The Nobel Peace Prize is frequently called the world’s most prestigious prize. 278 have been nominated this year, the highest number ever (these can nominate). The Norwegian Nobel Committee, who makes the decision, is obliged to keep the list of nominees and nominators secret for 50 years, according to the terms of Alfred Nobel’s will.
The nominators are under no such obligations. And then there are speculations. Two favourites this year are Pope Frans and Malala Yousafzai. Other faves are the many nominated gay rights’ activists (from Russia, Uganda and Nepal, as well as the ILGA – The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association). Two slightly controversial nominees are Julian Assange and Edward Snowden. And then there’s Vladimir Putin.
Since February, the five members of the committee have been hard at work choosing this year’s laureate. Most likely, they’ve made up their minds by now. The announcement will be made this Friday at 11am CET, just a few hundred metres from my office here in Oslo.
If we were to rank the laureates on popularity, I’m willing to bet Nelson Mandela would be very high on the list, maybe even at the top.
Four Nobel Peace Prize recipients hail from South Africa. That’s quite an impressive number; only six countries have more, all wealthy and Western.
You can find Mandela at Nobel Square, on the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, along with South Africa’s three other laureates,
- former leader of ANC, Albert Luthuli, the first African to win the prize, in 1961
- Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, and
- the last president of the ‘old South Africa’, FW de Klerk
All four played important roles in transitioning South Africa from apartheid to democracy.
The bronze statues were created by local artist Claudette Schreuders and all have inscriptions. Mandela’s read
Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will experience the oppression of one by another.
World at a Glance is a series of short articles here on Sophie’s World, with a single photo – portraying curious, evocative, happy, sad or wondrous, unexpected little encounters.
Very impressive – I knew that Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu had won but didn’t know about the other two. We visited the Nobel Peace Center when we were in Oslo – it’s a fascinating museum. Emma is hoping that Malala will win the Peace Prize this year as she has just finished reading I Am Malala for a school book report!
I think Emma is happy now 🙂
That is notable – and also a feather in their proverbial cap – that South Africa has been home to so many laureates. Quite the statues – all a little on the stocky side.
I think it’s quite impressive with four laureates.
I truly hope Snowden wins … the world owes him a debt of gratitude for tearing the veil of secrecy off the fact that our governments are tracking our every move online and over the phone. Just my .02…
That would certainly have been interesting. Shouldn’t be surprised if someone nominated him again next year.
I think it was really good they chose Malala Yousafzai and focused on the rights of children. Thumbs up for Norway and the Nobel Prize committee.
They chose well this year. Haven’t always, I think…