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DispatchMetaGameplay

by The Federated Bailiwicks of Verdant Haven. . 65 reads.

Government Transparency Report #6 - June 2020

June 10, 2020

Greetings, fellow citizens of Forest!

When I last wrote to you in March, much of the world was in the very earliest phases of locking down, with words like social distancing, face coverings, and even “COVID-19” being new and awkward terms for many of us. Now, three months later, things have gone on longer than most of us ever anticipated, and even children can tell you the difference between an N95 and a face covering. On top of that, the already pent-up stresses and long-standing frustrations of racial inequality have manifested in protests and rage after the latest series of horrible injustices perpetrated in the United States, which have had effect in countries around the world as decent people reach out in support of each other. People around the world feel effected by actions in one place, and want to do what they can to speak up in support of the victims.

Though our RMB did go through some chaos during the electoral period, things have recently smoothed out into a beautiful set of discussions. Though the rate of posting continues at a pace we have not often seen in our typically-quiet woods, the posts of late have been topical, thoughtful, courteous, and relevant. Keep it up, Foresters! For any who have questions, concerns, or pain they need to share, as I have said throughout this whole process, please – feel free to reach out to us all. Let the RMB be a place a help and healing, or if nothing else, a sympathetic ear to hear what is in your heart.

Now – on the report!

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The new cabinet is seated and is working for Forest:

I am delighted to report that most of our regional officers have returned for the second term, and are continuing in the posts they held so ably during the previous term. We have two new officers stepping up to the plate however, so please allow me to (re)introduce:

Uan aa Boa, our esteemed former Forest Keeper, has volunteered to take up the post of Game Warden. Uan will be in charge of in-character events and RP-related projects, which is something with which they have a lot of valuable experience (check out the “Stories from Uan aa Boa” dispatch for a taste!). I know there are plans in place for the first event already, once Errinundera makes the appointment official.

Middle Barael has volunteered to take up the newly created post of Diplomatic Root, serving as the organizing force for our Ambassador program! You may have already seen posts calling for current ambassadors to check in, but if not, please do so. Anybody who is currently an ambassador, or who would like to be one, please send a message to Middle Barael!

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The June Environmental Action Item is here:

Turbeaux has released a dispatch on Product Life Cycle Analysis. This is a challenging but fascinating topic focusing on looking not just at what’s right in front of us, but on the entire history of the products we use to understand where the impacts lie throughout the entire production, use, and disposal of that item! Check out the dispatch and post your thoughts:

I encourage everybody to analyze the environmental impact of the complete life cycle (end-to-end) of any product that you use.

Life cycle analysis is the tool by which a product’s impact on the environment through its lifetime is evaluated. In the context of recycling, it helps to determine if waste reduction, recycle, resource recovery or disposal is the best practicable environmental option. It has been extensively applied in solid waste management (McDougall et al., 2001). The analysis quantifies the energy and raw materials used and solid, liquid and gaseous waste produced at each stage of the process...It can be [e]specially useful in comparing the environmental impact of a product made by recycling and the same made from virgin materials.

(More here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/life-cycle-analysis)

I suggest beginning with a visual diagram to guide your research. If you wish to include ethical and/or health analysis in this exercise, that would be wonderful! If you do not wish to write anything, please consider running through this mentally!

I will be writing up my analysis before July. If you write anything, please consider TGing it to me (Turbeaux) because I am hoping to assemble a compilation of these.

Thank you and please stay safe!

EDIT:
Here is my analysis: page=dispatch/id=1397917

Read dispatch

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Look out for a new survey from our Arborist:

Going hand in hand with the idea of taking a deeper look at the impacts of what’s around us, keep your eye out for a survey that will be coming from our Arborist Kawastyselir. Examining the carbon footprint of our daily lives can help us become aware of places where perhaps we are being inefficient in our choices, or where a minor adjustment might make a big difference.

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The planning committee for our Crystal Jubilee has been established:

The first week of August will mark 15 years since the original founding of Forest, and I’m hoping we’ll be able to offer a bit of lightness and festivity in a year that has been hard on most of us. Deputy Forest Keeper Chan island is chairing the committee, and will lead our celebration efforts. It is my hope that we can invite our friends and allies to join us in a week of environmentally-motivated activities, both in and out of character, and other little recognitions of this region that means so much to us.

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A reminder of what is planned for this term:

If you want a quick reminder of what is planned for this term in office (expected to be about 4 months long), check out the campaign platform dispatch located here:

Forest Keeper Second Term Campaign Platform

Verdant Haven

Greetings, Foresters! For those who do not know me, I am Verdant Haven. I have had the honor of serving as Forest Keeper during the past 6-month term, and I humbly submit myself for consideration for a second term. The coming term will likely be foreshortened due to our constitutionally mandated election dates, and the delay in bringing about the present election, but I believe that even this shorter term until September is sufficient to make additional positive changes for our region, and to solidify some of our successful programs already in existence. I am proud to maintain a straightforward platform that is dedicated to our constitutional principles of Open, Verdant, and Democratic governance.

The world outside is presently in great turmoil. Illness, political wrangling, self-sacrifice, job loss, anxiety, frustration, fear, personal tragedy… these are things that many of us are experiencing at levels and for durations that any sane person would have hoped never to see. It would be understandable to ask why, at a time like this, do I care about a game? I care because I believe that holding on to normality is important. I believe that this is something we can control in a world full of uncontrollable things. Above all, I believe in Forest and its people. In the past months we have seen Foresters from all around the world coming forward and sharing their experiences, hopes, and fears at an unprecedented level, and supporting each other when it all feels like too much. The strength we offer each other is the strength to go in to each day knowing that others care, that we are not alone, and that though we are all practicing social distancing, there are those who are never distant in our hearts.

With all of that said, please allow me to present my platform should I be elected to a second term as your Forest Keeper.


1) The thing that binds Forest together is our real-life belief in the importance of protecting the environment. During the past term, we had multiple programs that emphasized this, and I would like to see those continue. Most distinctive was our monthly Environmental Action Item to spark discussion and help spread information. I believe this was a huge success, and its continuation is of great import. We also had new updates to our Greenness Index and our List of Exceptionally Green Nations. I will see to it that our statistics department remains in operation, and hope to see these released as seasonal updates, as previously envisioned.

2) As Forest has continued to grow and thrive, we have continued to refine our Constitution and update its language to reflect our needs. We successfully amended articles 4 and 6 to ease our election and embassy processes. With our growing size and strength, I believe it is time that we amend Article 7 to reflect that we are no longer a small region that is in imminent danger should our Founder CTE. Our Constitution presently mandates that Forest shall be shut down, destroyed, and reformed in the event of Founder CTE, but this is no longer necessary. I will submit an amendment re-writing this article to allow Forest to continue under the guidance of an Executive Delegate.

3) Filling ambassador slots is a challenging ongoing task, but absolutely necessary. The new language of Article 6, as referenced above, mandates that the government must strive to appoint and maintain active ambassadors for all of our embassies, and I will work with my Foreign Affairs Branch to actively pursue this goal. We have three dozen embassies, but more than a dozen require somebody to occupy the seat. Though it is understandable that some vacancies may exist at any given time, this is far too many, and must be addressed.

4) The 13th anniversary of the present incarnation of Forest is approaching in less than a month, and at the beginning of August will be the 15th anniversary of the original founding of our region! I would like us to hold a special Forest Anniversary Event to commemorate our Crystal Jubilee. I want to see this be an event where we can invite our embassy allies to participate in a week of fun and relaxation with an environmental theme, focusing on our usual strengths of creativity and community. Working with a party planning committee of regional officers and other interested Foresters, I believe we could bring a bit of light and levity to what may still be a time of heightened stress for many NationStates players.

5) I will continue my policies of Transparency, Neutrality, and Openness, keeping the citizens of Forest in the loop with monthly Transparency Reports, offering mediation to allied regions in need, and always having an open ear for questions, suggestions, criticisms, and comments from my fellow Forest citizens. I believe these traits served us well over the past term in office, and I hope you feel that way too. As always, if you feel otherwise, don’t hesitate to let me know!

Those are my positions, but what about me?

For those who didn’t catch my dispatch during the last campaign, here’s a bit about myself!

I have been involved in NationStates for nearly a decade and a half on and off, getting my start in around 2005 or 2006. Having played half a dozen nations seriously, Verdant Haven was initially created in early 2013 and played experimentally for a time, before I revived it in 2018 as my new "main." My first government position with Forest was as Deputy Foreign Minister.

I have extensive experience in facilitating the operation of internet and game-based communities, with this year being the 21st anniversary of my first online gaming leadership position. That experience has included running guilds in online games and serving as an officer in others, being a server owner and operator for multiple games in a long-standing gaming community with which I have been involved for more than a decade, and even working as an in-game event organizer and runner on behalf of a company for a major MMO.

Away from the computer, I am a civil servant, with more than a dozen years of work for the US federal government under my belt, running operations, managing records, supervising staff, and successfully navigating the bureaucracy that is inherent to any government, real or fictional. In my present work, I serve in an agency where we make it a point to scientifically address environmental issues and present them to the public.

I believe these experiences, and this platform, make me a strong candidate for Forest Keeper, and I humbly request the honor of your consideration when it comes time to vote. My telegram box is always open – please feel free to reach out with any thoughts or questions you may have.

Read dispatch

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My telegram box is always open.

Yours,
Verdant Haven
Forest Keeper

The Federated Bailiwicks of Verdant Haven

Edited:

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