From Chaos to Clarity

“A bridge of silver wings stretches from the dead ashes of an unforgiving nightmare

                                                             to the jeweled vision of a life started anew.” 

               It is odd to think that just one year ago our world was decimated and a new order was established. I feel this way because the spiritual and intellectual awakening I have undergone seems to massive to my personal growth that it could not possibly have occurred within the span of one year. The reason I feel so empowered now is truly a mystery to me. While this newfound clarity may be a function of the fact that all technology is outlawed and I am no longer distracted by its complexities, it could also be the fact that the world and all it's territories have been reassigned. Never before has there been a greater opportunity to rediscover, to reinvent.
             
               Individually and nationally, it is apparent that the people are feeling the need to recreate themselves and the incentives are great. However, let me be clear by saying that the split one year ago was entirely beneficial. In 365 days we have witnessed the greed and deception which the human races know too well. It is interesting and depressing to witness the sort of behavior that free expanses of land breeds. The race to have one's ideas be considered supreme and upheld by a new society in a new environment has already begun and I fear that it may be coming to an end. While power and ideals evolve simultaneously with the populace of an area, it is hard for the system that controls the entities aforementioned to change.
               
          And that is why I am seizing this time to restructure the government of the European Union. I feel called to do so, I must. Consider me no longer, Viviane Reding, the commisioner for justice of the EU, I want to be considered the president of the European Union. This is my proposal for a complete governmental overhaul. I feel as though this will compliment the actions of the military and it is easier for one person to represent the EU and communicate to other nations. We will be seen as an organized and powerful nation.

PROPOSAL: Currently there is a president who is elected to serve a six-month term who proposes his or her ideas to the commission, which is made up of an elected official from each member state. Over time, I would like to increase the time span of the presidential term to two years and rather than have the president be appointed via a rotation among member states, member state citizens will vote for the president in an election. Citizens will not be allowed to vote for their own nation’s official and a preliminary vote done by the 27 members in the commission will determine the four most popular candidates up for election. The citizens of member states in the European Union will vote for one of these four candidates. If one of the candidates happens to be from their home-nation, citizens will not be allowed to vote for her or him.
  

            I feel very qualified for this position given my experience with EU politics however, I am open to other candidates coming forward and taking on the presidency. I have long dreamt about this restructuring and I feel like now is my time to propose this to the EU. With a clear head and confidence, we can stride toward a new more organized political structure. The EU will no longer be held back by dissenters or appear disorganized by differing views on politics-- we will have one powerful voice driven by democracy. And I assure you all, this voice can only resound through the rest of the world, reminding citizens who the global lead is, if we take responsibility and show everyone that we are prepared to negotiate and become a better EU.  

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Populace View

          As the populace for the European Union we feel as though the people need a say in what is about to happen to our area.  The people agree with the fact that technology should not be used as frequently or as intensely, but we are worried about the fact that it is banned all around.  As a farming nation Austria relies on the technology surrounding the farming industry: plows, sifters, and so many more things will be taken from us.  We believe that the death penalty is a very strong punishment, one that is too intense for that small of an action.
          As a result of no technology the agricultural branch of the European Union has suffered immensely.  We have had to return to the days where everything was done by hand and now the populace has lost their largest income.  It is imperative that farmers cultivate enough crops to feed their families and fellow villagers which has caused them loose their largest income.  It has become difficult for my family to pay our bills and now we are in danger of loosing our farm.  Although the machine was a terrible idea, not all technology should be banned.
         If the government listens then things WILL get better!

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Shaken but Still Standing

    In this trying year, I have learned countless valuable lessons about humanity, the Others' intelligence, and myself. Since the machine was activated, my mind has been clear and I feel my role as a leader is redefined. While the EU initially passed several laws against further technological development associated with the Others, I am aware parts of the world continue such research and appear fully immerse in discovering more about this advanced life. While the use of military force in an attempt to stop these dangerous developments was briefly considered, I am determined to continue a peaceful approach. While before, I passively sat back and defended my nations, I know see that I can continue to be peaceful, but must actively reach out to other areas of the world to achieve success. 
    This machine efficiently divided the Resistors and the Accord, however the further subdivision I see our new world spiraling into again must be stopped. In just one year, black markets have developed for Other goods and India has sprouted programs for “Others Studies”, all the while Europe and Russia have severely outlawed anything to do with the Others. I fear that if we stay widely divided in our rebuilding of major cities and cultures, history will repeat itself and the world will be destroyed once again, leaving us two steps behind where we started. I worry about the New Australia as well and fear the shield malfunctioning, setting angry “human weapons” out to the world. I believe our world must reach a common denominator and focus our energy there for now. 
    My new role I feel must focus on uniting our nations once again by reaching out to the Other supporters and using authority if necessary to assimilate humanity. Since we know the Others have ultimate control over us and expect us to fail, I vow to attempt to prosper again. In their message the Others explained their test posed the question of the Resistors would “conquer its fear and acknowledge its inferiority among its betters or will life embrace foolish pride and trust in its puny weapons to maintain its illusion of superiority?” Though I support the discovery of new information, I disagree that as Resistors we are being foolish and not conquering fear. I believe just the opposite in fact. We acknowledge the intelligent life that is ‘superior’ to us, but we are choosing to preserve the Old World rather than succumb to the Others who assume they are better based on intelligence. 
    In the future, I would like to see the EU reach out to leaders of India and China specifically and discuss if they simply desire more information about the others or if their attempt unlock their technology is in hopes of joining the Others. Unfortunately, since events of the world are highly unpredictable these days, for now I cannot say what I see for the future after that. It is clear to me that taking deliberate actions towards unity is the only way to go now and my role of leader must be to help rebuild this severed world. 

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A Monumental Day

The day is finally upon us.  The last three months have been filled with tension, excitement, and above all uncertainty, as the world has struggled to respond to our first known contact with an extraterrestrial existence.  This colossal event threatened to tear our planet apart even before the assigned “deadline” for the machine’s completion. Arguments over the intended purpose of the device, and the potential consequences of a decision to either build it or to forego its construction, resulted in trade embargoes and sanctions between nations and brought several countries to the brink of military conflict.  While this inability to reach a global accord has produced some unfavorable results, I must say I am not the least bit surprised or disheartened by it.  The issues surrounding the machine’s construction are tremendously important as well as divisive, and these clashes between nations demonstrate that the entire world cares deeply about the outcome.

From a personal and professional standpoint, I am overwhelmingly excited by the prospect of what is about to unfold.  As many of you are aware, I changed my initial stance regarding the machine and joined my fellow EU leaders in opposition of its construction, in order to promote greater unity among the various factions of the European Union.  Nevertheless, over the past few months I have found myself torn between my devotion to the EU and my natural scientific curiosity. In all honesty, a part of me is glad that the machine was constructed, since I believe the chance to make contact with extraterrestrial beings is an opportunity too great to pass up, regardless of the potential dangers.  I await the upcoming events with a fair amount of trepidation, but with an even greater sense of hope and pride for all mankind.  I cannot help feeling as though humanity is on the brink of the most significant chapter in its relatively brief history, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to be involved.

David Willetts

Minister of Science, European Union

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Darkness & Peace

 To the citizens of the world- 

           So we trudge into the darkness. This darkness could hold the most unimaginably dreadful experiences the human race has ever known. On the other hand, it could hold benefits that surpass feats humans could ever reach on their own. Throughout this ordeal the head of EU military and myself have remained relatively aligned in our ideals. In terms of facing the unknown, this is no exception. We applaud the accord for taking this risk. The European Union simply did not see adequate benefits or a feasible way for the machine to be created. Ultimately, I want the members of the accord to know the we hold no hostility towards you. I think that the benefits which occurred during the construction of the machine should have been shared with the resistors so that we could make more informed decisions. Had I known what kind of technological breakthroughs were already coming out of the machine's creation, I may have even supported it (however, thats not really likely). 

         To hopefully quote the aliens that we may soon be having coffee with, "we come in peace."

         I am distraught that we all allowed this issue to disrupt our global trade and travel. I feel that over more correspondence between the resistors and the accord could have helped us reach healthy compromise. However, I am inspired by the hearty opinions that all of us expressed. Part of being human and being a strong human, is taking a moral stance and sticking with it. Also part of being human is the ability to reconsider this stance.

         To my friends and family- what can I say. You have not just enriched my life, you are my life. 

Good luck everyone, 

Viviane Reding 

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The Last Night of the World?

What do I say on the possible last day of the world? The button being pushed comes as a scare to the populace of the EU.  As members of the European Union, the populace will stand by our decision not to support the new machine.  This machine could open up a new window of technology but there are also large threats to our world.  Although this will create the largest technological break thorough in regards to extraterrestrial life, the consequences could be dire.  

A thought popped into my head this morning: how will it be shared? The machine is being built in Latin America, which means they will have total access to it all the time, where as countries like Japan and Canada will have to travel far.  I believe this could cause a stress throughout the world, which could result in a larger conflict than we have now.  I fear for the world, I love this place and all the beauty it holds, I would never want it destroyed.

One final thought we have is, do the aliens really want to meet us? After sending out the second signal we received no response and we believe that could mean the aliens do not want further contact.  If we continue to push and poke the aliens I believe they could come back with more force and endanger the world.  

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United We Stand

       This evening could mark the last night for the human race or the beginning of the greatest achievement to mankind. Tonight for the first time in recorded history, we have absolutely no knowledge of what the next day will bring. I sit at my desk feeling helpless, but there remains a glimmer of hope that our world will unite again. Whether it be the machine's doing or not.
       In my last address to you all, I would like to clarify and make peace with opposing nations. First off, I, Ton Van Osch, have no intention of deploying military forces to other countries for attack. Carrying the responsibility to defend all european nations from foreign harm is a daunting task and I had to make clear that we were strong and ready to fight if rebellion were to occur against us. I take my privilege as a leader very seriously and must be a strong example for the populous when they feel threatened. It is for this reason that I believe a powerful local military is always needed, even if it does not need to be used.      
       As far as building the machine goes, I applaud Japan and the LAU for being so bold as to pool their resources and prepare the machine for activation. While I still feel our nation has bigger problems on the home front to attend to, I recognize the hard work and diligence that went into this project. I could sit here and write about how I believe this machine is a mistake, but the deed is done and I am a mere player in this experiment now. If the machine works and changes life as we know it, then I will be nothing but appreciative to the Accord nations. And if it fails, I will be nothing but welcoming to you all and will help in any way possible for the greater good of our world. Though I still do not support this machine’s activation, I do not want to be divided. Fear of the unknown is always a difficult obstacle to face, but since we are going to face it regardless, I would rather be united with you all.

Thank you,
Ton Van Osch

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Resistors Hold Strong: A Report from the EU's Executive Sector

I can't help but mimic the sentiments of the head of EU military on this matter. The resistors have maintained their position through the debate that the world is not in a financial situation that can accommodate such an outrageous construction. I'd like to summarize our reasons for choosing to deem this plan as not worth our time or money. And what better way to start than with the most glaring issue: uncertainty. The Machine Accord consistently has spewed statements like "who knows what this machine could do and what kind of benefits it could provide us with" to which we retort "exactly, no one knows what this machine is capable of." So, why would we spend unprecedented amounts of money on something that we have little to no idea about? Frankly, I find it disturbing that places like Japan and the Latin American Union see an extra-terrestrial direction to build a machine as having more importance than rebuilding their economies.

We should also consider the failed space exploration that has occurred in the past and reflect on our tendencies to overreact or sensationalize news of extraterrestrial contact.
I urge you all to read the following clip from an article entitled "Do We Have an Alien Contact Contingency Plan?"

In 1992, the government paid for a SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project through NASA—the Microwave Observing Program's mission was to conduct targeted analyses of nearby stars—but deemed it unworthy of funding one year later. There is, however, a nongovernmental organization established by the International Academy of Astronautics to "prepare, reflect on, manage, advise, and consult in preparation for … a putative signal of extraterrestrial intelligent (ETI) origin." That organization, the SETI: Post-Detection Taskgroup helmed by the theoretical physicist Paul Davies, 

has a set of recommendations in place.

Even though this only describes one incident I think it exemplifies how we should be approaching news of alien signals. And that approach is through a privately funded sector not through government. I understand that in our case it is not exactly feasible to have individuals come up with 5 trillion dollars but perhaps that fact alone teaches us an important lesson: this machine is NOT worthwhile.

The resistor nations seemed to come to the conclusion at our last summit that: we were okay with the potentiality of the machine being built by the accord. If the accord wants to raise the funds that are necessary for completion then by all means they should go ahead. We will sit back and watch the results but we are not prepared to endanger our economies and militaries. Having said that, we are prepared to allow trade to continue to be restricted. Personally,  I think it is ridiculous that this machine has engendered such animosity between nations that we can no longer trade freely however, I can not trade with countries that have such reckless business practices as to invest in a costly machine that does not have a defined purpose yet.


Thank you,
Viviane Reding


http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2010/07/if_mars_attacks_.html

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EU Military: A Final Advisory

     To build this mysterious machine or to not? I give you my final plea to compromise on this question that will undoubtedly change the future of our planet. As leading commander of protecting the European Nations, I express my ultimate concern for the construction of this machine even with our current technological advances that have given us the ability to do so. While I encourage research and development for the good of human kind in any way, no matter how this scenario plays out, I cannot see the benefits outweighing the lofty costs of this mission. If the machine works and we contact other life, then the advancement will be extraordinary and we can hope to devise a form of communication with the life forms. However, even if contact is made, our world will be undoubtedly in economic collapse and the quality of life for all will plummet. The populous of several powerful nations are worried enough as it is, and I have no intention of further destroying their lives with the far fetched prospect of extraterrestrial life. While I am primarily responsible for the defense of the EU people, I am deeply worried about the well- being of many countries extending outside European bounds. I hate to be the continuous bearer of bad news, but I increasingly feel this project is a highly unreasonable venture in our world's current political, economical, and ecological climate.
      I think of myself as reasonable man and would be terribly dismayed to use military force if a settlement does not result from our summit tomorrow. Despite my position as defense leader, employing military strength is never the first option to solve a pressing global issue, however I will advise my troops to do what they must for the safety and stability of our nations. Before you all make any decisions tomorrow, I ask you to please think of your family and the future generations that will be shaped by our plan of action with this machine. Millions of people are struggling to survive and support their families as it is. Unless building this machine will magically solve those problems, I do not see the worth of spending trillions of dollars on such a whim. We, the Resistors, will stand firm in our beliefs to halt any actions toward the development of this machine and ask that the Accord deeply consider the costs and benefits of such a venture. We received this signal as a planet and we will respond accordingly as a united planet. Let us take small careful steps now and our giant leap for mankind will come again.

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E.U. Populace

Austria will prove that we can be a self-sufficient nation because we do not support the machine.  In order for this to work and to become an independent superpower we have to work on a couple things.  The first thing is finding a new leader who is vocal and charismatic.  This new leader will need to paint a picture for our divided country that it IS worth the short-term difficulties in order to maintain our naturalistic way of life.  Austria cannot afford to be split into two more factions so we need to find a leader as soon as possible with as close to 100% support as possible.

This new leader also needs to show the country that we do not need the countries from the accord.  Austrian people know how to raise our own food and the farmers can teach others in our country to do the same. We do not need the people from the accord, we know how to raise our own food and we can teach others in our country to do the same. Although Austria will loose money from exports we will also be saving money through not having to import goods.  There will need to be an increase of chickens, cows, pigs, and other animals, in order to become more self sufficient, so that Austria does not go hungry.  We will also, as a country, need to learn how to make our own clothes through not having waste.  Stop wasting fuel and oil, and we need to become more conscientious as a nation to conserve what we do have.

As a country Austria needs to focus on what we need, not what we want. Because all ties have been cut off from us we need to make bonds with the other Resistor nations and by forming special bonds with the others Austria will have new countries to trade with.  This would help Austria by importing goods we have lost from other EU countries and opening new profitable partners.

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Advice from the EU military: Let's not get in over our heads

     As the leader of European military defense, I could not agree more with Executive Reding regarding our  response to the signal received from 55 Cancri. Though this is the largest breakthrough our world has seen in research for extraterrestrial life, as a united race, we must not get ahead of ourselves. In my years of experience leading multitudes of military personnel, the most important strategy I have learned is to consider multiple viewpoints when assessing a situtation. Yes, from one perspective, these instructions to build an unknown machine may be the biggest achievement humankind has ever known, and as a long shot, we may even connect with extra terrestrial life. On the other hand however, the machine would be built and likely not work because our technology is too primitive in comparison. Additionally, we would not have enough money to revive our economy that we had further depleted and the infrastructure of the world system would be worse off than before the machine. While I may be accused of being too pessimistic, I am advocating to preserve what plentiful advancements our Earth already possesses and invest in further research to this response before acting rashly.
       Moving forward, Canada should know that they have the EU military's full support of sending another signal to 55 Cancri in order to verify the first response was valid. While this may not be the reaction the Accord nations are looking for, I strongly believe it is a vital step into deciphering this highly complex situation. Though the EU nations are dissatisfied with the sanctions placed on trade and travel at the moment, I hope this compromise of resending a signal will change the Accord's ambitions to build the machine. My military and I see no need to combat these sanctions and prefer to settle this peacefully. If the Accord nations do not accept our desire to send another signal first, then I suggest a summit be held to save our nations from further dividing.
       With regard to actions my specific sector will take, the military will hold off on building up our defense for the time being, for compromise is important to reach a solution. I ask the Accord to consider this decision wisely. Think of the quality of life now and all aspects you appreciate most from this world. If we are to dive into a 5 trillion dollar venture to create a device that we have almost no information about and our end result is destruction, what will we have left. Current crises are shaking the planet enough as we speak. Let us fight causes worth fighting for and improve the problems we have now.

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The Dangers of Indulging Our Alien Research Fantasies: A Report From the Executive Branch of the European Union

As a representative for the European Union, I can say with unfortunate certainty that the economy of the EU is in peril. It seems that the global economic state mimics this sad truth. It is easy to become distracted by other “issues” when we feel as though those actually worth attempting to solve are too great and will consume us. We need not look further than the impending election in the United States as an example of our tendencies, as humans, to focus on and even rehash issues of little significance. While the US faces a national debt, a healthcare crisis and an addiction to oil, politicians and citizens alike choose to focus on women’s rights and religion, deeply personal issues which do not concern politics. 

I make this digression only so that we can compare it to the recent news of the signal from 55 Cancri and the proposed construction of a machine based off the number sequence. The fact of the matter is that we, as a planet, do not have enough money to indulge our Martian fantasies. Look no further than the reports that were recently issued on “The Global Signal” from all arenas (executive, military, populace and science) as evidence that we cannot afford this endeavor. Many reports centered on a concern about the budget for various projects. I would like to point out that there is also an existing budget for military endeavors, science research and public services however; the project that we are contemplating engendering does not even have an established budget. We need to come up with the money for it out of thin air. I would, as much as anyone else, would like to know what exactly these beings are trying to communicate but building this machine is not responsible. Curiosity killed the cat. I ask the citizens of the Earth; do we want to be that proverbial cat, not exactly dead, but poor, disillusioned and facing inevitable economic decay?  

I understand, however, that this signal is a breakthrough, something that we have never seen before and thus, warrants a response we have never generated before. I would like to suggest that we use a fifth of the money that we might spend on this deciphering machine to strengthen our military. Furthermore, it is imperative that the European Union specifically begin to consider the national unification that situations like this one necessitates as, we will likely find out that the future holds conflicts that require us, as a people, to reach unified decisions. Perhaps we need a governmental overhaul. Thats an issue for another day however, its becoming clear that when the European Union needs to make swift decisions with large impacts, we are unprepared to do so. For now, I ask that citizens take on a unbiased mindset and start viewing themselves as citizens of the European Union, not necessarily under the confines of their home-nation. 

If extraterrestrial beings intend on attacking Earth then they will do so, regardless of whether or not we decipher their messages. Strengthening our global military is the precautionary action we need to avoid destruction. I ask the citizens of the earth to consider this scenario: We spend 5 trillion dollars on building this machine. We discover through decoding the signal that we are going to be under extraterrestrial attack. We now have no money to defend ourselves. Clearly this hypothetical situation is far too black and white but I am confident you all get the idea. My final decision on this matter is to devote some of the budget towards strengthening our global military and stop this expensive nonsense.

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Statement from the Minister of Science, EU

Over the course of human history, many of the greatest scientific and technological advancements have originated in Europe. European nations have a rich history of producing some of the most influential thinkers ever to live, and the pursuit of scientific innovation in Europe has long been supported by leaders and citizens alike.  The pervasive interest in scientific development present in many European nations has resulted in the invention of the steam engine, the mechanical clock, the microscope, the light bulb, the refrigerator, and countless other items which are today considered indispensable.  Europe’s focus on the sciences has also led to a number of the most important medical breakthroughs in human history; the Dutch physician Andreas Vesalius is known as the father of human anatomy; the English doctor William Harvey was the first to describe the human circulatory system; and the Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis was the first doctor to introduce hand disinfection standards, drastically reducing germ-related fatalities.  This is to say nothing of the tremendous contributions of European nations to the social sciences, including Wilhelm Wundt, the father of modern psychology, and the three men generally credited with founding modern sociology, Max Weber, Émile Durkheim, and Karl Marx.

In recent times, the involvement of the European Union in the scientific and medical communities has been no less prevalent.  A little over a decade ago, scientists belonging to the Fraunhofer Society in Germany developed the MP3 compression algorithm, which is currently used by nearly all music production companies.  French scientists from Joseph Fourier University have provided some of the most tangible evidence for global warming by measuring CO2 and methane levels in ice samples taken from Antarctica.  In the medical field, doctors from Berlin were the first to discover a cure for HIV by performing a specialized bone-marrow transplant on a patient with the disease, and researchers at Oxford University in England recently developed a preliminary vaccine for Dengue Fever, a disease which afflicts 230 million people annually.  Additionally, Several European Union countries are at the forefront of gene therapy treatments for patients with otherwise fatal diseases.  In the past couple of years, doctors at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research have used gene therapy to halt the progression of adrenoleukodystrophy, a fatal neurodegenerative disease, on two separate occasions.

Unfortunately, the future of scientific progress in the European Union appears less certain than it has in decades.  The general public seems to be caught up in some sort of fundamental religious fervor, and as a result the leaders of many European nations have begun to condemn scientific progress in the hopes of appeasing their citizens.  It is crucial that this trend be reversed, or else it will invariably result in drastically reduced funding in the areas of science, technology, and medicine, and Europe may very well find itself in a new Dark Age.  I may be slightly overstating the problem, but I do believe it is necessary to convince the public that their religious values are not irreconcilable with the idea of scientific progress; that it is truly in their best interest to support the various scientific fields.  To do this, I plan on releasing a number of public service announcements, television shows and radio programs designed to make issues relating to science and technology more accessible to the general population.  I will also seek funding from the governments of several nations with the goal of establishing scientific education centers throughout the European Union.  I believe the main problem is that the public does not understand much of what is undertaken by scientists and researchers, and as a result many people feel alienated by these new ideas and instead turn to what is familiar, which includes fundamental religious values.  As of right now, it is my responsibility to familiarize the public with current technological and medical developments, and to make people realize that religion and science are far from incompatible.

-David Willetts, Minister of Science, European Union

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A Memo From the Executive in the European Union

Report by: Viviane Reding, European Commisioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship

            To The Nations in the European Union:

            

           This memo is intended to address the recent, fortunate situation that the European Union Commission has found itself in. We have long been faced with opposition from certain countries when trying to solve the economic crisis in the European Union. It is our belief that we are doing the best that we can to protect the interests of individual countries while looking out for the economic future of our great union. It is frustrating to be forced to deal with this opposition as; it creates roadblocks in our path to success.

           

             Recently however, our greatest “road block” countries have ceased their fight and agreed to let us take control of the economic crisis. These countries include Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Portugal. Prior to this point, nations such as France and Germany held the belief that fiscal austerity (a raise in taxes and less government spending) was the only answer to economic problems. Furthermore, they have threatened to abandon the euro, which would have negative implications for the worldwide economy.  The people of these nations have decided to stop with their criticism of our proposed bailout thereby decreasing the pressure on our commission to fulfill their absurd requests and allowing us to move forward.

           

             As you all know, we need the support of 17 countries in order to move forward with bailouts. Now that we have that support and complete authority to address this crisis, the Union would like to suggest that all member countries currently facing debt, which is greater than 40 percent of their national gross-domestic product, receive a bailout that is equal to half the amount of their debt. All the member states are required to increase taxes however; I am choosing not to mandate that spending be cut. With this bailout money, countries are expected to spend it wisely, paying back foreign debts and bonds. Should a country need more money, they are to submit an application to the European Union Commission with a detailed plan of how they will be spending the additional funds.

           

             The increase in taxation is absolutely vital to our economic restructure.  I am leaving it up to individual nations as to which taxes they are planning to increase, however, countries that request more bailout money without sufficient evidence that they have increased taxes will simply be denied. It is solely up to the president of the European Union to decide if sufficient taxation has occured. I understand the concern from some that taxes are invasive and unfair but frankly, it is unfair that the commission has to deal with the economic failures of our member states. We all should have been more careful initially.

            

              After a three-month period, debt packages will be doled out to those countries that have received bailout money. These packages will outline how member countries will pay back the European commission and hopefully, will serve as an impending incentive to productively change the economy. Major creativity should be employed in combination with the tax increases and bailout money as, we expect good results. Overall, I am pleased to see that we are all finally unified and there are no more dissenters holding us back from a prosperous future. 

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EU Military Action Plan

EU Military Action Plan 

     The EU has long worked diligently to improve our military capabilities and has moved up in the defense world significantly within the last decade. We made our presence known between 2003 and 2004 after successfully sending police and military forces into Bosnia and the former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia with a peace-enforcement mandate. Since then, our leading countries in defense include Germany, Italy, the UK, and France, which use 70 percent of our military funding. The only EU nation not a member the European Defence Agency based in Brussels is Denmark.                                                                        

      At this point, we provide a fully prepared military for any small and most large-scale operations. While our military strength is constantly compared to the U.S., who physically has more artillery, the UK and other member countries hold strong alliances with this super power. We will use this to our advantage if needed, but remain a strong group of nations ready to defend or deploy if appropriate. Because the EU lacks many permanent command/control centers for military, our larger member states named above take control of more complicated operations. These leading nations are key attributes however, as they help organize resources from smaller member nations as well.                                      

     Our military scientists are to thank for our strength in this sector and they continue to release new technologies to date. While our new equipment will not be used in active duty yet, let it be known that the EU is capable of defending all of our territory effectively.                                                               

     The current humanitarian forces from the UK in Libya prove we have the ability to efficiently aid outside nations, while maintaining relative peace in our member countries. We must not grow wary from the recent death of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya and three others however. Though the EU strongly condemns the killing of these US diplomats, our forces will continue their work and do our best to prevent another event like this from occurring. It is important that our commitment to helping the Libyan citizens remains strong and our forces continue their work with positive hopes for the future. Additionally, we will take extra caution in ensuring the EU official’s safety at the offices in Tripoli.                                    

     Our plan of action for the time being will be to continue our current military aid efforts in other nations outside of our territory as well as our work with NATO. Military scientists will continue to develop and test new technology for the nations, but it will not be used in our current missions yet. While we have improved in our military operations dramatically, it is important that we do not get ahead of ourselves. We are strong nations ready to take on any challenge, but will do so wisely.  

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Voice of the People, Austria 9/12/12

My name is Annaliese Kendlbacher; I am a twenty-year-old citizen from a very small village named Elspthen, just outside of Salzburg City in Austria.  Although I am only a villager, I have done my research and I want to address the concerns of my fellow villagers, as well as concerns from the other villages in the area.  We love this beautiful place we have grown up in and we believe that we should have a say in what changes.

I would like to start off by bringing up my fears and concerns of the rural development of our beautiful Austrian countryside.  My family, as well as many other citizens from our small village, lives on a farm and we make all of our money and get all of our food through our crops and local vegetation.  Community always comes first and we all make an extreme effort to make sure everyone has enough to get by.  With the recent push from the European Union to become more competitive, we feel as though they are trying to break the bond of our community.  My father always has always said, “Why fix something that isn’t broken?” 

My favorite part about Austria is the character it holds from all of the hidden spots that nature has for us to explore.  I fear that by urbanizing this land we may loose some of the wonderful character it holds.  I remember each summer more clearly than any other season: exploring Gollinger Waterfall and getting to see all of the beautiful vegetation.  I went swimming in the insanely gorgeous Wolfgangsee lake and got to see what towns are like when they have no electricity.  I got to climb two insanely huge mountains: Untersberg and Gaisberg and I saw views of a lifetime.  I even ventured into the narrow salt mines and walked right across the boarder into Germany.  All my favorite gems hidden from the urbanization that has started to occur.  I fear that making our country more “up to speed” will take away from this very special place I call home.

As such a wealthy country I do not believe that much has to change.  With our love and community based minds I believe that we, as a country, can get ourselves through anything.  I fear that if things are to change than local farmers will begin to strike.  In 2009 when French farmers food was selling for less they went on strike.  According to Euronews, “Tractors blocked main routes into several major cities, including Toulouse in the south west, where rush-hour traffic was reduced to a crawl.”  The farmers felt as though there were being mistreated and that is how we are starting to feel.  We, the farmers, have no say in what’s going on in our land and we are prepared to strike and only grow food for us in order to keep the ills of the hyper-modern world away.

I believe that the reason that the global economic troubles have started to occur is because of the urbanization that has started in the other part of the European Union.  My mood concerning these global economic troubles leaves a pit in my stomach and my mood solemn. Although I am worried, I am proud of Austria for continuing to stay strong.  We, member countries from the EU, must stand together and help each other out in times of hardship.   Although everyone in my village and country are well-fed, working, and comfortable I feel prepared to help farmers restart their farms.  I am very experienced, as are my fellow villagers, and together we have made a pact that if towns stop becoming urbanized we will start to help others get back on their feet.

Thank you,

Annaliese

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