Antarctic Micronational Union

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Antarctic Micronational Union
Flag of Antarctic Micronational Union
Flag
Anthem: Hymn of the AMU
Official languagesEnglish
Membership10 nations
Leaders
• Administrative-General
Yaroslav Mar of Lostisland
Establishment
• Reforms
January 15, 2010
• Reforms
August 21, 2013
• Reforms
February 24, 2020

The Antarctic Micronational Union (AMU) is the first micronational multinational organisation that comprises only of Antarctic micronations.

The main goal of the AMU is to organize all Antarctic micronations and protect each other's territory and claims. The AMU also keeps the administration about all the current claims in Antarctica to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. Since 2010 the AMU has been mentioned in several Dutch, Belgian and Russian media outlets.

History

Establishment

The AMU was officially established on December 6, 2008 as the Grupo Del Acuerdo Micronational Antartico (GAMA) by the Kingdom of Finismund, Marie State and the Grand Duchy of Flandrensis. The Federated States of Antarctica and Keep Watch were the first micronations which joined the organisation after its foundation. The GAMA was founded as result of a conflict between Finismund, Marie State and Flandrensis against Jon Lawrence of Westarctica, known as the Great Micronational Antarctic War. This conflict ended on September 24, 2010, when Niels of Flandrensis and Travis McHenry, founder of Westarctica signed the West-Antarctic Treaty.

Reforms

In late 2009, the organization faced a crisis when two of the founding nations, Finismund and Marie State, were disbanded. There was no structure anymore and the administration was incomplete. In January 2010 Flandrensis proposed the first elections of the organization, and on the 15th of that month Grand Duke Niels of Flandrensis was elected as the first Secretary-General. The same day he renamed the organization to the Antarctic Micronational Union (AMU), a name that has more clarity. On October 24, 2011 the AMU was reformed by dividing the organization into 4 administrative regions: West-Antarctica, East-Antarctica, Victoria Land and the Northern Antarctic Peninsula. The reform was only a temporally success. Faced with inactivity on the forum, the lack of communication and the disappearing of several micronations the AMU was confronted again with a crisis in 2013. Niels of Flandrensis (co-founder of the AMU) took the initiative for another reform, supported by the remaining active members. On August 21, 2013 all inactive members were removed from the organization., the forum was removed and replaced by the official Facebookpage and the organization simplified its administration.

Decline & Revival

In November 2016 Flandrensis, Westarctica, Ruthenia, Arkel, and Campinia withdrew their membership in the Antarctic Micronational Union after a long debate about internal affairs and the preservation of Antarctica and ecologic issues.

Although the departure was first proposed by Flandrensis, Westarctica was bound to follow their ally in leaving the AMU due to the provisions of the West-Antarctic Free Alliance, a treaty which linked the foreign affairs of the two nations.

As a result of the mass exodus, the AMU slid into inactivity, and while the organization was never officially disbanded, it was no longer functioning. In the absence of a regulating body, Antarctic micronationalism once again became chaotic: existing claims were contested, new micronations started popping up without any regard to prior Antarctic claims.

In December 2019 a number of current and former AMU members started negotiation talks, weighing the possibility of reviving the organization. These talks materialized on 24 February 2020, when the new Charter of the Antarctic Micronational Union was signed by the representatives of Hortania, Lostisland, Užupis, Karnia-Ruthenia, Westarctica, Missionary Order of the Celtic Cross, and Montescano, who reconfirmed their membership in the revived organization. The Grand Duchy of Flandrensis originally opted out of rejoining the AMU, but announced a change in foreign policy, recognizing the territorial claims of all AMU members. Flandrensis rejoined the AMU on September 23, 2022.

The AMU Members reconfirmed the authority of Yaroslav Mar as the Administrative-General for a new term until 2024, when a new election will take place.

Members

Micronations with only Antarctic claims

Micronations with Antarctic colonies

Antarctic micronations can ask for membership of the AMU, on the condition that they don't claim the land of a member of the AMU and undertake to abide by the AMU Charter.

Former Members

Inactive members

During the years several Antarctic micronations disappeared or were disbanded. When a member of the AMU doesn't confirm their activity during the annual activity census, the Administrative-General declares a member inactive.

AMU Certificate

When the AMU recognizes the territorial claims of a new member the applicant receives an official certificate as proof of their membership and recognition by the Antarctic micronational community.

AMU Charter

On 5 March 2010, the Secretary-General of the AMU started a discussion to stop further expansions of members on the Antarctic mainland. As result of this discussion the then Vice-Secretary, Nikola Lasica of the State of the People of West Antarctica, wrote an charter, later rewritten in 2011 by Niels of Flandrensis. The Charter contains the goals of the AMU, conditions for membership, territorial expansion and a manual on how to act as a micronationalist. On 24 February 2020 a new charter was adopted by the AMU members.

Leadership

From 2013 to 2020 there were no elections in the AMU, the last Secretary-General was Travis McHenry of the Grand Duchy of Westarctica. Since the reform of August 21, 2013 an Administrative-General is in charge of the organization. He is responsible for all territorial administration and communication with next Antarctic micronations, but he may only take decisions after consultation with other members.

External links