The power of a flag has been thrown on the world stage in the wake of the apparently race-related murder of nine people at a black church in Charleston, S.C., on June 17. And as the debate over whether to finally banish the Confederate flag — an innocent symbol of Southern pride to some, an abhorrent remnant of slavery and racial subjugation to others — to the history books continues to rage, a lesser-known but no less heated discussion in New Zealand demonstrates the tribulations associated with attempting to replace such long-standing symbols of collective identity.
The New Zealand flag, which currently features a Union Flag (commonly known as the Union Jack) and the four stars of the southern cross, has long drawn criticism for including what some consider a symbol of colonial repression. Tens of thousands of indigenous Maoris died following the arrival of white settlers in the 18th century. The idea of an alternate flag, meant to more fully represent contemporary New Zealand, was first proposed in the early 1970s, and a two-part flag referendum to decide the issue has been introduced for 2015–16.
An open call for submissions, which runs until July 16, has resulted in designs ranging from simple and classic to crass and quirky. Many include the silver fern, which has long been an unofficial national symbol; others highlight traditional Maori designs or incorporate the Union Jack, a nod to the country’s legacy of European immigration. One submission shows a whale with a sheep and kiwi on its back. Another, suggested by a Twitter user in jest, simply says “Not Australia.”
— ellen teapot 🇨🇦🇺🇸🏳️⚧️ (@asmallteapot) June 25, 2015
A panel of New Zealanders from all walks of life, including intellectuals, athletes, politicians and business executives, will help choose four finalist designs for part one of the referendum in late 2015. The winner will go head to head with the original flag in the final vote, to take place in March 2016.
Germany: The Sturm Family of Hamburg.
Food Expenditure for One Week: € 253.29 ($325.81 USD). Favorite foods: salads, shrimp, buttered vegetables, sweet rice with cinnamon and sugar, pasta. Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Norway: The Ottersland Dahl Family of Gjettum.
Food expenditure for one week: 2211.97 Norwegian Kroner; $379.41 USD. Favorite foods: fresh baked bread with butter and sugar, pancakes, tomato soup with macaroni and cold milk, yoghurtPeter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City.
Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25.
Favorite foods: sashimi, fruit, cake, potato chips. Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily.
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11.
Favorite foods: fish, pasta with ragu, hot dogs, frozen fish sticks.Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp.
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23.
Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat.Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City.
Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45. Family recipe: Chicken biryani with basmati rice.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."United States: The Revis family of North Carolina.
Food expenditure for one week: $341.98.
Favorite foods: spaghetti, potatoes, sesame chicken.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca.
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09.
Favorite foods: pizza, crab, pasta, chicken.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."China: The Dong family of Beijing.
Food expenditure for one week: 1,233.76 Yuan or $155.06.
Favorite foods: fried shredded pork with sweet and sour sauce.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna.
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27.
Family recipe: Pig's knuckles with carrots, celery and parsnips.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo.
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53.
Family recipe: Okra and mutton.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo.
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55.
Family recipe: Potato soup with cabbage.Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."United States: The Caven family of California.
Food expenditure for one week: $159.18.
Favorite foods: beef stew, berry yogurt sundae, clam chowder, ice cream.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar.
Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.02.
Family recipe: Mutton dumplings.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Great Britain: The Bainton family of Cllingbourne Ducis.
Food expenditure for one week: 155.54 British Pounds or $253.15.
Favorite foods: avocado, mayonnaise sandwich, prawn cocktail, chocolate fudge cake with cream.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village.
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03.
Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork.Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Australia: The Browns of River View - Food expenditure for one week: 481.14 Australian dollars or US$376.45.
Family Recipe: Marge Brown's Quandong (an Australian peach) Pie, Yogurt.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Norway: The Glad Ostensen family in Gjerdrum. Food expenditure for one week: 4265.89 Norwegian Kroner or $731.71. Favorite foods: mutton in cabbage, lasagne, and chocolate.Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Guatemala: The Mendozas of Todos Santos - Food expenditure for one week: 573 Quetzales or $75.70. Family Recipe: Turkey Stew and Susana Perez Matias's Sheep Soup.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Luxembourg: The Kuttan-Kasses of Erpeldange - Food expenditure for one week: 347.64 Euros or $465.84. Favorite Foods: Shrimp pizza, Chicken in wine sauce, Turkish kebabs.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."India: The Patkars of Ujjain - Food expenditure for one week: 1,636.25 rupees or $39.27. Family Recipe: Sangeeta Patkar's Poha (Rice Flakes).Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."United States: The Fernandezes of Texas - Food expenditure for one week: $242.48.
Favorite Foods: Shrimp with Alfredo sauce, chicken mole, barbecue ribs, pizza.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Mali: The Natomos of Kouakourou - Food expenditure for one week: 17,670 francs or $26.39. Family Recipe: Natomo Family Rice Dish.Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Canada: The Melansons of Iqaluit, Nunavut Territory - Food expenditure for one week: US$345. Favorite Foods: narwhal, polar bear, extra cheese stuffed crust pizza, watermelon.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."France: The Le Moines of Montreuil - Food expenditure for one week: 315.17 euros or $419.95. Favorite Foods: Delphine Le Moine's Apricot Tarts, pasta carbonara, Thai food.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Greenland: The Madsens of Cap Hope - Food expenditure for one week: 1,928.80 Danish krone or $277.12.
Favorite Foods: polar bear, narwhal skin, seal stew.Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."Turkey: The Celiks of Istanbul - Food expenditure for one week: 198.48 New Turkish liras or $145.88.
Favorite Foods: Melahat's Puffed Pastries.
Peter Menzel, from the book, "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats."
