Fri 5 Feb 2010
The answer is nobody. Marie Byrd Land is a big swath (1,610,000 km²) of land in Antarctica (east of the Ross Ice Shelf, if you want to get specific.) My famous ancestor, Admiral Richard E. Byrd, explored the area in 1929, and named the area in honor of his wife.
Most of Marie Byrd Land (the portion east of 150°W) has not been claimed by any nation. It is not a recognized nation, making it by far the largest single unclaimed territory on Earth. As such, I’d like to claim it. For your information, as far as I’m aware, there is only one other unclaimed piece of land on Earth, the Bir Tawil Triangle (not actually a triangle), between Egypt and Sudan. I’d like to claim that too.
I suppose to claim land you need 1-a basis for the claim and 2-to be a sovereign nation. Acquring land is an important step in becoming a country. Foriegn Policy magazine once published an article “How to Start Your own Country in Four Easy Steps.” Those steps are:
- Acquire land
- Acquire a population
- Create a constitution and a functioning government
- Behave like a real country toward other countries.
We’ll need a flag, obvious, and a country name (Antarcticland is taken…). Most of our revenue will come from our domain name sales of our new TLD. I think The Nation of ByrdLand sounds good.
Here’s a wikihow article on Nation Starting.
Will you join my country?
DIY Nation: http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/04/diy-nation-how-to-start-your-own-country-three-experts-offer-advice/
No.
that’s too bad because I was going to grant you and Rachel honorary titles and degrees in my new kingdom…
The ruler/subject relationship, like the lender/lendee relationship, has ruined many a good friendship
Well, we’re maybe slightly offended, but that wont stop me from lending you a Hamilton if you need a ten spot sometime. D@mn the social conventions!
Let it also be known that the Spigarelli family will henceforth always be welcome in Byrdland. In fact, the Committee of Names and Policies has even suggested the naming of either a plateau, a hill-top or a bluff after the Spigarellis. It’s awaiting approval.
I think you should do it, and I’m serious about that. It might come in handy in the coming decades.
As far as acquiring land goes, there is a precedent for “groups” or “clans” taking land by force and starting their own country, land which they never owned before. That might cover #1. Acquire a population – if you keep the rules to a minimum, you’d have plenty of people there in a heartbeart. Revenue from passport and flag (for sea-faring ships) would be huge. Basically copy the best parts of a constitution you prefer… And lastly, register with the Swiss as a Government Body, and apply for UN membership.
What do you think? How crazy does that sound?
Claiming (and maintaining) Byrdland by force? We’d need to create a top notch military. I wonder if, once we registered with the UN, that other countries would sell us military hardware? We’ll need hmmwv’s, tanks, personnel carriers, comm systems, RPGs, etc. Of course, China and Russia (and former soviet republics) seem to sell anything to anyone.
I wonder if Byrdland has oil? we’ll need buckets of cash.
I would like to ask you something:
If you read this italian web
http://www.antarcticland.org/
and here
http://www.antarcticland.org/contenuti-sito/articoli/history-of-antarcticland-2.html
you realize that the area that you are talking about is claimed by Mr Caporaso Gottlieb who is a descendant of the russian Gottlieb that was the first person to “see” the antartic continent.
(it is not clear where appears if in the Marie Bird land or the actual norwegian antartic land)..anyway…I would like to know the opinion of Mr Byrd on the “Antarticland” of Mr Caporaso Gottlieb…
Consider that Mr Caporaso claimed officially Antarticland (which corresponds to the land of Marie Byrd) at the UN in New York City.
Thanks for your help in this matter I will wait your opinion
merely laying eyes on territory is not sufficient for one to lay claim on it. My relative, Admiral Richard E. Byrd, explored and sat foot on the land.
of course, what is necessary is citizens. So I’ll need to move to Marie Byrdland and live there with some friend before I could petition the UN for recognition as a sovereign nation.
thanks for the quick answer, but I suggest you to read carefully
http://www.knights-soka.org/
Mr Caporaso Gottlieb is cllaiming the land that your ancestor explored…and he already got recognition read here:
The Supreme Council of Presidency of the International State Parliament for Safety and Peace, has granted by Parliamentary Decree No DI-011 of November 28th, 2008 and approved by His Excellency the Lord President, the Accreditation and Official Status of Incorporation of the Government of Antarcticland.
So if you want to claim the land that your ancestor explored better take a plane to NYC and start to claim it at UN!!!
grazie! Sto andando a New York!
ok, let me know the following steps but be careful, apart from Mr Caporaso Gottlieb even your friends of the US Air force could be interested in the land of your ancestor…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Deep_Freeze
Good Luck!!!
Grazie molte!
I will become smarter as I grow older. Tell me a story.
What were we talking about again?
Alright I am willing to live there and start a country there.
So the only way to claim this as my territory is by going to the UN and making a petition?
Mr. Byrd, I’m willing to start a country with you.
Whats your say?