Empirical rights and self-determination

Just this morning I heard on the radio that just after midnight of 15 November 2011, New York City sent police in riot gear to clear Zuccotti Park of ‘Occupy Wall Street‘ protesters.

Just this morning New York City Major Michael Bloomberg got on TV and promised that the privately-owned park would reopen later today. Protesters could return after the clean up of the park, but they are no longer permitted to set up tents, bring in sleeping bags, or camp there for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7).

In other words, you are free to protest in Zuccotti Park in order to exercise your First Amendment to the US Constitution right to freedom of speech, and/or the right to peaceably assemble and petition for a redress of grievances; just make sure that at the end of the day you can afford a meal at a fine New York City restaurant, and can afford to stay at such fine establishments as the Millenium Hilton Hotel. You have, in essence, a theoretical right to freedom of speech, so you can almost say anything you want, but free speech, in and of itself, is no longer a right, nor is it free (gratis).

As a practical manner, what this means is that you can protest in Zuccotti Park, but it is probably not possible to protest for long unless 1) you live with your parents; 2) they approve and support your protest and what it aims to accomplish; and 3) you live within New York City public transportation distance of Zuccotti Park. All other Americans, which have the same rights at least in theory under the US Constitution, including adults who can pay their way to a degree, are not really free to protest in Zuccotti Park for long. They have a First Amendment to the US Constitution and thus sacrosanct right to freedom of speech, but not in Zuccotti Park, or not for long. Translation: the First Amendment to the US Constitution, in a consumer society, is no longer an unalienable right of all, but a privilege of the well-to-do, or entirely dependent on personal circumstances.

The secessionist, or Fourth World form of micronationalism, runs on a logic similar to the one of New York City bureaucrats above. Under this mode of thinking, you have a right to self-determination, but only if you are well-to-do, or live under particular circumstances, and in a particular place. That by definition is not an unalienable right, however, but a fully paid for privilege.

The non-secessionist, or Fifth World form of micronationalism, which usually makes only irredentist, and/or cybernetic, and/or virtual claims, is truer to the meaning of right to self-determination. Under this mode of thinking, you do not need to be well-to-do, although it might help, nor do you need to live under particular circumstances, and in a particular place to have a right to self-determination. Moreover, this form of micronationalism also allows for small land (secessionist) claims, such as to one’s personal property. The difference here is that nobody forces a neighbour to change jurisdiction if he/she doesn’t want to, and all these (distributed, not concentrated in a single area) foreign houses can be reorganised as diaxenospitias.

It is clear that the Fifth World mode of thinking is more in tune with real human rights than the Fourth World mode of thinking; the Fifth World mode of thinking is not like an on-and-off switch in human rights terms; and even Fourth World nations or micronations can make substantial gains over time by at least adopting a partial Fifth World approach, which does allow alien cultures to survive, even thrive outside the lands of origin, while a pure Fourth World approach does not allow this without logical contradictions, and can only really succeed through the persistant use of force or violence in the long term.

Rights ultimately dependent of the use of force have little or nothing to do with true self-determination, since they are no different than rights dependent on the perspective of a legal positivist.

International organisations need to abandon the exclusive Fourth World mode of thinking, and adopt a more Fifth World mode of thinking if they wish to succeed, a mode of thinking which is more in tune with actual universal rights, but perhaps less sustaining of particular Montevideo Convention fundamentalisms. If people don’t have real rights regardless of their material status, and regardless of their social rank, or place of birth, then these so-called rights will eventually degrade into theoretical rights, or empirical privileges (only de jure rights, but de facto privileges), and there will be no such thing as universal rights (which can only exist as de jure and de facto rights), which are more dependent on universal ethical principles, and our spiritual dignity as Children of God, than on anything else corrupt human beings can muster with the laws/ways of man, which are usually counter to the laws/ways of God.

Micronational survey reveals more about societal trends than actual micronations

A recent survey, despite the difficulties we encountered in completing it because of disruptive pseudomicronationalists, has provided some interesting information.

The overwhelming majority of self-professed micronationalists are males (97%).

There are micronationalists in every age group, but a significant majority of micronationalists are between the ages of 14 and 23 (65%). This means most micronationalists are in the coming-of-age group. In a world left without enduring values, and left with even less socio-economic certainties, youth micronationalism seems to be providing an outlet for youth energy once prominently occupied by apprenticeship training, seminary preparation, military service, and/or active participation in sports, and these are also activities of predominately male focus. Whether the majority of self-professed micronationalists from this age group will still be active micronationalists in a decade or so, remains to be seen.

Most micronationalists (65%) do not believe the word micronation is a demeaning word.

In reality most people around the world, of all age groups, don’t have a high opinion of the word micronation. This is why some prefer more neutral words and endonyms like Fifth and Sixth World nations. Moreover, the word micronation, besides being a demeaning word and an exonym, is also a deceptive word, and the survey only provides further evidence of this. A significant portion (22%) of the responses also places a secessionist town, city, state, province or region within the field of micronationalism, but this is not an entirely correct idea. In reality, even small secessionist towns are not micronational, and to define such entities as macronational is also deceptive.

Outside of the Official World, there are essentially two kinds of entities: territorial and non-territorial entities.

Fourth World entities are territorial entities, and they can be as big as the Republic of Texas, and as small as the Principality of Filettino. The size of the territorial claim really doesn’t matter, just as size doesn’t matter with real sovereign states. What matters is that with Fourth World entities, which include many entities often inappropriately called micronations, territory is an inseparable issue to nationhood. These entities are also secessionist, and the land often matters even more than the people on the land.

In contrast, some Fifth World entities actually span more than one of the earth’s regions or continents with their largely irredentist claims (they are more tied to Planet Earth, than to a single island or continental mass), and with younger Sixth World entities land is not even an issue, or it is a mere artifice, and nationhood is truly the only issue.

A minority of responses (11%) show that there are some who actually believe that a micronation is a nation with a population of one, so I guess the concept of egonation and pseudomicronationalist is quite a matter of fact.

A large minority of responses (22%), however, seem to have a better understanding of what is fact and fiction, and rightly believe that a micronation is a nation with a population larger than that of a family. There are also minorities of micronationalists intelligent enough to summon the possibility that micronations can also be born out of beefed-up non-profit organisations, micronationalist-friendly international organisations, and possibly from for profit organisations as well.

The survey also used a bellwether micronation, the United Micronations Multi-Oceanic Archipelago (UMMOA), for honest reasons of personal curiosity, and to possibly sight future trends.

Few responses (6%) seem to suggest the UMMOA is a quasi-state. A good portion of the responses (13%) seem aware that the UMMOA runs its own Internet. And a minority of responses (28%) seem to admit that the UMMOA is at least a micronation.

If one considers not the number of responses among many responses (a few questions allowed for multiple answers), but the number of responses in relation to the actual number of survey participants, then about one in six people or 16% believe the UMMOA is a quasi-state; about a third of people or 32% seem aware that the UMMOA runs its own Internet; and a significant majority, about seven in ten, or 71%, seem aware that the UMMOA is at least a micronation.

These statistics are not very different from what one would expect out of a similar survey of any other kind of non-micronationalist population, so the results don’t seem to lack in realism.

Help needed to advance Fifth World R&D project

On 30 June 2011, I made a bit micronational history by starting the not so theoretical field of Fifth World microlending. This field is still a work in progress, and other offshoots of the field are also materialising, such as fully functioning Fifth World aquaponics systems [article, video].

Fifth World microlending already has, by itself, the potential to finance projects in the so-called First World that no bank or even microlender would ever finance.

In addition to that, Fifth World microlending is already about assisting people to purchase items in different currencies, and even people who do not have credit cards can be helped.

It is clear that Fifth World microlending can lead to the solution of many yet unsolved or unaddressed financial problems.

Now it looks like Fifth World microlending needs to expand its services even further so as to ensure, as much as possible, that loan recipients don’t default on their loans, things regular bankers never have to worry about. Have I accidentally stumbled on the totally unforeseen field of holistic economics?

I need your help, and/or creative energies, to find a decent solution for a problem.

The problem is this: how can we increase sales of the ebook and kits at the URL below?

http://www.green-trust.org/wordpress/aquaponics-project/

The products are:

1. an aquaponics documentation CD with video (valued at $40);
2. a bell siphon with aquaponics documentation CD with video (valued at $70, with free shipping in the lower 48 US states);
3. an aquaponics 800 gph tank pump (valued at $99).

Part of the solution of the problem can simply be your purchase of one or more of the items above, but if a distributor, or even several distributors, can be found, we would be able to sell many more of the items. These items would be well-placed in a store, shop, or web merchant that sells survival and/or self-sufficiency equiment/solutions.

By helping with the solution of this problem, you will be doing several things:

1. helping Green-Trust, a small non-profit, further its research and educational purpose, a mission which is very Fifth Worldish in nature;
2. helping the advancement of the field of Fifth World microlending, which could lead to yet other educational materials or solutions in the future, and possibly even prizes or awards in the field of economics;
3. facilitating the repayment of the first Fifth World loan, and once the loan is fully repaid with the promised interest, I can make the original $800 principle available for other Fifth World R&D projects;
4. helping the advancement and growth of real Fifth World communities in a very factual way.

If you can help, and/or have a good idea, please contact me at bct [at] technologist.com as soon as possible.

Further details, evidence, and economics rationale about this project are available at this message board: http://goo.gl/lLB6N.

Size does not matter for non-states

Outside of the Official World, outside of the United Nations, there are essentially two different national forces:

1. secession of territories; and
2. secession of individuals, families, groups or organisations.

Once upon a time, I used to distinguish macronations (Fourth World) from micronations (Fifth and Sixth Worlds), because of the differences in the size of the territorial claims. Now I realise that size matters very little, and the Fourth World can still include secessionist movements as small as a town.

Territorial size really doesn’t matter, as secessionist movements usually don’t have full control of much territory to begin with. Most secessionist movements, in other words, are not de facto states, or states with limited recognition. What really matters is the size of the alternative nationalist groups, i.e. the number of active and supportive nationalists. The larger the number of active supporters, and the more influential they are or shall become.

Below follows a new definition of alternative national.

Fourth World

Territorial break-away from, or integration into existing states, regions, provinces or cities of independence movements. Includes self-determination or secessionist groups, indigenous (more or less recognised) tribes, nations, and bands, as well as ‘city-states’ that act like they are more than cities.

Examples:

• Dominion of British West Florida (member MPR)
• Imperium of DeWaCo Estates (member MPR)
• League of Indian Nations of North America (member MS, MPR, ISPSP)
• Republic of Kabinda (member MPR, OEAS, UNPO)
• Republic of Texas (member MPR)

Fifth World

Nations that have originated as, or evolved into legitimate, and/or complex entities that resemble real nations and states. Includes strong social identity or irredentist groups.

Examples:

• Principado do Ilhéu da Pontinha (member MS, MPR)
• Principato d’Oriente (member MS, MPR, 5WHO)
• Principato di Valldemosa (member MS, MPR, UMMOA)
• Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem – Knights of Malta (member MS, MPR)
• United Micronations Multi-Oceanic Archipelago (member MS, MPR, 5WHO, LN, CNRS, FIBCO, OEAS, ISPSP)

Sixth World

Individual, family, group or organisation break-away from existing states to form new nations.

Examples:

• Baltic Principality (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Dharmaland (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Duchy of Carniola (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Kingdom of Amethonia (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Libera Repubblica di Alcatraz (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Mnoer Empire (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Oasi Città Aperta (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Pirate Nation (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Promolands (member SU, MPR, UMMOA)
• Royal Kingdom of Eesha (member MPR, UMMOA)
• Sovereign Nations Oasis (member MPR, UMMOA)

Intermicronational World (IW) is born

In the Italian micronational community, almost entirely relegated to Facebook pages, I often read the mention of a micronational crisis.

I’m not the one to deny that a real crisis does exist within that specific language-based micronational community, but do these folks ever wonder why nobody cares about the largely fictitious and fascist entities they call ‘micronations’?

The truth is that the micronational communities — yes the phrase is plural, because there are more than one — are alive and well, especially in the English-speaking world, and in great part this is a Fifth World community, although there is also a significant and respectable Sixth World presence.

In fact, there is already such an impressive intermicronational presence, that I thought it was worthwhile to go beyond the UMMOA, go beyond even the Fifth World, which is certainly greater than the UMMOA proper, and to start speaking of an intermicronational world.

A new website was recently created to educate people even outside micronationalism of the many intermicronational communities that we are a part of, and why we are getting so many things right, while most pathetic Italian-speaking micronations can seem to do no better than to simply ape the Official World, the only real world which is in crisis! This is the new website:

http://intermicronational.com

By the way, this is just a good start, but I’m open to positive criticisms from everyone, as well as news items that are genuinely significant, and/or intermicronational.

You can write to me, the HMRD Cesidio Tallini, from the web form below:

http://contact.5world.net

The birth of militant micronationalism

There are basically three kinds of political thinking in this world when you really think about it.

First Worldism is essentially the idea that societal change can be accomplished at the ballot box, but since that idea is not a realistic one, then First Worldism needs narcotic words like democracy, but it really leads to things like colonialism, imperialism and capitalism.

Fourth Worldism is essentially the idea that societal change can be accomplished by splitting from a larger state either peacefully or through violent means. This is still a popular way of thinking even among neo-Gandhians.

Fifth Worldism or micronationalism, is essentially the idea that societal change can be accomplished when everyone has an actual input into things. In a First or Fourth World context there are still two categories of people, representatives and represented. At least ideally, this is not true in a Fifth World context, and “[t]his is the complete opposite of life in the Official World, where people yield all their power to others, and these others are not their parents, spouses, children, relatives, or even caring friends, but complete strangers.” [ref.]

When I started being a formal micronationalist, back in the pre-iPod era of 1998, although I was already going in that direction by 1997, I pretty much started with the same basic motivations with which you probably started. I started being a micronationalist because I didn’t feel my ideas, my opinions, my feelings counted much.

I wasn’t being impertinent with those thoughts, as I was not 14, or 18, but actually 36 years old. Moreover, I spoke, read, and wrote in two languages with the same ease as most people speak, read, and write in one. While I had not yet gained an alma mater, i.e. I had not yet graduated from any college or university, I nonetheless had gained not one, but two high school diplomas, from two very different countries. I worked, just like any older adult does, for the United States Postal Service at the time, and after that transitional position ended, I continued to work for a New York City non-profit.

Yet I didn’t feel that my ideas, opinions, or feelings mattered, and in fact even the opinions of people half my age, with half my wits and/or life experience, who were just a little luckier than normal to have very public (and profitable) careers in music, and/or on television, had more impact than I did.

It all seemed so artificial, so bogus. The ideas or opinions that mattered, that came from relatively young people, mattered only because these people had been put in the limelight. What made matters even seem worse was the fact that even older people that mattered, did so only because they had very public careers in either politics, media, or entertainment. The rest of us humans, some far smarter, or with greater merits than the paparazzi magnets, are constantly told that they count at the ballot box. Sure, and my name is Santa Clause too, not Cesidio Tallini!

So you see, the essence of Fifth Worldism or micronationalism is either pure egotism (we see plenty of that around…), or the feeling that the meritorious ones should matter even if they aren’t very famous and/or wealthy. The essence of Fifth Worldism or micronationalism is greater egalitarianism than is available in the injustice-driven First, Second, or Third Worlds.

Since the Fifth World is away from the artificial attention of the limelight, progress is either highly uncertain, if not dubious, or very slow. The Fifth World attracts many with large egos, but ultimately continuity is assured, or at least sustained, by a robust value system, discipline, and persistence, the very values that would bring success anyway if the so-called ‘real world’ was a little less bogus, a little more egalitarian.

Alexander Reinhardt, who wishes to create micronational ‘work experiences’ within his micronation, has got a good idea.

I would like to add to it. Show me your micronational CV, show me evidence that you have worked in or for a sensible micronation, for a significant time period, and I will consider you for Micronational Professional Registry (MPR) membership, even if you are under 21!

Got so-called ‘real world’ experience beyond the micronational only, perhaps in some hospital, clinic, or health food store? Besides considering you for Micronational Professional Registry (MPR) membership, we will also consider you for Fifth World Health Organisation (5WHO) membership if you are at least 18 or close!

Are you good at running or maintaining servers? The Cesidian Root is looking to expand the number of root servers beyond North America, Europe, and Asia, and we could use your help, and could teach you a hell of a lot!

Do you know anything worthwhile, or any field in detail? You could join the faculty of Saint René Descartes University, which is now more than a university, more than an institution! Saint René Descartes University today also a community of scholars, and besides owning the strdu.com institutional domain, it also owns the special scholar.ac and scholars.ac community of scholars domains. You could actually get your own web page at the University, and even an email address @scholar.ac!

What am I up to? Well, I’m basically trying fostering militant Fifth Worldism or micronationalism. The Fifth World is not militant like the Fourth World, as we are not into weapons and Waco-like compounds. The Fifth World, however, is already advanced enough to be able to provide a real outlet to real experiences, learnings, and philosophies, and we could only do it better with the help of all serious micronations.

Just think about it: 14 years ago, none of the stuff at the website below existed, and nobody can deny it anymore, including potential ‘real world’ employers.

Fifth World Agricultures Technologies and Solutions
http://5wats.com

If you are interested in these opportunities, you can contact me at http://contact.5world.net.

 

Fifth World aquaponics system up and running

The aquaponics system I at least in part funded with a Fifth World microloan at the end of June is finished and running!

The water is circulating, and Spence has added ammonia and is letting the biofilter develop before adding the fish.

All of this means that after the planning and building phases, Spence and his friends at Green-Trust have now actually embarked on the new indoor/outdoor solar-powered aquaponics self-sufficiency survival food project.

The project includes a fish and vegetable production system, but also an optional solar power system, LED grow lights, possibly a do-it-yourself (DIY) greenhouse, and a methane digestion system for hot water and winter heating of the greenhouse. The fish will be fed by a grub composter. Spence is ordering the fish tomorrow.

The fish will be bluegill and catfish, as well as other varieties which are being investigated. The vegetables that will be planted have been picked for nutrition, hardiness, and ease of growing, mostly water plants in addition to traditional plants.

Green-Trust’s first kit is now available. It is a 2.5′ siphon, ready for installation in a 55-gallon plastic drum. It consists of a bulkhead fitting, a 30″ x 2″ vertical standpipe, a 30″ x 4″ vertical bell pipe with drilled cap, and a 28″ x 1/2″ snorkel pipe with fittings, all drilled and cut. Simple assembly is required. The cost is $60 plus shipping & handling, and includes complete system documentation on CD. The documentation CD without the siphon is $40.

You can order the kit, or get more information at http://www.green-trust.org/wordpress/aquaponics-project.

A poverty-driven Sukkot

Like many cities, Lakewood, New Jersey, about 60 miles south of New York City, lacks an adequate social service network, and has no homeless shelter.

In its woods, six dozen homeless people have set up a camp in tents, teepees, and huts, residents of what they call Tent City. It’s a place where those out of work and out of luck can drop out of society while living as cheaply as possible.

In the Fall of 2010, the township filed a lawsuit against the residents on the grounds of trespassing. As a result of the media attention, a high profile law firm is now representing Tent City pro-bono, and countersuing Ocean County, New Jersey. The case is currently with the New Jersey Superior Court, and the outcome will determine the fate of Tent City. It may also begin to clarify the government’s constitutional role in providing adequate shelter for the homeless.

Rev. Steven Brigham, who founded Tent City in 2006 as part of his Lakewood Outreach Ministry Church, says the people living there are a community, and have a sense of belonging. He receives donations from individuals, churches and synagogues that he says allow him to operate Tent City for about $1,000-a-month.

The jobless in New Jersey find refuge in Tent City
http://goo.gl/TRCjs

In the Woods – a documentary about life in Tent City
http://goo.gl/OtyCL

In the Woods Blog
http://inthewoodsdocumentary.com/wordpress/

You can help Rev. Steve Brigham of Lakewood Outreach Ministry Church with a donation by check (in US funds only). Make check out to “Lakewood Outreach Ministry Church” and send it to:

Lakewood Outreach Ministry Church
PO Box 326
Lakewood, NJ 08701-0326
USA

Other Links;

Tent City – Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tent_city

Tent – Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tent

Feast of Shelters/Booths/Ingathering/Sukkot
http://goo.gl/BrwL1
Cesidian Feast of Shelters: 14 October every year

Callahan v. Carey and the Legal Right to Shelter
http://goo.gl/KQFQ8

I became a Native American medicine man!

The Roman Catholic Church has seven sacraments.

They have sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), vocation (Matrimony and Holy Orders), and healing (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick).

The sacraments of initiation are pretty complete.

Those of vocation unfortunately force some to take either one vocation, or the other.

You can’t have both vocations. Roman Catholics don’t allow both Matrimony and Holy Orders for the same people.

And making things even more restrictive, the word ‘Holy Orders’ refers to the three orders of bishop, priest, and deacon, but while the order of Matrimony is open to both sexes, the order of Holy Orders is open only to one, unmarried sex.

Certainly the sacraments of vocation are a little too rigid, but those of healing are actually entirely incomplete, so how can these seven sacraments lead to the completion supposedly implied by the number seven?

There is supposedly spiritual healing in the sacrament of Reconciliation (also called Penance, Forgiveness, Confession and Conversion). And there is probably a lot of truth in that. But what physical healing can Anointing of the Sick genuinely provide, if it is administered to Catholics who, because of sickness or old age, are in danger of death? Not for anything, but the sacrament is also referred to as Unction, and in the past as Extreme Unction, and it is one of the three sacraments that constitute the Last Rites. More than physical healing, Anointing of the Sick looks more like something you do when there is nothing left that can be done. Perhaps it can provide salvation for the soul, but the body is probably left out in the cold entirely, and that is a cruel thought.

So the Roman Catholic Church has no eighth sacrament called Healing of the Sick, and it is clearly a badly missing sacrament. Other Christian churches have no such thing either, unless the bishop or priest is a medical doctor as well, but this is practically a non-existent tradition, with the roles of healer and minister usually rigidly separated by the state, just as rigidly, perhaps, as the Roman Catholic Church separates those who may participate in the sacraments of Matrimony, or Holy Orders.

At best, you can have a bishop or priest who may also provide pastoral care (Christians are not the only religious men who provide this), but this too is not a common thing, and it is usually spiritual care, not care of physical ailments.

Well, as an Independent Catholic and Cesidian Bishop, I am instituting with my episcopal authority a new religious tradition which makes natural medicine an integral part of my spiritual orientation, not something separate from it.

You cannot practice your healing ministry under the full weight and protection of the Native American Cultural Protection and Free Exercise of Religion Act (NACPFERA), formerly known as the Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act (NAFERA). The laws only apply to the protection of Native American Religion, and ministers of such religions are identified in the law as ‘Medicine Men or Women’, ‘Traditional Leaders’, and ‘Native American Practitioners’. They must be enrolled members of recognised Tribes, Bands, or Traditional Communities, or they must be recognised by such members. Such ministers are protected under the law so long as their ministerial practices take place within bona fide religious ceremony.

Well, I already knew this, but I was waiting for confirmation. On 11 July 2011, I was spiritually adopted into the Nemenhah Band and Native American Traditional Organization (NBNATO), and I became a Nemenhah Medicine Man, and a Minister of the Oklevueha Native American Church (NAC) of Sanpete.

I now hope to eventually become a knowledgeable Native American Practitioner (NAP).

All of a sudden, not only I can think about an eighth sacrament called Healing of the Sick, but I have the right to even practice these religious beliefs under the full protection of US law through the Native American Cultural Protection and Free Exercise of Religion Act (NACPFERA), formerly known as the Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act (NAFERA), and internationally, under the full protection of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

The Primate of Cyberterra begins to walk on water

The required paperwork is all done, and the certificates, charter, diploma, and ID card was issued and received.

The Primate of Cyberterra now has two religious fellowships, not one, and he is in good clerical company.

He became the world’s first Cesidian Bishop through a non-denominational ordination, and an appointment of title and grant of church charter by another non-denominational church.

Now he is also an Independent Catholic Bishop through the ordination and appointment of title by another church yet.

On 8 July 2011, the Hon. Most Rev. Dr. Cesidio Tallini was ordained an Independent Catholic Priest and was appointed to the title of Bishop, with Apostolic Succession and Lineage to Christ. He also became a Member of the Board of Bishops of the Universal Life Church World Headquarters, which now has over 50 bishop members in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, and North Korea.

On 22 July 2011, the Cesidian Church was given Congregational Affiliation with the Universal Life Church World Headquarters, a genuine faith-based institution meeting all guidelines with respect to the definition of a real church and/or religious organisation, and the Hon. Most Rev. Dr. Cesidio Tallini was honoured with a Doctor of Divinity by the Universal Life Church World Headquarters School of Theology.

The Universal Life Church World Headquarters, Inc. has an A+ reliability rating with the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida; is a Member of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations; and is a Member of the Carrabelle Area (Florida) Chamber of Commerce.

The Ordaining Officer, The Most Reverend Michael Jordan Francis, OSM, also known as ‘Brother Michael’, is an ordained Independent Catholic Priest who was awarded the official title of Bishop in June 1982, with Apostolic Succession and Lineage to Christ.

Independent Christian and/or Catholic Bishops are often called episcopi vagantes (“wandering bishops”) because of their lack of affiliation with a larger communion of churches. The bishops of the Universal Life Church World Headquarters are also different, but not freaks, and they rightfully call themselves episcopi collegiales (“collegial bishops”), because of their congregational affiliation with the Board of Bishops!