01 - What
is the Holy Empire of Reunion?
02 - Then, Reunion is just a "game"?
03 - Is Reunion some kind of separatist movement?
04 - Why "Empire of Reunion"?
05 - How do I become a Subject of His Imperial Majesty?
06 - Are there only american micronations?
07 - Ok, I've got it. But... What's the big deal?
08 - Oh, nice! A War "Game"!
09 - Where can I get more information on the Micronational World?
10 - I don´t understand Portuguese. Can I join?
1 - What is the Holy Empire of Reunion?
The Holy Empire of Reunion defines itself as a MICRONATION, that is to say, a miniature of
a nation. A micronation is based upon an established national culture, symbols and
institutions, as well as a perception of a colective past and future - a common destiny.
Réunians understand that a micronation may involve several dimensions: political
exercise, societal conviviability, actual personal relations, live cultural experiments
and so on. Within well-known micropatrology, we should qualify better as a mix of
political exercise and nationhood categories. Réunion was founded in August, 1997, and
since then has acquired members from all over the world, having been portrayed by
international media, and mentioned in most of the bibliography about the subject of
micronationalism and micronationry. There are articles on the internet from newspapers and
magazines as known as the New York Times, La Repubblica and La Liberation portraying
micronationalism and mentioning the Empire. Second oldest lusophone (portuguese-speaking)
micronation, Réunion is considered a "school of micronationalists". Through its
history, it has annexed and given birth to many micronations, such as Choconia, Soveraat,
Pasargada, Male Caliphate, Ludonia, Valsgraphenstein, Allameigh and many others. The
country is an active member of many Leagues of Micronations, such as the League of
Secessionist States, the League of Micronations, Comity of Peoples, United Virtual Nations
Organization and others.
The nation's founding fathers are Claudio de Castro (a.k.a. Emperor Claudio), Eduardo
Iatauro, Bernardo Bauer and Fernando Genesine, of whom only the Emperor remains as a
citizen; right now, the nation has 156 subjects, of which not a single one has acquired
citizenship in 1997. We do NOT exist physically in a place; that is, we are not located in
Reunion Island, and we have citizens (156, as of January, 2006) living all around the
world. Reunion does have a real government, real institutions, even government
dignitaries... It has everything, according to International law Principles, which is
necessary to be considered a Nation, with the possible exception of a sovereign
territory.
2 - Then, Reunion is just a "game"?
No Way! We are much more than a pitiful, simple "game". The micronational
world is formed by more than a hundred nations (Ephemeral States, micronations,
microstates, virtual nations), a lot like ours. Thousands of people are involved in
this "simulation"; among them are many business men, students, journalists and
teachers. Ok, there is a confirmed majority of College and High School students, in this
interesting world.
3 - Is Reunion some kind of separatist movement?
It takes a lot of imagination to think of such a thing. Unlike the americans, we -
brazilians - are not - yet - obliged to use warnings (disclaimers) saying
that we are not rebels; anyway, We thought it would be interesting to reaffirm that
Reunion is NOT a separatist movement. As we have already explained, Reunion is part
of the world of the micronations, having nothing against the Brazilian Government and
Institutions. The same thought is applicable to all the other governments throughout the
world.
4 - Why "Empire of Reunion"?
Bernardo Bauer and I (Cláudio de Castro) needed two islands more or less unknown, one
next to ther otherm to found our Empire (the defunct Empire of O País!, from which
Reunion secceeded, in 1997, to form the current Holy Empire of Reunion). Experienced
micronationalists advised us to find a place that existed in the real world. The Caribbean
islands are too famous, and the ones on the Pacific are independent countries. There was
only a way out: to "steal" the islands of Reunion and Mauritius (where O País!
had its capital city, and where we now have a Vicerouship), located to the East of
Madagascar (Indian Ocean), and found our Empire there. Again, we have nothing
against the real government of Reunion, which is an Ultramarine Department of
France. If you are a native from Reunion, don't worry; you are not under His
Imperial Majesty's supreme power (ius imperii), neither under the jurisdiction of Reunian
Justice. You only become a Reunian citizen - liable to Reunian Law - by filling in
the Citizenship Form. If you are an incorrigible industrialist that has money accounts in
that Tax-Free paradise, we are not able to confiscate your wealth (although we would do
it, if we could - believe me).
5 - How do I become a Subject of His Imperial Majesty?
It's as simple as that: fill in the Citizenship Form, and wait (a lot) for our answer. The Ministry of Tourism and Immigration is responsible for
analyzing and deciding who joins us and who doesn't. But if you already are a citizen of
another micronation, you must cancel your citizenship there so that we can accept you
here; if you don't, and we find out, we can have you impaled. When you are accepted,
you will be included in one of our CHANDON mailing lists (If you do not speak or
understand Portuguese, you can find a job suitable to you at the Imperial
Chancellery). Another thing: Reunion is a Democracy, a Parliamentary Monarchy, ruled
by a Premier elected by the representatives of the Reunian People (qualicates).
Also, do not join the Empire in order to acquire a nobility title: those are given -
only - to people who really deserve it.
6 - Are there only american micronations?
Not at all! Reunion, as an example, is formed - in Its majority - by Brazilian citizens.
There are dutch, german, portuguese, japanese, british and many others. If you'd
like to join Reunion, it would be BETTER (not required) if you were able to speak French,
Spanish, Italian or, PREFERABLY, Portuguese), so that you can read our newspapers and
understand our laws and His Majesty's decrees.
7 - Ok, I've got it. But... What's the big deal?
Well, in the macronational world, our opinions and political ideals are almost useless (or
harmless). Our candidates not always win, the Mayor never receives us in
his office, we never speak to the president we have elected. That's the big deal of
the micronational world. Here, your opinion does matter! You can be one of the
people that rule the Empire. As an Imperial Counselor, Qualicate, Ambassador, Owner of a
Big Company, etc, the Reunian government will care about what you think. You can
send messages - that will be answered - to the Emperor, complaining about whatever you
want. If you are able to get an important job here, you will be able to
communicate with Presidents of other nations, sign important treaties (break some too).
Now, if you hate History, Diplomacy and Politics, I can say that it would be better for
you (and for us) if you kept away from the micronational world.
8 - Oh, nice! A War "Game"!
AAAAAAHHHHHHH....... IT IS NOT A GAME (I'll have you killed if you repeat that). Second,
there is no way of achieving a 'war' status between micronations. How would one nation
attack the other? The higher it can get when it comes to 'war' is a Cold War, a diplomatic
one.
9 - Where can I get more information on the
Micronational World?
If you speak english (somehow I assume you do) there are a plethora of Websites about
micronations. Visit some of them; you will find links in the Imperial Chancellery section of the
Official Reunian Website. I suggest you visit the site of the League of
Secessionist States, Comity of Peoples, United Micronations or MicroWorld,
which are some of the intermicronational entities (like the UN).
10 - I don´t understand Portuguese. Can I join?
From 1997 to the year 1999, Réunion was a fully-functioning bilingual micronation, where
all the government decisions, laws and messages exchanged by citizens had to be written in
both English and Portuguese. However, in the middle of 1999, the amount of lusophone
citizens (which was traditionally only a bit higher than that of anglophones) started to
rise, causing problems of representation in the legislative houses. Hence, in October
1999, the Imperial Government sent a bill to the Imperial Council, which was approved,
establishing Portuguese as the only official language. Citizens like Skinner Layne,
Christopher Thieme, Jeremy Johnson, Chris Loutradis, Daniel Jackson, Jack Santucci,
William Myers, Rick Harwood, Justin Harwood, Micah Kubic and Matt Dabrowski are amongst
our most important political figures. However, the continuos attention given to Réunion
by Brazilian and Portuguese newspapers keep making our number of "lusophones"
grow, and thus, unfortunately, all the Réunian affairs are conducted in the Portuguese
language.
Well, that's about it. If you need any further information, please
refer to one of the many sites about micronations (you will find some at the Imperial Chancellery) or
write to us, by clicking here.
(*) Im.pale (im.pãl') 1 To
fix upon a pale or a sharp stake 2 To torture or put to death by
thrusting a sharp stake through the body. Also spelled empale.
Snail-Mail Address:
Reunian Embassy to the Federative Republic Of Brazil
Caixa Postal 02
Centro
Rio de Janeiro, RJ - BRASIL - Zip Code 20.011.000
Phone: 55-21-2232-9707
FAX: 55-21-2509-0910
E-mail Internet:[email protected] |
