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Flags of the World
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For a list of flags, see List of flags or Gallery of flags by design.
Flags of the World (or FOTW) is an Internet-based vexillological organization and resource. Its projects include the Internet's largest website devoted to vexillology, containing comprehensive information about all kinds of flags, and an associated mailing list. FOTW was founded in 1993, and joined the International Federation of Vexillological Associations in 2001.
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The FOTW website contains more than 33,000 pages about flags and more than 62,000 images of flags. It includes an extensive online dictionary of vexillology.
The website is usually updated once a week with fresh material, but some mirrors update monthly. Due to the high amount of material there is an editing backlog, causing FOTW to contain outdated information. There are also some mirrors that have not been updated, so they are considered "historical."
The main source for material on the FOTW website are contributions to the FOTW mailing list, which currently has somewhat over 800 members. An editorial staff of unpaid volunteers manages and edits the site and maintains the list.
The organization's flag (used more online than in physical instantiations) is an asymmetric white and blue vertical bicolor, with a circle of five upright stars surrounding an inverted black star centered somewhat above the midpoint of the dividing line. The design, by Mark Sensen, was selected over 10 challengers in a poll of FOTW mailing list members and was adopted March 8, 1996. Sensen described its symbolism:
- White on the hoist stands for peace, blue on the fly for progress. The six colours of the stars are the main colours used in flags. The stars help to make one bigger symbol. The way the stars are all connected to each other represents the Internet.
The flag is thus noteworthy as a rare representation of the Internet on a flag.