In the year 2039 the South-Alpine Republic was created after its secession from Italy. Through climate change the italian peninsula virtualy became an island. Genova and Venice became islands, while the five alpine regions became de facto autonomous in 2036 and officially in 2039. The young nation was relativly soon recognised by the italian motherland; the archipel lost anyway its connections to the north and isolated itself more and more, fearing the influx of climate refugees.

While the Free State of Bavaria had to let in millions of flood refugees from sunken northern Germany, millions of other refugees fled desertification, floods and natural catastrophies, as well as the total anarchy with daily fights for food they enabled to happen.

In the year 2040 the refugees crisis became ungovernable. More refugees came in than the authorities could put out. When undocumented immigrants came in they had even there to fight for their naked survival. Many had to do what rich person disired to avoid famine. The illegal immigrants became more and more the classic low paid working class during the climate crisis.

The same year the five governors of the new republic had to draft a new constitution. Of course asylium became a central question, but the collective leadership was divided on this issue. The conservatives wanted to restict the asylium right, whereas the left wanted more robust refugee protections. One of the five pleaded to resolve the asylium question after the climate refugee crisis, but his collegue protested and said he would only sign the constitution if the right of asylium will be respected. After months of negociations and chaothic governance at the same time. The five governors ratified on Christmas Eve the „Great Constitutional Charta of The Serene South-Alpine Republic“.

As one of the five I was pretty proud of my work, even when the special articles of climate crisis were one of the most obnoxious articles of legislations I have ever seen. Refugees kept their rights of asylium, but only when they worked for the minimum wage. I had there very much difficulties to reconcile my humanity with the economic world. Meat consuption was prohibited under the age of sixteen and even a car driver could not buy or eat meat. We had to restrain pollution through traffic and meat industry. We had no choice, but to choose between two consessions.

January, 10th 2041, the first south alpine citizen’s congress held its very first session. The ministers were confirmed and the creation of a scientific council to advice the congress and ministers on the climate crisis was also virtued by the congress. One fanatic from the northern league wated to rename the country to „Padania“ but his motion didn’t passed. The silver-shining Star of Venus in front of a black gear wheel and behind an olive background became our the national flag. The national currency became the alpine florin (AF). Seven great strees should also be build to enable transport after the flood. During the UN general assembly, the minister of exterior affairs had to condamn, sanction or appeal for an embargo against climate-unfriendly states. The congress should become bicameral in two years and divided in a Great Council and a Senate. At least, after a long debate they also voted for the budget, after two ministers fought with their own swings of fists to increase their ministerial budget. One of the two was impeached the day he became minister. After the budget vote, we decided also to make a law, as foreseen in the consitution, to divide the south alpine citizens into drivers and meat eaters. The drivers‘ licence and the meat eater licence were born.

After this day we politicians had to control radical mobs who wanted more climate protection or no more restrictions for climate protection. This winter should have been a moment of joy and celebration. We had founded a brand new nation. Instead the south alpine national guard and elite military police had to protect we lawmakers during every congress session and even in private.

One night I was dining with my family, when I was informed that a terrible riot brought the capital city into a state of civil unrest. Even the military could not control some pillaged and burned quarters. This night the city was lost. I was hiding in one house after the other fleeing potential murderers with my body guards. My family and friends had to go out of the city, while the killers hunted me. The first two hours of the Great Chaos (Grande Caos) were terrible. Fifty of my fellow lawmakers and three times more police agents were killed or wounded. I could not understand how it came so far and even less why the security forces didn’t assemble when the whole country was more than three hours under shock. I had to hide in and then defend a local police presidium. Some of the intruders were heavily armed. I understood, that a part of the military was complicit in this insanity. It was not only an insurrection, it was a coup d’Etat. After four hours most barricades were breached or deserted. None of the two sides could make a decesive move. It was a stalemate. The city was bruning and ashes darkened the air concealed the full moon and the cloudless night sky.

After five hours of insurrectional fight, admiral-in-chief Armando Alfredo send the marines into the capital city. Even the most couragious soldiers feld unwell when they see this tremendous tragedy in a city of chaos and carnage. Everything seemed lost, even when the sailors began to disband the hords and recapturing their first city-blocks. Admiral Alfredo send a message to the mob. It was an ultimatum. The leaders of the mercenaries and gangs didn’t took the marine serious… until they advanced heavily armed and supported by the cities population, they encircled the criminals and took thousands prisonners. Six hours after the violence began, me and my friens left the police presidum. I could barely breath the air. I heard all the rest of the night cries of desperation and pleads for help. The streets looked like a battlefield full of corpses and knee deep in blood. The culture of political polarisation brought chaos and tens of thousands dead, wounded or hopeless. Instead of speaking like civilised people we acted like barbarians.

(to be continued …)

Julien Sita, September, 22nd 2021.