Western Union

The Western Union
Flag
Motto: "Freedom for All!"
Anthem: "Freedom for the World!"
Map of the Western Union member states and their territories.
Political centre		Delphi, Acadia
Largest city		Margate City, Margate
Official languages		English, Serbian, Russian, Mandarin, Japanese
Demonym		English Snowinian Terrain Margatian Amatarian
Member States		United Provinces Terra Federation Margate Amataria Acadia Caseusopolis Tropicalis Lys
Leaders
-	President of United Provinces	Simon McLark
-	President of Terra Federation	Iron Toto
-	Prime Minister of Margate	Frederick Mueller
-	President of Tropicalis	Penguino Lagois IV
-	President of the Western Council	Martin Chankio
-	President of the Western Parliament	Radward Lintson
-	Executive Director of the Western Union	Han Yang
-	Upper house	Western Council
-	Lower house	Western Parliament
Establishment
-	The Circular Defense Treaty	December 2013
Population
-	2015 estimate	156,919,792
GDP (PPP)		2014 estimate
-	Total	$26.851 (6th)
GDP (nominal)		2014 estimate
-	Total	$26.851 trillion (4th)
Currency		Goldies, Dauroes, Acadian Dollar, Cheese, Margate Dollars
Website westernunion.org

The Western Union, also known as the Circular Powers or Circular Union, is a coalition of nations that are aligned together and cooperate militarily, economically and politically. Formed in 2014 by Snowiny and Terra Federation, it has since expanded to include six other sovereign nations - Margate, Amataria, Acadia, Caseusopolis, Tropicalis and Lys. The Western Union maintains a friendly rivalry with the far more powerful Axle Powers, and is being more renowned on the Antarctic stage.

History

The Western Union was formed under the name of the Circular Powers in 2013. Snowinian president Robert Smith held a meeting with UnitedTerran president Ninjinian and the Ruscan president on December 26, 2013 to discuss a creation of a treaty to compete with the stronger nations in Antarctica. After rounds of talks, The Circular Defense Treaty was born. This treaty stated that the three nations would help each other in political, economic and military situations. It came into effect on the 29th of December. However, Snowiny wanted a more definite and sound agreement, as the nation then was much smaller and less powerful than it is today. Hence, new rounds of talks was once again held. On the 3rd of January, the three leaders met again to discuss the formation of an actual coalition. The UTR and Rusca were not interested in being in an economic, much less military coalition, and thus pulled out.

At that point, Rusca and the UTR pulled out, but Ninjinian got the Terra Federation to join in. Thus, the Circular Powers were created. This new collation irked Shops Island, Munijoch and the Culldrome Isles, who in retaliation formed the Axle Powers. Ever since then, the two collation have had a bittersweet relationship, with both of them competing.

This was not gone unnoticed by other nations in the Antarctic community. Ed Island immediately joined the Axle Powers after breaking off from Snowiny. While the Axle nations grew stronger, the Circular Powers slowly became less prominent. However, on the 30th of March, Margate surprised the continent by joining in, boosting the collation's importance, prominence, economy and combined military. Amataria also became a candidate to join 2 weeks later.

Involvement in the Frosian War

The first test of Western strength came from the Frosian War, barely four months after its formation. The Puffalian-Western War was triggered after Margate's induction into the Western Union, where Nexonan and Penlandian extremists, angry at the new arrangment, crashed an airplane into the Benneton Towers in Winsburg, Snowiny's capital. When the Western nations declared war against these nationalist groups, Puffalia stepped in and supported them, opening up a second theater in the war. Sending a large number of troops in, Axis forces were able to invade and establish a base on the Puffepelago Islands, after which they began to invade the Snowinian mainland. Due to militant action in Margate and the Terra Federation however, Margatian and Terran support was reduced in the first half of the war, which allowed Axis forces to sweep across the Snowinian mainland.

The tides were turned when a simultaneous reinforcement of troops from Margate and the Terra Federation, as well as Ruscan entry into the war, allowed for the Western-Ruscan troops to swiftly retake the invaded portions of the Snowinian mainland. The gradual withdrawal of Puffalian troops from Snowiny to assist in the unfavourable war situation in the main Frosian Theatre also aided the Western advance. A renewed push by the Axis troops in Amataria was successfully repelled within a week of Puffalian landing on the Amatarian islands, allowing for a treaty of White Peace between both sides on 15th June 2014, a week before Puffalia was finally crushed by the Axle Powers. The nationalist groups were not so lucky, and many of its leaders were imprisoned and its members jailed, with Nexon and Penland retaining a state of emergency and martial law until December 31st of the same year, as Margatian and Snowinian authorities tried to crush any remaining opposition.

Simultaneously, the Western Union was also aiding the Culldrome Isles in the Second Culldrome Civil War, playing a crucial role in avoiding a Skulldrome invasion of the main Culldrome Isles, and preventing a subsequent overthrow of the Culldrom government, after a plea for help from Culldrom Supreme Leader Steven Snowen.

Present Day

After the war was over, the Western Union focused on rebuilding infrastructure in Snowiny and Amataria as well as growing the devastated Snowinian economy. Economic treaties were signed during this period and Margate and the Terra Federation collectively gave 1.25 billion Margatian dollars to Snowiny and Amataria for the rebuilding process. During this period, the Terran and Margatian militaries went through an overhaul, with Margate alone tripling the number of active troops and equipment over the course of the next year, and the Terra Federation buying newer and more advanced equipment. Economic recovery was swift, and by the end of the year Snowiny's and Amataria's economies had equaled and exceeded pre-war levels.

2015 marked a year of unprecedented economic growth for all member nations due to the multitude of pro-business policies and trade agreements in various sectors implemented. The Circular Powers was renamed to the Western Union in April of the same year, and two new nations, Acadia and Caseusopolis, were admitted into the Union during the Second Winsburg Conference. In addition, a free trade agreement and a military cooperation agreement was signed between the Seal Islands and the Western Union. Margaate and Snowiny also became involved in the International Space Station, and were able to grow their new space programs

In 2016, Lys and Tropicalis were admitted into the Western Union.

Trade

Metals and Minerals

Snowiny and Terra Federation has plenty of iron-ore mines. This has allowed for the increased production and trade of steel. The Amatarians have benefited the most from this, as Amataria's military is based heavily on robots. The militaries of the other nations have also been rearmamed quickly thanks to the abundance of iron ore. Other metals are also mined, but in a much smaller quantity. Snowiny also has quite a number of nickel and uranium mines. Margate, thanks to the annexation of Nexon, now possesses massive reserves of metals.

Minerals were lacking across the coalition, contrary to those of the Axle Powers. Gold, which Snowiny had been exporting since the 1900s, was staring to run out and so only small deposits of gold, silver, platinum and diamonds are found in Snowiny's mines, and even then, the valuable minerals are located very deep, making it even harder to extract the minerals. These minerals are therefore only about 1-3% less the price of those exported from outside nations. Platinum and diamonds are also mined in the Margatian state of Nexon.

Oil, Gas and Coal

Margate has been blessed with the abundance of oil and natural gas within its territory. Many oil and gas rigs have been constructed off the coasts of Nexon, Lauson, North Bank and the Oil Archipelago, part of which is owned by Shops Island. The export of oil and natural gas prices in the other nations dropped significantly, except for Margate itself, which prided itself on green energy. There are currently talks on the creation of a natural gas pipeline that will supply Antarctica with natural gas from the rich deposits in the Oil Archipelago, similar to the Trans-Antarctic Pipeline.

Coal mines are widespread in the Terra Federation, and they supply coal to the industries in Snowiny, Margate and Amataria. However the collation is seeking to have a greener future, and more industries are now using natural gas converted to electricity.

Acadia and Caseusopolis has little to no natural resources for export or use, hence they rely on the other nations for these resources

Timber and Sand

Margate has a small furniture industry which produces high quality wood. This wood used to be imported from Calada and Freezeland, as the nation has a trade pact with them, but the Terra Federation's abundance of forest and lower shipping costs has made the nation less reliant on wood from Calada and Freezeland. This has made the Margatian furniture industry's profits increase twofold. The nation that has benefited the most, though, is Snowiny, where a new furniture industry is expected to exceed that of Margate's by 2019. However, Margate's aggressive reforestation program and annexation of several small nearby islands with high-quality timber means that Margate will soon emerge as an exporter of timber in the Circular Powers as well.

Sand is especially important in reclamation of land, so as to build new ports. Margate has been relying on sand from Hindonesie and Malesia for reclamation since it's independence in 1965, but the Batavians has since banned the export of sand to Margate. Malesia has imposed high tariffs and a limited quota of sand, forcing Margate to use it's limited stockpile. The Terra Federation has plenty of sand-based hills, and has exported them to Margate and Snowiny for reclamation purposes. In exchange, Margate helped to build and expand ports in both nations. The three nations are also contemplating digging up sand from the sea bed in international waters, although many nations have slammed this, in particular the Axle Powers. Caseusopolis and Acadia, both being small island nations with rapid development also obtain and use these materials for reclamation purposes

Politics

• United Provinces (founding member under name of Snowiny)
• Terra Federation (founding member)
• Margate (joined March 30, 2014)
• Amataria (joined April 20, 2014)
• Acadia (joined April 26, 2015)
• Caseusopolis (joined April 26, 2015)
• Tropicalis (joined August 28, 2016)
• Lys (joined August 28, 2016)

Requirements to Join and Policies (Robert Smith's Five Points)

To join the union;

1. A nation must be willing to use its military force against countries attacking one of the members of the Circular Powers

2. A nation must be willing to side with its member states in all situations except when the state in the situation is the one who started the situation and is the aggressor in the situation

3. A nation must be willing to enforce a "peace policy"; no invading innocent nations.

4. A nation must be willing to support democracy. It is not allowed to extinguish peaceful protests, introduce media censorship in the country, and restrict the freedoms of its peoples. Margate was criticized for it's police-state like structure of internal security

5. A nation must be a member of the United Antarctic Nations to join, and must be willing to share its borders with the member countries

Council

The Council of the Circular Powers, composed of Snowinian, Margatian, Terran, Amatarian, Acadian, and Caseusopolitian penguins (30% Snowinian, 30% Margatian, 20% Amatarian, 10% Terran, 5% Acadian, 5% Caseusopolitian), decides laws in the Circular Powers that effect both how the union works and how the countries work. What the Council decides affects the Member States of this Union, including the laws, and all member-state laws must correspond with the Circular ones.

Foreign Policy

The goals of the Circular Foreign Policy are to establish a world where freedom, liberty, prosperity, happiness and justice rule, to satisfy the needs of its citizens, and to end war around the entire planet. The Circular Power member states themselves are currently having many wars to bring freedom and prosperity to Earth, which were ongoing for months.

Ideologies

The main ideology of the Circular Powers and all its countries is freedom. The goal of the Circular Powers is to establish a world where everyone has the freedom to express themselves, and where penguins can follow the pursuit of happiness. Circular Powers has a long series of democratic laws that support freedom for everyone, no matter what their gender and species. The Margate City Convention in March 2015 gave legal protection to all penguins; regardless of who they are, what they are, and how they look like. All penguins also have the right to vote, and the Council is currently having a debate over passing the Puffle Protection Act and the Puffle Citizenship Act. The Puffle Citizenship Act caused large controversy in the council, with many stating giving puffles citizenship makes no sense, but many agreed to the Puffle Protection Act, mostly the Circular Liberals and Circular Socialist Party.

Trivia

• They share a friendly rivalry with the far more powerful Axle Powers.
• Rusca isn't in the Circular Powers (formerly was in the Circular Defense Treaty), however, Rusca volunteers to help Snowiny when help is needed.
• If a country intends to join the Circular Powers, they must take this form here.

• 

  Circular Economies

See Also

• Snowiny
• Terra Federation
• The Axle Powers