Kalistani Major History

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Minister of Internal Affairs Alex Griffin (FP) threatens to resign from government
Ministers Kyle Portman and Roy Shark sided with Minister Griffin
Kaliburg, Ananto
January 18, 5078


Minister Griffin, explaining the situation to the Republic

This morning, the minister of Internal Affairs, Alex Griffin issued a statement to the SPoK, who proposed a bill titled the Rectification act. Griffin called this bill outrageous, and threatened to leave his ministry if the bill passed, due to articles 3 and 8, which would once again allow minors to purchase and consume alcohol and tobacco products. Griffin told the National Assembly, that he will be resigning from his position if the Rectification act passes the vote. 2 Other ministers from the Folksparty joined Alex Griffin in this promise to vacate their seats: Kyle Portman (Science and Technology) and Roy Shark (Food and Agriculture). Most of the Folksparty Assembly members were strictly against the bill, but even they were surprised of this harsh and strict reaction from multiple cabinet members.

But this has sparked some infighting within the Folksparty, some members siding with the Socialists, and others with Griffin. "There is no way we should be working with the SP, if they only wish to go back and get rid of our accomplishments", posted Tom Thomasson (FP) on his social media account.

Alex Griffin himself gave a short statement of the situation to the Republic:

The Socialist Party, which we have worked with and supported for years now has suddenly decided to once again let our children be ruined by tobacco and alcohol. I sincerely hope the bill does not pass for the sake of the health of our children. I wouldn't want my son to become an alcoholic, or a smoker! But if the SP truly wishes to pass this bill, I will resign from my position as the Internal Minister, and so have pledged my colleagues Portman and Shark.

The rest of the Folksparty ministers, although clearly not happy with this bill, have not felt comfortable to resign and break off their relations with their long time allies. They have not agreed to make statements to the press.

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Rectification Act draws ire of FolksParty Members
Several cabinet resignations are expected in coming months
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 18,5078


Premier Bjorksdattir addresses pending resignations

Premier of the Republic Agnethe Bjorksdattir addressed the pending collapse of the Government over the SP’s Rectification Bill which is expected to pass into law soon. “It seems that some members of our coalition partners are not happy that the SP has returned to our traditional stance on smoking and drinking. Perhaps the comrades did not take us seriously when we noted our opposition to these changes before, or when we promised to undo them. We have kept our word and if the ministers of the Folks Party must resign over this, they may do so with our gratitude for their years of service and cooperation.”

Bjorksdattir claimed that there was no need for strict age regulations on tobacco or alcohol. “We have seen no evidence that smoking or drinking has been reduced as a result of this law among non-adults,” said the Premier. “The only thing this law does therefore, far be it from promoting healthy decision making in young adults, is legally deny them the right to do what they are now doing illegally. Prohibition does not reduce usage, it merely makes it more expensive and perversely, less safe.”

The Premier then touched on a long standing theme of the SP. “This is a matter of personal choice,” said Bjorksdattir. “Each person who uses alcohol or tobacco makes the choice to acquire it, presumably in the most efficient way possible and then use it to their satisfaction. If the goal is to reduce smoking and drinking among the youth, this seems like a role that parents can and should play. But the Republican Government is not a parent. Our role is only to regulate the public space. And we have long held that use of substances is at its core a private space activity.”

“Furthermore,” she added, “this presentation of our children as drunks and chain smokers without this law is really rather disappointing. For centuries, nations of the world hostile to the very fact of Kalistan’s existence have denied Kalistan’s legitimacy and right to exist because they paint us as drug addled pirates and narco-terrorists. They describe our fine people as ‘out of control drug addicts’ and use our liberty as a weapon against us. I would hope that our friends in the Folks Party would avoid that trope. And I am sad to see a few of their members repeating it in the press.”

The Premier noted that if the defections from the coalition lead to a big enough split between the two coalition partners, Bjorksdattir will call for early elections and let the people weigh in on the matter.

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Griffin leaves his resignation notice alongside Portman and Shark
The Folksparty is divided - Leadership elections to follow
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 27, 5078


Minister Griffin announcing his resignation

The expected resignations of ministers Portman, Shark and Griffin have been officialised today, leaving the cabinet with 3 empty seats. It is to be expected that there will be some new additions and changes to the current cabinet, but negotiations might prove hard considering the divided status of the Folksparty. The party is split between Griffin and his supporters, and the current party leader Sam Martin, who has been put under some criticism because of this resignation scandal.

Current Folksparty leader Sam Martin called an election to decide the future scope of the party

Mr. Martin has announced that following this sudden division of the party, there will be elections for the leadership in the next months, to see which way the party wants to go towards, Martin's current plans of cooperation and compromises, or Griffin's ideas of separation of the two parties, and focusing more on FP's values and ideas. The votes are expected to be quite even due to Griffin's high ranking position in the party despite the fact that the current leader is immensely popular within Folksparty members. Regardless of the outcome, the Folksparty will surely go through change in membership and structure. Martin stated "The matter is of course to be decided by a fair vote, and although I am saddened to hear that many of our members wish to not support my any further, I'm for democracy, and I will hear the will of the party, and if it so requires, I will step down as party leader."

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Alex Griffin wins the Folksparty elections by a mere 3%
Dozens of FP members have switched to independents
Kaliburg, Ananto
May 15, 5078


Griffin giving a speech after being elected party leader

After close elections for the Folksparty leadership, Alex Griffin has come on top, gaining the vote of just 3% more voters than former leader Sam Martin. Griffin calls this "a great victory for all of Folksparty" and has already begun giving a harsher stance against compromise between the two major parties. "Since the Socialist Party has not agreed to compromise with our ideas, there is no reason to support their opposing views either" he said in a press conference. Mr. Martin, who has resigned from the Folksparty following the election results said "This was a stroke of good luck for Griffin and his buddies, but the election was a close one, I would not call it great whatsoever." He has stated that he will be continuing his duties in the National Assembly, only as an independent politician. A few dozen members of the Folksparty in the National Assembly follow his lead, including Joe Williams, current minister of Infrastructure and Transport, and even more members, who are not in the assembly. All of which are claiming to not have changed their views, but simply refusing to work with Griffin's ideas of non-cooperation.

Alex Griffin has also stated that he will be running for the presidency in the already expected early elections, hoping to put a formidable opposition to the Socialist Party's candidate. As of now, the support for Griffin seems to not generally be high, but he has begun large-scale campaigns all across Kalistan, especially in the mainland districts, and the remaining high-ranking members of the party have all showed their support for his campaign.

Roy Shark, one of Griffin's closest partners announcing the Griffin Tour

Roy Shark has announced the so called "Griffin Tour", a campaign in multiple Kalistani cities, taking a few weeks in an attempt to gain votes for his partner and colleague's presidential elections upcoming the next year. The Griffin Tour will go around major cities of Kalistan, including Kaliburg, Vrassa City, Sulari and many more. The full list of cities can be found on the Folksparty website, Folksparty.ks. Many of the FP's most prominent members will be joining the tour, including of course Alex Griffin himself.

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Premier Bjorksdattir calls FP defection "regrettable, but not unpredictable"
SP vows to carry on without FP cooperation, Calls for Early Elections
Kaliburg, Ananto
April 2, 5079


Premier of the Republic addresses the collapse of the Grand Coalition

The Government which has been in place for nearly 7 years has officially collapsed, according to a statement by Premier of the Republic Bjorksdattir in the Capital yesterday. "We were informed by FP leaders that several of their main Legislative Members have defected from the Party, and have adopted a more confrontational stance toward the Socialist Party under the new leadership of Alex Griffin. We are unclear as to all of the reasons for the Folks Party abandoning cooperation, and put the responsibility on a few radicals who so firmly objected to the libertarian positions of the SP's majority with regard to smoking and drinking. It is the FP's right, of course to withdraw support from the National Government, and if the Party's members are insistent, as I believe they are, on leaving coalition, I will have no choice but to call for elections about half a year ahead of schedule. The Majority then will likely form a government which is composed of a single Party, whoever that happens to be. But we will abide by the will of the voters as in all things."

The Premier called the defection of the FP from the Government "regrettable, but not unpredictable given their unreasonable support for Government intrusion into the decisions of individuals with regard to smoking and drinking, and I suspect also our position on Abortion. But the SP will always stand for the people of Kalistan, and we expect that voters will certainly reward our Party for taking the positions we have on these important issues."

The Premier was insistent that the collapse of the Government has not derailed deepening economic integration with Lourenne, or naval developments already underway. "These important developments will remain ongoing," said the Premier. "Development and procurement sit in a separate realm from political disagreements between Government Parties."

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Fresh Foods LLC to expand grocery options across the Republic
New food options to be on offer for the health and environmentally conscious consumer
Eshar, Odufaray
March 3, 5081


First Fresh Foods Co-Op opened in Eshar, more to follow across all 5 Districts

A new private food retailer, Fresh Foods LLC, has recently opened its first store in Eshar, Odufaray, and aims to revolutionize the food shopping experience.

"We are not trying to replace the food bank," said Fresh Food LLC CEO Cleo Jones, "but to offer a new way of getting good healthy and environmentally conscious. Our co-op design makes Members share owners in the store, giving them democratic control over the operation of our co-ops, to include what sorts of foods we stock, what kind of technology we use to get food to our customers, and how food is priced. Additionally, we want to make delivery a priority, so people can shop from home and have the food at their homes faster than they could have gotten it themselves."

The Co-op model, Jones explained, allows people to purchase memberships to the store. "These memberships are actually shares in the co-op and are used to capitalize and expand the store," said Jones. "Members then get perks that non-members do not get. For example: Members are eligible for free delivery, and specific discounts throughout the week on popular foods. We also encourage our members to grow fresh produce and provide it directly to their co-ops: having a dedicated buyer allows small farmers to price in some certainty into their growing plans." non-members will also be able to shop in the co-op, though online delivery will only be available to non-members at a fee, which, after a few deliveries will equal the cost of membership for the year. "Our goal is, of course to encourage all consumers to join the co-op."

Fresh Foods LLC says their co-operatives will always source their food as locally as possibly, turning the operation into a part time farmers' market. "Naturally, for more exotic foods, we will also source the globe: if consumers demand it, it is our job to find it and get it for them." Jones also noted that the store is committed to environmental and anti-cruelty standards for produce and meats. "We want to make the whole experience as clean as possible. We only use organically grown, if it is possible, and our meat options must be certified cruelty free. We care about the planet and want to put our money where our mouth is." Besides produce and meats, the store also sells cereals, grains, bulk dried goods and vegetarian and vegan foods. "We are also looking to selling hot food prepared in store, but this is still a matter for the future."

The store is also employing a new "Picking" model, where orders are received in a store, and several shoppers, each with responsibility for 3 or 4 aisles, fan out across the store. "We have acquired new technology that allows us to scan and sell the item as soon as we pick it, so it doesn't need to go through a check out lane," said Jones. "It is very exciting to see in operation." A demonstration showed that an order containing 37 different items in diverse areas of the store could be pulled in 4 minutes and loaded into a delivery van in 3 minutes, meaning the entire order was completed and on its way to a customer in less than 10 minutes.

"As the co-op expands, I imagine there will be whole armies of pickers, and we might even switch to a warehouse model for members, so that our shoppers are not competing with instore customers." Plans are in the works to open co-op branches in all major cities across the Republic. "Diversity in diet is the goal here," said Jones. "The Co-op gives Kalistanis more choices."

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FOMAT Organizing Committee says FOMAT XIX on for next year
Minimum Country Commitment Achieved after a decade of effort
Kaliburg, Ananto
May 1, 5081


Organizing Committee chairwoman Monique Xavier announces FOMAT XIX at GMHoF in Luxon

Meeting the minimum requirement for organizing a new FOMAT in Kalistan has been a tough sell over the years. Many countries boycotted the last few events of the legendary music contest, and the contest has not been held in 112 years. But FOMAT Organizing Committee Chairwoman Monique Xavier, who is currently curator of Collections at the Global Music Hall of Fame in Luxon Ananto, announced last week that more than five nations besides Kalistan had committed to sending musicians to a new FOMAT to be held in Kalistan.

"We are happy to announce that we have firm commitments from at least five nations to send music to FOMAT, and Kalistan has therefore volunteered to host the event," said Xavier at a Press Conference. "FOMAT XIX's theme is 'A New Day', and this theme, which is reflected in the Festival's official logo, aims at restarting the beloved festival to encourage music arts in the World."

FOMAT XIX Logo: "A New Day"

Xavier announced several changes to the format of the festival. "First off, we decided that the festival should be a cooperative event rather than one which features competition as its centerpiece. While that did drive the event to focus on the competition, it also lead to national boycotts, bad feelings, and diminution of the spirit of the event, which is to showcase the World's best music." In addition, the Committee announced that instead of just being one night, FOMAT XIX would be a week long festival designed to attract music fans from all over the world to get together, meet one another, and listen to music they might not always have access to. "The name is festival of musical arts. It should be a festival. And if Kalistan knows one thing, it is how to put on a huge music festival."

This festival format also fulfills one long term Kalistani ambition, which is to host an international music festival along the lines of the GanJam. "The good thing about using the FOMAT festival is that we can attract countries that do not show our attitudes on drugs to Kalistan to play music here. It is reasonable that countries should come to the center of popular music and play their music for the whole world to hear."

The week long festival will feature national pavilions where countries can showcase their national music scenes. "We hope festival goers will tour the different pavilions, learn about styles, history, and flavors of music from around the world, and listen to great bands playing." said Xavier. "Exposing everyone to the music of the world will be a benefit not only to the Kalistani music scene, but will cross pollinate and lead to sharing of music styles and palates for everyone in attendance." The pavilions will also feature vendor stalls where bands can sell their records and merchandise, and promote themselves. "And of course there will also be food," said Xavier with a laugh. The entire event will culminate in a show on the main GMHoF stage, where each country will nominate a band to perform a sample of the popular music from their country. "This will be the first time in over one hundred years artists from so many different countries shared the same stage. It is a real treat to even think of."

Committee fundraising has adequately covered the entire cost of the festival as well as the cost of transportation for the band and its road crew, as well as a plane load of fans who will travel to the event free of charge. "We also will make the entire event free admission and will provide lodging for the entire week in and around Luxon. We also encourage people to take time out from the Festival and tour Kalistan with inexpensive charter flights going from Luxon to Kaliburg and Sulari." The goal is to boost attendance, both domestic and foreign.

"We know that the show will seem kind of weird without the competition aspect," said Xavier, "But I think we have enough to do around the festival that the final event will be a nice chill way to kick back, relax and enjoy some music one final time before heading back home again. Hopefully our festival, which eschews the competition and the controversy, and relaxes rules on submission of contestants, will inspire more non-competitive FOMATS in the future, and more countries will seek to volunteer to host FOMATS in the future."

The festival is expected to draw more than 50,000 music fans from around the world.

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Los Coyotes to represent Kalistan at FOMAT XIX
KME Artists from Sulari to play their 5081 hit "Ningún Perdón"
Sulari, Suldanor
March 1, 5082


Los Coyotes, seen here overlooking Sulari at dusk, record for LTD Records, and were chosen because of their "chill sound and fun atmosphere"

Adult Contemporary KME rock band Los Coyotes has been selected to represent the Republic next month at FOMAT XIX. The group beat out seventeen other nominees to claim top honors in a listener poll held in January by KRTVN M7.

"We are happy to get the chance to represent the Republic at the festival," said lead singer and rhythm guitarist Dave Angel Cruz. "We didn't even know we were nominated until (bassist) Bobby (Verde) told us to check M7, where they were doing the poll. I was like 'What? Ain't that show for kids? But no. Looks like we won the vote. So, I guess we'll go to Luxon."

The veteran KME musicians have a dedicated and very loyal following over their more than 15 years of making music in Suldanor and Odufaray. They have more than 10 albums to their credit, and play festivals across the Republic. The song the band will be playing is featured on their most recent album La Patria which was released by LTD last year. "We sing more frequently in Vrassan, but we chose 'Ningún Perdón' because it kind of has a Gaduri sound that people can really dance to. And it is kind of reggae infused as well. It's actually a pretty catchy tune, and Kalistan is known for bringing interesting tunes to FOMAT." We really look forward to playing for an international audience."

Los Coyotes will be taking a break from their touring schedule to go to the Festival. "It's kind of a cool thing. We've played the Hall many times, of course, but this time the whole world will be watching. I definitely want to check out some of the pavillions," said Cruz. "My wife and kids will be there too. It should be a lot of fun."

FOMAT XIX will be broadcast live around the world from the Global Music Hall of Fame in Luxon, Ananto on terrestrial, satellite and internet sources on April 30 of this year.

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Kalistani Merchant Captain Marcus Creighton to Trade in Majatran Sea
Trade Mission aims to demonstrate Kalistani good will toward Majatran Nations through sales of food, clothing, ODEN products and Weaponry
Sulari, Suldanor
May 8, 5083


Veteran Sea Captain Marcus Creighton to head Kalistani Trade Mission to Majatra

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has commission Comrade Captain Marcus Creighton to sail a trade Armada to Majatra, to stop at various ports along the coast of the Majatran Sea. "We were informed that Kalistani ships sailing in the Majatran Sea would be obliterated before we made a single cent," said Creighton. "However, that was years ago and things have changed. We will sail the Majatran Sea and sell Kalistani goods at all friendly ports."

Creighton intends to fly Kalistani Colors for most of the trip, but in the event of interdiction efforts, they will reserve the option to reflag the vessels. "We don't know of any code which restricts the colors we fly in the face of hostile actors," said Creighton. The manifest that is to be sold might be considered contraband in several nations along the route, and the fleet will attempt to evade or dissuade interdiction as it sails to its trade ports.

"We expect to be carrying significant quantities of ODEN product, to set up floating markets in international waters. Since ODEN doesn't import drugs to foreign countries, we just want to bring the market closer to potential buyers." In addition to ODEN goods, the Kalistani fleet plans to bring surplus KALMILINCO products. "Deltaria finds itself at war rather frequently. Surely there are actors there who need guns, ammunition, anti aircraft shoulder fired rockets, and the like. Supply and demand is a thing." Creighton will also bring things like field rations, military clothing and boots, and is empowered to write contracts for larger shipments with individual and private actors in the region.

The Armada expects to leave later this month, and is keeping its route to Majatra largely a secret, to deter interdiction or delay, but it is believed that they will be travelling by way of the Aldegar Canal.

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Marcus Creighton's Fleet sails the Wide Majatran
Fleet Visits ports in Potensi, Barmenia, Vanuku, Kalopia, Kafuristan, Badara, Cildania, and Jelbania; heads for Solentia
Majatran Sea, Majatra
October 10, 5083


Nearly 20 ships, primarily oil tankers remain of Marcus Creighton's Fleet following successful sales in Majatra

Aiming to crack open Majatran trade for the Northern Anantonese Economic community and expose the continent to the superior quality of Kalistani Goods, the fleet that departed Kalistan earlier this year under the command of Captain and CEO Marcus Creighton has nearly completed its mission.

"We left Kalistan with hundreds of millions of rubles worth of cargo," said the now legendary Captain Creighton who is nearing the end of the fleet's journey through the Majatran Sea. "We sailed over the Northern Anantonese and Mad Dog Oceans in May, and arrived in the Majatran Sea by May 31. Luckily, we were unhindered along the way: A flotilla of more than 50 trade and supply vessels like this has never, to my knowledge been assembled on the surface of the ocean before! During the cooler months we made many stops, but spent most of our time living life on the calm Majatran Sea." Creighton bragged that the fleet flew the Kalistani Republic Colors the entire trip and did not need to reflag any of the vessels. "We were expecting some resistance to our being in the region. But. It never seemed to materialize and we passed the days and nights entirely unhindered."

During the day, Creighton's fleet would send container ships into ports of various neutral countries in the basin: Over all, elements of the fleet weighed anchor in eight different countries in the region. Licit sales were in the billions of rubles all told, as the continent was flooded with inexpensive Kalistani foodstuffs, consumer electronics like cell phones and televisions, petroleum, clothing, luxury items, pharmaceuticals, and drugs. "We sold LOTS of alcohol to this continent, as well as tons of marijuana which had been hermetically sealed in hundred pound bales designed for the long trip oversea. We sold all 25 MOCOs we had on the trip to one collector in a day. It was a feeding frenzy!" At night, the fleet was constantly servicing smaller independent trading vessels who would pull sloops, freight steamers or whatever would float up to the fleet to buy smaller lots of cargo.

"We sold thousands of rifles," said Creighton. "That continent is positively awash in Kalistani small arms which was surplus from decades of KALMILINCO production. Millions of rounds of ammunition, some of it, shall we say, past its expiration date. Who knows if it will work, but we were clear and they often got the stuff at a discount." The fleet also sold tons of the array of ODEN products from the floating marketplace. "ODEN makes it a point to not import things into countries who are not ODEN members, but there is nothing in the charter that says an enterprising sea captain such as myself can't fill up at 250 foot yacht full of cocaine and sell it to consumers out in international waters." Creighton was explicit that he is not a representative of ODEN.

Overall, Creighton sold off most of his fleet's cargo over the four months he has been at large in the Majatran Sea. "The food went first of course," said Creighton. "Then the containers, the guns, the bullets, the marijuana... all sold in good time. The most difficult to sell was oil. Primarily due to a relatively large supply locally, but also because there are not a lot of facilities around the sea which can handle it. This region is in some serious need of development: Most of the facilities we found were in pretty serious need of repair and upgrading. We were able to sell about a million barrels over the summer, which of course was good." As ships emptied, their crew returned them to Kalistan. "Most of what we have left is oil and pharmaceuticals, as well as supply and refueling ships. All told, we are down to about 20 ships, most carrying petroleum."

Creighton said his fleet's last stop will be Solentia, which he hopes to make port at by mid-Month. "We know there are sanctions placed on the Island due to their crazy politics and so forth. But we don't really pay attention to sanctions. International law won't stop an old salt like me." Creighton noted that his trip made so much money for his enterprise that he is prepared to sell the remainder of his refined petroleum stocks, which he estimates at between 2.3 and 3.4 million barrels, at below cost just to dump it on the market. "What we don't sell off in Solentia, we will return to Kalistan with and return to KALNAPECO."

Creighton said he expects to return via the Aldegar Canal. He estimates that he broke even on the venture in early July, and his profit is expected to be more than 1 billion Rubles. "Of course I will pay taxes..." said Creighton, with a wry smile. "To Kalistan." Creighton's voyage is on track to be the most immediately profitable Kalistani Corporate venture ever, in terms of earnings over time, and Marcus Creighton will certainly be long remembered and hailed as a nautical hero in the Republic and across the Anantonese Ocean.