Fiji to remove union jack from flag, says PM Bainimarama
45 replies, posted
[url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31107194]Source[/url]
[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/80748000/jpg/_80748247_80744986.jpg[/img]
[quote]After a national competition a new design for the flag of Fiji will be unveiled in October[/quote]
[quote]Fiji is to remove the UK's union jack from its flag, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has announced.
Mr Bainimarama, a former coup leader who was elected last year in Fiji's first elections in eight years, said it was "time to dispense with the colonial symbols".
The Commonwealth Pacific nation gained independence from Britain in 1970.
New Zealand, which also has the symbol on its flag, will hold a referendum on whether to change it in 2016.
'Truly independent'
The current Fiji flag is light blue with the union jack - also known as the union flag - and a shield with the cross of St George and a lion. It also features a sugar cane, bananas, a palm tree and a dove of peace.
"We need to replace the symbols on our existing flag that are out of date and no longer relevant, including some anchored to our colonial past," Mr Bainimarama said.
"The new flag should reflect Fiji's position in the world today as a modern and truly independent nation state."
After a national competition, the new design will be unveiled on 10 October, the 45th anniversary of independence, Mr Bainimarama said.
He pointed to the fact that only four sovereign states which were once British colonies still retain the union jack as a national symbol: Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu and Fiji.[/quote]
Bainimarama.
Say that five times fast.
To be honest I'm surprised that they kept it as long as they did considering that they have little to no relation to the UK.
Pointless information: That's a union flag not a jack; they're identical in every way but it's only called a 'jack' when it's displayed on a ship on the jack staff.
[QUOTE=Proffrink;47067079]Pointless information: That's a union flag not a jack; they're identical in every way but it's only called a 'jack' when it's displayed on a ship on the jack staff.[/QUOTE]
So what you're saying is, they're going to remove something that's not on the flag in the first place?
Haha what idiots
[QUOTE=Alxnotorious;47067020]Bainimarama.
Say that five times fast.[/QUOTE]
Surprisingly not hard at all
IMO the miniature Union flag looks ugly and all the colonies/former colonies ought to get rid of theirs. Australian flag for example would look much better without it.
I always thought we had a really pretty flag :c
I don't know why this is getting dumbs, Fiji's flag looks pretty stupid and could use a change.
[QUOTE=fulgrim;47067210]I always thought we had a really pretty flag :c[/QUOTE]
Ignore them, our flag is beautiful. [img]http://fi.somethingawful.com/images/smilies/emot-britain.gif[/img]
[QUOTE=_Kent_;47067235]I don't know why this is getting dumbs, Fiji's flag looks pretty stupid and could use a change.[/QUOTE]
but what about de fleg?
i got curious about this and read some stuff on this dude, he seems to be basically a dictator with good press, he even got a composer beaten up by the army, because he dared criticize him on the fact that he used his song without permission on his election campaign, there are also other reports of brutality from his regime from amnesty international.
[url]http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/01/fijian-man-bashed-after-arguing-with-bainimarama-about-campaign-song[/url]
[url]http://article.wn.com/view/2014/10/01/Amnesty_demands_probe_into_Fiji_brutality_claims/[/url]
[url]http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/149300-amnesty-demands-probe-into-fiji-brutality-claims[/url]
[url]http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/amnesty-demands-probe-into-fiji-brutality-claims_1478507.html[/url]
he is probably pandering to fiji nationalists(plus the fact the commonwealth criticized him a few years ago might have some to do with this).
[QUOTE=Proffrink;47067079]Pointless information: That's a union flag not a jack; they're identical in every way but it's only called a 'jack' when it's displayed on a ship on the jack staff.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Jack[/url]
There's really no difference, it's called it either way
Can't even have our pretend colonies :( Why Bananarama? Why?
[QUOTE=Mio Akiyama;47067471][url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Jack[/url]
There's really no difference, it's called it either way[/QUOTE]
AFAIK Union Jack is just it's name, like the US's flag is named The Star Spangled Banner, Denmark's flag is named Dannebrog.
The sun is finally setting on the British Empire.
[QUOTE=Baron von Hax;47067591]Can't even have our pretend colonies :( Why Bananarama? Why?[/QUOTE]
I hope they celebrate by throwing tea into a harbor.
[QUOTE=Moustacheman;47067737]The sun is finally setting on the British Empire.[/QUOTE]
Well, they're still part of the Commonwealth :v:
[QUOTE=Moustacheman;47067737]The sun is finally setting on the British Empire.[/QUOTE]
At least we had an empire :dance:
[QUOTE=mastfire;47068372]but the americans beat the empire[/QUOTE]
I'm pretty sure you guys just happened to be exceptionally lucky with the given circumstances.
[QUOTE=Proffrink;47067079]Pointless information: That's a union flag not a jack; they're identical in every way but it's only called a 'jack' when it's displayed on a ship on the jack staff.[/QUOTE]
That's not pointless that's just pedantic.
[QUOTE=mastfire;47068372]but the americans beat the empire[/QUOTE]
Not without the combined help of Spain, France and the Netherlands and even with the advantage of fighting a foe who had to transport troops and logistics across an ocean and fighting on your home soil it took you 7 years to win.
Besides Britain got it's revenge in the War of 1812 anyway.
Didn't Fiji get kicked out of the Commonwealth fairly recently anyway? I'm surprised they haven't changed their flag yet to be honest.
[QUOTE=Taepodong-2;47068610]Didn't Fiji get kicked out of the Commonwealth fairly recently anyway? I'm surprised they haven't changed their flag yet to be honest.[/QUOTE]
They were suspended from the council nine years ago, but reinstated last September.
[QUOTE=Moustacheman;47067737]The sun is finally setting on the British Empire.[/QUOTE]
it's like fuckin midnight by now the british empire was over a long time ago
[QUOTE=fulgrim;47067210]I always thought we had a really pretty flag :c[/QUOTE]
It's a unique flag in and of itself, but the fact that you used it in the canton of [i]all[/i] the colonies kind of gets old.
I mean the most unique of those is the Indian Ocean territory just because that one doesn't use a solid color background.
[QUOTE=mastfire;47068372]but the americans beat the empire[/QUOTE]
The Empire which grew more powerful afterwards and continued to be the most powerful until about WW1.
[QUOTE=ferrus;47067166]IMO the miniature Union flag looks ugly and all the colonies/former colonies ought to get rid of theirs. Australian flag for example would look much better without it.[/QUOTE]
Wouldn't the Australian flag without the Union flag just be a blue rectangle with a few tiny stars on it?
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