• 03Sep

    Is this the world’s largest flag?

    Flags in the news No Comments

    Azerbaijan’s president rose what authorities have described as the world’s largest flag in the capital, Baku(ndtv.com)

    Ilham Aliyev hoisted the massive banner after inaugurating the new National Flag Square in the capital on Wednesday.

    Local authorities said the flag, measuring 70 by 35 metres (230 by 115 feet), was hoisted on the world’s tallest unsupported flagpole, which stands at 162 metres (531 feet).

    The pole’s height has been recognised by the Guinness book of Worlds.

    AP Television has no independent means of verifying the Azerbaijani claims regarding the flag’s record measurements.
    At a ceremony marking the inauguration of the square, Aliyev said he could foresee the day when the blue, red and green flag of Azerbaijan could fly freely over all of the nation’s territory.

    At Worldwide Flags, we can’t quite match a flag that size, but we do offer a great selection of 8′x5′ flags and our most popular size 5′x3′.

    Visit www.worldflagshop.com and get yours today!

  • 16Aug

    Malawi: Malawians warned against possessing old national flag

    Flags in the news No Comments

    Blantyre, Malawi – The Malawi government has warned citizens who still possess the old national flag that they risk arrest and prosecution.

    Newly-appointed Information Minister Symon Vuwa Kaunda, told a press conference it was against the law to continue flying the old flag(courtesy of afriquejet.com). The new flag was launched last Saturday by President Bingu wa Mutharika after the national assembly passed the amended ‘Flags, Emblem and Names Act’. The new flag, with red at the top, black in the middle and green at the bottom complete with a full sun in the middle, replaces the old one (black, red and green with a rising sun super-imposed on the top black colour).

    In the old flag, the black stripe represents the people of Africa while the colour red stands for the blood spilled as the southern African country struggled for independence. The colour green symbolizes the country’s vegetation and the rising sun represents the dawn of freedom and hope on the African continent. Launching the new flag in the capital, Lilongwe, amid resistance from a cross section of individuals and interest groups, President Mutharika argued that Malawi had developed tremendously since independence from British colonialists in 1964. He said it did not make sense to still describe Malawi as ‘a nation at dawn’ 46 years after independence. But opponents described the reasons behind the change as unconvincing and unrealistic and the cost of changing the flag as unnecessary. ‘We don’t agree with the proposed changes,’ read a statement by a group of Catholic priests. ‘Do we have to change everything that bears the old flag? We could have better usage for that money considering that this year some parts of Malawi w ill starve.’ The flag change has elicited a lot of debate in newspaper columns, radio phone-in programmes and social circles, including churches, mosques and bars. Traditional leaders backed government for the change but most civil society organisations and opposition parties said Malawi was way too behind in development to justify the flag change. ‘The old flag has lots of history and meaning,’ said Nancy Tembo, spokesperson for the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP). ‘We shouldn’t tamper with historical landmarks just to suit some ego.’ PANA reports that on Friday, six days after the president inaugurated the new flag, most government offices, including police offices, are still flying the old flag. ‘We haven’t been told officially and we don’t have the new flag,’ said an officer-in-charge of a police post in Blantyre. ‘We have, by law, to fly a flag every morning and since we only have the old flag we have no choice.’ But the Information minister insists the new flags are now available at government stores throughout the country.

    A new flag for Malawi – This is winging its way to us as we speak! In the meantime for all collectors of Historical flags, the now former Malawi flag is still available to buy at www.worldflagshop.com

  • 26Jul

    France protects flag after bottom-wiping photograph

    Flags in the news 4 Comments

    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

    Council snub for flag flying plea

    Flags in the news No Comments
    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 adopts second flag in compromise over French rule

    Flags in the news No Comments

    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.

  • 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!!!

  • 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……………….

  • 30Apr

    Church warned that flag of Jesus is ‘religious advertising’

    Flags in the news 2 Comments

    Has the world gone mad? Surely you shouldn’t need permission to fly a flag other than your national, county or patron saint flag?

    If you wish to defy this notion and fly your Christian, Jesus or any other flag for that matter, then visit www.worldflagshop.com to make your purchase today!

    Planning permission? I’ll tell you where you can stick that…………….

    Rev Mark Binney, vicar of St Andrew’s Church, Hampton, Worcs, said he had been told he needed planning permission if he wanted to fly a flag “advertising Christianity” in future.

    The flag was put up outside the church in the week preceding Easter Sunday displaying the words ‘This is Holy Week’ and an image of Jesus on the cross.

    Mr Binney said the warning was “appalling”, and he felt it was part of a gradual erosion of Christianity in Britain.

    Wychavon council said it investigated a complaint from a member of the public and decided no consent was required.

    A spokesman said flags other than national flags, county flags, or flags for patron saints, required advertisement consent if they were flown from a vertical freestanding flagpole.

    He said the council would consider allowing the flag to be flown for a week in future if it was approached by the church

    (article courtesy of telegraph.co.uk)

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