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2015 March: What’s On Worldwide

2015 Feb 25   category: Global Culture   author:  

This year there will be a total solar eclipse coinciding with the vernal equinox but you’ll have to travel to the Faroe Islands to experience less than 3 minutes of totality. Alternatively you can stay at home and party with Greek friends as they celebrate their independence day five days later on March 25th. Pick up a FlagAndMap gift featuring a Greek design for this special occasion. Several other national celebrations also occur in March as can be seen from the list below.

Mar 1: Independence Day (Bosnia and Herzegovina); St. David’s Day (Wales)
Mar 6: Holi; Independence Day (Ghana)
Mar 11: Independence Day (Lithuania)
Mar 12: Independence Day (Mauritius)
Mar 17: St. Patrick’s Day (Ireland)
Mar 20: Vernal Equinox; Total Solar Eclipse (Faroe Is.); Independence Day (Tunisia)
Mar 21: Independence Day (Namibia)
Mar 23: Pakistan Day
Mar 25: Independence Day (Greece)
Mar 26: Independence Day (Bangladesh)
Mar 31: Freedom Day (Malta); Transfer Day (US Virgin Islands)

2015 February: What’s On Worldwide

2015 Feb 04   category: Global Culture   author:  

We trust the new year is treating you well so far. FlagAndMap plans to offer designs on a range of exciting new products in 2015, beginning with a new line of ring binders designed to give your office a slightly patriotic feel. In many parts of the world Mardi Gras will be celebrated in the coming month, on February 17, the same day that Kosovars celebrate their independence day. Other notable international dates in February are listed below – find a suitable FlagAndMap gift to help you celebrate using the national links. You can also plan further ahead by viewing the full list of 2015 world events.

Feb 4: National Day (Sri Lanka)
Feb 6: Waitangi Day (New Zealand)
Feb 7: Independence Day (Grenada)
Feb 11: Foundation Day (Japan)
Feb 14: Valentine’s Day
Feb 15: National Day (Serbia)
Feb 16: State Restoration Day (Lithuania)
Feb 17: Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras; Independence Day (Kosovo)
Feb 18: Independence Day (The Gambia)
Feb 19: New Year (Chinese calendar); Losar (Tibet)
Feb 22: Independence Day (Saint Lucia)
Feb 23: National Day (Brunei)
Feb 24: Independence Day (Estonia)
Feb 25: National Day (Kuwait)
Feb 27: Independence Day (Dominican Republic)

Statistics for a Fact Based World View

2014 Aug 12   category: World Affairs   author:  

Gapminder.org is a website that presents statistics on global economic development in a way that is entertaining and interesting. Their first challenge was to tap into those statistics, which are typically held by organizations such as the United Nations but are not generally presented in a way that captures the imagination. They then developed the Trendalyzer software, which presents that data in time lapse fashion and graphically illustrates key changes over time. Watch some of their videos and you may well come across some recent trends in global development that will surprise you.

Assessing Atrocities

2014 Aug 08   category: World Affairs   author:  

It is perhaps something we should all be more knowledgeable about – the sadly astonishing number of deaths caused by human directed activities throughout history. It has become a passion for Matthew White to trawl the available information and tally up which of humanity’s achievements has been the deadliest. His findings are published in his book Atrocitology, which is interesting to delve into but perhaps a bit too depressing to read in full. A brief analysis at the end might challenge a few misconceptions but the number one deadliest event will be no surprise – the second world war with 66 million deaths. Alternatively he suggests that several of the global conflicts during the 20th century could be grouped together as one interconnected ‘hemoclysm’ (Greek for blood flood) causing a total of 150 million deaths.

So is there any hope that the 21st century will be less deadly than the one before? It no doubt helps to understand just how deadly our past activities have been. On the other hand it may also help to recognize mankind’s most life-saving activities, for example the eradication of smallpox must surely have saved millions of lives.

2014 International Events and Holidays

2014 Apr 15   category: Global Culture   author:  

This morning people in the Americas were able to observe a total lunar eclipse, weather permitting. People who reside around the Pacific Rim will have a similar opportunity on October 8. For a list of other noteworthy 2014 international events, including national holidays and religious festivals, check out our list of world events for 2014.

2014 Winter Olympics

2014 Feb 24   category: Latest News   author:  

Congratulations to all who took part in the Winter Olympics at Sochi and especially to those from the Russian Federation who pulled off a memorable national team performance. Indeed that nation can be said to have won, no matter how you look at the medals table. As to which nation came second, opinions may differ. We don’t, however, calculate a GDP adjusted ranking for the Winter Olympics as we do for the Summer Olympics because of the rather hard to measure ‘arctic’ or ‘alpine’ factor that impacts performance more than GDP. If a GDP adjustment were made, Norway would clearly be big winners, and they certainly benefit from the ‘arctic’ factor. So for the Winter Olympics we just sit back and enjoy our favorite events, like boardercross.

December 2013 Trivia Question

2013 Dec 06   category: Fun & Games   author:  

Q: This Himalayan kingdom is noted for its proactive conservation efforts – it has committed to maintain at least 60% of its territory as forest and has designated more than 40% as protected areas – which nation is it?

find the answer on our Trivia Page – there’s no prize; it’s just a bit of fun; something to stimulate your geographic imagination.

Wrap up the year with a gift

2013 Nov 25   category: Latest News   author:  

The year end is a great time for giving gifts. FlagAndMap products with global designs based on national flags and maps make ideal gifts for friends or colleagues around the world. Listed below are some specific national celebrations that occur in December prior to the end of the year when everyone welcomes a token of appreciation.

Dec 1: Great Union Day in Romania
Dec 2: National Day in Laos and the United Arab Emirates
Dec 5: The King’s Birthday in Thailand
Dec 6: Independence Day in Finland
Dec 12: Jamhuri Day in Kenya
Dec 16: Independence Day in Kazakhstan; National Day in Bahrain
Dec 17: National (Coronation) Day in Bhutan
Dec 18: National Day in Qatar
Dec 21: Independence Day in Nepal
Dec 25: Christmas celebrated by Western Christian communities

November 2013 Trivia Question

2013 Nov 01   category: Fun & Games   author:  

Q: On November 3, there will be a hybrid solar eclipse – what is a ‘hybrid’ solar eclipse?

find the answer on our Trivia Page – there’s no prize; it’s just a bit of fun; something to stimulate your geographic imagination.

November Lights

2013 Oct 26   category: Latest News   author:  

This year on November 3 the start of the Hindu festival of Diwali coincides with a solar eclipse. It’s appropriate perhaps that this ‘festival of lights’ will begin with the concealing and revealing of our brightest light. Regrettably most Hindus will not see this as the eclipse will occur mainly over the Atlantic and West Africa. Meanwhile Islamic communities welcome in a new year and several other countries celebrate national days in November, as listed below.

Nov 1: State Day in Antigua and Barbuda
Nov 3: Independence Day in Micronesia and Dominica; Separation Day in Panama
Nov 4: New Year in the Islamic calendar; National Day in Tonga
Nov 9: Independence Day in Cambodia
Nov 11: Independence Day in Angola and Poland
Nov 15: Independence Day in Palestine
Nov 18: Independence Day in Latvia and Morocco; National Day in Oman
Nov 19: National Day in Monaco
Nov 22: Independence Day in Lebanon
Nov 25: Independence Day in Suriname
Nov 28: Independence Day in Mauritania and Albania
Nov 30: Independence Day in Barbados; St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland

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