Topic: Sealand
Anyone else heard of this place?
Apparently, it's the smallest country - or wannabe country - in the world.
It was started by a guy who wanted a place to broadcast pirate radio in the 60s - so he used an abandoned WWII sea fortress that was, at the time, in international waters.
It's been attacked while the King was back in England (the King being the original pirate radio DJ) - his son was kidnapped and ransomed while the kidnappers claimed that Sealand was now theirs. The King returned with his own forces and won back his son, and called the kidnappers his prisoners of war. One of the invaders was Dutch and his soldiers were Germans. Negotiations for the release of the Germans meant that Germany sent a diplomat to Sealand to bargain for their release - which, according to the rulers of Sealand, constitutes de facto recognition of Sealand as a sovereign state. Britain also recognises Sealand's sovereignity, in as much as it refuses to invade it and it no longer considers its ruling family British subjects. Basically, I get the impression that the UK wishes it will go away and does its best to ignore it.
Sealand issues its own coins and stamps, it has established its own "offshore Internet hosting facility" which it calls a data haven (though for what??).
Apparently it even hosts its own sporting events, things like egg throwing world championships.
http://www.sealandgov.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand
Is it me or is this the maddest place on Earth?
