Difference between revisions of "Nation/Windward Archipelago"
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Revision as of 20:01, 10 May 2016
Commonwealth of the Windward Archipelago Windwardian Commonwealth
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Motto: De Antiquitate Urbis | |||
Region | Europeia | ||
Capital | Seacrest 17.0269606° N, -81.0343059° W | ||
Official languages | English | ||
Demonym | Windwardian | ||
Government | Republic | ||
- | President | George Cromwell | |
- | Vice President | Mike Treschulo | |
- | Speaker of the House | Emily Chase | |
- | Chief Justice | David Hackwell | |
- | Upper house | Senate | |
- | Lower house | House of Representatives | |
Independence from Great Britain | |||
- | Royal Constitution Act | 26th June 1798 | |
Area | |||
- | Total | 275 km2 106 sq mi |
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- | Water (%) | 0.04% | |
Population | |||
- | estimate | 30,000,000 | |
GDP (nominal) | estimate | ||
- | Total | £4.66 Trillion | |
- | Per capita | £63,750 | |
HDI (2014) | 0.927 very high |
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Currency | Windwardian Pound (W£ ) |
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Time zone | (UTC-5:00) | ||
Calling code | +1 877 | ||
Internet TLD | .wi |
The Commonwealth of The Windward Archipelago, commonly called the Windwardian Commonwealth, is a Democracy located in the south-western Caribbean. It is located south of Jamaica, north of Nicaragua, west of Aruba and east of The Honduras. The Archipelago covers 275 km² and has has an estimated population of 30,000,000. The Windwardian Commonwealth is comprised of four states & 26 minor islands.
The Windwardian Archipelago is a highly developed country, with a high national GDP of $4.66 trillion. The per capita GDP of $63,750 ranks highly in the world, although the country also ranks highly in income inequality. The economy is fueled by an abundance of natural resources and high productivity, as well as a free market economy that allows business to thrive. The nation ranks highly in civil rights, political freedom, and economic freedom. The Windwardian Commonwealth is a recognized great power, as well as a member of several international organizations, including the region of Europeia and the World Assembly.
History
First Settlement
The first known inhabitants of The Archipelago were members of the Arawak & Taíno tribes. The natives, in accordance to tradition; had little structured agriculture and were more of a hunter/gathering civilization. Ancient Scriptures revealed that the natives had practised writing down their language.
The Tribes also placed great value on Intelligence & Loyalty. By the time of European contact in the 18th century, the region was settled by the villages of these peoples, living on stable truces.
Colonisation
The first Europeans arrived in the early 1700's, in the form of British Colonisers. The first of these was Charles Windward, famed British explorer and the namesake of the colony.
The famous John Silverbank became the first representative of the archipelago and founded Seacrest, the present day capital of the Archipelago, while keeping friendly ties with the native, offering them sanctuary on areas of the island and granting them full citizenship of the commonwealth. The province was invaded briefly by Spanish Conquestidors, but after the successful Lidgeberg revolt, in which British Soilders & Tribal Groups fought together, regained the captured regions.
The Mexican War of Independence led to shaky political situations in the surrounding countries in the region. As turmoil raged in central america, the Commonwealth went through a time of great economic prosperity, and grew economically closer to the United Kingdom. Newly-independent American merchants met with Windons in trading hubs such as Seacrest and Georgetown. Soon, the country became the gateway to Central America.
Independence
Inspired by other similar colonies, and the growing americo-windon minority, through the The Windwardian Royal Constitution act, on the 26th June 1798; the Archipelago was independent. In a revolutionarily progressive move, the country became one of the world's first open democracies'.
After this, all Windwardians were invited to join in the newly-formed countries' first Election. The nation kept close with The United Kingdom, even voting to stay within the British Commonwealth. Large amounts of British, American & Australian Migrants flocked to the country in a search for wealth. Soon, a discovery of large mineral reserves and the influx of minors, the country became very rich. Eventually, the Government barred off economic access to all islands that didn't already have mines; this was in order to protect the islands iconic environment.
First Skirmishes
The result of the Mexican-American War, In which small numbers of Windwardian Soilders fought, was the Treaty of Guadolupe Hidalgo, which failed to pass the US Senate at a margin of 24-28. US troops continued to occupy the land, however, and declared the independence of the Republic of Ponderosa on March 1, 1848. Mexico, in no condition to fight a second war, recognized Ponderosan independence in April of that year. The Ponderosa Republic became close allies with the nation, while links with Mexico grew distant.
Meanwhile, an American pioneer named Ben Youngstman led hundreds of Anglican settlers to the Allapecian Valley and founded Newcastle in 1867. Over the next 20 years, over 70,000 settlers came to this region, and organized themselves into the state of Silverbank Island in 1874.
Industrial Revolution
After a few decades worth of industrialization, expansion, and militarization, The Windwardian Commonwealth had already become one of the world's most powerful nations. At this point , however, The Archipelago suddenly shifted from industrialization and expansion for idealism and literature. This period was known as the "Golden Era" named after Jonathan Goldensmith (1831-1903), and this was the Archipelago's 'golden age of literature'. Times were short however, and the Rapid Process of Industrialization Followed.
The Commonwealth, Like Britain; remained neutral in the American Civil War, although it harbored some Southern refugees after the surrender at Appomattox. Seacrest became a major economic hub, while Georgetown experienced a population explosion with the discovery of Diamonds in the Surrounding lands.
The Twentieth Century
The Commonwealth was officially on the Allies' side in both World Wars, Serving in Europe & Guarding Central America. After the end of World War II, The Windwardian Archipelago joined the United Nations (replaced in 2008 with the World Assembly).
The Commonwealth's capitalist tradition led it to side with the United States during the Cold War. Although The Archipelago voted to stay out of the vietnam war, Ponderosan economic and political interests were often at odds with those of the Soviet bloc. Windwardian's felt relatively safe, however, due to their proximity to the United States & due to their relatively large nuclear stockpile.
The New Millenium
The Archipelago started the decade on a good note, winning in praise around the world over the governments humanitarian efforts worldwide. Along with Britain & the USA, The Commonwealth voted for the World Assembly to envelop the United Nations in 2008, The WA Carribbean offices were built in the country.
After the GEC, The Archipelago held it's place in the receding global economy. The Nation continued to keep peace & prosperity throughout the decade
The momentary collapse of the United States government in 2024 resulted in a lapse in global hegemony, and civil wars erupted in almost every country across the world. The Government stationed Troops throughout the nation; while increasing military presence in the americas. Worldwide, some countries splintered into several smaller states; others used the chaos as an opportunity to seize land left by collapsing governments. Eventually, the US Government relapsed and, with the help of a Global Coalition, including the archipelago; took back the taken lands.
As the United States toned down their worldwide military influence. The Windwardian Commonwealth began to take a more active role on the world stage. (Then) PM Michael Walker expanded the role of the executive branch and helped create the Western Alliance, an allied coalition of nations in the Carribbean. The Archipelago underwent a second period of tremendous change, almost overwhelming the Reformed United States.
Geography
The land area of the Archipelago is 275 km² (2,941,439.4 km²) and is four-island group including Lidgberg, Silverbank, Navidad & The Long Islands. The climate on the islands is Tropical. The low-lying Alapaccian Mountains, at the western edge of the Great Plains, extend north to south across the island of Silverbank, mostly reaching altitudes no higher than 3,500 feet (1,025m).
The fertile Great Plains spread across the lower island of Navidad, providing a home for a majority of the nations agricultural industry. Extreme weather is quite uncommon in the country.Much of Ponderosa is Humid, with large Rainforests covering a large area of the nation.
The highest point in the Archipelago is Mount Whitney in Silverbank, with a height of 3,650 ft (1110 m). The lowest point is Alapaccian Valley, Also in Silverbank, with an elevation of −282 ft (−86.0 m).
The Government has implimented strict enviromental regulations. Due to these efforts, the Archipelago was ranked 4th in the 2028 Environmental Performance Index, which measures the effectiveness of state policies for environmental sustainability.
Demographics
Below are the various demographics and statistics of the Windwardian Archipelago. Known for it's inclusiveness, they are renewed with a nationwide census every two years. This census only lists residents who have stayed over two and a half years on the islands, tourists and part-time residents are not included in any of the census. Social Policies are regularly based on this cause.
Population
The population of the Archipealgo has remained stable, with a population growth rate of 0.35%, this has enabled the country to economically prosper through means of industry or otherwise. The birthrate of 4/1000 has retained a low-influence on the above factor. The country has some of the lowest child mortality rates in the world, at 0.14%.
Language
English is the de facto national language. Approximately 97% of the population speaks English as a first language, with another 2% either speaking French or a Native Language as a first language. The third most dominant language was German, with 0.9% of the population being native speakers.
Religion
The majority of the Windwardian Commonwealth's population identifies as Agnostic. 29% identify as Anglican, with 24% identifying as Protestent and 10% as Catholic. The nonreligious account for 32% of the population, while Jews make up 3%. All other faiths collectively make up 2% of the population. The Bill of Rights of the Windwardian Archipelago guarantees religious freedom, and prevents legislation that favors any religion over another. In addition, discrimination based on religion is illegal, with the exception of explicitly religious organizations such as churches.
According to a survey in 2045, 33% of the population said that religion played a "very important role in their lives." Anglican & Protestant are the most devout groups in Ponderosa, while church attendance among Catholic sects is fairly low. The percentage of irreligious people is steadily increasing, especially among younger generations.
Race
For generations, the vast majority of both colonial-era settlers and post-Federation immigrants came from the United Kingdom and Ireland, although the gold rushes also drew migrants from other countries.
Since the end of World War II, The Windwardian Archipelagos' population more than doubled, spurred by large-scale European immigration during the immediate post-war decades. The mid-1970s and the rise of Jet Travel marked to a significant increase in non-European immigration, mostly from Asia and the Middle East. About 90% of the islands' population is of European descent.
Over 8% of the population is of Asian descent (predominantly Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino and Indian). In the 2011 census, 81.2% of the archipelagos' population declared European ancestry. In the 2011 census, windons reported around 300 different ancestries. The most commonly reported ancestries were English (33.7 per cent) and Australian (33 per cent).
A further 6 of the leading 10 ancestries reflected the European heritage in the Archipelago – Irish (9.7 per cent), Scottish (8.3 per cent), Italian (4.3 per cent), German (4.2 per cent), Greek (1.8 per cent) and Dutch (1.6 per cent). Other most common ancestries in the top 10 were Chinese (4.0 per cent) and Indian (1.8 per cent).
Healthcare
Healthcare in the Archipelago is that of a publicly-funded universal healthcare system. The system, provided through the Federal Health Service provides free care to all permanent residents, and free emergency care to all people within the commonwealth, including visitors. The system is funded through general taxation, with approximately 11.9% of GDP funding the service. The World Health Organization, in 2015, ranked the provision of healthcare in the Windwardian Archipelago as the best in Central America and fifth best in the world.
Education
The Windon Education System operates in a 3-Tier System. Preschool is an optional form of education for children between the ages of 3-5 before entering the First Tier. Elementary School or Primary Education is the first tier and is a mandatory 8 Grade System between the ages of 6-13/14. The second tier is High School or Secondary Education and is a mandatory schooling between Grade 9 to Grade 12. The third tier is Tertiary Education which comprises of a non-mandatory level of schooling within a University. While it is not mandatory by law, the percentage of students who enter Tertiary Education is roughly 86% due to the fact that tuition is free for Public Universities, provided by the Government. The Windon Government are responsible for educational provision. The mandatory school age and extensive funding by the Government attributes to an adult literacy rate of 99 percent, and is believed to still be rising. As of 2015, 90% of adults have received a High School Degree, and 80% have achieved some form of a University Degree particularly in: Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Humanities, and Commerce respectively.
Largest Cities
Government
The Windward Archipelago is a strongly conservative (Right Wing) state, with the current-ruling Windwardian Conservative Party (WCR) riding on a 67% vote approval rating. The Current Prime Minister, George Cromwell; of the WCP party has been almost universally praised for leading the country into a new era.
The Windwardian Conservative Party (WCP) are Centre-Right wing, while the Opposition party; The Liberal Party of The Windward Archipelago (TLP) is a Centre-Left Party. The two other major parties are the Windwardian Independence Party (WIP),(Right-Wing, Libertarian) & The Windwardian Labour Association (WLA). The Green Party of the Windward Archipelago (WAGP) & The Windwardian Nationalist Alliance (WNA), have some influence in the Windon Political system.
The Windward Archipelago is a unitary democracy governed within the framework of a republic, in which the Monarch of the United Kingdom is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the Windward Archipelago is the head of government.
Executive power is exercised by Her Majesty's Government in the UK (Only in extreme situations), on behalf of and by the consent of the Monarch, as well as by the devolved Governments of the integrated countries in the UK, and the Northern Ireland Executive government.
Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the Parliament of the Windwardian Archipelago, the House of Ministers and the Senate. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The highest official court is the Supreme Court of the Windwardian Archipelago.
The term length is 5 years for the Senate, 6 years for the Speaker of the Grand Council, and 4 years for the Prime minister and the Assembly. Members of the Constitutional Court are appointed by the Senate and the Assembly for 7 years.
The Windon political system is a multi-party system. The constitution is uncodified, being made up of constitutional conventions and statutes. As an overseas UK territory, it administers to the Westminster method of government.
The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Grand Council for matters of national security and the adequate preparation of the armed forces to defend the country. However, the authority to declare war and to deploy the Windon Armed Forces to foreign countries or to allow foreign armed forces to be stationed in the Windwardian Archipelago rests solely with the Grand Council. The actual Commander of the Armed Forces is the Chief of the General Staff General Max Crawley, holding since the 4th of August 2021. While the Queen could technically order the deployment of military resources, the actual command is generally left to the Secretary of Defense. This includes the windwardian space combat fleets, aerospace forces, naval assets and ground troops. Given the generally pacifistic nature of the nation, most military deployments are in conjunction with the Triumvirate of Europeian Combined Services.
Foreign Relations and Military
The Windwardian Armed Forces are some of the best equipped and trained armies in the world. A Mostly-Professional Army, It holds substantial numbers in both active service and reserves. Playing a somewhat minor role throughout history, the nation has played it's part in wars past and present. It is regarded as one of the most technically advanced armies and has developed and used devices at the cutting edge of Technology. From the time of its inception, the military played a decisive role in the history of the Windwardian Archipelago. It includes the Royal Windwardian Army, Royal Windwardian Navy (includes Naval Aviation Force), the Royal Windwardian Air Force, the Royal Windwardian Coast Guard, Home Guard (Only Deployed in Extreme Circumstances) & the Windwardian Special Forces
A sense of national unity and identity was forged as a result of victory in World Wars I & II as well as themilitaries rich history along with the country. The Chief of the General Staff is appointed and is responsible to the Prime Minister.
The Military maintains a minimum service age of 17 for voluntary service. Maximum age for enlistment is 38 for the Army, 28 for the Marines, 35 for the Navy, 39 for the Air Force and 28 for the Coast Guard, There is no conscription (Unless a major act of war is declared directly at the Archipelago by another state). Women are allowed to serve in most combat roles, except the Army special forces (2023), However are preferred in most non-combat roles. Every Citizen is required to serve five weeks of basic military training after they leave High School (Over Five Years) unless their reason for withdrawal is accepted. Various Non-Combat Roles are provided for solders with physical disabilities. The Current Military expenditure of the country is 8.71%.. It has had a large role in the war on terror and has a large presence worldwide.
Its modern high-tech arsenal makes the commonwealth one of the most densely armed nations, with its military equipment being supplied primarily through domestic production. The Royal Windwardian Air Force includes the worlds first Flying-Aircraft Carrier, The WSS Revolution, This can carry up to 50 Jet Fighters, 25 Bombers, 30 Support Aircraft, 20 Dropships & 15 Helicopters. The air force also has access to a range of modern advanced Bombers, Gunships, Helicopters, Dropships & many more. The Royal Seacrestian Navy utilises a large range of technologically advanced ships to stage forward operating bases and attack when ready.
It is estimated that the Windwardian Fleet can reach anywhere in the world within 48 Hours of a first call. Private Military Companies/Contractors are banned from the islands.
WDF Nitfallon, on the small island of Nitfallon is one of the largest military bases in the world, with all branches of the Defence Forces catered, It also has a large underground complex. The JOF maintains a fleet of 3 Airborne Aircraft Carriers, 2 Bases in the Archipelago & co-ownership of the RMS Helford Base in the UK.
It is seen as an honor to enter into the Windwardian military, especially the Windwardian Special Forces. Veterans are considered heroes and treated extremely well on the homeland. A soldier's death is seen as a national tragedy, and a great sense of reverence is held towards the fallen. Although there is a popular reluctance to enter into military conflict, anti-war protesters are rare and usually shunned by the community, being seen as greatly disrespectful.
Other Emergency Services
Windwardian Emergancy Services are some of the best armed in the world. It includes the Windwardian Federal Police, the Windwardian Royal Fire fighting Service, the Royal Windwardian Ambulance Service, the Windwardian SWAT Agency, the Commonwealth Drug Enforcement Agency, the Disaster Preventation Service & The Royal Windon Search & Rescue Service
With more than three cities that are considered to be among the ten most secure places to live in the world, like Seacrest, Georgetown and Newcastle; The Archipelago is renowned and respected for the low crime & high safety rates it boasts. Even the crimes that have been recorded in certain periods of time, about a quarter of it has been committed by foreigners.
Peace, harmony and a tranquil atmosphere among the inhabitants and around the country, is ensured by valiant police officers in numbers of 400 policemen per a 100 thousand people making the country a definition of safe-living, truly. Progressive socioeconomic policies also bolster this fact. Fire Rates are low & forest fires are unknown in the region, not really facilitating the use of a large-scale fire fighting force.
The Royal Windwardian Fire fighting Force (RWFF) benefits from the use of advanced military technology, such as ATV's & Dropships, they also use a similar HUD system to the Armed Forces.
The Royal Windwardian Ambulance Service however, is a relatively high-scale service, benefiting from high levels of government funding & dedicated staff, Windwardian Hospitals have to undergo strict and regular health standards tests in order to keep with government funding, benefiting the populace greatly. The Coast Guards are integrated within the national defence structure and regularly patrol the coasts.
Manned Tsunami Watch Stations built upon within underwater Anti-Tsunami Walls also are spread throughout the coast. The Military usually has 3-4 Nuclear Submarines Patrolling the Archipelago's coasts at all times.
Economy
Known as the 'Diamond of the Caribbean', The Windwardian Archipelago operates under a system of free market capitalism. According to the NationStates Tracker, the nominal GDP is $4.66 trillion. The old, sick, and handicapped are given aid, but are required to work in a suitable occupation. There is no retirement age; citizens are required to work until they have a sufficient retirement savings of their own. Although citizens may choose their own occupation, tests determine the ones best suited for each person, and economic incentives cause over 99.3% of all citizens to select one of their top three most compatible careers. A great emphasis is placed on education, especially in the form of internships and apprenticeships.
The private sector is estimated to constitute 78% of the economy, with federal, regional, and local government accounting for 22%. Unemployment is at 0.10%, largely due to progressive economic policies. The Windwardian Commonwealth is one of the world's largest exporter of goods, with a trade surplus of $94.5 billion. The Primus Republic and The United Kingdom are two of the Archipelago's top trading partners.
Economics is currently the nation's largest industry, followed by Retail, Arms manufacturing, and Information Technology. Mining and livestock agriculture are other important drivers of the Windon economy.
Culture
The culture of the islands is often characterized as being "very progressive, diverse, and cultured". Windon culture draws from its rich history that is constitutionally protected. Windwardian Government policies—such as publicly funded health care; lower and more progressive taxation; outlawing capital punishment; strong efforts to eliminate poverty; an emphasis on cultural diversity; strict gun control; legalizing same-sex, are social indicators of the Windwardian Archipelago's political and cultural values.
The Isles have been a hub of Western cultural development for centuries. Many Windwardian artists have been among the most renowned of their time, and Markotovia is still recognized in the world for its abundant cultural tradition.
The overall culture of the archipelago is heavily influenced by the very large European ethnic majority, mainly by the United Kingdom and Ireland; with some practices adopted from the French and the Spanish. Western Films & Music are very popular; and there is a medium size media scene on the islands with some films achieving major commercial and critical success in overseas markets.
The successive political regimes have always promoted artistic creation, and the creation of the Ministry of Culture in 1948 helped preserve the cultural heritage of the country and make it available to the public. The Ministry of Culture has been very active since its creation, granting subsidies to artists, promoting Markotovian culture in the world, supporting festivals and cultural events, protecting historical monuments. The Windon government also succeeded in maintaining a cultural exception to defend audiovisual products made in the country.
Windons are mostly friendly and affable, but many consider privacy to be an important part of their social interactions. It is generally frowned upon on to start a conversation with a stranger, but most windwardians have many close friends who they are extremely open with. Neighborhoods are often closely linked together, with communities often going out of their way to help those who have experienced disaster or tragedy. Giving and charity are essential; for example, it would be a major faux pas to attend any party or gathering without bringing some sort of gift.
The Archipelago receives one of the highest number of tourists per year, largely thanks to the numerous cultural establishments and historical buildings implanted all over the territory. It counts 120 museums welcoming more than 7 million people annually.
The islands also host a thriving music scene, with indie rock being a favoured genre on the circuit. Many Windwardian Actors & Singers have made a success in Hollywood and other major film industries.
Sport is also very popular, with Rugby Union being the national sport. Over 75% of the countries total population regularly attend live sporting events, as evidenced when the 200,000 seat Windwardian International Stadium is regularly filled up during sporting events.
The Capital, Seacrest, is well-known for it's spurring nightlife with as many as 1150 bars & clubs operating within city limits. Minor Ethnic Subcultures do exist, primarily the afro-windon cultural scene, Particularily centered on the southern isles.
Ethnic Tensions are unheard of thanks to the efforts of various ethnic leaders and their representatives in the house of parliament. Crime, of any sort is unheard of and generally frowned upon, thanks to many progressive social and economic policies. Almost all of the Windwardian Media Outlets are impartial, with a few exceptions, catering for different political parties.
Guns are illegal unless granted a special government permit, this is reserved for people in professions that require the use of a firearm. In the last poll; over 75% of Windon's voted to keep the nations' uniform strict gun control laws.
French & Dutch are sometimes spoken on the isles, usually as a second language; Creole, unlike many surrounding nations; is virtually nonexistent, even among the Afro-Windon communities. The Windward Archipelago is the only nation on earth apart from Britain in which the natives are the British Themselves. Native Languages are sometimes spoken, and are an available course at the nation's universities.
Music
Through its history, the Windwardian Archipelago has been a major exporter and source of musical innovation in the modern and contemporary eras, drawing its cultural basis from the history of the United Kingdom, with some minor French, Spanish and Italian influences. Minor Tribal influences exist, and do still perpetuate around the islands.
Other major influences include Western culture and from the ancient and traditional folk music and instrumentation of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
In the 20th century, influences from the music of the United States became most dominant in popular music. This led to the explosion of the Windwardian Invasion, while subsequent notable movements in Windon music include the New Ward (Windwardian New Wave) and Windpop (Windon indie music).
The Windwardian has one of the world's most successful music industries today, with many Windwardian musicians having had an impact on modern music. Windpop is a highly successful genre, but hard rock, punk and alternative scenes are also very popular.
Rap music is also very popular, especially among the Afro-windon ethnic minority. Electronic and Metal scenes also exist among the isles. Many Windons have secured contracts with major American and British labels.
The Windwardian Institute of the Arts runs many artist development & localization programs, enriching the local talent throughout the islands. The island is home to a number of state-of-the-art Recording Studios; the music industry is estimated to be worth to be at least W£5 Billion.
It generates a substantial amount of revenue as all artists signed overseas give 2% of their profits to the Organisation in return for publicity throughout the isles. Quite a few major musicians from all across the globe have toured seacrest, performing at such venues as the legendary Arvenue Nightclub; in which bookings can cost up to $250,000.
Sport
Rugby union is the national sport on the islands, with a large two-tiered professional league being the most popular on the archipelago. Association Football (Commonly referred to as "Soccer"), Rugby League & Cricket, each with their own professional leagues, are also popular with the locals.
As stated before, over 75% of Windons regularly attend live sporting events. The capital, Seacrest, holds two 5-star rated international stadiums, The Windwardian International Stadium (Rugby union) (200,000 seats) and the Silver Field (Association Football & Rugby League) (125,000 seats).
The National Rugby team is currently ranked 5th in the world rankings and the national soccer team is ranked 9th. A large amount of windwardian sportsman have played overseas on professional contracts.
A large majority of the funding for elite sport in the Windwardian Archipelago is commercially generated, but this is concentrated heavily on a few sports. For example, the Windwardian Rugby Union Premiership's 20 clubs had an estimated combined turnover of £4.25 billion in 2013-14 according to Deloitte, and The Windon Football League's total income was in the region of £3.1 billion on aggregate.
Other major sports have a turnover in low nine figures or the tens of millions. For example, cricket is highly dependent on its TV contract, which was worth £95 million a year for the 2006-09 seasons.
Athletics, and also most sports outside the top ten or so in popularity, are heavily dependent on public funding.
The government agency that funnels this is WA Sport, which has affiliates across the world. The Windwardian Sports Agency also provides money for the recreational side of the main team sports, even Football.
Other sports benefit from special financial provision. Windwardian tennis is subsidised by the profits of The Windon Championships, which are in the tens of millions of pounds each year. Horse racing benefits from a levy on betting. Following the Budget from 21 March 2028 there will be only few tax breaks to Windon sport in the near future.
Films
The Windwardian film industry, commonly known as "Windwood" is a moderately sized film-empire. It has a major link with the American film industry, many large american film business have set up subsidiaries in the Archipelago
The Windwardian Archipelago is also an important filming location for major Hollywood Releases, standing in for many paradisiac islands for films and TV shows. Many Windwardians have made success in the American and the British film circuits.
In 2009 Windon films grossed around $18 billion worldwide and achieved a market share of around 13% globally and 27% in the Windwardian Archipelago. Windwardian box-office takings totalled £1.03 billion in 2012, with 17.5 million admissions.
The Windwardian Film Institute has produced a poll ranking what they consider to be the 100 greatest Windon films of all time, the WFI Top 100 Windwardian films. The annual WAFTA awards hosted by the Windon Academy of Film and Television Arts are considered to be the Windwardian equivalent of the Academy Award.
Cuisine
Windon cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including British, French, Italian, Greek, and Jewish. Windwardian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity, abundance of difference in taste, and is known to be one of the most popular in the world, wielding strong influence abroad.
The classical Mediterranean diet forms the basis of Windon cuisine, rich in pasta, fish and vegetables and characterised by its extreme simplicity and variety, with many dishes having only four to eight ingredients. Windwardian cooks rely chiefly on the quality of the ingredients rather than on elaborate preparation. Dishes and recipes are often derivatives from local and familial tradition rather than created by chefs, so many recipes are ideally suited for home cooking, this being one of the main reasons behind the ever increasing worldwide popularity of Windwardian cuisine, from America to Asia. Ingredients and dishes vary widely by region/state.
A key factor in the success of Windon cuisine is its heavy reliance on traditional products; the Commonwealth has the most traditional specialities protected under WA law. Cheese, cold cuts and wine are a major part of Windwardian cuisine, with many regional declinations and Protected Designation of Origin or Protected Geographical Indication labels, and along with coffee (especially espresso) make up a very important part of the Commonwealth's gastronomic culture. Desserts have a long tradition of merging local flavours such as citrus fruits, pistachio and almonds with sweet cheeses like mascarpone and ricotta or exotic tastes as cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon.
Infrastructure
Personal transportation is dominated by automobiles, which operates on a large network of roads. The Archipelago has one of the largest automotive industries in the world.
There are public transport systems. Bus, rail, and subway systems do exist, but aren't used as much. Many people in urban areas walk or bike to work to avoid limited traffic and transit fees. Seacrest is serviced by an extensive tram system. Busses compliment the nation's transport systems and are primarily used to feed riders onto the rail network or as inter-urban transport. Pedestrianism has been encouraged with extensive footpaths through urban areas, pedestrian malls, and numerous hiking and walking paths in the country.
The Archipelago also owns the RWITA (Royal Windwardian International Transportation Administration). This administration is owned by the government, and works throughout the Carribbean to increase the standard of transportation. The Commonwealth also works to increase transportation in less-developed nations, like Ethiopia, or Togo.
International transportation is provided by a number of options. The country is connected to the high-speed Continental Maglev Network with terminals in Seacrest, Georgetown, Newcastle, Lucillia & more. The WMN service is used for passenger, tourist and freight shipping. The civil airline industry is owned by both private companies & government subsidaries. Like most other industrialized nations, most airports are publicly owned and run, with help from private industry. Seacrest International Airport is one of the busiest in the world, serving not only the Archipelago, but Glonal airlines as well. The national flag carrier is the state-owned Windwardian Airlines; an international renowned airline with preference around the world.
Seacrest is home to the tallest building in the world, The Seacrest Tower; in addition a large collection of super-tall skyscrapers. Seacrest also contains many archetectial marvels, being cited as an 'architects paradise'. Georgetown & Newcastle also possess marvelling structures.
To compliment the country's acute abundance of natural resources, The Archipelago has continued to invest heavily in the research and development of applied science. The country spends 2.5% of its GDP ($5.85 billion) on this, well above the world average.
Energy
The commonwealth uses a high amount of energy per capita. About 35% of the Archipelago's electricity comes from nuclear power plants, with uranium mined in underground mines and enriched through industrial platforms. Other electricity sources are from vast natural gas and coal reserves, and from solar energy, especially in Sonora. Most of The Windwardian Commonwealth's transportation sector uses petroleum, although rising fuel costs have led to a development in green energy. With its decreased reliance on fossil fuels for its power supply, The Windwardian Archipelago is entirely self-sufficient for oil, coal, and gas, relying on its large reserves to meet demand.
Fresh water is a limited and highly valued resource in the Commonwealth. Precipitation varies from 250mm in the New Jerusalem Valley to 350mm in Cathedral Pound due to its elevation and geographic formation. This rainfall is erratic but mainly occurs during winter. The combination of irregular rainfall patterns, an arid climate, a reliance on winter rains, and high run-off have necessitated innovative approaches to water management. The Kútzic Resorvior provides large amounts of water to the capital, Seacrest. A local innovation in water harvesting is the use of "fog farms", large grilled panels containing mesh layers, which cause high humidity air to condensate. This water is can then be used for domestic purposes and are particularly effective in the elevated outer rim of the plateau where orographic clouds form, this has increased water supply thoroughly throughout the nation.