News
Archive:
Events
of 10519 (2000)
36 Decimus, 10519 (29 December, 2000 CE)
Foreign Policy Shift
The Ministry of State today announced the completion of a review of the Empire's foreign policy position with regard to relations with unrecognised or aspirant sovereign entities. A significant tightening of the criteria for recognition by Atlantium of such entities is foreshadowed by the review.
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
Emperor Receives Award
The Office of the Emperor today announced that His Imperial Majesty George II had been pleased to accept the award of a Knighthood of the Order of the Mountain Ash from the Oregon-based human rights-focused sovereignty organisation the States of Lassaira. The award was conferred in recognition of His Imperial Majesty's efforts in promoting calendar reform.
For further information contact: emperor@atlantium.org
Honours Medallions Revealed - System Reformed
The Ministry of State has announced an update to the Imperial Honours page, releasing for the first time details of the medallion designs for two of the three Imperial Honours - the Order of Conspicuous Merit and the Order of the Dawn Sky.
In a related move His Imperial Majesty George II promulgated an Executive Decree instituting an immediate formal consolidation of the Empire's pre-Refundatio system of "chivalric" orders of knighthood within the post-Refundatio Imperial Honours System.
Left: The Medallion awarded to Associates of the Order of the Dawn Sky
Members of the former Most Exalted Benign Order of St George, St Andrew and St John are thereby transferred to membership of the Order of the Imperial Eagle. Members of the former Most Sacred and Worth Order of Antioch and the Most Distinguished Sovereign Majestic Order of the Crown become members of the Order of the Dawn Sky, and members of the former Most Eminent Order of the Imperial Dual Star and the Most Excellent Imperial Order of Atlantium gain membership of the Order of Conspicuous Merit.
Former Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander of the pre-Refundatio Orders assume the rank of Member, whilst Companions of the old Orders become Associates in the new.
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
15th December, 2000 CE
Official Merchandise Available
The Ministry of Finance today announced the launch of an officially endorsed range of Empire of Atlantium-branded merchandise, in association with US-based online fulfillment provider cafepress.com.
The initial range includes Hanes cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts, coffee cups and mouse pads - all of which feature the new Imperial State Signo. It is expected that additional products will become available in coming months.
Clothing is available in an extended range of sizes, payment is via realtime SSL secure online credit card transaction in US Dollars, and all sales directly benefit the Imperial Treasury.
Visit the Empire's official online store for further information and pricing.
For further information contact: ministryoffinance@atlantium.org
14th December, 2000 CE
Government Page Updated
The Ministry of Communications today announced the significant updating of the Government page on the Empire's oficial online presence:
http://www.atlantium.org/government.htm
The page now contains full details of the operations and relationships of the Moderative, Legislative, Executive and Judicial Authorities, along with an organisational chart.
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
11th December, 2000 CE
New FAQ Page
The Ministry of Communications today announced the addition of an FAQ page to the Empire's oficial online presence:
http://www.atlantium.org/faq.htm
The page has been made necessary by a recent spate of requests for clarification and information by website visitors, and it is hoped it will go some way towards pre-empting a number of common queries.
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
10th December, 2000 CE
Emperor's Birthday
His Imperial Majesty Emperor George II yesterday celebrated his recent 34th birthday at an informal dinner gathering attended by numerous family, friends, colleagues and Citizens at stylish Potts Point, Sydney eatery Odeon Diner.
Left: The Honourable Richard Price AOCM and His Imperial Majesty at yesterday evening's dinner Whilst stressing the private and unofficial nature of yesterday's function, His Imperial Majesty stated that he was gratified by the attendance of a number of current and prospective Citizens. It is understood that Senatorial and other public appointments figured prominently in His Imperial Majesty's conversations over the course of the evening.
Right: Amongst others in attendance were His Excellency Count Richard Bell and Mrs Jessica Bell
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
7th December, 2000 CE
New State Symbol
The Ministry of State today announced the replacement of the Empire's historic Symbol of State.
The Symbol of State was designed by Emperor George II in 1982, and has been the effective "arms" and State Seal of Atlantium since that time. The design featured a stylised black Imperial Eagle clasping in its talons a yellow disc upon which was displayed the Imperial Dual Star.
The new Seal, (at left) which is formally known as the Imperial State Signum is comprised of an updated interpretation of the historic design.
A detailed symbolic explanation of the new Imperial State Signum can be found at: www.atlantium.org/symbols.htm
The old Symbol of State can be seen at: www.atlantium.org/history.htm
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
27th November, 2000 CE
Independence Day 2000
Atlantium today marked its 19th Anniversary of Independence with a live online celebration attended by a number of Atlantian Citizens along with foreign dignitaries, including representatives of the States of Lassaira.
Following a formal Independence Day Address to the Imperium, His Imperial Majesty George II announced the award of Anniversary Honours. Mr Richard Price was awarded the Order of Conspicuous Merit with the Rank of Associate for his work in assisting with the development of the Empire's official online presence, and Mr Richard Bell - a longtime stalwart supporter of the Empire - was elevated to the Nobility with the Title of Count of Atlantium.
The full text of His Imperial Majesty's Independence Day 2000 Address is reproduced below:
"We are George II, by the Will of the People, Emperor and First Amongst Equals of the Empire of Atlantium, and we greet all those present in the name of the Empire, and of its people.
We extend greetings to the foreign guests who have joined us for today's celebrations, and thanks to those who have directly communicated their salutations via other means, but who are unable to attend.
We extend special greetings and personal congratulations to the many people who have joined the Empire as Citizens over the past several months. It is you who will help shape our sovereign Imperial Commonwealth as we move into a future that appears ever brighter. We salute you and encourage you to make of this Empire what you will - because when all is said and done, without you it - and we - are nothing.
On the 27th of November, 1981, we were privileged to be present at the birth of Atlantium - and then doubly privileged to be acclaimed its Sovereign. At that time our Empire was little more than an idea - but it was an idea that we firmly believed in and held dear.
At times in our first early months it seemed our fragile existence might be snuffed out by the hostile attitudes and actions of the nay-sayers, the small-minded, the backward-looking and others for whom the spirit of true independence is a thing to be feared. Nonetheless we prevailed, and in time flourished - a living manifestation of our motto - E TENEBRIS LUX - out of darkness, light.
Nineteen years later we stand on the threshold of a glorious new era. Technology has advanced to levels unimagined in 1981, such that our dreams of a worldwide community of Citizens, united in the vanguard of social, economic and political progress under the Dawn Tricolour of Atlantium - are well within the bounds of possibility.
As our population continues to expand and our international profile slowly grows it will become increasingly necessary for us to develop formal policy positions on a range of issues - including finance, education, health, technology, the environment, the ethical issues created by genetic advances, and geo-political conflict - to mention just a few. We must also become increasingly active in promoting our activities at every level - from the local through to the international - in order to wrest long-term recognition and legitimacy from those who would otherwise deny it to us.
To achieve this - and to ensure that the momentum thus achieved is carried forward - we will be effecting the restoration of full representative parliamentary government to the Empire in the course of the next year. A date for the General Election of Consuls to the Imperial Senate will be announced before the end of the current year, as will details of registration procedures for candidates seeking election or appointment to government posts.
We encourage all Citizens to consider an active role within the Imperial Government and administration - whether in an elected or an appointed function - and we look forward to working alongside all of our Citizens in helping to realise and extend the great and noble adventure that is the Empire of Atlantium!"
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
25th November, 2000 CE
Empire Experiences Unprecedented Growth
As Atlantium prepares to mark its 19th anniversary of Independence, news from the Ministry of Communications indicates that significantly more Atlantians than ever before will be celebrating on Monday 27th November.
The Ministry's Directorate of Information today released population data showing an extraordinary and unprecedented 1850% increase in the total population since the launch of the Empire's official online presence on 20th September. The increase, which is attributed to a continuing series of online promotional campaigns as well as recent media coverage is reported to be more than double initial Ministry projections.
Significantly, the growth in population has has been fairly even from the perspective of both age and residential distributions (as illustrated below) ensuring a fairly diverse yet well-balanced global population base overall:
Age Distribution of Atlantian Citizens:
0-17 years - 10.81%
18-30 years - 32.43%
31-40 years - 35.14%
41-60 years - 13.51%
61-80 years - 5.41%
80+ years - 0.00%Residential Distribution of Atlantian Citizens:
Antarctica - 0.00%
Africa - 2.63%
Asia - 21.05%
Australia - 28.94%
Europe - 21.05%
North America - 26.32%
South America - 0.00%Other population data released today confirm that 71.05% of Atlantians possess a university qualification, 39.47% are married or in a long term relationship, and that the average age is 32.46 years.
His Imperial Majesty George II stated that the figures proved the legitimacy of Atlantium's claims to global, supra-nationality and vindicated the belief in the necessity for the existence of an operational sovereign entity capable of superceding traditional concepts of territorial statehood.
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
18th November, 2000 CE
Sydney Press Coverage
The Empire's official online presence today secured coverage in Icon, the Sydney Morning Herald's Saturday technology liftout, as reproduced below.
The Sydney Morning Herald is one of Australia's highest circulation daily broadsheet newspapers.
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
17th November, 2000 CE
History from the Archives
An update to the Ministry of Communications page was today uploaded, allowing visitors to view for the first time the ten postage stamp issues made by the Empire of Atlantium in the 1982-85 period. These items, many of which have been in archival storage for fifteen or more years, represent some of the earliest extant documentary evidence of the Empire's early activies.
To view the historic postage stamps page go to http://www.atlantium.org/stampshistoric.html
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
13th November, 2000 CE
Imperial Honours System
Details of the Empire's civic awards system - formally known as the Imperial Honours - have now been uploaded to the official website, and can be seen at: http://www.atlantium.org/honours.html
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
Live Chat Page Launched
The Empire's official live Chat Forum was today launched ahead of schedule, providing a vehicle for realtime discussion between Citizens and all other interested parties.
His Imperial Majesty and other notables will be utilising this service on a regular unscheduled basis, and interaction with all users is encouraged. A schedule for formal online discussions will also be published in coming weeks and suggestions for this are are welcome.
The live Chat Forum may be accessed at: http://www.atlantium.org/chatroom.html
For further information or to suggest a discussion topic contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
Independence Day Online Meeting Change
In light of today's launch of the Empire's official live Chat Forum, the previously announced online Independence Day meeting will now not proceed using ICQ, and it is not necessary for Citizens to register their ICQ number with the Ministry of Communications.
The Independence Day meeting will instead be transferred to the new Chat Forum. Commencing at 21:00 hours Australian Eastern Summer Time on November 27th, His Imperial Majesty will welcome new Citizens, give his Independence Day Address to the Imperium and announce the award of Imperial Honours. A general discussion will follow the completion of the formal part of the proceedings.
For further information contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
10th November, 2000 CE
19th Anniversary of Independence
Atlantium will celebrate its Independence Day on 27th November with an online ICQ meeting and live open discussion for all Citizens. His Imperial Majesty will be participating in the general discussion, and will also announce the award of Independence Day Honours. Any Citizens who wish to participate should contact the Ministry of Communications to notify their ICQ number. For those who are unfamiliar with ICQ, further information can be found at: http://web.icq.com/index
For further information, or to notify your ICQ number contact:
ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
New Calendar and Dating System to be introduced
In a world-first intended to reflect its secular, global, cross-cultural and trans-national nature, Atlantium will adopt a new simplified, non-sectarian dating system and a decimal calendar, commencing January 1, 2001 CE.
Years will be counted from 10,500 before 1981 CE. Under the new system 2000 CE would be known as the year 10,519.
The Calendar is comprised of 10 months alternating between 36 and 37 days in length, and 73 weeks of 5 days. In leap years an intercalary 1-day month is inserted between the last day of the old year and the start of the new year.
The months are: Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Qunitus, Sextarius, Septimus, Octavus, Nonus, Decimus. The 5 days of the week have not yet been named, and suggestions are invited from all Citizens.
From January 1 next year, all official communications and documentation will use the new system, although to avoid undue confusion the traditional Gregorian equivalents will also be provided. For example, today’s date would be expressed as: 23rd Nonus, 10,519 (10th November, 2000 CE)
Full details, including comparative dating tables will be made available to all Citizens within the next four weeks.
For further information, or to contribute a suggestion for the names of the five weekdays, contact: ministryofcommunications@atlantium.org
20th Anniversary Coins
Plans for the minting of the Empire’s first ever coinage, to coincide with the 20th Anniversary of Independence in 2001 CE, have been extended. Initial plans were for the minting of a brass alloy 10 Solidus coin only. Production will however now be expanded to mint a 1 Solidus nickel coin and a 25 Centi copper coin as well.
For further information contact: ministryoffinance@atlantium.org
General Election Update
After nearly a decade of direct rule by His Imperial Majesty George II, Atlantium is on track to return to full parliamentary democracy from 2001. Whilst a date for the General Election has yet to be announced, it is likely to fall sometime between March and May. Information about the registration process for Citizens wishing to stand for election to the Concilium will be advised within the next four weeks.
For further information contact: ministryofstate@atlantium.org
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