CultureCaledoniansCaledonians have for centuries been seen as hardy and strong people. As anyone who wasn't would have easily died in the harsh Northern climate and the near constant inter-clan warfare of the earlier centuries. Due to this the Caledonian people have always been very introverted usually viewing foreigners as meddlers with secret agendas.This has led them to be very independent and patriotic of their country.
SocietyCivil and personal freedoms are quite highly regarded in UC, meaning for the most part the government has been quite liberal and this has led to the creation of a welfare state. The peoples are highly taxed but in return are provided with everything that they need by the government.
In recent years however, UC has been in the midst of a civil war. On the one side the liberal government and on the other a conservative global conglomerate, Galact INC. This has caused widespread destruction and bloodshed across the country. In the past year and a half, the government has now regained control of the majority of UC lands and Galact INC forces are being confined to the most inaccessible regions to the North and South. Slowly the cities and towns are being re-built and UC rises out of the ashes.
GovernmentDue to the civil war parliamentary elections were suspended and a coalition War Cabinet was set up with representatives from the major parties and the armed forces. With the secured government victory, barring the few outlying areas, the War Cabinet has been dissolved and the Interregnum Cabinet set up, consisting solely of members from the two largest parties, The Caledonian Republican Party (CRP) and The Socialist Labour Party (SL). The Interregnum Cabinet's duties are mainly to do with the restoration of Law and Order in the UC and the resuming of normal services. A general Election is to be held in two years. The current prime minister is James McAlpin, Leader of The Socialist Labour Party.
The Parliament is a bicameral system with the lower House of Representatives as the main power in the executive and the upper House of Delegates. There are 129 Delegates from 73 Regions, The other 56 being voted in Additional Member lists from 8 regions. The Delegates are not elected and are mostly appointed with a few hereditary Delegates and a couple of Bishops of the Caledonian Catholic Church.
The Caledonian Parliament BuildingThe House Of Representatives Debating ChamberPopulation*Life Expectancy: 76 years
*Growth Rate: +.23% per year
*Current Population: 60+ Million
Age Structure:
-0-14: 25.1%
-15-64: 44.1%
-65+: 30.8%
DemographicsDue to the recent civil war, censuses have been nigh impossible to conduct, although continued border guards and the relative isolation of UC results in merely estimated ethnic diversity
~87% Native Caledonian/Parents Native Caledonians
~10% Foreign Born Citizen/Parents Foreign Born Citizen
~3% Illegal Foreigners/Non-Citizen Foreigners
Female - 52%
Male - 48%
EducationAs with nearly everything else in UC the education system is run by the government and allows every child to receive the same education and benefits. Although a few private schools do exist they are few and far between and are mostly just above the standard of the public education system. The are mostly viewed as merely elitist clubs for the sons and daughters of the rich of Caledonia
Literacy93% of the population in UC is literate.
LanguageEnglish is the official language of United Caledonia, although due to the fact most of the population (Especially in the Northern regions) speak Gaelic fluently or even as first language, it is considered de facto official. Both are taught universally in schools.
*English + Gaelic - 76%
*English Only - 11%
*Gaelic Only - 9%
*Others - 4% (Visitors, new residents, etc)
*Knows more than two languages - 32%
ReligionThe majority of Caledonians refer to themselves as Christians, at least in name. The biggest denomination being Catholic which makes up the majority of Christians. Protestantism, Judaism, Islam enjoy roughly similar numbers whereas other religions are mostly confined to small communities in the larger cities. Although Atheism and Agnosticism is on the rise, especially among the young, due mostly to apathy and the growing secularisation of society
*Catholic - 52.5%
*Atheist/Agnostic - 28.9%
*Protestant - 5.9%
*Jewish - 5.5%
*Islam - 5.1%
*Other - 2.1%
EconomyThe economy of United Caledonia has for decades been dominated by the government. The high taxes allowed the government to provide anything and everything the people needed. This enjoyed high success as people viewed more capitalist countries and companies as corrupt and vice-ridden. Although with the destruction caused by the civil war, the government has had to begin to open it's borders to help ease the burden of rebuilding.
The nation has long since run on nuclear power, backed up by "Green" Energy plants such as wind turbines, wave power, hydroelectric plants, solar power and geo-thermal plants.
Economic InformationCrimeDue to UC's excellent police force and education system, crime levels are very low with most being committed in those regions hardest hit by the war. Punishments are harsh, although with plenty of opportunities for appeal and parole.
Convictions of minor crimes (Minor theft, assault etc) are usually punished by a period in one of the local detainment centres, usually for sentences of a few months to a few years.
Convictions for major crimes (Murder, Rape etc) will be punished by a period in a maximum security prison, located on either isolated islands along the coast or in the frozen Northern reaches. Sentences would usually last 10 years to life. They are harsh and demanding places.
Crimes that endanger national security (Treason, spying etc) can be punished by incarceration in a special military prison, Fort Hainworth. This has the highest security and is located in the most extreme and isolated island in UC . Although torture and harsh treatment has been known to happen in the Fort, usually the harsh climate manages to do the trick of rehabilitation.
