Nobel Peace Prize 2013

[HoreTore]

Even more scientifically quantifiable Nobel prizes are increasingly becoming politicized.

The Peace Prize is purely political, complete with a stated political agenda, while the others have always been politicized. Not so much now, but a lot more in the past.

Seamus: Apparently the reasoning behind giving it to the opcw was to give the effort against wmd's a push, and I can't really see what giving the prize to Malala would've pushed. An inspiration for muslim women around the world to fight for their rights? Tawakkul Karman got that prize in 2011, it's too soon for a repeat.

[Husar]

I also don't quite know whether Malala would've been better, although I think her push to promote education for everyone can also lead to a more peaceful world since education can work against prejudices and antagonism etc.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Seamus: Apparently the reasoning behind giving it to the opcw was to give the effort against wmd's a push, and I can't really see what giving the prize to Malala would've pushed. An inspiration for muslim women around the world to fight for their rights? Tawakkul Karman got that prize in 2011, it's too soon for a repeat.

More or less exactly as I evaluated their decision. I said I would have preferred the lass get it, but I acknowledge that, within the framework of what the prize was established to do/reward, the choice of OPCW is more or less spot on.

[Lemur]

[The NPP] lost all credibility (if it still had any) when it gave that other one to Obama.

Oh, I think it debased itself well before that.

Henry Kissinger.

Yasser Arafat.

'Nuff said.

[PanzerJaeger]

Oh, I think it debased itself well before that.

Henry Kissinger.

Yasser Arafat.

'Nuff said.

Kissinger's Peace Prize is understandable given the circumstances and period of time in which it was given, and even holds up today when taking a broad view of his actions, despite the revelations of some of his less than peaceful endeavors in South America, etc. Obama's? Not so much.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Kissinger's Peace Prize is understandable given the circumstances and period of time in which it was given, and even holds up today when taking a broad view of his actions, despite the revelations of some of his less than peaceful endeavors in South America, etc. Obama's? Not so much.

The Obama award was made to encourage efforts at peace-making. Hortore published their award criteria a few threads back (at the Obama award I believe), and using the award to encourage efforts at peace-making is one of the specific criterion used.

I tend to have a typical Yank's view about awards -- that they are given in recognition of something you have ACHIEVED ALREADY. From such a perspective, the Obama award was patently silly since it was more of a "you make us feel better so do some more peacenik stuff" award than anything else.

In fairness to the committee in Oslo (only Norwegian Nobel), they ARE abiding by the criteria outlined for the award at its inception and "encouraging efforts" is one of the guidelines.

The fact that I find it silly does not mean that they are not making the award as it was intended.

[Kadagar_AV]

Please have in mind that this is the NORWEGIAN Nobel prize.

They don't exactly have a stellar history, and their modern choices have been reminiscent of HoreTore after a night out.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Please have in mind that this is the NORWEGIAN Nobel prize.

They don't exactly have a stellar history, and their modern choices have been reminiscent of HoreTore after a night out.

Actually, to provide credit where it is due, Horetore's PWD has been pretty consistent with his PWS. The Oslo Nobel folk however....

[HoreTore]

The Obama award was made to encourage efforts at peace-making. Hortore published their award criteria a few threads back (at the Obama award I believe), and using the award to encourage efforts at peace-making is one of the specific criterion used.

I tend to have a typical Yank's view about awards -- that they are given in recognition of something you have ACHIEVED ALREADY. From such a perspective, the Obama award was patently silly since it was more of a "you make us feel better so do some more peacenik stuff" award than anything else.

In fairness to the committee in Oslo (only Norwegian Nobel), they ARE abiding by the criteria outlined for the award at its inception and "encouraging efforts" is one of the guidelines.

The fact that I find it silly does not mean that they are not making the award as it was intended.

What's funny though, is that the ones you'd like to get the award, like Malala, is NOT a prize according to the criteria. Just like we know that the peace prize will be awarded every year, we also know that Fredrik S. Heffermehl will write an angry chronicle stating that the prize is not according to Nobel's will and that human rights, democracy etc has nothing to do with the prize. He's also critical this year, since the OPCW only seeks to ban one kind of weapon, not all weapons... Fortunately though, nobody cares about him.

Also, I have to ask: what has Malala actually achieved? Is there peace in Pakistan now, thanks to her efforts?

[Fragony]

Is there peace because of Obama or peace because of Al Gore. She doesn't deserve the Nobel-price I fully agree, as the Nobel-price doesn't deserve her. I got a kilo of spinache in my fridge that has more credibility.

Edit, it are actually two ounces.

[Fragony]

Who cares about this prize? It lost all credibility (if it still had any) when it gave that other one to Obama.

Lost it way before it was given to Obama. If someone wanted to give it to me for whatever reason I would simply refuse it.

[Fragony]

Doesn't it come with lots of money? I'd take one.

That changes everything. Who do I have to kill to make peace somewhere. I crave peace.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Doesn't it come with lots of money? I'd take one.

Roughly 1.25M USD at current rates.