• 26Jul

    France has introduced a rule to protect its national flag from insult after a photo of a man wiping his bottom with the tricolour caused outrage(bbc.co.uk).

    Under the rule, anyone caught trying to “destroy, damage or use the flag in a degrading manner” could face a fine of 1,500 euros (£1,250; $1,900).

    The offending picture won a prize in a photo contest in the southern city of Nice in March.

    It was later published in a free national newspaper.

    The photograph showed a man seen from behind with his trousers around his ankles, apparently wiping his bottom with the flag.

    Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said at the time that the tricolour should not be used in this way.

    Until now, it was only an offence to insult the French flag in an event organised by the public authorities.

    The new rule, introduced by government order, makes it illegal to do this “in any public place or place open to the public”.

    The photograph was displayed in a competition run by the media retailer Fnac.

    It won a special mention in the “politically incorrect” category, before being withdrawn following complaints.

    Please be advised that Worldflagshop does not take any responsibility for providing Flags for the use of bottom wiping. However please feel free to visit our website www.worldflagshop.com (and you can make use of them in anyway you like!).

  • 21Jul
    WISBECH Town Council has explained why its has turned down a request to fly the Red Ensign flag on its Town Hall building on a special day to mark and remember the brave achievements of Merchant Navy seaman in war-time (courtesy of fenlandcitizen.co.uk).
    It has been urged to fly the special flag by Second World War merchant navy veteran Tommy Thompson who wrote to the council urging it to show its support.

    September 3 will be the tenth year that the national Merchant Navy Association has remembered those who served or lost lives in a variety of war-time duties, with the flying of the Red Ensign flag.

    Mr Thompson, of Outwell Road, Emneth, told the Citizen: “I am waiting for the council to give the Merchant Navy heroes the recognition they deserve this time; sadly many of those heroes will have crossed the bar.

    “But take heart you who served in the Merchant Navy – the nation does appreciate what you did in those terrible days of Atlantic, Arctic and Malta convoys.

    “The people would have starved had your shipmates not made the ultimate sacrifice applaud you.

    “The Armed Forces who you transported, fuelled and saved from the beaches. I applaud you.”

    But Wisbech Town Council clerk Erbie Murat said it was a very awkward situation regarding the flying of flags on public buildings and the authority had adopted guidelines from the Department of Media and Culture.

    The Union Flag is flown on key dates: The Queen’s birthday and official birthday, St George’s Day, the birthday of The Princess Royal, Remembrance Day, Armed Forces Day and the Rose Fair, while a special flag is also flown for Armed Forces Day.
    A second flag pole meant that the English flag, the cross of St George, could also be flown.

    But Mr Murat stressed: “We would never want anyone to think that the council does not honour and respect those who served or gave their lives in service of the nation.

    “They made a significant contribution to our lives and to the lives of others in the future.”

    He explained that if the council flew the flag to mark one organisation, then there would be many others seeking similar arrangements.

    “There are a great many. There are at least a dozen in and around Wisbech,” said Mr Murat. “We recognise and value what they did, but we cannot fly all the flags.

    If you would like your own Red Ensign to fly in commemoration of the Merchant Navy, you can do so at www.worldflagshop.com
  • 21Jul

    New Caledonia, one of France’s most exotic colonial outposts, has adopted a second flag as part of a compromise between pro-independence activists and those who loyally support ongoing French rule(courtesy of telegraph.co.uk).

     

    The Kanak flag.

    The Kanak flag.

    Francois Fillon, the French prime minister, visited the South Pacific over the weekend to raise the indigenous Kanak flag and the French Tricolour above the high commission in the capital Noumea.

    The symbolic move comes after the New Caledonian Congress overwhelmingly voted to adopt the emblem of the indigenous movement, which features red, blue and green stripes with a yellow sun and black totem, as the nation’s second official flag.

     
  • However, there was opposition to the move, with some residents arguing that using two flags underlined the ethnic divisions within the country, which remain more than 20 years after violent unrest in the mid-1980s forced France to declare a state of emergency and send paratroopers to restore order.

Nic Maclellan, an author and researcher on New Caledonia, said that some people wanted a new flag for New Caledonia, incorporating elements of the Tricolor and the Kanak flags, that would promote the idea of a “common destiny”.

“There is a contentious debate over whether a new flag would symbolise that people of different political and ethnic groups had come together as a nation, rather than having two flags that indicate the country is still divided.”

The unusual move makes New Caledonia one of only a handful of countries, including Canada, that have two official national flags.

The island nation’s population of 240,000 is deeply divided between Kanaks, a Melanesian ethnic group, who make up about 44 per cent of the population, and ethnic Europeans, who make up 34 per cent.

While Kanaks are in the majority, the islands, which were named by Captain James Cook in 1774 for their resemblance to the coast of Scotland, retain a distinctly Gallic flavour. All inhabitants of New Caledonia are French citizens, carry French passports and take part in the legislative and presidential French elections. Nicolas Sarkozy is head of state, French is the official language and French patisseries selling croissants and baguettes dot the palm-fringed islands. The towns are laid out to a traditional French design, complete with Marie and Hotel de Ville and the cars driving past the island’s pristine white beaches and turquoise lagoons all bear French number plates.

However, moves are afoot to sever ties with France and for New Caledonia to become fully independent. Under the Noumea Accord, which was signed by both loyalists and independents after the 1980s unrest, a working party was set up to devise new bank notes, a new national anthem and a new motto. However, negotiations over a new name for the islands, which the pro-independence groups want to call Kanaky, have faltered.

Residents are due to vote on taking further steps towards autonomy in 2014.

  • 12Jul

    Singapore to Celebrate National Day

    Articles 2 Comments

    SMRT will fly 4,500 flags across the island to celebrate Singapore’s 45th birthday on National Day, getting into the act of fulfilling the theme of this year’s National Day Parade -”Live Our Dreams, Fly Our Flag” (channelnewasia.com)

    This year, the public transport operator is joining NDP organisers to celebrate National Day by displaying flags at some 100 locations at all its offices, train stations, bus interchanges, as well as on SMRT taxis and buses and staff private vehicles.

    Col Benedict Lim, chairman of the NDP 2010 Executive Committee, says: “We want to get the people into their celebratory mood. It’s important, and we’d like to urge all Singaporeans to fly our flag at our homes, outside of the car, in our hands and most importantly, in our hearts.”

    SMRT is also offering another route to beat the crowd for those with tickets to the parade at the Padang.

    Saw Phaik Hwa, president and CEO of SMRT Corporation, says: “We’ve just opened our Circle Line, where we have a new station, the Esplanade Station, right in the very heart of all the NDP activities, so this year, Singaporeans will find it even easier, faster to come to the NDP events.”

    Singaporeans can look forward to getting into the spirit of NDP 2010 when all SMRT train stations, bus interchanges and Xchanges start playing the NDP 2010 theme song, “Song for Singapore” by Corrinne May.

    And at 8.10 pm on August 9, SMRT will rally Singaporeans to participate in One Voice 2010, to recite the national pledge and sing the national anthem at all its train stations, buses interchanges and four Xchanges shopping areas.

    SMRT is supporting NDP 2010 with close to 500,000 dollars worth of sponsorship.

    So why not join in and fly your own National Flag – get yours from www.worldflagshop.com

  • 29Jun

    American Flag With 61 Stars?

    Flags in the news No Comments

    This is a funny one!

    If you would like an authentic USA flag with the correct number of stars or any other USA Collectors flag, please visit www.worldflagshop.com.

    One Texas man couldn’t believe what he saw on the American flag he purchased at a Dollar Tree store in Dallas: 11 extra stars emblazoned on Old Glory (courtesy of foxnews.com).

    “You can kind of see the stars are all crooked, and if you count them, they’re actually 61 stars,” Tim Childress told WFAA.com.

    Childress said he went back to the store where he bought the flag and sent an e-mail message to the marketing company in Virginia that made it hoping they might address the error.

    “I kind of let them know that there are 50 states in the United States, and they need to correct this — or at least get the Chinese supplier to correct this,” Childress told the website.

    The Dollar Tree’s assistant store manager told WFAA.com that the flag is sold as a “patriotic banner” and not as an American flag.

  • 16Jun

    Target Recalls Spain Fascist Flag T-Shirt

    Flags in the news, Miscellaneous 4 Comments

    Target Brands, Inc. we bet is the same colour in the face as their red logo today. Target has been forced to recall thousands of shirts featuring the former flag of Spain accidentally (courtesy of post chronicle.com).

    For many the flag reminds them of the widely hated former dictator of Spain, General Francisco Franco. On the red shirt shows in big gold letters that says “Spain”. Underneath the shirt it has the flag of Spain that has not been flown since the 1970s when Franco ruled.

    Target Spokesperson said, “We certainly apologize for any discomfort or offense this shirt may have caused.”

    Target will give full refunds to anyone who bought the shirt. This must be very embarrassing for Target Brands, Inc. Especially since this shirt will likely make an excellent collection piece for those who want to sell it on eBay.

    Was this a mistake by Target, or was it just sheer ignorance?  Hmmm, I’ll leave that one up to all of you.

    So if you want to fly the Spanish flag whether it be Spain Federal or Spain with Crest and the correct ones at that, then please do so at www.worldflagshop.com

  • 09Jun

    English flag to fly over No 10 during World Cup

    Flags in the news No Comments

    David Cameron has said he will fly the flag of St George over No 10 during the football World Cup in South Africa (courtesty of bbc.co.uk).

    The prime minister told MPs that the move would not cost anything and he hoped would help unite the nation behind the English team.

    No matter what part of the UK people came from, he said he hoped they would be shouting “come on England”.

    Mr Cameron wished the team and manager well, ahead of their first match in South Africa.

    As prime minister of the United Kingdom, the Union Flag is normally flown above their Downing Street residence.

    But at his second weekly session of prime minister’s questions, Mr Cameron was asked by Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi whether he would hoist the English flag instead during the tournament, for which none of the other home nations qualified.

    “There was some question that this was going to have a cost impact but I have managed to cut through that and I can say, at no additional cost to the taxpayer, the flag of St George will fly above Downing Street during the World Cup,” the prime minister replied.

    “For the purposes of this, I am looking at all the benches here and I am sure that everyone in this House, no matter what part of the United Kingdom they come from, will be cheering ‘come on England’”.

    England play their first group match against the United States on Saturday 12 June.

    Mr Cameron did not say whether the flag would remain aloft for the entire competition or whether it would come down should England be eliminated before the final on Sunday 11 July.

    If you have still to get your England Flag/bunting or for whatever team you support, go to www.worldflagshop.com to get yours now!!!

  • 25May

    World Cup: England Fans NOT Allowed To Fly the Flag in Support

    Articles No Comments

    England fans have been ordered by police to take down St George’s flags on his  house so that it would not offend foreigners (courtesy of bleacherreport.com)

    Flags are being taken down all over the country by stupid people.

    A 79-year-old lady had flags cut down off of a lamppost outside her house by police, who left them in a bush for her to find. This was because the flags were a health and saftey issue.

    How is a flag a health and saftey issue? It was meters above anyone’s head.

    In Worksop, Nottinghamshire, police officers ordered a woman to remove her flags down from her balcony, after complaints from people from other countries.

    Would the police order these foriegn people to remove flags from their country, or would they be scared of being called racist?

    Another man, also from Worksop, was told by Lincoln police officers to remove flags from his car.

    Im sorry, but how many cars have you seen with a flag on it? There are millions of car flags being sold, and they will be flying from cars during the World Cup. These officers were going too far and have no common sense.

    However, Tony Baddams has covered every inch of his house in flags. It cost him £180 to get the 250 flags. Even the windows have been covered up by flags.

    How can one person be not allowed to fly one flag, and another be allowed to fly 250?

    Some 96 percent of the English public have said that flying the St George’s flag was not racist.

    So why are so many flags being taken down in order not to offend people not from this country?

    Even the new Conservative-LibDem coalition Government has told councils to show more “common sense” when dealing with flags supporting England, describing the flag as a “proud symbol of our identity.”

    Just let us support our country.

    If someone tells you to take down your England flag say…UP YOURS.

    Equally if you still have to buy your England Flags/bunting, please visit www.worldflagshop.com.  Also St George Wasitcoats available in stock if you want to stand out in the crowd!!!!

  • 14May

    South Africans get behind the flag

    Flags in the news 1 Comment

    (courtesy of Fifa.com)

    It will not only be in the stadiums that South Africans will be showing their support for the World Cup and the national team, Bafana Bafana. Already South African drivers are displaying their patriotism, with the national flags proudly displayed on cars around the country.

    Add to this the Football Friday campaign, which has seen South Africans don their national football jersey on the last working day of each week, turning the streets into a sea of green and gold, and it is easy to see that the country has united in celebration for the month long football feast.

    Some fans have gone far beyond the call of duty though, with just a jersey and a flag not offering enough of an outlet for their passion. Ran Neu Ner, the CEO of the Creative Counsel group, has decided to brand his black Mercedes SLK 350 convertible sports car in the colours of the South African flag.

    “I’m a soccer fanatic and a South Africa fanatic,” admits Ner. “I was just so excited by the idea of the World Cup coming here that I had to find a release, and do something radical. So I did this.”

    It took only a day for Ner to turn his car into a giant flag, and although the vinyl stickers are not permanent this can be taken under consideration. “If Bafana Bafana win the World Cup this year, I’ll make it permanent.”

    Ner, who is attending as many matches as humanly possible, is daring other South Africans to follow his lead.

    “I challenge anyone to beat what I have done… I am excited about the support, but we can do more. I’ve been around the world watching football and I can tell you that our supporters are some of the best; we are alive and have a great spirit in the stands. We must show this to the world.”

    For Ner the 2010 FIFA World Cup is something unique and should be embraced as such. “All the marketing tells us ‘The World Cup in South Africa is a once in a lifetime experience’, but it really is, never again will it come back here while we are alive. We need to get behind our people, our players and our country, to make this a World Cup to remember.”

    The International Marketing Council (IMC), which is charged with promoting South Africa abroad, is pleased by the increase in national spirit.

    “We have been calling on all South Africans to actively participate in campaigns like the Fly the Flag and Football Fridays,” said Miller Matola, CEO of the IMC. “We are thrilled with the response so far. South Africans are passionate about football and we anticipate support is likely to further increase the closer we get to kickoff.”

    Matola sees the tournament as an opportunity to build a greater sense of ‘South Africaness’, one that will last long after the final whistle has been blown.

    “With more and more South Africans flying the flag, wearing their football jerseys and proudly singing the national anthem, I have no doubt that the beautiful game will further build national pride and unity.”

    Tumelo Mbalati, from Johannebsurg has recently invested in a South African car flag and wears his yellow Bafana Bafana jersey religiously. He feels that flying his flag and wearing his national colours is the most effective manner of demonstrating his patriotism and his support, for both his team and the tournament.

    “I bought my South African car flag when my friends and I decided to attend Bafana Bafana’s friendly match against Namibia. On the spur of the moment, overcome by the excitement at the rare opportunity to watch the national team in action, we all went and purchased the flags,” said Mbalati.

    “For me, flying my country’s flag everywhere I go and wearing the Bafana jersey is the least I can do to show that I’m backing my country, through the national team, to succeed at the World Cup.”

    Brian Pale, who places great importance in wearing his national colours, shared the same enthusiasm. “I feel a sense of pride when I wear my Bafana jersey. I feel one with the team. I expect us to prove to all the sceptics that South Africa is more than capable of hosting an event as big as the World Cup.”

    With South African football fever growing every day, some fans know how hard it can be to find a suitably sized Bafana Bafana jersey. “This is an indication of the eagerness shown by South Africans to own a piece of the World Cup and support Bafana Bafana,” said Pale.

    Zobuzwe Ngobese, PR Manager at FIFA Partner adidas, confirmed that there has been great demand for the Bafana jersey at consumer level. “The orders that we have received from retailers have almost exceeded our expectations. But we had anticipated that with the launch of the Football Fridays and other campaigns the demand for merchandise would increase remarkably”.

    Whether you are a supporter of South Africa, or any other participating World Cup Team, make www.worldflagshop.com your place to stop and shop.

    With a huge selection of flags/banners and bunting, you will not be disappointed. Support your national team, and buy a flag… Stocks are limited so please hurry……………….

  • 14May

    Village school banned from flying its own flag because it is ‘advertising’

    Articles 10 Comments

    St Mary’s Primary School in Beetley, near Dereham, Norfolk was told by Breckland District Council that the flag required planning consent.

    The specially-designed flag was funded by the Royal Marine Association in Norwich to mark the 65th anniversary of Victory in Europe.

    Children from the school, which has 204 pupils aged from four to 11, had created a new school badge which was being used as the basis of the design.

    Second World War veteran Len Bloomfield, 88, of Beetley, said he had wanted the school to have its own flag for years – and said many European schools proudly flew their own flags.

    He said: “I have felt for some time that the school should fly both its own and the Union flag and I think it helps to give the children genuine pride in their school.”

    Louise Bunning, a parent governor, said: “We have put such a lot of work into this project and we were keen to fly it to say that we are proud of St Mary’s school.”

    However, Ralph Hedley, acting headmaster at the school, was unwilling to give way.

    He said: “Breckland Council told us that we needed to get permission from the Flags Commission. We understand that because the flag has the school’s name on it it is deemed to be advertising.

    “We have applied to the Flags Commission and called time and again but they haven’t got back to us. To be honest once the flag is made we’ll just fly it and if they ask us to take it down we’ll take it down.”

    Last month a vicar was warned by council officials about flying a flag depicting Jesus outside his church because it was “religious advertising”.

    Rev Mark Binney, the vicar of St Andrew’s Church in Hampton, Worcs, said he had been told he would need planning permission in future.

    The flag was flown in the week preceding Easter Sunday. Wychavon council said it would consider allowing the flag to be flown in future if approached by the church.

    A spokesman for Breckland District Council said: “Flags used for advertising and promotional purposes are controlled under Advertisement Regulations and would require consent from the council.

    “Planning permission will be required if you intend to fly flags used for advertising, in all likelihood the flying of the school flag will be acceptable to the planning committee.”

    A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: “It seems there’s a commission for everything.” (article courtesy of telegraph.co.uk)

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