Republic of The Sohnland

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Republic of The Sohnland
Motto: "Dark sky, Golden Dove, over a crimson sunset."
Anthem: "My Dove of Burning Gold"[1]
Government Coat of Arms
Rough location of the Sohnland
Coordinates:  52.520489, -1.465382
Capital
(De Facto) Carnifron City
(De Jure) Dovedon[a]
Official languagesEnglish
Religion
[2]
Demonym(s)Sohnlander
GovernmentTechnocracy
• Supreme Leader
Ethan S.
LegislatureSohnlandic-Juche Party
Establishment
• Foundation
20 April 2005;
18 years ago (2005-04-20)[3]
• Monarchy abolished

26 July 2015;
8 years ago (2015-07-26)[4]
• Separation from United Kingdom

N/A
Area
• Total
0.00031[5] km2 (0.00012 sq mi) (197th)
Population
• Estimate
10[b]
GDP (PPP)2019 estimate
• Total
£1,250,000[6]
• Per capita
£70,500[7]
HDI (2021[8])0.994
very high
CurrencySohnlandic pound sterling (SPS)
Time zoneUTC, WET, GMT
• Summer (DST)
UTC+1 (British Summer Time, WEST)
[c]
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy
yyyy-mm-dd (HC)
Driving sideleft[9]
Calling code+44[10]
Website
www.thesohnlandgov.info
This nation is a member of the Solidarity Front

The Republic of The Sohnland, also known as The Sohnland (/ðəðɪðisʌnlænd/ (About this sound (listen))) for short, is a micronation that claims several properties in Warwickshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire, England. Apart from being known for its incredibly small size of 305m², The Sohnland makes its love for pigeons very well known.

While The Sohnland has been described as an example of professional micronationalism and a movement for legitimacy,[11] it is not officially recognised by any established sovereign state.

Etymology

The Sohnland is the shortened colloquial name for the "Republic of The Sohnland", and refers to the name of the geographical region described by Sohnlandic locals of which where the republic is situated, similar to how the Sub Saharan country of The Gambia is named after the Gambia River that flows through the country.

According to the Sohnlandic constitution, there are other perfectly acceptable synonyms for The Sohnland, such as Sohnland, Sonland, Pigeonland, Bird land, Land of the Doves, and even Greater Carnifron, however, they are only ever used in casual settings and not to refer to the nation outside of casual conversation or on formal occasions.[12]

Secession

The Sohnland and its inhabitants have shown strong distaste in how they are currently governed by the UK under Westminster in regards to taxation, tariffs and economic regulation. How their taxes are reallocated within the UK being one of the main reasons. According to the official government website of The Sohnland their citizens generally lean towards right wing values and populist ideals.

Their main national purpose is the pursuit of autonomy, secession, and the preservation of the right to self determination.[13]

History

2005–2009

What was to become The Sohnland began on the 20 April 2005, originally starting off as a place to express its founder's ideals, personality, and identity. Not really functioning as a nation at this point, the 4 year old founder of of The Sohnland at the time had no idea of what the concept of what a country was not even what a micronation is.

There is a legend that the inspiration and the drive behind The Sohnland's creation was brought to its founder when he witnessed a dove/pigeon fly across the sunset on the very same day of founding The Sohnland. The bird was envisaged to appear to be made out of flaming gold against the bright light of the sunset. Later named to the "Dove of Burning Gold," a mythical bird of The Sohnland thought to give the nation divine purpose and protection. This mythical animal was adopted as the national animal and is displayed on the national flag.[14]

2009–2015

Nothing worth being notable happened with The Sohnland until 12 April 2009, when it got its first flag but not its current flag. After this point, The Sohnland began a slow and gradual progression towards legitimacy as a sovereign state, only having a flag, a land claim and a name at this moment in time. A lot of physical records of The Sohnland's history has actually been lost over time. Some years or months may be completely blank. On 26 July 2015, the Sohnlandic monarchy was dissolved and the republic was founded. On 28 July 2015, The Sohnland gave up most of its land claims due to lack of feasible control, of which formed a few short lived micronations at the moment of releasing territory. History and records about them no longer exist, all sources are not reliable. After this date The Sohnland was left with only 310 square metres to its land claim but with realistic control over it. The Sohnland never again shall plan to increase its territory, nor shall the nation have influence over other micronations.[15]

2015–2018

2 July 2016 was when The Sohnland printed its first flag by itself, using rudimentary fabric printing methods. Although it wasn't good quality and rather small, it survives till this day and is kept for the sake of preserving history. 15 August 2016 was when The Sohnland started having national anthem proposals. None of them were all that good. An official national anthem did not come about until years later. 29 September 2017 was when The Sohnland practiced socialism. This came with the final national flag change, the socialist banner hasn't been changed despite no longer being socialist for the sake of tradition. Socialism in The Sohnland failed miserably and the ideology was abandoned on 24 May 2018. A multitude of events happened on 24 May 2018; Permanent neutrality was declared, socialist practices were dropped and The Sohnland began to shift towards liberal conservative values once again.[16]

2018–2021

On 24 March 2020, The Sohnland and Carnifron begin unification. On 1 May 2020, The Sohnland finally gets passports and they become available for its citizens. However, they won't be the final design of passports due to obvious improvements to be made, like giving them gold plated lettering. 11 May 2020, and The Sohnland now has passport stamps for those visiting The Sohnland. 12 July 2020 is when The Sohnland makes identity cards available for its citizens. But it wasn't until recently when they got holigraphic sticker security features. 20 August 2020 is when The Sohnland gets a national great seal design. On 21 October 2020 The Sohnland makes a flag pins available for its citizens.[17]

24 October 2020 and The Sohnland submits a signature request for the EEA Agreement. On 15 November 2019, The Sohnland found the micronational community and began to form informal relations with those alike. The Sohnland celebrates its 15th anniversary on 20 April 2020, but unlike most anniversaries there was no celebration that year due to a COVID-19 lockdown. 2 November 2020 is the day The Sohnland gets the unofficial anthem "My Dove of Burning Gold" to commemerate the unification of Carnifron and The Sohnland. On 10 November 2020, a souvenir banknote design is made and will later be printed as a commemorative banknote. 11 September 2020 and The Sohnland had gained gold seal embossers to give treaties and official documents security features. On 7 December 2020, The Sohnland signs a treaty of mutual cooperation with the community of Createmino as a token of friendship. 21 December 2020 is the day The Sohnland unanimously switches to the holocene calendar. Although HE dates don't appear on The Sohnland's official website so people outside The Sohnland can correctly interpret dates and times.[18] 11 January 2021 is when The Sohnland finalised its passport design with gold plated lettering. 23 January 2021 is when The Sohnland finally prints linen banknotes with holographic security features and a silver weaved strip in the centre. They also have a watermark of a dove in the white section of the banknote, this is planned to be revealed at a later date.[19]

Sohnland Operations

Passports

On 1 May 2020, The Sohnland now had passports to distribute to its citizens. For a citizen to purchase a passport to use they are required to pay £60.[20]

Passport Stamps

From 11 May 2020, People visiting The Sohnland can request a passport stamp or even a postage stamp despite not being a mandatory part of customs.[21]

ID Cards

Citizen and resident ID cards of The Sohnland

Citizens of The Sohnland are not required to carry ID Cards but they can ask for one for a small fee, like with passports. Sohnlandic ID cards have the security features of any other typical ID card; holographic features and with the Guilloché pattern design that you see on any sophisticated banknotes or other government printed documents.[22]

Flag Pins

Sohnlandian flag pins.

The government of The Sohnland made dual flag pins of the Sohnlandian national flag and the flag of the EU to celebrate signing the European Economic Area Agreement.[23]

Border Signs

The Sohnlandic government had set up small border signs on 22 July 2021 in an effort to mark out The Sohnland's in real life land claims.[3]

Citizenship

In order to receive Sohnlandic citizenship, you are required to travel to the UK consulate and then to The Sohnland.

To request travel to The Sohnland from the TSL UK consulate, permission must be granted to travel to the consulate by contacting them via email. You then must sign a waiver and make your intentions and convictions known, along with your contact information. If accepted you will be provided with the address of the consulate and given a time and date to arrive where you can submit a visa application to travel to The Sohnland.[24]

After arriving at the TSL UK consulate and having your visa to The Sohnland accepted you can then travel to The Sohnland at a different time and date. This is where you can go and submit a citizen application. To do this you must provide your CV and state your reasons for wanting citizenship. After this point, you will recieve an email the next day either congratulating you in recieving citizenship or a citizenship denial.[25]

Signed Treaties and Recognition

EU EEA Agreement

The Republic of The Sohnland signs the EEA (SIS) Agreement on 21 October 2020. This treaty was later signed and enforced by The Sohnland to promote the freedom of movement between EU and EEA member states.

This treaty also allows for the free movement of digital data and frees up border checks between The Sohnland and EU and EU member states; However, the free movement of people and workers to and from The Sohnland's bordering neighbour, the UK may be impacted by brexit and their withdrawal from the Schengen area.[26]

Antarctica Treaty System (ATS)

The Republic of The Sohnland signed the Antarctic Treaty on 30 November 2020 with the aim of protecting Antarctic ecosystems by setting the continent aside as a nature preserve. Signing the Antarctic treaty also means banning all activities involving the military, along with making Antarctica open for conducting scientific research.[27]

Recognition of the UK

On 7 November 2020, The Republic of The Sohnland drafted a 49 page treaty[28] of mutual recognition of the United Kingdom to be sent to the UK Prime Minister. The treaty could only be sent via email at the time due to COVID-19 related issues surrounding national lockdown in the UK at the time.

Nations with which The Sohnland has signed a treaty of nominal recognition or exchanged acts of recognition

Tacit Recognition

The Sohnland claims to have received tacit or in other words, implied recognition in the absence of formal acknowledgment.

There were accounts of ID cards and passports being used as identification methods in public places in England by Ethan s, even being referred to as his title as Head of State.[29]

There have been occasions where Sohnlandic passports were accepted at German customs at an airport alongside British passports as if they were documents of a sovereign nation.[29]

The Sohnland's official government accounts on Chinese social media platforms and that Sohnlandic government websites were completely blocked for being a foreign government force outside threat to national security and "Harming the unity, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of the nation" according to Chinese government affiliated censors.

This prompted a shut down in TSL and PRC trade and an eventual switch in diplomatic relations for recognition of Taiwan (Republic of China) in retaliation.[30]

Culture

Cultural Origins

The Sohnland is a bicultural nation since it has its roots and origins coming from the British Isles and Germany. The Sohnland today has citizenship that still hold German citizenship and their German passports to this day.[31]

Religion

Religion and its influences are largely absent from The Sohnland today as 90% of the Carnifron region in The Sohnland is a mixture of agnostics and athiests; The 10% is said to be of the Christian faith.[32]

However, before technocracy took root in The Sohnland, there was a much larger presence of Christianity in The Sohnland. This was before the Sohnlandic government put regulations on preaching religion. This is not to be confused with banning practicing religion.[32]

National Dishes

The most notable national dish of The Sohnland is the Fried spam with baked beans, accompanied with British chips.[33]

National Foundation Day

The national foundation day[34] or otherwise known as the annual anniversary of The Sohnland is the date when the very first predecessor to the current republic of The Sohnland was founded on 20 April 2005.[35]

Economy

Taxation

The Sohnland has an open laissez-faire, state-capitalist market economy by which the government of The Sohnland itself takes part in the economy whilst maintaining minimal restrictions on private enterprise and businesses.[36]

Local Currency

Having printed real authentic banknotes and having minted genuine metal coins. The Sohnland, unlike many micronations, they have a real world currencies to trade with akin to recognised countries. Although, the value of the Sohnlandic Pound Sterling is uregulated and is not officially capped to any other real world currency or commodity, they have an estimated value of 2.08 USD per 1 Sohnlandic Pound Sterling (SPS) according to their local authorities.[37]


This variation of the souvenir banknote was initially designed as a critique on micronational currencies due to their low value as the value declared is £0 GBP. The Sohnland has planned to print polymer banknote with holographic security features to to give them a genuine appearance, closely resembling €0 Banknotes in their makeup.[38]

Ownership

In The Sohnland, the means of production and private and personal property is not to be unecessarily reallocated or redistributed. Private and personal property are to be regarded as interchangeable.[39]

The property of the State is the private and personal property of head of state. The State shall guarantee giving priority to the improvement of its property which plays a leading role in the development of the national economy. Land title deeds withheld by the great leader are to act as de facto territory of The Sohnland or until otherwise made de jure sovereign claims.[40]


The property of social cooperative organisations belongs to the State. Social cooperative organisations can possess such property as land, agricultural machinery, ships, medium- small sized factories and enterprises. The State shall protect the property of social cooperative organisations.[41]

Government and Politics

Sohnlandic-Juche

Sohnlandic-Juche is the official state ideology of the Republic of The Sohnland and the Sohnlandic-Juche Party.[42] The ideology derives from the official state ideology of the DPRK which is Juche, hence the name Sohnlandic-Juche.

The Supreme Leader of The Sohnland has described the ideology as "The only way The Sohnland shall and will ever be run to chart our own independent course".[43] Sohnlandic Juche postulates that the people of The Sohnland should be the writers of their own destiny and that they should treat other nations the same way they expect foreigners to treat The Sohnland; This means not interfering or influencing other nations and respecting other cultures for the same favour in return.

Sohnlandic Juche also postulates that The Sohnland should not trade or exchange assets or work with or for foreign powers as all it takes is efficient and effective hard work at home to improve their lives and the nation. In a nutshell, the ideology idealises that The Sohnland and its people can work hard to achieve its goals with foreign intervention. The Sohnland's official Ideology shares aspects and attributes with other ideologies such as isolationism, nationalism, patriotism, autocracy and technocracy.

Administration

Ever since the unrecognised nation's founding back in April 2005 The Sohnland has had the same benevolent dictator, Supreme Leader Ethan of The Sohnland. The Sohnland is currently ruled by an autocratic and technocratic government with its own ideology: Sohnlandic-Juche. Which continues to be followed to guide The Sohnland and its people to its goals and national interests.[42]

Administrative Divisions

The Sohnland is comprised of three separate ceremonial cantons that are administered individually by the citizens that live in them and directly from the national government simultaneously. These three ceremonial cantons are separately enclaved within the United Kingdom and are not contiguous to the Sohnlandic mainland. They are officially known as ceremonial cantons as they lack the status as municipalities since they are not official run government entities within The Sohnland, merely acknowledged by the citizens within them and for their contributions to The Sohnland as a whole. These ceremonial cantons go by the Carnifron Region, Mainland Sohnland, Allenton Region and finally the capital district of The Sohnland which goes by Carnifron City.[44]

Flag Arms Name Population Area
Sohnland Ceremonial Cantons Sohnland
Carnifron Region 2 0.305 km²
Mainland Sohnland 5 0.270 km²
Allenton Region 2 0.310 km²
Carnifron City 1 0.001 km²

Public Health

National Health Service

With The Sohnland making advancements in medicine and treatment, they've used their own tax funding and their domestic incomes collectively to fund for their own medical equipment and supplies. Including but not limited to breathing ventilators (multiple), many medical kits, blood testing kits, drug and alcohol tests, blood sugar testing kits, vitamin and mineral reserves and prescription medications.[45]

The Sohnland advises its citizens and makes an official response to COVID-19 by limiting travel and stocking up on food and medical supplies.[46]

External links

Sohnlandic State Media

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Sohnland Today News

Government Information

Head of State email

Ministry of Foreign Affairs email

References

  1. ↑ De jure Capital listed as Dovedon on government website: https://tsl.thesohnlandgov.info/wikipage
  2. ↑ Please visit: https://tsl.thesohnlandgov.info/wikipage
  3. ↑ Also in observed by the crown dependencies, and in the two British Overseas Territories of w:Gibraltar and w:Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (though in the latter, without daylight saving time). For further information, see w:Time in the United Kingdom#British territories.
  1. ↑ https://tsl.thesohnlandgov.info/national-anthem
  2. ↑ "Religious demographics in The Sohnland by infographic". 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Foundation Day". 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Monarchy dissolved". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Land Area". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "GDP PPP as of 2019". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "GDP Per Capita as of 2019". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Human Development Index". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Driving Side". 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Dialing Code". 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  11. ↑ [hhttps://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/595243/Micronationalism "The Sohnland lacking recognition as a sovereign state"]. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  12. ↑ I, Ethan (16 September 2021). "Etymology of the name of The Sohnland". tsl.thesohnlandgov.info. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "Justification for secession in The Sohnland". 30 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "History of The Sohnland, 2005 to 2009". 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "History of The Sohnland, 2009 to 2015". 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "History of The Sohnland, 2015 to 2018". 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "History of The Sohnland, 2018 to 2021". 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "History of The Sohnland, 2018 to 2021". 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  19. ↑ Information regarding history retrieved from The Sohnland's official website on 3 March 2021.
  20. ↑ I, Ethan (30 December 2020). "When The Sohnland obtained passports". Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  21. ↑ "Passport Stamps". 11 May 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "Sohnlandic ID Cards Origin". 12 July 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  23. ↑ I, Ethan (30 December 2020). "The Sohnland Signs the EU EEA Agreement". Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  24. ↑ I, Ethan (30 December 2020). "Citizenship in The Sohnland". Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  25. ↑ I, Ethan (30 December 2020). "Arriving in The Sohnland". Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  26. ↑ "EU Trade Agreements". 30 December 2020.
  27. ↑ "Scientific research in Antarctica". Discovering Antarctica. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  28. ↑ "Source of the TSL UK treaty of mutual recognition". Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 [1]
  30. ↑ [2]
  31. ↑ "Sohnlandic Demographics". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Christian faith and religious practices". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  33. ↑ "National Dishes". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  34. ↑ "National Day on 20 April 2005". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  35. ↑ "16th National Day". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  36. ↑ "Chapter two of the Sohnlandic constitutuion referring to the economy". 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  37. ↑ "Documented value od SPS to USD". 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  38. ↑ I, Ethan (30 December 2020). "Sohnlandic banknotes origin".
  39. ↑ The Sohnlandic Constitution Chapter 2, Article 20
  40. ↑ The Sohnlandic Constitution Chapter 2, Article 21
  41. ↑ The Sohnlandic Constitution Chapter 2, Article 22
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 I, Ethan (14 September 2021). "The Sohnlandic-Juche Party". tsl.thesohnlandgov.info. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  43. ↑ I, Ethan (30 December 2020). "Quote from Supreme Leader Ethan of The Sohnland". Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  44. ↑ "Provinces". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  45. ↑ "National Health Service and Benefits". 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  46. ↑ "COVID-19 Safety". tsl.thesohnlandgov.info. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
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