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A Nation of One
The owner of a tiny island off Scotland declared its independence from the United Kingdom on Saturday, saying he wanted the territory, population one, to be a crown dependency like the Channel Islands....
[Stuart] Hill, 65, has lived in the Shetland Islands on the edge of the Atlantic since 2001, when his boat capsized there during an unsuccessful attempted to circumnavigate Britain.
He is Forvik's only resident, and his home is a tent on the storm-battered island. He says on his website that he plans to create Forvik's own currency -- the "gulde" -- print his own stamps and raise his own flag.
"There will be no income tax, VAT (value added tax), council tax, corporation tax, or any of the other taxes instituted by the British government," Hill wrote.
Hill's legal argument, which revolves around a 15th-century royal dowry, is spelled out on his website, which also includes this call for confederates:
I invite anyone in Shetland, or indeed anywhere else, who is interested in this project to apply for citizenship. Many benefits will be available to both individuals and companies.
I am also inviting the owners of other property in Shetland, whether that may be an uninhabited island, or one of the populated parts, to join Forvik in a federation to eventually provide a legitimate alternative authority to the Shetland Islands Council.
Bonus link: my review of Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations.
[Hat tip: Richard Brandt.]
|6.23.08 @ 10:36AM|#
I love it. The guy got washed up on an Island and just pitched his tent and stayed there. What is this the Spanish armada washing up on the Irish coast?
ed|6.23.08 @ 10:38AM|#
The advantages of citizenship appear to be plenty of rain and a very simple mailing address. I do note, however, that his charter is a declaration of dependence. Hmmm...
robc|6.23.08 @ 10:38AM|#
Marcvs,
The devine rights granted to kings depend on them having a stable
home?
Taktix®|6.23.08 @ 10:43AM|#
If I were Mr. Hill, I'd name the country "Elizabeth's Tookas Island."
ed|6.23.08 @ 10:43AM|#
You know your country is small when it's hidden beneath the push-pin indicating its location.
Marcvs|6.23.08 @ 10:47AM|#
The devine rights granted to kings depend on them having a
stable home?
The divine rights granted to kings depend on there being a
"divine". Since I'm not one for superstition, this guy just strikes
me as a dude living in a tent on a 2.5 acre rock. But more power to
him.
Romster|6.23.08 @ 10:50AM|#
Wait, if I did this in the U.S., how long before the government invaded me to get income taxes?
|6.23.08 @ 10:53AM|#
but does he have a flag?
Behold!
I, for one, welcome our legal scroll-bearing rampant lion
overlords.
The MacGregor Clan|6.23.08 @ 10:55AM|#
I, for one, welcome our legal scroll-bearing rampant lion
overlords.
These documents must be declared legitimate.
|6.23.08 @ 10:57AM|#
The guy lives in a tent on a storm battered island and he
has a website?
I live in Kentucky and have seven; you just gotta want it bad
enough.
Episiarch|6.23.08 @ 10:58AM|#
I live in Kentucky and have seven
Both these facts explain so very much.
ed|6.23.08 @ 10:58AM|#
Great. His flag is a cross and what appears to be a mutant lizard holding a copy of the Guardian.
|6.23.08 @ 11:01AM|#
Epi,
The fact that robc and I trade cracks about Louisville and
Lexington never tipped you off?
Jason|6.23.08 @ 11:02AM|#
This story reminds me of a Mitch Hedberg bit.
"If you find yourself lost in the woods, fuck it, build a house.
'Well I used to be lost but now I live here. I have severely
improved my predicament.'"
Jesse Walker|6.23.08 @ 11:04AM|#
His flag is a cross and what appears to be a mutant lizard
holding a copy of the Guardian.
Paging David Icke...
Episiarch|6.23.08 @ 11:04AM|#
The fact that robc and I trade cracks about Louisville and
Lexington never tipped you off?
I only see posts that are addressed to me, NutraSweet. It's part of
my megalomania.
|6.23.08 @ 11:07AM|#
This means we can now talk about whathisface whenever we feel
like it and get away scott-free. Woo!
He'll need a codename; we'll use "ass-face." Everybody can figure
that one out!
Episiarch|6.23.08 @ 11:21AM|#
He'll need a codename; we'll use "ass-face."
Dude, that's not cool--just because you don't like joe doesn't mean
you should call him that.
Episiarch|6.23.08 @ 11:31AM|#
So you admit you are a liar?
Lies, distortion, who can tell the difference?
T|6.23.08 @ 11:31AM|#
Paging David Icke...
On that note, given that I've followed conspiracy theories and
deranged ramblings far longer than I've followed mainstream
politics, am I the only who thinks of David Icke whenever Harold
Ickes is on TV? I always have this moment of "WTF do Merovingian
lizard kings have to do with the SC primary? Oh, wait, it's the
other guy."
Ironic|6.23.08 @ 11:32AM|#
When I was younger I dreamed of moving to Navassa Island and
declaring independence.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bq.html
robc|6.23.08 @ 11:35AM|#
SugarFree,
Completly off-topic, what did you think of the judge's smooth move
in the Louisville v Duke court case? He was a UK law school grad. A
UK grad getting to stick it to UofLouisville (they lose out on
$450k) and declare "Duke Sucks" as part of your official ruling
from the bench is a nice double shot.
Back on topic:
Marcvs,
I wasnt claiming any correctness to his claims, you were the one
saying the validity of his claims somehow depends on the quality of
his abode.
|6.23.08 @ 11:42AM|#
robc,
Mostly I'm shocked that they let a UK law school grad be a judge.
Must have been some sort of affirmative action that day.
Surely you aren't suggesting, though, that Duke does not, in fact,
suck, are you?
(I lived in Louisville for a while and am not from Lexington. I've
always watched the Ford Vs. Chevy truck debate between the two with
a bit of bemused attachment... I really participate only to fit
in.)
robc|6.23.08 @ 11:52AM|#
SugarFree,
As a GT grad, I have plenty of evidence that Duke, does, in fact,
suck. I grew up as a UK fan in Louisville, however, so I
participated in the silliness as a youth. I really dont care
anymore, all my sports related hatred is directed at Georgia and
Liverpool. And the St Louis Cardinals.
|6.23.08 @ 12:12PM|#
British constitutional history is just weird enough that the claim might be legit... though I wouldn't bet on it.
|6.23.08 @ 12:32PM|#
The slogan from the flag was mistranslated. It actually means "Message for you, sir".
|6.23.08 @ 12:40PM|#
Rampant Lion Messenger Service
When it absolutely, positively has to get there covered in
antelope blood.
Marcvs|6.23.08 @ 12:45PM|#
I wasnt claiming any correctness to his claims, you were the
one saying the validity of his claims somehow depends on the
quality of his abode.
It speaks to the quality of his brain, which speaks to the validity
of his claims.
Amakudari|6.23.08 @ 12:46PM|#
Recent UNC grad here. Dook Sucks is indeed an interesting legal
precedent. I shall monitor closely its potential application to the
rest of the university's activities.
I was going to post something about how we can take care of the
Duke hating without assistance, but seriously, force-fed Laettner
replays every tourney are probably just a step below
evisceration.
robc|6.23.08 @ 12:53PM|#
force-fed Laettner replays every tourney
That's Aminu Timberlake's fault. Instead of laughing at Laettner's
wussiness, he should have pounded Laettner's face in.
The Dick From The Other Clan|6.23.08 @ 1:29PM|#
These documents must be declared
legitimate.
They were lies when you first wrote them!!
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