Aerican Empire
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The Aerican Empire (Template:IPAc-en Script error: No such module "Respell".; Template:Langx), conventionally referred to in short form as Aerica (Template:IPAc-en Script error: No such module "Respell".), is a social organization and self-proclaimed micronation, founded in May 1987.[1][2] Its name stems from the term "American Empire".[3] In 2000 The New York Times described its website as "one of the more imaginative" micronation sites.[4][5][6]
History
The Aerican Empire was founded on May 8, 1987 by Canadian Eric Lis[7] and a group of friends. For the first ten years the Empire was almost completely fictional, claiming sovereignty over a vast galaxy of feigned planets and engaging in wars against other micronations (although never resulting in physical contact).[8] In 1997, the Empire created its own website.[9]
In 2007, Aerica first issued "novelty passports." The first issued passport was exhibited in the Palais de Tokyo 2007 Micronational art exhibition.[10] Aerica issued stamps for the first time in 2015.[11]
Status
The Empire's mission statement is: "The Empire exists to facilitate the evolution of a society wherein the Empire itself is no longer necessary."[8][12][13] It describes itself as having a parliamentary system, with various elected bodies and offices, under the oversight of an Emperor (currently the founder, Eric Lis).[14] Lis, who founded the Aerican Empire as a child, obtained his M.D., C.M. from McGill University and has been published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience[15] and Weird Tales magazine.[16][17]
The group's activities are permeated by a great deal of humour and a love of science fiction and fantasy, with recurrent references to Star Wars, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and similar works. Annually, the Empire holds story-writing contests, role-playing and wargaming days, and such events as the Dog-Biscuit Appreciation Day Scavenger Hunt.[8] It also developed a religion called Silinism, the worship of the Great Penguin; originally intended as a joke, but which the group says has thirty practitioners worldwide.[4] It has holidays and "niftydays" (such as Saint Bill’s Day, "honoring the ultimate nerd"[18] and Topin Wagglegammon, "the Niftiest Day of the Year"[19]).
Offline activities
Delegations from the Aerican Empire were in attendance at the Polinations academic conference in London in 2012[20][21] and the MicroCon micronations convention in Atlanta in 2017.[22] Aerica was also represented at MicroCon 2023 in Joliet, Illinois.[23]
The Aerican Empire Will be Jointly hosting Microcon 2025 in Canada
National symbols
Their flag is similar to the flag of Canada, with a yellow smiling face instead of the red maple leaf in the white square (although the red rectangles on the sides have different side length ratios). The national motto of the Aerican Empire is "The world is ridiculous; let’s keep it that way".[24]
Currency
The Aerican Empire first issued coinage in November 2009, and a second coin was minted to celebrate Aerica's 25th anniversary in 2012.[25] Banknotes were issued for the first time in 2017.[25]
See also
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Ryan, J: Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Self-Proclaimed Nations, Template:ISBN
- ↑ Aerican Empire: FAQ Template:Webarchive at the group's website, section "What kind of name is Aerica?". Retrieved July 2009.
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ a b c The Montreal Mirror: The Montreal Mirror Template:Webarchive, 17 August 2006, "The little empire that could"
- ↑ O'Driscoll, F: Ils ne siègent pas à l'ONU, Template:ISBN
- ↑ Aerican Mailing List Archive, [1], December 2, 2006
- ↑ Aerican Empire Post, [2] Template:Webarchive, May 8, 2015
- ↑ The Boston Phoenix: The Boston Phoenix Template:Webarchive, October 2000, "States of Mind".
- ↑ CBC Daybreak: Daybreak Template:Webarchive, 13 July 2006, "The Aerican Empire: Interview With Eric Lis". Montreal: CBC Radio
- ↑ Le Soleil, Quebec City: Le Soleil, 18 January 2001, "Vive Eric 1er, empereur virtuel!"
- ↑ Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience: [3] Template:Webarchive, 2007, "Neuroimaging and genetics of borderline personality disorder: a review".
- ↑ Weird Tales Magazine: Weird Tales, 2008, "My True Lovecraft Gave To Me".
- ↑ Weird Tales Magazine: Weird Tales, 2011, "A Contract Without Loopholes".
- ↑ Context Magazine: Context Magazine Template:Webarchive, April–May 2001, "Altered States".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Delafontaine, L., Les Micronations, Montreuil-sur-Brêche, Diaphane, 14 September 2013, pages 160, Template:ISBN
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links
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