your gross population.

Step III: Determining continentality and maritime accessibility

These two smaller factors have less of an overall impact, but still affect a population. Continentality and maritime accessibility refers to the landlocked status of a country. If a nation is landlocked, such as Afghanistan or Bolivia, for diverse examples, they will be at a loss of access to valuable resources and trading abilities. A nation spanning the breadth of an entire continent, such as Russia or China, are also bound to have disproportionate distributions in their populations. In Russia, for example, all of Siberia is primarily rural villages except along the Trans-Siberian Railway. These factors should certainly be attributed to determining a simulated population.

Landlocked nations can quantify this in a numerical deficit.

If your nation is landlocked, meaning no ability to access a navigable waterway or coastal region, you can discount another 10% (0.1) of your population. People do not generally want to live in poor countries with little job opportunities, and most landlocked nations are just that.

[Chairman Ryan]

INCENTIVE EVENTS

Incentive events are events that are delivered to a member nation that wishes to participate in the events program. A nation may opt in or out, but subscribes on the basis of accepting event delivery for no less than one month. This is to prevent persons from opting in only for good events, but opting out when a bad event is delivered. Realism comes with good and bad news, and that is part of accepting a subscription, because you will receive just that – the good and the bad (but typically not the ugly).

So what is an incentive event?
An incentive event is roughly a newspaper-like article, or short story, written by a committee of imaginative and knowledgeable writers from the community. This event will cover a scenario that may or may not already exist within your micronation. So, for example, the Asian-themed nation of Chi’Nam subscribes to receive incentive events. They are given two events within a month. One event is about an outbreak of avian flu, which diminishes their GDP, which will be a small monetary loss on the economic side of things. But they also receive another event detailing the completion of a hydroelectric dam on a river running through their country, which produces extra resources. So there remains something of a balance. Note that you will not always receive good and bad events since it can swing either way. But the committee will not target nations with only one or the other.

So where’s the incentive?
Many micronations often become stagnant for lack of anything to do. Thus this is an incentive to emulate an adequate response to the event you’ve been delivered. More lengthy responses and realistic, detailed analysis of the event will typically result in future positive events. Therefore the more effort you give, the more you receive in return. Such things will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the events committee.

What if I don’t respond?
Failing to respond without an adequate excuse or prior notification that you will be absent will result in further negative events or expulsion from the program. Most micronations have more than two people, therefore someone should typically be around to always respond.

How do I subscribe?
Subscription is voluntary and you may opt in or out given adequate notice. The committee will review the application prior to acceptance. Membership in the other areas, such as population, cartography, or natural sciences, does not mean automatic subscription to incentive events. Opting out may only be done with a one month notification or by failing to respond to three successive events.

What kind of events can I expect?
Events will be written with special regard to your micronation’s cultural, physical and social state at the time of delivery. A middle eastern themed nation like Babkha could expect to receive an event detailing a drought, for example. But the range of possible events is virtually limitless and can be expanded to cover as wide a range of topics as imaginable.

Will aliens come and steal my crops?
No. But Tom Cruise might. Realism is the essence of this program, and fantasy will be limited to the extreme periphery of things. No aliens or dragons, but instead expect to deal with regular people just like yourself. Your populace with which you will now have the opportunity to interact and describe.

What about rewards and penalties?
The added factor of incentive events is that they can be quantified (that is, made accountable) in a physical sense by taxing them onto the other programs and initiatives that comprise the over organization. So a positive event may give you monetary or resource bonuses. Or it can detract from those same areas. But it will rarely extend beyond this realm. Things like new technologies are beyond the scope of this program, which focuses on natural events and social issues.

What is the committee?
The committee is a group of skilled writers that work as a team to write incentive events for your micronation. They are volunteers and do so for the greater benefit of the community, thus there is no incentive for bias or discrimination. These people vary in background education and skills, thus giving the committee a wide range of knowledge to apply to the writing. The committee is subservient to the greater will of the cartographical organization and thus adheres to those principles when in question. The committee itself is appoint by the cartographical Assembly.