The Happy Feet Act

[EM Vürinalt]

The Happy Feet Act

WHEREAS Article 4 of the Antarctic Treaty states that the international community "does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial sovereignty claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force," and

WHEREAS Talossa currently claims part of Antartica, and

WHEREAS this claim was made after the effective start date of the treaty, and

WHEREAS Pengopäts serves no logical purpose except to throw an egg at the international community,

THEREFORE we move that:

1. The claim to Pengopäts be revoked and the territory given up.

2. Article XVII Section 4 be rewritten as:
Section 4. Territories are Cantons (or groups thereof) which are not self-governing. They are administered by Governors appointed by the King on the advice of the Seneschál and subject to laws of the Ziu.

3. Article XVII Section 11 be deleated.

Uréu q'estadra så: Matáiwos Vürinalt- CCCP

[Flip Molinar]

I support this proposal. It gives us at least a chance a recognition.

[Cole Schneider]

I never knew we had part of Antarctica! But why would we need it? I support this act.

[Sir C. M. Siervicül]

Talossa, like a significant majority of the states of the world, is not a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty. Several of the states that ARE signatories have their own territorial claims in Antarctica, or reserve the right to make such claims. So the treaty basically says "we, a minority of states, declare ourselves to be the 'international community,' and declare that now that we have our foot in the door in Antarctica we're going to try to shut everyone else out." Talossa does not accept that, just like we do not accept the 1856 treaty that purported to abolish privateering.

[EM Vürinalt]

Agreed. However, why do we have Pengopäts if it serves no purpose.

I would not be as inclined to present this bill if Pengopäts had a worthwhile purpose in our Kingdom.

[Xhorxh Asmour]

I fully support this bill.

[Dréu Gavárþic'h]

*Puts on grumpy conservative Talossan hat that I never thought I had*

NO!

[EM Vürinalt]

May I ask why, S:reu Gavárþic'h?

Pengopats serves NO purpose asside from being a land claim. It is time for Talossa to grow up. Unlike the great expansive land claims of Spain, France, Portugal, and Russia in the New World, Pengopats is not serving it's mother country. We must give up this land claim, like the aforementioned countries before us.

I say this- we either give up Pengopats or give it a purpose. Pengopats has been a topic with little debate as of late and it's time something should be done about it.

[Vit Caçeir]

Oct 27, 2008 14:57:02 GMT -6 EM Vürinalt said:

...Pengopats or give it a purpose. Pengopats has been a topic with little debate as of late and it's time something should be done about it.

Debate for the sake of controversy, then? ;D

To be honest, I'm not quite sure how I feel about this bill. I sort of see both sides of the issue:

On one hand, if you look at colonialism of the past (and even "neocolonialism", as seen in the American territory of Puerto Rico and the French territory of New Caledonia), the colony or territory served an economic or military purpose, making it useful and vital to the international integrity of the state. However, the Talossan "colony" of Pengopats serves little purpose, and to my knowledge, no Talossan has even set foot upon it. Therefore, any serious chance at autonomy is rendered moot due to the (somewhat unnessecary) violation of the Antarctic treaty.

However, Pengopats has long been a piece of Talossan culture, and culture isn't something that can easily be thrown away. Moreover, it is a good way to tell the hypocritical neocolonial great powers of the world to shove it.

I will personally need to think this matter over, and I'd recommend others do as well. I don't really think this is a matter that has a clear-cut solution.

[Róibeard Laira]

First of all, let me say that this bill should have been named the sad feet act as I doubt there will be very much tap dancing when (or rather if) any penguins discover this attempt to besmirch their Talossanity.

Pengöpäts has a long and proud history as a territory of Talossa. It is part of the fiber of our national being. It is part of our cultural heritage. For those who think Pengöpäts serves no purpose let us not forget the Royal Pengöpäts Heavy Opera Company and NASCAR of Pengöpäts.

What motivated this bill? Were the residents of Pengöpäts clamoring for independence? Was there a challenge to our territorial claim? I don't see any reason to change the status of Pengöpäts, and I see several reasons not to.

I will be voting against this act.

Roibeard Laira, MC, GRUMP

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

Next thing you know, they'll try to take away beer as our national currency.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

I too am ambivalent. While I see the utility of the bill, I also think that it is foolish to act in accordance with a treaty to which we are not a party and throw out a territorial claim that has become embroiled with traditions.

[Deleted]

Let me say that I respect the utility of this Act. I understand that you want us to be taken more seriously by the international community and the claim to Pengopats is "silly." I wholeheartedly agree, it is silly.

But so is the groundhog on February 2....but the Town of Puxatawny, PA still has a festival around it.

Jut some food for thought. I will likely abstain.

[Owen Edwards]

You go tell the penguins you don't want them anymore.

NON, a thousand times, NON!

[Dréu Gavárþic'h]

Also, what about the fact that Pengöpäts has its own culture? It that sense is it not serving a purpose?