Code Lilliputia: World's Smallest Country for Sale

[Lemur]

I'm not sure what this means, but the world's smallest country, Sealand, is up for sale. This is either a grand chance for the Orgahs to get their own nationality, or the opening move in a dastardly plan by Lichtenstein, Andorra and Micronesia. I'm both hopeful and paranoid ...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

For sale - world's smallest country

From correspondents in London
January 08, 2007 10:51am

A FORMER World War II fort in the North Sea, which was settled 40 years ago and declared a state with its own self-proclaimed royal family, is up for sale.

The tiny Principality of Sealand, which began life as Roughs Tower in 1941, is a 550 sq m steel platform perched on two concrete towers 11km off the coast of Harwich, eastern England.

It is accessible only by helicopter and boat but according to its owners, who want offers of eight digits or over, boasts uninterrupted sea views, guarantees complete privacy and is a tax haven.

"We have owned the island for 40 years now and my father is 85,'' Prince Michael of Sealand was quoted as saying by The Times today.

"Perhaps it is time for some rejuvenation. Astronomical figures have been mentioned but we will just see what comes forward.''

Although its nation status is disputed, Sealand boasts a military past like any other country, defending its sovereignty from outside threats.

Former British army major Paddy Roy Bates began occupying the island with his family in 1967, declared it a state in international waters and gave himself the title "prince''.

Britain's navy attempted to evict him the following year but were unsuccessful. As they entered territorial waters, Roy of Sealand fired warning shots from the former fort.

A judge then ruled in his favour that Sealand was outside British government control as it was beyond the three-mile limit of the country's waters.

In 1974, Roy of Sealand introduced a constitution. A flag, national anthem, currency - the gold and silver Sealand dollar which is the equivalent to the US dollar - and passports have followed suit.

Four years later, Dutch and German businessmen on Sealand to discuss a business deal kidnapped Roy's son but were overpowered and held as prisoners of war before eventually being released.

[Fragony]

I believe it's an old oilplatform, not a base. Shame I am a bit low on cash right now.

[Andres]

I believe it's an old oilplatform, not a base. Shame I am a bit low on cash right now.

You should never have gotten that overly expensive shower

If there are very rich members amongst us, please buy it and rename it to .Org.

We can have our .Org hymn, our .Org flag, maybe even our own .Org-beer.

Unfortunately, the new .Org state will be too small to house camels, so no official .Org camels

[yesdachi]

...who want offers of eight digits or over...

For that kind of $$$ you could probably build your own, somewhere warm.

[Lemur]

For that kind of $$$ you could probably build your own, somewhere warm.

Until I see you running your own island dictatorship, I'm going to view you with suspicion. Phone me as soon as you have a puppet government staffed by flunkies and love slaves. We will all converge, and begin our experiments on zombie creation.

Can I be minister of hygiene?

[yesdachi]

Can I be minister of hygiene?

I don’t see why not, but until the country grows a bit you may be required to lend a hand as the interim Minister of Foosball, Jell-O Wrestling, Cold Fusion, Digital Piracy, 80’s cartoons and probably a few others. But it should be a blast; I plan on giving out a lot of medals. The presentation of said medals would typically be brief but followed by a feast of some sort of indigenous delicacies. Since the country has no history we will have to develop an array of indigenous delicacies. Oh, put Minister of Indigenous Delicacies on your list also.

See you at the Minister mixer and medal presentation later.
I hear a certain Minister of Hygiene has a few medals coming! (You lucky Lemur)

[English assassin]

Alas, so ends a story so eccentric it could only happen in England. (Or Sealand as Prince Roy insists)

No mention of the recent fire which gutted the entire "country", I see.

An eight figure sum seems rather excessive for a country which Prince Roy conquered in a punch up with radio caroline DJs?

[The_Doctor]

I think should take it our selves. They only have 10 people.

We are Total War player and we have marines, and other military people and Abokasee.

It would seem they copied Blair's idea:
http://www.redsave.com/index.asp?pag...opLink:laugh4:

[drone]

Do they have a good internet hookup?

[The_Doctor]

Do they have a good internet hookup?

Probably, but if not we can install a good one when we conquer it.

[drone]

Probably, but if not we can install a good one when we conquer it.

Anybody here have experience laying fiber underwater?

[English assassin]

No questions asked internet hosting was how Sealand made its money so yes they have a very good internet hook up. The hardware on the platform may be a bit burnt though.

[drone]

No questions asked internet hosting was how Sealand made its money so yes they have a very good internet hook up. The hardware on the platform may be a bit burnt though.

Finally! A safe place for the .Org's secret pr0n stash!

[Mooks]

Mmm, it would be pretty awsome to have your own nation. Then go to UN meetings and act arrogant to all the big countries.

[Caius]

We, the fellow orgahs, agree we must have a supreme dictatorship.

Our leader is TosaInu.Long live he!

Be carefull with Bush.

[Caius]

If there are very rich members amongst us, please buy it and rename it to .Org.

We should demonstrate we are wargamers.

Recriuting orgers to fight and conquer :D

Edit:Vice-Dictator:CF

[IrishArmenian]

Hehehe. If I owned Sealand, I would put together a football team, mostly of drunks and amateurs (better yet, drunk amateurs) and demand that UEFA recognise Sealand as a footballing nation.

[Csargo]

I say lets go for it.

[IrishArmenian]

Csar, because you live in Texas, I'll bet that you will be a drunk on the Sealand International Squad.

[naut]

Hehehe. If I owned Sealand, I would put together a football team, mostly of drunks and amateurs (better yet, drunk amateurs) and demand that UEFA recognise Sealand as a footballing nation.

I've always envisioned losing a match by triple figures, but maybe that's because I was born dangerously close to the proximity of Charlton.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Hehehe. If I owned Sealand, I would put together a football team, mostly of drunks and amateurs (better yet, drunk amateurs) and demand that UEFA recognise Sealand as a footballing nation.

Clicky.

[Andres]

Hehehe. If I owned Sealand, I would put together a football team, mostly of drunks and amateurs (better yet, drunk amateurs) and demand that UEFA recognise Sealand as a footballing nation.

I'm in

Can't wait for the first commercial : AndresTheCunning coming on the field, fastly drinking a few Leffes ad fundum, immediately passing out after scoring a world class goal, slogan: "Leffe! Just do it!"

[Kralizec]

Despite that Sealand is a young nation, it has a fascinating history.

http://www.sealandgov.org/history.html

Sealand Fights Off Invaders (and Wins a War)
In August of 1978, a number of Dutch men came to Sealand in the employ of a German businessman. They were there to discuss business dealings with Sealand. While Roy was away in Britain, these men kidnapped Prince Roy's son Michael, and took Sealand by force. Soon after, Roy recaptured the island with a group of his own men and held the attackers as prisoners of war.

During the time that he held the prisoners, the Governments of the Netherlands and Germany petitioned for their release. First they asked England to intervene in the matter, but the British government cited their earlier court decision as evidence that they made no claim to the territory of Sealand. Then, in an act of de facto recognition of Sealand's sovereignty, Germany sent a diplomat directly to Sealand to negotiate for the release of their citizen.

Roy first released the Dutch citizens, as the war was over, and the Geneva Convention requires the release of all prisoners. The German was held longer, as he had accepted a Sealand Passport, and therefore was guilty of treason. Prince Roy, who was grateful that the incident had not resulted in a loss of life, and did not want to bloody the reputation of Sealand, eventually released him as well.

The Internet Comes to Sealand
Whilst Sealand has been the pride and joy of Prince Roy and his family for well over 30 years, his recent poor health has caused him fundamentally to review the arrangements which have been in place for decades and to look to the future of his Principality. Consequently, his son Prince Michael was appointed Prince Regent as Sovereign pro tempore by Royal Decree in 1999.

Since that time, the Royal Family has struck a deal with HavenCo Limited, and that company now leases exclusively its offices and operations centres in Sealand, where it offers, and is able to offer, unparalleled security and independence to users who wish to take advantage of its Internet colocation services.

The presence of an active and rapidly growing high-tech internet industry in Sealand has changed the character of the Principality; once more, Sealand rings with the sound of voices, boasts regular support ferry services, and is host to a growing and dynamic population.

Because of the high security required to support HavenCo's operations, access to Sealand remains highly restricted and no public visits are allowed. Further information or specific queries may be addressed to the Bureau of Internal Affairs (burint@sealandgov.org) at SEALAND 1001, Sealand Post Bag, IP11 9SZ, UK.

Mods, feel free to move this to the monastery

[naut]

Not to mention the recent fire too.

[IrishArmenian]

I've always envisioned losing a match by triple figures, but maybe that's because I was born dangerously close to the proximity of Charlton.

Ha! No, against Monaco, Malta, San Marino, and Andorra, I could see just margin of victory in the high double digits.
Even we can do better than the Addicks.

[Cronos Impera]

Hmm, can Sealand become the third country on Bush's Axis of Evil.After all they had some terrorist activities. How many US marines would be necessary to conquer Sealand and occupy it.
Can you imagine that Sealand is probably the country with the highest population density in the world?
550:10 = 55 sq.m per citizen (Yep...it beats China)
Also, can you imagine that?
What if there was a country bigger than Sealand.....what if we could buy an offshore oil platform in the N.Sea and move there with our fammilies and friends. We could than choose an Orgah president, have a National Day celebrated through a LAN party....eat our national jellyfish soup and have The Church of the Flying Spagetti Monster as the offical religion. That would sure be cool.

[Caius]

Hmm, can Sealand become the third country on Bush's Axis of Evil.After all they had some terrorist activities. How many US marines would be necessary to conquer Sealand and occupy it.
Can you imagine that Sealand is probably the country with the highest population density in the world?
550:10 = 55 sq.m per citizen (Yep...it beats China)
Also, can you imagine that?
What if there was a country bigger than Sealand.....what if we could buy an offshore oil platform in the N.Sea and move there with our fammilies and friends. We could than choose an Orgah president, have a National Day celebrated through a LAN party....eat our national jellyfish soup and have The Church of the Flying Spagetti Monster as the offical religion. That would sure be cool.

Its cool!!

Lets make money to buy that place, then Tosa buys it.We go to live it and he can get the org nationality.We place the flag like the flag of the fathers film and we call to elections.

We need an orgah flag...And Tw games for all orgahs.And pc, very good pcs.And LAN adapters. Thats much money.

[Lemur]

We need an orgah flag...And Tw games for all orgahs.And pc, very good pcs.And LAN adapters. Thats much money.

The money will be easy. We'll impound and nationalize all shipping that falls into our coastal waters. Sure, other countries may use ugly words like "piracy," but we'll know we're just doing what's right.

Avast, ye mateys! Container ship off the port bow! There's a red Hyundai for every man-jack who's over her gunwales with a knife 'tween his teeth!

[Caius]

The money will be easy. We'll impound and nationalize all shipping that falls into our coastal waters. Sure, other countries may use ugly words like "piracy," but we'll know we're just doing what's right.

Avast, ye mateys! Container ship off the port bow! There's a red Hyundai for every man-jack who's over her gunwales with a knife 'tween his teeth!

If is that legal, lets start to make money!

[drone]

Hehehe. If I owned Sealand, I would put together a football team, mostly of drunks and amateurs (better yet, drunk amateurs) and demand that UEFA recognise Sealand as a footballing nation.

I'm in, I can play (badly) either forward or central defender. Will play for beer.

The money will be easy. We'll impound and nationalize all shipping that falls into our coastal waters. Sure, other countries may use ugly words like "piracy," but we'll know we're just doing what's right.

Avast, ye mateys! Container ship off the port bow! There's a red Hyundai for every man-jack who's over her gunwales with a knife 'tween his teeth!

If the FSM is the official church, it would be a national duty to increase the number of pirates...