The orange ribbon is a symbol adopted for a very wide variety of uses in different places.
Worldwide
The orange ribbon is used for the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This is held in November and coincides with Australia's Harmony Day. The ribbon shows awareness of racial tolerance, or cultural diversity. Orange ribbons are used during August to raise awareness and support for Autoinflammatory Awareness month. The orange matches the logo of the Autoinflammatory Alliance which represents an inflammasome, the fevers/pain of the disorders, and the passion of the informed patient/supporter. Orange ribbons raise awareness of malnutrition and it's consequences. It was recently used worldwide to promote awareness of self-harm on March 1, 2012. March 1 is designated as Self-injury Awareness Dayaround the world. 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 and prevention programmes. Some people wear an orange awareness ribbon to encourage awareness of self-harm. Multiple Sclerosis and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome awareness both use orange ribbons. Kidney cancer and leukaemia both use orange awareness ribbons. It is also used in November for COPD Awareness Month.
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.
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. 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 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.
In Israel, orange ribbons indicate opposition to the Israel "disengagement" plan of 2004 which involved withdrawal from the Gaza strip. Although the disengagement was completed in 2005, supporters continue to use the color orange as a symbol of general opposition to further Israeli withdrawals. Often written on the post-Disengagement ribbons is the phrase "לא נשכח ולא נסלח".
Japan
In Japan, the orange ribbon is promoted as a symbol of Child Abuse Prevention. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has designated November as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Nigeria
In Nigeria the Orange Ribbon Initiative is an advocacy program designed to support children with developmental disabilities, most especially the Autism Spectrum Disorders. It seeks to ensure that these children are not stigmatized and that they receive the required support from parents, teachers, friends, government and the society.
In the 1920s, an orange ribbon was used for the national association of overallklubbar, clubs promoting a radical change in fashion meaning everyone should wear jumpsuits. 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.
At-risk animal awareness. The orange ribbon has been officially registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as the Animal Guardian Ribbon. It 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."
The ACLU Close Guantánamo Campaign. 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.
Work zone safety awareness. A reflective orange ribbon is used by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation to promote awareness and to honor roadway construction workers who have died at work.
