November Foreign Update Planning

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September 2018 General Elections

The September 2018 elections were a spectacular event, anticipated by many for months and offset by the change of forums. However, after a long wait, the elections finally got underway and ended the 14th.

In an unprecedented turn of events, the Delegate and Vice Delegate elections were only filled by one candidate for each on the ballot. Siwale, the incumbent Delegate, took a total of 49 votes and 4 abstains, claiming his second term in office. As for the Vice Delegate election, Pallaith, the incumbent Vice Delegate, took a total of 46 votes and 7 abstains, claiming another term in office.

Taking a look to our Regional Assembly, the Speaker elections were an interesting area to view, with both candidates putting strong campaigns forward. Incumbent Deputy Speaker Wonderess took a victory with 28 votes, gaining 58% of the votes, taking a term in the Speakership. Their opponent, bootsie, took the other 42% with 20 votes.

In a close victory, Crushing Our Enemies is the new Attorney General, taking 26 votes, for 54% of the votes. Incumbent Attorney General Goyanes took 46% of the votes, for a total of 22 votes. It was a close and harrowing election, but the former Chief Justice and Speaker took the majority and took office the same day.

We would like to congratulate all of our newly elected officials, wish luck to those who ran this election, and thank all of our voters for furthering our democracy.

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North Pacific Army Bulletin Sept-Oct 2018

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Regional Assembly Highlights

Passed: Election Commission Confirmation of BMWSurfer:
Introduced by Siwale via appointment, the Regional Assembly undertook a four day vote to confirm BMWSurfer to the Election Commission for the September 2018 elections. BMWSurfer was confirmed to the Commission by a vote 18 “Aye”, 1 “Nay”, and 1 abstain.

Passed: The Unicorn Star Accord:
Introduced by Siwale, this proposal sought to bilaterally further unite and bring together The North Pacific and The Rejected Realms, both being game-created regions. Through this proposal, both regions established diplomatic recognition of each other, while pushing forth an agenda of non-aggression and cooperation in world affairs.

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World Assembly Digest

Over the course of the last month and a half, The North Pacific has been - and continues to undergo - a forum emergency. During this period, our Executive Ministries were not as active as is usual, and as such, the coming issue of The Northern Lights was delayed by a month. As such, this WA Digest encompasses about half of October and all of September.

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Recommendation: United Massachusetts proposed this repeal as the first step towards replacing it with a resolution to ban capital punishment, which would conflict with the currently standing resolution. UM highlights the irreversible effect that capital punishment inflicts, the loss of life. We concur with this and also raise the point that in the event of an error found later on, posthumous acquittals are only symbolic in nature, as they do not change the fact that the state executed an innocent. We believe that all persons have the right to live, and we believe this proposal is a step in the right direction.

For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote for the resolution.

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Recommendation: The resolution proposes the labeling of hazardous materials in an effort to prevent undue loss of life and reduce inconsistencies of labeling systems between nations. In doing so, it commissions the International Transport Safety Committee (ITSC) with creating a universal labeling system and set of standards to achieve aforementioned goals. Such legislation is deemed to be an integral and necessary step in ensuring the safety of workers and the greater WA citizens alike. In accordance with these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote For the resolution.

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Recommendation: Affirming that the importance of freedom of speech is paramount, we are disappointed in the stark lack of depth and confusing delivery that leaves us questioning the potential effectiveness of this proposal. This proposal intends to set free speech standards for organizations, however picks seemingly arbitrary points on which to base these standards. Noting the complexities of organizations and how they deal with free speech, especially in the vastly diverse members of this World Assembly, it becomes our belief at this time that these freedoms, or lack there of, are better handled by national governments and and not be regulated by the General Assembly at large.

For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote against the resolution.

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Recommendation: The Administrative Compliance Act targets the frustrating behavior of noncompliance within the World Assembly. While it is a complicated law, it is also beneficial.

Firstly, the ACA creates a committee that applies hefty fines to any nation that does not comply, within arguable interpretations, with WA resolutions. The payment of these fines will then be used to benefit compliant WA nations.This means that any nation that acts in conformity with WA law will be rewarded for their compliance!

Secondly, the ACA requires members engage in stiff economic and political sanctions for any nation that refuses to pay said fines. This empowers individual nations to act directly to punish genocide, torture, rampant discrimination, and slavery in nations which commit those foul acts.

Lastly, the ACA gives individual persons the right to sue in their nation's courts if that nation refuses to address their grievance, creating both an incentive for participation and a means of reparation.

This proposal, when taken in full, curtails noncompliance in its worst forms. This will not only benefit the greater citizens on the WA as a whole but improve quality of life for those in non-compliant nations.

Refusing to allow non-compliant nations to oppress people further and in accordance with above, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote For this proposal.

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Recommendation: Convention on Freshwater Shortages establishes a basic mission to preserve an ample supply of clean drinking water and prevent the loss of essential waterways to pollution. The operative clauses are mostly advisory and encouraging, leaving the details to individual nations and justifying its mild strength. However, this is a framework that works and is appropriate for the World Assembly, setting its goals for the future.

For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote for the resolution.

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Recommendation: Convention on Freshwater Shortages establishes a basic mission to preserve an ample supply of clean drinking water and prevent the loss of essential waterways to pollution. The operative clauses are mostly advisory and encouraging, leaving the details to individual nations and justifying its mild strength. However, this is a framework that works and is appropriate for the World Assembly, setting its goals for the future.

For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote for the resolution.

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Recommendation: The proposal is designed to improve the dissemination of information relating to World Assembly legislation, and ushers the development of a WA service branch to work with member nations in carrying out that task.

The only mandatory clauses to be followed by members are to make WA resolution texts available (not require forceful dissemination of them) and to not interfere with the Law Dissemination Service's work by deliberately discriminating against its employees.

The remainder of the resolution, specifically clauses 2 and 3 are optional, as their enacting clauses are "Urges" and "Recommends", respectively. Clauses 2 and 3 request that additional emphasis on WA law be entered into the education system and that member states make strident efforts to ensure the widest possible understanding and appreciation of both rights and obligations, among citizens. This to improve compliance among WA nations; but, also to ensure that the public has the ability to govern up, and ensure their nation is meeting its obligations to the Assembly, and the international community. However, as stated before this is technically optional, though highly encouraged.

The Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote for the resolution.

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Recommendation: This proposal seeks to fully ban all forms of capital punishment, better known as the death penalty, across WA nations. The death penalty has proven to be an ineffective method of punishment for criminals, often having little to no effect on crime rates after being implemented. Noting that the death penalty cannot be reversed, innocent people may die due to judicial error and new evidence coming to light.

In seeking to promote human rights and for these reasons mentioned above, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs of The North Pacific recommends a vote for the proposal.

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Recommendation: This proposal attempts to create a unified approach to the prevention and clean up of oil spills; however, the Ministry has identified some significant problems with the document, not the least of which is the poor quality of the writing and grammar. This is attributable to it being rushed through the drafting process, and a failure by the author to allow proper vetting of a document that aspires to become law. This leaves the proposal vulnerable to repeal.

In some instances, the proposal is extremely vague and informal, exemplified by the suggested timeline for maintenance of oil tanks. In other cases, the proposal is needlessly specific on matters previously addressed in existing law (specifically GA95). This creates the potential for redundancy and conflict, and could also lead to repeal.

Finally, the Ministry is concerned that a good portion of the onus for the prevention and clean up of such spills would be shifted to the WA instead of remaining on oil companies, where it belongs. While the Ministry acknowledges the importance of the subject, and feels it is an area worthy of legislation, the consensus is that this proposal fails to meet the standards of the Assembly.

For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote against the resolution.

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Recommendation: As exemplified in the original IFV sent, the target resolution commits improper and unprofessional grammar mistakes, uses unclear and vague language, and possesses a general feel of rushed authorship. This repeal properly addresses and presents these points before the General Assembly as well as meets the goal of repealing the resolution.

Therefore the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs, in accordance with such facts presented above, recommends a vote FOR this repeal.

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Recommendation: Greater Dienstad is a stalwart of the NationStates roleplay community, fostering exceptional roleplay collaborations with various regions and hosting a variety of events, including our own 'The North Pacific-Greater Dienstad Roleplay and Cultural Exchange' held recently. Seeing the proposed commendation as a well deserved reward for Greater Dienstad's years of activity and service in the community, we urge you to vote for Commend Greater Dienstad.

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Recommendation: This self-pat-on-the-back proposal is nothing more than a publicity stunt to bring attention to their region after recently starting a campaign of antagonism against the World Assembly. This region is near totally undeserving of any positive recognition from the greater WA community; particularly in that the proposal's arguments for said commendation hold no merit and the regions intent to undermine experienced and intelligent voices within the WA.

For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote against the resolution.

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Recommendation: Barring any reason to maintain a liberation for symbolic purposes, once a region has been refounded and has an active founder nation, there is no need to maintain a liberation. Liberations only remove delegate-imposed passwords, not founder-imposed passwords. Since The Communal Confederacy has a founder, the liberation serves no further purpose.

For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote for the resolution.

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Recommendation: This proposal to condemn Lord Dominator is entirely undeserved. Its only purpose is to fulfill a desire to retaliate for the liberation that targeted the home region of this proposal's author, who also founded the region. Regardless of one's feelings about the use of liberations as an offensive tool, this presents a clear conflict of interest, is clearly an inappropriate use of the Security Council, and is not worth being entertained.

For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote against the resolution.

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Recommendation: The liberation of the Federation of Conservative Nations is an unneeded liberation that would be much better served as a condemnation. Let it be known that racism in any form is toxic and should be condemned and ousted. However when confined to such a small regional discord, a liberation seems unnecessary to fight such transgression.

In believing that the application of a condemnation would be much better served and in accordance with reasons stated above, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote against this proposal.

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Alright, let's get this show on the road. As I mentioned before, this time we'll be trying something new. I'll repost the TNL Issue XXVI Planning sometime within the next 24hr hopefully, but for now, I'll just be posting this. The Foreign Update will consist of the NPA Bulletin, WA Digest, RA Highlights, and Election Results, as well as anything that feels relevant for an FA perspective that does not otherwise fit in TNL. I'll update this post to reflect whether or not sections have been claimed. Any sections that have not been claimed by Monday, October 22, 2018 will be done either by myself or one of my deputies.

A few things:
1. Post below if you have any ideas for a better name besides 'Foreign Update'
2. Once a name is decided, we should have someone work on a banner or seal to be placed at the header of each Foreign Update.
3. Post below if you'd like to claim a section, and which one. First come, first serve.

Sections:

Well, if one is called, the Northern Lights, we could call this one "Aurora Borealis".

Also, if possible, I'd like to claim the Election Results section.

I would like to claim the NPA Bulletin.

@El Fiji Grande If nobody claims the RA Digest by the 17th, can I claim the RA Highlights?

Dinoium:

@El Fiji Grande If nobody claims the RA Digest by the 17th, can I claim the RA Highlights?

Click to expand...

You may. I'll leave it open until then though.
Edit: It got claimed