Fwurg

[Nehket Aeka]

"Fellow senators,

Five months ago I stood before you all and told you that I was willing to look for a compromise on the matter of slavery. In the discussion in opened in the senate, I have tried to foster an understanding of our different cultures, and to find common ground. Now, with my term as chancellor coming to an end, I feel obliged to take the last step on trying to resolve the matter. To this end, I hereby open a vote to determine what, if any, compromise is possible.

Unfortunately, senator Harek has answered my question for elaboration on his counter-proposal with silence. As I do not want to put words in his mouth it is unreasonable to try to guess the kind of priority he meant. Therefore, I had no option but to leave out his proposal."

This leaves us with the following options:"

• Option A: We are in favour of the Cultural and Genetic Integrity Act.
• Option B: We are in favour of the Life-long Bonding and Protection of Children Act.
• Option C: Neither of these compromises is acceptable.

Cultural and Genetic Integrity Act

This act bans slavery, augmenting cybernetic implants, artificial birth control, and artificial abortion from the Union.

1. Slavery (i.e., the possession of sentient beings), is prohibited within all Union territories.
   1. No sentient being may be traded, change ownership, be taken possession of, or be in the possession of another being.
   2. During the grace period, all slaves are to be manumitted and given the full rights entailed by citizenship of the Union world their former owner is a citizen of.
2. Cybernetic implants may not bestow abilities that go above or beyond what the host species is naturally capable of.
   1. Exceptions to this article may be made for cybernetic implants that are deemed medically necessary, so long as a best effort is made to minimize violating the restrictions on cybernetic implants.
   2. In the context of this article the term 'medically necessary' is understood to mean 'to ensure the immediate well-being and survival of the individual'
   3. A further exception may be made for the use of cybernetic implants to guarantee the continuation of a sentient species that would otherwise become extinct, so long as efforts are made to minimize the dependency on cybernetic implants.
3. The use of artificial birth control and the application of artificially induced abortion are prohibited.
   1. Exceptions to this article are allowed for procedures deemed medically necessary.
   2. In the context of this article, the terms 'artificial' and 'medically necessary' are to be understood as follows:
   3. 'artificial' is understood to mean 'going beyond the intrinsic natural abilities of the species',
   4. 'medically necessary' is understood to mean 'to ensure the immediate well-being and survival of the parent'
4. A grace period of 20 from the enactment of this law is allowed for worlds to arrange for full compliance with the mandates set forth in this act.

Life-long Bonding and Protection of Children Act

This act bans slavery, artificial birth control, and artificial abortion from the Union. Instead of slavery, it introduces the concept of life-long bondage with a mandatory option for ending the bond.

1. Slavery (i.e., the possession of sentient beings), is prohibited within all Union territories.
   1. No sentient being may be traded, change ownership, be taken possession of, or be in the possession of another being.
   2. During the grace period, all slaves are to be manumitted and given the full rights entailed by citizenship of the Union world their former owner is a citizen of.
   3. No slave can enter into a life-long bond as described by article 2 unless they have first been manumitted in full and given citizenship.
2. Any sentient being is explicitly allowed to enter into an agreement of life-long bondage to another, conditional upon both parties consenting to the arrangement.
   1. The life-long bond must allow for the termination of the agreement. Each Union world is free to designate the authority that is to govern the termination of these agreements by their own customs.
   2. The life-long bond can only be terminated by the authority designated by the Union world where the bond was originally established.
   3. The life-long bond is acknowledged by all Union worlds and may not be prohibited through local law.
3. The use of artificial birth control and the application of artificially induced abortion are prohibited.
   1. Exceptions to this article are allowed for procedures deemed medically necessary.
   2. In the context of this act, the terms 'artificial' and 'medically necessary' are to be understood as follows:
   3. 'artificial' is understood to mean 'going beyond the intrinsic natural abilities of the species',
   4. 'medically necessary' is understood to mean 'to ensure the immediate well-being and survival of the parent'
4. A grace period of 5 from the enactment of his law is allowed for worlds to arrange for full compliance with the mandates set forth in this act.

"The following member worlds may vote:

• Astai Republic
  
• Astrian Colonial Authority
  
• Federal Republic of Bisidn
  
• High Chiefdom of Skuldda
  
• Hiocan Society
  
• Holy Heimgolian Theocracy
  
• IO Protocol
  
• Kingdom of Komès
  
• Kingdom of Meritonia
  
• Miomanian Colonists
  
• New Communist Imperium of the Rising Suns of Deominius
  
• Principality of Suma
  
• Silver Forests of Remunzia
  
• Socialist Republic of Niom
  
• Sundarian Federation
  
• Unified Republic of Darya

Voting closes on 2015-08-22 23:59."

[0x71A7E17A (mask of 0x71A7E17A)]

0x71A7E17AABSTAIN

[Senator Harek]

"The Hiocan Society votes for option B."

[Senator Arzag of Suma]

"The principality of Suma votes option C."

[Lord-Senator Kachiso Doshima]

Lord-Senator Kachiso Doshima took a deep breath before speaking.

"As you all know the Astrian Colonial Authority doesn't condone slavery. We firmly believe a sentient being cannot be owned like a peace of property. We believe this because the very notion of this goes against equality and freedom. Two values we hold in the highest regard.

However, we cannot condone this vote. Because this vote goes against the very principles the Union was founded on. If we allow the Union to dictate the culture of it's members, we will become the very evil we are trying to combat. If the culture of a world needs to change then let them do so of their own free will. Until the worlds that have slavery wish to change this aspect of their culture, the Union has no business questioning this aspect. We can merely state our opinion.

For this reason the Astrian Colonial Authority votes option C. Not because we are unwilling to compromise, but because we believe the Union shouldn't force worlds, such as the Veolian Commonwealth, to change their culture against their will. We will not sit idly by as the Union turns into a tyranny and we urge the rest of the Senate not to allow this to continue."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"The Teprogrenaian Consensus agree with the Astrian Colonial Authority on this point. We are also against forcing Union members to change their culture. So we feel forced to say that the spirit of both option A and B will change the Teprogrenaian Culture, which we are against."

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

" The Sundarian Federation is not willing to support any act that would force members to change aspects of their culture, nor do we wish to create a law against artificial birth control as a measure to control population growth. We therefore vote for option C.

[Senator Afra Mesti Vanlind of Komès]

"The Kingdom of Komès votes for option C."

[Senator Enrorgh of Meritonia]

"The kingdom of Meritonia abstains on this issue."

[Senator Ght'Twwf of the Socialist Republic of Niom]

"The Socialist Republic of Niom votes for option B. The Socialist Republic of Niom does so on grounds that this option provides the most encompassing regulations."

[Senator Salixa of the Silver Forests of Remunzia]

"How about this? You end slavery because it is a reprehensible, evil, and disgusting practice that no civilized people would ever engage in, and we give you exactly nothing in return because that's already what you are supposed to do!"

[Senator Odakim V of the Rising Suns of Deominius]

"Sadly these proposals do not address the issues raised by our world in any way whatsoever! We vote for option C"

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

"While we oppose the idea of slavery, the Miomanian Colonists believe that this issue is far too complicated and has far too many intricacies to be resolved in the manner proposed. We therefore abstain on this issue."

[Atheos]

"The Astai Republic votes for option C, as both options infringe on the social orders of sovereign Union nations."

[Nehket Aeka]

The Holy Heimgolian Theocracy let it be known via a message to the Chancellor that they vote for option B

[Senator Lonco Morubixaba of Skuldda]

"I vote C"

[Senator Shahkra of the Federal Republic of Bisidn]

"Although we are against the practice of slavery, both A and B do impair the culture of other factions involuntarily. Therefore we vote C."

[Nehket Aeka]

"Fellow senators,

I hereby close the vote. The results are:

• Option A: 0
• Option B: 3
• Option C: 8
• Abstaining or absent: 5

Option C is selected with 8 votes in favour, with 2 more than necessary for an absolute majority out of 11 cast votes."