June 16, 2002 - For weeks now Congressional Parliament has been authorizing nations to enlist their participation in the next 'Land Rush'. This time around the southern territories have been opened to settlement after careful exploration and mapping by Congressional land surveyors.

As a result, four new nations have entered the international community. The most promising country is Elanyons, which is run by an Empress with a democratic government. Already there are grand plans calling for the construction of a highly developed and progressive society. Architects, builders, and lumberjacks are currently in high demand all over the Mapp.

Another nation that holds great potential is New Dickens Peninsula. As its name implies, this country is the successor to the original Dickens Peninsula, which was taken over by Rattanjeetland in the Dickensian Fiasco, also referred to as 'Dickskrieg II'. Refugees from the old country in East El-Hussaq are packing their bags and slowly making their way to a new life on the southwestern banks of the Mapp River.

Other newbie powers include Joelpenhagen and Nosheenabad. Both are rumored to be militaristic but for the time being the people of these primitive tribes are just getting accustomed to living a non-nomadic lifestyle.

Aside from the nascent nations, there was also a large number of established countries scrambling for new land. The most ambitious nation was Samchorage, in which settlers looking for a new life drove, flew, biked, ran, skipped, and hopped to the new land. As a result, the President has the largest zone of control in the entire South.

Meanwhile in Denisia, a wave of intellectuals, artists, painters, and scientists moved to the new land to embrace a new 'laissez-faire' easy-going lifestyle that is all the rage in that country. As a result, the Amrylin has the second largest zone of control in the South. Not far behind is Natharctica where Sir Rapoleon's aggressive 'Move or Be Moved' campaign resulted in many fleeing to the south, giving that country a large zone of control as well.

In stark contrast to the enthusiasm in Samchorage, Denisia, and Natharctica, very low Land Rush turnouts occurred in Jared, Marcusburg, and Lindsholm. With nearly 100,000 people in neighbouring Wingtucky protesting outside the Winglaggio where the current Congress is being held, many Jaredians were simply too busy to take up land in the South. Hundreds of thousands also attended anti-GX rallies in the Prime and the colonies, further draining the potential 'Land Rush reserve pool'.

Despite a large advertising blitz in Marcusburg, many citizens failed to move to the South, citing an abundance of land and real estate in the existing provinces. The current hotspots for development are in the Adonf and Terra Incognita provinces, and new towers in Imperalis and Chronoport offer much more convenience and luxury than a hastily built ranch in the southern wilderness.

In Lindsholm, the Land Rush simply passed most people by. Only die-hard adventurers and extreme sporters ventured south, having heard news of the Land Rush months in advance in specialty magazines. Only recently has the general public learned of the event as national media outlets slowly begin airing reports from the South.

The Lindsholmic government has been hugely apathic to international events recently, as the Riksholm has been adjourned for the summer since January 2002 and is scheduled to reconvene for Feburary 2002 in September 2002. When spotted eating donuts at a local Him Torton's by reporters, the Supreme Viceroy's national security advisors refused to comment on the country's dismal performance in the Land Rush.

Other nations participating in the Land Rush include Kafobrena, Pauldelphia, Rattanjeetland, Novara, Gorditas, Siggary, and Zimbabmei. Interesting geographical features include a lake in the central region of the new land and an archipelago near the southwestern bank of the river.