Kalistan

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Her Imperial Majesty Makes Final Argument for Rossfadda Deal
"We are realistic about Kalistan's Chances," said Empress at National Assembly
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 23, 5612


Empress addresses Deputies in Kaliburg, and throws her support behind Bianjie should Kalistan's offer be rejected by New Englia

For her last address of the year, before the National Assembly was adjourned for the New Year's holiday, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina II Ananto spoke about Kalistan's bid for the Rossfadda Oil Formation in New Englia, Dovani. Here is the text of her speech.

Friends, thank you for your indulgence of our request to address you. We are aware that the National Assembly does not possess much independent power, but one power they do have is to refuse to allow us to address them in this chamber. We are cognizant of your time and will not much delay you from your recess.

We felt it incumbent for your benefit, as well as the benefit of those constituents you will visit while at your home this next month, to restate our position on bidding for the Oil Formation in New Englia. We, and by we, we mean our Chancellor, has been fairly peppered this last year with questions about the bid this Empire placed in that bidding process. We should note, for general information, that bidding over some issue is the way democracies and liberal capitalist nations auction off their national resources. They sell the rights to the bidder who brings the most beneficial agreement to them. It is not always the one who puts the most money on the table. Sometimes it really doesn't matter how much money you put on the table, you can be outbid by One single peso if the person who is taking the bids prioritizes other things.

So Kalistan is not unrealistic about our chances of securing the rights to develop, or in our case, to not develop that oil field. Few nations in the world have even acknowledged our bid, while fully acknowledging other nations' bids. This tells us the seriousness that others view our offer to leave the fields undeveloped. Nonetheless, Kalistan's bid is likely worth more in monetary value than other nations' bids. We have offered a total sum of $150 Billion Imperial Pesos, to be paid out over 100 years. We have already raised $15 billion from both public and private sources, including KPO, Bank of Kaliburg, and several major private institutional investors who back the National Government's push for ethical use of that resource. This amount itself would cover the first ten years. In addition, Miramar has been authorized by its board to underwrite the entire amount at need. So the money on our part is not an issue. When Miramar enters funding, the project tends to have no problem raising what is needed from additional investors.

The issue is not money. The issue is whether imperialist nations get the right to pollute the entire world's environment. We do not mean New Englia--They can hardly be faulted for wanting to sell their natural resources. Our bid offers to take the entire lot off their hands and leave it put. If they wish to burn fossil fuel in their own country, let them take the money we would send them and buy oil on the global market as they did before these particular oil fields came on line in 5709 and then subsidize it for their people. $1.5 Billion a year for doing nothing gives them the freedom to do a lot of something else.

No, we are referring to those capitalist nations who seek pure profit, and will dump Millions of tons of pollution into our atmosphere for the sake of their profit. Kalistan is not a socialist nation, but in this sense, the socialists have it correct: A nation like Xsampa has it correct. They engage in ethical production, because they have values that extend beyond the crass and base desire for profit. This country or that country may try to dress up their naked exploitation of New Englia's resources up in fancy garland, but in fact, all that is is so that they can make their own exploitation of Englian resources for their own parochial profit a little more palatable to the Government of New Englia.

Kalistan does not expect that it will prevail in this process. Attempting to compete with pure naked capitalist exploitation when a nation is not capitalist is pretty difficult. In this sense, we will have $15 Billion Imperial already raised that we can simply dedicate to projects that further our national goals: it will be spent one way or another, and we suppose New Englia gets to choose where it is spent. But for some, money is not the final factor to consider. Kalistan cannot fault New Englia for refusing to take a stack of money to do nothing, when Kalistan wants to hand it a stack of money to do nothing. We are not, however confused about the game we are playing in New Englia, and we do not think the other bidders are either.

Should New Englia refuse to accept Kalistan's bid for a clean environment and an alternative energy Future for New Englia and North East Dovani, we certainly at least hope that they do choose the least imperialist of the alternatives. We have heard Bianjie argue that Dovanian oil should remain under Dovanian Control. Of all the bids we have heard about, this is the most reasonable bid from a Kalistani perspective. We have long argued the same regionalist position for Seleya. So this is the argument we would hope would resonate loudest in New Englia as well.

We are realistic in that New Englia is very unlikely do the ethical thing and close that field down, no matter how much we offer. The money really doesn't mean anything at the end of the day. We do hope they will, but nations look out for themselves, and they can, and should do only what is best for them. Being exploited by a foreign empire is not ever good for a developing nation. The other bids, as far as we can ascertain, come with strings. We won't bother to name them. Even Kalsitan's comes with strings: If New Englia takes the money, they forget that oil exists and then cash the check and spend it on whatever they want. But they can't develop that field.

Bianjie's may have strings too that we are not aware of, but at least focuses on regional development. We cannot join a union of Dovanian states, but we are sympathetic toward it nonetheless. A Dovanian union of some sort would serve as a major counterbalance toward the growing power of a united Artania and Majatra, and as such is in the interests of a nation like Kalistan. If that oil must be a filthy, greasy, and we shall add, unethical source of profitability, let it profit Dovani rather than the imperialists of other nations. Should Kalistan's bid be dismissed, a very real probability, if Bianjie were to need more capital to push their own bid over the line and outbid other capitalists, Kalistan would be happy to help.

We could take consolation from the balance.

And we could do it too, because we have already raised a tenth of our own national bid, Miramar has underwritten and guaranteed the entire amount, and unlike Captialist nations, our capital serves our national interests. Because in this sense, Bianjie is correct: If we denied the opportunity to direct that oil to the service of the universal good of a clean environment and alternative power generation in North Eastern Dovani, we would much rather see it benefit the Dovanian Continent than individual investors in the West who seek to exploit New Englia and pollute the entire world's atmosphere to serve their own personal individualist interest.

We encourage New Englia to do the ethical thing, but if they will refuse to do that, they should do the smart thing. With that, we shall return the floor to our Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn. We wish you a happy Holiday season, and a Happy New Year's Celebration with you and your loved ones. Madame Chancellor, the floor is yours.

As the Empress stepped down from the Rostrum and exited, the Deputies stood with their heads bowed in silence, and as soon as she departed, they erupted in cheers and applause for the inspiring and rousing speech. Shortly thereafter, the Chancellor announced that the Session is adjourned until late January, though committee work would be conducted beginning January 6th, and proforma sessions would be held daily until the end of the recess.

The Englian bid is expected to close in the upcoming year.

@TheRepublic

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Kalistani FM remarks on Foreign Relations
"New Englia is a challenge; Luthori 'apology' is silly," says Sir Harney
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 2, 5713


FM Harney (seen with Kaliburg based model Quelle Jones) answering uncomfortable questions

Her Imperial Majesty's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the enigmatic and infinitely charismatic Sir Thomas Harney agreed to answer questions concerning foreign policy earlier this week, as he was on his way to a formal Kaliburg Society event.

We asked him for an update on the New Englia petroleum bid. "Well, we're kind of in a wait and see situation," said the Foreign Minister. "We have passed her Imperial Majesty's comments to the Bianjian mission, and could end up backing their bid if we are ourselves not accepted, because it would be better for the oil profits to be denied to... I should rephrase that... to stay in the hands of Dovanians rather than Artanians. We would prefer to see local development, not development under the auspices of some foreign power who seeks to create just another dependency in New Englia in the guise of a helpful hand.

"But obviously," he continued, "Her Imperial Majesty believes that the best course would be for the Englian government to accept Kalistani money to develop their economy in other, cleaner, and obviously morally superior ways than anything the capitalists or liberals are aiming at. We'd prefer that the only nation to benefit monetarily from the deal be New Englia. It's a challenge, obviously, because New Englia has development priorities which likely require them to extract that oil, and they are looking for someone to pay for it, so if that is a must have for the Englians, its not something we will probably be willing to support. We only get the downside of environmental destruction, pollution and continued global petrodependency from that."

Asked if there are contingency plans to spend the money collected so far if New Englia opts to not accept the Kalistani bid, the Foreign Minister said, "We've offered to use it to help sweeten Bianjie's bid, just to make sure certain other elements do not win there. They haven't gotten back to us, so if it goes to one of these imperialist nations who are seeking to turn New Englia into a virtual colony once again, we'll probably spend it in a way that aims at undoing the environmental damage that burning 1.9 billion barrels of oil in 40 years will do to this planet."

What is the FM's response to Luthori's apology for colonialism in Dovani? "Luthori’s ‘apology’ is pretty silly. I mean—It's a good start. They owe those people a lot more than an apology, but it seems that their goal is to offer an apology and new development to its former colonies. We learn that that development rarely ever comes without political strings attached, of course. So we would encourage Dovanian nations to accept the apology, and demand reparations for the stolen wealth of centuries of exploitation which benefitted only the mother country. Luthori's currently prosperous situation rests on the wealth stolen from centuries of Dovanians. I'd demand profit sharing, if I were from Dovani."

We asked him if the Luthorian offers go far enough. "Well, no. Of course not. Not for Dovani, and there isn't even any apologies to Seleya. This is a travesty, from Kalistan's perspective. Yes, they owe to Dovani. I'm not denying that. But they also were rapine in Seleya too. We do not forget the role Luthori played in the stealing of Kalistani lands, or the support they gave to a puppet king in Baltusia. We do not forget that it was Luthorian troops who stole Athosia from us, by force of arms, and then laid waste to a beautiful paradise through neglect, exploitation, and ineptitude. We don't ask for apologies, though. We don't need reparations, nor do we need development aid, because Ananto was an Empire when Luthorians were living in cob huts, picking lice out of their hair for protein. Kalistan wants its land back, and if Luthori wanted to help, we would welcome it in this particularly and exclusively Kalistani cause. But if their apology to Dovanis helps them sleep a little easier at night, I suppose that is good enough for now."

Asked if he is concerned that these words might enflame Luthori, Sir Thomas laughed and asked "Why should they? It's the truth. At any rate, good for them, apologizing for something that happened thousands of years ago so they can re-enter the continent with an outstretched hand instead of a gun this time. At least they are appearing to come in peace this time."

We also asked the Foreign Minister about his relationship with Kaliburg based fitness and lingerie model Quelle Jones, who was with him at the interview. "Oh, well," Harney said, "Quelle and I are, well... friends, I suppose you could say."

"Friends with..." she started, but was interrupted by Harney.

"History... Haha, yes... We are old friends... I lose a lot of sleep over her... Let's leave it at that... This is a family newspaper..."

"Not too old," Jones added. "Well, Sir Thomas is old. But yes, friends is probably a good way to put it. Maybe more than that? I guess we'll never know..."

"Look, I'm a vain man," said Harney. "Just a personality trait of mine. And I happen to love the company of beautiful women. They make me look good. And right now, she's about the best looking person in this entire building. We're going to the Winter Ball tonight: You could say I am her Plus 1."

"Please," she said with a laugh. "I'm lucky to know this guy. I get into so many events because he is who he is. I've actually met the Empress, you know..."

At this moment, one of the Foreign Minister's assistants whispered in his ear, and he cut the interview short: "Well, folks, Ms. Jones and I will be on our way. Our car is here, and she has to get ready. Dinner will be served in a couple hours. But if you all are at the Ball, we can continue this there. Peace."

But Jones was not quite done. As she was leaving she looked back, and said: "He doesn't wear that eyepatch to bed, just saying..."

"Let's go, Dear," he said realizing that she was still talking to reporters.

@TheRepublic

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KPO Chief Whitmer tours Geothermal Operations
Geothermal is part of a "Broad Array" of power generation in Empire
Green Mountains, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 2, 5713


KPO CEO Donna Whitmer along with guests at Plant #4 high in the Green Mountains

Recently, KALNAPECO (KPO) CEO Donna Whitmer led a tour to the top of Ananto's Green Mountains to visit KPO's Geothermal Energy Generation Station #4. This Station is one of the smaller stations in a string of 16 Geothermal plants that line the top of the volcanic peaks in Northern Ananto and provide power for much of the Island's residents.

"We wanted to highlight the work that Geothermal does in providing clean, safe and most importantly renewable energy for Ananto and Kalistan," said Whitmer, who's junket included about a dozen people from various sectors of Kalistan's business and investment communities. "Plant 4 is one of the more accessible stations: It is one of three that can be directly visited by road, while the others require a helicopter lift. But this particular power station powers much of Lolla and Port Davon and is therefore very essential to the correct functioning of the Capital."

She said it is important to highlight Geothermal power generation, especially as New Englia continues to consider bids from Kalistan and a half a dozen other nations for the opportunity to control the Rossfadda Oil field in Northeastern Dovani. "Geothermal is but a part of a broad array of options that Kalistan has invested in INSTEAD of oil. This place produces steam and several exploitable minerals from the generation of geothermal power. Its machinery is cheaper to keep maintained, it depreciates slower, and produces comparable energy to a coal or gas burning power plant with no harmful emissions. We employ 2500 people here, many of them members of the National Service Corps, and this plant is capable of producing nearly 1200 Megawatts, or over 28,000 MWh per day. This is a significant contribution to the energy supply for our Island. And it is done without the use of petroleum."

Whitmer wanted to highlight that alternative energy can be profitable too: "A nation does not need to pollute its environment to achieve energy independence. We not only use Geothermal, which we are lucky that Ananto basically sits over a hot spot and these mountains are still dormant, but we also utilize solar, wind, and wave energy to power our cities and towns. KPO operates and regulates power generation on all levels in this nation. It would be part of Kalistan's offering to New Englia to work closely with them to share the technology with them that would be appropriate for their National needs that would allow them to wean themselves off oil and avoid the pitfalls of a country like Nadiya, who pollutes at will without care for the ecological damage they do. This in addition to the money that will pay them to stop drilling."

Asked about the New Englian resolution which condemned Kalistan for even making the offer, Whitmer said, "I am a humble Kalistani. I do not usually make much comment on the actions of foreign governments. But what I do know is that there are many different kinds of good that a company, and a nation can pursue. KPO serves Kalistan's national interest, and our mission is clean and safe power generation for close to 100 million Kalistani Nationals. We can show other nations how to do this if they only have the vision to look forward, rather than backward. But we are up against foreign sharks, who have lobbyists and insiders in New Englia right now, influencing the direction of discussions. I can honestly say, Kalistan has nobody currently in New Englia attempting to pressure, or influence any executive of Petroenglia at this moment, even though we are nearing the deadline. We are hoping something like this will not be necessary, and are hoping Kalistan can prevail on the merits of our proposal alone. No need to travel to a foreign nation at all to persuade anyone."

The tour of Plant #4 lasted four hours, and then the group returned to Kaliburg.

@TheRepublic

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Wild Opening for trading week at KALSIE as New Englia Decision draws close
Several Investment Funds, Bank of Kaliburg, and KPO record massive gains
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 2, 5713


KALSIE Index sits at 114.34 today, recording one of the largest single day jumps in history

The KALSIE index started the Month of June as Investment money came flooding in to the Market to back securities associated with the Petroenglia bid. KPO, Bank of Kaliburg, Miramar, Carter Investments, Alvarez Ltd., and Sun Coast all saw massive gains as investors snatched up both securities as well as C-Bonds released to help raise capital. Investors has been holding out, given the uncertainty in the market, but a new mood of buying seems to have swept the capital markets, as investors try to get their money in at the last minute.

"The Value of these stocks collectively jumped by 32% over close last week," said Jake Carter, head analyst at Carter Holdings. "I've never seen anything like it to be honest. It seems that there is something in the aether concerning the Petroenglia bid that is boosting investor confidence." The bidding frenzy also produced knock on effects in others, as some investors began moving money out of other stocks to put behind the Petroenglia bid. The moves caused undervaluation of even some major blue chip stocks like KFO, KalMd, MoCo and AeroKal, all of whom quickly rebounded as investors saw the opportunity to buy cheap.

"It's like a dam burst all of a sudden," said David Jackson, of the KalSiE, who was observing the buying wave. "At one point we reported a volitility of 15%, which is really wild- That's unheard of in Kalistan. There were pretty sizeable swings--Some hair raising rollercoaster type ups and downs, before things settled down. And at the end of it all, we ended up with an index that was up 14% in one day. It is almost too unbelievable. The sheer volume of money that we oversaw in stock transactions almost forced us to stop trading so we didn't miss the successful calls. It was nuts."

The only thing for Investors to do now is to wait. "Actually, I don't even care if Kalistan doesn't win this bid," said Investor Greg Night, who bought 5200 shares of KPO yesterday. "I've always wanted to jump into the market, and lord knows I have enough expendable income. If KPO doesn't end up the winner in all of this, I'll trust them to do something good with the money. They are a national institution. It's time to make some money."

Word from New Englia is expected within the next month or two. Meanwhile, Investors will be holding their breath that Kalistan wins the bid to help the Dovanian Nation develop alternative energy resources.

@TheRepublic

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Empress Carolina II Ananto Turns 40
So-Called "red Empress" is a terrible Imperialist
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 23, 5713


As Empress awaits decision in New Englia, we pay tribute to her (already) long reign

Editorial Opinion

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto is a weird kind of Imperialist.  Which is to say, she's not much of one at all.  She checks all the boxes of real imperium:

• She maintains absolute and unquestionable, unchallengeable authority, at levels unrivaled anywhere in Terra.  Her breath remains the source of all law in Kalistan, and she remains surrounded by devoted public servants who would rather resign than disobey.
  
• She is unimaginably wealthy and has access to unlimited credit, business contacts, investment capital, and anything she could possibly ever want.
  
• She commands a premier navy and the retrenched remnants of a once far greater Empire.  She reigns over a peaceful, prosperous and stable nation which has been at peace for decades, and has helped maintain the peace of the region for far longer.
  
• She is involving Kalistan in bidding on resource extraction on the other side of the planet in pursuit of Kalistan's national interest.
  
• She holds a mass of more than 93 Million Kalistanis, and countless millions globally captivated by immense charisma, confidence, and intellect, to the point where the term "cult of worship" is probably realer in Kalistan in reference to its leader than anywhere else in Terra.
  
• And she is an ultra chauvinist and Nationalist, selecting for a Chancellor and Head of Government a woman who has a plaque over her door that reads "Kalistan, first, last and always."
  

Reading this list, one could be forgiven for thinking that Empress Carolina exemplified, or perhaps, personifies the very concept of Imperialism.  To the degree that other leaders fall short of this list, you could say they fall short of the title Emperor.  She may set the standard for Imperium, and indeed, she does:  Nobody comes close to her on this list of criteria which marks her as an absolute, personalist, hereditary monarch, the sole source of all law and political legitimacy in Kalistan.  But Her Imperial Majesty is one of the worst imperialists on the planet, and has been for nearly all of her almost 18 year long reign.  Spoiler alert, that is not a bad thing, in her case.

As she turns 40 today, we thought it would be a good opportunity to evaluate what is likely the first half of her reign

Let's go right down the list.  She maintains absolute rule for certain.  But she also spent years considering reform of her Party and her political system.  Before she even formally took over, she set out to reform the Institutional Party, whose job it is to turn her utterances into policy for the Nation.  She allowed factionalism, she sacked the Chancellor who refused to comply with her instructions, and she openly became friendly with socialists and moderates.  Granted, these are not the firebreathing revolutionary socialists we may see in Communist nations:  They are still Institutionalists after all, but it is unheard of for the epitome of conservatism, the Monarch of a hereditary absolutist monarchy, to cozy up to socialists of any stripe.  Yet, her second longest serving minister is a socialist, and he has been instrumental in promoting infrastructure, construction, and public health projects in the Grand Duchy of Kalistan.  She is not referred to, on occasion, as "the Red Empress" for nothing after all.

Yes, she is fabulously wealthy.  But she is also one of the most openly devout, practicing Brethrenists among the monarchs.  She does not often wear jewelry, which is a significant departure from the very perpetually decked out Empress Mary I.  She wears very simple, though well made, clothing in public.  She rarely cuts her hair, preferring to keep it as close to natural as she can, and her hair styles look very stylish in their simplicity.  She maintains the homes she has, she has parted with the Hulanevek diamond, and notoriously has not spent much time with the Ananto Gem Horde, preferring to steadily aggrandize it privately than to make a huge show of it.  And she has not attended a formal audience in the gaudy, gem encrusted Formal Audience Chambers in years, preferring to have tea and cake in the much simpler Informal Audience setting.  Most importantly, she attends Meeting at least once a week, and has devoted numerous radio  addresses to her musings on Brethrenist testimonies.

She commands a massive navy, and she does maintain it, but she has not participated in a war during her reign.  In fact, despite the protests of her Chancellor, she has recently stated that she intends to let the Base Agreement with NEKK at Luncasi lapse and return Kalistani forward units home.  She has no intention of letting the Kalistani Navy into the Mad Dog Ocean, nor does she intend to sail the Third Fleet past Northern Indrala.  She is content to focus on Fortress Kalistan to make invasion of our nation a obvious strategic tragedy, promising to instead turn the nation into a charnel house for invaders if they decided that they wish to test Kalistan's defensive doctrine.  In doing so she seeks to use her navy and growing Airforce to discourage attack from foreign powers, to make it impossible to conceive of.  And perhaps her greatest sin against imperialism, she has given up property that was rightfully Kalistan's dominion in Gaduridos, rather than maintain a relationship which encourage even further dependency of that nation on ours.  No other empire has so willingly parted with their empire like that.  Retrenchment, not expansion is her MO.

She is involving Kalistan in resource acquisition on the other side of the planet, as an Imperialist would, but her stated goal, and there is no reason to disbelieve her in this because it conforms with her long standing beliefs about resource conservation here in Kalistan, is to refuse to use the resources she seeks to buy, and instead use that purchase to protect the environment.  She wants to help New Englia adopt clean energy alternatives rather than the filthy, but easy options that other nations are offering.  She takes a moral, normative stance, quite unlike an imperialist, who are often crass materialists who will put on a fake smile and extend a false hand to the nation they seek to exploit to death and then abandon to post colonialism.  As evidence of this point, no other bidder in the New Englia situation is proposing to not use the oil they purchase the rights to.  They all seek instead to profit directly from it, while representing their program as developmentalist to New Englia.

Her Imperial Majesty may have her very own personal fan club in Kalistan, and perhaps the world.  But she also is among the most harshly critiqued monarchs that Kalistan has ever had:  Much of this is because of her commitment to freedom of the press and other civil liberties which set Kalistan apart as one of the most politically clamped down social libertarian nations in Terra.  Kalistanis enjoy unparalleled civil liberties, and as long as criticism of the Empress is respectful and based in truth, we here at the National have even found that we have remarkable latitude to critique the Empress, despite the existence of Lese Majestie which makes it a crime to insult the Empress.  Kalistanis have unlimited reproductive freedom, regulated by free access to drugs, guns and media.  We are free to peacefully petition our government for redress of grievance, in the streets if need be.  We are free to form non-political social organizations.  We are free to worship as we please or not at all.  Our rights and liberties are protected from both an overzealous police force and a capricious and captured judiciary. Liberty isn’t only the lack of constraint, as liberal democracies construe it, but also for the liberty to mean anything people need to be able to actually use the liberty, and in Kalistan, especially under this empress, we have the fullest set of social liberties on Terra.   We have more liberties, it is possible, than many liberal democracies, and we most certainly have far more ability to actually enjoy our liberty due to relative general prosperity. That's hardly a mark of imperialism.  But it more contributes to people's love for their Empress. In liberal states it would engender political disorder and dissent.

And finally, yes, it is true, she, like every Kalistani Emperor and Empress, and in fact, nearly every institutionalist ever, is extremely chauvanist and expresses nearly constant preference for Kalistan, Kalistan's interest, and Kalistan's benefit.  Yet, this Empress may be the most cosmopolitan Empress in our History as well.  She is one of the few Monarchs who actually studied over seas.  She regularly stays in Valruzia, where she was gifted a castle.  She also makes trips to Hutori, and lives part of the year in Athosia.  She speaks Vrassan, Egelian, Canrillais, Valruzian and Dundorfic fluently and is fully literate on those languages.  She also speaks Redn at the Student Level and practices regularly with her Husband, who has been teaching Redn in Kaliburg.  She still can compete in Go at the professional level, writes philosophy, and publishes peer reviewed work in moral and ethical philosophy.  She plays the piano and interestingly enough is apparently learning the harp.  She knows carpentry, plumbing and auto mechanics, among other trades.  She is truly a renaissance woman, loves other nations, cultures and languages, foods, and new experiences, and she travels as often as she can.  This  hardly buttresses her National Chauvinist bona fides.

Most of all, she simply is not interested in imperialism.  Outside Athosia, she hasn't attempted to really interfere in foreign affairs at all, to influence her neighbors, or to push Kalistani influence abroad.  Its not that she hasn't tried, but since being formally crowned, and even before then, she has opted instead to make friends where she can, to cooperate rather than irritate, and to leave others alone in hopes they will leave Kalistan alone.  She has on occasion used rhetoric that has gotten her in trouble internationally, and people far too often confuse the words of her underlings for her policy.  But not withstanding, Her Imperial Majesty entered into office under heavy condescension, both home and abroad.  She was called petulant and was offered advice she did not need from those seeking to influence her direction as a new monarch, and thinking that this was acceptable given her age.  Instead, she has grown into a confident, mature monarch who values the council of those she appointed to give her council, who tries to meet with her people when possible, who springs into action when the situation calls for leadership.

These are all the qualities of an actual populist in a democracy.  Not a cloistered sovereign who is so far removed from her people and from the world that everything they say seems out of touch with reality.  She is a different sort, for certain.  A woman of, and a leader of the people, of Kalistan and Kalistanis.  In this sense, she may be a lousy imperialist, but who needs more imperialists?  Terra is so full of imperialists, its not even funny.  Instead, Her Imperial Majesty is Kalistan's Empress and we are her people.  She belongs to our people, and no other.  She is a terrible imperialist, but she literally exemplifies the essence of our Nation, of what it means to be Kalistani.

We wish Her Imperial Majesty, our Empress Carolina II Ananto a happy 40th Birthday, and hope for all our sake, that she is still with us when twice as many years again have passed.

@TheNational

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Finance Minister Berry releases Economic Survey Data
Kalistani GDP tops K$4.8 Trillion per annum; maintains surplus
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 3rd, 5713


Finance Minister Berry delivers promising economic news in Kaliburg

Her Imperial Majesty's Minister of Finance Dr. Roger Berry delivered a major Economics speech this week in Kaliburg. The gist of the speech was a snapshot of the Kalistani economy at the end of 5713. According to Minister Berry, Kalistan's annual GDP sits at K$4.8 Trillion Imperial Pesos. "This equals a GDP per capita of about K$52,000 pesos annually," said Finance Minister Berry. "We also still maintain about a K$245 Million Peso annual surplus in a K$1.5 Trillion dollar annual budget."

Berry was referring to a longitudinal economic survey that interviewed more than 10,000 employers across the Empire during the last year that requested information on sales, consumer prices, wages, and division of labor. The broad cross section of the Kalistani economy, both nationalized and private sector firms were polled, and the data was aggregated and analyzed between July and September of this year.

"Over all, we found that Kalistanis have a median individual income of K$34,500 a year and a median family income of K$64,000 Pesos a year," said Berry. "We also have very low income disparity: The upper earners earn an average of about 6 times what the lowest earners make, making Kalistan among the most egalitarian nations in the world, in terms of income and wealth. This is something to be very proud of: It vindicates Kalistan's economic policies which aim at ensuring that Kalistanis all have a fair share of the Nation's Prosperity, and that in general the wide disparities of income that plague capitalist nations do not exist in Kalistan."

The lion's share of the Nation's revenue is collected through income taxes, which are steeply progressive on the upper brackets, while regressive taxes, like sales tax do not exist. In addition, due to extensive social safety networks that cover major costs like housing, food and medical care, about half of a normal worker's income is available for purely discretionary spending, allowing Kalistanis to live more comfortable lives because they have more money each month to spend.

"About 40% of the average Kalistani's monthly income is available for discretionary and entertainment spending," said Dr. Berry. "This not only provides a high quality of life for even the lowest earners due to high amounts of disposable income, but also acts as a main driver of Kalistan's service and consumer industries, which in turn are major drivers of the economy as a whole. Who knew that protection against poverty could provide a virtuous cycle for the economy? Who knew making sure that people do not live on the margins so their bosses could become fabulously wealthy could possibly be a good thing? But we are proof that indeed it can."

The survey also covers division of labor, naming Services and Industry as the largest employing sectors. "Of course services represent a large segment of the population," said Berry. "But we are also heavily industrialized, whether it be steel, shipbuilding, auto manufacturing, aircraft manufacturing, or textile production. Kalistan supplies its own market with much of what it needs and has a modest trade volume, primarily regional, that creates a K$107 Billion Peso trade surplus, due primarily to value of Kalistan's finished exports and the imports of less expensive necessities and lower amounts of luxuries." The poll also demonstrated a high labor force participation in the population, a very low unemployment rate, and the average work life of about 33 years on average.

The report demonstrated with data what Kalistanis intuitively already knew. "Quality of life is high across the board, though it is measured and not lavish," said Berry. "When wealth is spread out evenly across the society, more people do well. This runs contrary to what we see in liberal nations, where a few people always do very well, and yeah, workers may earn a few more pesos this year than last year, but they always stand a far higher chance of being wiped out because workers are kept on the margin of abject poverty, so that a couple extra pesos a year feels like a win. In Kalistan, we have economic security, general prosperity and low inequality in our society. These statistics vindicate the Dual System and ZPG which Kalistan has maintained for a very long time. So I think we will keep it."

@TheRepublic

[Doc]

FM announces failure of Kalistani-New Englian Bid
"Money will be put to conservation efforts closer to home," says Sir Harney
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
November 15, 5713


FM Sir Thomas Harney, at Sulari Fall Gala, seen here with constant companion Quelle Jones

Sir Thomas Harney attended the Sulari Fall Society Gala with his steady, the sometime fitness and lingerie model Quelle Jones this week, where he made fairly consequential news from comments given on the record to a reporter who happened to be present.

"Well, Kalistan lost its bid in New Englia," said Sir Harney, speaking on the record to La Moda's Martin Crosby at the Gala. "They went with the Temanian/Dovanian bid, which is all well and good from Her Imperial Majesty's Perspective. At least its not an Artanian..." Pressed for details he said, "Well, we had a number of things working against us. I think Kalistan is simply not thought of very highly abroad despite our best efforts, and politically, accepting Kalistan's offer would have undermined a number of other important interests in the country. It was not in the cards for us, so the money we raised to back the Kalistani bid will be put to conservation efforts closer to home."

He outlined a few of those efforts, one of which includes permanently sealing the old KPO wells in the Strait. "Well, this was the problem. When we ended production, it was because producing oil in the Ananto Straits was becoming too expensive, and was costing us far more than it was earning us. We sold off the licenses, but eventually the operations simply ran out of exploitable oil. But the wells were capped and left there in case oil prices would ever recover to the point where whatever oil was left would be recoverable at a profit. That day never came and the operations were simply abandoned. So, as you can imagine, things get old, and we have been detecting increased amounts of pollution there associated with the oil industries out past the southern limit. Part of this money will definitely go toward permanently closing those operations, dismantling whatever infrastructure still remains out there, and sealing it all up so it no longer leeches pollution into the water or air."

He also noted conservation efforts in Northern Seleya as a whole, rather than just Kalistan. "We have close partnerships with Lodamun and Valruzia and would like to work together to perhaps sponsor a reforestation initiative or a marine wildlife initiative to promote health and balance in our ecosystem. Our nations are already committed to conservation on some level, and this money can go a long way to help strengthen and expand those efforts to continue our work in improving the environment of our continent and our individual nations."

On the impact that the exploitation of New Englia's Oil will have, Sir Harney answered, "Well, we were bidding against four other nations. We were the only ones who were asking them to not burn the oil. So there was an 80% chance that the oil would be exploited and burned anyway. But lets be honest here: The use of petro-carbons is almost universal in Terra. Kalistan was always realistic about our chances of winning the process, but we are also realistic on the impact this victory would have had. The Rossfadda field was just one in many oil fields currently being exploited. The impact our win in the process would have had would have been negligible considering that some nations gleefully pollute the atmosphere, and will continue to do so whether we won or not. But it was a symbolic gesture that we put the environment over profits. We can still do that, we just have to do it closer to home."

The bidding process now over, Sir Harney said he was moving on to the next project on the agenda. Crosby asked him less foreign policy related questions and moved on to discussion of his very public relationship with Ms. Jones. "I wouldn't say marriage," said Harney when asked about how serious he and Ms. Jones' relationship had become. "I've said it many times, we're, um, pretty good friends, and I think we are both better off that way. She's a pretty big slob at home--she eats potato chips all the time and spills her coffee. No class. You may see her all put together here, but let me tell you, in private, its like I live with a totally different person. How can I maintain my tuxedo collection when her clothing is in all of my dressers and my closet?"

Jones seemed to take it in stride. "He doesn't know it but we're already married," she said with a laugh. "No he wouldn't marry me- he has far too many girlfriends to ever marry one of them. I don't think they would put up with his womanizing." Harney laughed uncomfortably at these words. But he didn't interrupt her as she continued, "Whatever he thinks, Tom and I have spent every night together for the last two years. Wherever he goes, whoever he's seen with in public, I get it: He's a very vain person, and he loves women. But none of them understand him like I do. So maybe we don't even need marriage." As she said this, Sir Harney noticeably smiled, and gave her a peck on the cheek, which brought a huge smile to her face.

"Love you, honey," he said to her.

"Ditto," she said back to him with a smile.

Ladies across Kalistan were reportedly in tears that Sir Harney is apparently now off the market

@LaModa

[Doc]

Jones Releases Nordhaus on KMI
Year long sojourn in Dundorf pays off artistically
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 8, 5714


Thomas Jones's Nordhaus synthesizes Dundorfic Music for Kalistani Art Scene

With Kaliburg Art rocker Thomas Jones, you learn to always expect the unexpected. Leaning heavily into synthesized music on his latest record, Jones has released his seventh record on KMI, continuing his long streak of unconventional rock. This album develops a more synthetic sound that (almost) leaves the alien, glam and art themes he has dealt with since the beginning of his career behind. Instead, Jones said he drew inspiration from the Dundorfic electronic music scene.

"This record was composed entirely in the Dundorfic city of Nordhaus," said Jones, who states that he had to leave Kalistan to sober up. "It was like going to rehabilitation treatment, to go to Dundorf. But here in the music industry, drugs and drug use is so prevalent. You really can't get anything done without using some substance or another. So I needed to separate myself from all that, to kind of remember what it was like to live a sober life. And what I discovered in Dundorf was some really interesting music." He said he had the opportunity to go to Luthori several times but noted that he didn't think their musicians had much for him: "I like Luthorian musicians, don't get me wrong, but its pretty conventional there. And I was looking for something different."

While cleaning up, he said he would wander the streets of Nordhaus, or take the train to Dunberg, late into the evening looking for new music clubs. "I really just immersed myself into the whole music culture," said Jones. "I don't speak Dundorfian at all, so I would wander, really until I heard music. And sometimes I'd find myself in a live music venue, sometimes a bar, sometimes a strip club. I met a lot of people, thankfully a lot of them spoke Luthorian and I was never without a friend, especially when I was occasionally recognized there for my work here in Kalistan. And I just soaked it all up: you could say it was like replacing a cocaine habit with a new music habit. I think I rediscovered what it is that I love about music, and after a while, I was no longer running from the drugs, but more running toward something, toward a different direction for my music."

He said he began writing Nordhaus last March, and had two Kalistani friends, Greg Kinnisson and Julian Oscar St. James join him in Nordhaus so they could begin writing together. "It's always good to have friends around when you are writing new music. I don't play the keyboards, but I knew I wanted that synthesized sound, like a heavy full on like old school synthesizer effect on my music. And so we experimented with different sound cards until we found ones we liked. St. James played rhythm and I mainly focused on melody, arrangement and lyrics. We recorded demos for the whole record, so we had some direction for when we all came back to Kaliburg in August and went into KMI studios in Kaliburg."

The result was a mish mash of Dundorfic-inspired art and synth-alternative. "Of course we're not going to sound exactly like the music we heard in Dundorf," said Jones. "The music of central Artania was heard through Kalistani ears. But I think what is important is that I can hear where I got all these elements, where each of them came from: this riff comes from this club, this synth progression comes from that bar. I met a lot of great artists there, and they all have their fingerprints all over this record, and I want to say, if the Dundorfian musicians I associated with there ever do listen to Nordhaus, they will hear my very sincere tribute to their influence."

In addition to providing vocals, producing, and composing the tracks, Jones features his main instrument, the tenor saxophone, on several records. "Yeah, all through my career, the tenor sax has been a part of much of my music," said Jones. "You don't notice it until you do. But I wanted to feature it on this record for sure. I think it can work as a lead instrument so well, if done well, and it adds a very human element to what could otherwise be a very machine like set of songs."

The album is a double album, and with its release, Jones also released two different singles simultaneously. "The label was against that," said Jones. "They told me these would compete with one another, but they are quite different, and in fact could even find themselves on different charts." The first A-Side, "Freiwilliger Zwei" (see below) is backed with the lush synth soul track "Sonic Sight" which nearly drowns a dreamy sunshiny classic rock riff in a sea of synthesized strings. The Second A-Side single, "Work it out" (see below) which is far more closer to the noise side of Art Rock than anything else on the record is backed by the B-Side "Believers" and is about talk radio DJs who are up late into the night espousing political or social views that range the entire political spectrum.

"The video for that was fun," said Jones. "We were at this club, and some guy in there recognized me, and it was this thing. Well, Greg (Kinnisson) was there with a camera, so we asked the bar if they wanted to be in some B reel for the video, this was the song we were working on at that time, and so we were like 'You guys want to shoot a music video with me? I am this almost cult like figure who has people listening to me on the radio, and its like a mix between the power of mass media and influence of people's minds. And the people in the bar, men and women, just had a great time. All that footage is in the video. It comprises much of the video actually, while the balance was shot in this college radio station at the local college there in Nordhaus when we had some lyrics locked down. The final version of the song sounds very different from what we had in mind then, so we had fun editing the two parts together."

Here are the double singles from Thomas Jones' 2 disc album Nordhaus, out now on KMI. The First one, "Freiwilliger Zwei: recently entered Radio 1's flag ship Top 40 at Number 22, while the second, "Work it out" entered just behind it at Number 24.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32m5BOvG5ng]
"Freiwilliger Zwei" from Thomas Jones' Nordhaus

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KcOs70dZAw]
"Work it Out", a one man drag show, is the second single from Jones' double LP Nordhaus

@KalistaniRawkMonthly

[Doc]

Leaf releases Stoner Art Debut
Luxon Instrumental Trio hops genres as it strips Art Rock to its barest bones
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 20, 5715


Luxon's Leaf plays Stoner Art for the Virtuoso set

The Art Rock scene is beginning to mature as new musicians begin to explore new sides of the genre. Thomas Jones may be exploring Artania in his music, but a new Trio from Luxon, Ananto are boiling the prestige genre down to its fundamentals. Leaf, the instrumentalist trio who hails from the established playground of Ananto's upper classes, has one foot firmly rooted in guitar alternative, and the other rooted in the fields of Dah. The result is a sometimes funky, always virtuosic fusion of sounds that sets a groove and launches from there.

"We each bring something really cool to this band," said rhythm bassist Monica Prichard. "But we all pretty much come from the same background and have a lot of the same influences, and really clicked when we finally got together."

Guitarist Jonas Weiss agreed. "Yeah, I think we all pretty much bonded over this love of music and everything." Weiss, who is classically trained on the guitar said that Leaf was really the only band for him. "I mean, this was the only band who would have me. When I met Mon and Darrell (Eggleston, Leaf's Drummer) they were already kind of established, both as a duo and also as a couple. But I never felt like a fifth wheel, and I think within their groove, I can kind of do what I want, and it ends up just being killed."

"I think Joany was the missing piece for us," said Eggleston, who is also the band's primary sound engineer and produced their debut album, the eponymous Leaf, out on KMI this month. "He allowed Mon to move to bass, where she just naturally rolls, and he just comes in. Her bass sound is so pure and thumpy that there is like a lifetime between each of her notes, and Joany just fills in that space with his astraguitar. It's such a wonderful ride to be keeping time back there on the set."

The album, a 7 track chill art rock LP, gets close to a number of different genres, but never fully jumps into any of them, ensuring that the sound remains fully in the art and experimental category rather than being labeled as something else. "I think you can call the single 'Swell Ride' maybe groove adjacent," said Eggleston. "It's got this funk to it, and makes you want to move. While this other song, which I think is the B-Side, I don't know, it's called 'Dahbox' goes toward triphop. It's all ambient, music to smoke to you know... You can catch a buzz just listening to it."

The album itself has risen to number 62 in its first week on the Hot 100 Album Charts. Music writer Helen Krystal broke the record down like this: "Well, listening to the LP, the only break in the tracks is when you have to flip it over. It's kind of difficult to tell where one song ends and the next one begins, but soon you realize you are definitely in the next song, because it is taking your mind somewhere totally different than the last one did. You definitely need to get real stoned to fully appreciate everything this record is doing. I have no doubt this album is headed for a long life on the chart."

Fans said they were really attracted to the virtuosity in the guitar and the drums, and the full out groove that is carried on by the bass the entire time. "I was listening to this record," said teen fan Alicia Sand, "and I was like is that drummer a guy or a metronome? His time was like perfect, and it just really was... I mean... the whole band the whole record kicked so much ass, it was such a jam." Sand said that of course she was high and has a great set of headphones.

Check out their Leaf's first single from their self titled debut, out now on KMI. Here's Swell Ride. And then stick around for the B-Side, "Dahbox."

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxCJToKyc-0]
"Swell Ride" showcases the excellent virtuosity of the Luxon instrumental trio known as Leaf

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl-XsneiGHo]
"Dahbox" keeps the jam going at it takes you from funk to triphop on this Arthouse new classic

@KalistaniRawk Monthly

[Doc]

Chancellor to Investment Class: "Drop Dead"
"All Investments come with Risks," says Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 17, 5714


In a combative mood, Chancellor Alvarez fields questions around failed Englian Bid

In a tense round of questions, the Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn fended off several reporters demanding to know if the National Government planned to help institutional investors who flooded into the market ahead of the failed New Englian bid recover from the bath they took when the bid failed.

"No," she said. "Not a chance. Our job in the Government is not to help capitalists who made bets that didn't pan out for them. We are here to move Her Imperial Majesty's fiat into law. That's it."

Mike Connor, of the independent newspaper Finance Today, insisted that Her Imperial Majesty's Government had a responsibility to investors because the bid failed on account of the National Government's unwillingness to agree to terms more attractive to New Englia. The Chancellor shugged this off. "What do you want us to do? Transfer public money to private pockets? Who are we? Capitalists?" she asked rhetorically. "Look: The terms of the contract were made public months before the matter was considered in New Englia. We didn't hide anything. Lots of people invested in KPO, and drove the stock price up, and when the deal went south, now you get to see all the rats run for the exits. That's the price you pay for speculation. Sometimes you hit the gold mine, sometimes you hit the skids."

The Chancellor insisted that there was nothing to be done about the bid. "Her Imperial Majesty honestly believed that Kalistan's bid was competitive. Unorthodox, yes: Few bid on oil concessions with the aim of permanently capping them. KPO knew this, KPO's investors knew this. The bid and its terms were out in the open. I am sorry if a number of capitalist hedge fund managers lost their shirts, but all investments come with risks, and to insist that one is entitled to compensation for the that risk not paying off is simply ridiculous."

To emphasize her point, she noted that Miramar, the publicly traded investment holding company that is majority controlled by House Ananto was one of the firms that lost money on the matter. "Miramar itself bet on Kalistan's bid, and yes, even House Ananto lost money on the deal. We can audit the time between when the bid was formally rejected in New Englia and when Miramar began selling to demonstrate that Miramar was not trading on privileged information: They merely acted like every other fund, but the difference is, Miramar lost about $1.6 billion Imperial Pesos on their sales. So would you people be arguing that we should bail out Miramar of all companies? I don't think anyone has ever called for that. What's fair is fair."

Others suggested that the wealth fund which was intended to be delivered to New Englia starting this year be liquidated to help investors make up for their losses. "No, that money is already earmarked for Conservation projects. It's just going to sit there," the Chancellor said, "until Her Imperial Majesty is good and ready to spend it, and when she does it will be used as it was intended."

Following another heated exchange about the National Government selling out institutional investors and launching lawsuits in National Court, the Chancellor cleared the air. "You people all seem to think this is a democracy. You don't seem to understand what country you live in. Our Solicitor General is in the Court right now arguing for dismissal of these cases as frivolous lawsuits, because the National Government was not a party to the investment and KPO is, as a nationalized industry, shielded from civil lawsuits due to its strategic role in the National Economy. And here's what will happen: Our independent court system, who will follow the law, because they are required to do so, will throw those cases out and in doing so, maintain the precedent that Nationalized firms can not be parties in civil litigation. If our investors are so upset, they should take it up with the people who actually made the decision on the bid and sue the New Englian Government, not the Kalistani Government."

Reaction to the Chancellor's dismissal of the complaints around the investments sent a shudder through the markets. KPO, already suffering a 7.05% loss in stock price following the rejection of the bid and not recovering since, dropped another .83% on the day after the Chancellor's Comments. Other organizations associated with the bid, including Miramar are also down, though Miramar has largely recovered its price due to moves in other parts of the markets. The failure of the bid hit large institutional investors, hedge funds, index funds, and derivitives traders the hardest, as they fled safer waters in favor of this speculative bid, while opening the doors to smaller investors to enter the market after them at much lower prices. Many of those involved in the trades, and subsequent losses were in the Kalistani nobility, who had hoped their station in the social order in Kalistan would grant them some privilege. Other large institutional investors who lost money on the deal included KMD, Sulari Photovoltaics, Bank of Kalistan, Bank of Suldanor, and Sun Coast Resorts who were making a play to diversify their assets. The refusal of the National Government to help compensate large investors for their losses is likely to discourage future speculation from large players.

Lady Alvarez said she did not gain anything or lose anything from the bid. "As public officials, Her Imperial Majesty has formally banned us from participating in stock trades on any level while we hold a position of public trust to avoid any hint of unethical behavior. So I don't have any money in the stock market." She added that the Empress also did not directly engage in stock trades, though Miramar itself, as a company that is legally and fiscally separate from its majority shareholder, House Ananto, was heavily leveraged and lost a significant sum of money on the bid.

One major institutional bidder who actually shorted the bid was the Kalistani Bookmakers' Association, who sold KPO and several other stocks short as everyone else was buying in, and ended up earning about $450 Million Imperial Pesos in the bid's failure. "I hate to say it guys, but you all should have listened to the Punters," said the Chancellor as she ended the interview.

@TheRepublic