The Oppressed People Of Varrag

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Some Economy:
Thriving Political Freedoms:
Unheard Of

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Ambassador


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a huge, economically powerful nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 414 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Public Transport. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 51%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Arms Manufacturing.

A large concrete wall is being built around the country's borders, the government has started a campaign to crack down on road rage and encourage alternate means of commuting, genetic research is temporarily tied up in government red tape, and drunk drivers are sentenced to death. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

Varaag Awash With Red-Rimmed Eyes

The Issue
National marijuana consumption has hit an all-time high, with alarming results, a new poll has found.

The Debate
"My factory's productivity is down ten percent since marijuana was decriminalized," complains employer Hope Christmas. "And the number of thefts from the candy machine is off the scale. This so-called 'pot' needs to be banned in all public places. Let the junkies do what they want at home, but not in my workplace."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"Whoa, dude, no need to get, like, you know," says Free Your Mind campaigner Colin Licorish, from his parents' basement. "This is, like, a personal choice issue, you know. It's like... whoa, just back off what I want to do with my own body. Don't let the fascists win, man. There are some hot new eckies coming in soon, they should be legal too."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

Church Attendances Reaching New Low, Warn Priests

The Issue
Religious professionals and fanatic hermits across Varaag have been drawing increasingly animated attention to the decreasing levels of church attendance among the population.

The Debate
"The apathy of Varaag's people towards their religious duties to God is abysmal," rumbles a man known only as 'The Hierophant' as he brandishes his holy book at you. "If we don't rectify this problem immediately the ground shalt quake, the sky shalt turn blood-red, and the fields shalt turn to offal. The government must make religious attendance compulsory before all the land is damned to an eternity in the Netherworld!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"Compulsory church attendance is not the answer to this problem," says swami Bill Licorish in between spells of meditation. "There are many ways to enlightenment and it would be wrong for the government to enforce any one of them so, instead, we must divert some of the money we spend on meaningless economic pursuits into funding an awareness campaign to help people discover their true religious identity. We must establish temples, mosques, and hermitages so people can find out which path to their spirituality is right for them."
[Accept]


"I reckon you could just ignore these zealots and scrap any government funding we still have going into religion," says Violet Silk, author of the wildly unpopular book 'Face It, There Is No Afterlife'. "I can't believe that modern thinkers like you and me are still tying ourselves down with outmoded and outdated concepts like the 'soul' or 'God'. Just drop all funding and give everyone a bit of a tax break. At least then we can be a bit richer before the long infinite void of oblivion at the end of our small, feeble, insignificant little lives."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

A Request For Military Aid

The Issue
A small nameless nation within your sphere of influence has gone on a genocidal rampage within its own borders, ridding itself of what their Supreme Ruler For All Eternity, Emperor Fleur Jong-Il, refers to as 'those pesky Bigtopians'. Some escaped refugees are requesting that your government do something to end the slaughter of millions.

The Debate
"They're killing everyone!" gasps Clint Hendrikson, one of the refugees. "I implore you to please intervene and stop this murder of my people! If Varaag has any compassion at all then it must help us! With these madmen out of power we can finally go about rebuilding our nation as a land of justice and freedom!"
[Accept]


"Woah, woah, we can't just go around being a knight in shining armour for every random hell-hole on this planet," says Hope Winters, your minister of Foreign Relations. "Should we send citizens of Varaag into war just so we can save a bunch of foreigners? I don't think so! Now, I'm no xenophobe, but I've gotta ask: what's in it for us? Nothing but the death of our soldiers and criticism from the rest of the region, that's what. Trouble is we're getting too much of a reputation for having a big army. So drop some of our military funding and let them fight their own wars. It's got nothing to do with us."
[Accept]


"Well, maybe this nation does have something we need, sir," says Lars Silk, your Military Advisor, while perusing a giant map of Varaag. "We're fast running out of land and resources here, so why not invade this place, kick out whoever's in power there, and take over? We've got the military power, so why wait? If any of those hippies in the region have somethin' to say about it, they can say hello to our missile programmes, haha!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"They have as much right to their own internal politics as we do," says activist and peacenik Billy-Bob Mistletoe. "While their actions may be deplorable by our standards, we can't intervene unless the legitimate government requests it. It's just an invitation to anarchy on an international scale, and nobody but a few crackpots want that."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 3.

[Nugog]

Blood Banks Running Dry

The Issue
A violent and rather messy stampede of tics during a parade in your honour has brought widespread media attention to the shortage of blood, plasma and platelet donors in Varaag.

The Debate
"Blood donation should be compulsory!" argues May Frederickson, a spokesperson for the Varaag Blood Donors' Association. "We can't expect citizens to come flocking to donate blood just out of the goodness of their hearts, so the government should take the matter into its own hands. If we could maybe require healthy citizens to... let's say... donate blood every three months, we wouldn't have such a problem with shortages. It'll require more funding to organise and carry out, yes, but your people are worth it, aren't they?"
[Accept]


"Don't listen to that devil worshipper!" preaches Zeke Falopian, a Jehovah's Witness. "It isn't up to us to decide what should be done, it is God, and only God, who decides what someone should do with their blood. I'd rather die clean and go to Heaven, thank you very much! We must heed this Gospel and ban blood donations now! Of course some people will die, but they will be rewarded in the afterlife for obeying His word."
[Accept]


"You're kidding, right?" burbles anaemic patient Charles Frederickson from a hospital bed. "I'm not going to let some closed-minded priest tell me what I can and can't do with my blood! But I don't think people should be forced to give blood; they just need incentive, that's all. Like money. Trust me, any kind of 'varaag chips For Blood' scheme will have them almost begging to donate. It's the only humane way to ensure that people like me are getting the care we need. If you're worried about funding just get it from those religious nuts... they're not helping anyone with it."
[Accept]


"I have an even better idea," says Klaus Bush, a prison officer. "How about we force every healthy prisoner to donate blood? It's about time they gave back to society what they've taken away in the first place. If we do this we won't have to beg the law-abiding citizens of Varaag to take time out of their day to give blood. It's not like these thugs are really doing anything for us, so missing a pint or three won't matter, am I right?"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 4.

[Nugog]

Cannibals Demand To Taste What Varaag Has To Offer

The Issue
A coalition of tribalists, health experts, and civil rights proponents have recently suggested legalizing cannibalism for consumers of willing would-be meals.

The Debate
"I see absolutely no problem with people digging into each other at dinnertime, so long as everyone is willing," Bill Dredd, the editor of the monthly magazine 'To Serve Man', quips, "Not only does it solve hunger problems and create jobs, but it also adds variety to Varaag's sometimes dull palette."
[Accept]


Civil rights leader Samuel Love came out publicly for moderate pro-cannibalism legislation, commenting, "While it may strike some as a crude, even evil practice, our ancestors have practiced cannibalism for years. If we create a government organization to strictly regulate and grade all human meat prior to its arrival on the market, we can ensure that respect for diversity is maintained while health concerns are also allayed. And instead of killing average people, why not make being turned into snack foods a post-mortem option? Like donating your body to science!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"You're all absolutely out of your minds!" exclaims Steffan Utopia, head of Varaag's largest health-food manufacturer. "It's immoral, it's unhealthy, and it's disgusting. Not only are these so-called 'dietary rights' activists leading us down a dark path of sin, but right into a marketplace with yet another product that's almost as bad as beef!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 2.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Below Average Economy:
Thriving Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Ambassador


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a huge, devout nation, remarkable for its strong anti-business politics. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 414 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Public Transport. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 56%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Arms Manufacturing.

Soylent products are an expensive commodity due to a lack of volunteers, the country has been 'going shopping' by annexing nearby nations for their resources, marijuana is legal in the privacy of your own home, and atheists refusing to attend church are heavily fined by the government. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

Keep The Greenbelt Green, Say Protesters

The Issue
A group of environmentalists are protesting against plans to expand urban and suburban developments into greenbelts, the designated countryside between settlements.

The Debate
"Do we really have to listen to these nutcases?" asks real estate developer, Jonathon Cogswell. "The fact of the matter is that nature is BORING. Give us permission to build on the greenbelt and you'll have pink hotels, boutiques, and swinging hot spots that'll be the envy of the region and draw tourists from all around! We can always transplant a few trees and put them in a tree museum to keep the tree-huggers happy. Varaag stands to make a lot of money from this! Think about it for a moment!"
[Accept]


"I agree with my colleague here, but he doesn't go far enough," says Melbourne Nagasawa, a city planner. "These protestors are standing in the path of progress. It slows the growth of our economy and harms my portfolio - er - the future of our nation, I mean. It's unpatriotic and we should increase police funding to deal with these troublemakers. Then we wouldn't have to worry about greenbelts or any other nonsense about keeping the 'environment' safe. Think about it for a moment!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" exclaims environmental activist Akira Barry. "Tree museums? Police funding? Don't it always seem to be the case that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone? We're talking about natural treasures and you're talking about destroying them. Is there anything that you can build that can really be better than nature? We should put a stop to all encroachment into natural areas. Think about it for a moment!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 2.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Below Average Economy:
Thriving Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Ambassador


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a huge, economically powerful nation, renowned for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 432 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Public Transport. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 57%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Arms Manufacturing.

The country has been 'going shopping' by annexing nearby nations for their resources, marijuana is legal in the privacy of your own home, atheists refusing to attend church are heavily fined by the government, and environmental protestors are being rounded up and taken away in sinister black vans as a massive land development campaign gets underway. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

Varaag Looks to the Stars

The Issue
The recent popularity of a science-fiction TV show has prompted calls for Varaag to develop its own space program.

The Debate
"Don't tell me space colonies wouldn't be cool," says excited fifth-grade teacher Freddy King, still wearing big Spock ears from his last convention. "Think of how they would galvanize the national population! And there would also be some kind of scientific benefit, probably."
[Accept]


"The project certainly is feasible, but very expensive," says Varaag Space Agency Head Beth Wu. "We could make it less of a burden on the taxpayers if we sought funding from private industry -- advertisements on the side of our rockets, selling contracts to the Arms Manufacturing industry, that kind of thing."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"If God had meant Man to fly, he would have given us solid rocket boosters instead of legs," says religious type Falala McAlpin. "We should not be looking to the stars, but rather inside our own hearts. That's why we should abandon this so-called space program, and instead make the teaching of religion mandatory in all schools."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 2.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Below Average Economy:
Thriving Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Ambassador


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a huge, devout nation, renowned for its punitive income tax rates. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 439 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Public Transport. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 60%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Arms Manufacturing.

Marijuana is legal in the privacy of your own home, atheists refusing to attend church are heavily fined by the government, environmental protestors are being rounded up and taken away in sinister black vans as a massive land development campaign gets underway, and the nation's first space rocket -- sponsored by Pepsi and shaped like an enormous soda bottle -- is being developed. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

Power Problems Need Bright Solution

The Issue
The oldest power station in Varaag suffered a catastrophic failure last night, plunging a third of Varaag's national power supply grid into darkness. There is no debate that it needs to be replaced, but the question is with what?

The Debate
"The solution is clear," says environmental activist Roxanne Falopian. "Wind turbines and solar power stations are the cleanest there are. We must switch power production to forms of renewable energy, that will never run out. The only minor problems are that wind farms will take up a great deal of space and of course we can't exactly rely on the weather. It isn't as though we control it. But think of how much healthier people will be without all that pollution!"
[Accept]


"Wind power? Solar collectors? Bah! Have you ever wondered when the least amount of strain is placed on the national grid? WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING!" exclaims Southern Varaag Electra official Johann Summers. "We need power under our control, and cheaply. Coal has been the cheapest and most abundant power source for ages. We don't need this airy fairy wind malarky when we have cheap and reliable power available for all. True, pollution will be a bit on the heavy side but I'm sure that's only a minor problem, with how well funded our health system is!"
[Accept]


"Now the way I see it is that it's either green, expensive, and sprawling; or compact, polluting and cheap. Wouldn't it be nice if we had the best of both worlds? Well, we can!" claims fission technician Hope Wong. "Nuclear power is reliable, clean, and although it isn't cheap, it won't break the bank. There is a risk of deadly meltdown, but this is relativly small, and the only people who could be against this are anti-nuclear protesters, but what do we care about those tree-hugging hippies?"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 3.

[Nugog]

A Uniform Plan For Varaag's Students?

The Issue
A random PTA meeting has brought the debate over school uniforms to your attention.

The Debate
"I think uniforms are great," says Roger Silk, your Minister of Education during a cabinet meeting. "They instil a sense of community within our schools which lowers crime - and the pupils can go about their daily business without having to worry about being browbeaten by their classmates for not wearing the latest trainers. Varaag simply cannot do without them. If the children don't like them, then hard cheese."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"Dude, your plan stinks," says Billy Barry, leader of The Students Union. "Our clothing is part of who we are; it lets us express ourselves just by passing someone in the corridor. To say we must wear these inhibiting uniforms is an affront to our personal freedom! So back off with the uniforms, dude, students should be allowed to go to school dressed however they like. Or not dressed, if that's their style."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights:
Below Average Economy:
Strong Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Ambassador


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a huge, devout nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 446 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Healthcare. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 68%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Arms Manufacturing.

Environmental protestors are being rounded up and taken away in sinister black vans as a massive land development campaign gets underway, the nation's first space rocket -- sponsored by Pepsi and shaped like an enormous soda bottle -- is being developed, protesters are up in arms over new nuclear power stations, and school uniforms are compulsory. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

Military Budgets Up For Approval

The Issue
The various branches of Varaag's military brought their budget petitions to your attention and, as usual, they are all asking for widespread increases over the rest of the military departments.

The Debate
"Clearly the army requires the greatest increase in funds this year," says Field Marshal Aaron Love. "After all, wars were never won by air or sea and in this dangerous world we must be able to protect the interests of Varaag. Currently our men get hand-me-down weapons, rations I wouldn't feed a pig - the army is increasingly looking like a bad career option and we can't have that. If we're going to get recruits, we need more funding to support our brave lads in their duty."
[Accept]


"Hah! It's the Navy who needs the money, mate," says Grand Admiral Peggy Mistletoe. "The army and the police forces can protect us domestically, but can they protect us from having our foreign trade cut off? Can they protect us from terrorists and pirates? How are the soldiers going to get to the enemy's borders? Swim? I think not. Fund us, the Navy, the true protectors of Varaag!"
[Accept]


"Despite the statements of my colleagues," says May Broadside, Marshal of the Air Force. "The Air Force requires more money than these men playing around with boats. We are increasingly seeing terrorists taking to the air, and more ships or guns are not going to stop that. Our people will only be safe when the Air Force has the power it needs to defend us - and for that we need more funding and more government support for industries geared towards the development of new aircraft."
[Accept]


"You're all thinking too small!" exclaims Freddy du Pont, an avid Star Wars fan. "What we need is more research into the possibilities of space weapons! Big laser cannon and satellites with complete annihilation power! And cool spaceships! Boom! Rat-a-tata! Bang! Bang! It'll be expensive, sure, but think of the power! THE POWER!"
[Accept]


"It's simply not good enough!" wails Tobias Rubin, the Minister of Defence. "It's not about the money - it's the manpower. Not enough people by far are signing up! All we seem to be getting nowadays are drunks and people who volunteered for a dare. The current conscription laws need to be either more strictly enforced or drastically rewritten. What I propose is a universal draft: everyone capable of pulling a trigger should become a part of the Army, Navy or Air Force. Only in this way can we ensure the dominance of Varaag in the region."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"The military is a stain on the peace-loving nature of our nation!" cries Violet Silk, while sporting a Rastifarian hat. "People should be allowed to choose what they do for a living! Conscription is wrong and I don't see why our tax varaag chips should go to such a despicable cause! The money should be going to more important places - like our pockets!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 5.