Falkland Islands
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Copyright (picture): Falkland Islands Development Corporation ©2004
This solution appears more and more suitable to me. I remember my conversation with Peter (Vizier) who actually suggested Falklands for us to settle on. Initially I was rather sceptical about Falklands, as the climate was reported to be a bit harsh and I doubted that United Kingdom would grant the islands some souvereignity. But facts prove I was wrong.
The islands enjoy certain level of self-administration though HIM Queen Elizabeth II. remains the formal head of state. Britons provide solely for the defence and the foreign policy, the internal administration is executed by the Falklanders themselves. The economy is not very strong but sufficient, and there is much potencial for developement. The main source of income is fishery and sheep farming, but some vegetables for locals and the fishermen are produced in glass-house hydroculture as well. Electric power may be provided by wind power generators thanks to permanent winds in the area - this is important as the countries economy may be completely independent from oil supplies.
The temperatures are reported to be from 0°C to +14°C, the local flora being rather poor therefore. There are some small trees and extense areas are covered by grass - good for sheeps, of course. The yearly precipitation is about 600 ml/m
2, more than sufficient I guess.
The immigration policy is not restrictive, however the applicants have to provide proves that they have a job contract and an accommodation on the islands. What is required to receive the citizenship, should be investigated.
As there are less than 3.000 citizens on the islands, it would be easy to achieve political influence on the islands interior politics - we just would need a steady immigration and pursuing our interests by legal means. The islands are protected by the UK, we would just need to keep the status quo while pursing our specific interests. The population density is 0.27/km
2 so it's rather unlikely to meet some hostility from the native citizens, especially when we cooperate with them while establishing infrustructure and bring more capital, working power and know-how. The basic infrastructure is already there, we will solely need to buy land, build dwellings and establish busines activities of some kind, and negotiate with local autorities for visas for our people, wich we would recruit in our agencies spread all over the world.
To avoid some hostilities, we should not proclaim some "takeover" as our primary goal, this would just couse hard feelings against us from the locals. The primary goal would be to establish functioning gay-lesbian communities there in
peacefull co-existence with the locals and make the Falklands a homeland welcoming gay immigrants. With time, the political majority can be achieved by simple increase of population through gay-lesbian migration, but it would be rather unfair to pursue any mistreatment of the natives in case this should be actually achieved. Simple political majority would suffice, and the immigration structure will do the rest. If you look on the birth rates, there is no serious danger that the heterosexual population might endanger the GLBT-majority if our people take the call for immigration seriously. In beginning, we can formally establish our communities there and help our people with jobs, education, business credits and social services - here we can learn from the catholic church a lot (they really are good in such things). We even could issue marriage certificates before the local legislation recognizes them - our people will. Open up a locall MCC office and a buddist temple and you will have all your religious privileges.
As to the bad weather: hey, we could build glass-houses and make there tropical paradises inside - the energy supplies can be secured by the modern wind power stations. Even Swedish and Norwegians are enjoying high level of comforts, so why not? It will be solely in our hands to actually make this place a near-by-paradise. And don't tell me our people would not come there as they are mostly overeducated and oversensitive - all these sissies can work very hard if they wish, believe in me.
There is surelly also a serious touristic potential there - not the usuall sun-bathing, but rather an interesting nature-oriented tourism. There are lots of pinguins (and sheep) there, so some interested youth and pensioners could spend good time in observation of their habits and enjoying the landscapes.
The more I think about the topic, the more Falklands appear a suitable solution for us - a realistic step-by-step approach with a very good outcome possible, if we really want it. No need to suffer hunger and abolish the civilisation, no need to vegetate somewhere in the jungle. And still a realistic prospective to make it a place for our people for all times, with a strong military guardian on our side for the next 50 or 100 years. As the case of Falklands is still in discussion between the UK and Argentina, it is entirely possible that at the end we indeed might gain the entire souvereignity, shall we wish it. However, it would be smart to stay with the UK so long - as member of the European Union it is likely to be the best choice for economic and social developement for the next future. Any forecasts for long-term developement lack real sense, but the government would be always well-advised to seek cooperation with democratic and powerfull partners to protect self-determination of the Islands.
Quotations from the various websites:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, lying east of southern Argentina at 51°45′ S 59°00′ W. They have a total land area of 12,173 km˛, approximately the same area as Connecticut or Northern Ireland, and a coastline estimated at 1,288 km.
Much of the land is part of the two main islands separated by the Falkland Sound: East Falkland, home to the capital of Port Stanley and the majority of the population, and West Falkland. Both islands have mountain ranges, rises to 705 m at Mount Usborne on East Falkland. There are also some boggy plains, most notably Lafonia, the southern half of East Falkland. Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as pasture for sheep.
Smaller islands surround the main two. They include Barren Island, Beaver Island, Bleaker Island, Carcass Island, George Island, Keppel Island, Lively Island, New Island, Pebble Island, Saunders Island, Sealion Island, Speedwell Island, Staats Island, Weddell Island, West Point Island. The Jason Islands lie to the north west of the main archipelago, and Beauchene Island some distance to its south.
The islands claim a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22 km) and an exclusive fishing zone of 200 nautical miles (370 km), which has been a source of conflict with Argentina.
The Falkland Islands have a cold marine climate with strong westerly winds. It is generally cloudy and humid; rain occurs on more than half the days in a typical year. Snow is rare, but can occur at almost any time of year.From Falkland Islands Development Corporation's Website:
"The Falkland Islands are located in the South Atlantic approximately 300 miles east of the South American coast.
The majority of the 2,379 people that live in the Falkland Islands (excluding an estimated 112 residents temporarily absent and 534 civilians based at Mount Pleasant military base) are of British descent. 1,989 live in the capital, Stanley, and the remainder live in settlements or on family farms around the islands. English is spoken on the Falkland Islands.
The economy of the Falkland Islands was traditionally based on revenue from sheep ranching. However, with the creation of a conservation and management zone around the islands in 1986, income from a major offshore fishery has become the driver of economic growth. The Islands are now economically self-sufficient and investment in new facilities and services has brought about major improvements in the standard of living."
(CIA Factbook)
Copyright: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response System
Links:
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_IslandsGovernment:
http://www.falklands.gov.fk/Falkland Islands Development Corporation
http://www.falklandislands.com/The Falkland Islands Company:
http://www.the-falkland-islands-co.com/Tourism:
http://www.tourism.org.fk/Pinguines:
http://www.falklands.net/Falkland Islands Holding:
http://www.fihplc.com/Telephone & Internet:
http://www.cwfi.co.fk/services.html
