| SPN Interviews |
![[Image: Jcjod5_oXKgS6_zDsZowiVcswfjrNpu3AoTiiPTu...3bXrlRdQ8L]](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Jcjod5_oXKgS6_zDsZowiVcswfjrNpu3AoTiiPTuO-TMLVxHiN2tSKpTjyL8ydGGmrlxUadvft593iyJ4oj_69o-LQVQ2AdltM3tHuyS90u6UuoCYN8JZD8ulk0MSV3bXrlRdQ8L) In this episode of South Pacific News, we will be interviewing the recently elected Local Councilor Erinor (Seraph). Erinor has only recently joined Nationstates, but has already become a popular and influential figure within The South Pacific.
What made you decide to join Nationstates, and, presuming you were founded here, what made you stay in TSP? I was told about NS by a friend who'd just started playing (Land Without Shrimp) and I was intrigued. I started out in TSP and quickly found that I liked the atmosphere here, but it took me a couple of weeks to pick up the courage and stay getting more involved, first on the RMB and then on the forums. Overall I'd say it's the fine people and open, friendly atmosphere that keeps me here. Since you got involved so quickly, what advice would you give other new nations wishing to get involved? I'd say that they shouldn't feel intimidated by people who've been here a long time, but just leap in and try things. TSP's welcome can be a bit mixed in its warmth and effectiveness (I want to be part of changing that), but if people see someone sticking their neck out a bit to get involved, then you'll be accepted very quickly. Of course it never hurts to be polite, friendly and accepting yourself.  Now, onto the LC election. Characteristic of your enthusiasm to get involved, was your acceptance of your nomination for the LC. What motivated you to go for a position in TSP’s government? I certainly hadn't intended to. Having joined the forums at the end of the Great Council - a forum-based meeting of minds that lasted for months and completely rewrote the region's charter - and then watching as the elections began, I thought that I wouldn't ever want to go for one of those positions (and I still don't), but would be happy to just involve myself how I could, where I could, when I could. And then I got a simple proofreading request from Roavin which spiraled into researching an article for the Coalition Day festival and eventually into being invited, by Roavin to be part of his Advisory Council in the Ministry of Regional Affairs (which deals with journalism, events and getting people involved across the region). Suddenly I was more involved than I ever thought I'd be, but I was still not planning to run for LC. It was only when I, rather unexpectedly, received a nomination, meaning that someone out there thought that I'd be good, that I began to think about it seriously. Could I do this? If I did, what would I hope to achieve? Could I even write a convincing campaign? I'd never really tried any of this before, after all, but I spoke to a few of my new TSP friends and sounded out a few ideas and was happy to give it a go. Well, you convinced the region enough for them to elect you, and now you have the responsibility of representing the wider region on the forums. There have, in recent months, been strained relationships between gameside and forumside TSP, culminating in Hileville’s coup. Obviously, the government is attempting to bridge this gap- what role do you see yourself playing in this? I see my role as twofold: to make sure the voice of the Gameside is hard on the forums and to make the forums relatable to gameside-only players who want to relate to it. There will always be a certain amount of division because this game can be played so many ways, but we're stronger as a community when we recognise that, but make every opportunity for people to try new things. I want TSP to be as strong and as integrated a community as we can make it! It may be a bit early to ask this, with what has been a pretty hectic few days in TSP, but how are things getting on between you and our other two new LCs, Belschaft and Punchwood? We haven't had a lot of time to talk, yet, but we have agreed on a few first steps and that, ultimately, how we represent the region will be up to the region itself to decide. We aren't going to see eye-to-eye on everything, of course, but then that means we have opportunities for debate and development and I hope that we can see past any differences to do what is best for those we're representing. Now, the recent Great Council was intended to create long term-stability for TSP, and, while you’ve ruled out some of the top jobs, I’d be interested to know where you see TSP in several years’ time, and where you see yourself within the community. For all that my involvement seems to increase exponentially, I'm probably too new to give any kind of long-term forecast. I can say what I'd like to see and that's a region which is consistently good at welcoming new players, at breaking down the barriers to on-site and off-site involvement, where the learning curve is less steep and the output in terms of creativity, fun and inter-regional influence is prolific. As for where I see myself? I hope that I'm still right in the middle of it all, with more experience to pass on and a great many more things still to write. And now for the most important question: cake or pie? My position on this has been clear from the beginning, though I know it is controversial, still, I will not be one to stand down and let the opportunity for dessert pass me by. I will not be silenced lest it is by a mouthful of sugary deliciousness. I will not go quietly into the night until I have bowlfuls of pudding with ice cream and custard! Cake AND Pie, I say! Cake AND Pie! Finally, is there anything else you'd like to say to the nations of TSP? Be nice to one another. Try new things. Get involved. Have fun! We'll do our best to make all of that as easy as possible. Did some LC, MoRA, CRS stuff in the past. Do a lot of World Census stuff now.
This episode of South Pacific News is the second of our interviews with TSP's new Local Councillors. Today, we will be interviewing Punchwood.
Firstly, with this being shared on the RMB, there will probably be a lot of new nations reading who don't really know who you are, so could you give us a little of your background? Well my name is Punchwood and I've been in the region for two years and a bit now. I've spent most of my time in Regional Affairs though I have spent a very short period of time as a SPSF member and an ambassador for the region. I was a High Court Justice for a term, I've been a Deputy Minister for Regional Affairs before and I have also served as Minister for Regional Affairs. I will now get to say that I am a Local Councillor thanks to you the voters. You recently campaigned to be the Minister of Foreign affairs, but lost out in the cabinet election in July, when Sandaoguo gained a substantial lead before you conceded very graciously. What made you then decide to stand for LC? Well in short I got nominated. I know it's very common for people to say that they weren't expecting a nomination but then decide to run but it's true. I was nominated and I thought well what is the worst that could happen? The worst thing that could happen is that I might lose, plus it means I'll be able to stay activity in Regional Affairs matters and start to be more active in the RMB. Well, let me congratulate you on your win. It was a closely fought election, with considerable uncertainty in terms of projecting a result. How did you feel during the vote? Was there any point when you thought you couldn't win? I was nervous the whole way through voting, and there was not a moment that I thought "Yep, I've won a seat." At the start I was worried that I wouldn't get many votes but then the APC endorsement came and that really helped to swing it for me. Even after that though I remained nervous and I would keep checking the vote throughout the day. As you've just said, things turned around for you when the APC (Alliance for the Preservation of the Coalition), a party of which you are a member, gave you their endorsement. What did it mean for you to have the backing of your party? It was an amazing moment. There were two members of the APC standing for election myself and Zak. The party trusted me enough to endorse me for the Local Council, there is not much that beats that. How significant do you think this win is for the APC and how do you see party membership influencing your role on the Local Council? I think this is a big win for the APC, we now become a real party. Well I will use my role on the Local Council to help spread our message and get the things we believe are right done. Look we are the most progressive party in the region, we are a real party with a real platform unlike our counterparts who exist mainly as a voting bloc rather than a real party. We believe in government transparency, giving the SPSF the autonomy it needs so long as it keeps to TSP law, a foreign policy that spreads our culture, a free press and a region where all are treated equally and have the same rights no matter if they are on the forums or not. So those are the kind of ideas that I will try my hardest to get implemented or at least discussed while I'm in the Local Council. There has been a lot of talk about how the Local Council role is changing to better represent the region on the gameside. What would a successful Local Council look like to you and how do you see the role developing in the future? A successful Local Council to me would be where the Local Council listens to the region but does not poll them on every single issue. I see that being the future of the Local Council. You said that you’ve spent most of your TSP career in the Ministry of Regional Affairs. What have you learned during your time in the Ministry of Regional Affairs that you think you could apply to your new LC role? Lots! I've learnt that running for election is much easier than being elected and then having to do the things you promised. The main one though is that if you want things done then you have to be active and you have to make sure the people you are working with are active too. So I will be make sure Belschaft and Seraph are both fully active and I will be talking on the RMB that little bit more and making sure that polls are a normal thing rather than a special thing. The most important question has, of course, yet to be asked. You know it’s inevitable, so, cake or pie? Well I was once like Seraph, I thought that Cake and Pie could live hand and hand together but I was wrong. I soon saw that. The Lord of Cake is the only pudding. I would have thought you would have seen that coming seeing as I lead a Cabinet coup declaring that all Pie supporter would stand trial for crimes against the region. And finally, do you have anything else you’d like to say to the region? Just thank you for electing me, I hope to serve you guys well. Long live Cake! Did some LC, MoRA, CRS stuff in the past. Do a lot of World Census stuff now.
Great interview!
(07-08-2016, 06:41 AM)Punchwood Wrote: we are a real party with a real platform unlike our counterparts Erm .... looks like a platform to me >_> ![[Image: XXPV74Y.png?1]](https://i.imgur.com/XXPV74Y.png?1)
(07-08-2016, 06:54 AM)Roavin Wrote: Great interview! Eh, but is it a real one? I mean anyone can write up a few lines about culture and the military. Europeian Ambassador to The South Pacific
Former Local Council Member Former Minister of Regional Affairs Former High Court Justice
(07-08-2016, 08:27 AM)Punchwood Wrote:(07-08-2016, 06:54 AM)Roavin Wrote: Great interview! A platform is a statement of principles and goals. As far as I can tell, both the TIL platform and the APC platform fit that definition. Do you then also wish to delegitimize the APC platform, or can you point out how the APC platform is more "real" than the TIL platform?
They're both platforms.
Hey they are both platforms!!!!! The options he stated are his an only his and not the option of any orgization he is a part of it has any ties to.
Above all else, I hope to be a decent person.
Has Been What's Next? CoA: August 2016-January 2017
Minister of Foreign Affairs: October 2019-June 2020, October 2020- February 2021 (07-08-2016, 11:08 AM)Omegahe Wrote: Hey they are both platforms!!!!! The options he stated are his an only his and not the option of any orgization he is a part of it has any ties to.There has to be a line drawn between personal opinions and those stated as a member of any political organisation a person is a part of. I'm glad that you have taken time to clarify the APC's stance, but if members of the APC continue to make statements undermining TIL, it will be detrimental to inter-party relations, especially given the desire of the APC to work with TIL.
Thank you Awe. I am aware and we will continue to work towards making sure that positive relations can occur. Now will y'all please let SPN get back to reporting!
Above all else, I hope to be a decent person.
Has Been What's Next? CoA: August 2016-January 2017
Minister of Foreign Affairs: October 2019-June 2020, October 2020- February 2021 |
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