Time to Rename the Prize

Al Gore has been named co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for raising awareness of the climate change issue through his movie An Inconvenient Truth. Leaving aside all debates about the merits or demerits of this documentary, it is hard to imagine how any argument besides trendy political correctness can be used to justify this selection. If Al Gore won an environmental prize, a public awareness prize, a movie prize (i guess he already has that) or any host of other prizes, that would be understandable, whatever you views are of his movie or the climate change issue. But the Peace Prize?

It would seem that the criteria for the Peace Prize were not spelled out by Alfred Nobel a century ago, but rather authority was given to the Norwegian Parliament to annually choose a winner. Still, the fact that it is named the peace prize does suggest that some parameters. It would seem that the selection of Al Gore tells us more about Norwegian politics, the power of Hollywood around the globe, or the effectiveness of slick public relations campaigns than it tells us anything about the peace process in our conflict-ridden world of 2007.

While unworthy political choices of this sort for prizes should be dismissed for what they are, sadly this devalues the contribution of various worthy winners of this prize in the past. It also overlooks the tremendous work done around the world by brave men and women who are involved in diplomacy, relief work, building infrastructure, relieving poverty and other similar noble efforts -- many at great risk to their lives and without the comforts that Mr. Gore and his Hollywood ilk take for granted.

I don't have the resources to provide a reward as Mr. Nobel did, but perhaps it is time to have a contest to rename the Nobel Peace Prize so that it better reflects what it is really rewarding, and thereby at least maintain the rightful honour that has been ascribed to previous winners.