Conch Republic
The Conch Republic ( / kɒŋk riˈpʌblɪk / ) is a micronation that was proclaimed on April 23, 1982 by the separation of Key West ( Florida ) and some neighboring islands from the USA .
It owes its name to the English name of the fencing snail , which also adorns the coat of arms and the flag of the Conch Republic. As a satirical protest, the state motto “We seceded where others failed” (We split off where others failed) can be understood, which is on the flag. As part of its current campaign “Saving The Humans Initiative - with uncommon sense”, the republic committed itself to appeasing tensions in the world through the use of humor.
history
In 1982 the American border control authorities set up a control point on Highway No. 1 ( Overseas Highway ), which is the only land route that connects the island of Key West with the American mainland via many bridges. According to official information, the background was the search for illegal immigrants.
Due to the difficulties for tourism, which in turn is Key West's main source of income (tourists had to cancel their stay due to long traffic jams in front of the checkpoint and controls), the city government of Key West soon demanded the immediate removal of the control point. After a corresponding lawsuit by the city government failed, Key West declared its independence on April 23, 1982 and proclaimed the Conch Republic .
Key West Mayor Dennis Wardlow has been named Prime Minister. The Conch Republic declared war on the US, but surrendered unconditionally a minute later and asked for around $ 1 billion to rebuild. The process gained some popularity and eventually resulted in the control post being abandoned.
Although the Conch Republic did not exist as an independent state for even a day, many Key West residents still identify with it. In Key West every year on April 23rd, Independence Day is celebrated with corresponding festivities. These extend over several days around April 23rd. The highlights of the celebrations include the hoisting of the blue flag of the "Conch Republic" and the competition of the "drag queens". In 2004 there were 24,768 inhabitants in the Conch Republic.
In January 2006, Cuban refugees who were on an abandoned section of the Seven Mile Bridge that was not connected to the land were deported on the grounds that, in accordance with the wet feet, dry feet policy , the bridge did not lead to land but to water count, so the refugees had not reached the USA. Thereupon supporters of the micronation appearing as “Conch Republic Special Forces” occupied the building and set flags with which the occupation of the ailing bridge was publicly expressed. The US government then revised its statement.
The Conch Republic maintains “embassies” in France and Finland and sells “passports” and diplomatic titles to interested parties . The "General Consulate" of the Conch Republic in Germany was officially opened in August 2010 in Bingen am Rhein .
The Conch Republic has its "seat of government" in Key West ( Florida ). The Conch Republic describes itself as a peace-loving and humorous state. The "armament for defense" is Cuban bread and a flagship (sailing ship WOLF) with a fire engine.
The Conch Republic sees itself as a "state of mind" d. H. as a state without territorial claims. The passports of the Conch Republic are not official travel documents, but are sometimes stamped with visas. Every citizen of the Conch Republic has a second citizenship, usually US. The Conch Republic has already issued more than 500,000 passports around the world. In 1995, Florida Governor Lawton Chiles even applied for a passport at the Florida Jubilee '95 event.
The Conch Republic took part in the Conference of American States (Summit of the Americas) in 1984 and also has consulates in various American states, several in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Applicants as ambassadors or consul general must apply in person to Key West and provide evidence of appropriate qualifications. Other titles such as honorary consul or goodwill ambassador (ambassador of goodwill) are given more freely, but never without three extra-family, written references for a good character.
Without raising taxes, the Conch Republic is financed mainly through generous donations from its citizens. Says Secretary General Peter Anderson: “We don't believe in taxes for the Conch Republic. When we need money, we throw a party ”(We don't believe in taxes for the Conch Republic. When we need to raise money we throw a party).
Web links
- http://www.conchrepublic.com/
- Anne-Dore Krohn: "Conch Republic": An island full of fools , In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, August 12, 2007, No. 32, Travel section, page V1
- Spiegel Online: Micronation Conch Republic - freedom struggle in a Hawaiian shirt
Individual evidence
- ↑ common sense refers to the common sense , uncommon sense is an untranslatable play on words, unusual ideas are the context and the actions of the Conch Republic next
- ↑ Key West celebrates the Conch Republic . Travel EXCLUSIV magazine website, accessed January 10, 2014.
Coordinates: 24 ° 33 '33 " N , 81 ° 47' 2.5" W.