Atsikana Chronicle
Here you will find a chronological list of the most important events that have occurred on the island of Atsikana since its founding. The oldest events are at the very bottom, the most recent events are at the top.
Read the oldest history of Atsikana here.
2025 (August)
Life on North Atsikana begins with the building of basic infrastructure.
2025 (July)
In early July, a meeting is held to decide whether Atsikana will actually be divided into two parts - the new North Atsikana and the existing South Atsikana. The disputes between the individual groups are already so great that the island is expected to be divided. Peter and the presumed leader of the northern part, Benjamin, speak to all the inhabitants and convince them of their arguments. Peter promises that even if the island is divided into northern and southern parts, the southern part will support the new inhabitants of the northern part, but requires an unconditional promise to respect the constitution of Atsikana. Early in the morning of July 7, 2025, it is decided: two territories will be created on Atsikana, North Atsikana led by Benjamin and the existing South Atsikana. The Volcanic Mountains will separate them. Both parts of the island will respect the constitution of the island and will live in mutual friendship and cooperation. During the month, a total of 33 people (adults and children) leave in several groups. Some leave north on a difficult and long journey through the Volcanic Mountains, others choose a quick but somewhat dangerous journey by sea together with supplies and equipment that the inhabitants of North Atsikana take with them. At the end of July, the first supply convoy with the promised supplies sets sail from South Atsikana to the north. Peter accompanies all ship movements and personally walks the entire North Atsikana. It is still his island!
2025 (May to June)
The disputes between community members who support the future market environment and those who want to continue living without the direct influence of market structures are deepening and are also taking on personal dimensions. The government and Peter feel that they have to do something. Franz, Hanna and Joseph are working intensively on a project to separate the individual parts of the island. Life in the southern part would remain as it is now and a gradual transition to a market economy would take place. The northern part would be inhabited by citizens who wish to preserve the current model of “utopian socialism”. The government accepts that even those who leave would have created a number of things on Atsikana that cannot be moved to the northern part. There is a proposal that the future inhabitants of the northern part would take with them a number of essential things such as tools, food and a number of equipment including solar panels, etc. Peter feels responsible for all the inhabitants, so he proposes that for a period of one year, the southern part of the island regularly supplies the newly inhabited northern part of the island with food and other products free of charge every month until the northern part becomes self-sufficient. At the same time, however, he demands that the inhabitants of the northern part maintain the original constitution of Atsikana. A kind of island federation of the northern and southern parts of Atsikana is being formed.
2025 (March to April)
The price calculations are slowly being completed. Every thing or service that is produced on Atsikana now has its own price. Roughly one third of the island's inhabitants are starting to promote the idea of leaving for the northern part of the island. This group is led by Benjamin, a sociologist who only arrived on the island in 2023. He advocates that the government allow him and his group to leave for the northern part of the island, where he wants to build an independent community. However, it is also clear to him that it will probably not be possible without the support of the southern part of the island, where a quality infrastructure for life has been created. Peter and members of the government do not agree with this procedure. They argue mainly that the northern part of the island has not been explored and also that there are no facilities for life. However, the voices for the division of the island are growing stronger.
2025 (February)
Franz, together with economist Hanna (who came to Atsikana in 2023 after psychological tests and interviews), begin working on price calculations for everything that the citizens of the island produce and do. The basis is the price of export goods that are sold to customers outside the island. The work is lengthy and demanding, the goal is to determine the economic value of all goods and services produced by the citizens of Atsikana. Some residents express their displeasure that their lives should once again be influenced by money - after all, they left ordinary civilization some time ago. This creates a large group of citizens who disagree with this development on the island.
2025 (January)
In the first hours of the new year, a new baby boy was born. After complex deliberations, the Atsikana government decides that starting in January 2025, it will provide a cashless basic income to all citizens of the island. Each citizen has his own bank account, which he can access via the ATS!KANA network. The goal is to introduce a market environment on the island with real cashless payments in the future. Citizens vote on this innovation and accept it with embarrassment. The new island currency is called KANA (XKA) and the initial exchange rate is 1:1 with the EUR. Most of the citizens of Atsikana came from Europe and so this currency is close to them. The new currency is 100% covered by the reserves of real money that the island receives from the sale of its export goods. The amount of the basic income is set at 100 XKA per month for each citizen of Atsikana.
2024 (October to December)
Although the residents' access to wine has been restricted, several citizens indulge in this drink more than is healthy, causing problems not only for themselves but also for others. However, the government does not plan any further restrictions. All necessary work continues on the island, fishing is also increasing, and some fish products are being tried to be exported from the island, but without much success. At the end of the year, a group of wine-drunk citizens will prepare a surprise for everyone - they will decorate a small palm tree as a traditional Christmas tree. Although this symbol will actually please all the residents of Atsikana and will remind many of their childhood in their original homes, Peter and the entire government are considering how to solve the problems with alcohol among some citizens. Peter, together with another member of the government, Franz, are also considering some changes in the island's economy next year. It seems that some citizens are abusing the almost free access to everything that is created on the island.
2024 (September)
First grape harvest on Atsikana! Although the vineyard was established about a year ago, thanks to the exceptionally favorable conditions on the island, the new winery is celebrating its first grape harvest. Everything takes place on the dance floor. For the very first time, alcohol is available on the island, and in relatively large quantities. Everyone enjoys the celebration, but many citizens drink too much wine and get drunk and other problems arise. The government is considering prohibitive measures on wine in the form of limited access. The winemaking family, who made the wine and prepared the entire celebration according to the customs of their previous homes, resists prohibition, but eventually gives in and agrees to limit wine consumption according to the established rules.
2024 (May to August)
Two more babies, a boy and a girl, are born on Atsikana. Three citizens, including Lei, who started distance learning at the university in 2021, have successfully completed their bachelor's degrees. They ask Peter to let them attend the graduation ceremony and the presentation of their university diplomas. Since they all studied at the same university and the graduation ceremony is on the same day, Peter agrees and takes all the graduates to the ceremony. On the way back to the island, Lei tells her father that Adam, who was expelled from the island a few years ago, was among the graduates.
2024 (January - April)
New and existing Atsikana residents are settling into new family homes and helping to build others. More and more residents are taking to the small gardens in the central part of the island. Peter's trips with export goods from the island continue, which brings Atsikana considerable income. People are increasingly traveling around the island on bicycles or just on foot. There is a need to expand the roads, and a bus line is also being considered that would connect the south of the island with the foothills of the Volcanic Mountains. The problem, however, is how to get such a bus to the island. The government ultimately proposes to purchase two to three modified electric golf carts, which could be modified to transport up to six people and would form the basis of the island's public transport. After preparations, including the modification of existing roads, Peter orders three such carts and transports them to the island in a disassembled state during three business trips.
2023 (November - December)
At the initiative of new citizens, there is an interest in allocating land on the island for personal use. People want to grow their own crops or simply relax in the shade of palm trees on their land. The government is once again giving all citizens the opportunity to decide on this option at a joint meeting. The proposal has surprisingly great support. A small colony of gardens and relaxation zones is being created in the central part of the island, where individual plots are separated only by a wall made of other plants. However, the residents are not isolated, but on the contrary, new, nice friendships and new plans are being created. There are also proposals to build small, separate houses for individual families, which would also include small gardens. The government is setting aside sites on the southeastern coast near the Volcanic Mountains for this construction, and construction is slowly beginning.
2023 (October)
It seems that the careful selection of new residents has paid off. The newcomers have integrated into the life of the island without any major problems. Many are literally excited about their new life on Atsikana and are full of ideas for new things that could work on the island. One of the newly arrived families proposes to establish a vineyard and winery on Atsikana. They find ideal conditions on the slopes of the Volcanic Mountains. The government hesitates. There has never been any alcohol on Atsikana before and it seems that no one was in need of it. However, the vote of the entire community is in favor of establishing a vineyard. Peter, although he himself has mixed feelings about it, buys everything he needs on his next trading voyage and the vineyard is indeed established.
2023 (August to September)
Peter and Lei set sail for a group of new residents of Atsikana. They are those who have passed psychological tests, personal interviews and are recommended by the existing island residents. Everyone on Atsikana believes that this time the arrival of new residents will be a real benefit. The island is well prepared for new residents - beautiful new houses are available, enough work is planned for the newcomers, entertainment options have been strengthened (new sports fields, expanded dance floor), and the island social network ATS!KANA is also ready for the increased onslaught. A total of 50 new residents are coming to the island at the end of September (14 of them children). They are from different parts of Europe and America. Some of them are also bringing their pets to the island, for example, dogs and cats are starting to live on the island for the first time. The total number of residents has thus jumped to 114 people.
2023 (June to July)
Along with Peter's next business trip, part of the government also travels to the mainland to meet in person those interested in living on Atsikana who have come for psychological tests. For many members of this group, this is their first visit to the outside world after many years on the island. The personal meetings are sometimes extremely pleasant (they are often friends and relatives of Atsikana citizens), sometimes a bit strange. Nevertheless, members of the government select a number of new potential citizens of the island. However, they only send their decisions to them electronically after returning to Atsikana. Peter emphasizes the security and constant secrecy of the island. Thus, the members of the group leave no electronic or real trace behind, although it is very complicated.
2023 (May)
The government of Atsikana approves a psychological test and sends it to several dozen interested parties from among the acquaintances and relatives of the current residents (now actually citizens) of the island.
2023 (January to April)
Peter sails away with trade goods from the island and at the same time arranges the issuance of the first passports for the existing inhabitants of Atsikana. Upon his return, he issues them to all the inhabitants together with other members of the government. It is a kind of symbolic element. At the same time, he leaves all the inhabitants the citizenship of the original state from which they came. Franz suggests expanding the population of the island, but at the same time warns against the hasty arrival of people like the problematic Adam, Martin and the tragically deceased Paul. Lei and Elise suggest creating a psychological test that would verify those interested before they arrive on the island. And then a personal meeting with those interested in living on Atsikana. Peter agrees to electronically contact people who are recommended by the existing inhabitants (they are usually their acquaintances and relatives). The community prepares for the possible arrival of new inhabitants. The capacity of the school and hospital is increased and the plantations for growing grain, rice and other crops are expanded.
2023 (January, 1st)
Peter invites all the islanders to a meeting on the beach volleyball courts. The residents suspect that something big is going to happen. Peter announces that from January 1, 2023, Atsikana will become an official state, a republic with elements of direct democracy. As of the day of the announcement, the new state has a clearly defined territory - the island of Atsikana. It has a permanent population (64 inhabitants as of January 1, 2023), has its own government and is ready to enter into relations with other states, which has been happening for a long time, at least on a commercial level. At the same time, the Constitution of Atsikana is proclaimed, which is the eight principles of Atsikana proclaimed on February 7, 2007. The government of Atsikana consists of nine members: Peter (* 1974) becomes prime minister and the other members of the government, who will be jointly responsible for education, culture, economy, health, agriculture and informatics, are Joseph (* 1952), Franz (* 1947), Lei (* 1998), Filip (* 2000), Elise (* 1953), Michael (* 1970), Emma (* 1975) and Maria (* 1973). Peter becomes the president of the new republic, who also presents the flag of Atsikana. The other inhabitants are at first a little confused, but then solemnly accept the information and agree to the creation of the new state.
2022 (October to December)
Peter, in close collaboration with Franz, creates the concept of Atsikana as a state. Surprisingly, it is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. Atsikana is “terra nullius”, no one’s land. Even though other residents are continuously informed about the intention to declare Atsikana as a state on the ATS!KANA network, no one pays much attention to it, most people are focused on their work and their lives. Peter understands this - most residents have happily gotten used to living without politics and without the complexities of the modern world. He, together with a small team around him (previously active residents Joseph, Franz, Lei, Filip, Elise, and now also the priest Michael, the agronomist Emma and the doctor Maria), details the creation of Atsikana as a full-fledged state.
2022 (April to September)
Peter visits his former economics teacher Franz more and more often. He discusses with him the possibilities of sustainability of the island's current economy, also in view of the renewed demand for goods from Atsikana. Franz confides to Peter that he has been thinking about this since his arrival on the island (2015) and also discusses it with his students at school. He does not really like the model of "utopian socialism" that prevails on the island, but he understands that switching to a regular market model could be a shock for many residents - after all, many of them fled to Atsikana precisely from consumerism, money and market relations in the world! Consultations with Franz initially lead to the possibility of at least internally establishing a state system on the island. In the meantime, further construction of houses and storage facilities is underway on the island, and Peter also makes several voyages with trade goods from the island.
2022 (January to March)
From the news, not only Peter, but also the other inhabitants of Atsikana have learned that the pandemic is receding in most of the world. The community calls on Peter to resume deliveries of export goods. However, Peter is cautious and waits. The first cases of cyberbullying on the ATS!KANA network are being addressed. Lei, Elise and psychologist Caroline, as well as Filip, take charge of the situation. They patiently explain to the others (strangely, regardless of age) how to behave on the island network. Joseph even threatens to have the network turned off for normal use and intended only for emergency and work communication on the island. At the end of March, Peter sails from the island with the first shipment of export goods. He returns with an unprecedentedly high turnover. There is still great interest in goods from Atsikana - perhaps even greater than before the pandemic.
2021 (August to December)
IT specialist Filip and his team are launching the island social network ATS!KANA. Most residents have been given encrypted mobile phones or laptops that can connect to this network and use it to share texts, images and even videos. The network only works on the island, reliably in the southern part, with weaker coverage in the foothills of the Volcanic Mountains around the Southern Waterfall. The northern part of the island is not covered. Residents, regardless of age, are enthusiastic and are dedicated to this new entertainment. Peter, Joseph and some older residents see that younger residents and many children have completely succumbed to working with the network, but fortunately the situation returns to normal within a few weeks. The island is not that big and people meet here regularly. Another baby, a boy, is also born during this period. He was born to parents who came to the island as children in 2007. Peter is happy that although new residents cannot come to the island due to the ongoing pandemic in the world, the children of the residents are born directly on the island.
2021 (January to July)
The island continues to live a happy life. Peter believes that his decision to launch a closed internet network on Atsikana was the right one. The inhabitants are not isolated from the outside world, only from its problems. It has brought a greater sense of belonging to the island and the community. The inhabitants are dedicated to their work, new homes are being built for future arrivals to the island. Two children are also born - twins, two girls. Peter agrees that 4 inhabitants of the island (including Peter's daughter Lei) will begin studying in high school or college through distance learning.
2020 (October to December)
Atsikana launches a closed internet network! Interested residents are provided with laptops with which they can view some websites that Peter, in collaboration with a number of other experts from the island, has included on the “white list”. However, various official news, scientific and medical websites, as well as the websites of some universities, are available. But everything is only in text mode, without images, videos, and without access to comments. Peter decided at the request of many community members who simply wanted to know what was happening in the world. Immediately after the network was launched, life on the island seemed to stop for a few days - everyone was devouring information from the outside world. However, after a few days, life returned to normal. The residents understood that Atsikana is sufficiently isolated and there is no danger from the perspective of the pandemic. At the same time, Peter, in collaboration with Filip and Lei, is trying to prepare an island social network that would operate exclusively on Atsikana and serve only the island residents to share text messages, videos and photos.
2020 (April to September)
The community on the island continues to live its normal life. Work continues on improving the island, all the necessary crops are grown, fishing continues, beach volleyball league matches and dance meetings are held on the dance floor. However, the export of goods from the island has been completely canceled. Peter, who is still the only one on Atsikana who has access to information from the outside world, keeps the other residents informed about what is happening in the rest of the world. At the same time, as a precaution, he asks the health workers in the community to keep a close eye on the health of others. However, Atsikana is truly isolated, so there are no symptoms of the disease that is plaguing the rest of the world on the island. Peter is considering whether to allow the other residents at least limited access to the Internet and to external information.
2020 (January to March)
Peter still thinks about Adam's words, but he is more interested in following the news about the epidemic of a previously unknown disease that is spreading around the world via satellite internet connection. He reads the news about the gradual closing of borders of states, schools and other communities. Nevertheless, he sets off for the mainland with another shipment of export goods. Since the wireless network on the island is almost complete (except for the northern part), Peter, after consulting with the expert and author of the network Filip, orders a larger number of laptops and coded wireless phones. He brings everything to Atsikana. Just a few days after his return, he learns that the port where he was delivering export goods from the island has been closed as a precaution due to the epidemic. According to the news to which Peter has access, similar lockdown measures are spreading all over the world. Peter knows that the community on Atsikana is completely self-sufficient in terms of food and energy, but will have to limit its business activities. He appears before the community and tells them what is happening in the world. At the same time, he assures everyone that the global pandemic will pass Atsikana by due to the island's complete isolation.
2019 (December)
A few days after the rescue team returns and Adam and Martin are recovered, Peter calls a large gathering of all the residents to the volleyball courts on the beach, perhaps for the first time in the entire existence of Atsikana. The place also has a certain symbolism - here you play by the rules and you either win or lose. Peter, supported by Joseph, wants all the residents to decide how the community will approach what Adam, Martin and the now dead Paul have done - they violated the clear ban on entering the north of the island, started a devastating fire there and even caused the death of one of them. The vast majority of the community is still deeply affected and shaken by the whole event. Only the priest Michael and a little bit of Lei side with the perpetrators. Joseph suggests that Adam and Martin leave the island. While Martin is still shaken by the whole event and obviously feels some guilt, Adam acts brazenly and arrogantly. Peter realizes that the possible expulsion of the two young men would set a precedent - no one else has ever left Atsikana. He is also worried about the security risk - revealing the existence and perhaps even the location of the island. After a long discussion, Peter finally puts it to a vote. In the end, everyone votes for expulsion from the community and deportation from the island. Even Lei. Only the priest Michael abstains from voting. The next day, Adam and Martin leave the island. Their personal belongings are returned to them only at the destination port. Adam says goodbye with chilling words that they will hear about him again on Atsikana. These words hit Peter hard, although he is sure that neither Adam nor Martin can have the coordinates of the island, since they did not have all the facilities that would allow it on the way to or from the island. In the port, Peter hears about an unknown epidemic that is spreading from Asia to the rest of the world. But he does not attach much importance to it at the moment.
2019 (November)
After a few more days, the fire dies down - there is nothing left to burn. The rescue team sees a work of destruction - a completely charred and destroyed palm forest. The only thing that helped the fire spread further was the rocks of the Volcanic Mountains, which surround the northern part of Atsikana on three sides. The rescue team sets off along a path between charred palm trees and black, destroyed land from the northern beach to the rocks of the Volcanic Mountains. Here they find Paul, Adam and Martin hidden behind a large boulder, where they were protected from the fire. Unfortunately, Paul is dead, apparently poisoned by smoke from the burning forest. Adam and Martin admit that they wanted to burn down part of the forest and build a house there, but the fire has spread to the entire northern part of the island. Although Peter and the other members of the rescue team are furious, they know that they must get Adam and Martin to safety. However, both of them are weakened and they would probably not be able to cross the Volcanic Mountains back to the south. The rescue group eventually builds two makeshift rafts from charred but sturdy palm trunks and they all set off on a risky voyage from the northern beach to the harbor in the middle of the western part of the island. Peter pleads for better boats, which are otherwise used for fishing, to come to meet them from the harbor. Fortunately, the sea is relatively calm, so the rescue group meets the boats from the harbor after a few hours and returns to the main residential part of the island together. Adam and Martin are in the care of doctors. Paul is buried at sea, just like Fia was a few years ago. All the residents are shaken by the event, most of all probably Lei, who blames herself for the death of her friend and especially for her own recklessness in bringing these problematic people to the island.
2019 (October)
Lei asks father Peter to send a rescue expedition to the unexplored and dangerous northern parts of the island for the three unruly residents. Peter hesitates, assuming that they will all return soon. Since about mid-October, the residents have been observing an unusual glow on the northern horizon above the Volcanic Mountains. When this phenomenon repeats itself for several days and is also accompanied by rising smoke, Peter decides to go north with a group of volunteers to find out what is happening and bring Martin, Paul and Adam back. According to the first signs, it seems that the volcano that once created the entire Atsikana is waking up again! Not long after the rescue group leaves for the north, the other residents find a small supply of marijuana and alcohol in the places where the three unruly residents spent most of their time. These things Paul, Adam and Martin apparently secretly brought with them to the island. Meanwhile, the rescue group led by Peter overcomes the Volcanic Mountains and discovers with horror that almost the entire northern part of the island, where there used to be a palm forest, is on fire. They therefore proceed along a completely unknown path along the northeastern rocky coast to the very north of the island, to the beach. They inform other residents in the south about the burning northern part of Atsikana using walkie-talkies. After a longer, more demanding journey, the rescue group arrives at the very north of the island, on a sandy beach. There they find improvised accommodation that Paul, Adam and Martin have built there. However, they cannot proceed further due to the strong fire.
2019 (August to September)
When building a network on the island, Filip proposes to place one of the devices on an elevated place above the island, tentatively suggesting a location near the South Waterfall. However, this reopens the question of exploring the northern part of the island and covering it with a wireless network. Peter once again repeats the already known position to the other residents that the northern part of the island will remain untouched for now. The three new residents - Martin, Paul and Adam - still continue to have fun on the island and do not participate in the work of the community. Lei tries to talk to them and explain to them the principles of life on Atsikana, which everyone else adheres to. The result is that Martin, Paul and Adam become more interested in the northern part of the island. At the end of September, all three of them, without permission, without consulting anyone and without any connection, leave the main residential part of the island and head north. Peter and Joseph are indignant, Lei feels guilty, because she brought these people to the island herself.
2019 (May to July)
After finishing high school, Lei returns to the island permanently, as she had previously promised her father Peter. Seven of their friends aged 19-20 (3 women and 4 men) arrive with her. While Lei and the other four newcomers immediately get involved in life and work on the island, the three new men (Martin, Paul, Adam) give the impression that they have come to Atsikana to enjoy their holidays. They spend most of their time on the dance floor. At first, they are a source of inspiration for the other residents, they like to entertain others and prepare various events and distractions for them. However, the young newcomers soon discover that it is difficult to live on the island without modern technology. Although Filip, a trained IT specialist, respects the need for secrecy on the island, he suggests that Peter and Joseph cover Atsikana with a local wireless network, including possibly limited access to the Internet. Peter, strangely enough, agrees and brings the necessary equipment to build a network from his next voyage with export goods.
2019 (January to April)
While the younger members of the Atsikana community in particular devote their free time to dancing and, in the future, to sports matches, the middle and older generations of residents want to meet and have fun in a different way. This is taken up by the priest Michael, who arrived on the island at the end of 2016. He initially establishes a small Christian group, the members of which are mainly the oldest residents. Peter is a little worried that it might be some kind of negative-minded sect, but he soon realizes that Michael is only trying to remind those who are interested in it of the basic traditions. He also agrees to the establishment of a kind of church.Elise, who is essentially behind all this community life, confides in Peter that this has fulfilled one of her great dreams in life - to build community associations and groups of people with common interests.
2018 (December)
The unprecedented success of the popular music recordings that Peter brought to the island leads the community to the idea of establishing regular dance nights. Joseph and some of the older residents are initially reluctant, but when the community agrees that the dance nights will take place in a more remote eastern part of the island's center near the Volcanic Mountains, they agree to establish a dance floor. The community - especially the younger members - begin to meet regularly at these locations. All the islanders welcome 2019 together here.
2018 (June to November)
Atsikana is exporting more and more of its products through Peter's travels. In addition to traditional bananas, spices and fruit juices, various types of vegetables are also in great demand. From one of the trips, Peter also brings back several baby cattle and chickens. At Elise's instigation, a survey is created on the island, "What do you miss most about the island?" The result is quite surprising, the word music appears most often in the answers. Although the inhabitants usually sing at joint gatherings, some have also brought various musical instruments from their old homeland, there is probably a demand for traditional music here, which could be listened to on the radio, for example. Elise convinces Peter to bring some current popular recordings to the island.
2018 (January to May)
Another idea that Lei left for the islanders to consider is the establishment of an Atsikana beach volleyball league. All ages participate in the sport, with four-person mixed teams, which strengthens the community. It is played on the southeast coast, often several matches a day. Peter and Joseph are of course happy about such community entertainment (after all, they participate in the matches themselves), but they are concerned that the Atsikana residents are starting to think more about having fun and less about working for the community. Elise, one of the teachers who came to the island in 2015, understands Peter and Joseph’s concerns, but on the other hand she sees that the residents also need fun. She decides to give clear rules to the matches, precise schedules, league tables, and even small prizes are created. Some new crops, especially new types of vegetables, are coming to the island from Peter’s export trips.
2017 (October to December)
Lei sailed away from the island, but left behind a few ideas from the “big world”. The children, following her suggestion, are starting an “island newspaper”, which features articles and pictures from life on the island. One issue is published every week. There are no copiers or printers on the island, so the newspaper is published in a single “printout” and is written and drawn by hand. The adult residents welcome this pleasant change. More houses are being built in the south of the island for potential new residents, with the selection of whom Lei has also promised to help. At the end of 2017, 2 children (both boys) will also be born to two couples. The community thus welcomes 2018 strengthened by two members.
2017 (July to September)
During one of his export trade trips, Peter brings his daughter Lei back to the island for a holiday. Lei is once again enthusiastic about helping teach the children on the island. The children enjoy listening to Lei's explanations about their travels and what she herself is learning at school. Otherwise, normal daily life goes on on the island, everyone in the community takes care of their tasks so that life on the island continues to be peaceful.
2017 (April to June)
Peter increasingly has to reflect on various questions regarding the northern part of the island. Many residents argue for the necessity of exploring this part of the island, because for almost 4 years (since the death of Fia) there has been no expedition in this part. While the center and south of the island are inhabited and intensively used for community life, the north of Atsikana is still shrouded in mystery. However, Peter still wants to leave the northern part of the island unused for the time being, considering the safety of the community and the secrecy of the island.
2017 (January to March)
The intensive use of bicycles has necessitated the opening of a specialized place on the island for their repair and sharing. At the same time, residents are calling for improved roads on the island, especially in the direction of the South Waterfall and other less frequented parts of Atsikana. There are also voices again calling for the exploration and possible settlement of the northern part of the island. Peter does not want to listen to these proposals for the time being. Work continues on the production of export goods, and the areas for growing cotton are also expanding.
2016 (December)
At the end of the year, Peter arrives back on the island. He brings not only the required spare parts for bicycles, but above all, a large group of new residents arrives with him. There are 16 of them in total, including four older children who will soon join the school activities on the island. Among the newcomers are doctors, teachers, nurses, craftsmen, but also a priest. The number of residents of Atsikana thus exceeds 50 people. Everyone welcomes the arrival of 2017 together.
2016 (August to November)
While Peter is in Europe contacting a number of potential new residents of Atsikana, there is a relatively brisk construction activity on the island. This is helped by the increasingly faster and more efficient production of bricks from high-quality clay from the South River. Joseph, who is managing all the work on the island during Peter's absence, aims to build a kind of small town on the southeastern beach, where not only the existing residents but also those who are likely to come would find their home. The first breakdowns of the bicycles that Peter brought to the island also appear..
2016 (January to July)
Life on the island is harmonious and peaceful. Most of the inhabitants are involved in basic food production, fishing, and agricultural crops. At the same time, new houses are being built in the residential part of the island. Peter makes several voyages with goods from Atsikana, for which he receives valuable funds for the further planned development of the island. From one of the voyages, he returns with a surprise - a shipment of several bicycles, which the inhabitants begin to use enthusiastically (up until now they have mainly moved around the island on foot). Based on the recommendations of various inhabitants, a list of new potential inhabitants of Atsikana is created, which Peter plans to contact during his next voyage to Europe.
2015 (October to December)
Peter brings seedlings and seeds of tropical fruit crops that have not grown on the island before. These are mainly pineapples and mangoes. These crops are starting to thrive in Atsikana, so they will become part of the island's export goods. Bricks are also being made from the high-quality clay deposits near the South River. Peter and Joseph plan to expand the residential area in the south and southeast of the island with new residents. However, the problem still remains of how to select these people so that they can be of benefit to Atsikana.
2015 (August to September)
The new inhabitants of the island are welcomed with mixed feelings at first sight. However, joy for the new inhabitants prevails. The incoming teachers try to start education, but they choose less traditional forms of teaching and try to focus primarily on the interests of their students and the practical needs of the island they are getting to know. Peter's daughter Lei also gets involved in the teaching. During this period, Peter resumes commercial sailings with products from the island to his customers. The production of bricks for the intended expansion of the residential zone in the south and southeast of the island continues. New ideas also come up for growing new types of tropical fruit that are not yet on the island. At the end of September, Peter sails with Lei back to Europe.
2015 (January to July)
Unfortunately, Peter in Europe has to deal with the breakup of his marriage. However, the divorce is proceeding quite calmly and matter-of-factly. He leaves his ex-wife the entire family house in which they lived. His daughter Lei promises her father that after completing her studies she wants to live on Atsikana. This gives Peter hope. He searches for the teachers he knows who taught him at university and high school. He intends to invite them to live on Atsikana and offer them the opportunity to teach the local young people, or other interested people. In the meantime, a completely new residential house has been built on the island from new island bricks, intended for new residents or for those who, for some reason, no longer find living in wooden huts comfortable. In July, not only his daughter Lei, but also three retired teachers (two university teachers, one high school teacher) will finally sail to the island with Peter. Peter believes that by engaging these wonderful people, he will be able to prevent families with children from leaving the island to study.
While digging the foundations for the stone warehouse on the South River, the builders discovered that there was a deposit of exceptionally high-quality clay near the shore. One of the residents - a builder by profession - suggested that they try to prepare bricks from the clay on an experimental basis for possible higher-quality construction. During this period, despite mild protests from the ecological part of the community, the residents tried to process and burn the first batch of bricks in improvised kilns.Peter was also informed about this new activity on the island via the Internet, and he tentatively agreed to the production of bricks.
2014 (August to September)
Peter returns to the island with his daughter Lei, who wants to spend another holiday on the island. Back home in Europe, Lei is already in high school and talks enthusiastically about it with the other children around her age who live on the island. Although Peter is happy that his daughter shares his enthusiasm for studying, he is worried that this will create possible pressure for families with children of the same age to leave the island. Although these opinions are expressed, Peter eventually sails away from the island with only his daughter and a load of export goods.
2014 (January to July)
While resuming production, Joseph and other specialists come up with the idea of building a stone warehouse near the South River. They choose a suitable location in the cool shade of palm trees and, for better properties and cooling of the warehouse, they introduce water from the South River into it using a drive. This will keep the manufactured goods fresh longer and will shorten the cycles of their export from the island. This is the very first purely stone building on the island. In the meantime, work is still underway to restore life on the island and to break the boulder that is still blocking the South Waterfall. Peter is informed about the events on the island via Internet news. But in Europe, he is also dealing with the crisis in his relationship with his wife.
2013 (September do December)
Although the South Waterfall and South River are already providing enough water to the residential area of the island, work is still underway to break up the boulder that is still blocking the full flow of water from the lake. At the same time, the restoration of buildings, fields and other facilities that were damaged by the storms earlier this year and the subsequent severe drought is underway. Although it seems that the restoration will not be difficult, now that life-giving water is available again, nature on the island is recovering surprisingly slowly. At the end of the year, Peter decides to return to Europe, having spent a very long time on the island this time and was therefore unable to devote himself to his family or his business. He entrusts the management of the island to Fia's father Joseph and asks him to also focus on the production of goods. Business activities need to be restored. Peter promises to stay in constant contact with the island via an internet satellite connection, which fortunately has not been affected by the events of this year.
2013 (August, 21th)
After a difficult journey through the rocky massif of the Volcanic Mountains, Peter arrives in the northern part of the island. Instead of the expected ecological paradise, he finds only a few improvised shelters, a row of fallen palm trees and small fields among the waterlogged land of the northern part of the island. At first glance, it is clear that the water that could not flow out of the lake through the South Waterfall has overflowed through the North Waterfall and caused significant flooding in the north of the island. Instead of reproaching, Peter tells the frustrated settlers that the South Waterfall has been restored and asks them to return to the original residential part of the island and help restore the damaged parts. He says that this was a great wish of Fia, who has just died. The next day, the shocked residents set off on a difficult journey through the Volcanic Mountains to their original homes with Peter. Meanwhile, Fia's (+ 38) father and brother Joseph and Andreas have decided that Fia's funeral will take place at sea. They tell Peter, and together with him they wrap Fia's body in cotton cloth and weigh it down with stones. Together they connect two boats from the harbor with palm trunks and set sail into the open sea. Far from the island, but in a way that all the residents gathered on the beach can see, they throw Fia's body into the depths of the sea. Fia thus returns to the sea that brought her to the island years ago. After returning to the island, Lukas, the leader of the ecological group that returned from the north, gives all the residents a simple white stone with the inscription FIA and the date of her death. This stone will remind all the residents of Fia.
2013 (August, 21th)
Very weak and exhausted, Fia confides in Peter her concern for the future of the island if sufficient water flow in the South River cannot be ensured. Peter also learns from the others that Fia's health has been deteriorating significantly since 16 residents left for the northern, still unexplored and uninhabited part of the island as a sign of disagreement with the technical breaking of the boulder above the South Waterfall. Fia is very troubled by this situation and asks Peter to try to reunite all the island's residents. Early in the morning of August 21, 2013, in the presence of Peter and other loyal residents, Fia dies. Just a few hours after her death, Peter goes north to tell the others this news. First, he checks on the status of the breaking of the boulder, but work stops after the news of Fia's death. Peter continues alone through the Volcanic Mountains massif to find the remaining residents of the island.
2013 (August)
After the exhausting and strenuous work of breaking the boulder, a large crack appears, through which more water begins to flow into the South Waterfall. But this is far from normal. Nevertheless, according to reports from the southern and southeastern parts of the island, the water level in the South River is starting to noticeably improve. At the same time, however, reports come in about Fia's further deterioration in health. Peter orders to continue breaking the boulder by rapidly heating and cooling the parts that are still intact. He himself rushes to the southern residential part of the island to visit Fia.
2013 (June)
Sixteen residents begin work on breaking the boulder that is blocking the flow of water through the South Waterfall. For several whole days from morning to evening, they take turns breaking the structure of the boulder by digging depressions on its surface. Since the boulder is of volcanic origin (like the entire island), the work is very difficult and there are injuries. After several days of grueling work, Peter gives the order to heat the boulder for the first time. A series of fires are lit on its surface, which create a really high temperature in the boulder and its surroundings. The fires are then extinguished and the boulder is intensively doused with water. This procedure is repeated, and after several repetitions, new cracks and depressions appear on the surface of the boulder. This idea seems to work! However, the South River is drying up seriously and the settlement in the south of the island is getting into bigger and bigger problems with a lack of water every day. The idea comes to speed up the heating of the boulder using gasoline or diesel from barrels that arrived at the port by sea three years ago. Peter agrees, even at the cost of a possible ecological disaster. Fires on the surface of the boulder are started with the help of diesel, which is taken from one of the barrels. The cracking of the surface of the boulder continues faster, but the expected complete rupture still does not occur. An improvised diving wall is created under the waterfall to contain any possible spillage of diesel. The work continues 24 hours a day for a month.
2013 (May to June)
On the night immediately after Peter's decision, 16 island residents who did not agree with the technical solution to the crisis leave their places of common residence. These are mostly residents who ensured the production of products for export from the island and took care of mainly agriculture, but also the operation of the school and, to some extent, the hospital. It seems that they were prepared for their departure. They set off for the northern part of the island despite the difficult journey through the difficult-to-pass Volcanic Mountains. They took with them some food, medicine, tools and implements, but not a radio station. The rest of the residents are very surprised by this step of their friends, most probably Fia, who, despite her poor health, has remained in her previous home on the island. After the initial shock, the group begins to solve the technical removal of the boulder. The option chosen is to disrupt the structure of the boulder by drilling holes and then gradually heating the boulder with fire and then cooling it so that the boulder cracks. Most of the residents who have remained in their original homes are preparing for this task. There is no news about the group that left heading north.
2013 (April)
While the South River is drying up, a heated discussion is taking place in the community about how to solve this critical situation. A group of residents with a predominantly technical education and a pragmatic worldview propose to forcibly remove a large boulder that has blocked the water supply to the South Waterfall. A group of ecologically-minded residents fundamentally disagree with this. They propose to leave the center and south of the island and move to the northern part of the island, where there are no water problems. The disputes between the two groups are quite fundamental, sometimes even personal. Both groups call on Peter, as the founder of the island, to decide. After several days of heated arguments, Peter puts the matter to a vote, stating that he will have the final say anyway. About 60% of the residents choose to remove the boulder technically, even at the cost of the possible negative impact on the island's ecosystem. Peter takes a day and a night to think about it and then decides: the boulder preventing the South Waterfall from supplying the inhabited part of the island must be removed at all costs.
2013 (February to March)
Peter and several specialists head to the South Waterfall, from which the South River flows out of a lake in the Volcanic Mountains. At the waterfall, they discover that almost no water flows out of it and the South River is seriously drying up. Two brave members of the expedition climb up to the waterfall itself and then report that a strong storm has blocked the water supply from the lake to the waterfall and all the water from the lake is flowing through the North Waterfall to the northern, poorly accessible, uninhabited and more or less unexplored part of the island. On the way back, all the expedition members discuss the options for solving this situation, because it is only a matter of time before the South River dries up completely and stops supplying life-giving water not only for agriculture, but also for the daily life of the community in the south and southeast of the island.
2013 (January)
Since the rainy season on Atsikana usually occurs in the second half of the year, the community was devastated by an unusually strong sea storm accompanied by strong winds, which struck completely unexpectedly and plagued the island for two weeks. The storm was accompanied not only by power outages, but also by damage to almost the entire future crop of grain, cotton, herbs for the production of spices, and also the destruction of almost all wild banana trees. After the elements calmed down and the islanders began to take stock and repair the damage, they discovered that the South River began to bring noticeably less water to the central and southern parts of the island.
2012 (November to December)
By decision of the majority of the community, the construction of more solid roads from the central to the southern part of the island begins. The construction begins at the beginning of the South River in the center of the island. The solid, but still only dirt road then follows the course of the South River to its mouth into the sea. From this main road, side roads run to the eastern and western parts of the island, connecting the agricultural part of the island, the port, the hospital and the residential areas in the southeast. Several minor accidents occur during the construction, but it is nothing that the island hospital cannot handle.