Orange ribbon

The orange ribbon is a symbol adopted for a very wide variety of uses in different places. It is currently being used in the #savecedric campaign to promote the continued unification of the "westside" region of a business in Northern Indiana. Many efforts are being made by local supporters to raise awareness of this cause. It was more recently used worldwide to promote awareness of self-harm on March 1, 2012. March 1 is designated as Self-injury Awareness Day (SIAD) around the world.^[1] On this day, some people choose to be more open about their own self-harm, and awareness organisations make special efforts to raise awareness about self-harm. Some people wear an orange awareness ribbon or wristband to encourage awareness of self-harm.^[2]

Australia

• In Australia, orange ribbons are worn annually on March 21 to support Harmony Day and the message of a harmonious multicultural society. First organized in 1996, by the next year the 'Orange Ribbon' was embraced by thousands of people across Australia and was worn by members of the all sides of politics at the 1997 Australia Day celebrations in capital cities Australia-wide.^[3]

Canada

• In Canada, orange ribbons are worn as an awareness ribbon symbolizes Addiction Recovery. The campaign was launched on October 1, 2004 by the non-profit group R.A.F.T. for their first “Walk for Recovery”. It has since been adopted by a number of other support groups who battle addictions.^[4]
• In the province of New Brunswick in Canada, orange ribbons are worn in response to the New Brunswick government's plan to sell many of the assets of New Brunswick Power (NB Power) to Hydro-Québec. The ribbons serve many purposes including making the public aware of the proposed sale, and making the government aware of the public opposition to the deal.^[5]

Israel

• In Israel, orange ribbons indicate opposition to the Israel "disengagement" plan of 2004 (blue ribbons indicate support). The color was adopted by disengagement opponents on advice from Adir Zik. Although the disengagement was executed in 2005, supporters continue to use the color as a symbol of general opposition to further withdrawals. Often written on the post-Disengagement ribbons is the phrase "לא נשכח ולא נסלח" ("we will not forget and we will not forgive").

Singapore

• In Singapore, the orange ribbon is promoted as a symbol of racial and religious harmony. It is also used to show support for the independent music scene.

Sweden

• In Sweden, the orange ribbon was the common symbol for a change of government in the national election in September 2006. The orange ribbon is an initiative from the Young Conservatives, the Young Liberals, the Young Christian-Democrats and the Young Center.

Ukraine

• It is a symbol of the Ukrainian Orange Revolution of 2004. The orange color denotes the color of the opposition party of Viktor Yushchenko. (Ribbons are common symbols of non-violent protest.)

United Nations

• The orange ribbon is worn as a symbol representing Harmony Day, coinciding with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The ribbon shows awareness of Racial Tolerance, or Cultural Diversity.

United States

• In the United States, the orange ribbon has become a support color for Kidney Cancer ^[6]
• In the United States, the orange ribbon has become a support color for hunger^[7] awareness and malnutrition awareness.
• In the United States, the orange ribbon shows support for Multiple Sclerosis and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) Awareness, as well as Cancer/Lupus/Leukemia Awareness.^[8]
• In the United States, the orange ribbon has been officially registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as the Animal Guardian Ribbon, a symbol used to raise public awareness of at-risk animals.^[9] The Animal Guardian Ribbon was created in 2003 by Rational Animal, a nonprofit media animal advocacy group in conjunction with the Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals. At-risk animals are defined as those "non-human animals who suffer from neglect or abuse or whose very lives and well-being are in jeopardy."
• In the United States, the orange ribbon shows support for the ACLU Close Guantánamo Campaign.^[10] In the San Francisco Bay Area activist group Act Against Torture uses it as part of their campaign to close Guantanamo Bay and other U.S. detention facilities, in reference to the orange jumpsuits which detainees are made to wear.
• A reflective orange ribbon is used by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation to promote work zone safety awareness, and to honor roadway construction workers who have died at work.^[11]
• It is a symbol of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder)

References

1. Self injury awareness day, First signs, retrieved 2011-09-04
2. FirstSigns webpages, FirstSigns, retrieved 2010-01-14
3. Australian Government Harmony Day Website, Australian Government, retrieved 2012-03-21
4. http://www.raft-nf.com
5. http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/931828
6. http://www.kidneycancer.org. Missing or empty |title= (help)
7. Mulligan, Sean. "Cancer Ribbon Colors". Wristband Bros. Wristband Bros. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
8. "Help Spread Awareness". National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
9. "Orange Ribbon for Animals". Rational Animal. June 6, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
10. "ACLU Announces Rights / Camera / Action". ACLU. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
11. "Wear a Reflective Orange Ribbon to Show Commitment to Roadway Work Zone Safety, Support Scholarship Program". The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. American Road & Transportation Builders Association. April 12, 2001. Retrieved July 4, 2015.