Conclusion of Local Elections Coincides with National Elections: Results Pour In.
(Results still pouring in... will update you as soon as all districts report in)
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Three Groups Protest Outside the Eutopian Homosexual Association (EHA)
The relatively recently founded but wildly popular and contraversial EHA's EUtopia City HQ has become the center of a tumultuous three way protest. Religious leaders and social traditionalists have vowed to bring down the "unholy" EHA and its stated goals of formalizing the rights of homosexuals in EUtopia. They have organized massive protests, drawing from their grass roots network across EUtopia, and have announced finanancial support from prominent European, and American evangelical groups.
In reaction, the EHA community has come out in full force to defend their ideological position, and to prevent damage to the headquarters.
PICTURE: A Gay Rights activist from the EHA argues with a religious pundit
But all is not well inside the EHA headquarters either. Another group of EHA protesters are not only protesting the religious groups, but they are protesting the leadership of the EHA as well, including Ms. Cook's involvement with the CRE. They claim that Ms. Cook is indeed a plant and a stooge of the very groups protesting the EHA. They do not beleive she can lead the CRE into support of the bill, and that she will neuter the bill or make it unpassable; some even claiming she won't vote for her own bill.
PICTURE: Protesters hold a crude caricture of Ms. Cook
(
UPDATE: A full blown brawl has broken out in the streets after American author turned EUtopian immigrant, Amric, offered up money to the organization)
National Council of Topa Tribes makes Concluding Statements from Farpoint
After meeting over a long week, in which argumentation and debate was put forth, the 234th National Topa Council hosted in Farpoint, was concluded. The event featured delegates from every tribe in EUtopia, including three tribes with only one or twwo elderly members left to cast their votes. The Mayor of Farpoint was their as special council and guest to the meeting.
Farpoint was selected this year due to the large numbers of Topa already gathered their for the Naval Reserve protest. WET being a common province for the event to be held at in any case, due to low costs and proximity to numerous participants. In attendance were many members of the largest tribes (listed in order of size):
Kuravas, A'rai, V'ashtus, Manx, Parle Bleu, Kre'laws, Dravidasthas, Pan'dach, Keralese, Victorias, Amigitos, and about 33 smaller tribes, including the single member B'dhu and Eldri'li whose last remaing members are 88 and 97 respectively.
The meeting was not just social and political in nature, but it is a chance for the specific form of Islam influenced by ancient Topan traditions to hold ceremonies, and for traditional artisians to find new apprentices & display their art. Also, young children are taught traditional hunting skills and lore.
PICTURE: An example of paintings for sale there, which displayed a traditional retreat for youth that occured.]
PICTURE: Sculptures emphasizing Topan millitant traditions were popular in Farpoint this year.
Politics, however, was the order of the day. Unusually harsh language was adopted by this year's council. The Manx tribe from Saint Esprit seemed to take a more militant stance over a long policy issue of theirs by adopting sponsorship of a Kre'law sponsored statement stating that the Topan People had the right to defend with force their holy places; a statement that was passed by the national council due to support from the metropolitan A'rai people, who centered mostly in Farpoint are very agitated. The A'rai also pushed forth every statement of policy that was adopted, and were key in gathering the votes to allow the sole remaining Eldri'li tribe member to speak of his memories of the last bits of militancy from when he was a child and the consequences for his people, which were decimated after being punished and being sent to harsh prisons. A translator was needed as he spoke neither English, nor the Standardized Topan now taught.
In the end the Council's Spokesper, Elder Sunbreach of Dravidasthas, issued a statement in Standardized Topan and a pamphlet in English:
PICTURE: Tribal pamphlet/
We, the Established voice and communal foundation of the united Topan people speak with one voice. This year's council was one of the largest in our memories and indeed it has been a year of great change. The last few years have seen many changes in EUtopia with the death of the King, the assumption of control of the government by the regent, and the establishment of the first electoral governments. But what does this mean for the Topan people? The history of EUtopia is not a pretty one from our perspective, and now questions of what our future will be are the ones that are at hand. Our hopes for a political party to unite us in this era of democracy, the ECFP led by Pers Euro-Maniac and Melanchthon, was thrashed by big money and big politics.
This year, We the Pers of the Topa Community of EUtopia claim, reaffirm, and assert these rights; The Right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Right to Self-defense, both personal and social, including the right to a fair trial and the right to bring those who do us harm to trial. The Right to defend, with the use of force, our holy places and traditional hunting/fishing grounds. The right to assemble to express the social and political desires that arise.
This year, we also have made the resolution to condemn the US Naval Reserve's actions. The resolution to condemn the Moderate party led coalition, including the Rally for Democracy and their racial profiling. The resolution to endorse the Commonality Party until such time that the ECFP is revived. The resolution... to warn the foreign institutions that have established themselves in EUtopia over the last 300 years that in this age of information, the Topan people are connected and mobilized, and that never again shall they strip us of what is ours.
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National Mayors' Council Holds Conference
The National Mayor's Council met offically to discuss issues of community governance and the integration of the internet into local government as a useful tool. Unofficially, however, Mayor Thorsbeard of Farpoint, though not in attendance was the center of discussions. The Mayors of EUtopia have taken notice that the Home Ministry has not objected to the police going directly into the Mayor's control nor have their been funding reprecussions for the families of those police officers. Many are disscussing what this means for local control of police policy and governance. While many were excited by the prospect of community power, many worried that local control would lead to corruption and poor standards of training.
Queen Maria's Venture
Queen Maria's newest venture is a massive new royal barge. WHile commisioned to be built in EUtopia's most modern drydock facilities, it will be a traditional 19th Century sailing craft of the kind built by the Norse Community at the time, the design originally inspired by British and Spanish Ship-of-the-Lines. The ship will include a working traditionally cast cannon, as well as a modern communication center and E-mail. The Queen stated "
EUtopia is and always will be dependent upon the sea for commerce and our way of life. What better way to visit EUtopia than to sail around it?" The Queen announced plans to set sail next month from Buen Puerto in Isabella Priovince. She will then sail southwards and around the island visiting cities. After reaching New Lancaster she will sail north to see foreign operations in traditional EUtopian Fishing grounds, then back to Kirby, and then onto Farpoint, after which she will travel to Nueva Rioja to her Son-in-law's estates on New Bengal at the Port of Nueva Cordoba, which the locals call
'New Panjim'.
Latest News from Farpoint:
The City Council of Farpoint in conjunction with the territorial government have issued new laws mandating that adults not reporting children skipping school can be fined a sum of 50 Ducats for a first offense. Life is slowly returning to what passes for normal, with the largest employer in town barricaded off. The population of the town has swollen almost an estimated 40% with the conjunction of the protests, the meeting of WET leaders, and the National Topa Conferance. In order to relieve police burden, deputies have been appointed to guide people to camp grounds. Local merchants are ecstatic at all the buissiness, but locals also wonder what they will do with the economy bottomed out, and without US Soldiers to buy their goods. The group protesting outside the Naval Reserve has dwindled in size to a little less than 100 people, though the protest has been going strong for almost a month. Food has been provided by several non-profits based out of EUtopia City. Rumours have it that President Phalanx has recalled his Special Envoy, but it has not been confirmed: THe Mayor's Office said they had not been informed and that it wasn't their buissiness to keep track of the President's administration.
