Ave, Sandum Citizens!
Charity Taxes — Continued Participation & Changing Philanthropy:
Over the course of the years since the charity taxes were first established and Solstice & Equinox reports were first published, the nature of Sandum philanthropy has changed. First, rice donations done through the website Freerice.com were considered the main element of Sandum philanthropy. Next, monetary donations — at some times, reaching hundreds of dollars — were the next primary forms of philanthropy done by Sandum citizens. Now, however, the nature of Sandum philanthropy has changed into more pragmatic means.
In the past season, a meager sum no greater than $30 USD was donated to charity by Sandum citizens who are required by law to donate time, skills, or money to charity in exchange for the right to vote. However, other forms of philanthropy grew. Today, Sandum citizens may not be overly generous in their wallets — likely as a result of the aging Sandum population from dependents to increasingly independent young adults — but Sandum citizens are far more active in social roles geared towards philanthropy. Sandum citizens take part in a variety of sociocultural groups and give help in the form of knowledge at seminars, discussion groups, and other forms of philanthropic social interactions.
Today, in Sandus, philanthropy is now understood as a diverse character of human social interaction: one less based on capital and, instead, on social interactions between peoples. Thus, a more sincere philanthropy has taken root in Sandus — and that is something we as citizens ought to celebrate.
Further Joining Together of Socii Civitates:
The state meeting in late May between the Sôgmô and the Kumanoese leader, Hatsu Ryuho, has shown a renewal in the internationalist effort for greater interaction and adhesion amongst the Socii states, the former socilivançae. Talks have been happening over that period about the greater interaction between the three states — Sandus, Kumano, and Überstadt. Plans have been drawn up and discussions are currently taking place between the Sôgmô and Überstadti King Adam I, who likewise serves as the Secretary of the Party in Sandus. Plans involve the greater adhesion of the political, social, and economic organs of all three states to one another.
However, King Adam and the Sôgmô — proponents so far of two different plans — have disagreed about the range of plans. Both have now agreed that any form of future socii association will have to be equal for all members — meaning that Sandus will no longer be the de facto leader of the loose coalition; instead, if the association is to be created then Sandum national interests will be liberated from the overall socius interests, the Sôgmô has said. Developed plans have also disagreed about economic arrangements, where a free-trade zone and greater integration will be established for Sandus and the socii civitates; however, the Sôgmô has argued, should all three parties be bound in one economic zone, that Sandus should leave the Saint Josephsburg Economic Pact — while Adam von Friedeck disagrees. Concerning citizenship, too, the two leaders disagree and have not yet found any compromise: the Sôgmô believes that socius citizenship ought to be universal and automatic, whereas von Friedeck argues for the status quo — where individual citizens must apply for the citizenship status individually.
In the upcoming Summer, the three sociarum civitatum leaders will prepare plans for greater integration of the three states.
The Revolutionary Sociocultural Mission of Sandus:
In all micronations, politics are seen as the highest calling and most important feature of the state, so claims Realism and former Erusian Rennie-Gaffneyism. In the former Erusian ideology, this is known as the “Active Cultural Development Theory,” and is affirmed likewise in Sandum Realism as an ideological principle and as a sociopolitical policy in Sandus. While the political entity is the greatest concern for micronationalism, the theory effectively dictates that social and cultural politics are necessary for the survival of the micronation: and this has been the case in Sandus, a state celebrated for its culture, which has upheld this principle.
In recent years and months, however, emphasis has been placed on the economic purpose of Sandus and on political principle, not on political pragmatism. This Summer, the Office of the Sôgmô is hoping to slow down work on many of its economic development initiatives and to change the outlook of Sandum citizens and micronationalists who see economy as the supreme call of a micronation. Instead, the Sôgmô will argue that arts and humanities are the true call of micronations. Through discussions and through official Sandum publications on Veritum Sandus, a renewal of Realist and Philia thought will be established in Sandum politics and in the micronational community.
Though this political action will not renege Sandus’s involvement in the economic spheres, such as the 2015 Economic Goal, it will instead view Sandum sociocultural work as the purpose of Sandum existence — and will work to develop that traditional Sandum work along Marxist lines. These changes will mirror the liberation of Sandum national interests for cives citizens considered for the integration of the socii civitates.
Possible Renewal of early Sandum Ribbons & Medals:
In the last days of the Territory of Sandus (St.Charlian Commonwealth) and until the Summer of the first year of the State of Sandus (2011), Sandus had a wide range of various Sandum decorations, ribbons, and medals. However, they were disbanded in order to establish and develop the prestige of the Most Honourable Order of the Throne of Sandus (MHOTS), Sandus’s only honourary medal now. Now, several years later, some of these former medals may see a return in the upcoming season.
The former preference of Sandum medals was: Order of the Sovereign Eagle, Order of the Sage, Order of the Gods, Ribbon of Athena, Medal of Partnership, Medal of Remembrance, and the seasonal ribbons of Flora and Pebon.
Now, after some consideration and awaiting a formal motion in the Council by the Sôgmô, the Ribbon of Athena, the Medal of Partnership, the Medal of Remembrance, and former and new seasonal ribbons may be included on the list of Sandum decorations and honours. Unlike the MHOTS, however, no official medal or certificate will be made available for many of these medals and ribbons — except for electronic certificates.
Seasonal ribbons may include the former ribbons of Flora (Spring) and Pebon (Winter), and the new ribbons of Vesta (Summer) and Kchi Awasos (Autumn).
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