Royal press release: Cabinet changes made to prepare for new programs

ROYAL APARTMENTS, NEW MERCY
KINGDOM OF ÜBERSTADT

His Majesty King Adam I, with the agreement of his ministers, has changed the composition of his Cabinet in preparation for upcoming government programs to be announced.

The King has accepted the resignation of Kara, Duchess of Bellevue, as Minister for Culture and appointed Queen Laurel to the post. The Queen is expected to lead cultural development projects, including efforts to increase citizen participation in national holidays and to document and share knowledge of Überstadti cultural practices. The King expects that she will also promote the formation of cultural and religious associations among citizens.

The Duchess of Bellevue is now Minister for the Economy, a role customarily filled by the King. She brings her practical knowledge of Überstadt’s economy to her new office, especially as a worker in the Tellus Horticultural and Erganê Artisanal Cooperatives, as well as extensive experience in local Tellus administration and household economics. She automatically joins the Commission for the Common Economy, the body that governs the economic union of Überstadt and Sandus. She will contribute to further economic development across the Common Economy and oversee improvements to horticulture in Rosewood.

By law, these appointments are effective immediately but must be approved at Parliament’s next meeting to be made permanent.

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Culture ministry completes new holiday list

NEW MERCY – On 1 September, the Duchess of Bellevue, Minister for Culture, approved the addition of 34 holidays and observances to Überstadt’s official holiday list. 16 cultural holidays were recognized, some new and some already widely practiced in the Kingdom, while 18 public observances joined the national calendar.

Recognized cultural holidays include significant days in Buddhism, Christianity, and Judaism, reflecting the diversity of citizens’ religious practice. Five secular holidays were listed as having national cultural significance, including the Winter Solstice, LGBTQ+ Pride Day, and two new holidays created based on citizen suggestions: Day of Rest and Knowledge Day. Raspberry Day was listed as significant in Rosewood, where raspberries are the dominant crop and an important aspect of local culture.

Some of the18 codified public observances are internationally-recognized days, like Indigenous Peoples Day and World Water Day. Others are specific to Überstadt, including Victory over Fire Day, which dates to the country’s oldest holiday laws as a commemoration of the 2009 fire that devastated Edmount Island, the first land Überstadt claimed.

After April 2021’s Renewal Act repealed all existing Überstadti legislation, the Kingdom had no legal holidays until Parliament passed the Holidays and Observances Act this March. The act listed six state holidays and authorized the culture minister to publish official lists of cultural holidays, defined as those “culturally significant to Überstadt as a whole or to specific cultural groups within Überstadti society,” and public observances, “designated for general remembrance…but not classified as state or cultural holidays.”

Citizens organize Protestant Church in Überstadt; Countess McAleer first leader

SEATTLE – On 5 June, a group of Überstadti citizens founded the Protestant Church in Überstadt, the first formal religious association in the country’s history. The church’s founders include the King and his fiancée Laurel, Countess McAleer. The church elected Lady McAleer as warden, its executive leader.

As Überstadt is officially secular, the Protestant Church is not a state religion. The church was founded as a voluntary association of workers under Common Economy law, which regards cultural activity as a form of labor. The church describes itself as a cooperative “dedicated to Protestant Christian ministry and fellowship.” The summary of faith in its constitution draws from doctrinal agreements in the Anglican Communion, but its founding members’ backgrounds also include Calvinism and other Reformed traditions.

Warden McAleer, a Sacred Worth Fellow at Boston University School of Theology, has told the Chronicle she is “enthusiastic about the creation of a formal venue for Protestant Überstadtis to practice their faith in common.” She expressed hope for “engagement with people from other traditions who might wish to foster a spirit of interreligious dialogue.”

The Treasury Department, which keeps citizenship records and runs the census, estimates that Protestants are the largest religious group in Überstadt. Nearly a third of citizens affiliates with some Protestant denomination, and 23% of the population belongs to the Protestant Church. The next largest religious demographics are Latter-day Saints and those affiliated with no religion, each group about the same size as the nascent church. Buddhism, Catholicism, and Judaism are also represented.

Parliament approves culture programs, territorial changes, health and environment ministry

SEATTLE – At a meeting on Independence Day, 6 March, Parliament approved the King’s proposals for new cultural programs, territorial reforms, and a broadening of the environment ministry’s portfolio to include health.

Two of the four acts empower the Minister for Culture to give government sanction to aspects of national and local culture by publishing them on official lists. The Holidays and Observances Act defines six state holidays and directs the minister to maintain a Holiday and Observance List. The list will recognize cultural holidays and other observances observed by Überstadtis generally and by specific cultural and religious groups. This act also permits government workers leave on state holidays and cultural holidays they observe.

The Monuments and Heritage Act similarly establishes a National Monuments List and a National Heritage List to record sites, artifacts, and intangible heritage of national significance.

The Territory Act’s most important provisions clarified aspects of Überstadt’s territorial philosophy. It declared that Überstadt’s oldest territory, Edmount Island in Lake Ballinger, is a claim of “historical and cultural significance to the Kingdom and an acknowledgement of stewardship, not an assertion of exclusive control or usufruct rights.” The act also asserts that Überstadt may exercise sovereignty over parts of buildings without claiming spaces above and below them, essentially allowing territorial claims of individual units in multifamily residences. These changes follow King Adam’s speech at MicroCon 2019 that urged micronations in historical settler colonies to rethink their approach to land claims and reflects the increasing number of citizens who live in dense urban neighborhoods.

The Territory Act also created the county as a subdivision of the Kingdom’s duchies and relinquished Überstadt’s claim to Creekbed Colony, a small piece of parkland near the capital, Rosewood.

This meeting’s final agenda item was the Health and Environment Act, which renames the Ministry for the Environment to the Ministry for Health and the Environment. It requires the minister to publish quarterly reports on public health in Überstadt and an annual report on environmental issues.

From the King: Überstadt is still here!

Friends, allies, colleagues, well-wishers, and citizens abroad:

I end the Kingdom’s media silence to assure you all that Überstadt is still here. In this message, I will discuss why we have been quiet, our ongoing activities, and our plans for the near future.

Why have we been so quiet?

Last year’s census called into question whether certain people were still legally citizens, which is a serious problem in a direct democracy. Parliament’s activity ceased. Meanwhile, developments in my “civilian” career and living circumstances kept me from devoting much time to governing or maintaining our online presence. Fortunately, a recent judicial decision will allow us to revive our democracy, and I am in a position to give our country the leadership it deserves again.

What we have been doing

Anyone who has been a micronationalist for very long understands that the nation keeps moving even when the state does not. Even though our government idled, our people continued to observe our holidays, fly our flag, and live Überstadti lives. I also had the pleasure of representing the Kingdom at MicroCon 2019, reaffirming relationships with the broader micronational community.

Promises to citizens and friends

To citizens of Überstadt who live outside our borders, I promise that my government will do more to engage you in national life and give you opportunities to contribute to the Kingdom in your own ways.

To our friends in other nations, I promise to resume official communication on issues of shared importance. I believe we become better leaders and creators when we share our undertakings with each other, so I will also make sure to share glimpses of Überstadti life more often.

Überstadt turning 10

Whether citizen or foreign friend, I invite you all to help us celebrate Überstadt’s tenth anniversary, which is on 6 March 2020. My government’s efforts in the coming months will focus on making this a grand celebration of Überstadti culture, industry, and friendship. We are organizing celebrations in Rosewood to be attended by many of our citizens and leaders of allied states, and we intend to create ways for interested people and groups to participate remotely.

I eagerly look forward to further developing the Kingdom and celebrating ten years of the Überstadti state with its citizens and friends!

A R

National contest held for international art show submission

ROSEWOOD – Überstadt’s participation in the 1st Venedigbiennalen for Micronations has been confirmed, and the Culture Ministry is holding a national competition to choose an artwork to send to the show in Sweden this September.

King Adam sent an announcement to all citizens Saturday night that they are all invited to submit works of art for consideration to send to the exhibition, which will be the first major international display of micronational art. The Überstadti government intends to feature all citizen submissions in a future publication aimed at highlighting artistic achievement in Überstadt.

The Vendigbiennalen will feature public displays of micronational art of various media in “micro-pavilions” roughly the size of birdhouses. According to the event website, the exhibit’s opening will feature “micro-speeches” and “micro-celebrations.” Other participating nations include Aerica and Ladonia.

Überstadt to drop Roy’s birthday, add new holidays

ROSEWOOD – Überstadt’s culture minister recommended Saturday that the kingdom make several changes to its official holiday roster. They will later be confirmed by a parliamentary vote.

One pending change is removing a day celebrating Prince Roy of Sealand’s birthday. King Adam first made it a holiday to honor the man who inspired him to found Überstadt, but he and Minister for Culture the Baroness Rosewood agreed that such an observation was no longer suitable. “We are driven by ourselves, not some outside inspiration,” the king said.

The existing observation called the Day of Fire is to be moved from the end of July to the beginning of August. It originally marked the day when Edmount Island, Überstadt’s first territory, suffered a major wildfire in 2009. The new date will be anniversary of the fire’s defeat, and will become the only holiday in August.

New holidays include some already celebrated culturally by most or all citizens, including Christmas and Easter. One major new addition to the summer calendar will be Navy Day in late June, honoring His Majesty’s Überstadti Navy.

New year celebrated in Rosewood

BELLINGHAM, Washington – The Überstadti royal family rang in the new year at Rosewood last Saturday in the barony’s traditional fashion.

Custom in Rosewood is to eat assorted appetizers throughout the evening while viewing musical performances and fireworks displays on television. Überstadt’s residents did the same to welcome 2017, watching broadcasts from New York City and Seattle. The celebratory food included spinach dip, dumplings, sausages, chocolates, and baked brie.

As is typical for New Year’s Eve as well as American Independence Day, the navy was on high alert to keep watch for fires sparked by pyrotechnic devices. Fireworks are illegal in the American town that surrounds Rosewood, but are often deployed by unruly neighbors of the royals. No fires or injuries were reported in Überstadt or nearby.

Schedule for cultural exchange

On 1 March, Überstadt initiated its planned cultural exchange program, in which the Kingdom and foreign governments share and display information and artifacts from each other in pursuit of international understanding of their cultures.

The Überstadti material sent to participating countries includes explanations of holiday observance, a timeline of Überstadti history, and samples of native art and poetry.

The schedule of exchange weeks is as follows:

• 1 March to 7 March with the State of Sandus
• 8 March to 14 March with the Republic of Doria
• 15 March to 21 March with the Commonwealth of Zealandia
• 22 March to 28 March with the Commonwealth of Sirocco
• 29 March to 4 April with the Empire of Austenasia

King’s speech on Indigenous Peoples Day

Thousands of years ago, this land was first peopled. The first settlers, the ancestors of the Salish peoples, fished, harvested the forests, and established the grasslands. They and their descendants lived off the cycles of nature, upon which they depended. The beautiful lowland blessed them, and they were free to make art, song, and story.

The day came when these peoples were met by Westerners. Some, like [British explorer] George Vancouver, respected their culture. Others, like [Washington territorial governor] Isaac Stevens, sought to destroy it. The latter prevailed.

These first nations, members of a proud oral tradition, were given false promises and thus tricked into signing a treaty surrendering their lands. Our region’s Duwamish and Snohomish peoples, despite being named signatories of the deceitful agreement, were even denied recognition and reservations. Those natives who did gain reservations were stripped of their heritage by missionaries and teachers. They were cheated and betrayed by the American government for decades.

Despite this mistreatment, the Salish cultures were preserved to the extent possible by their brave members. Today, they are undergoing something of a renaissance. Their crafts fill shops and museums. Their stories are shared in schools. Even their endangered tongues are being revived. Their contribution to the modern Pacific Northwest culture is inestimable.

The great Northwest is not the only land with such a story. All over the Americas, the First Nations have shared in the struggle to maintain their identity. Every American people is different, and this diversity must be preserved, allowing our beautiful, individual cultures to bless our future children.

I am proud of my Kingdom’s efforts to recognize the rights and roles of the indigenous peoples in local society. I am proud that the city of my birth, Seattle, has given them a day of their own. I hope that all Americans throughout this hemisphere will join in this celebration.