2014 Nobel Peace Prize Receives 278 Nominations
278 candidates nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Institute
announced during Tuesday that a record 278 candidates have been
nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, to be announced in October
in Oslo. The head of the institute, Geir Lundestad, told AFP that the
number of nominations increases almost every year, which shows a growing
interest in the prize.
He added
that they receive nominations from absolutely everywhere in the world.
The Nobel committee assembled during Tuesday for the first time this
year to examine the candidate list. All nominations which can be made by
lawmakers, university rectors and others deemed to have the right
qualifications had to be sent in precedence of the February 1 deadline
to be valid.
Peace Research Institute Oslo
2014 Nobel Peace Prize nominees
Even
though a record number of candidates were nominated for this year’s
award, it’s a matter of policy not volume that the list is kept secret
for a half-century. You might need 50 years to read all 278 names
nominated for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.
The
nomination deadline passed on Feb. 1, and the selection committee met
for the first time this year on Tuesday to narrow the prospects. The
winner who receives an award of $1.24 million will be announced Oct. 10
in Oslo. While Nobel won’t disclose who is nominated, those who submit
applications are free to publicize their choices.
Lundestad
said that previous year, the Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) won the award. This year, 47 organizations are
nominated.
The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) maintains a list of confirmed candidates. Here is a list of notable names:
Vladimir Putin
Given the
events in Ukraine, controversial anti-gay “propaganda” laws and
questions about the Sochi Winter Olympics, you might think this is an
ironic choice. On the contrary the nomination criteria are not
restrictive. Nominations can be made by politicians, university rectors
and others deemed to have the right qualifications. Committee members,
naturally, consider all factors when choosing a winner, and can even add
names themselves.
“Part of
the purpose of the committee’s first meeting is to take into account
recent events, and committee members try to anticipate what could be the
potential developments in political hotspots,” Lundestad told Reuters.
According to AFP, Russian nominators in October praised Putin for
preventing a US attack against Syria.
Edward Snowden
The
former National Security Agency contractor leaked a massive number of
sensitive documents concerning the monitoring efforts of the American
government and its allies.
A pair of
Norwegian politicians revealed they nominated Snowden, because he has
“contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order,” The Guardian
reported. Snowden faces prosecution in the United States, so he is
living in Russia under asylum.
Pope Francis
The
entire Argentine parliament voted to nominate Papa Francisco in
December. The lawmakers said the nomination is for his call for peace in
Syria.
Pope
Francis is “a man who throughout this year has been decisive in
maintaining international peace through his clear position regarding the
conflict in Syria,” sponsor Oscar Martinez said.
Malala Yousafzai
The
16-year-old Pakistani girl who survived a Taliban assassination attempt
was also nominated last year. Her call for better education
opportunities in her native Pakistan inspired thousands to sign
petitions calling for her to win the Nobel.
Yousafzai
now lives in England and continues to campaign for human rights through
her own Malala Fund. She was nominated by Norwegian lawmakers Magne
Rommetveit and Freddy de Ruiter.
Chelsey Manning
The
former American soldier once known as Bradley Manning is currently
serving 35 years in prison for leaking documents and video about the US
military and its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Manning
was responsible for revealing video of an Apache helicopter attack that
killed civilians and journalists in Iraq as well as documents that
revealed unflattering details about the American military. Birgitta
Jonsdottir, a member of the Icelandic Pirate Party, nominated Manning.
Uruguay President Jose Mujica
If you’re
looking for a 78-year-old politician with street cred, this is your
man. Uruguay is the only country in the world that has legalized
marijuana due to the reason that the path of repression doesn’t work.
That's
not just enough in a very apolitical move, Pepe admitted he’s not sure
if the law will reduce violence surrounding the drug trade. He is only
asking for support, scientific spirit and to understand that no
addiction is a good thing.
International Space Station Partnership
This one
is for the partnership that operates the station, not the vehicle
itself, subsequent to Space Safety Magazine’s public relations campaign
to have the ISS nominated succeeded. The magazine's website says that
ISS has opened up space to 68 nations, not simply the 15 who operate it.
It has introduced new approaches to international law, and molded
political unions among political rivals.
(AW:SB)
