Attera Launches South Asia Assistance Fund

In the wake of the recent devastating tsunami that caused vast destruction and loss of life throughout the East Indies and many other Indian Ocean islands and coastal regions, the Atteran government has created the Atteran South Asia Assistance Fund (ASAAF).

With authorisation from Prime Minister Johanns fonn Klosso, the ASAAF's goal is to raise "to raise at least US$200 to help alleviate the crisis in South and Southeast Asia", a target believed to be reasonable and achievable given the financial status of the majority of Atterans.

Donations will be forwarded via Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore and are being co-ordinated by Charles Beard, who said: "All micronationalists, of every country or macronationality, are invited to participate in ASAAF's fundraising drive. While the donation will be made in the name of the Solomonic Empire of Attera, the micronations of all who participate will be mentioned in the letter I send to CRS. I implore you, for the sake of those who are suffering, to consider making a donation to ASAAF."

He added: "I believe ASAAF's work can help build bridges between micronations and micronationalists, but more importantly, with those who are suffering, and do not have the luxury of micronationalism."

Molossia Bans Smoking

Smoking has been banned in the Republic of Molossia as from December 9th.

In defence of the ban, President Kevin Baugh stated: "Smoking is a blight upon the world, a dangerous vice that has no place in an enlightened society. The Current American Leader said a few years ago, 'there is such a thing as too much freedom', and in this rare case I agree with him. Smoking is a freedom our nation does not need."

Transgressors face an instant fine, and expulsion if they are visiting the country. Current Molossians are not expected to be affected as none of them smoke. The ban only applies to all uses of tobacco, not to any other similar substances, and is applicable both in public and in private.

- Khamsin Molossia News

Micronations Hit the Blogospheric Radar!

Hits to the Micronations.Net website increased twentyfold on December 23rd following a short posting about micronations on the Metafilter weblog. The article and its follow-up comments include links to wide variety of micronational references spanning a number of years.

Meanwhile, Micronations.Net itself was the featured subject of Bruce Eisner's Vision Thing, the personal blog of writer and psychologist Bruce Eisner, on December 26th, while micronations themselves were proposed as a new "industry" for the Blogshares fantasy blog shares market.