National News Gouw Marken

[Gouw Marken]

Stricter ban on foreign movies in the whole country

The head of the Department of Film and Picture, Michaël Rensbrug, remains in office. After some people accused him of rigidity, his position was in question, according to some sources. The whole campaign was set up mainly by some owners of cinema rooms in Markstad, joined by some progressive groups. Movies are getting more and more popular in the cities, and the youth enjoys especially those of foreign production.

But last week Rensbrugs position was confirmed by the Secretary of the Prince-Bishop. Michaël Rensbrug said ‘he will continue to fight the filth that is a real attack on moral and family life standards in our country’.
Immediately after he received renewed confidence of the Prince-Bishop, some cinema’s were temporally closed and some movie rolls destroyed. A stricter ban on foreign movies will be implemented before the end of the year.

It is to be said the Department only advises for the “upper limit” of what is recommended for Gouw Marken viewers. Local authorities can use this “upper limit” or be stricter if they want. In some rural parts of the country, all movies are forbidden; in other parts watching movies is a privilege for the clergy and upper class.

And yes, as the reader would have guessed: in Gouw Marken women are not allowed to visit cinema's.

- article by Jan Vandenhof, journalist -

 

[Serenierre]

Commissariat for External Affairs
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF SERENIERRE

The People's Republic welcomes the efforts of Markenese Papal Government to stamp out vice from its society. As fellow Catholic nations, we recognize the importance of maintaining order in society. However, we must say that the discrimination that we see in the country against women is wholly against the principles of our enlightened age.

Marie-Claudette Lausanne
First Commissar for External Affairs

 

[Holy Frankish Empire]

Grand Duchy of Bourgogne

We are extremely concerned by the reports that media is being controlled very tightly in Gouw Marken and are deeply concerned regarding the rights of women. Would Gouw Marken ban the Virgin Mary herself from theaters?

 

[Gouw Marken]

Latest on Sciences in Gouw Marken

Last Saturday a remarkable book was issued by Renatus Kalkenveld: Gouw Markens kruidenboek. Kalkenveld has studied for years the flora of Gouw Marken. His work is now concluded: it names and describes the plant kingdom of the country. It is certainly a historic step into the further development of sciences in the country.

Two theologians of Markstad University were dismissed by the Dean of the Faculty of Theology. They were warned three years ago to change their point of view on their subjects. The first one, Vanderbeer, wrote about Woman’s Theology and the position of woman in the Holy Scripture. The second one, Roothooft, had expressed doubts about the transubstantiation.

Starting this year is a new university for technical subjects. Gouw Marken is in need of engineers to build railways, roads and maybe a first power plant. The harbors need to be adjusted to bigger ships and most canals are too narrow too. The University will, like all universities in the country, be split in a section for the clergy and a section for the other students. And ofcourse, no women allowed.

 

[Gouw Marken]

“Leninovism is the future of the working class’ struggle in Europe”

This anthem is today strongly heard around Europe. What is there in it for our country? Is there a future for Leninovism and Marxism in Gouw Marken?

We know at the very bottom of our society people are struggling. The bad crops, winter, taxes, the poor condition of the country, bad health care and education are everyday problems of the farmers. The self-employed workers in the cities are feeling the crisis as well, everyone keeps his money in the pocket. The big spenders, our wealthy aristocracy and the abbeys, so powerful in Gouw Marken, are saving their money.

The worst conditions are to be found at the counties were the non-free farmers live. They have no rights. They belong to the soil they step on and to the one who owns the land. The only right they have got is to try to survive on common land crops and to multiply. Themselves. And their poverty.

Will they listen to Leninovism theories? As they cannot read them, they won’t learn it from books or papers. They only listen to the priests, every Sunday. They haven’t got another choice.

Will the city workers listen to new theories? Not if it makes them economically weaker. A red colored craftsman will be a poor one. No clergyman or no abbot will buy his goods.

And the free farmers, will they listen? Not if they realize they will lose everything their fathers and grandfathers struggled for to get. Their land will be divided amongst others. All the non-free farmers will ask for their share. Make them afraid for change, and they will reject it.

If Leninovism gets into Gouw Markens politics, it will not be tomorrow. Maybe it will be never.

But we need to open our eyes and tackle those poor conditions of our workers. Then, and only then, Leninovism and Marxism are already history in Gouw Marken.

Journalist Christiaan Van der Zuydt in the paper ‘Markense Mededelingen’

 

[Kadikistani Union]

People's Commissariat for External Affairs

"While we must express our respect for the courage shown by the journalist Christiaan Van der Zuydt for exposing the grave injustices in Gouw Marken we do not share his analysis that Marxist-Leninovism has no potential for growth in said nation. Anywhere in Europe where there is inequality and an oppressed working class there is a base in which our beloved state ideology can grow. With this in mind several KMLWP volunteers have spontaneously offered to clandestinely travel to Gouw Marken to spread the words of our Glorious Leader. May these brave volunteers succeed in this most noble quest and show the oppressed people of Gouw Marken the revolutionary way."

Signed,
_X_
Col. Dimitri Leninov
People's Commissar of External Affairs
Democratic Republic of Kadikistan

 

[Gouw Marken]

Trade in Gouw Markens antiques has to stop

Reports are made of foreign dealers coming to the country to lay their hands upon old cultural treasures. Gouw Marken has a long history of art, especially medieval ecclesiastical art, which is to be found in the many churches and abbeys.

With the harvests and crops of last summer being so badly gone wrong, many people are suffering hunger. The northwest of the country is extremely hit. It is this highly rural area that has become the hunting ground for those foreign dealers.

Some abbeys are selling art to feed their farmers, as some of them have run out of money. Some of the old woods, know for the oak trees, have been damaged as well by the high amount of lumber the abbeys sold this winter.

Bourgogne and Eiffelland are said to be amongst the final destination of the art objects.

To end the further drainage of art, it is forbidden to take any “cultural important objects” out of the country. Every church and abbey has to maintain a list of their historical important belongings.

How this is going to be supervised, is another question. Gouw Markens central administration is “a joke”, as a highly positioned clerk said today. Customs are almost non-existent and certainly not central organized. Cities raise their own taxes on loading and unloading goods on ships.

Other news:
- Fire destroys part of headquarters newspaper “Markense Mededelingen”
- Heavy rains in Westerkapelle kill three
- Farmer meets “The White Lady”, ghost of Kluisdonk Castle

 

[Gouw Marken]

Prince-bishop calls for aid to the country

After weeks of silence the Prince-bishop has addressed the nation and the world in his sermon on this first day of the Lent.

He told about his incognito trip to some of the counties in the northeast of the country. Those regions are significant hit by the grain fungus. Many crops have gone to waste.

In a first reaction people tried to sell the contaminated grain. This has caused illnesses and a weakened population. Farmers slaughtered their cattle because there was not enough food for the animals. The prices dropped, leaving butchers with big losses. Than the prices of gain, milk and other dairy products rose to unseen levels. People weren’t able to by food. Bakers had to close businesses and shops. Together with this food shortage, all other retailers went down.

After that, the abbeys and some landlords tried to help by distributing food. They sold lumber, and many forests went down, leaving bare, useless land which will take years to restore. Finally, lots of old art was sold.

And now, no options are left open. Almost all the food is gone. People are coming south, looking for food, dragging the whole country in a crisis. Criminality has gone up. The Prince-bishop told a story about two boys, 14 and 16, imprisoned for vagabondage. They youngest one carried nothing, the second one had as only possessions an apple, a pear and a little piece of bread. In Koningsvelden 7 people died in one night, all of them without identification papers, the oldest around 80 years old, the youngest seemed to be around seven years old.

The bad times cause superstition as well, at least 17 women are accused of witchcraft, from whom 6 are known to be executed by an outraged crowd.

Now the Prince-bishop has asked help from all Catholics in the country and in the world. Lent means we have to do our part, every catholic has to sacrifice. Pray and give; prepare for Easter and bring life were death reigns.

 

[Kadikistani Union]

People's Commissariat for External Affairs

"The Democratic Republic of Kadikistan is deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis that hit Gouw Marken. As a sign of international solidarity with the many impoverished people's of Europe we wish to send no less then eleven tons of humanitarian aid in the form of basic food. Naturally we will allow Gouw Marken authorities to inspect the containers, but we do insist that a small group of state officials will be allowed to oversee the distribution. Should this operation be a success we can discuss a continued supply of humanitarian support for the people of Gouw Marken. We hope the Gouw Marken government is wise enough to accept this generous offer."

Signed,
_X_
Col. Dimitri Leninov
People's Commissar of External Affairs
Democratic Republic of Kadikistan

 

[Dalriada]

Cymru Annibynnol Foreign and Trade Office

We are sorry to hear about your situation, we're still a small young nation and still growing our economy so we can give very little financial resources. But we do have a big farming industry and we have excess supplies of food in the country.

We will cut you deal, we still going through growing pains and we still have forces within our country planing to take over the assembly, the only legitimate government. We will send you food supplies in the coming weeks in good will and hope you will recognise the assembly as the only legitimate government in Cymru Annibynnol.
Foreign Minister: Carwyn Howell Jones

 

[Gouw Marken]

National Assemble discusses cry for help of Prince-Bishop

The members of the National Assemble have debated about the sermon of the Prince-Bishop last Wednesday. The discussion went from applause to criticism, and all parties were divided about the matter.
Most of the clerics, representing 41% of the votes, were in favor of accepting humanitarian aid. Some just claimed the aid has to be distributed through the abbeys and monasteries, some have proposed to use the aid first and spare the few storage that is left in the abbeys, some just wanted to help people.

The city representatives (32% of the votes) were divided as well. Some said the aid has to be distributed in the cities first, as the poor flee the countryside and come to the cities. These have to do big efforts to feed the growing number of beggars in the streets, increasing criminality and bad behavior. Some representatives asked about the common taxes: cities have income coming from taxes on goods distributed in or carried through the city or harbor. Some feared the detail merchants will lose revenue as the shops will sell nothing if aid is freely distributed.

Most of the county representatives (aristocracy), making 27% of the votes want to get aid into the county to make sure the farmers and especially the non-free farmers are strong enough to labor on the land when spring arrives. All northeastern counties asked for as much food aid as possible. The southern counties were afraid accepting aid brings foreign influence into the country. They insisted on expanding the amount of fishing vessels. Many people on the southern coast work as fishermen, thus generating income for their landlords who have benefits on every load brought ashore.

The result of the vote was 57% JA and 43% NEE. The National Assemble will support the Prince-Bishop in his call for aid.

A second vote, asked for by the clergy, took place. Can the landlord ((aristocrat, abbot, mayor) of the county or city refuse aid in his district? Here the vote was 62% JA and 38% NEE. An almost historical move of the votes, as the representatives are known to defend the local jurisdiction by everything they can.

What we remember today is the growing disagreement within the parties and on the other hand what seems to be a swing towards central government.

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

Also the de facto Catholic nation of Eiffelland is willing to help. We offer food aid to Gouw Marken. We even have the possibility to carry out foot droppings in order to get the food in remote places. We know about the prohibition of motorised vehicles in Gouw Marken, so we have to look for alternatives to get the food in the correct places. Should the Prince-Bishop be willing to temporarily lift the ban on motorised vehicles, we can send in army trucks to spread the food over the country as well.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Gouw Marken]

The Secretary of the Prince-Bishop has unfolded the plans for the food aid today

All aid for the southeast will be centered in Markstad harbor. This is primary the cargo coming from Cymru Annibynnol. The region around Markstad is mostly dealing with refugees from the north. The purpose is to feed them, host them till early spring if necessary and bring them back to where they came from. The Prince-Bishop has ordered all non-free farmers to go to the local authorities to get registered. The traditional punishments for leaving the county grounds will be cancelled if a person is registered before 20th February. The aid will be distributed by local authorities.

The aid for the northwest, coming from Eiffelland, is centered in Zeemuide Harbor. Three routes are withhold from local authorities and all vehicles driving under Eiffellandic flag are allowed to pass without any restrictions nor toll or local taxes. It is the route to Banselmonde , the route to Sint-Ursinbergen and the route to Heidehoeven. All aid has to be redistributed by local authorities. This prevents foreigners entering counties where they are not allowed to enter by local laws. Otherwise it will be a shock for local population and the local authorities (abbeys and landlord) will surely revolt.

The aid for the southwest, coming from Kadikistan, will be distributed from the harbors of Vissegem, Duinhuizen and Bergen-aan-Zee by local authorities. Kadikistani vessels are free to enter the ports.
The Prince-Bishop sends his gratitude to those countries that have not hesitated to relieve the suffering of the people of Gouw Marken.

As a response he has send Franciscus Dominicus duke of Papenheyde to Trier with letters of recommendation to open the first official embassy of Gouw Marken in another country. It is a statement that it is to a country that comes to aid, has an aristocratic leader and has a deep catholic background. The economic situation of Eiffelland is interesting as well, which makes the three classes (aristocracy, clergy, bourgeoisie of the cities) comfortable with this new step towards more openness.

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

We thank the Prince-Bishop for temporarily opening the roads of Gouw-Marken for our army trucks. Shipments are prepared and sent to the Zeemuide harbour. We will also start airlifting goods to Zeemuide, effective immediately.
We also welcome Franciscus Dominicus Hertog van Papenheyde as the ambassador of Gouw Marken in Eiffelland. His Majesty King Albrecht will thankfully accept his letters of recommendation. Hans-Lorenz Schenk von Bechhofen, son of the current Graf Schenk von Bechhofen, will travel to Gouw Marken with letters of recommendation to open Eiffelland's embassy in Gouw Marken. Hans-Lorenz Schenk von Bechhofen attended a Jesuit secondary school in Eiffelland, and studied international law at the Robert Koch Universität Weissenfels. He is a devout Catholic, and looks forward to representing Eiffelland in Gouw Marken.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Gouw Marken]

Secretary of the Prince-Bishop

The Prince-Bishop congratulates His Majesty the King for the excellent choice. Graf Schenk von Bechhofen will find a suitable property and work space in the old city of Markstad, known as the Palace of the Baronet de Eigenhoof. It is a traditional building with lots of space, recently bought and renovated by the Prince-Bishop to accomodate the first modern National Archives. It has an ideal central position in the city and is one of the finest buildings in the neighbourhood. It is a present to the King and people of Eiffelland. The street, upto now known as Baker's Street (Bakkerstraat) will be renamed Trierstraat to always remember the very first embassy in our nation in those modern times.

(Signed)

 

[Gouw Marken]

ABAHRAPDA – “De Waarheid” (the truth) hidden in food aid for Gouw Marken

The Kadikistani food aid didn’t come unnoticed. It is said that several editions were hidden in the boxes to be distributed in the counties of Hellegaarden and Papenheide. These editions were translated into Markens and the teachings in those papers are very new for the non free farmers of those mainly rural counties. It is know that the lord of Hellegaarden and the abbey of Papenheide are not very flexible in the new developments of this era. They hold absolute power over their jurisdictions and many of the inhabitants have no rights at all.

The poor social situation offer the ideal conditions for revolutionary movements. People are at the edge of what they can take: the famine and economic crisis have speed up the process. It looks like Kadikstani infiltrates have prepared the population for a reaction against the local political leaders.

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

We thank you for the honour of having a street dedicated to our capital city. We thank for the gift of the Palace of the Baronet de Egenhoof. We will start setting up our embassy immediately. We offer you a city-villa in Trier-Charlottenburg formerly owned by an important patrician family. It is situated in one of the best city areas of Trier, with good accessibility to both the governmental institutions in Trier-Mitte and the airport Trier-Tempelhof and the main train station of Trier.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Gouw Marken]

Uprising in several counties?

Today several local mayors reported commotion un their cities or villages.
In Duinbergen inhabitants besieged the city hall, where the food to be distributed amongst the very poor, was stored. Several people were injured and the food supplies are lost.
In Gansdorp, a village strongly hit by the food crisis, the church door was opened during the night and “De waarheid”, the Kadiki socialist paper, was glued over the altar and statues.
A woman is said to be arrested in Kinkbergen for conspiracy after she plead for woman’s rights. Three man were also arrested after they refused to fulfill the monthly duty days to their lord, the baron of Laremonde.
Further inland, the abbey of Mostheide has announced it will renounce the annual farming lease costs after strong protest from local farmers.
Other incidents occurred, mainly in the area were the Kadiki food aid is distributed. It looks like propaganda was brought into the country. Some politicians, like the duke of Hertenbos, think there even are socialist intruders in the country.
The situation stays very tense in some parts of the country.


Work on railroads will continue

“It is in the interest of all this work continues”, the Prince-Bishop said, “as it provides work and income to lots of families, and railroads will be the backbone of the inland transport system that will create opportunities and prosperity in the future”. The Prince-bishop also announced a major modernization of Markstad-Harbor.

 

[Gouw Marken]

Shipyards under construction

The National Assemble has passed a bill to modernize the shipyards in Gouw Marken. The recent food crisis has shown once again how important a well equipped fisherman fleet can be. Seven little shipyards will be placed under jurisdiction of a new agency for economic development and be reformed in three major shipyards.
Markstad Catholic University will start shipbuilding engineering classes.

New consulate for Gouw Marken?

In a surprising move, the Prince-Bishop has announced he will send a delegation to Kadikistan to open diplomatic ties with the country and open a consulate. Kadikistan is one of the three countries supporting Gouw Marken to battle the food crisis. As a result of the announcement, the unrest of the last days in some counties came to a halt.
[MENTION=83]Kadikistan[/MENTION]

 

[Kadikistani Union]

People's Commissariat for External Affairs

"Because we sincerely believe in redemption and the fact that diplomatic relations between our fine nation and Gouw Marken will better the faith of the people ruled by Markstad, we gladly agree to the offer of the Prince-Bishop. May this already historic rapprochement benefit both our great people's."

Signed,
_X_
Col. Dimitri Leninov
People's Commissar of External Affairs
Democratic Republic of Kadikistan