Gore's Nobel Prize: The Bigger Issue

by Janet Ritz

There has been a great deal of focus today, both within the media and the blogosphere, about the possibility of Al Gore running for president following the announcement that he is to share the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) for their work on the environment.

"I'm of course deeply honored to receive this award. ... It is even more significant because I am sharing it with the IPCC, which is the world's preeminent scientific body focused on improving our understanding of the climate crisis and it's made up of individuals who have tirelessly and selflessly worked on this for so many years. ... I will accept this award on behalf of all of those who have been working so long and so hard to try to get the message out about this planetary emergency." Al Gore, Oct. 12, 2007

Gore went on to say that he will be donating 100% of his proceeds from the prize to The Alliance for Climate Protection to support their work to bring and understanding of the urgency of the climate crisis to the world. He added that he would use the news of the award to help to bring the news of the increasing rate of climate change to the world community.

While it is understandable that there would be strong interest in the political possibility of Gore's presidential aspirations (or lack thereof) following the announcement of the award, the bigger issue is that the Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to the two most prominent advocates for climate change. This focus on the two recipients, a political campaigner and a group of scientists assembled to validate the fact of climate change can only be taken as a signal from the Nobel officials that climate change and peace or war are inexorably linked.

But then, that should be obvious, shouldn't it? War and the availability of resources have always gone together. The fight over the limited advantages that the delicate balance our earth has to offer has been the catalyst for many conflicts and for many more as the increase in climate refugees, driven out by drought or crop failure or flood or disease, strains the resources of their neighbors dealing with their own loss of resources.

It is a recipe for war, not peace and, therefore, the Nobel Committee's focus on climate change as an issue of peace or war is absolutely appropriate for our time, this year, now, as the reports of the approaching tipping point grow ever more of concern.

So, congratulations Al Gore, the IPCC and to the Nobel Committee for their choice this year.

It couldn't be more timely.

Nobel to Go Green?

by Janet Ritz

The Nobel Prize announcements next week may go green this year with Al Gore and other climate change campaigners on the short list for the 1.5 million dollar prize:Will Gore get Nobel next week? Some think so:

Award watcher thinks he'll share it with Canadian climate activist

OSLO, Norway - Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and/or another climate campaigner are likely to be awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize next week, according to a seasoned award watcher... [more]

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Nobel to Go Green?

by Janet Ritz

The Nobel Prize announcements next week may go green this year with Al Gore and other climate change campaigners on the short list for the 1.5 million dollar prize:

Will Gore get Nobel next week? Some think so

Award watcher thinks he'll share it with Canadian climate activist

OSLO, Norway - Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and/or another climate campaigner are likely to be awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize next week, according to a seasoned award watcher.

If a campaigner against global warming carries off the accolade, it will accentuate a shift to reward work outside traditional peacekeeping and reinforce the link between peace and the environment. Link.

The Canadian climate campaigner is Inuit activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier, who recently won the Sophie Environment Prize at Oslo. Another possible winner is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which could be awarded through its chairman, Rajendra Pachauri, as are the more traditional nominees for the Peace Prize through their humanitarian work, which include entrants from Finland, China, VietNam and Russia. Therefore, while the prize is anticipated to go to one or more climate change campaigners this year, it is possible it will follow the more traditional model.

The head of the IPCC, Rajendra Pachauri, a potential nominee, however, does think it will go to a climate campaigner: "I have a feeling it will go to Al Gore, and I think he deserves it. He certainly has done a remarkable job of creating awareness on the subject and has become a crusader."

The Peace Prize will be announced on October 12th.