January 9, 200719 yr LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters Life!) - For sale: the world's smallest country with its own flag, stamps, currency and passports. ADVERTISEMENT Apply to Prince Michael of Sealand if you want to run your own nation, even if it is just a wartime fort perched on two concrete towers in the North Sea. Built in World War Two as an anti-aircraft base to repel German bombers, the derelict platform was taken over 40 years ago by retired army major Paddy Roy Bates who went to live there with his family. He declared the platform, perched seven miles off the east coast of England and just outside Britain's territorial waters, to be the principality of Sealand. The self-styled Prince Roy adopted a flag, chose a national anthem and minted silver and gold coins. The family saw off an attempt by Britain's Royal Navy to evict them and also an attempt in 1978 by a group of German and Dutch businessmen to seize Sealand by force. Roy, 85, now lives in Spain and his son Michael told BBC Radio on Monday his family had been approached by estate agents with clients "who wanted a bit more than a bit of real estate, they wanted autonomy." He suggested Sealand, which has eight rooms in each tower, could be a base for online gambling or offshore banking. Asked to describe the delights of living on what he described as a cross between a house and a ship, the 54-year-old said: "The neighbors are very quiet. There is a good sea view." Never heard of Sealand, but if Peter Griffin could own a country why couldn't you or me? Anyone have any pictures of this place (out of curiosity's sake). I've always wanted to buy my own island (been a dream of mine since I was a wee lad) but I didn't know that I could actually opt for a country (if I won the lotto of course). With that, what would you guys do if you had your own country (what would you change in your society, what would you do differently and most importantly what would you call this country).
January 9, 200719 yr Author QUOTE(Tmar @ Jan 9, 2007 -> 09:59 AM) Wow, thats a pretty crappy looking country. Looks more like an oil rig to me.
January 9, 200719 yr QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jan 9, 2007 -> 11:37 AM) Never heard of Sealand, but if Peter Griffin could own a country why couldn't you or me? LMAO! That was the first thing I thought of when I read this on nbc5.com this morning.
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