Zinaire

République zináiriànne
Republic of Zinaire
République zináiriànne Republic of Zinaire
Flag	Coat of Arms
	Motto: "Order and progress"
	Anthem: Land of Tropical Promise;
	The location of Zinaire (green) in Tarquinia (grey)
Located in	Tarquinia
Capital; (and largest city)	Zinaire City
Official languages	English, French
Demonym	Zinairian
Government	Oligarchical Republic
Independence	from Questers
Area
Population
GDP (nominal)	2010 estimate
Gini (2010)	33.1 (?th)
HDI (2010)	.995 (high) (3rd)
Currency	Numer (ZIN)
Time zone	KMT +9 to +10
Drives on the	left
Internet TLD	.zn
Calling code	+962

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Zinaire, officially the Republic of Zinaire (French: République zináriànne) is a unified social republic that is home to almost 600 million people. It is located in southeastern Tarquinia and borders on Oseato, Santheres, and the Transnoordelik Free State. Compared to its neighbors, Zinaire is small geographically and, even more so, demographically. Zinaire has an area of 3.5 million square kilometers (1.4 million square miles). Zinaire also has a number of outlying islands along its coast.

Until 1913, Zinaire was under Questarian colonial rule. The Questarian pull-out and subsequent formation of the Zinairian state resulted in the election of a president and the formation of a unicameral legislature. Following the establishment of the Second Republic in 1971, Zinaire has been ruled by a five-person Executive Council, which replaces a single strong executive, in addition to a unicameral legislature that has persisted since the First Republic. The national government also consists, most notably, of the Supreme Court and the Executive Cabinet.

Zinaire has a powerful economy, substantial regional sway and a moderate amount of international respect, especially among Havenic nations, a number of which are counted as Zinaire's allies. Zinaire is an influential member of the Oceanic Defense Coalition and has held several positions on ODECON's Multilateral Authority in the past. Despite maintaining an advanced, albeit small, military and holding membership in a notable military alliance, Zinaire is notable for its tendency towards non-confrontational behavior.

Zinaire is home to a diverse population which includes a large number of Havenic immigrants whose cultures have become deeply engrained in the Zinairian people. Many of these immigrants have married and reproduced with Zinairian ingenious peoples, namely members of the Sutikuy and Swugani ethnic groups, creating a large multicultural population. Both English and Zinairian French, which is influenced by the native Quechua language of the Sutikuy, are spoken by nearly all Zinairians.

History

Pre-colonial history

Ususimayu storehouses at the settlement of Supaysulu, now a popular tourist attraction

See also: Ususimayu

The first evidence of inhabitation on the Zinairian islands dates back to 7,000 BCE and archeologists speculate that many primitive tribes and civilizations roamed the islands for the over 8,000 years prior to the rise of the Ususimayu civilization. The Ususimayu people originated as a tribe of Sutikuy natives who formed a small city-state called Phichilu in the mountainous terrain along the banks of what would become known as the Chambéry River. In the time between 1370 CE, when the Ususimayu civilization was thought to originate, and 1750, when settlers first arrived in Zinaire, the Ususimayu empire had spread across much of the main Zinairian island and had assimilated many of the smaller tribes and nations which dotted the land. When colonists first arrived, the native population of the islands which make up modern-day Zinaire was thought to be over ten million. The Ususimayu civilization was largely agricultural and also supported itself with fishing in lakes, rivers and the ocean. Ususimayu art suggests that the empire was peaceful and expanded mostly through diplomacy rather than warfare and their army was actually quite primitive.

The blecks were up to something back then too. More on them later.

Colonial history

Main article: Colonial Zinaire

In 1750, the Questarian explorer Alexander Maxwell landed in Zinaire near where is now New Jesselton after an eight-year voyage from his home country. He declared the area of Questarian colony and a slow stream of supplies and Havenic settlers began arriving in Zinaire. The colony was ruled by the Questarian king through a local governor and parliament. Colonial Zinaire was home to numerous plantations for goods such as tobacco, coffee, and sugar cane.

Prompted by growing tensions arising from traditional Zinairian and colonial ways of life and the religious, racist, and sexist culture of Questeria, the Zinairian colonial government declared independence from the greater Questarian government in 1899. The declaration was not recognized and resulted in a conflict between Questarian loyalists in Zinaire and those seeking independence. The majority of the Zinairian rebels were farmers from both indigenous ethnic groups and of Havenic descent and there were thought to be around 21,000 members of the fledgling army. After fourteen years of bitter guerilla warfare, the Questarian loyalists, plagued with a near inability to get supplies and reinforcements from home, withdrew, granting Zinaire its independence in 1913.

First Republic

Main article: First Zinairian Republic

Nothing happened.

Five Years' War

Main article: Roubaix Zinaire

Early in the Five Years' War, Zinaire was invaded by its neighbor Oseato, which was under the Oseaton Regeer. As a whole, Zinairian forces were quickly defeated by the Oseatons. Michel Quipont, the president of the republic at the time of the war, was quick to surrender and begin collaborating with the Oseatons. Although the eastern half of Zinaire remained occupied by forces of the Regeer, the western half of the country was formed into a puppet state commonly known as Roubaix Zinaire or the Zinairian State. Quipont acted as the Chief of the Zinairian State and increasingly collaborated with the Regeer.

Henri Morel, a general in the Zinairian Army, lead the Free Zinairian Forces, a guerilla resistance group that fought the Oseaton occupation of Zinaire and, to a lesser extent, the march into Santheres.

Zinaire is liberated, etc. etc.

Second Republic

Main article: Second Zinairian Republic

Morel founds Second Republic. Hooray!

Recent history

Geography

A map of Zinaire showing large bodies of water and major cities

Main article: Geography of Zinaire

Zinaire is located at the southern point of Tarquinia's eastern continent. To the west, it borders on Santheres, to the east, it borders on Oseato, and to the north, it borders the Transnoordelik Free State. In addition to the mainland, Zinaire claims eight islands with a land area of over 100 square kilometers and countless islands with much a much smaller area. The largest of the outlying islands is Westlind Island off the eastern coast with an area of almost 7,000 km². Westlind island is one of two Zinairian islands with major cities on it. The other islands are mainly home to naval bases, resorts, and small towns.

There are two major bodies of still water on the Zinairian mainland. The larger is Lac Perdu, a large, high-altitude lake located in central Zinaire. It has an area of 69,075 square kilometers (26,670 square miles) that is connected to the ocean by the Chambéry River. The smaller lake is Lake Lorient in the east with an area of 15,075 km² (5,820 sq mi). It is fed by the Blair River, which runs through the capital, Zinaire City, as well as the city of Blair. In total, 2.7% of Zinaire's area is covered in water.

The terrain of Zinaire is varied. Much of the main island is dominated by jungle, tropical savannah and mountainous terrain. The northeast is home to dense jungle, and, as a result, is sparsely populated, while further south is dominated by savannah. The north-central portion of the country is very mountainous. Many of the mountainous areas are home to cloud forests. Both rocky and sandy beaches occur along the coastline of the the Zinairian mainland and the outlying islands.

An afternoon rainstorm over Kingston

Cloud forest in the mountains surrounding Lac Pedu

Climate

Zinaire has a tropical climate. Except in a small area along the western coast, there is no dry season, meaning that it is almost constantly hot and humid. The western coast is distinct from the rest of the country in that it has both wet and dry seasons. Temperatures almost always exceed 23ºC (73ºF) and frequently climb as high as 35ºC (95ºF), especially in urban areas and during the hottest months of the year, which are June through August. Mean monthly rainfall is 164.6 mm (6.48 inches). Zinairian rainfall is characterized by light sunshowers in the morning and afternoon and heavier rainfall overnight. Weather in Zinaire is generally very similar on a day-to-day and month-to-month basis; the only notable changes are rather minor variations in average temperature and rainfalls between months. Even in parts of Zinaire that experience a year-round wet climate, the months between June and September, also the hottest months of the year, are the period of heaviest rainfall. Snowfall is very rare, even at higher altitudes, although temperatures can dip substantially lower in the mountains, often as low as 19ºC (66ºF) in the area surrounding Lac Perdu.

Wildlife

Considering its extensive rainforest, it should come as no surprise that Zinaire plays host to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Hundreds of species of insects, birds and fish reside in Zinaire in addition to many varieties of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. While there are many hazardous species of animals in Zinaire, deaths caused by them are generally rather rare as the majority of the population spends almost the entirety of their time in urbanized areas with very little wildlife. Illegal big game hunting is common in the sparsely populated northeastern jungle.

Natural resources

Zinaire has substantial mineral wealth which was instrumental to its success after independence. The country is home to a variety of precious and non-precious metals including gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, bauxite, and nickel. Zinaire also houses substantial oil deposits and, due to the large amounts of jungle, timber deposits. There are relatively few laws regulating the extraction of natural resources, which is a source of much outrage for many environmental groups.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Zinaire

See also: Political parties of Zinaire

The Zinairian Capitol building National Plaza in Zinaire City

The Zinairian government has a relatively conventional three-branch structure which is similar to that of many other republics worldwide. The most interesting component of the government is the five-man council which replaces a single strong executive such as a president. This is a measure intended to reduce the power held by any one person in the government, but some consider it to be at odds with the philosophy of minimalism and governmental streamlining seen elsewhere.

A single unicameral legislative body, the National Assembly, governs Zinaire and has the express power to pass statute and declare war. A unicameral legislature was selected because of its higher efficiency and reduction in redundancy. The three-hundred deputies which serve on the National Assembly hold their seat for five years and can be elected for an infinite number of terms. The President of the National Assembly presides over the legislature.

The executive branch is made up of the Executive Council and the Executive Cabinet. The Executive Council is made up of five councilors (councilors are sometimes referred to as executives, in reference to the council chairman's title of Chief Executive) which are elected for five-year terms in national elections. The Council replaces a single executive figure such as a president or prime minister. The Executive Council may only veto a piece of legislature or pass an executive order with the approval of four out of the five councilors. The Executive Cabinet is made up of the heads of the various authorities within the Zinairian government. As a single body, its main duty is to advise the Executive Council on matters of policy.

The judicial branch of the Zinairian national government has two subcomponents: the Supreme Court and the Attorney General. The Supreme Court is made up of seven justices, including a Chief Justice, and is the highest constitutional authority in the nation. The office of the Attorney General is responsible for criminal prosecution. The Attorney General should not be confused with the Minister of Justice, who is tasked with managing various national enforcement agencies and advising the government on matters of law.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Zinaire

Zinaire generally attempts to maintain neutrality in foreign affairs that do not directly affect its domestic matters. Despite this, Zinaire is a member of the Oceanic Defense Coalition, which is somewhat notorious for its role as what some would call a world policeman. Even as a fairly influential member of ODECON, Zinairian national forces (not to be confused with Zinairians serving with ODEFOR) have never been mobilized in support of an ODECON operation. Zinaire has an especially strong relationship with the Havenic state of Leistung as a product of their shared ODECON membership.

The foreign policy of Zinaire is heavily regionalist, and its military and economic power is centered almost exclusively in Tarquinia. Despite the limited range of Zinaire's power, it holds a fair amount of clout in Tarquinia due to its political connections and economic strength. Zinaire can be considered a regional power in some senses, but it is by no means a world power or even a commonly recognized name in distant regions. Zinaire has been active in the founding of several regional organizations, mostly notably the Tarquinian League.

Zinaire has excellent relations with its neighbors, Oseato and Santheres, both ODECON members, and together with these countries, makes up the power base in southeastern Tarquinia.

Zinaire maintains good trade relations with a number of states, including ones with drastically different ideologies. Other non-allied states that do substantial trade with Zinaire include, Sarrowquand, Ruccola, and Van Luxemburg. The Aequatian Republic Navy is also permitted to maintain a base on the Zinairian Île du Soleil.

Military

Zinairian troops fast roping from a UH-28 Black Falcon in an exercise.

Main article: Zinairian Armed Forces

Despite being nearly pacifist in practice, Zinaire maintains a capable military that comprises 2,348,000 personnel across three services: the army, the navy and the air force. The Zinairian military is an entirely professional, volunteer force. There is no conscription and no reserve forces. There are approximately four soldiers for every thousand Zinairian citizens, making for a rather small percentage of the nation which is enlisted. The Zinairian military has a budget of just over $1.75 trillion annually or $750,000 per member. Clearly, the Zinairian armed forces are very well funded and this translates into a force with advanced equipment, comprehensive training and excellent compensation. Many feel that Zinairian military spending, which totals over 5% of the GDP, is excessive, especially considering the small size of the military. The government acknowledges this and hopes to cut the budget as current procurement programs come to a close.

The Zinairian military is under the control of the Military Authority which is headed by the Minister of Military Affairs. The Minister of Military Affairs (currently Henry Norton) also acts as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This is uncharacteristic as normally the head of state or government would fill this role, but Zinaire lacks a single executive who would fill this position. Recently, there has been a movement for the second seat executive (who is responsible for military affairs) to act as the command-in-chief.

Zinairian forces suffered an embarrassing defeat during the Five Years' War that resulted in the Oseaton occupation of the country. Since the 70's, Zinaire has not made any major military deployments overseas. Even with membership in ODECON, which has engaged in several conflicts over the course of Zinaire's membership, the vast majority of soldiers in the Zinairian armed forces have seen action only as peacekeepers in the nearby Transnoordelik Free State.

Due to its small population and the even smaller size of its armed forces, Zinaire is far from a global military power, but the Zinairian military is considered an extremely potent force and it is speculated that they could defeat a force of comparable size from many of the world's nations. However, this remains untested and there are those who speculate that Zinairian forces will crumple in an actual combat situation due to poor leadership or inadequate preparedness for the realities of combat.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Zinaire

Zinaire has a strong mixed capitalist economy which is supported by a business-friendly government, abundant natural resources and a culture of hard work. Zinaire has a gross domestic product of $36.4 trillion and a GDP per capita of $62,000.^[1] Zinaire has a postindustrial economy in which the service industry contributes substantially to the GDP. However, manufacturing remains a major industry with companies such as Bergeron, Leier, and Clermont Naval Works accounting for a large portion of this component. Numerous Havenic companies, including AMI Corporation and Kent Instruments, have their major Tarquinian branches headquartered in Zinaire or, like the Consolidated Naval Construction Group, merely maintain facilities. Technology, lead by Overmill-Invictis is another major sector of the Zinairian economy. Agriculture is not a major component of the economy and a substantial amount of Zinaire's food is imported. Many agricultural products are imported from neighbors such as Ruccola, Whiskeasy, and Van Luxemburg.

Zinaire has a workforce of 368 million people while only 2.6% of the nation is unemployed. Approximately 38% of Zinairian workers are unionized. Zinairians are extremely productive workers with a GDP per hour worked of $36.

Tourism

A beach near Roubaix

Main article: Tourism in Zinaire

Zinaire's status as a stable, first-world tropical paradise makes it a very attractive tourist destination for the wealthy (the exchange rate alone can put it out of reach of many poorer travelers). The government is known to be extremely friendly towards tourists, sometimes even to the point of leniency regarding the prosecution of minor crimes. Zinaire is considered a very safe place to travel because of low crime rates, strong police presence, low rates of infectious disease and political stability. However, Zinairians are generally considered rather cold and unwelcoming, especially to foreigners. The belt of unstable, third-world countries to Zinaire's north has also served to deter tourists that must pass through by rail or car.

Zinaire's beaches are the primary draw, but the jungles of the interior and the cloud forests of the Montperdu area are also popular. Major population centers such as Zinaire City and Nouveau Lyon are not generally popular as most lack any cultural significance.

There are an estimated 109 million foreign visitors to Zinaire each year. These tourists spend more than $100 billion every year, making tourism a very important industry for Zinaire.

Zinaire's friendliness towards the LGBT population and liberal stance on same-sex marriage also makes it a popular destination for LGBT tourism.

Energy

A nuclear power plant near Montperdu

Main article: Energy in Zinaire

Although Zinaire is not generally known for being especially responsible about the environment, the vast majority of the nation's energy consumption is renewable or, at the least least, emission-free.

While Zinaire produces significant amounts of crude oil, the majority of cars in Zinaire run on E85 part-ethanol fuel. Most of the ethanol used in Zinaire is produced from sugar cane. In 2008, ZMW announced that its entire 2009 model year would have an E85 option. Oil production significantly outsteps oil consumption, resulting in significant exports through the international cartel Coalition Oil.

The majority of electricity in Zinaire is generated from nuclear power, but there are smatterings of solar and wind plants, especially on the islands. Zinaire receives over 85% of its electricity from nuclear power in addition to 7% from hydroelectric sources and 2% from renewable sources, primarily solar. The remaining 6% is generated from other sources such as oil and gas.

There are an alarming 1,300 nuclear power plants operating in Zinaire. Zinairian scientists are active in the research of nuclear power and is working to improve current fission plants with increased safety and efficiency and decreased waste. Research into power generation through nuclear fusion is also taking place. Plans to phase out older reactors and replace them with newer generation IV reactors within the next twenty years are currently being developed although opponents say that the high cost of new plants (estimated to cost as much as $20 billion to construct) are not worth the benefits.

A high-speed train at the station in Clermont

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Zinaire

Over the last decade, transportation has been a major focus of the Zinairian government. In 2009, nearly $2.56 trillion was budgeted to transportation, making it the fourth most funded area of the government after social security, education and healthcare programs. Since 2000, the national rail network has been expanded significantly to encompass 212,647 kilometers of track. Of this, 180,750 kilometers (roughly 85%) are electrified and 12,050 kilometers are for high-speed trains. There are no plans to substantially expand the conventional rail network, but the Transportation Authority hopes to have 100% of tracks electrified within three years and there are plans to substantially expand the high-speed rail network over the coming years. The rail network is accountable for 15% of passenger travel in Zinaire and 45% of cargo movement.

The Zinairian highway network narrowly beats the rail network at 216,900 kilometers. The highway system provides adequate links between cities and towns but many Zinairians prefer to travel by train, especially since most of Zinaire's larger cities are best navigated on foot or by public transportation rather than with a private vehicle. There are approximately 520 cars per 1,000 people in Zinaire. The majority of cars in Zinaire are produced by the domestic companies such as Bergeron or ZMW, but the Van Luxemburger company VLT also has a large share of the Zinairian auto market. Roadways account for 67% of passenger travel in Zinaire.

There are several thousand airports in Zinaire. The largest and busiest of which is Blair International Airport, which serves the city of Blair, Zinaire. Zinaire International Airport, one of two airports serving Zinaire City comes in second. ZinAir, the nation's flag carrier provides domestic and regional flights as well as international flights to selected locations, most of which in Haven or Nova.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Zinaire

Many aspects of Zinairian culture can be traced back to either the attitudes of Questarian colonists or to those of Ususimayu natives. However, other aspects depart radically from either culture.

Film

While Zinaire is not a notable hotspot for high art or culture of any kind, numerous high-grossing films have originated there. Zinairian film is characterized by its tendency to pander to the lowest common denominator with dramatic explosions and gunfights, crude humor and nudity showing up frequently. Films of the Zinairian low-brow genre generally do not attempt to posses any artistic value or even a complex storyline. Daniel Dupont Jr., the producer and star of Dino Space Pirates in MiGs, a characteristic example of the low-brow genre, said that movement "tries to string as many dogfights, explosions, and sex scenes as possible together while maintaing some semblance of plot."

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Zinaire

Zinaire has a population of 587,000,000 legal citizens in addition to a fairly negligible number of illegal immigrants. By global standards, Zinaire is a rather small nation; some of its regional neighbors, namely Santheres have populations well into the billions. At 168 people per square kilometer, Zinaire's population density can be considered moderately high. Zinaire has a population growth rate of 0.29% and a birth rate of 9.8 per 1,000. A total of 1.8 million immigrants were granted legal citizenship during 2008. Illegal immigration is relatively uncommon due to Zinaire's liberal immigration policies. The majority of illegal immigrants are black indigenous people fleeing from discrimination and persecution in nearby states such as Oseato and Noordelik.

Urban centers

Approximately 82% of Zinairians live in urban centers (this includes suburbs and similar areas) and 57% of those live in a city with a population of at least 50,000. A total of 341 cities have a population over 100,000, nine have a population over a million, four have a population over two million and two have a population over five million. The largest cities in Zinaire are Zinaire City, Nouveau Lyon, Blair, Valence and Lorient.

Largest cities in Zinaire								view • talk • edit
	City	Region	Population	Zinaire City Nouveau Lyon		City	Region	Population
1	Zinaire City	Northwest	9,281,288		11	Chambéry	[[]]	823,653
2	Nouveau Lyon	Northeast	7,127,543		12	Clermont	[[]]	795,382
3	Blair	West	4,829,142		13	Belle-Côte	[[]]	761,291
4	Valence	South	3,019,247		14	Etienne	[[]]	734,842
5	Lorient	South	1,934,182		15	Zinnia Cove	[[]]	629,032
6	Limoges	Central	1,837,283		16	Roubaix	[[]]	513,149
7	Bayonne	East	1,648,295		17	Freeport	[[]]	456,293
8	Montperdu	West	1,393,482		18	Pornic	[[]]	326,292
9	Westlind	West	1,092,384		19	Hautmont	[[]]	292,483
10	Menning	Northwest	954,827		20	Arras	[[]]	283,859

Ethnicity

Zinaire has a highly multicultural population composed of natives from both the Sutikuy and Swugani ethnic groups, Havenic immigrants, immigrants from other areas of Tarquinia, and mestiços descended primarily from the pairing of a Sutikuy native with a Havenic settler. Approximately 54% of the population is mestiço or mixed-race, 29% is Havenic, 14% is Tarquinian, 2% are Swugani, and 1% is Sutikuy. The majority of Havenites are Questarian in descent and the majority of Tarquinians are from the east and southeast of the region.

Language

Main article: Language in Zinaire

Dialects of both French and English are recognized as official languages in Zinaire. English is the first language of most Zinairians and it is estimated that 98% of Zinairian citizens are fluent in it and 74% learned it as their first language. Zinairians use British spellings and dialect in English and generally have a pronounced South African or Rhodesian accent.

A specific form of French, known as Zinairian French, is the second officially recognized language of Zinaire. The most notable difference between traditional French and Zinairian French is the addition of several pronouns which correspond to those found in the Quechua language spoke by the country's Ususimayu native group. Approximately 78% of Zinairians are fluent in French and 25% learned it has their first language.

Less than 1% of the Zinairian population is thought to be fluent in Quechua, of those that speak it, most learned it as their first language. The vast majority are full-blooded Ususimayu natives.

Crime and law enforcement

Main article: Law enforcement in Zinaire

While Zinaire has never had a major problem with organized crime, there is still a strong police presence throughout the country. Police are predominately organized at the national level and most are officers with the Zinairian National Police. Almost all cities also maintain a municipal police force, but they are mostly responsible for traffic offenses and other minor crimes. National police maintain a large presence in all metropolitan areas and are responsible for the majority of policing in urban areas. The Zinairian National Gendarmerie is responsible for policing in rural areas where the ZNPB is not active. Both the Gendarmerie and the National Police have divisions which are trained in counterterrorism and other special operations.

Partly due to its large police force, Zinaire enjoys a relatively low crime rate. There are an estimated 2.9 murders per 100,000 persons.

Religion

A demonstrator protesting the decision to require religious bodies to perform same-sex marriages.

Main article: Religion in Zinaire

The secularism of the state is guaranteed in the constitution and fiercely enforced in Zinaire. Even religious Zinairians tend to be militant in their support of a secular government; this has resulted in a trend of atheistic or agnostic politicians that Zinairians feel will best embody the spirt of secularism. It is illegal for religious symbols to be displayed in publicly owned buildings and "God bless Zinaire" can be considered famous last words in any politician's career. To see a prominent political leader engaging in any religious activity would be outraging for the Zinairian citizenry.

The government does not recognize any religions but does recognize religious organizations. Religious organizations are subject to taxation if they are not recognized as a non-profit (as many are) and are punishable under anti-discrimination laws. The most notable case of this was when the Supreme Court ruled that any religious organization which performs heterosexual marriages must also perform same-sex marriages. This lead to outrage among the religious community and prompted many religious organizations to cease performing unions. It should also be noted that in order to legally marry a couple in Zinaire, one must either be a magistrate or other public official or hold a special authorization. Any member of the clergy who wishes to perform marriages must hold such an authorization.

Some groups, mostly notably Scientology, are not recognized as religious groups and are instead categorized as sects. Sects are considered to be dangerous and, despite Zinairians being guaranteed freedom of religion, they are banned. Qualifiers of a cult include mental destabilization, excessive financial demands, the indoctrination of children and harm to physical integrity. Unlike religious organizations, sects are treated as commercial ventures, not non-profits and are taxed accordingly. The national government also uses membership in a sect as a mark of mental instability, prohibiting sect member from purchasing firearms. This controversial measure has essentially eliminated the proliferation of weapons by religious groups in Zinaire which the government feels is an extremely important step in preventing the kinds of bloody standoffs between police and sect-members elsewhere.

Recent polls showed that 64% of Zinairians identify as Christian, 28% as atheist or agnostic, 6% as Jewish and 2% as other. Many Zinairian Christian are either protestant, a relic of Questerian colonialism, or Leistungi Catholic. While those who identify as religious generally do not attend religious services on a regular basis, there is a small, fundamentalist community within every major religion in Zinaire. These groups grow increasingly dedicated in the face of the government's anti-religious policies and the generally apathetic population. Religious activists are generally protected under free speech laws, but it is illegal to preach or distribute religious material in a government building (which includes many schools and, more controversially, hospitals).

Education

A building at Mercer University

Main article: Education in Zinaire

Public education, like many public and social programs, has always been a priority in Zinaire. Free public education is available through all four years of college. In 2009, the national government budgeted some $2.9 trillion for education. With an estimated 117 million school-age citizens in Zinaire, this breaks down to $24,000 per student (actually spending on students enrolled in primary and secondary school is much lower than spending on those enrolled in university). The quality of education provided by the public system is generally quite good with the average class size in Zinairian secondary schools at sixteen students.

In keeping with Zinaire's secular policies, religion is strictly banned in schools. School administrators cannot sanction any kind of prayer and religious beliefs cannot be taught as fact.

While private schools do exist, they are uncommon at the primary and secondary levels because public education is generally seen as sufficient for all but special cases. Private colleges and universities are much more common with some of Zinaire's most prestigious tertiary learning institutions being privately operated. In most cases, the families of students enrolled in private schools can receive a voucher worth roughly half what the government would be spending to enroll them in public school.

Homeschooling is very uncommon in Zinaire as it is seen as an ineffective way of education children that can have negative consequences on their social development. An outright ban on homeschooling has been considered but has never been put into effect. Instead, homeschooling is strictly regulated and must comply with government curricula.

Religious schools also exist, but naturally, cannot receive any funding or support from the state. By Zinairian law, any curriculum that does not conform to national standards is not officially considered education. Students being exclusively educated somewhere where such a non-compliant curriculum is used are considered truants and can be ordered to attend a public school. These restrictions on curriculum prevent religious schools from teaching their beliefs as fact: religious beliefs must always be presented alongside their secular counterparts in a way that does not falsely discredit the secular teachings.

Zinaire's reading literacy rate is 99.2%.

Health

A ZNHS hospital in Nouveau Lyon

Main articles: Health in Zinaire and ZNHS

The national government provides a comprehensive universal healthcare plan that insures medical care for all Zinairians who accept it. This, coupled with a traditionally healthy diet and social prejudices that have significantly decreased the presence of obesity and the related health issues, results in an overall life expectancy of 80.89 years at birth. Zinaire has an infant mortality rate of 4.1 per 1,000 live births. Approximately 4% of Zinairians are obese and an additional 20% are overweight. The adolescent pregnancy rate is 23 per 1,000 women. Abortions are readily available in Zinaire and it is usually not required for a minor's parent or guardian to be notified when one is carried out.

The national government spends over $4 trillion annually on healthcare. This translates to per capita healthcare spending of $7,000 for all Zinairian citizens. Healthcare is the single most expensive portion of the national budget, using up almost a quarter of available funds. This level of spending results in a national healthcare system that offers excellent care with relatively little cost to the patient. Care is generally provided free to Zinairians living with long-term illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and diabetes.