Twitter is BUZZING right now with the announcement that Barack Obama is the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
“for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”
From the Nobel Prize Committee:
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.
Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts.
The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.
Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world’s population.
For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world’s leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama’s appeal that “Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.”
Well I don’t know what Obama has been doing. He certainly seems be be focussing on getting things done. He hasn’t been in office a year yet. Does he deserve it? He’s joining the likes of Al Gore and the Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (2007), Iran’s Shiran Ebadi (2003), President Jimmy Carter (2002), The United Nations and Kofi Annan (2001), Kim Dae-jung of South Korea (2000) from this century… has he earned it?
President Barack Obama greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a receiving line at the reception for Heads of State and officials attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Sept. 23, 2009. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza)
Maybe in 4 to 8 years time. It just doesn’t make sense this early into his Presidency.
The chaps in Norway are simply copperfastening - they want to make sure that the Obama adminstration doesn’t forget about the statements they made about peace and ethical globalisation in the past. Keeping peace at the forefront of global politics is what they’re all about - why not change the view: rather than looking backwards and rewarding efforts of history, why not now reward potential - current efforts. I think it’s a great idea. Innovative thinking by the Nobel Committee.
@MJ Well said. I hadn’t quite formed my opinion on this, but you’ve swayed me. I’m all for it.
Thanks Darren, happy to help
Fuck me, they must have been struggling this year. Obama has achieved precisely nothing, so far.
I don’t think there was any doubt that he would get it but I agree with Niall - it’s a bit soon. No doubt he has radically changed how the world at large sees America, he united the rest of the world to stand behind him, he has broken down barriers of race & creed, he has made radical leaps forward for human rights in the US…
What am I saying, the man is a God! Go Obama! Go Obama!