Kalistan

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Her Imperial Majesty Signs Green Terra Initiative
"Goal is to undo ecological damage of the world's most polluting Nations," said Chancellor
Kaliuburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 22, 5714


Empress signs Green Terra Initiative to combat Global Pollution

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto signed a series of bills known as the Green Terra Initiative into law today. The package was passed by the National Assembly last week upon directive of Her Imperial Majesty, to develop a framework for turning the initial capital investments into the failed Rossfadda bid into funds that are productive and proactive in combatting global air, land and water pollution. Of the approximately K$36Billion that were raised from institutional and individual investors, including Miramar, more than half of the money has been earmarked for fighting air pollution.

"There is a serious effort underway to combat the pernicious activity of some nations who see their whole strategy for the future as polluting the air of this planet," said Chancellor of the Empire Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn. "This strategy practiced, deliberately, I might add, by these gross polluters, directly threatens the national interests of Ananto and Kalistan- It warms our atmosphere up causing increased intensity of storms and droughts, it changes the weather patterns we rely upon as a nation, and it poisons our lungs. And if I have to pick between the national interests of Ananto and Kalistan, and the national interests of some gross polluter who wants to melt the tundra, I am going to pick Kalistan every single time. I am happy to report the Empress feels the same way."

Other projects that will receive funding here are tree replanting, water and stream clean up, and alternative energy options. "The Empress would like to make this money available to help nations all over Terra adopt less fossil fuel dependency primarily. That was what it was initially meant for. In doing so we would like to help nations who want to transition to solar, wind or geothermal do so by helping with up front costs. Kalistan has been largely off oil and hydrocarbons for close to two centuries. We have the technical ability to help develop alternative power grids that do not rely on coal, gas, or oil, to build electrical vehicles, and to wean themselves off of petroleum and derivatives of petroleum to produce things like bio diesel and bioplastics. It produces jobs, and it helps reverse, in a major way, global warming."

The Fund will be made to back cooperative environmental conservation projects and will be offered to all nations of the world in the form of cooperative grants. "We will need some investment from the requesting nation," said the Chancellor. "When people have to put their own money into a project, they tend to gain a stake in that project, and the last thing we would want is someone accusing us of trying to fund projects to gain a quid pro quo on the back end. We are looking for partners in the global effort to clean up our air, land and water. Not dependents."

This package formally establishes the framework for the Green Terra Initiative. It will be open to international grant proposals beginning in September of this year using a standardized application process. "The process involves a nation submitting an application that basically tells what they want to do, what resources they can bring to the deal, how Kalistan can help them accomplish this goal, and how they intend to see the project through to the end. If the application serves the mission of the fund, the grant will be reviewed and if accepted will be made directly to the applying Nation." The Chancellor said that NGOs will also be able to apply for grants as well. "Some of the most important work in this world is not being done by states, but in spite of them. We need to support global conservation NGOs as well."

The bill was passed last week in the National Assembly by a vote of 75-0 with 4 voting present.

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