A victor in wars which haven’t happenedThe real problem with this year's Nobel Peace Prize is the canonisation of the precautionary principle.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee was certainly courting controversy when it garlanded Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Its decision has been interpreted as a two-fingered salute to George Bush, an endorsement of dubious science or truckling to the greenies. But this is unfair: the Peace Prize has always been provocative. Statesmen were controversial choices from the start. In 1906, the committee awarded it to Teddy Roosevelt for his role in bringing an end to the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. He is one of America's greatest presidents, but also a benevolent imperialist whose motto was "speak softly and carry a big stick". Since Norway had only become independent from Sweden in 1905, journalists interpreted the decision as a quiet plea for "a large, friendly neighbour -– even if he is far away." And interfering in domestic politics is nothing new either. In 1935, on the eve of World War II, it was awarded to Carl von Ossietzky, a German journalist in a Nazi concentration camp for his opposition to German re-armament. It had never before been awarded to a person who opposed his own government's policies. A Norwegian newspaper at the time even protested that "a lasting peace between peoples and nations can only be achieved by respecting the existing laws". In hindsight, the committee made an admirable and courageous choice. (Ossietzky died in prison in 1938.) The odd thing about this year's award is not its controversy, but that the laureates have done nothing for peace. The 2004 laureate, Kenyan Wangari Maathai, was also an environmentalist, but at least she was an activist for women's rights. When it comes to fighting for peace, Gore and the IPCC haven't done a blessed thing. They haven't even talked about doing a blessed thing. So the real laureate for 2007 is the "precautionary principle" -- sometime, somewhere, something awful might happen. This is clear from the text of the Prize press release: "Extensive climate changes may alter and threaten the living conditions of much of mankind. They may induce large-scale migration and lead to greater competition for the earth's resources. Such changes will place particularly heavy burdens on the world's most vulnerable countries. There may be increased danger of violent conflicts and wars, within and between states." [Italics added] Isn't there something a bit loopy about canonising the precautionary principle? Poor old Immanuel Velikovsky died too soon. He would have joined the pantheon for warning humanity of the danger of collisions with asteroids. You can just imagine the political upheaval which may occur if one of them flattens Oslo. So many catastrophes are waiting to happen nowadays. Calamities are everywhere, each with its scenario of human rights violations, increased competition and wars. The terrifying consequences of the obesity epidemic, stranger danger, the depression epidemic, decreasing biodiversity, discrimination against homosexuals, religious fundamentalism and not flossing your teeth have yet to be explored by the Peace Prize Committee. Granting Nobel Prizes for averting disasters which might happen is a sign that the committee is running out of ideas about peace. It was not always thus. In 1997, it awarded the prize to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and its coordinator Jody Williams. Is it blind to the long list of genuine causes in the same vein? Trafficking of women? Treatment of refugees? Forced abortions? Religious oppression? Surely campaigners against these ghastly realities are persons who, as Nobel stipulated, "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses". Perhaps the fundamental problem with the Nobel Peace Prize is the philosophy which inspires it. It assumes that lasting peace can be achieved through political activism and improved technology. Nobel was a religious sceptic, a child of the Enlightenment who believed that technological progress was human progress. He even believed that dynamite, the invention which made his fortune, would end wars. In 1891, 23 years before the slaughter of World War I, he wrote to peace activist Bertha von Suttner that "Perhaps my factories will put an end to war sooner than your congresses: on the day that two army corps can mutually annihilate each other in a second, all civilised nations will surely recoil with horror and disband their troops." The folly of this has been proved over and over again in the 20th Century. Handing an award to climate change whistleblowers simply perpetuates the error of thinking that there will ever be lasting peace without a clear conception of justice and a shared vision of truth. Michael Cook is editor of MercatorNet. |
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No award confers a greater guarantee of integrity and moral seriousness than the Nobel Peace Prize. Now Al Gore, former US Vice-President, former presidential candidate, Oscar winner and soothsayer of climate change,
Comments (19)
That Lesbian Down The Street said...Nice article^^
I see what you mean with Al Gore… I think he’s great and all, but it’s true that he hasn’t done much to help peace, in the present tense. The Nobel Prize seems like it should be reserved for people who have -already- done something good.
But I don’t pay attention to the news as much as I ought, so I’m left wondering who would make a better candidate… Like, an individual who’s done enough amazing things for the peace of nations in todays world. Right now, a lot of nations are involved with hostilities or outright wars with each other, and there’s not a whole lot being done to quell it, at least not by individual people. I don’t know how the Nobel Prize system works, if they give them out annually or just wait for a candidate to appear, but… even though I think Global Warming is reality, Al Gore hasn’t saved a lot of lives yet. I think he deserves some sort of commendation for his services, but the Nobel prize seems a bit much.
However. I -do- know a lot about Alfred Nobel: and it’s actually false to say that he stood behind his dynamite 100% of the way. In fact, as time wore on, he felt increasingly guilty of his creation and its ability to wreak havoc on people of the world all over. In my opinion, that may have changed his ‘technology-is-progress’ mantra.
In closing: I liked this bit^^
“The terrifying consequences of the obesity epidemic, stranger danger, the depression epidemic, decreasing biodiversity, discrimination against homosexuals, religious fundamentalism and not flossing your teeth have yet to be explored by the Peace Prize Committee.”
Cool use of bathos^^ But what makes me even more happy is that in you list of bad things, you said “discrimination against homosexuals”. For that, I commend you.
But what makes me happiest of all is that you did -not- put “the gay agenda”.
For that, I thank you personally.
Have a nice day, all^^
-- | Saturday, 13 October 2007 at 9:11 pm
Ignacio Segarra said...Uhmm! Integrity.
He used to be prolife until he saw the light to vote making and became pro-abortion.... fund raising…
Malaysia | Saturday, 13 October 2007 at 9:34 pm
Mariusz Wesolowski said...“No award confers a greater guarantee of integrity and moral seriousness than the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Also, no other award is more political and opportunistic. With that in mind, we should see Gore’s award in a realistic perspective, as did Michael Moore:
“The odd thing about this year’s award is not its controversy, but that the laureates have done nothing for peace.”
Canada | Saturday, 13 October 2007 at 10:46 pm
Mariusz Wesolowski said...Correction:
I meant “Michael Cook”, not “Michael Moore” (I am truly sorry, please correct!)
Canada | Saturday, 13 October 2007 at 10:48 pm
Doug Chesson said...No one is mentioning the “Inconvenient” fact that he and his partners stand to make serious millions selling carbon credits; follow the money!!!
United States | Saturday, 13 October 2007 at 11:46 pm
Alfonso @ Montréal said...One of the pathetic things about Al Gore is that he points to what should be done .... while he did very little while in office. It is easy to talk the walk. The acid test is to walk the talk. It seems to be common place to have politicians in opposition, or looking for reelection, asking to do the right thing. Once they are in office ... they do nothing, or do little, or change their mind.
The same appalling pattern can be observed with the implementation of the Kyoto accord in Canada. Liberals were in power for more than 10 years, talked a lot, did nothing. Actually, the CO2 levels went through the roof.
Once they lost the election and become the opposition .. then is time to implement Kyoto !!!
Needless to say ...
a) Global warming might be true
b) The fact that the main root cause is human behavior is debatable
c) As a reference, check post @ http://magicstatistics.com/2007/10/11/anthropogenic-global-warming-bites-the-dust/
Canada | Sunday, 14 October 2007 at 12:39 am
Francis Phillips said...On the strength of a prize for talking a lot of hot air (sorry - I meant talking about hot air), it is speculated that Al Gore might seek the American Presidency. If he did get the Democratic nomination he definitely deserves a further award: the ‘keeping Hillary Clinton from the White House’ prize.
-- | Sunday, 14 October 2007 at 1:59 am
David Kolf said...Alfonso said Al did little while in office. What is he doing now besides grabbing attention and funding? He flies around in a private jet, heats and air-conditions a spacious mansion, drives several gas-guzzlers, and then he hints that people like my truck-driver brother are irresponsible or lacking in vision for liking their SUV. I’m glad Michael Cook’s article didn’t get this vicious, though. Al Gore is an easy target for a sarcastic wit, but there are issues that need to be addressed with a cool head.
Japan | Sunday, 14 October 2007 at 9:43 am
Dan Kraft said...Speaking of cool heads, here’s a question for the Peace Prize Committee: Al Gore’s documentary is full of misinformation. How does such bombast contribute to the cause of peace?
United States | Sunday, 14 October 2007 at 3:00 pm
Enrique said...Michael’s start of the article: “No award confers a greater guarantee of integrity and moral seriousness than the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Should read: “No award USED TO CONFER a greater guarantee of integrity and moral seriousness than the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Netherlands | Sunday, 14 October 2007 at 8:02 pm
Laura said...I would like to thank Mike Cook and the rest of the MercatorNet contributors for their good work in keeping the likes of me informed of all the crazy things out there.
I am particularly impressed by the fact that they don’t seem to get angry… I must confess that when something like this happens I go home and start rereading Chesterton, hoping to remain somewhat 12sane.
I have enjoyed every one of the previous comments very much but have a question for Francis: do you think that Hillary is worse than Al? She might be wicked, but her brain is not as “softened” as his, I think…
United States | Sunday, 14 October 2007 at 11:46 pm
Francis Phillips said...Laura: my remark was, I admit, pure and unadulterated prejudice against Mrs Clinton. In replying to your question the line that instantly popped into my mind, courtesy of the immortal Kipling, was: “The female of the species is more deadly than the male”.
-- | Monday, 15 October 2007 at 8:14 am
Ana said...What did Gore do when he was in office and could make a difference?
United States | Monday, 15 October 2007 at 11:25 pm
Jim said...If only the first sentence of this article were in the past tense.
“No award confers a greater guarantee of integrity and moral seriousness than the Nobel Peace Prize”
The Nobel Peace Prize has been of dubious distinction with the likes of Yasser Arafat in 1994 and Momar Kadafi in 1997 associated with the Peace Prize. With recipients such as these, Gore included, how can anyone take the Nobel Peace Prize as “ a guarantee of integrity and moral seriousness” ???
United States | Wednesday, 17 October 2007 at 7:12 am
Jim said...Perhaps I should have read the comments before I responded ...
Laura, I particularly appreciated your comment regarding the reading of Chesterton to maintain one’s sanity in so many “modern” situations. Are we getting our feet wet?
United States | Wednesday, 17 October 2007 at 7:26 am
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