^{Independent Long Island (ILI)}

Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Ab Normis Discedere (To Deviate from the Norm)
Anthem: to be established
Capital	Brooklyn (pop. 2,465,326)
Official languages	English
Demonym	Independent Long Islander or Ilier or ILI National
Leadership	Cesidio Tallini, Governor of Independent Long Island
Date of Foundation	20 August 2007
Area	3,567 km² 1,377 sq mi
Population	7,559,372 (2006)
Population density	2,110 /km² 5,470 /sq mi
Registered ILI Nationals	16 (as of 13 October 2008). Click HERE to add your support.
GDP	No figures available
Currency	Ideal currency conceived, but to be developed. Ideal currency to be developed is based on advanced knowledge discovered through the Analytic theology field.
Time zone	Not available. Currently ILI observes UTC-5 and UTC-4 during the summer. ILI reserves the right to develop its own calendar standards in the future, and adopt Biel Mean Time as a time standard.
Internet TLD	.ili (alternate root)
Calling Code	NA. Currently ILI uses the ITU's +1 calling code, and area codes 718, 347, 917, 516, and 631 under that code, but ILI wishes to develop its own system of telephony outside of the ITU's control.
Organizational Memberships	Micronational Professional Registry Live Nations UMMOA Commonwealth Nations Research Society Middlebury Institute
Patron Saint	To be established

Independent Long Island (ILI) is a new country project, and considers itself a junior or developing Fourth World nation — a Fourth World nation is a large country or nation without a state, while a Fifth World nation is a small country or nation without a state.

While the project's emphasis is in creating a viable and independent new country, and seceding from the United States, the proposal for Independent Long Island statehood — "51st state" scenario — will also be seriously considered if it finds sufficient support with the local residents. However, regardless of what the project actually achieves in the long or short term, a degree of independence is still required even in the 51st state scenario, since that would still require double secession: from both New York City and New York State.

The Independent Long Island project was officially started on August 20, 2007 with the writing of a formal press release, and has so far attracted significant media attention. The project was started for essentially four reasons:

1. When Long Islanders wish to distinguish themselves virtually from other areas and people of the United States, they are forced to use the Principality of Liechtenstein's .LI Top-Level Domain (TLD). While this may be sensible esthetically and superficially, the .LI TLD provides no real technical advantages in search engines, since the Principality of Liechtenstein and Long Island are different entities, on different continents, of completely different natures, and they don't even share the same official language.
2. Colloquial usage of the term "Long Island" or "the Island" refers only to the suburban Nassau and Suffolk counties, while the more urban Brooklyn and Queens are not always thought of as being part of Long Island since they are politically part of New York City, although geographically they are still part of the island.
3. The Native American name for Long Island is Paumanok, meaning "The Island that Pays Tribute". This was due to the fact that more warlike tribes in the areas surrounding the island forced the relatively peaceful Long Islanders to give tributes and payment in order to avoid attacks. Despite the name change since the days of Columbus, however, the character of the island has still not changed, since it is still surrounded by more belligerent tribes, who still demand tribute.
4. A geographically and politically united Long Island needed a new name to reflect its territorial integrity more closely, a new name which also meant that it was no longer the island that pays tribute, and a name which translated into a unique and independent TLD, better representing Long Islanders.

^{ILI National Symbols}

National Symbol Symbol National Animal Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) National Bird Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) National Fish Black sea bass (Centropristis striata) National Reptile Italian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula) National Crustacean Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) National Butterfly Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) National Mollusc Hard clam or quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) National Coral Lophelia pertusa National Tree Red maple (Acer rubrum) National Flower Larger blue flag or Harlequin blueflag (Iris versicolor) National Seaweed Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) National Mineral Staurolite National Motto «Ab Normis Discedere» (Latin) - "To Deviate from the Norm"

ILI also has four large airports, and a significant tourist area with the Hamptons region. As an independent country, ILI would be better able to promote its natural tourist resources, which are by no means confined to the Hamptons, and would also profit from these to a greater degree than it does now. As an independent country, ILI could offer not just driver's licenses to illegitimate resident aliens, as New York State Governor Spitzer has recently and controversially proposed, but also ILI passports to law-abiding non-resident aliens, to people suffering from political or religious prosecution in their homelands, and to stateless people now at the mercy of insensitive UN bureaucrats, and other countries' version of the Patriot Act.

The Law of Nations, and any special rights associated with the Law of Nations, applies only to independent countries, even the smallest and most insignificant countries, but not to US states, which are granted only a poor man's version of independence at best, what is even called by legal scholars "clipped sovereignty". As an new country, ILI would enjoy full sovereignty, and all the rights associated with full sovereignty under international law, not just clipped sovereignty.

ILI now suffers from ridiculously high real estate prices and property taxes, and these in turn are driving away all our young people, that is, our very future. A great percentage of our federal, state, and city tax burden is also directed everywhere, even in Iraq and Afghanistan lately, but not to ILI. All of this has now created a spiral of ever-increasing real estate prices and taxes, which are disproportionate to the ever-dwindling employment opportunities available. This is a shame, because ILI has the population and wealth to be a self-sustaining sovereignty, which would streamline government, greatly lower taxes, and increase job opportunities in all fields of human endeavor. We need to pay more attention to the future of our beautiful island if we are to have the future our children and grandchildren deserve.

Comprehensive Information About ILI

Cesidian Classification

Independent Long Island is a young Fourth World nation. In common speech among certain groups, the term Fourth World refers to various independence or secessionist movements, to medium- to large-sized nations without fully-recognised states. While these nations need to have substantial territory compared to micronations (Fifth and Sixth World nations), they need not be ancient, or part of any established intergovernmental organisations.

Formal Classification

Independent Long Island is a country unrecognised by any state; however, Independent Long Island's overseas territory, the United Micronations Multi-Oceanic Archipelago (UMMOA), is recognised by an intergovernmental organisation, the International States Parliament for Security and Peace (ISPSP).

Additional Recognition

Independent Long Island is recognised by the following non-governmental organisations (NGOs): Micronational Professional Registry, Live Nations, Commonwealth Nations Research Society, and the Middlebury Institute's Registry of North American Separatist Organizations.

Historical Name(s)

Sewanhacky (or Suanhacky, Seawanhacky, Sewanhaka): an Algonquian (or Algonkian) word meaning 'Place of Purple Shells'. This name was frequently used by the Dutch. Independent Long Island was also called Paumanok (or Pommanocc, Paumanake, Paumanack, Paumanock): an Algonquian word meaning 'Land of Tribute'. This name was frequently used by the English.

Capital

Brooklyn (pop. 2,465,326).

Territory

The counties of Kings (KG), Queens (QN), Nassau (NA) and Suffolk (SU) — Google map. Brooklyn consists of 83 neighborhoods. Queens consists of 121 neighborhoods. Nassau consists of 2 cities, 64 villages, and 70 hamlets. Suffolk consists of 31 villages, and 126 hamlets. Independent Long Island also has 2 Indian reservations, the Poospatuck and Shinnecock, both in Suffolk County. Independent Long Island also has an overseas territory, the United Micronations Multi-Oceanic Archipelago (UMMOA), and it has 11 insular possessions, no indigenous population, and an inhabitable area of 34.3 km² (13.3 sq mi).

Official Language(s)

English.

Demonym

Independent Long Islander, or Ilier, or ILI National.

Leadership

Hon Most Rev Dr Cesidio Tallini.

Date of National Foundation

20 August 2007, by the Hon Most Rev Dr Cesidio Tallini. Independent Long Island has declared its independence to the world, and the declaration was published in several important Internet media sources, as well as in the New York Times.

Date of Discovery by European Explorers

3 September 1609, by Henry Hudson. Hudson anchored his ship in Gravesend Bay, west of Coney Island, in order to trade with the Canarsie Indians. He offered them knives and trinkets for their corn and green tobacco.

Area

3,567 km² or 1,377 sq mi.

Population

7,559,372 (2006).

Population Density

2,110/km² or 5,470/sq mi.

Registered ILI Nationals

Over 15.

GDP

No comprehensive figures available.

Currency

Ideal currency conceived, but to be developed. Ideal currency to be developed is based on advanced knowledge discovered through the Analytic theology field.

Time zone

Not available. Currently ILI observes UTC-5 and UTC-4 during the summer. ILI reserves the right to develop its own calendar standards in the future, and adopt Biel Mean Time as a time standard.

Internet TLD(s)

.ILI and .ISLAND (alternative root).

Calling Code

Not Available. Currently ILI uses the ITU's +1 calling code, and area codes 718, 347, 917, 516, and 631 under that code, but ILI wishes to develop its own system of telephony outside of the ITU's control.

Religion(s)

Independent Long Island (ILI) is a haven of religious diversity and tolerance. It has Buddhist, Catholic, Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, Unitarian Universalist and United Methodist archdeaconries, centres, churches, congregations, councils, dioceses, fellowships, groups, parishes and temples. ILI is also the setting for Church of the Nazarene and Church of Christ churches, has several Nazarene and/or Ebionite groups, and the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, with headquarters in Brooklyn, is the main legal entity used by the Jehovah's Witnesses. More than half of all Iliers are not Protestant, Orthodox, or Catholic Christians. Out of 7.5 million Iliers, 3.9 million or about 52 percent either follow a non-majority religion, or no religion at all.

Airports

Flushing Airport, Francis S. Gabreski Airport, Republic Airport, East Hampton Airport, Brookhaven Airport, Long Island MacArthur Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Montauk Airport.

Ports

Montauk Harbor, Greenport, Port Jefferson, Brooklyn.

Geographic Facts

The biggest lake on ILI is Lake Ronkonkoma. The longest river is the Peconic River. The highest point on the island is Jayne's Hill, with an elevation of 400.9 feet (122.2 m) above sea level. It is situated in West Hills Country Park, a little more than a mile to the north of Melville. The center of ILI is located at latitude 40°49'54.51"N, and longitude 73° 8'7.11"W, or a little way off the northwestern shore of Lake Ronkonkoma, at the junction of Rosevale Avenue and Smithtown Boulevard.

Wildlife Facts

Independent Long Island's common raptor is the red-tailed hawk. The island is also home to the following hibernating mammals: the meadow jumping mouse, the bat, the groundhog, and the chipmunk. The island's only known lizard species is the Italian wall lizard. ILI also has ospreys, horseshoe crabs, pitcher plants (a carnivorous plant), and Virginia opossums.

Native American Tribes

When Henry Hudson discovered Long Island in 1609 there were fourteen — not thirteen, as often erroneously reported — different Indian tribes residing there. The Canarsee (Canausie) and Rockaway (Rechaweygh, Rechquaakie) lived on the west end. The Matinecock (Matinecoc), Setauket (Setalcott) and Nissequaq (Nesaquake, Missaquogue) lived on the north shore. The Mericoke (Merrick, Meroke, Merikoke, Meracock), Marsapeague (Massapequa, Marsapequa, Maspeth), Secatague (Secatoag, Secatogue), Patchogue (Onechechaug, Patchoag), and Shinnecock lived on the south shore. The Unkechaug (Unchachaug, Unquaches, Unquachog, Unquachock, Unchechauge) lived in a tract of land between the Mastic River and the Carmans River, which extended north to the middle of the island. The Corchaug (Cochaug), Manhasset (Manhansick), and the Montaukett (Montauk, Meanticut) lived on the fork of the island. Today Independent Long Island has only two remaining Indian reservations, the Unkechaug (in the Poospatuck reservation) and the Shinnecock, both in Suffolk County. There is also a group around Montauk (the Montaukett) that is seeking both state and federal recognition.

Government Agencies

ILI TLD, Corporations ILI (CILI), Burma Internet Liberation Organisation (BILO), Burmese Network Information Centre (BNIC).

Government News Agency

ILINation Info.

Informal Citizen Association(s)

Citizens of Independent Long Island.

Book(s)

A history of the future: Independent Long Island.

ILI OPML Research Tool

ILI Codes

ILI Airports

ILI Ports