The Equinox is historically a date in Sandus that all administrative work changes due to season. As the time surrounding the Autumn Equinox prepares for the quiet of Winter and changes active diplomacy to more quiet and isolationist diplomacy, so too does the Spring Equinox do the opposite. No clearer is this seen than on the current Equinox of our State. Following the State of Sandus’s forced removal from the GUM in early January and our subsequent diplomacy since then, the State of Sandus is once more to pursue membership in the GUM after months of our imposed absence. As well, on this Equinox, we mirror the presentation of Sandum cultural philosophy at the PoliNations Conference in London with a cultural presentation of our State in less than one week’s time and with the current celebration of the Quinquatria. At a time when the flowers begin to bloom and when the music of trumpets and voices of yore chant with birds, so too do we commemorate the beauty of our culture.
The Central People’s Government Winter objectives accomplished
The Office of the Sôgmô organised a series of objectives for the Winter season. Amongst these were:
– Author articles that define and redefine the government of the State and that express Libera & Realism in the New Year and Secession;
– Consider the work-unit bureaucracy structure, create a new Sandum website, Sancta language and calendar work;
– Prepare a concert for le Secessio and the New Sancta Year, create postcards for le Secessio;
– Prepare educational courses for citizens on our philosophy, government, socialism, and history.
We are pleased to report that the Office of the Sôgmô has accomplished all of these major goals and is still working on the building of a new website that will be in use via Veritum Sandus. Educational courses are still being planned and developed, as well, but will be prepared — hopefully — by the time of the Summer Solstice. New objectives will be constructed for the new Spring quarter-season and these objectives will be published soon.
Summary of the Sôgmô’s business in the past Quarter
The Sôgmô has busied himself with cultural aspects ranging from the Decembro MMXII (December 2012) Collegio Sacerdae holidays to the New Gregorian Year. The State of Sandus founded the Sandum Minecraft Server for the Philia Advance and the Embassy of the State of Sandus on Second Life, both intended to display and represent Sandum culture and philosophy to the world through popular virtual worlds. In February, the Sôgmô adopted a version of the Sancta Calendar for the new Sancta year of MMXIII (2013) and celebrated le Jouro de Secessio with a major concert that displayed Sandum culture in musical form. The New Sancta Year was celebrated with the Sôgmô’s annual ceremonial speech in Sancta, inwhich the language was reformed, and with another concert.
The Sôgmô determined Libera‘s clear and ardent defence of the Sandum State when Sandus was removed from the GUM due to underhanded political reasons and, as is Sandum custom, wrought victory from aggressors through press and speech alone. The Sôgmô wrote an essay on the redefinition of the Sandum State from an elected monarchy to both an elected monarchy or a republic, seeing both definitions as fitting to the unique Sandum situation. The Sôgmô further considered an addition of work units to Sandum socialism and the bureaucracy and an addition of a Council to be an advisory parliament later in his reign.
Taxes
This day marks one year since the beginning of our charitable tax system, meant to manifest the Sandum philosophy to benefit the world. To date, we have donated over 67,000 grains of rice on FreeRice.com and have raised over $320 USD for charities and other charitable foundations. Beyond money and the more quantifiable, we have also donated our time to the construction of our compassion by organising trips to temples and expressing our nation’s philosophy, as well as by expanding the utilisation and understanding of Realism for the benefit of others — at their own decision and discretion. Our State has made itself able for those who have required both confidence and guidance and, in the spirit of Sandum hope and compassion, we hope to remain as a trustworthy store of the confidence of peoples struggling against suffering and oppression and for liberation and self-determination.
Awarding the Most Honourable Order of the Throne of Sandus
As is customary, the Most Honourable Order of the Throne of Sandus is traditionally awarded on the Equinoctes and the Solstices. On the occasion of the Sôgmô’s admittance into the University of Maryland and its Scholars Program, as well as on the occasion of the Sôgmô’s graduation from high school, the Sôgmô would like to extend his thanks to three particular teachers who have instilled in the Office of the Sôgmô of the Central People’s Government the very motto of the order: in patria fides, “Faith in Country”. Mme Lopez, the Sôgmô’s literature teacher from 2010 to 2011, served a vital role in guidance for independence; M. Penn, the Sôgmô’s political science teacher from 2011 to 2012, played a vital role in teaching the dialectical skills that prompted the Sôgmô to explore Realism; Mme Pennington, the Sôgmô’s academic advisor from 2010 to 2012, helped instil pride in the Sôgmô’s work as a micronationalist. These three teachers shall receive certificates for their installation as Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Throne of Sandus and can now lawfully claim the postnomial letters MOTS. Their medals shall be prepared to be distributed on the occasion of the anniversary of the creation of the State of Sandus on XIV Aprilo MMXIII (the 14th of April, 2013).
Wishing all Sandum citizens and peoples of the world a festive Spring season,
— Sôgmô Sörgel
sandus.org 