Museum opens in Lichtenstein

Austenasia’s first museum has opened in the town of Lichtenstein. The Imperial Museum of Austenasia, founded and administered by Lord C. Hengest Crannis, Duke of Grantabridge, contains a large number of items from across the world relevant to small sovereign states and micronations. Notable exhibits include the flag used during the colonisation of Heischierland, letters and Christmas cards sent to the Duke by the Imperial Family, leaflets and booklets with information on various small states, and stamps, flags, visas, treaties and currency from several extant and former micronations. Permission to use the prefix “Imperial” was granted by the Emperor on Independence Day, while plans for the establishment of the museum were underway.

Local Election candidates confirmed

Those standing for Representative in next month’s local election have been confirmed. All incumbents are standing for election, with some at present only being Acting Representatives due to their Towns having joined the Empire after the most recent local elections in November last year. In no Town is there an opposing candidate standing for election, but this does not mean that there will be only one choice on the ballot paper. All subjects will have an option to abstain – should the option to abstain gain more votes than the candidate, the respective Town Council may take power for itself or appoint a new Acting Representative. Those standing for election to the office of Representative are: In Wrythe: HIM Emperor Jonathan I In Zephyria: Lord Marshal William, Baron of Zephyria In Thanasia: HIH Eritoshi, Countess of Memphis In Palasia: Lord John Gordon, Baron of Palasia In Lichtenstein: Lord Hengest Crannis, Duke of Grantabridge In Porthbokon: Lady Evren Filgert, Duchess of Dumnonia In New Richmond: HIH Joseph Nobilissimus Caesar In Shineshore: Lord Alastair Cranston, Duke of New Virginia

Successful expedition to Heischierland returns to Lichtenstein

An expedition to annex Heischierland to the Empire of Austenasia successfully completed its goal upon arrival on 17 July, and after enjoying a holiday there returned back to Lichtenstein earlier today. The expedition – which comprised of Lord Hengest Crannis, the other two residents of Lichtenstein, and the former’s grandmother – journeyed to Heischierland two weeks ago. Heischierland, which consists of a holiday home in the Canary Islands, was approved by Parliament at the end of last month to join the Empire as soon as it could be travelled to and physically claimed. The property has been annexed as a Crown Dependency, with Lord Hengest as its Governing Commissioner. His grandmother, M. Crannis, who owns the property, has been appointed to the office of Lord Lieutenant as his deputy. Heischierland, which has been estimated to cover roughly 952 square feet but consists of two storeys, is the first land of Austenasia to be situated in Africa; with this newest annexation, the Empire now spans every continent but Asia and Antarctica.

Annexations continue amidst warnings of over-expansion

Parliament yesterday evening passed an Act annexing a new Crown Dependency in North America and authorising the annexation of another in the Canary Islands in two weeks. Oregonia, an area of wooded parkland measuring roughly 650 square feet which borders the Kingdom of Überstadt, has joined the Empire as a new Crown Dependency, with King Adam I of Überstadt appointed its Governing Commissioner. The growth of various plants in the area, some of which can be used for dyeing textiles, has opened up an opportunity for Austenasian-Überstadti trade. The Act of Parliament also authorised Lord Hengest Crannis to annex a holiday home owned by his family in the Canary Islands when he visits there later in the month. This will make Africa the fifth continent to have an Austenasian presence, and the new Crown Dependency there – which will be known as Heischierland – will be somewhat of a tourism hub, with friends and family of Lord Hengest frequently staying there. However, concerns were raised in Parliament as to the rate at which the Empire is expanding. Lord John Gordon voiced his opinion that the Empire needs “to slow down”. Emperor Jonathan I replied agreeing that “some consolidation is indeed necessary”, and that Austenasia does not “need a new piece of land every month”. It is therefore thought that the Empire’s rate of expansion will significantly slow down, if not stop, for the next several months.

Pigeon shot by air rifle falls into Wrythe

A pigeon fell out of the air onto the patio at the back of the Imperial Residence this afternoon after having been shot with an air rifle. The shot had been fired from 316 Green Wrythe Lane, a house close to the Imperial Residence. A person living there is thought to have been visited by police officers only a few weeks ago due to him using the air rifle in their garden, having been heard to loudly complain about the incident on a mobile phone. The pigeon landed on the patio and frantically shuffled into Wrythe Public Park, where the Emperor himself contained it under a large basket to prevent it from spreading blood over the park or injuring itself further. After telephoning the RSPCA (a British animal welfare charity) to ask for the bird to be taken to be treated for its injury, the Emperor was asked by them to contact the British police to inform them of the incident, as both injuring a wild bird and shooting something outside of one’s own private property (as the pigeon almost certainly was) are illegal in the United Kingdom. Two police officers soon arrived and were invited into the Imperial Residence by the Emperor, where he informed them of the situation. Despite the near-certainty that the bird had been shot – it had fallen out of the air after a loud “crack”, with the people at the nearby house having been heard mere minutes ago talking about “shoot[ing] it” after having been seen using the air rifle in their garden – the lack of an actual eyewitness meant that the police could take no action against them without the case being brought to court. The Emperor declined to press charges, only expressing concern for the welfare of the pigeon. The police officers waited for several minutes for the RSPCA officers to arrive, but then had to depart, leaving a note with contact details should the RSPCA wish to press charges against the shooters. After some time, an RSPCA officer telephoned the Imperial Residence stating that they were over an hour away and that it would be better for the bird to be taken to a nearby vet. However, there was nobody in the Imperial Residence who was allowed to drive on British roads, with the Emperor Mother and Emperor Father being at work and visiting friends respectively. Lord Michael – uncle of the Emperor and twelfth in line to the Throne – kindly came to Wrythe and drove the Emperor and the pigeon to a nearby veterinary clinic, where the pigeon was given treatment and will soon be transferred to an animal sanctuary. Lord Michael has received official thanks both from the Emperor and from Lord Hengest Crannis, Minister for the Environment, for transporting the pigeon to the vets.      

Palm oil banned in Austenasia

Austenasia has become the first government in the world to ban the importation and trade of palm oil. Palm oil is a vegetable oil which is produced in a way which is extremely damaging to the environment, with mass deforestation leading to huge amounts of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere and to the loss of precious habitat for critically endangered species such as the Sumatran rhinoceros and orangutan. Under new legislation passed this morning, the intentional importation or trade of palm oil is now punishable by a fine of between £5 and £15. An Imperial Decree passed shortly afterwards made an exception for importing palm oil to be used for medical reasons, but this can only be done with the permission of the Representative of one’s Town. Palm oil is in many products, such as several brands of peanut butter. However, because only the intentional importation and trade of palm oil is banned, negligent importation and trade of products containing it (e.g., not checking ingredient labels) would not be prosecuted. The main aim of this legislation is to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by the production of the oil. The ban only applies to Austenasian Towns and Territories, with Crown Dependencies free to choose whether or not to implement it. Palm oil has already been banned in the Crown Dependency of New Richmond since last year. The Palm Act 2014 was passed by three votes to two in the House of Representatives after having been written and proposed by newly appointed Minister for the Environment, Lord Hengest Crannis, yesterday evening. Lord Hengest has written a message concerning the reasons behind the ban, which can be read here.  

Four new annexations take place as the Empire further expands

Seven people and over 64,000 square feet of land have joined the Empire of Austenasia in four simultaneous annexations. In Canada, a new Crown Dependency known as Shineshore has been annexed. Situated on the shore of Lake Ontario, it is the first time that the Empire has had a coastline of any sort, and a prospective naval force is currently being discussed. Shineshore, with a population of five, is governed by Lord Alastair Cranston. Lord Alastair is also owner of a second addition to the Empire, the Territory of Beith Craobh Iostan on the Scottish isle of Coll. This land features a newly-built holiday house, uninhabited for most of the year. The third expansion made by the Empire has been to the already existing Territory of Emperorsland, which has annexed the adjacent house lived in by its governor, Lord Hengest Crannis (formerly known as Karanys Dómynus and Theledir the Wight). The annexation of this house has transitioned the Territory of Emperorsland into the Empire’s fifth Town, now known as Lichtenstein, of which Lord Hengest has been appointed Acting Representative. The fourth annexation made by Austenasia this evening – all of which were put into effect by an Act of Parliament – has been of the Territory of Glencoe, ten square feet of land also in Scotland and owned by Lord Hengest. Neither Glencoe or Beith Craobh Iostan have had governors appointed to them due to no known suitable candidates living near enough to them.