THE VIVO ESPACE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC was founded in 1976. The territory it occupied was the small bedroom of a flat called 38 Woodbrooke House in Chelmsley Wood near Birmingham. The sole resident of this room was a young man born in nearby Sheldon, Birmingham in 1962. The rest of the flat was occupied by him and his mother who was a well known community worker.

The occupant of the room had already been involved in issues of social justice for many years despite his youth. The previous year British Prime Minister Harold Wilson had resigned. Despite the fact that he led an unpopular minority government there was no election. He simply handed over power to a new leader elected by his party and not the people. This was all legal and proper. But was it fair?

The occupant had no choice over which country he was supposed to belong to. This led him to wonder how different states were actually established. It soon became obvious that most were self-generated. Someone had simply said "We are a new country, we are its government, here is our land, the people in this land accept our rule so stop us if you dare". Whether the state was recognised by others or not was a matter of the self-interest of the recognising states. Whether the country had de facto existence depended on whether the people it claimed to be its citizens accepted its rule. There are plenty of recognised states which do not meet the International Law criteria for statehood. Similarly there are unrecognised ones which do conduct a de facto existence and meet the criteria better. Was it necessary to remain in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland simply because of blood?

The occupant declared the room independent giving it the name The Vivo Espace Democratic Republic. The name came from two small language dictionaries that were in the room at the time. "Vivo" was Spanish for "living" and "Espace" the French for "room". The initial form of government was a Republic with all posts subject to direct election. The occupant as the only citizen elected himself President but soon realised that republican structures were inappropriate in such a small state. He therefore elected himself the first QUALIFIED ABSOLUTE MONARCH. The state is an absolute monarchy because that is the system of government chosen by the people. AT ANY TIME the Vespacian citizens can choose a new system of government or a new absolute monarch. Sovereignty resides with the citizens and with them alone.  As there are now several citizens this is not a theory but a living reality.

The new state endured many difficulties. Chief among these was territorial violation. The President's mother kept invading the territory without showing a passport and Birmingham Metropolitan Borough Council still expected rent. On becoming King the founder informed the council that the full rent would no longer be paid for 38 Woodbrooke House as part of it was now an independent state and not under its jurisdiction. The outcome was a food embargo by the founder's mother. This aggressive act was stoutly resisted but a much greater complication existed in the form of sanitary deprivation. The founder had to cross a national boundary to go to the lavatory. As a result of this the founder ceded the territory back to the United Kingdom but continued to run the state as a virtual micronation which it remains to this day.

The Vivo Espace Democratic Republic is wherever the monarch happens to be at the time. This power can also be devolved. At one point two conjoined desks at Foxtons Estate Agents in Wimbledon were also the territory of the Republic. It continues to be the last bastion of adherence to principle, right, justice and decency. Citizenship is growing and is open to anyone who adheres to the values of the state regardless of any other citizenships they may hold. Indeed as Vespacians we positively support the promotion of our values in every state whether or not this is done by Vespacians directly.

As long as there are people in the world there will be a need for the Vivo Espace Democratic Republic. Its well-being is that of the whole planet. Long may we prosper!