SC4 Devotion Forum Archives

Here we go again... venturing into the world of MDing. Do I know what I'm letting myself into? Do you know what you're letting yourself into..?

The Commonwealth of Eleutherian States, usually referred to as Eleutheria or the E.S., is a constitutional federal imperial republic comprising thirteen states and a Federal Capital Territory, as well as a number of islands in the Central Atlantic Ocean. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast lies on the Gulf of Guinea, part of the Atlantic Ocean, in the south. The capital city is Eleutheria.

The people of Eleutheria have an extensive history, and archaeological evidence shows that human habitation of the area dates back to at least 9000 BC. The Benue-Cross River area is thought to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium AD.

History

Early History

The Nok people in central Nigeria produced terracotta sculptures that have been discovered by archaeologists. A Nok sculpture resident at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, portrays a sitting dignitary wearing a "Shepherds Crook" on the right arm, and a "hinged flail" on the left. These are symbols of authority associated with Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, and the god Osiris, and suggests that an ancient Egyptian style of social structure, and perhaps religion, existed in the area of modern Nigeria during the late Pharonic period. In the northern part of the country, Kano and Katsina has recorded history which dates back to around AD 999. Hausa kingdoms and the Kanem-Bornu Empire prospered as trade posts between North and West Africa.

The Yoruba people date their presence in the area of modern republics of Nigeria, Benin and Togo to about 8500 BC. The kingdoms of Ifẹ and Oyo in the western block of Nigeria became prominent about 700-900 and 1400 respectively. However, the Yoruba mythology believes that Ile-Ife is the source of the human race and that it predates any other civilization. Ifẹ produced the terracotta and bronze heads, the Ọyọ extended as far as modern Togo. Another prominent kingdom in south western Nigeria was the Kingdom of Benin whose power lasted between the 15th and 19th century. Their dominance reached as far as the well known city of Eko, later named Lagos by the Portuguese.

In the Southeastern part of Nigeria the Kingdom of Nri of the Igbo people flourished from the controversial date of around the 10th Century AD till 1700 AD. The Nri Kingdom was ruled by the Eze Nri.

Colonial History

Portuguese explorers were the first to reach Nigeria, giving Lagos its present name after the Portuguese town of Lagos, in Algarve. Portuguese surnames remain very common in Nigeria. Following the Napoleonic Wars, the British expanded trade with the Nigerian interior. In 1885 British claims to a West African sphere of influence received international recognition and in the following year the Royal Niger Company was chartered under the leadership of Sir George Taubman Goldie. In 1900 the company's territory came under the control of the British Government, which moved to consolidate its hold over the area of modern Nigeria. On January 1, 1901 Nigeria became a British protectorate, part of the British Empire, the foremost world power at the time.

In 1914, the area was formally united as the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Administratively, Nigeria remained divided into the northern and southern provinces and Lagos colony. Western education and the development of a modern economy proceeded more rapidly in the south than in the north, with consequences felt in Nigeria's political life ever since. Following World War II, in response to the growth of Nigerian nationalism and demands for independence, the great wave for independence that was sweeping across Africa, and the Wilsonian emphasis on national self-determination, the Nigerian people insisted on independence from the colonial powers.

However, much of Nigeria's native population was displaced by the continually arriving settlers from the United Kingdom / Great Britain and Continental Europe, especially from the Netherlands, Germany and France as the two world wars made many Europeans flee to greener pastures.

Post-Independence

With the thirteen regions within the former Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria proclaiming themselves "states," they issued the Declaration of Independence on 15 September, 1958. The rebellious states defeated Great Britain in the Eleutherian Revolutionary War (The name "Eleutheria" is derived from the feminine form of the Greek word ελεύθερος (eleutheros), "free"). A federal convention adopted the current Commonwealth of Eleutherian States Constitution on September 15, 1967; its ratification the following year made the states part of a single republic.

Recent History

Eleutheria, emerging from decades of civil war and internal conflict, is currently engaged in an intense effort to reconstruct and develop the country. These efforts include the changing of the location of the federal capital (from central Eleutheria to the coast) and the complete re-development of infrastructure, agriculture and the reconstruction of the nation's economy and other strategic sectors.

Democratisation and the re-drafting of the Nation's Constitution has been done under the supervision of the United States of America, a nation that Eleutherians look up to as is evident in their inspiration for the national flag, national seal / coat of arms and many political institutions. Major cities and children are often named after American political and social figures and there is a huge emphasis on westernisation of the nation following the American model. This is partially inspired by Kwame Nkrumah's famous phrase: "we must run while they walk," inciting great optimism in Eleutherians as they aspire to construct a viable developmental state.

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Okay, so this is my new MD. Yes, it took over the whole of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is giving the area / nation an alternate history. Yes, it is heavily based upon the example and history of the United States.

Despite being very busy this semester I have decided to give this a go, on the condition that updates will not be as regular. I can say, however, that I do have Tuesdays off and it will provide me with some opportunity to play the game and update this. I cannot and will not make any promises, so we'll just have to take it as it comes...

I do, however, hope you enjoy it as we go along.

-M-

Looks like your off to a very good start, I really enjoyed am enjoying reading the history.

Wooo! Excellent start here, I see that your visit seems to have left an impression on you  ;D

Welcome to the MD-section, -M-!

And wonderful start there of your MD!

Looking forward to more...

Excellent you've started a MD &apls

Great background info so far. It really sets the tone :thumbsup:
Looking forward to what you do here mate ;D ;D

:satisfied:
TTC

Thank you all for your responses, I appreciate you stopping by! I hope that, with your continued support, we could turn this MD into something worthwhile.  ;D

I know you're all eager for in-game images, but let's just get this out of the way first, shall we?  ::)

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Due to intense American involvement in the post-Civil War reconstruction of Eleutheria, many of the symbols, institutions and nomenclature of the newly reborn nation is inspired by the history of the United States of America.


Obviously based on the flag of the United States in its basic design, the symbolism of the colours are purposely based on the pan-African colours of red, gold, green and black. The red represents the blood of those who died in the country's struggle for independence, the gold represents the mineral wealth of the country, the green symbolises the country's rich forests and natural wealth, and the black in the stars reflect the country's African origins and location. The great black star stands for the lodestar of African freedom, while the thirteen little black stars along with the thirteen horizontal lines represent the thirteen states of Eleutheria.


The Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Eleutherian States (both the obverse and the reverse) is most obviously based on the Great Seal of the United States, especially as they share a common historical feature in that they were both founded by thirteen states. The number thirteen therefore features strongly in national symbolism of Eleutheria. The colours, however, have been replaced with pan-African colours where appropriate.

The official motto of the country, differing from the United States' "In God We Trust" is E Pluribus Unum which is Latin for "Out Of Many, One," signifying the merger of the original 13 states in the federation / commonwealth and also the unification of various languages, religions and cultures in a single Eleutherian idea.

National Anthem

The National Anthem of Eleutheria is the English patriotic song (and unofficial anthem of England) contextually styled "Eleutheria, land of hope and glory" although composed by Edward Elgar and set to his Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1.

However, only the first two verses (traditionally the refrain and chorus) is used in the Eleutherian National Anthem and are as follows:

Men

    Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned.
    God make thee mightier yet!
    On Sov'reign brows, beloved, renowned,
    Once more thy crown is set.
    Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained,
    Have ruled thee well and long;
    By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained,
    Thine Empire shall be strong.

All

        Land of Hope and Glory,
        Mother of the Free,
        How shall we extol thee,
        Who are born of thee?
        Wider still and wider
        Shall thy bounds be set;
        God, who made thee mighty,
        Make thee mightier yet
        God, who made thee mighty,
        Make thee mightier yet.

For audio files of the national anthem click here -> Click! (http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/Clara%20Butt%20-%20Land%20Of%20Hope%20And%20Glory.mp3) (1911 version performed by Clara Butt, approx. 500kB) or here -> Click! (http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/m2/f7/10237.mp3) (Library and Archives of Canada version, approx. 1.7MB)

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Next update:

Politics of Eleutheria and the political division of the country.

Once again your photoshopping is incredible. I particularly like the take on the Pyramid/ Eye side.

I know that In God We Trust is the official motto of the United States, but I think E Pluribus Unum is an unofficial one, at least its on our coins :P

Nice second update there! Great work on it!

Looking forward to the third...

Owen / Yoman: Thanks for stopping by! :) I know that "In God We Trust" is the official motto as decided / accepted by Congress some time in the mid-20th century, and that E Pluribus Unum is an unofficial and de facto motto.  ;D

Bat: Thanks Bat! I hope you'll like the next one then...  :P

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Now, I know some of you want in-game pics and you want them now! But, please, be patient and let me get the overview and introduction done first, and done thoroughly, so as to give you a general idea, feel and mood of the country.  ()stsfd()

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Government

Eleutherian government is spread out over three levels (national / federal, state and local) and in three tiers / branches at each level, namely the executive, legislative and judicial branch. Because the CES is an Imperial Republic, the Emperor, His Excellency Emperor Ethan McCarthy Rhodes, has a number of ceremonial and symbolic functions and responsibilities and serves as the Head of State.


Political Division

Eleutheria has 13 States and one Federal Capital Territory:


Branches of Government

The National Executive consists of the President, the Deputy President as well as the cabinet ministers as heads of their respective national departments. The President is elected every four years for a four year term. Any Eleutherian citizen (natural born or naturalised) over the age of 20 may run for the presidency and may serve only two terms in office, whether concurrent or not.

The bicameral National Legislature, or Congress, consists of the House of Representatives and its 100 members and the Senate and its 40 members.

The Senate consists of three senators from each state and one senator from the Federal Capital Territory. A Senator's term is eight years, and half of the senate seats are up for re-election every presidential election / four years. There is no limit on the number of terms a senator may serve.

The House consists of 100 representatives each one from a congressional district covering a specific territory determined by population. A Representative's term is four years and all House seats are up for election along with every presidential election.

Due to the lack of official population data the 2006 congressional elections apportioned the congressional districts (based on estimated population data) as follows:

North: 4 Representatives (includes the States of Sokoto, Katsino-Kano and Borno)
Central: 7 Representatives (includes the States of Gongola, Bauchi, Central and Burke)
South: 9 Representatives (includes the States of Leir, Aveiro, New England, Delta, New Haven and Jefferson)
FCT: 6 Representatives

The Congressional Boundaries will be redrawn after the 2009 census before the 2010 elections.

The national Judicial branch of government consists of:

The Constitutional Court, which rules on all matters that pertain to the federal constitution. The Court consists of 12 Justices.

The Supreme Court of Appeal which is the federal court of appeal and the last and highest court in the country for general matters. The Court has 7 Justices.

Other national courts include the Labour Court and the Equality Court and they deal with those jurisdictions respectively.

Furthermore, each state has a High Court (with three judges) as the highest court in the state, and each local government district has a District / Regional Court and each municipality has a Magistrate's Court. Each court has particular jurisdiction.

Political Parties and Elections

Elections

Although the country draws inspiration for its political institutions and national symbols from the United States, the political scene is very much European and is regularly characterised by coalition building preceding or following elections because of the failure of any one party to gain a majority of the vote (i.e. 50% + 1). A further difference is the existence of three major parties in the CES, unlike the two-party system in the US, with each party dependent on another (or one of the smaller, peripheral and narrow-issue political parties) to constitute government.


Congressional Elections

In 2006 the Commonwealth of Eleutheria had its first democratic elections after the period of civil war and domestic unrest. The system is fairly new and the results were as follows.

Senate


House


Presidential Elections

Presidential elections are to be held every four years, according to Constitution, and winning the presidency is quite a complicated process. Winning the presidency is not achieved by a mere simple majority.

Each party contesting the presidential elections (as discussed below) announces its candidate (after either primaries, caucuses or whatever means chosen by the party). When the presidential election results are announced, the three two candidates or all candidates with 20% or more of the vote (depending on the outcome) are then presented to a joint-session of the Eleutherian Congress and the President is elected by Congress. It is therefore in Congress where coalition-building is extremely important and also where a Presidential election can go any way as senators and representatives (like in the US system and unlike the Westminster system) are not as strongly bound by party loyalty. The election of the President in Congress is a mandotary / forced vote and abstentions are not permitted, however votes may be spoiled but this rarely happens. The vote is also by secret ballot.

The president then appoints / selects his cabinet (including the Vice-President) which is approved by Congress by a simple majority.


The current president, Samuel Morgan Daniels, came to power in the 2006 elections when his centre-left Eleutherian Democratic Party (EDP) formed signed a coalition agreement with the left-leaning Commonwealth Social Democratic Party (CSDP) and the Green Party to oust the incumbent John C Davis and the then ruling Christian Union-Conservative Party coalition.


Politics

The Commonwealth can be broadly divided into three distinct areas, namely the north, central and south in terms of these regions' politics. The north is predominantly Muslim, conservative and traditional. However, due to the sparse population the region fails to make a significant impact on the country's population. The Central area is largely Christian conservative, and the rural nature of the four states in this region makes it relatively traditional, favouring minimal government interference and low taxes. The South is largely post-Christian (following the trends of post-Enlightenment and modern Europe), very liberal and more inclined towards state welfarism and social permissive in their outlook on social issues.

This is a great start to your MD. Full of interesting facts and excellent skills with PS.
You are certainly laying the Foundations well so I am looking forward to seeing the pics of the the region. :thumbsup:

Hopefully soon :P

:satisfied:
TTC

You gave me the feeling I need to follow English courses again, a very interesting article to read. You are certainly keeping us teased  :thumbsup:

Yes, interesting information there in that newest update! It is a nice one!!

Looking forward to more of your MD...

It's a pleasure to see your new MD. A very full and rich history you've done there along with an awful lot of detail on your new nation.

I look forward to seeing more :)

TTC: Thank you very much, and... your wish is my command. :P
Casper: Thank you Casper, and thanks for your, well, devotion to the MD thus far!  :D As a tutor and aspiring academic I personally believe in putting down a very solid foundation.  $%Grinno$%
Bat: Thanks Bat! And thank you for continuously stopping by, I appreciate it very much!
Pip: Always a pleasure to have you Pip, and I hope you do stop by more often!

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Today I've decided to mix foundation with images, if you will... and I hope you will enjoy it very much.  :thumbsup: Today our travels take us to Western Eleutheria, to the shores of Lake Kainji. Okay, you won't be seeing much of the shore, but still, it sounded nice!  ::)

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Kainji Lake, in western Eleutheria, is a reservoir on the Niger River, formed by the Kainji Dam. It was formed in 1968 and is a part of the State of Burke (7). Kainji Lake National Park (KNLP), situated around the lake, is Eleutheria's oldest National Park, established in 1976.

Location            Western Eleutheria
Coordinates    10°22′N 4°33′E (http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=10.366667,4.55&spn=0.1,0.1&t=k&q=10.366667,4.55)
Primary inflows    Niger River
Primary outflows    Niger River
Basin countries    Eleutheria (State of Burke)
Surface area    max. 1,243 km²
Max. depth    12.1 m
Water volume    15 km³

Dam
The Kainji Dam is situated in the south of the State of Burke and generates power for most towns in western and north western Eleutheria. It was built from 1964 to 1968 and cost about 209 million dollars, a quarter of which was used to delocate the original population. Together with a smaller dam for a minor stream, it is 10 km long and 65 m high in the middle. It has a capacity of 12 turbines producing a total of 960 MW, but only 10 were installed, producing 800 MW. Part of the production is sold to the neighbouring country of Niger.

National Park
Kainji Lake National Park (KNLP) is situated 560 km north of Eleutheria City, close to the border with the Republic of Benin. It comprises two sectors which are separated by Kainji Lake. Only the western sector is currently used for tourism; the eastern sector lacks infrastructure, including access roads. The topography of the park is gently undulating with a general decrease in elevation from west to east. The Borgu sector is drained mainly by the Oli, Timo and Doro rivers and their tributaries, while the Zugurma sector is drained by the Maingyara and Nuwa Tizururu rivers. The vegetation of the park is typical of the Sudan-Guinea Savanna, although in some areas it appears more Sahelian. Riparian forests occur on the banks of the larger watercourses.

There are a number of towns on the eastern side of the lake, and despite an attempt to kick-start industrial development in the region development has been slow due to lack of investment and pressure from environmentalist groups. Conservation is a key issue in the state and the growth of commercial farming on the eastern banks of Lake Kainji has caused concern in recent years.

Conservation
Although the area around the park has a relatively low population density, numerous human activities adversely affect the park. These include deforestation, uncontrolled burning and illegal grazing and are particularly prevalent in the eastern sector. Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks. As mentioned, commercial farming has also gradually started to have an immense impact on vegetation, soil quality and the pollution of the lake.

uKahlahmba Local Council


The uKahlamba Local Council (Zulu for "Barrier of Spears," for the mountain at the eastern tip of the peninsula) is situated on a peninsula-type extension on the eastern shore of Lake Kainji and has been marked by rapid agricultural expansion - particularly commercial farming - since the reconstruction of Eleutheria started. The State of Burke, despite pressure from environmentalist groups, have invested large amounts of capital into the development of the area (both agricultural, industrial) and then particularly in attempts to make it a tourist mecca, hoping to encourage various recreational activities on the lake. The current population of the council is estimated at about 10 000 inhabitants, most of them in the low-income bracket. However, accurate population data is very difficult to obtain due to the fact that there are numerous informal settlements and villages in the area.

Politically the area is a Christian Union stronghold and the representative for the broader Lake Kainji county was voted in on the CU ticket.

Section 14
The council is divided into 16 local districts with an executive mayoral council elected for each section. District 14, commonly called Harrisburg Municipality because of the prominence of the city of Harrisburg, has the largest population in the uKahlahmba Local Council and industrial development is here the most prominent to date.



Harrisburg Municipality is on the western border of uKahlahmba Local Council. The Municipality is predominantly, however, a farming community and is particularly known for its citrus, grape, sugar cane, wheat and corn production.

The central business district of Ladysmith, one of the larger towns in District Fourteen. St. Benjamin Anglican Church is visible in the centre of the image, across the street from the Harrisburg Farmers' Bureau. The architecture in the town is primarily late 19th century American-style architecture.

A suburb of Ladysmith with the permanent county fair grounds and the waste processing plant.

The Mamelodi informal settlement to the east of Ladysmith. Informal settlements in the district are the primary sources of labour on the surrouding commercial farms.

The eastern part of Mamelodi.

Farms to the south of Ladysmith. Here the cultivation of pumpkins, lemons and grapes are depicted.

A lone orange farm in an isolated part of the district.

Vast stretches of corn along the main road through the county.

A corn and banana farm.

Another informal settlement to supply labour. Infrastructure is gradually being improved to increase the prospects of their meagre existence.

More farms...

...and more informal settlements to supply labour.

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I hope you are satisfied, for now... :P

Wow I love the region and the city is looking really good
I love the nature ;)

I don't think Niger is going to love you stealing there flag,especially since they border you :P

Just a small interlude to respond to NASCAR_Guy who was so keen as to notice...


The Eleutherian State of Burke, prior to being integrated into the Commonwealth of Eleutherian states, was part of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria (as mentioned previously) under the name of the state of Niger (not to be confused with the sovereign, independent nation-state or country, Niger).

However, after the lengthy period of civil unrest and internal strife, and the gradual settlement of predominantly white Europeans along the fertile banks of the Niger river, the state became increasingly westernised and upon joining the Commonwealth - drawing from its conservative and Christian background - named itself the State of Burke, after the Anglo-Irish philosopher and 'father of Conservatism' Edmund Burke.

To retain its ties to the Niger river and the pre-colonial name for the state, the newly elected state government of Burke voted to adopt the national symbols (with minor alterations, of course) of Eleutheria's sovereign, independent neighbour to the north, which is of course Niger. The relevant authorities were contacted, it was discussed with them, and both parties arrived at an agreement and this is the end result:


So that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Burke got it's name and flag!  ;D

Another fantastic update there, M!

And the pictures are looking really great!

Looking forward to more... ;)

Marius, hey!  Now I know how to define a "good day."  A good day is one when I go wandering through the MD sections and find that you've started the successor (and a worthy one, at that, based on the great work you've done in just a few short days) to Elytheria [linkie] (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=268.0).  I predict that this MD will attract a crowd right from the get-go, and that its readers will be well-rewarded for their time spent here.

Did I say I'm impressed?  Good Luck, my friend!


David

WOW

Superb presentation, great details and excellent pictures to boot &apls &apls &apls

Your academic skills are showing through. Enough info at the start to get me hooked,
plenty of visuals and an extra mini update thrown in.

I think your future students are going to be the lucky ones :D :D

Till the next eagerly awaited update

Regards
Derry

That looks very good, I like those slum lots very much, and, while I'm pretty sure I have them installed, I have never got them to grow yet (because I usually set Low Wealth taxes to 20%  ::)). The railroad passing through the pictures looks very good as well. Can't wait to see more!

Wow M -you're back MD'ing. Wonderfull, and what an MD this is....

I was thinking about a political update for my MD too, but now I will even have to add the stats of the results of the elections...You raised another bar for us here man.

The made up story is great too, as are the shown pictures. I am in love with the emperor already... It's time that NN and the ES will bond I guess ;)

Today our travels take us to the North East of Eleutheria in the State of Borno and to the Local Government Council of Kukuwa.

Kukawa (previously Kuka) is a town in the northeastern Eleutherian state of Borno, close to Lake Chad.

The town was founded in 1814 as capital of the Kanem-Bornu Empire by the Muslim scholar and warlord Muhammad al-Kanem after the fall of the previous capital, Ngazargamu, conquered in 1808 in the Fulani War. The town had great strategical importance, being the southern terminal of an important trans-Saharan trade route to Tripoli. The town was taken in 1893 by the Sudanese Rabih az-Zubayr, and then by the British in 1902.

Historically the city was much larger than today, with a population estimated by the British at 50,000-60,000 in the late nineteenth-century.

We'll actually be focusing more on an area further north of Kukuwa proper, as depicted below:


Because Borno state lies mainly in the dry savanna belt, the state is dry and hot for most the year except in the southern part of the state which has a milder climate.

Source: Wikipedia

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I'll keep you in the loop and hopefully we'll see this area blossom and develop in the near future.

I absolutely have to add and feel obligated to mention that I was greatly inspired by Girlfromverona's latest CJ Jefferson County (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=5448.0) (do check it out if you have the time) and specifically her region. Thank you very much for sharing!

Until next time,

M

Great work there on that new post!
And the region is looking really wonderful! :thumbsup:
The small river looks also nice!

Looking forward to the development... ;)

Always a pleasure to view your work Marius. And this is no exception. I look forward to seeing how you develop / don't develop (wild life park anyone?) that map.  :thumbsup:

First of all, I apologise for the lack of substantial updates to this Mayor's Diary, I have been very busy, academically and 'professionally', especially as I am in the last 40 days of my undergraduate studies!

Therefore, just as a reminder to myself, I am posting here with the hope of doing so more substantially in the not-so-distant future.

So, thanks Owen and Bat for your continued support!  ;D

And here's a little twist to the CES and its fate...

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In a number of closed sessions last week, the local legislatures of the Commonwealth's six northern provinces intensely debated the prospects of secession from the Commonwealth. In a joint-announcement on Monday, 6 October 2008 the provinces of Sokoto, Katsino-Kano, Borno, Bautsi, Niger and Burke announced their intention to secede with immediate effect, effectively redrawing the map and the political landscape of the CES.


The six northern states have organised themselves into what is now called the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), leaving the remaining seven states and the Federal Capital Territory, and seeking sovereignty and recognition for their proclaimed independence. Among the reasons cited for the secession include the fact that the Commonwealth, under the economic, cultural and political domination of the southern states, has become 'far too liberal and progressive' and that the FRN has 'difficulty in reconciling [their] own values, views and beliefs with such a sharp turn of events'.

In a surprise move, however, the CES has officially granted the FRN recognition as an independent and sovereign state, claiming that it was their constitutional right to secede and stating that this has by no means affected the solid ties between the two countries.

Moves are currently afoot in both countries to redraw congressional districts, and in the FRN, to elect a president and Congress.

The Office of the President of the CES was unavailable for immediate comment, and the major political parties are yet to release statements on the current developments.

Our journey through the commonwealth takes us today to the southern-most Eleutherian state of Jefferson, located on the Niger delta, and specifically to the state Capital, Jefferson City (or Jefferson for short). The city is currently undergoing major redevelopment and reconstruction following years of insurgency and guerilla-warfare during the tumultuous post-colonial times.

Jefferson state is indicated as number 13 on the map below, and the city is pointed out on the (out-dated, pre-FRN secession) map furthermost to the bottom.


Regional overview of the municipal boundaries of Jefferson City shows how the city is spread out over one of the many 'arms' of the Niger River as it reaches the Atlantic Ocean.


The state of Jefferson will be discussed in more detail at a later stage, however, now we turn our attention to one of the number of planned industrial developments in Jefferson City, namely Ekandustria. Development and expansion is currently a work in progress, specifically as the neighbouring municipal sub-council and residential area servicing Ekandustria, Savannah, is expanding and growing.

Let us have a quick overview of a limited part of Ekandustria and the state of development in the industrial district.

When approaching Ekandustria from Savannah in the north by either rail or highway, one crosses over a small, but beautiful, lake which has been designated by the Metropolitan Council as a future park and low-intensity level recreational area.


One can either reach Ekandustria by road or rail, with buses and trains the preferred method of commute at the moment, as commuting with your own car is currently much less favoured by Jeffersonians. Below: An overview of the main 'point of entry' into Ekandustria.


The bustling canal system of Ekandustria, along with the main freight and passenger rail stations are shown below (day and night), as well as the most recent industrial developments.




Part and parcel of industrial development is the expansion and construction of a solid infrastructural and transportation network. The building of a small freight harbour is depicted below, with future expansion possibilities definitely kept in mind as demand for it will increase in the future.

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I know this has been a rather brief update, and will probably not suffice in quenching your thirst for "more, more, more!" but it is unfortunately all that I could compile given the time constraints! If all goes well we'll be strolling down the streets of Savannah soon!

Thanks for reading!  :thumbsup:

M

This is looking very good and réalistic  &apls

Don't beat yourself up over the size of the update, its nice to have a small one than none at all :P And it looks very good, a very interesting map to develop.

Looking good, nice job.  :thumbsup:

Marius,

Great update! This city rather reminds me of Port Harcourt, I wonder if that's a coincidence... ;)

I'm looking forward to more.

Cheers,
Kevin

Marius,
  I cant believe it you started another MD and I didn't even know that back in July... geeeeeezzzs Im a slacker...  I do have to say taking a trip back to Elytheria [linkie] (http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=268.0) and seeing how you where coming along with the Commonwealth I am soo impressed here and I cant wait till the next update!!!!

Great work on these two updates there! Wonderful pictures there, too! :thumbsup:

this update look very good !  &apls

Wow, good work on this one, though I havent noticed untill today   :P
Lot of details in your presentation, thats good, great region as well! Nice developement so far!  :thumbsup:

Marius, this looks very promising. I think you've an excellent map there and a generally interesting setting and I don't think a 8-pic-update is that brief.

:thumbsup:

Hii Marius x

Great update, really love it =) But uhm... What is that map? I really like it, so what's it called?
Thank you


xoxo Carmine

Very nice work, but isn' it those docks too small for some bigger ships?  ;)

I love all the detail and political information, maps are always fun to look at. $%Grinno$%

The regions look beautiful and I can't wait to see some serious development. :satisfied:

Awesomely detailed job on this M.  I have a question though, that Jefferson City map, that looks suspiciously like the Jacksonville map I did a few months ago :P   I could be way off course on that, but when I first looked at it, that's the thought that popped into my tired old mind  :D  Anyways, look forward to more in the next update ;D

Excellent update Marius. The ports of Jefferson are very well made. The ships in the canal look so cool.... looking forward to what you bring next
:satisfied:

Ah, thank you very much for your responses everyone, I really appreciate your feedback and comments!  ;D

blade2k5 Thank you! And yes, I am embarrassed to have to admit that I completely forgot to mention that I was and am in fact using your Jacksonville map  &ops I fell in love with it when I first saw it and am still loving it!

kbieniu7 As I mentioned, there is still room and plans for expansion as the industrial area grows! ;)

CarmineHilton See above ;)

I'm currently still very busy and apologise for the brevity of my responses and my updates, yet again!

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The Eleutherian Transit Authorities are, at the moment, majority-state owned and include the following:


Transnet is a large Eleutherian rail, port and pipeline company. It was formed as a limited company on 8 July 2006. A majority of the company's stock is owned by the Bureau of Public Enterprises, or BPE, a division of the Eleutherian National Department of Transport. The company was formed by restructuring into business units the operations of Eleutherian Railways and Harbours and other existing operations and products.

The business units of Transnet include:
Transnet National Ports Authority - NPA - owns the country's main ports
Transnet Pipelines - principal operator of Eleutheria's fuel pipelines
Transnet Port Terminals - operates and maintains the country's main ports
Transnet Freight Rail operator - freight service
Transnet Rail Engineering - rolling stock manufacturing and maintenance

Transnet's headquarters is in Eleutheria City.


Commonly known as ACCES, the company owns all major domestic and international airports in Eleutheria and is responsible for their operations.


The EMPRA is the commuter rail service in the major urban areas of Eleutheria. Metrorail is the operational arm of the Eleutherian Rail Commuter Corporation (ERCC), a State-owned enterprise which holds custodianship of all commuter and passenger rail assets such as land in and around stations, infrastructure and rolling stock in the major urban areas of Eleutheria.

Metrorail was formed as a business unit of Transnet and was transferred to the ERCC.

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New York City

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday, Eleutherian Secretary of State, Ms. Leah B Mason has accused the SimCity Journal Union (SCJU) of meddling in the internal affairs of the Commonwealth. Mason claimed that the recent secession of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was the result of SCJU interference and incitement, highlighting SCJU objections over the territorial possessions of the Commonwealth. Mason held that the large size of the Commonwealth was a territorial and economic threat to the SCJU, considering the territory's vast natural resources and strategic position.

Mason was at the UN headquarters to discuss strategic bilateral and multilateral relations with key UN members and was set to meet the Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday.

Her statements has caused quite a stir at home as it made the front page of many national Sunday papers this morning, with a number of political parties and prominent citizens claiming that her opinion does not reflect that of the broader Eleutherian public. The Presidency was not available for comment at the time of going to press, but it is widely expected that President Daniels will also condemn Mason's statements as it is seen as yet another incident in a series of embarrassing diplomatic mistakes made by her office.

---

Until next time! Thanks for reading!  ;D

I wonder if those organizations also do business in South Africa ;)

No, they don't! But they do have very similar logos in South Africa!  $%Grinno$%
You're too sharp for your own good! The government will have to gag you! haha   ;D

Can't wait to see some of Transnet's operations  ;D

wonderful city and awesome work .
i want to see more !! :P &apls

Nothing to be embarrassed about M  $%Grinno$%  A lot of people use my maps [especially over at ST] and never mention what map they're using, but that's ok :thumbsup:  I'm not gonna kick my feet up and throw a fit because someone didn't mention it :P 

I'm really liking your Corp logos, gives your MD a more realistic feel.  Look forward to the next update :thumbsup:

great banner and logo  :thumbsup:
oh and just a thing, in  this picture, I suggest to you, the highway should pass over the train and not vice versa! ;)

art128: Thanks! And thank you for the suggestion!

blade2k5: Thanks again for stopping by, and for the amazing maps! I can honestly say that I am in one way or the other planning to use many of your latest real-life map releases and absolutely love them all! Thank you for your comment too, I must admit that I didn't put THAT much work into the logos (I basically just altered the text a little... shhhhh!!), but as a South African I am naturally ethnocentric and love them! lol

south park: Thank you sir! And more you'll get! Just not right now, but patience is a virtue! hehe! ;)

Yoman: Yes, Yes, you transit freak! I'll need some help with design and layout... thanks for offering!  :D  $%Grinno$%

For today, a small teaser to prove that I'm still playing and progressing!

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The small village of Chiromba and the township (Click! -> here! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Township_(South_Africa))) or informal settlement of Otomola are located in the northern extremities of the Jefferson City Metropolitan Area. The two communities are mainly in one way or the other involved in agricultural activities, with the majority of farms either owned or managed by residents of Chiromba and with Otomola being the backbone of the farming community in the form of hard labour.

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More about these two communities and the type of agricultural activities they're engaged in at a later stage! Also, recall this regional overview -> Click! (http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k435/Eleutherian_Commonwealth/Maps/Jefferson_Overview.jpg) to orientate yourself about the location of Chiromba and Otomola!  ;D

Thanks for reading!

M

the overview is great  :thumbsup:

Great! :thumbsup:

Excellent!  :thumbsup:

Marius, fantastic last few updates here!!!  Cant wait to see more of the commonwealth and learn more too!!

Splendid
&apls

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and continued interest! It's almost midnight here so forgive the brevity of my response.  ???

In today's update we'll have a closer, but limited, look at Chiromba and Otomola, which as developed satisfactorily since we last saw an overview of it.

It includes three mosaics and one rainy pic (Thanks to Dark_Jedi for the link to the tutorial!)

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Above is an overview of the Otomola East, which is as the name implies east of the main road (visible above). The image also clearly exhibits the living conditions of the hundreds of inhabitants of the township, which leaves much to be desired. Many inhabitants have settled in these informal dwellings as a demand for manual labour on the outlying farms have increased since the Eleutherian economy has been put back on track by the current administration.

Also visible is the Chiromba East Primary School and Medi-Clinic - both government-funded and -maintained - which in general suffers from over-crowding and poor delivery due to a continued skills shortage and over-all under-staffing.

The Jefferson City Metropolitan Council government has identified Otomola as one of its key targets to improve public services. However, due to it being far-removed from the central economic, business, financial and residential heart of the city, these goals have been slow to be implemented.


In the above the main commercial activities of Otomola are depicted - in addition to the more formal housing slightly visible at the top - which basically include services rendered to the agricultural community at large. This includes nursery supplies, fertilizer, tractor and other farm equipment supplies as well as an auction facility for the local livestock.


As ought to be clear from the general overview thus far, and specifically the image above, the agricultural activities of much of Chiromba-Otomola include non-traditional products. The area is dotted with farms that produce cut flowers and other plants for nurseries in Jefferson and elsewhere, grapes for making wine, limes, barley for the local beer, and is especially characterised by a number of equestrian estates. The latter has led to the now nationally acclaimed Jefferson July (an annual race held in the city, exhibiting the pride of Chiromba-Otomola).

However, there are maize / corn, pumpkin and two cattle ranches (thus far) in the area, but former generally supplies fresh produce for the local farmer's market and surrounding residents, whilst the latter produces beef for sale and consumption in Jefferson only, and leather for export.


Finally, Chiromba-Otomola and the outlying farms are ecstatic over the first rains for the rainy season (just like we are here in South Africa)!

---

We'll have a look at Chiromba next time, and perhaps a peak at the general workings of the transport system in Chiromba-Otomola.

Thanks for reading!

M

great African CJ, I can't think of anyone else doing something like this, like ever...

I love flying around in google earth over South Africa in particular. I think it's pretty wild that many of the cities have suburbs and road layouts much like any city the developed world, however many of them seem to be designated poor areas with small houses and bad looking streets. Seems like smart planning since I imagine it is easier to install basic services and police places like that?

Just south of the border in Mexico it's crazy how informal slums there just run up ravines in the hills with little shacks. You can see the ones in Juarez from Paisano Rd or I-10 in El Paso on the Texas side. Living like that must be a nightmare...

Another fantastic update Marius. I've really enjoyed the farms, and you captured the feel of the slums quite nicely, can't wait to see those inner city ones.

Amazing work on this new CJ! :thumbsup:

great work on your MD african style , your farms is really realistic , hope to see more !! &apls

great update my friend  :thumbsup: I like these pix  &apls

Nice pics witj nice effects and I really like the shanty town! :thumbsup:

I love how you've captured the contrast between the slums and the farming estates, especially in the first image.  :)

Everything is excellently composed and the detailed description accompanying each image adds to the realism. :thumbsup:

I said I wanted to see some development, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. Looking forward to more. :satisfied:

Thanks Dark_Jedi06, sciurus54, art128, south park, Fatsuhono, Yoman and Zaphod for stopping by and commenting! I really appreciate your input and dedication.  ;D

I've been building on this "African MD" and I think it's progressing satisfactorily.  ;D However, I'm not too confident or satisfied yet to show everything and will continue to selectively showcase what I am happy with. :P

On the photos you'l see the Jefferson City "coat of arms" which is the logo of the Democratic Alliance, a South African political party, as it looks after their relaunch this weekend (which I attended).

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Ekandustria, the current industrial heart of the Jefferson City Metropolitan Area, or JCMA, has steadily expanded since we last paid it a visit. However, the recent slump in the global economy and the steady onset of a global recession has temporarily halted expansion and production has decreased in Ekandustria.

While the labour force has been cut back activity still continues for the greater part of the day and into the early hours of the night.

Pictured above is the main coal depot in Ekandustria. Coal reaches the depot via rail from the mines in the north, and from the depot it is redistributed across the city - mainly to poorer areas which rely on coal for burning to produce heat in the winter months.

A shot capturing the Afrox gas depot in Ekandustria, situated next to the Goober Rum Distillery which distils rum from sugarcane trucked in from the sugar cane farms in Otomola and Chiromba on the outskirts of the JCMA. Rum produced here is mainly sold on the local market.

To the south of the current heart of Ekandustria lies Sondela, an informal settlement established by immigrants and displaced people from the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These inhabitants mainly provide labour for the many factories and industries in Ekandustria.



The main freight and passenger station in Ekandustria.

Below, a night and day shot of the heart of Ekandustria.

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So, let's hope that Ekandustria, Eleutheria and myself wake up from our deep slumber and update more often! :P

Thanks for viewing.  ()stsfd()

Loves it, Marius!! x
Can't wait too see more from Eleutheria ;)

Marius (?) these night pictures look really splendid  &apls the city is really realistic  :thumbsup: But maybe too much boats in the river, it's a bit dangerous  ;)
Arthur

It looks so great!!! Your Industrial precinct is so realisitc!!!

Fantastic update!  The industrial park looks very realistic, nice work my friend &apls

Marius, great last 2 updates here for sure wow, I love the industrial area and also the Residential from the last update!!!!

Marius

Glad I made it back before you had made too many updates but the ones I missed...
well - spectacular  &apls &apls

Lots of lovely detail to see. :thumbsup: had to go back to see what I missed first time around

Great stuff - looking forward to more.

:satisfied:
TTC

Thank you all for your comments! I really appreciate it! But beyond that, I am actually quite happy to hear that you find my industrial areas 'realistic', because the greatest reason for me not doing industrial areas - or not showcasing them - is because I feel I don't portray them realistically enough. So! I am very happy with your feedback Blade2k5 and Jack!  ;D

I know the number of boats may be dangerous, but Eleutherians - particularly Jeffersonians - are skilled navigators!  :P

And TTC, it's always a great pleasure to have you stop by and comment! Good to see you here! Same goes for you Pat! I'm glad you're back in the swing of things and that you're taking the time to stop by here!  ;D

With the amazing difference DATPacker has made to my game I have decided to venture into extensive park and recreational additions to JCMA! As such, here's a sneak preview of Savannah's Camp Grounds.

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I hope you're looking forward to seeing more of Savannah, just as much as I'm looking forward to showing you the progress!  ()stsfd()

this teaser look good Marius  :thumbsup: can't wait to see the update my friend  ;)

Nice night itme pic, but I wish to see it during the day in all it's splender.  ;)
I am definately teased, thanks.

Robin  ;)

Sorry  %wrd

I should have stopped by and commented...but i haven't...sorry.

Love the updates....the night shots make it look so mysterious. Also...what the (?!) with the SCJU thing back on page 2/3  :D

Nice teaser pic :thumbsup:  If I had known about this pic being submitted for the pic competition, my vote would have gone your way.  Looking forward to more ;)

nice industrial area, and I can't wait to see Savannah.

EDIT: No politics, please. - Dustin (thundercrack83)

Hi there!
Wow, the presentation is fanthastic with its detailed informations. Great work on that. And the pictures in the last update and in the teaser look great also.

Looking foward to see what you show us next.

Have fun,
Karin

I know I teased you with an image from Savannah, but I have been kind of side-tracked and distracted by the amazing batch of maps released by blade2k5 and papab2000 to the extent that I have decided to start working on one of Eleutheria's islands in the Gulf of Guinea, in the Atlantic Ocean.

It's a small island with a tropical climate, characteristic of the equatorial African regions, is currently uninhabited. However, following the recent secession of the 5 northern states from the Commonwealth and their subsequent formation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Eleutherian government has decided to launch an intensive population and development effort of the island. What island I hear you ask?

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ukuKhululeka Island (meaning Freedom) is one of a number of Eleutherian island possessions in the central Atlantic Ocean. The island, like many other islands in the Gulf of Guinea, forms part of the chain of islands formed by volcanic eruption.

The island is located to the north west of the islands of Sao Tome and Principe.


It is not yet exactly clear what the Eleutherian government has in store for the Island, but it is believed that the island will be accepted as a state i.e. a semi-autonomous region within Commonwealth, like the remaining other 7 post-secession states. It has previously been a special administrative region of the Commonwealth, directly under the control of the state of Jefferson.

Speculation holds that the island will be transformed into a tourist haven, although this is yet to be confirmed.

---

Thanks a whole lot, yet again, to blade2k5 and papab2000 for an amazing map! My game would be nothing without the awesome maps I use from the NHP team!

Sorry for the interruption, but I just couldn't resist playing around with the new maps and showcasing the results!

Also just to note, I used CP's Olympic Terrain Mod and his Meadowshire Tree Controller for the desired effect. I also used Peg's Clipper Watermod.

Thanks for reading!  ;D

M

Looks like a lovely place for a summer vacation, probably would be cheaper than all the hot spots as well :thumbsup: It will be interesting to see where you put the airport, doesn't look like theres a spot of flat land large enough (if my scale is correct, which probably isn't), Ocean runway anyone?

Marius nice update here and I like that map you have choosen to work on!!!

Well now.  That didn't take long :D  It is so nice to see a map I've worked on being used in this manner and I'm sure papab2000 will be beside himself with excitement :D.  I always like to see how others would envision and develop the maps I work on.  You now have my undivided attention as I get a front row seat and watch what you do :thumbsup:  

Wow  :o fantastic updates here, the region is superb.
The update 10 is incredible and also so réalistic as well my friend. I'm looking forward to the next update ;)

Quote from: Yoman on November 19, 2008, 11:10:00 AMLooks like a lovely place for a summer vacation, probably would be cheaper than all the hot spots as well :thumbsup: It will be interesting to see where you put the airport, doesn't look like theres a spot of flat land large enough (if my scale is correct, which probably isn't), Ocean runway anyone?

Thanks very much Owen! Both for your comment, and your query! :P You will have an opportunity to answer your own question yourself further down.  ;D

Quote from: Pat on November 19, 2008, 10:59:20 PMMarius nice update here and I like that map you have choosen to work on!!!

Thanks Pat! It's good to see you around these parts! And map? Pat, my friend, I have about 7 maps I am constantly working on!  :-[ I'm just very selective in what I show. :P But, and I am proud to say this, they are all high quality NHP maps by Travis, Troy and Rich!  ;D

Quote from: blade2k5 on November 20, 2008, 12:06:27 AMWell now.  That didn't take long :D  It is so nice to see a map I've worked on being used in this manner and I'm sure papab2000 will be beside himself with excitement :D.  I always like to see how others would envision and develop the maps I work on.  You now have my undivided attention as I get a front row seat and watch what you do :thumbsup:

Thanks for stopping by Troy, as usual, and thanks for your inspiring comments! I'm glad that I could be of service, by means of this update, today!  ;D

Quote from: Simpson on November 22, 2008, 03:36:49 AMWow  :o fantastic updates here, the region is superb.
The update 10 is incredible and also so réalistic as well my friend. I'm looking forward to the next update ;)

Kind words, and thank you very much for them! As I've said elsewhere, it's really a huge compliment and very inspiring to hear that it is realistic, as that is the benchmark that I try to achieve throughout! Thanks for stopping by and please do so more often!  ()stsfd()

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Today's update, if you can call it that, takes us back to ukuKhululeka Island, or Freedom Island, and if you remember correctly you'd know that the future of this Island was being discussed previously. But I do believe that the future is nothing if it is not informed by the events of the past, and so today we'll revisit the rather brief history of ukuKhululeka, and specifically why it has a Zulu name, thousands of kilometers from the traditional homelands of the Zulu people in southern Africa.


Khululeks (coo-loo-lecks), as it is affectionately known, did not always bear this name, which is in a tongue foreign to most native West Africans.  It so happened that, at the height of the Atlantic Slave Trade, a ship full of Zulu captives (men, women and children captured during an Anglo-Zulu war in Southern Africa) mutinied hours after their ship left the Portuguese port at Principe. While the Zulus are cunning warriors and known for their aggressive battles, they are not very well known for their navigation abilities or sailing, for that matter, and the vessel that they now controlled soon smashed into pieces on the cliffs at the southern end of the island.

Much to their relief - and despite a few casualties as Zulus are not well known for their swimming abilities either - they tasted freedom again, and the paramount chief at the time proclaimed: "siyakhulula!" which translates into the English language as "we are free!" The name stuck and the island became known as ukuKhululeka, the Island of Freedom.


With Nigeria being a British possession at the time, the Zulu people on ukuKhululeka soon found at that they were not as free as they had once thought, and to ensure that they were not shipped off again they were forced to marry the local inhabitants of the island (West Africans by origin) and thus an interesting new dialect and way of life developed as languages, traditions and cultures merged and mixed.

But, sociolinguistics and anthropology is not our key concern here... what we are interested in is what now about the future of the island?! ()what()


It so happens that the Congress of the Commonwealth passed legislation earlier this week which proclaimed Khululeks an autonomous region within the Commonwealth. This effectively means that the island and its people will govern themselves - appoint their own head of government and not answer to the President of the Commonwealth - but the Commonwealth reserves the right to make foreign policy, handle matters of national defense and military affairs exclusively.

Under the current arrangements the paramount chief of ukuKhululeka is the Head of State of the Island, and elections will soon be held to determine the Governor (the Head of Government).


Not wasting any further time, the interim government of the island has embarked on major development across the island with intensive financial backing from foreign investors with the aim of transforming Khululeks into the premier vacation destination in the region.

Apart from the infrastructural development - which includes the development of major highways and other transportation networks - the development of Cedar Shores Golf Estate enjoyed considerable attention.

The Gold Estate will include a number of upmarket residential developments and features a modern club house which also houses the estate management and administrative offices.

This is where things stand at the moment:


The location of Cedar Shores Golf Estate:

Finally, because of the rapid development planned for Khululeks, the interim government decided that it would be prudent to consider the construction of an international airport on the island to deal with the future expected influx of tourists and businesspeople. The planning committee, however, is at a gridlock and this is where you come in!  ;D

They Committee has identified two possible areas to construct the ocean runway, but they cannot decide on which one of the two:


So, which location would you choose?  ;D

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Thanks again for stopping by everyone! Looking forward to your input!

M

Fabulous island, good to that development has started!
And uhm... I'd go with location n°2 :)

I'd go with two, will be great :thumbsup:

Marius chalk up another vote to number 2 as well!!!

i like option 1, looks like the land is reaching out to the water with a finger there.  nice cj cant wait for more!

I would go for no.1 :)

Wow, the city is looking really good
I'd go with location 2  :)