Red ribbon
Encyclopedia
Awareness ribbon
Awareness ribbons, due to their ubiquitous nature, have come to symbolize various concerns depending on the colours or the patterns used. For example, black ribbons may be used for mourning....
colored red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
, has several different meanings in different contexts. Foremost, it is the symbol of solidarity
Solidarity (sociology)
Solidarity is the integration, and degree and type of integration, shown by a society or group with people and their neighbors. It refers to the ties in a society - social relations - that bind people to one another. The term is generally employed in sociology and the other social sciences.What...
of people living with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
Awareness symbol
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. The Red Ribbon Foundation http://www.redribbon.com is an example of an organization that utilizes the red ribbon symbol. The Red Ribbon Foundation is an organization founded in 1993 whose main purpose is the education about prevention of the Human Imunodeficiency Virus or HIV, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Related Complex, ARC and AIDS.
Alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention awareness origin
The Red Ribbon was first used as an awareness symbol made by after DEA Agent Enrique S. Camarena was kidnapped, tortured, raped and murdered while working undercover in Guadalajara, Mexico. Citizens in his home town of Calexico, California donned the ribbons to emphasize the need for increased prevention efforts. In 1988, Red Ribbon WeekRed ribbon week
Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States.-Murder of DEA agent:...
became a national campaign.
AIDS awareness origin
The Red Ribbon Project was created by the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in 1991.:- Remain anonymous as individuals and to credit the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus as a whole in the creation of the Red Ribbon Project, and not to list any individual as the creator of the Red Ribbon Project;
- Keep the image copyright free, so that no individual or organization would profit from the use of the red ribbon;
- The Red Ribbon should be used as a consciousness raising symbol, not as a commercial or trademark tool.
The artists who formed the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus wished to create a visual symbol to demonstrate compassion for people living with AIDS and their caregivers. Inspired by the yellow ribbons honoring American soldiers serving in the Gulf war, the color red was chosen for its, "connection to blood and the idea of passion -- not only anger, but love, like a valentine." First worn publicly by Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
at the 1991 Tony Awards, the ribbon soon became renowned as an international symbol of AIDS awareness, becoming a politically correct fashion accessory on the lapels of celebrities. At the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert held at Wembley Stadium, London on Easter Sunday 1992, more than 100,000 red ribbons were distributed among the audience, with performers such as George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
wearing one. The Red Ribbon continues to be a powerful force in the fight to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS and in the lobbying efforts to increase funding for AIDS services and research.
Fair award
At fairs and competitions in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, a red ribbon is awarded to the winning competitor (first place). It is used for second place in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for horticultural fairs and competitions.
In the U.S. in some judging competitions, particularly in 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
and FFA
FFA
FFA is a three-letter acronym that may stand for:-Aviation and the military:* First Flight Airport, IATA code for the tiny airstrip in Kitty Hawk where the first flight occurred in 1903.* Free-fire area, in U.S...
livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
and horticultural competitions, red ribbons may be given to a project that meets some of the judging criteria but falls short in other areas, while superior projects and exhibits are awarded blue ribbon
Blue ribbon
The blue ribbon is a term used to describe or symbolize something of high quality. The usage came from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners—and prior to that from Cordon Bleu which referred to the blue ribbon worn by a particular order...
s (which are second-place ribbons in Canada).
Awards are generally given according to the following scale
USA
- Blue ribbonBlue ribbonThe blue ribbon is a term used to describe or symbolize something of high quality. The usage came from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners—and prior to that from Cordon Bleu which referred to the blue ribbon worn by a particular order...
- Red ribbon
- White ribbonWhite ribbonThe white ribbon, a white-colored ribbon or representation of a white-colored ribbon, has several different meanings depending on the context. As with other color ribbons, is sometimes used by political movements to signify or spread their beliefs...
- Yellow ribbonYellow ribbonThe yellow ribbon is used for various symbolic purposes. It is often worn on one's person or tied around a tree in one's front yard.- Earliest Evidence unearthed at Pompeii :...
- Green ribbonGreen ribbonThe green ribbon has been used as a symbol for many campaigns, including environmental justice, mental health awareness, cannabis-liberation, agriculture and to show support for legalized forms of pornography and sexual content....
- Orange ribbonOrange ribbonThe orange ribbon is a symbol adopted for a very wide variety of uses in different places.*The orange ribbon represents the humanity against extreme software patents and software piracy. There are several threats against Open Source projects that we need to protect. We need support software freedom...
- Purple ribbonPurple ribbonA purple ribbon is worn to raise awareness for various causes, including:* Child Abuse* Anti-Gay Bullying*Pulmonary hypertension*Domestic violence*Pancreatic cancer*Animal abuse*Proportional representation voting system for UK elections...
- Brown ribbonBrown ribbonA brown ribbon is a type of award given to winners of various contests. At county and state fairs in the United States, a brown ribbon is the award for placing eighth in a contest...
Canada
- Red ribbon
- Blue ribbonBlue ribbonThe blue ribbon is a term used to describe or symbolize something of high quality. The usage came from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners—and prior to that from Cordon Bleu which referred to the blue ribbon worn by a particular order...
- White ribbonWhite ribbonThe white ribbon, a white-colored ribbon or representation of a white-colored ribbon, has several different meanings depending on the context. As with other color ribbons, is sometimes used by political movements to signify or spread their beliefs...
- Yellow ribbonYellow ribbonThe yellow ribbon is used for various symbolic purposes. It is often worn on one's person or tied around a tree in one's front yard.- Earliest Evidence unearthed at Pompeii :...
- Green ribbonGreen ribbonThe green ribbon has been used as a symbol for many campaigns, including environmental justice, mental health awareness, cannabis-liberation, agriculture and to show support for legalized forms of pornography and sexual content....
- Orange ribbonOrange ribbonThe orange ribbon is a symbol adopted for a very wide variety of uses in different places.*The orange ribbon represents the humanity against extreme software patents and software piracy. There are several threats against Open Source projects that we need to protect. We need support software freedom...
- Purple ribbonPurple ribbonA purple ribbon is worn to raise awareness for various causes, including:* Child Abuse* Anti-Gay Bullying*Pulmonary hypertension*Domestic violence*Pancreatic cancer*Animal abuse*Proportional representation voting system for UK elections...
- Brown ribbonBrown ribbonA brown ribbon is a type of award given to winners of various contests. At county and state fairs in the United States, a brown ribbon is the award for placing eighth in a contest...
See also
- Red Ribbon Agitation - a miners' rebellion in Australia
- Paul JabaraPaul JabaraPaul Jabara was an American actor, singer, and songwriter of Lebanese ancestry. He wrote Donna Summer's "Last Dance" from Thank God It's Friday and Barbra Streisand's song "The Main Event/Fight" from The Main Event...
- co-founder of the Red Ribbon Project - Medals of Honor (Japan)Medals of Honor (Japan)Since the late 19th Century, the Government of Japan has issued six different types of to individuals for achievements in various fields.The Medals of Honor were established on December 7, 1881, and were first awarded the following year. Several expansions and amendments have been made since then...
- Red tapeRed tapeRed tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...
External links
- Stars Wearing the AIDS Red Ribbon - slideshow by Life magazine