If you visit many Google properties today, you will see a special logo honoring the life and achievements of Simone de Beauvoir. Simone de Beauvoir was a French born activist for women. She was most known for her movements in feminist ethics and existential feminism and spent much of her adult life advocating for it.
She was born on January 9, 1908 in Paris, France and passed at the age of 78 on April 14, 1986 in Paris as well. She would be celebrating her 106th birthday today.
One of her most famous books is "The Second Sex" which is about the treatment of women throughout history.
For more on her life, see Wikipedia.
I am just not sure why this logo is in so many European countries but not a global logo? I know, she was very influential in France and that region but it seems her footprint was felt beyond Europe.
Forum discussion at Google+.