lecture on historical and social impacts of flags in Northern Ireland

The Irish Association and the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen’s University, Belfast recently hosted a seminar on ‘The Historical and Social Impact of Flags and Symbols on our Society’
Speaking was Rev Brian Kennaway and Dr Dominic Bryan.
 Kennaway is a Presbyterian minister, past president of the Irish Association, and author of The Orange Order: A Tradition Betrayed. Bryan is director of the Institute of Irish Studies and Reader in Social Anthropology at Queen’s. Amongst his work he keeps records of flags flown from lampposts and street furniture in Northern Ireland. The lectures can be seen here:

Credit goes to the Slugger O'Tool youtube channel for the videos 

Je Suis Charli flag design

This is my response to the terrible events in France. I decided to make a special flag in defiance of the attacks on civil liberty in that country. It is based on the flag used by the Texans at the Battle of Gonzalas.

Instead of a cannon it has a pencil symbolising freedom of speech and expression, it is also in the French colours representing national unity of all the people of France. The "Come and Take It" slogan is now the defiant "Je Suis Charlie" The star remains unchanged and still represents sovereignty and freedom. 

Hong Kong protest flag

A quick post about some protest flags in Hong Kong. The situation there is attracting a lot of interest in the UK as Hong Kong used to be a British colony and the decision of the Chinese government is seen as a treaty violation of guaranteeing Hong Kong's democratic institutions.

Flag of British Hong Kong

Interestingly the colonial flag appears to have been popular with protesters in Hong Kong, although I haven't seen any in what's being called the "umbrella revolution":

Another flag appears to drop the Union Jack and white disk, leaving the coat of arms on a blue field:

Another flag I saw on the internet keeps the white disk, but drops the colonial coat of arms. I am not sure if this so called pearl of the sea flag is used or if its just a proposal:

I made a protest flag design based on the colonial flag:

It keeps the white "Pearl of the Sea" and replaces the Union Flag with an orchid tree petal, representing Hong Kong sovereignty. If you want to put a coat of arms in the disk, you could use:

A version of this coat of arms design I based on the colonial arms:

I refined the design to this: