Orange ribbon

The orange ribbon is a symbol adopted for a wide variety of uses.

On 18th May 2008 at the Austrian Woman's Run 3000 woman were running with an orange ribbon in support of human rights in Tibet. On the 27th of April 2008 at the Vienna City Marathon 2300 athlets were wearing an orange ribbon in support for human rights in Tibet. The Initiative Go Orange for Tibet aims to encourage sportsmen to highlight human rights violation in Tibet before, during and after the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing through an orange ribbon or the color orange in general.

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.)

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").

In Australia, orange ribbons were worn on Fridays in support of the release of Australian citizen David Matthew Hicks during his detention in Guantanamo Bay for 5 years without charge. It was originally an initiative called 'Orange Fridays' supported by Amnesty International, demanding that David Hicks be returned to Australia to face a fair trial or be released.

San Francisco Bay Area activist group, Act Against Torture, use the orange ribbon as part of their campaign to close Guantanamo Bay and other U.S. detention facilities

In Canada, orange ribbons are worn as an awareness ribbon symbolizes Addiction Recovery. Addiction is defined to include ANY “uncontrolled compulsive use” or compulsive obsessive behavior that makes life unmanageable. The campaign was launched on October 1st 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. [1]

In Canada, orange ribbons are worn to support the New Democratic Party candidate Nicolas R. Thibodeau in Mount Royal. The Orange Ribbon Foundation concern is to support Integrity, Democracy, Equality, Environment and Security in the political ring. The campaign was launched on January 23rd 2007 when he was reinvestited a year after his first attempt to represent Mount royal constituents. [2]

An orange ribbon or orange-and-white ribbon is an awareness ribbon for Self Injury Awareness Day (SIAD) (March 1). SIAD promotes awareness and support of those people who self harm. They were formerly colored red, blue and black.

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

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.

The orange ribbon is used as an anti-racism symbol, or as a symbol for the freedom to own guns.

The orange ribbon shows support for Hunger Awareness, Lupus, Racial Tolerance, or Cultural Diversity. [3]

The orange ribbon shows awareness of leukemia, feral cats, motorcyclist safety, Multiple Sclerosis, melanoma, or Agent Orange exposure.

At county and state fairs in the United States, an orange ribbon is awarded to the competitor finishing in sixth place in a contest.

On March 2, 2007, the U.S. Senate passed a unanimous resolution to designate March as Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month, symbolized by an orange ribbon.