Greetings! We invite you
to participate in a survey of international students/persons regarding
popular peace symbols from your home region of the world. The hope is that
through the gathering of this information, a peace flag that is truly
international can be developed.
Peace Flag Research:
The idea behind the search for and development of an
International Peace Flag:
This began at a Thomas Merton Center sponsored peace
rally that was convened after the bombing began in October 2001 in retaliation
for the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks. Over 200 people gathered at
the Baptist Church in Oakland to discuss options for peaceful demonstrations
against the bombing. People were of course horrified by the Twin Towers
bombing, but all present felt violence for violence was not the answer (Justice
not vengeance was the prevailing idea). Innocent people would die in the
bombings… perhaps more innocents than died in NYC.
The 200+ participants divided into ten discussion
groups to allow people to speak out on their feelings about the attacks and the
consequent bombings. Everyone was given voice and the opportunity to share
ideas for peaceful reaction to the bombing. At the end of the discussion
period, each group was to return to the larger forum with three ideas for peace
action. Maritza Mosquera, Patricia “Red” Redshaw, and Mary Beth Steisslinger
joined one group and came up with a “unique” idea that evening for developing
an International Peace Flag. Many people wanted a flag to either fly alongside
the American flag or instead of it. This flag would symbolize peace and the
desire for peace and unity around the world. This flag would be flown as a
statement against war. The larger assembly loved the idea, and by the end of
the evening, the International Peace Flag Project had been born.
Now the group faces the task of researching
information on existing peace flags, gathering information on peace symbols and
colors, and coming up with an appealing design for a flag. Our hope is that
this flag will be flown the world over as a statement of unity and peace; a
statement against war as a means of settling conflicts.
The Flag Design:
The initial idea discussed during that first peace
rally after the bombing began was of a flag that would be rectangular or square
with the Earth in the middle (similar to the photo image of the Earth Day
Flag). The Earth would be surrounded by symbols of peace from around the world
(maybe 10, maybe 20?) and these would stand out boldly against an appropriate
color background.
Other ideas have evolved. The flag could be trimmed:
the four directions and the four elements and their corresponding colors could
possibly be represented (if we can find similar representation for such @ the
world).
Another suggestion has each peace symbol wrapped in an
appropriate circle of color or forming a colorful border along the edge and in
the middle, Earth, a realistic image from space (continents obscured by clouds,
won’t favor one view over another)
Flag Production and Distribution:
It has been suggested
that the flags be printed by union shops making living wages and that the flags
be distributed by peace, social justice and environmental organizations around
the globe. A fundraising plan is needed for the initial printing and a
business plan is needed to market and distribute and maintain production…. Any
ideas?? Anyone know any marketing types who would like to volunteer?
Peace symbol websites:
Phone listings of flag companies that produce or distribute earth
and/or “eco” flags
1. On A
Roll Inc., Asheville, NC 1-888-281-1274
2. Evergreen
Flag Enterprises Inc., Richmond, VA 1-804-231-1800
Peace symbols:
Below is a list of the peace symbols we have found thus far. Ideally,
we would have an image of each symbol followed by a description that would
include the history and origin of each symbol, it meaning(s) and how widely it
is recognized. As you can see, the information here is spotty (? Denotes
unsure information). Please site your references for your information as well.
- Ank or
ansate cross: originated in Egypt? Is recognized in Africa and Asia? The cross
= life and the o = eternity
- Calumet
(means “reed” in French) or peace pipe: Symbol of peace for the North American
Plains Indians?
- Dove:
originated in the Middle-East as a sign of peace, biblical, Picasso’s famous
image
- Hamsa
or “Peace Hand”: originated in India and Africa, power originates out from
starflower on palm. A similar symbol seems to be the Stargate Hand from the
Middle-East with Star of David (should these be separated?)
- Heart
image with word “LOVE” beneath: famous U.S.A. ‘60’s image designed by Sister
Corina Kent
- I Ching
symbol for peace
- Laurel
Leaf: symbol of triumph of humanity
- Nuclear
Disarmament peace sign: famous U.S.A. ‘60’s symbol made from a composite of
semaphore symbols for “N” & “D”
- Olive
Wreath: peace symbol used by the United Nations that originated in Greece?
- Olive
Branch… same as the wreath?
- Mistletoe:
originated in Scandinavia as a symbol of peace and reconciliation?
- Peacepoles
- Rainbow:
symbol of peace for Incas? Chinese? Norse? Greeks? Christian/Biblical?
- Tibetan
Peace Vase (Terbum)
- World
Peace Flame
- PAX –
Latin
- PAIX –
French
- Arabic
As-Salaam
- Chinese
Peace
- Sanscrit
shanti
- Russian
Mir
- Hebrew
Shalom
Colors and Peace:
- Blue:
Native American? symbol of sky above and sea below, abundant and benign Earth?
- Green:
Islamic symbol of peace? Environmental movement to respect Earth (Greenpeace)
- White: Korean color of truce and goodwill (the Chinese character for
Koreans means “the people who wear white”?). White is also a symbol of
unity because white light contains all colors of the spectrum
