Celestia

  • Micronations
  • Founded 20 December 1948
  • First Representative James T. Mangan
  • Capitol Evergreen Park, Illinois
  • Legally Recorded 1 January 1949
  • Currency 100 erg = 10 Joules = 1 Celeston
  • Motto A Nation of freedom, peace, and equality throughout the vastness of space

Early in January 1949 James Thomas Mangan posted a formal request to all the countries in the world to recognize his recently registered Nation of Celestial Space. This new nation was formed by ‘all of outer space’. The peaceful ideology behind this claim was that no other country should have political hegemony in space and Mangan protested actively against improper use of his territory, asking to ban nuclear tests and space flights. Mangan was praised and ridiculed during his lifetime but he did foresee the impact that space technology could have on geopolitics.

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Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti), is a de facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. It unilaterally declared independence in 1983, and is recognized only by Turkey. A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island's largest city and capital. Attempts to reach a solution to the Cyprus dispute have been unsuccessful. The Turkish Army maintains a large force in Northern Cyprus.

Kosovo

Kosovo is a partially recognized state in Southeastern Europe. It declared independence from Serbia in 2008, after the war in 1999 and the transitional administration of the United Nations (UNMIK). Kosovo has been recognized by 50% of UN member states, among which the United States and most EU-countries. However, there is also a strong opposition against Kosovo independence, not only expressed by Serbia but also by Russia, China and Spain. The Kosovo Serb majority in the northern part of Kosovo refuses to be part of this new country, and largely functions independently from its institutions. The Ibar River, running through the city of Mitrovica, marks the dividing line. Recently, there are talks about an ethnic land swap: Serbia getting the North, and Kosovo annexing Preševo Valley. This proposal is highly debated, both in the region and in the EU. Critics say it will have a negative spillover effect on other parts of the Balkans and could lead to new wars.

Boon Island

The Republic of Boon Island declared its independence on 1st April 2003, in an effort to raise funds to restore and maintain the remote lighthouse off the coast of Maine. ‘Every political and government office for the new Republic is for sale—for the right price’, the self proclaimed regent of the new republic Tim Harrison said to reporters. ‘We are a corrupt government, but we are corrupt for the benefit of the people and for the people.’ Citizenship was available to anyone who was willing to pay the $25.00 fee. In 2014, the lighthouse was sold to a real estate developer.