The blue ribbon is a symbol of high quality. The association comes 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 the French knightly Order of the Holy Spirit. The spelling blue riband is still encountered in most English-speaking countries, but in the United States, the term was altered to blue ribbon, and ribbons of this color came to be awarded for first place in certain athletic or other competitive endeavours (such as county and state fairs). It also may be applied to distinguished members of a group or commission who have convened to address a situation or problem; the usual usage is "blue ribbon commission" or "blue-ribbon panel". Fair competitions In some fair competitions in the U.S., particularly 4-H and FFA livestock and horticultural events, blue ribbons may be awarded to any project or exhibit which meets or exceeds all of a competition's judging criteria. In Canada, New Zealand and Great Britain, blue ribbons are awarded to second place, with red ribbons awarded to first. The project may not necessarily be the first-place finisher, however. In such cases, a purple ribbon may be given to the champion and second-place (or reserve) champion. Usage as an awareness or activism ribbon Blue ribbons have been used as awareness ribbons for numerous different causes. Notable examples: The "Blue Ribbon Online Free Speech Campaign" is an online campaign by the EFF endorsing the protection of free speech on the Internet. The blue ribbon is internationally used to spread awareness of chronic fatigue syndrome A blue ribbon is also the ribbon used for awareness for the autoimmune disease of Sjögren's syndrome. In Canada, it is the symbol of an anti-tobacco, anti–second hand smoke campaign. It has the same meaning in Japan. Students of the Hugh Boyd Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia started the "Blue Ribbon Campaign" in 1999. Each year it has grown and now has taken on a national scope. Singapore is the first country in the region to adopt The Blue Ribbon initiative started by the World Health Organisation Western Pacific Region, on a nationwide scale with 10 markets and food centres. In Spain, a blue ribbon (lazo azul) was used since 1993 by those opposing the terrorism of ETA. During the political battle in Israel over