EU, Arab Spring considered favorites for Nobel Peace Prize

[Lars77]

Source: Washington Post

OSLO, Norway — Arab Spring or European Union? Speculation ahead of the Nobel Peace Prize announcement on Friday is split after cryptic comments by the award committee’s chairman.

Many Nobel watchers have seen the revolutions against autocratic regimes in North Africa and the Middle East as the most likely subject of this year’s prize. An American professor who wrote a guide to nonviolent protests was a bookmaker’s favorite Thursday.

But remarks by Thorbjoern Jagland, who has led the five-member Norwegian panel since 2009, have fueled speculation the prize could go to EU.

Even though Norway is not a member, Jagland is a strong supporter of the 27-nation bloc, which many consider a peace-building project as much as an economic union.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/eu-arab-spring-considered-favorites-for-nobel-peace-prize/2011/10/06/gIQA3RCUQL_story.html

[On the Road]

1. It *Has* to be the Arab Spring

I mean, peaceful demonstrations which toppled governments? It is the quintessence of a peace prize winner.

Unfortunately, I don't know that Libya should qualify. As much as I have supported the TNC, the change ended up coming by armed conflict, which is hardly what the Peace Prize is about.

The question remains, though -- how will the winner or winners be defined and how will be money be allocated?

[FarLeftFist]

2. Arab Spring faced way more obstacles. But both are deserving.

[truebrit71]

3. Yeah, I kinda think that got devalued when they issued it to a guy that hasn't ended any wars...

...escalated one we were already in, and started another brand new one...

I think they forgot the "peace" part of the whole idea that particular year....

[dipsydoodle]

4. ditto

Its no longer a meaningful prize. Piece Prize might be more appropriate - piece of fucking string for the winner.

[Lars77]

8. Ask Liu Xiaobo if it´s meaningless.

[JackRiddler]

5. Um, you mean Kissinger in 1973?

[truebrit71]

11. Nope, I was thinking President 'Hope and Change' in 2009 actually...

...

[JackRiddler]

12. Sure, I heard you. But the prize has been political dilettantism at best for 40 years at least.

[Lars77]

7. Kissinger was awarded the prize along with Le Duc Tho for the 73 Paris Peace Accords

The prize was awarded in the same year.

It was one of those intended to put pressure on the people involved so that they might keep their promise. The peace prize is sometimes very active. It´s not always a lifetime achievement award.


Bit drastic to shit on every winner since then isn´t it?

[24601]

6. I would have thought NATO for bombing Libya - or even a 2nd

one for Obama - for not invading Syria or Iran, yet.

[dipsydoodle]

9. And the joint winners were

This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded jointly to three women - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15211861

[No Elephants]

10. The family of the Tunisian who self immolated should get the award.

He was so frustrated with corruption that was preventing him from supporting his family.

That is what started the Arab Spring.


Then again, do you want to give people more incentive to self-immolate?

Never mind. Dead or alive, the poor Tunisian can't catch a break.

[Little Tich]

13. It's still a fact that the Tunisian street vendor Mohammed Bouazizi started it all.

Nobody can take that away from him, prize or no prize. But I agree, the Arab Spring is the most important peace event for years, and and a posthumous Nobel Prize would certainly acknowledge that.