International Flags: Nations Waving Together

We've all been through it. Back in Grade School, at least once a year, the teacher would assign a national flag to each of us and we would produce our own mini-flag using colored paper. We would look at our classmate's work and laugh if he was assigned a very difficult flag to create. Every country has a national flag. A flag symbolizes the nation. It is honored and given much value. In most countries, destroying a national flag is punishable by law.

An international organization also has its own flag. An international flag is respected by the organization's member states just as much.

United Nations

The current flag of the United Nations features the official emblem of the organization on a light blue green ground. The design of the emblem is an azimuthal equidistant projection of the map of the world centered on the North Pole. The map projection includes five concentric circles. The map depicts the world as the United Nation's area of concern achieving peace and security. Peace is symbolized by the olive branches surrounding the map.

European Union

The flag of the European Union is called the “Flag of Europe.” Actually, it is the continent's official flag that the organization just adopted. It consists of twelve golden stars forming a circle on a blue background. The stars represent the European peoples. The formation symbolizes unity. The number of stars is invariably set at twelve. Twelve is the symbol of perfection and completeness.

League of Arab States

The flag of the Arab League is a green banner bearing the organization's seal. The 20 member states at the time of the adoption of the flag were represented by the 20 links in the chain. The official name of the organization is written on the flag

Red Cross

The flag of the Red Cross movement bears a red cross on white background. The emblem was orginally intended to be a reverse image of the Swiss Flag. Switzerland is known for being a historically neutral nation. In Islamic countries, a red crescent is used instead of a cross. In Israel, it's a red star of David. Today, the Red Crystal, which is supposed to be universal because it does not have any religious or cultural connotation, is also used.