Nobel (What) Prize?
Posted on 09. Oct, 2009 by Ben Jervey in U.S.A., Uncategorized
The custodial staff is going to have to clean a bunch of jaws off floor after everyone leaves the UN building here after the last day of climate talks in Bangkok. Reaction to the Obama Nobel Prize has been incredulous. Utter shock. The general consensus seems to land along one of these lines: So he won the award for being Obama? Or, Peace happens through actions or through speeches? Or, Umm….I mean, we’re supporters and all, but what has he done yet?
What the reactions haven’t been are enthusiastic, pleased, or satisfied. It’s more than a little bit awkward.
My first, barely hashed-out reaction is to think that this might be a political move by the Nobel folks. Obama will have to go to Norway to accept the award on December 10th. It just so happens that there are some pretty big international climate talks happening really close by at the same time. (You might recall that Gore accepted in Oslo in 2007, and immediately flew off to Bali to speak at those negotiations. Last I checked, Copenhagen is a heckuva lot closer to Oslo than Bali.) Could the Nobels be teeing Obama up for a huge, worldshaking announcement to “justify” his award. If his climate promises don’t “live up” to what’s expected of the award, Obama’s going to look a little naked to the world community, for which he has suppposedly, according to the Nobel statement, created “a new climate in international politics.” A new “climate?” You’ve got to think they’re choosing their words carefully.
“This is probably an encouragement for him to act,” said Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who won the prize the next year, agrees that the award shows great things are expected from him. “It’s an award coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young president that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all,” Tutu said. “It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama’s message of hope.”
It’s absolutely true that nothing will make this world a safer place for all than preventing the wholesale deterioration of a stable climate similar to that which all human society has developed. Will Obama feel prodded by this award, feel sufficiently pressured to be bold on the international climate front? Let’s hope so.
Just a little clarification, the Nobel Peace Prize is given out by the Norwegian Nobel committee in Oslo. But that is still very close to Copenhagen….
Other than that, I agree!
ha…of course. shaking my head in shame. did i mention that i cranked this out in a huge hurry?
The absurdity of this announcement, is only outdone by the incredible will of the Media to find fault in the choice rather than treat this as a rallying point at a critical juncture for Humanity. One that could quickly slip away from us amidst the noise and rabble of procedural discussion and petty debates.
Please help me find the positives in this:
http://envirogy.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/giving-nobel-peace-a-chance/