The Aerican Empire (French: Empire aéricain) (/ɒˈɛrɪkɪn/ ah-ERR-i-kin), conventionally referred to in short form as Aerica (/ɒˈɛrɪkə/ ah-ERR-i-kə), is a social organization and self-proclaimed micronation, founded in May 1987.[3] Its name stems from the term "American Empire".[4] In 2000 The New York Times described its website as "one of the more imaginative" micronation sites.[5]
Aerican Empire Empire aéricain (French) | |
|---|---|
| Micronation (unrecognized entity) | |
 | |
| Claimed by | Eric Lis[1][2] |
| Dates claimed | May 8, 1987–present |
Website www | |
Their flag is similar to the flag of Canada, with a yellow smiling face instead of the red maple leaf in the white square (although the red rectangles on the sides have different side length ratios). The national motto of the Aerican Empire is "The world is ridiculous; let’s keep it that way".[6]
History
editThe Aerican Empire was founded on May 8, 1987 by Canadian Eric Lis and a group of friends. For the first ten years the Empire was almost completely fictional, claiming sovereignty over a vast galaxy of feigned planets and engaging in wars against other micronations (although never resulting in physical contact).[7] In 1997, the Empire created its own website.[8]
In 2007, Aerica first issued "novelty passports." The first issued passport was exhibited in the Palais de Tokyo 2007 Micronational art exhibition.[9] Aerica issued stamps for the first time in 2015.[10] The Aerican Empire first issued coinage in November 2009, and a second coin was minted to celebrate Aerica's 25th anniversary in 2012.[11] Banknotes were issued for the first time in 2017.[11]
Status
editThe Empire's mission statement is: "The Empire exists to facilitate the evolution of a society wherein the Empire itself is no longer necessary."[7][12][13] It describes itself as having a parliamentary system, with various elected bodies and offices, under the oversight of an Emperor (currently the founder, Eric Lis).[14] Lis, who founded the Aerican Empire as a child, obtained his M.D., C.M. from McGill University and has been published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience[15] and Weird Tales magazine.[16][17]
The group's activities are permeated by a great deal of humour and a love of science fiction and fantasy, with recurrent references to Star Wars, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and similar works. Annually, the Empire holds story-writing contests, role-playing and wargaming days, and such events as the Dog-Biscuit Appreciation Day Scavenger Hunt.[7] It also developed a religion called Silinism, the worship of the Great Penguin; originally intended as a joke, but which the group says has thirty practitioners worldwide.[5] It has holidays and "niftydays" (such as Saint Bill’s Day, "honoring the ultimate nerd"[18] and Topin Wagglegammon, "the Niftiest Day of the Year"[19]).
Offline activities
editDelegations from the Aerican Empire were in attendance at the Polinations academic conference in London in 2012[20][21] and the MicroCon micronations convention in Atlanta in 2017.[2]
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ Infoman: Infoman, 11 October 2012, "Émission du 11 Octobre"
- ^ a b Atlanta Magazine: Atlanta Magazine, 30 June 2017, "You probably didn't know, but leaders from 26 micronations just gathered in Atlanta".
- ^ Ryan, J: Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Self-Proclaimed Nations, ISBN 1-74104-730-7
- ^ Aerican Empire: FAQ at the group's website, section "What kind of name is Aerica?". Retrieved July 2009.
- ^ a b "Utopian Rulers, and Spoofs, Stake Out Territory Online". The New York Times. 25 May 2000.
Aerican Emire: Aerican, one of the more imaginative sites, refers to itself as the Monty Python of micronationalism, and its inhabitants worship a being known as the Great Penguin. The site warns its readers: Aerican places a high emphasis on silliness. People who cannot act silly are permitted entry only on a limited basis. A smiley-face adorns the flag.
- ^ "Aerican Empire – De Facto". defactoborders.org. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
- ^ a b c The Montreal Mirror: The Montreal Mirror Archived November 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, 17 August 2006, "The little empire that could"
- ^ O'Driscoll, F: Ils ne siègent pas à l'ONU, ISBN 2-87867-251-8
- ^ Aerican Mailing List Archive, [1], December 2, 2006
- ^ Aerican Empire Post, [2], May 8, 2015
- ^ a b Aerican Empire: Economics
- ^ The Boston Phoenix: The Boston Phoenix Archived May 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, October 2000, "States of Mind".
- ^ CBC Daybreak: Daybreak, 13 July 2006, "The Aerican Empire: Interview With Eric Lis". Montreal: CBC Radio
- ^ Le Soleil, Quebec City: Le Soleil, 18 January 2001, "Vive Eric 1er, empereur virtuel!"
- ^ Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience: [3], 2007, "Neuroimaging and genetics of borderline personality disorder: a review".
- ^ Weird Tales Magazine: Weird Tales, 2008, "My True Lovecraft Gave To Me".
- ^ Weird Tales Magazine: Weird Tales, 2011, "A Contract Without Loopholes".
- ^ Context Magazine: Context Magazine Archived October 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, April–May 2001, "Altered States".
- ^ Aerican Empire: Calendar
- ^ Delafontaine, L., Les Micronations, Montreuil-sur-Brêche, Diaphane, 14 September 2013, pages 160, ISBN 978-2-919077-19-9
- ^ Radio France: 15 July 2012, archived at