[Vision Statement] Dominion of Apuni

[Apuni]

 

History: The Dominion of Apuni is a relatively new political entity, establishing its independence approximately sixty years ago. Originally a loose confederation of small independent cities-states and suzerains, it was infamous as a haven for piracy for decades.  Over time, and with the modernization of Eurth navies, piracy abated and the Apuni island chain essentially became an economic vassals of its neighboring states. An opportunity emerged during the early 1960s, allowing the islands to consolidate into the current Dominion.  Although the Apuni have faced challenges to its sovereignty, it is a small but emerging nation on Eurth.

Geography: As a sprawling tropical archipelago, the Dominion of Apuni is characterized by its volcanic origins, lush tropical vegetation, beautiful beaches, and diverse landscapes.  Specifically, the Dominion includes volcanoes, including some of the most active on Eurth, the Pele Mauna and the Lani Mo’i. The volcanoes have shaped the landscape, creating dramatic cliffs, dramatic lava fields, and very fertile soil. The Apuni enjoy a mild tropical climate, and consistent temperatures throughout the year. Coastal areas experience warm temperatures, while higher elevations can be cooler. The island are also influenced by trade winds which bring refreshing breezes and moderate humidity.

Government: The Apunian government works under a constitution known as the Charter Accords, which divides the democratic system into three separate branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.  The executive branch is the Dominion’s head of state, officially known as the Chief Executive (CE).  The CE is responsible for enforcing Apunian laws, managing the Dominion's budget, and is the head of the Apunian military services.  The legislative branch consists of a bicameral body, with the lower house, known as the Hui Kanaka (People’s house) selected by popular vote, and the upper house, known as the Hui Nui (Chief’s house), selected based on regional representation. The legislature creates and passes laws and submitting the yearly Dominion budget. Finally, the legislative branch’s highest level is the High Justices, which are responsible for interpreting and applying Dominion law.  The remainder of the judiciary is composed of lower courts throughout Apuni.

Ethnicity: The ethnicity of Apuni’s population is primarily of Polynesian descent, but mixed race citizens (Polynesian/Haole (aka Caucasian)/Oriental) comprise approximately just over 50% of the population. The remaining half of the population is either of Haole (18%), Oriental (17%), or native Polynesian backgrounds (13%).  Although the primary culture is also Polynesian, there are significant influences from Haole and Oriental cultures.  Additionally, the democratic and libertarian aspects of their piratical history are evident as part of the Apunian culture.  Apunians (not directly involved with the tourist trade) are known to be trade-inclined, enjoy haggling and notoriously thrifty.

Economy: The Dominion has a developing economy with a primary focus on tourism, banking, Eco-tourism, and a growing information technology sector.  Its traditional industries are mostly agricultural, including sugarcane, rice, tobacco, coffee, and a variety of tropical fruit crops. The big island has limited mining capacity on its largest island, and efforts to confirm off-shore oil reserves are underway, much to the consternation the Preservationist party.

 

Statistics:

Population: Medium (1)

GDP: High (2)

Land: Medium (1)

Edited August 5 by Apuni
added coffee! (see edit history)