Dankuk

[beifengxiaoxiao]

October 12, 5306

THE OCTOBER elections were supposed to be our vindication after years of suffering under the exploitative and bourgeois practices of the royalist government and DBP. Yet, with the victory of the capitalist DBP and the continuation of the slim minority government in both chambers of the Senate, our PSL is facing yet another three years of resistance in the courts and the legislature, to the detriment of the common workers of Drania.

Why has it come to this? By all accounts, the PSL should have been victorious - polls in the cities favored the socialists by a plurality, the DBP gained a poor reputation for destroying the previous nation coalition between themselves, the Populists, and the PSL, and the PSL is by far the largest political party in Drania by membership. However, upon reflection, critics both in the party left and right have criticized the wishy-washy policies of Comrade Chairwoman Jacinta Ramona Yun, who did not appear ready to lead a national electoral campaign. Comrade Yun was noticeably unable to take many questions very well, often stuttering and mumbling on national television in sharp contrast to the polished leaders of the 'Our Movement', Righteous Future, Populist, and Grand National Parties. Many cited her 'white bread' personality, vagueness, and lack of decisiveness as a key factor in the PSL defeat.

Following the party's electoral flop, many subsequently called on Park to resign her post from PSL leadership, citing a lack of confidence - she announced her resignation yesterday.

Party comrades have rightfully called my shameful leadership of the class party into question. I failed to make the positions of the class party firm enough and deviated from the agreed upon platform and doctrine the Central Committee approved in the 7th plenary session of May I, 5306. As a result, the PSL was unable to materialize and mobilize the hope of Drania, her workers, against the forces of capitalism. The Senate's reaction has been strengthened, and the growth of the Chaebol remains all to strong. I deeply regret and profusely apologize for the underperformance of the working class vanguard. Moving forward, I will take deep and vigilant self-correction in the self-criticism sessions of the PSL.

Now, chief among the contenders for the post of Chairperson are Comrade Jeon Seo-Yeon, Worthy from Hyonggi Province, and Comrade Emanuel Rojas Kim, Sage from Haegi (Ulbraca) Province. Comrade Jeon has called for the restructuring of the PSL on the grounds of progressive intellectualism; she has declared that she will make the PSL 'the party of progress' and has even denounced some working class organizations that profess religious or social conservative beliefs. In sharp contrast, comrade Kim called for the "heightened vigilance of the class party" and argued for a more moderate social policy and tougher support for organized labor and the socialization of vital national industries. Party elections are scheduled currently for November 7, details will emerge in coming days.

[beifengxiaoxiao]

ROYAL ENERGY PROGRAM FOR A RENEWABLE, EFFICIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE SURPLUS (REPRESS) COMMITTEE FINDINGS REPORT, 5307 DECEMBER 23

The Committee concluded the national survey of the Kingdom on 5307, December 19, following extensive analyses of the land's ability to support cost-effective energy production beginning in 5302, December 30. The Committee has determined from the information collected that it is feasible for the Kingdom of Great Bae to become entirely energy independent and self-producing by the year 5350 at the latest, particularly through an emphasis on geothermal energy development. The Committee has devised a '40-55' plan for the production of Geothermal energy in the Kingdom.

Immediate Findings

Left: Projected Map of the Kingdom's Areas of Geothermal Potential
Right: Map of the 150+ testing sites across the nation as recorded by the Committee

The Committee traveled around the nation to various sites deemed economical for potential development of geothermal energy producing infrastructure. The Committee evaluated the temperature and geothermal potential of these areas, before plotting and creating the charts above. Noticeable trends included the heavy concentration of geothermal activity in the nation's four main mountain ranges, as well as the seeming absence of exploitable and cost-effective potential in the nation's lowlands and plains.

The 'Red Belt'
As previously mentioned, there is a thick 'Red Belt', primarily hugging Myeoggi Province's Changch'ŏng Mountain Range, the largest and tallest range in the nation. The Committee advises the vast bulk of energy development efforts be focused on the areas of highly significant geothermal activity, these being areas proven to harbor temperatures above 150 Degrees °C, as denoted in red. Such areas provide the most energy for minimal cost, and the government would be foolish to invest unneccessary resources and capital into works elsewhere when shrewd calculation will suffice. The Committee projects that this 'Red Belt' in the Changch'ŏng Range will become the backbone of domestic energy development efforts. Besides the Red Belt, possible sites of energy generation include Konggi Province's Mioksan Mountain Range and the eastern T'aekol Range.

Potential Problems
The Committee has determined, based on the geological records and surveys of the Kingdom, that the Kingdom currently faces a future conductor shortage if it is to successfully transition to renewable energy. Whilst geothermal may be ideal for immediate use and heating, the committee notes that more conservative and long-lasting storage of energy produced in this manner will require the use of expensive and rare conductor metals. In particular, the Committee has noted that Dankuk's lithium reserves, which it presently exports, should be conserved and less trivially traded overseas. Luckily, the immediate use of geothermal energy - the far most common - will make this problem negligible if the nation parallelly develops other forms of sustainable energy generation.

Energy Yields
The Committee, based on the projections and measurements made during the National Survey, concluded that the geological boundaries of the Kingdom of Great Bae contain enough potential to reasonably achieve a complete energy surplus based on geothermal sources within twenty-five years. The Committee recommends the implementation of a national slow-paced transition plan, led by the Royal government, from the current source. Supplemental to our ends will be the. The committee recommends the future dissolution of the Coal industry as a national source of energy, but it may serve as a complementary industry for industrial and mechanical application.

The 40-55 Plan
The '40-55 Plan' refers to the Committee's intentions to lead a widespread infrastructure plan, with the consent of His Excellency's Royal Government, in order to dramatically increase the percentage of energy throughout the nation supplied by Geothermal energy. By 5330, it is hoped that Geothermal will account for at least 40% of the nation's energy, by 5340, 55%. Currently, the gross energy consumption of the Kingdom of Great Bae is an estimated 3.8 Exajoules; this number is expected to increase to 4.2 Exajoules by the year 5340. Whilst it is believed that the geothermal potential of the Kingdom could still cover a majority of this primary energy consumption, current economic conditions constrain the nation to a rough maximum of 55% in Geothermal.

[TRA]

Beiteynu
Energy executives meet with Dankukian government

[beifengxiaoxiao]

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PM Pak on Indralan Kyo - 'Compatriots and Brothers'
Year 5308, Month 4, Day 11

PM Pak Chaesang today made the controversial announcement that the Royal Government was planning to send economic aid to and was pursuing joint plans for the enlargement of Tian'an's Kyotown with the nation of Indrala. PM Pak stated the following:

His Excellency's Royal Government has permitted the Foreign Ministry to send monetary, food, and humanitarian aid in total amounting to an equivalent value of 50 Billion in Royal Bu to assist the Kyo people in Indrala. Given the current economic situation in that nation, as well as the continually optimistic fortunes of our kingdom, we find it most appropriate that the excess of the Foreign Ministry funds be used in such a way as to promote regional stability and humanitarian cause. The safety, security, and well-being of our own people overseas is tantamount to our own happiness and prosperity. We are compatriots, we are brothers.

Indrala, being an authoritarian pariah state in the world, has largely stepped off of the regional and world stage of trade and diplomacy. Nonetheless, because that nation was the traditional power amongst the Gao Showan peoples of Terra, the position towards Indrala has remained of integral concern to the affairs of the nation. It remains the most populated nation in Terra, and 5% of that population is descended from the Kyo ethnic group that comprises a majority of Baeguk's citizenry. Today there is now a debate as to the position to which the government takes with Indrala. Critics of the Prime Minister accused him of complying with the authoritarian measures and repression occuring under the current regime; notably, in the senate a proposition backed by the left-wing Socialist Worker's Party (PSL) and the left-leaning 'United Together' Party (UT) would accuse the PM of being complicit in the deaths of Indralans under the current authoritarian government. In sharp contrast, the right wing Righteous Future Party (RFP) praised the move as pragmatic and humanitarian, noting that the Kyo people of Indrala would otherwise be in a poor condition without Baegukese aid. In the future, this 'Indralan Question' is expected to be a partisan issue that will split the right and left.

Rumors have also circulated that the government might attempt similar actions with regional power North Dovani; these remain unconfirmed.

[beifengxiaoxiao]

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN COMMERCE
5309/02/13
大拜-培太嶁 Nuclear Energy Agreement Enters First Stage of Negotiations

Today concluded the first rounds in the potential formation of an energy deal between Beiteynuese investors and the kingdom, made possible through the unimpeded export of Kundrati uranium. Head of the Royal Department of Foreign Commerce, Bryn Llewelyn, met with foreign corporate executives from Beiteynu, primarily of Aristocrat Energetical; as well as representatives of uranium suppliers Tomasadyn National and SMCWK from Kundrati. The Department notified the parties involved of the current royal policy prohibiting more than 50% ownership of the national energy grid by foreign nationals, but significant shares of the national grid remain negotiable for purchase.

The ongoing negotiations come on the heels of the REPRESS effort to have energy in Baeguk supplied at least 20% from domestic non-hydroelectric or geothermal renewable resources by the year 3045. As the kingdom's current solar and wind energy producing capabilities are rather lacking, the obtaining of nuclear technology would be seen as a boon to the nation. It is currently assessed that Baeguk does not have a great or economical amount of uranium enough to extract cheaply for energy production, and as such national business leaders have promoted positive trade ties with Kundrati, which leads the international uranium export market.

As part of a prospective deal, Beiteynuese investors have promised to train Baegukese professionals and to assist the construction of homegrown nuclear power plants. In return, the royal government has promised to give generous credit to the parties involved and additionally offered to subsidize the costs of up-front investment into the kingdom's nuclear infrastructure; actions not mentioned in the nations' 5293 Friendship & Trade Agreement. Minister Llewelyn promised, with backing of the Royal government, that the security and integrity of the investments of all Beiteynuese and Kundrati companies were ensured by his excellency's royal government. It is still too premature to judge if the deal will come into fruition, but the royal government has promised swift and decisive negotiation of a mutually beneficial arrangement. Commerce, it holds, should and must be conducted with both great prudence and enthusiasm.

[beifengxiaoxiao]

May 1, 5309

Chairwoman Jeon Seo-Yeon officially revealed her election platform for October, departing from the party's traditional socially centrist status and calling for an all-around 'Progressive Revolution'. Chairwoman Jeon claimed that she intended to finally win the Senate for the PSL, which has repeatedly suffered close electoral defeats in failure to form a leftist government since the rebirth of the monarchist reactionary state in 5300. The position now taken by the party asserts that the failure of the PSL was that it could not earnestly ridicule the key problems of Dranian society, which lied not necessarily only with capitalism, but with cultural reactionary behavior and thought that allowed capitalism to continuously take root. Breaking from the proletarian internationalist stance previously taken by the party, Chairwoman Jeon has instead called on the PSL to support race consciousness and critical theory to analyze and deconstruct the Dranian society of privilege. Citing racism and misogyny as a bigger threat than capitalism, the new platform has moved away from economic matters in favor of a broader program aimed to destroy reaction through culture war.

The PSL is the Party of Progress! Before we attempt to solve the income inequality question, we must evaluate and self-criticize the privileges we all have in this inherently bigoted society. Thus, the new party platform of 5309 has largely renounced extreme economic reform in favor of harsher anti-hate crime laws, comprehensive and thorough internal investigation, and the pursuance of employment policies in favor of positive discrimination in order to rectify this nation's long history of oppression and marginalization.

As the PSL shifts from a mainly economic to social-matter party, it is wondered how the new 'Party of Progress' will fare in the next elections.

[TRA]

Beiteynu
The ripple effect of the Trigunian crisis

[beifengxiaoxiao]

柾國政變 - 國際經濟危機
珙芒桃財經新聞
Gongmangdo Economic Review

THE RECENT cessation of oil export from Chŏnkuk (柾國語: Тригуния) has been a disaster for the world economy, and even Baeguk's recent economic growth in seemingly far-off Dovani has suffered the effects. Oil remains a key component in many of the nation's developing industries including the manufacture of automobiles, ships, plastics, and solvents.

As a result, Gongmangdo International Stock Exchange (GISE) reported for the first time in recent Baegukese history, since the year 5286, a quarterly negative fluctuation of -7% in average stock price. Quarters 2, 3, and 4 of 5310 can expect more of the same; it is unknown how long the downward spiral will last but some analysts expect the average change in prices to look red for as long as the next three years. Many have called for the government to fully redouble emphasis on alternative, domestic, and reliable sources of energy and industrial application; but the up-front costs will be difficult to weather under the present conditions. The government and stock exchange alike have once more called for all parties involved to keep cool heads.

The time for panic is never. We must be calm and ride out the waves of recession with cool heads, collective action, and soaring resolve. Baeguk's prosperity and development will and cannot be stopped by this unfortunate but non fatal development. The market will stabilize; we will get out of this.

Said GISE Chair Mr. Gwalchmei Gethin.

[beifengxiaoxiao]

Baegukese Senate Calls for Extreme Budget Cuts
April 21, 5211

The Senate of the Kingdom of Great Bae has officially proposed a budget, to be approved by Prime Minister Brynmor Caddick, that would revolutionize the government’s current expenses. The new budget, proposed by the ruling Grand National Party (DBP) alongside allies in the Senate the Righteous Future Party (RFP), the Kwangpok Party (KPT), and crossbenchers in the Populist Party (PPP), would controversially aim to slash current government expenses relating to cultural heritage and national parks. This sudden change in government mentality can be attributed to the unexpected rise in international gas prices and the subsequent negative ripple in the Baegukese economy said price spike has had. With money needed more than ever for the economy, proponents of the budget argue that current costs are simply infeasible.

Most notably affected by the new budget would be funding for the arts, which are currently supported with national funds and grants. Government subsidization of artists would largely cease, as would major support for artistic or cultural cultivation. Supporters of the budget argue that it would be highly irresponsible for the government to continue the current systems of patronage when the basic economic institutions that form the backbone of society are lagging. Kwangpok MW (Member of the Hall of Worthies) from Haegito, Alejandro Yeo, had the following comments to make.

It is an unfortunate reality of the current situation that we need money, and that the most rational and economical method is to siphon funds from dead and useless fields. The arts we have subsidized in the past have done nothing but leach off of the true backbone of our economy, which is in commerce, in energy, and industry. In times like these, such frivolous expenses are a suicidal luxury the taxpayers and constituents can afford. When many are under the threat of losing their job, how can we take away money to support them and instead give it to intellectuals who write slop and produce no material wealth for society? It's time to cut off the gorging of the humanities and arts in our developing nation so that we can maintain our progress and advancement in the areas where it truly counts; in STEM, in future education, in industry, in manufacturing, in business, and in science. The artists will just have to adjust for the greater good of society.

The money saved from the new budget would then be used towards 'practical' education of future workers in STEM and technical fields, for worker's compensation, and investment in industry. Additionally, separate new tax cuts for the Chaepŏl conglomerates, that largely run the Baegukese economy, have been proposed to mitigate the crisis. DBP PM Caddick has promised to pass the new budget, although it remains controversial throughout the nation's institutions of higher education. Despite opposition, analysts generally believe the move has high support from other sectors of society, especially the working class.

[beifengxiaoxiao]

Son of Communist Agitator Elected Baegukese PM
5313/11/12

After a long, stalled session of negotiations in the new Senate following the October 5 elections, the votes are in: Ya Seon will be the new Prime Minister of the Kingdom. (Ya Seon pictured far right, opposite his parents.) It came as a total shock; after 13 years of uninterrupted center-right rule, Baeguk will finally have it's first left-leaning government. Analysts generally explained the left-wing shift by citing contemporary public discontent with Dankuk's growing income inequality, the controversial new budget bill that cut off public welfare funds, and decreasing satisfaction with the once-lauded rightist leadership of the Grand National Party (DBP), which had remained in government since 5300.

Humiliatingly, the honor of forming the new leftist government belongs not to the once-mighty Socialist Labor Party; but the relatively new and young Communist Refoundation Party. Despite it's name, the CRP has mainly received positive public acclaim not because of their Metzist-Leonidist ideology, but due to their pragmatic and crossbenching policies. The CRP has worked locally and nationally to pass swift and decisive legislation without leaning too heavily to any wing; in stark contrast to the partisan bickering of the nation's political "establishment"; the DBP, PSL, and even the PPP and UT. Ya Seon stated that it was such integrity and competence that would enable his government to address the political and economic issues Baeguk faces. The CRP ran on a platform of anti-corruption, anti-chaebol reform, greater public welfare, and higher social spending that analysts said was widely appealing to younger and poorer voters; the CRP received the 2nd highest amount of votes and seats these elections, just trailing the DBP. After a tense stand-off in the Senate, the centrist Populist party finally agreed to ally with the CRP, PSL, and UT to form the new government.

On a more personal level, Ya Seon was relatively unknown in politics until he was elected to the House of Sages in 5309 on the Kyo Ethnic Electoral List - the youngest Sage to date since the 5300 Baek Restoration. His main controversy has been that he is the only son of former Communist legislator Ya Kwang, a decisive and key figure of the far left during the Republican days. (Pictured far left, next to his wife, Prof. Ya Aeyeong.) Ya Sr. was swept up in widespread condemnation and arrest following the discovery of the so-called "Plot of 54"; an alleged coup attempt by Communist legislators to overthrow the Republic in 5299. Ultimately, because the government did not have enough evidence about Ya Sr. to find that he had acted to break the law, and as he himself had disappeared, the Supreme Court acquitted him in absentia. This has nonetheless remained a stain on Ya Kwang's posthumous reputation, and by extent his young son's.

Despite the controversy, PM Ya attempted to calm fears by declaring that he was a complete pragmatist, seeking to fundamentally redirect the economy legally and through the democratic institutions of government; which he claimed passionate was in the spirit of his father. In an effort to reaffirm the struggling stock market, the Senate conditionally reviewed the following statement PM Ya swore in person, recorded live:

I, Ya Seon, shall remain unconditionally loyal to the cause and creed of the office of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Great Ba; a faithful servant of the public, democratic institutions of power, and to his majesty our Sovereign Baek Po Sŏn. I shall respect all the laws of the kingdom, the inalienable rights of the people enshrined in the constitution including the right to private property, and shall ensure totally and finally the security and legitimacy of all investment and capital, be it foreign or domestic. I shall strive to protect the Kingdom from her enemies, and to deliver unto the people peace, prosperity, and happiness to the greatest extent I am capable of. This I swear whole heartedly for the sake and salvation of, and in front of: the Sovereign, the Senate, and the People of the Kingdom of Great Bae, so help me God.

The people have elected an unusual candidate to run the country during her current trial. All must now pray that PM Ya can deliver Baeguk from her current woes.