sandus.org

It’s long been our law: Sandum citizens should give charity.

In Sandus, this means giving dāna, alms, tithes, donations, or mutual aid, but we consider giving anything valuable (money, possessions, time, or labour) altruistically (with the intention to benefit others) to be charity in our country. It is all about that intention to help and alleviate the suffering of others that is important here, not the object that is given.

But that emphasis on should is key in Sandus, it’s why we call them “charity taxes.” (See form in link.) This is a moral, communitarian expectation as a Sandum law. The Central People’s Government expects citizens to declare their charity taxes in Sandus at least once a year, but there are also no penalties for not doing so. “We are a micronation,” the Sôgmô explains. “We are a voluntary association of citizens. Our laws are about community traditions and expectations, and one of our oldest laws is that citizens should give charity.”

“Or give to charity—the wording, the object is not important. It’s all about the intention.”

This open-ended nature of charity has led to some confusion in the past about what counts. What you declare really depends on the situation. You could include a lot, in very minute detail, or you can just declare what comes to your mind. Here are some things that do definitely count:

• Donations to charity
• Volunteer work
• Clothing given away without attachment
• Gifts, especially those intended to help the recipient
• Dinners you have organised with friends
• Projects you have done for your community
• Furniture, vehicles, or items given to charity
• Events or labour that you have done for Sandus
  (We are a community, after all!)

All of these count, and more!