Banner o Fiji

Prior tae cedin the kintra tae Breetish rule in 1874, the govrenment o Fiji adoptit a naitional banner featurin blue an white vertical stripes, wi in the centre a reid shield depictin a white dove. This banner ceased tae be uised when the colonial era began an Fiji relinquished its unthrildom. Fiji wis a Breetish colony frae 1874 tae 1970.

Banner o Fiji

Variant banner o Fiji

The current banner o Fiji wis adoptit on 10 October 1970. The state airms hae been slichtly modified but the banner haes remained the same as durin the colonial period. It is a defaced sky-blue "Blue Ensign" (the actual Blue Ensign version o the banner is the Govrenment ensign). It haes remained unchynged syne Fiji wis declared a republic in 1987, despite caws frae some politeecians (such as Opposition Senator Atu Emberson-Bain) for chynges.

Seembolism

Its bricht blue backgrund seembolizes the Paceefic Ocean, which plays an important pairt in the lives o the islanders, baith in terms o the fishin industry, an the huge tourist trade. The Union Jack reflects the kintra's links wi Great Breetain. The shield is derived frae the kintra's offeecial coat o airms, which wis oreeginally grantit bi Ryal Warrant in 1908. It is a white shield wi a reid cross an a reid chief (upper third o a shield). The images depictit on the shield represent agricultural activities on the islands, an the historical associations wi Great Britain. At the tap o the shield, a Breetish lion holds a cocoa pod atween its paws. The upper left is succar cane, upper right is a coconut palm, the lawer left a dove o peace, an the lawer right a bunch o bananas.

The current banner is vera seemilar tae the colonial ensign uised prior tae unthirldom, the main differences bein the latter uised a daurker shade o blue an displayed the entire Fijian coat o airms as opposed tae juist the shield. While some reformists hae cawed for the removal o the Union Banner, seeing it a Breetish colonial emblem, ithers support its retention for the sake o historical continuity. The banners o ither independent kintras, such as Australie, New Zealand an Tuvalu retain the Union Banner in thair naitional banners.

Full Fijian Coat-o-Airms

Some influential Fijians hae cawed for the restoration o the full coat o airms tae the banner. On November 30, 2005, Fiji's Great Council o Chiefs cawed for the twa warrior figures, who guard the shield on the coat o airms, tae be placed on the banner, alang wi a miniature canoe an the naitional motto, Rerevaka na kalou ka doka na tui ("Fear God an honour the queen") — seembols that wur featurt on the oreeginal banner o the Kinrick o Viti, the first unified Fijian state, forged bi Seru Epenisa Cakobau in 1871.

"The coat o airms is vera significant acause it haes the wird o God, then it haes the twa warriors an the Fijian canoe an aa. A think that the cooncil members prefer that the full coat o airms be includit in the Fiji flag," said Asesela Sadole, General Secretary o the Great Cooncil o Chiefs.

Ensigns o Fiji

• 
  Merchant Ensign
• 
  Govrenment Ensign
• 
  Naval Ensign
• 
  Ceevil Air Ensign

Sources

• High Commission of the Republic of the Fiji Islands to New Zealand - National Symbols of Fiji Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine. "Ensigns for use in Government vessels, in merchant ships and in naval vessels are of the same basic design, but have dark blue, red and white background respectively". Accessed 2 Februar 2006
• Barraclough, E. M. C. an Crampton, W. G. (1978). Flags of the World. Lunnon: Frederick Warne. ISBN 0-7232-2015-8. P. 209 et seq. "The Civil Air Ensign is like that of Britain, except that it has the shield of Fiji placed on the arm of the cross."

Template:Oceanie topic Template:Union Banner

See also

• commons:Flags based on British ensigns

External links

• Fiji at Flags of the World