NorthStar Flags

Much like the Nile River, the Snake River in Idaho is the vital cog in the development of the state. Mountains dominate the state and the river becomes the partner in the agricultural industry since it irrigates over a million hectares of farmlands, and the valleys in turn produce more that 35% of the entire nation’s potato requirement.

Idaho also supplies the majority of antimony that the nation needs, while it ranks second overall in silver mining.

As the Snake River cascades through Hells Canyon at an elevation of around 2,408 meters high, it powers hydroelectric turbines along the way to supply the energy need of the state, a picture perfect setting for environmentalists since it does not use fossil fuels and does not harm the ecology.

And, probably due to the absence of pollutants in the air, tourists and visitors alike pour into Sun Valley resort during holidays and converge at the Craters of the Moon National Monument to experience first hand what it is to be like in an atmosphere of eerie cindery desolation.

Since 1899, the people of Idaho had expressed allegiance to only one flag, the one first used during the Spanish-American War, and officially adopted on March 12, 1907, but had undergone slight modifications in 1957.

The State Flag of Idaho had the state seal at the center of a blue field, and the words “State of Idaho” appear in gold letters over a red and gold band just below the seal. The seal depicts a miner and a woman that signifies equality, liberty and justice, and included are some of the state’s natural resources; mines, forests; farmland, and its wildlife.

The building of the Panama Canal (an engineering feat at the time), connects the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Oceans and ships can traverse through a series of locks that raises or lowers a vessel. The canal provides economic relief not only to the government but ship owners as well because a trip could be shortened by eight days travel time, if one uses the canal rather than the full route to the tip of South America.

President Theodore Roosevelt of the US saw the necessity of an economic opportunity, fulfilled this single endeavor. As ships coming from the west coast will have a relatively shorter time as it navigate to the east coast or vice-versa. Thus passengers, goods and services from New York City bound for San Francisco or Los Angeles will arrive more promptly through the canal.

The project had also its share of difficulties, essentially since Columbia (Panama was still a part) was not receptive to the idea. Probably due to the backing of the US, Panama seceded from Columbia and with a series of treaties with the new nation, the building of the canal pushed through.

Out of this new development, the new National Flag of Panama was born and officially adopted on December 15, 1949. The flag of the republic is a divided rectangle of four quarters, the upper part near the hoist is white with a five pointed blue star, while on the fly side is red; the lower part hoist side is blue and on the fly is white with a five pointed red star.

The colors blue and red represent the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party, while white stands for peace and purity.

The history of Nicaragua had been a struggle of the people for self-determination, starting with the independence from Spain in 1821 and becoming a republic in 1838. Although the British occupied the territory during the first half of the 19th century, it ceded control of the region in subsequent decades.

What followed was 42years of family dictatorship perpetrated by Anastasio Somoza, the country suffered and violent opposition to government manipulation and corruption spread to all walks of society that eventually led to a short lived civil-war (eight years) in 1978. The Marxist Sandinista guerilla came to power in 1979 and a ruling junta was installed.

The system imposed by the Sandinista government was not popular with the people, thus a new wave of struggle erupted anew this time with the Contras. The aid of the Nicaraguan government to the leftist rebels in El Salvador, forced the United States to back the anti Sandinista Contra’s through much of the 80’s. The first free election under a democratic system was held in 1990, paving the way for the rebuilding of Nicaragua.

Nicaragua is now a representative democratic republic it is also densely populated with a demographic almost similar in size to its smaller neighbors. To the north of the country is Honduras and it shares border with Costa Rica in the south, the Pacific Ocean is to the west, while facing the Caribbean Sea to the east.

The National Flag of Nicaragua is described as a horizontal band of equal sizes of cobalt blue (top and bottom) with white at the center. A coat of arms is strategically at the center of the white band, a replica of the seal of the Office of the President of Nicaragua.

Thousands of tourists flock to the ancient Mayan City of Copan in the Honduras to witness the ruins of one of the wealthiest city in the past. Tourism somehow has propped up the revenues of Honduras, but it still continues to be a poor country that depends mostly on the exports of bananas and coffee to drive the wheels of its economy.

As part of Spain’s vast empire in the New World, Honduras became independent in 1821 and for almost three decades of military rule, free and honest election was conducted in 1982, thus democracy prevailed. During the 80’s, Honduras was the haven for the Contras fighting the Sandinista’s in the government of Marxist Nicaragua and an ally to the Salvadoran Government in its fight against the leftist guerillas.

Having been a part of the Federal Republic of Central America (El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala) it adopted the color of the flag, though it was amended in 1866 as five blue stars were placed at the center to represent the five-nation union.

The National Flag of Honduras consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) and white in between. The two blue bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and the central white band is the land between the ocean and the sea, while also a symbol for peace and prosperity of its people. The five blue five pointed stars obviously represent the five nations of the former Federal Republic of Central America, and the hope of re-uniting the countries in the future.

The creation of the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement of which Honduras is a member, brings in the awaited economic miracle.

The resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala and it is included in the country’s coat of arms for it symbolizes liberty. Likewise the Guatemala flag had also the quetzal included in the coat of arms at the center of the flag on the white band and flanked by blue of equal width on both sides.

The two sky blue color suggests the location of the country being in-between the Pacific and Caribbean Ocean and the sky, while white is for peace and purity. Aside from the quetzal, the coat of arms include a parchment scroll that bears the date of independence from Spain; crossed rifles that indicates Guatemala’s defense; a bay laurel crown, its symbol for victory; and crossed swords that represents honor.

Guatemala or the land of trees, is densely forested and mountainous with the Sierra Madre on the south Pacific coast, descends to heavily vegetated northern lowlands including the narrow Caribbean coast. Most of Guatemalans live on the highlands where the climate is temperate compared to the lowlands where the weather is tropical.

A millennium ago the Mayan civilization flourished as could be seen from the remnants of the culture already sophisticated by any standards. Most citizens are descendants of the Maya-Spanish ancestry called the Ladinos that speak Spanish and are attuned to the western culture. While a minority indigenous Maya folks are poor subsistence farmers that live on the western highlands. Guatemalan society is divided between the highly urbanized Ladino community, the upper class and the Maya lower class.

Thus the cause of the 36year war between the guerillas and government forces that cost 200,000 lives had been the inequality experienced by the poor minority.

If we look at the demographics of El Salvador, 90% are mestizo, particularly those with Spanish blood. During the civil war 1980-1992, which aims to address economic inequality, thousands of these Spanish mestizo’s fled to the USA to look for job opportunities.

At present there is relative calm in the country as the truce between warring parties had been signed, and a democratic government had been installed. The new government has showed success in the agriculture and manufacturing industry, but faces the daunting task of alleviating poverty, crime, and natural disasters.

The history of El Salvador reflects unstable conditions just like the national flag that was adopted on May 17, 1912. It was based on the flagof the United Provinces of Central America, but was inspired by the Argentina flag, and was first used in 1822, then left out in 1865, reinstated in 1912, and last officially confirmed in 1972.

As in all members of the Central American federation, the National Flag of El Salvador is a horizontal band of equal size of blue (top and bottom) and white in between, with the coat of arms at the center of the white band. The Masonic triangle representing equality, is the basis for the design of the coat of arms of El Salvador and includes the original five provinces, volcanoes and the glowing freedom cap.

Flanking the triangle are five national flags and wreath all tied in the national colors and above the volcanoes is the cap of liberty and the motto “Dios, Union, Libertad” or God, Union, and Liberty on the lower gold scroll. Then the entire emblem is surrounded by “Republica de El Salvador en la America Central” in gold letters.

Rich coast or a country in Central America, Costa Rica is blessed with coastlines on the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. Low lying coastal plains connects with mountains and active volcanoes, coupled with a temperate climate is the ideal locale for agriculture, particularly the propagation of bananas and coffee – two of the prized export of the country that bolsters its economy.

San Jose, the capital sits on a central plateau and is home to the majority of its citizens. The country exists under a democratic form of government, a system that had ruled its people uninterrupted since free elections were conducted in 1889. Except for two brief spells in its history 1917 and 1948, Costa Rica had since lived under a relatively peaceful democracy. In fact in 1949, Jose Figueres Ferrer abolished the military and up to now, Costa Rica does not have a standing army, one of only a few countries within the democratic sphere that operate without the assistance of the military.

The present day Costa Rica and the direction it is pursuing is the mandate of the people as clearly manifested on the design of their national symbol – the flag. Designed by Pacifica Fernandez, it was actually inspired by the French flag of blue, white and red horizontal stripes had been in use since 1848.

The symbolism attached to the choice of colors include, blue stands for the sky, opportunities, idealism and perseverance; white is for peace, wisdom, and happiness; while red signifies for blood shed by the martyrs in defense of the country, as well as the warmth and generosity of its inhabitants.

25% of the land had been classified as preserves where the beauty of rain forests draws in more visitors.

However you look at it, the state of Georgia will always be known with the same intensity as Jimmy Carter’s home – the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. He may not have won a second seat (for re-election) but he made Georgian’s proud of the achievement he made as Chief Executive of the Nation. He created the Department of Energy and the Department of Education; reduced our dependence on foreign oil imports to 50%; a staunch supporter of human rights, in the process became the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.

All citizens like their favorite son, Jimmy Carter pledge allegiance to the State Flag of Georgia, which was adopted on May 8, 2003. It has three red and white stripes of equal width, with the state coat of arms (copied from the state seal) superimposed on a blue field in the upper left corner.

The arch in the coat of arms symbolizes the state’s Constitution, while the pillars represents the three branches of government; legislative; executive; and judiciary. Encompassing the pillars are the words “Wisdom, Justice, Moderation” of the state motto, while the pillars are flanked by a male in Colonial uniform and a soldier of the American Revolution. And beneath it appears the motto “In God We Trust,” while encircling the image are thirteen stars, representing the original members of the union that made up the United States of America.

Farmers on the fertile Coastal Plains of Georgia supply as much as 50% of the nations peanuts requirements and generate some 500million dollars in annual revenues. For several years, agriculture, wood pulps from pine forests and textile manufacturing had dictated the state’s economy, but it is now superseded by tourism.

At the height of the British Colonial occupation, Belize was previously referred to as the British Honduras. At its independence on September 21, 1981, the name was changed to Belize but retained the earlier version of the flag of British Honduras and adopted it as the official National Flag of Belize.

The flag of Belize is a royal blue field, with a white disc containing the National Coat of Arms placed at the center and encircled by fifty mahogany leaves. The national emblem is bordered at the top and bottom by two red stripes. The flag specifically used twelve different colors, three more than on any other national flag; also it is the only country that humans are depicted on its emblem.

Belize lies along the Caribbean Coast of Central America and is bordered by Mexico and Guatemala. This geographical grouping was the site of the ancient Mayan civilization, a more advanced society that existed long before Greece and Rome came into being. This finding had been supplemented by the archaeological digging that shows their latent skills in pottery, the arts and even astronomy.

The first British settlement started in 1638 and was granted independence by the United Kingdom in 1981, thus the influence could be clearly manifested including English the official language, although Spanish is widely spoken. Because Belize enjoys relative peace and coupled with huge tract of lands, it becomes the haven of refugees coming from troubled neighboring countries.

Tourists also flock to the country, to see and examine the preserved remnants of the Mayan civilization (like Altun Ha); and the wildlife that abounds with jaguars, howler monkeys, and toucans; and enjoy Western Hemisphere’s longest coral reef.

At the height of the British Colonial occupation, Belize was previously referred to as the British Honduras. At its independence on September 21, 1981, the name was changed to Belize but retained the earlier version of the flag of British Honduras and adopted it as the official National Flag of Belize.

The flag of Belize is a royal blue field, with a white disc containing the National Coat of Arms placed at the center and encircled by fifty mahogany leaves. The national emblem is bordered at the top and bottom by two red stripes. The flag specifically used twelve different colors, three more than on any other national flag; also it is the only country that humans are depicted on its emblem.

Belize lies along the Caribbean Coast of Central America and is bordered by Mexico and Guatemala. This geographical grouping was the site of the ancient Mayan civilization, a more advanced society that existed long before Greece and Rome came into being. This finding had been supplemented by the archaeological digging that shows their latent skills in pottery, the arts and even astronomy.

The first British settlement started in 1638 and was granted independence by the United Kingdom in 1981, thus the influence could be clearly manifested including English the official language, although Spanish is widely spoken. Because Belize enjoys relative peace and coupled with huge tract of lands, it becomes the haven of refugees coming from troubled neighboring countries.

Tourists also flock to the country, to see and examine the preserved remnants of the Mayan civilization (like Altun Ha); and the wildlife that abounds with jaguars, howler monkeys, and toucans; and enjoy Western Hemisphere’s longest coral reef.