History of Volaworand

Volaworand

Overview of Volaworand

History

History of Volaworand
See also:
- Volaworand Newswire

Geography

Geography of Volaworand
See also:
- Principal fossil localities
- Queen Elizabeth Land

Government and Politics

Head of State
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
See also:
- How a bill becomes a law
- Volaworand Defence Forces
- Foreign Relations

Economy

Economy of Volaworand
See also:
- Volaworand Space Agency
- Southern Transportation Corporation
- VIM Programme
- Attractions and Tourist Activities
- Royal National Zoological Park
- Kentucky Fried Penguin Locations

The United Kingdom has had a continuous presence in the far South Atlantic since 1833 when it reasserted sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. In 1908, the UK extended its territorial claim by declaring sovereignty over "South Georgia, the South Orkneys, the South Shetlands, the Sandwich Islands, and Graham's Land, situated in the South Atlantic Ocean and on the Antarctic continent to the south of the 50th parallel of south latitude, and lying between the 20th and the 80th degrees of west longitude". All these territories were administered as Falkland Islands Dependencies from Stanley by the Governor of the Falkland Islands.

In 1917, the wording of the claim was modified, so as to, among other things, unambiguously include all the territory in the sector stretching to the South Pole (thus encompassing all of the present-day Dominion of Volaworand). The new claim covered "all islands and territories whatsoever between the 20th degree of west longitude and the 50th degree of west longitude which are situated south of the 50th parallel of south latitude; and all islands and territories whatsoever between the 50th degree of west longitude and the 80th degree of west longitude which are situated south of the 58th parallel of south latitude". The United Kingdom also claimed Victoria Land in 1841 and Enderby Land in 1930, however all territory between 160°E and 45°E was transferred to Australia in 1933.

In 1943, at the height of World War II, the UK undertook a military operation known as Operation Tabarin, to provide reconnaissance and meteorological information in the South Atlantic Ocean. This "secret" wartime project became the civilian Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey and later the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). BAS is responsible for most of the United Kingdom's scientific research in Antarctica. In the 1950s the Antarctic Treaty was negotiated to demilitarise the region and retain Antarctica – defined as all land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude – for peaceful research purposes. The treaty was passed in 1961. Britian reorganized her overseas territories and on March 3, 1962 recognized the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory into three separate colonies.

The South Atlantic Conflict

The South Atlantic Conflict, (Spanish: Guerra del Atlántico Sur), was a ten-week war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over three British overseas territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory(BAT). It began on Friday, 2 April 1982, when Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands (and, the following day, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) in an attempt to establish the sovereignty it had claimed over them. On 5 April, the British government dispatched a naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy and Air Force before making an amphibious assault on the islands. A small military forces seized control of Argentine research stations in the BAT. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with the Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, restoring the islands British control and accepting the British military presence in BAT. In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders died during the hostilities.

The conflict was a major episode in the protracted confrontation over the territories' sovereignty. Argentina asserted (and maintains) that the islands are Argentine territory, and the Argentine government thus characterized its military action as the reclamation of its own territory. The British government regarded the action as an invasion of a territory that had been a Crown colony since 1841. Falkland Islanders, who had inhabited the islands since the early 19th century, are predominantly descendants of British settlers, favored British sovereignty. Neither state officially declared war, although both governments declared the South Atlantic Areas a war zone. Hostilities were almost exclusively limited to the territories under dispute.

As a result of the conflict, Britain maintained a military force in all three territories, and forces at home began pressing for development to justify the expenditure. Britain expanded scientific missions, allowed limited mineral exploration in BAT and placed a small military base in the territory. Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Argentina were restored in 1989 following a meeting in Madrid, at which the two governments issued a joint statement. No change in either country's position regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands was made explicit. Argentine research stations were allowed to reopen in BAT after Argentina withdrew it claim over the sector.

As the warming climate made the Antarctic Peninsula region more accessible to shipping, Britain began building ports, airstrips and permanent settlements along the coast. This lead to a showdown with Chile who had an overlapping claim, resulting in protests under the Antarctic Treaty System. Britain withdrew from the treaty and continued to build up the infrastructure and allowing mining exploration, threatening penguin nesting areas. The hostility escalated and Britain's military units expelled Chilean personnel from the research stations operated by Chile. British forces rapidly controlled all facilities in BAT, triggering the involvement of global powers. All visiting researchers and scientists were quarantined on the South Shetland Islands under armed guard. A showdown ensured between British warships a and Russian-American lead to a blockade of the area for a full season, trapping many scientists for an extra 8 months.

Shetland Accords and Independence

Norway began talks to de-escalate the blockade in 1996 and ultimately was crucial in bringing all parties to peace talks. The United Kingdom, United States, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Peru, Brazil, and Norway signed the Shetland Accords recognizing the exclusive claim of the British Antarctic Territory over the summer of 1996 and, in accordance with the accord, and The Territory was granted self rule in 1997. A domestic movement began to identify the Territory as 'Volaworand'. Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Chile, Argentina, and Poland have signed but not yet ratified the accord. Ecuador and South Korea refused to sign and a technical state of war still exists between these nations and Volaworand. Spain took part in negotiations but pulled out early. In accordance with the treaty the British portions of foreign debt in Chile and Argentina were forgiven, global scientific researchers were allowed back, the area was opened to limited foreign investment, and a restriction was placed on military deployments, subject to international inspections.

Following changing governments in Britain, support for the colony declined and a independence movement gained support in Volaworand. After a series of constitutional negotiations, Volaworand elected an independent Parliament in 2014 and was officially granted complete independence on Oct 15, 2017. The new nation recognized some international treaties and was accepted into the Commonwealth. Japan signed a separate military and scientific accord with the new nation.

Tourism, mining, and research have boomed in Volaworand. The nation receives extensive support from global technology and mining companies, creating tension with environmentalists and threatening to collapse the Antarctic Treaty as other nations consider development. Thus far the treaty remains loosely in force leaving Volaworand the only portion of Antarctica open to migration and legal development. The nation is eyed with some suspicion in diplomatic circles, so the leadership pays close attention to how it is perceived in global press and hosts many "SPIT Booze Cruise" events for the foreign press and diplomats. Foreign research staff pay minimal income tax and the Central Bank operates offshore banking services for wealthy foreigners looking for a secretive a low-tax jurisdiction.

Domestically, the Volaworand government focuses on health, welfare, social programs, science and infrastructure development. Never wanting to again be subject to a blockade the military focuses on naval, submarine and space based technology. The Coast Guard and Search and Rescue units maintain a fleet of ice breakers, helicopters, and specialized rescue and transport equipment. The state-owned planes, boats and snowmobiles of Southern Transportation Company, and the resources of the Volaworand Royal Postal Service are available in emergencies.

The nation looks to its northern neighbours with an eye to building and securing peace, friendship, and above all, trade with the region. As a nation of immigrants, it has shown a special interest in assisting refugees and nations ravaged by war. Given the historical hostilities in the South Atlantic region, the Dominion of Volaworand has focused efforts westward to develop economic and political ties in the South Pacific region, to the point that Volaworand identifies as a South Pacific nation.