Natovia

**The Democratic Republic of Natovia** or more commonly known as just **Natovia**, is a sovereign nation located in the Southern Atlantic Ocean between Brazil and Angola. It contains 10 provinces, which are further subdivided into 50 prefectures. Being just smaller than the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Natovia is the 12th largest country in the world. The country's population sits at around 42 million, with the most populated province being Canonia and the least populated being Cavolaro. The capital is Canonia City with both English and Natovian being the official languages.

## Flag

### Motto:

"Vo komensamento a lo fino mes remani" (From beginning to end we will stand)

### Religions:

Majority Semi-Atheistic Spiritual or Pagan

### Government:

Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Socialist Democracy

### URL Ender:

.nv

Indigineous peoples that settled Natovia in the neolithic by travelling across the hypothetical *Neo-Archhelenis* land bridge that connected South America with Southern Africa had most likely been there since the end of the last Ice Age once the strait had submerged. Culture is evident with multiple artifacts showing various fragments of pottery, brushes, wooden tools, baskets and traces of food such as various spices, grains and eggs. A civilization and language is also somewhat evident with scriptures being found on palm leaves and stone walls with drawings of events along with some marks most likely used for counting crops or notes. After the Portuguese had discovered the island in the early 1400s due to expeditions, trading posts would be established. In the 1500s with the slave trade, the island became a major hub for the South Atlantic Slave Trade acting as a midway point between the two major ports. Small towns and ports would be established along the coasts, and the population of the island began to grow. Natives were relatively peaceful with the Portuguese, among those mainly being the Chanatenu and Skalanu peoples. In around 1640, the Dutch who sought to expand their influence and have control over the slave trade along with being against Spain, had declared war against the Portuguese in the broader Dutch-Portuguese war, however the division on the island is generally known as the Helenhaven War. The Dutch had managed to emerge victorious, however their control would only last for 2 years before Portuguese-Spanish forces had forced them off the island in the Second Helenhaven War. Around this time, the British who had been strong allies with the Portuguese were allowed to send settlers to the island in order to help populate it and in a quick amount of time the island had become Anglicized. Quickly enough, the mixture of Romance and English influences in the language had mashed together to create the modern-day language of Natovian, being somewhat of a creole in a sense. In 1816 the British had offered to purchase the island from the Portuguese and the Portuguese had obliged, needing the money. After this, the island had remained in firm British hands for over 130 years and most modern cities were developed and expanded during this time. During World War I, Natovia was a key naval asset to the British in helping overtake German colonies in West Africa such as German Togoland and Kamerun. After World War II with India's independence, Natovians began to call for independence as well and major protests erupted. Eventually in 1956 the British allowed Natovia independence, and the First Republic of Natovia was formed. Progress had been made in developing the island, however in 1968 Soviet-backed communist rebels would begin a civil war known as the First Lavender War. After the communist victory, the People's Republic of Natovia was established and a strict communist government was put in place. Despite the decisive victory, the province of Sanellota had seceded to form the short-lived and unrecognized Sanellotan Free State. However, British forces along with the Natovian Republican Army had began the Second Lavender War, which in 1974 had ended communist control, returning the country to a republic, but in a compromise with the communist rebels the country would become its modern form as the Natovian Democratic Republic. In 1986 a referrendum was held in Sanellota province by the majority English-speaking regions if they had wanted statehood and with 84% of them voting for yes, the 10th state of Orrewick was created. Since then, Natovia has made great strides in improving its infrastructure, transport, human development and democracy with free education and universal healthcare.

## Geography

Despite being only an island nation, Natovia is quite geographically diverse. The island consists of rainforests, the Nordenbury Mountain Range, plains, forests, beaches, mesas/badlands and mangroves. The northern regions of the country such as Nordenbury and Paharton are the most mountainous, with the flattest portions being in Estellidon and Octaquia.

## Biodiversity

Natovia is home to an abundance of biodiversity thanks to its wide array of different geographic features hosting multiple ecosystems, making it a megadiverse country. The most notable parts of the Natovian ecosystem include the Natovian Parakeet which is the national bird of Natovia and the Pink-throated Swallow which is the provincial bird of Paharton, along with the Natovian Orchid being the national flower. Natovia is most noted for its abundance of avian species and reptiles, with multiple unique species of lizard, gecko and skink.

## Government and Politics

Natovia is a parliamentary socialist democracy described as a "full democracy" due to its elements of liberalist and socialist values along with an egalitarian and moderate stance. All seats of government are located in Canonia City, being the Court of Natovia, Parliament Hill and the Presidential Residence. Parliamentary elections function quite similar to the American government, however instead of an electoral college being used, a popular vote is instead used. The two main political entities in Natovia include the more dominant left-wing Natovian Liberal Union (NLU) (colloquially shortened to "The Libs") and the less dominant center-right Natovian Conservative Union (NCU) (colloquially shortened to "The Servs"). Other smaller parties also exist such as the Sanellotan Bloc being a "Sanellotan nationalist party" and the Green Party of Natovia being an environmental-focused party. Each prime minister of Natovia has a 4 year term and can be re-elected to serve another 4 years. Members of the House of Commons are elected by prefecture, in a popular vote. The same process is done for members of the senate, however are elected by province. Members of the House of Commons serve for 5 years, and the members of the Senate serve for 10. The Bank of Natovia is the central bank of the country, determiner of the value of the Lintone and the manager of currency exchange and deposit/withdrawl funds for the government.

The Constitution of Natovia is the supreme law of the country and sets the main 10 rights of the Natovian citizen along with the governmental structure and democratic practices, last ratified in 2012. The judicial branch of Natovia has the right to veto any laws that may violate the constitutional or if in the case of being voted on by a referendum as part of the process, receiving an overwhelmingly negative majority. National law affects all provinces and prefectures, however individual provinces may include additional laws or regulations to better fit the provinces themselves. Territorial laws may also come to affect specific territories to grant natives rights or protections for their lands.

## Foreign Relations and Military

Natovia has foreign relations with multiple countries and is an ally of NATO and the European Union, along with maintaining relations with all Commonwealth nations being an observer state. Natovia is also a G20 observe state, maintaining relations with all members and being part of talks on major issues however not being able to vote on them. 2.3% of Natovia's GDP is spent on military, with multiple fighter jets, missiles, submarines and even drones being owned by the Natovian Ministry of Defense. Military activities are purely defensive as of the time being, with multiple missile shield and expansive radar systems being developed to further protect the island from any possible threat.

## Economy

Natovia has the world's 21st largest economy which is mainly comprised of agricultural work such as wheat, fruit and soy production, electronic manufacturing and material production such as iron, zinc and silver. Natovia is also a manufacturing hub and gains a majority of its money from its ease of exportation, being located close to multiple major countries such as South Africa, Brazil and Nigeria. It has also gained a sizeable amount of money from lending resources and materials to developing countries in order to build infrastructure, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Cameroon, Nigeria and Gabon. Another major export of Natovia is energy, which it provides through major geothermal, hydroelectric and wind farms across regions of the country and with the Electrical Act of 2014, it has now become hard to find any fossil fuel plants in the country. Natovia's rapid growth since the Second Lavender War has attracted investors seeking to help the country grow, which has proved successful as the country is still growing a good amount every year, on track to become a global power.

## Science and Technology

Natovia has invested much in renewable energy and into modernizing its technological capabilities, such as it launching multiple satellites into orbit and it making great strides in the field of genetics and atomics. Particle accelerators at multiple laboratories in Paharton City have made multiple discoveries in subatomic particle interactions and other institutes have also made great discoveries about gravitational effects and limits.

## Education and Healthcare

Education and Healthcare are both provided universally for the government, along with college tuition being free in exchange for higher tax rates overall. Education is divided into primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary, with primary education ranges from grades 1-5, secondary ranging from grades 6-8, tertiary ranging from grades 9-12 and then the optional quaternary ranging from grades 13-16. Schools and other educational institutions have their money and supplies paid for by the government and mental health support systems are also quite common in schools to help adolescents or children suffering from trauma to live better. Degrees are obtained in tertiary and quaternary educations, with job opportunities being listed as early as 11th grade. Other items such as period pads/tampons are also provided for free at clinics/check-up centers in supermarkets, and medical bills are paid for by the government in exchange for higher tax rates. Smoking is prohibited by Natovian law due to the numerous side effects exhibited by it, and "portion" laws are also in place on purchases of alcohol and recreational marijuana to prevent substance abuse.

## Demographics and Diversity

Natovia is a very culturally and expressionally diverse nation, with over 20% of the population reporting not being straight. Natovia is also home to multiple languages, the most notable being English, Natovian, Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish and also native languages such as Chanatenu and Skalanu, being the native languages. Other dialects of Natovian are also found, such as the Sanellotan Dialect, Octaquian Dialect and the Altic Dialect, spoken in Northern Natovia. Natovia is a bilingual nation with both English and Natovian being on the official level, with other minority recognized languages such as those described earlier. Religion doesn't serve much part in Natovian society as the majority of people are either atheistic-spiritual or Natovian Pagan. Christianity is the 3rd most popular religion, with Islam following suit. Natovia does not have an official religion, however Natovian Paganism is the agreed upon unofficial one.

## Culture and Symbolism

Natovia has a wide range of cultural aspects from a main focus on inclusivity and diversity, symbols used by the Native population and many more. The most commonly referred to symbol of Natovia is the Natovian Parakeet, which upon independence was adopted as the national bird and the *de-facto* national animal of Natovia. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is considered the *de-jure* national animal of Natovia and serves as the national dog. The Natovian Orchid found natively in the Chanatenu jungle is also the national flower.

The country's flag also is a major symbol and the most-recognizable icon of Natovia. The flag's cross represents the historical significance of the British on the country, the orange represents the people and oppurtunity, the purple represents the country's lavender fields, the power of the people and bravery, the 10 stars represent the nation's ten provinces and the light blue represents peace and hope.

The coat of arms shown in the flag depicts the *budgerigar (melopsittacus ungulatus)* with its wings spread out with a crown holding on its left talon an olive branch representing peace and cooperations and on the right a flag depicting the historical stages of the nation, with the Spanish flag representing rule under the Iberian Union, the Dutch Flag representing the Dutch occupation from the First Helenhaven War, the British flag representing British colonialism that lasted over 130 years and finally the modern flag, representing progress and the present. In the background there is the Nordenbury Mountain Range with a rising sun.

## Media and Representation

Natovia generally uses two main broadcasting networks for news, the specific Channel 16 for Natovian-only news and also BBC for global news. Natovia has also made many forms of literature, art and music with multiple famous singers, artists and authors being from the country. Natovia also has its own sports team in the World Cup and each province has its own soccer team in the Natovian Cup, held annually.