political Archives - Page 10 of 13

The Gambia

Flags / africa, Atlantic Ocean, economy, flags, geography, history, political, transportation

The colors of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The blue alludes to the Gambia River, which is the nation’s key feature and is where the country derives its name from. The red evokes the sun – given the Gambia’s close proximity to the Equator – as well as the savanna, while the thin white stripes represent “unity and peace”. The green epitomizes the forest and the agricultural goods that the Gambian people are heavily dependent on, both for exports and their personal use.

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Gabon

Flags, What's that Flag / africa, Atlantic Ocean, economy, flags, geography, history, political, transportation

The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The yellow alludes to the Equator – which cuts across the country – and also symbolizes the sun. The green epitomizes the natural resources of Gabon, as well as its “extensive forested area” that the Gabonese people are economically dependent on in the form of lumber. The blue represents the sea, specifically the South Atlantic Ocean along which the country has an “extensive coast”.

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Guadeloupe

Flags / Atlantic Ocean, caribbean, economy, flags, france, french overseas territories, geography, history, islands, North America, political, transportation

Guadeloupe has no flag with official status other than the French national flag.

A locally used unofficial flag, based on the coat of arms of Guadeloupe’s capital Basse-Terre has a black or red field with a yellow sun and a green sugar cane, and a blue stripe with yellow fleurs-de-lis on the top.

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Corsica

Flags / economy, europe, flags, france, geography, history, islands, Mediterranean, political

The flag of Corsica was adopted by General of the Nation Pasquale Paoli in 1755 and was based on a traditional flag used previously. It portrays a Moor’s head in black wearing a white bandana above his eyes on a white background. Previously, the bandana covered his eyes; Pasquale Paoli wanted the bandana moved to above the eyes to symbolize the liberation of the Corsican people from the Genoese.

It was used by the Corsican Republic and fell out of usage after 1769, when France forced the island’s former masters to sell it to settle the debts contracted by Genoa with France. This was to pay the costs of the French expeditionary corps which should have helped Genoa to secure its control on Corsica; French troops put down the long-standing rebellion on the island. During this period under French rule, 1769–1789, Corsican patriots again used the version of the flag with blindfolded eyes, as a mark of protest.

The unblindfolded version, quartered with the British coat of arms, was used as the official flag during the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom of 1794-1796. It then fell into disuse until 1980, when it was officially re-adopted as the regional flag.

The Moor’s head is also used on the coat of arms of Corsica, the flag of the neighboring Sardinia, the coat of arms of Aragon, and on the crest of Clan Borthwick.

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France

Flags / Atlantic Ocean, caribbean, economy, europe, flags, france, geography, history, political, social, social/political, transportation

Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris, used on the city’s coat of arms. Blue is identified with Saint Martin, red with Saint Denis]. At the storming of the Bastille in 1789, the Paris militia wore blue and red cockades on their hats. White had long featured prominently on French flags and is described as the “ancient French colour” by Lafayette. White was added to the “revolutionary” colours of the militia cockade to “nationalise” the design, thus creating the cockade of France. Although Lafayette identified the white stripe with the nation, other accounts identify it with the monarchy. Lafayette denied that the flag contains any reference to the red-and-white livery of the Duc d’Orléans. Despite this, Orléanists adopted the tricolour as their own.

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Åland

Flags / autonomous territory, Baltic Sea, economy, europe, Finland, flags, geography, history, islands, political

The flag of Åland is the Swedish flag defaced by a red cross symbolizing Finland. Today, blue and white are considered the Finnish colours, but in the early days of Finnish nationalism, red and yellow from the Finnish coat of arms was also an option.

The flag has been the official flag of the autonomous Finnish province of Åland since 1954. It was first hoisted on 3 April 1954.

Prior to autonomy, an unofficial horizontal bicolour triband of blue-yellow-blue was in use. That flag was made illegal in 1935.

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Fiji

Flags / economy, flags, geography, history, islands, pacific ocean, Pacific Ocean Islands, political, UK dependencies

The flag’s bright blue background symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, which plays an important part in the lives of the islanders, both in terms of the fishing industry, and the huge tourist trade. The Union Jack reflects the country’s links with the United Kingdom. The shield is derived from the country’s coat of arms, which was granted by Royal Warrant in 1908. It is a white shield with a red cross and a red chief (upper third of a shield). The images depicted on the shield represent agricultural activities on the islands, and the historical associations with the United Kingdom. At the top of the shield, a British lion holds a cocoa pod between its paws. The first quarter is sugar cane, second quarter is a coconut palm, the third quarter is a dove of peace, and the fourth quarter is a bunch of bananas.

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Ethiopia

Flags / africa, east africa, economy, flags, geography, history, political, social/political, transportation

The national flag of Ethiopia was adopted on 31 October 1912. It conforms to the specifications set forth in Article 3 of the 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia. However, the diameter of the central disc is increased from that of the flag used from 6 February to 31 October 1996. The three traditional colours of green, yellow and red date back to Iyasu V (reigned 1913–1916). The current flag and emblem were adopted after the defeat of Ethiopia’s Marxist dictatorship headed by Mengistu Haile Mariam. The emblem is intended to represent both the diversity and unity of the country. Blue represents peace, the star is said to represent diversity and unity, and the sun’s rays symbolise prosperity. The green recalls the land, yellow stands for peace and hope, and red is symbolic of strength and sacrifice of those who fought with their lives for Ethiopia.

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Eswatini (Swaziland)

Flags / africa, economy, flags, geography, history, political, social, social/political, transportation

The flag is based on the military flag given by King Sobhuza II to the Swazi Pioneer Corps in 1941 to remind them of the nation’s military traditions. On 25 April 1967, the day the pledge of oath was taken by the king, the flag was hoisted for the first time. The College of Arms in London registered the flag on 30 October 1967. The first official hoisting of the flag was conducted on this day.

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Equatorial Guinea

Flags / africa, Atlantic Ocean, economy, flags, geography, history, islands, political

The flag of Equatorial Guinea was adopted on August 21, 1979. The six stars on the map represent the country’s mainland and five islands. Under the rule of dictator Francisco Nguema the flag was modified and a different national emblem was used on it. After he was deposed the original flag was restored.

The flag is a horizontal tricolor, with green, white and red stripes and a blue triangle at the hoist. Green symbolizes the natural resources, agriculture and jungles of the country. Blue symbolizes the sea, which connects the main country with the islands. White symbolizes peace. Red symbolizes the blood shed by the fighters for independence.

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