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In the recent days we have seen our Southern Ardian neighbours the Second Imperial Chinese Republic purchase some 50,000 individuals held in slavery in Tamora. These individuals were then freed upon arrival in the SICR however it is our firm belief that despite this action probably be well intentioned it will have the opposite effect on the issue of slavery.
This is now the forth example of individuals or nations buying slaves from Tamora in order to free them. This has created a massive input into the Tamoran economy, with the last sale raising $3billion for the nations slave industry. Meanwhile the total number of slaves in Tamora has taken hardly a dent. Add to this that several millions of Maori, descendants of those kidnapped by the Seleucid during the occupation there, are still held in slavery never having known freedom. Before the sales began 15% of Tamoras population were slaves, that number has not budged one bit. We therefore have seen the only impact of these sales be that of improving the Tamoran economy and showing slavers that the do gooders of the world with more money than economic sense are not helping end this mass suffering.
The people of Tamora can be made to understand that slavery is not in their interests. We must pursue a two pronged attack, first ensure that no slaver can find a market for their goods thus reducing their profits. The second is by showing these slavers that the future without slaves is more profitable. Imagine the situation, you are a poor unfortunate slave being forced to work on a Tamoran farm. You are unpaid, and in order to keep profits as high as possible the conditions they face are likely to be basic at best. How does this motivate a person to work hard and do their best? In short it doesn't, production on these facilities will be low than those in nations such as Bakkermaya where workers are well rewarded for their efforts and feel protected and I dare say at times happy in their work. Slavery also reduces the economic potential of a nation. Imagine what would happen in terms of sales of basic necessities should the 15%, or 38million people suddenly become tax payers, consumers and contributors to the economy. The nation would flourish knowing 15% of its nation have more money in its pocket, more desire to work and you would see production increase. We have seen it before in historic slave using nations. Remove slavery and the amount of products produced in factories, the amount of produce made on farms increases. It becomes a win win for all involved, especially if we pair it with the global response to not allow a single person to profit from human slavery.
We have seen in the past 48 hours nations imposing sanctions against each other based on buying slaves, an action that I condemn naturally. But actions such as sanctions make people entrench their points of view and turn nations towards asking their allies and friends to support their action. As such we must not fall into this trap. Nations such as Quintellia and SICR, along with individuals such as the Bene Gesserit and Bateson from Rokkenjima much also be made to understand this simple tennant if you exchange cash or goods for human life you are by that very action saying it is possible to own a person in much the same way a person would own a wardrobe or a car. By then saying that you are giving them their freedom implies that they need your permission to be free.
I therefore call upon the Ardian Assembly as well as other Ardian nation to support the following.
May The Gods Watch Over You and All People Know Freedom
Grand Duke Hugo Lascelles.
Determined to address the issue of slavery on a local and global scale.
Concerned about the economic inputs of Ardian nations to the Tamoran slave economy.
Recognizing that the recent slave purchases were done for well intentioned reasons
Committed to recognizing that the continent of Ardia must work together
The nations of Ardia hereby agree to abide by the following.
1. No nation in Ardia shall exchange money, goods or services for a person held in servitude.
2. Nations of Ardia shall adopt as a trading standard that only goods bearing the Freestone Mark may enter the continent.
3. Nations of Ardia agree that they shall deny financial or material support to any Tamoran business that does not hold the Freestone Mark.
4. So long as SICR, New Derusmia and Rokkenjima agree to Articles 1-3 sanctions against each other shall be lifted.
OOC- Imagine all Assembly members are in the HQ debating chamber, and that representatives of SICR and New Derusmia have been invited to attend.
It was left to Sir Richard Henderson to table the motion and introduce it. He had simply read the letter Lascelles had written to the world and then the proposed motion. "Ladies and Gentleman, you have on the table an opportunity to do something to first of all halt the continent falling into an economic war, second restore harmony to the continent is a small measure and thirdly hopefully make an impact on slavery. I heartily recommend the motion to you and I'm happy to discuss or amend it should others have their own ideas."