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Printer-Friendly ModeGore 'acceptable' choice for Nobel
October 22, 2007 —
"Seriously? Him? Why?"
Those are the remarks I've heard when speaking with SVSU students about Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
I'll admit that I too was skeptical at first.
For those not in the know, the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 has been split between the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Al Gore "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change," according to the Nobel Peace Prize Web site.
Now, the Nobel Peace Prize is not only awarded for traditional peacekeeping and disarmament activities, but also for humanitarian acts like being an advocate for environmental protection.
The Nobel Peace Prize Web site explains why Gore won half of the prize: "Al Gore has for a long time been one of the world's leading environmentalist politicians. His strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, has strengthened the struggle against climate change. He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted."
My skepticism has passed and I do think that Al Gore is an acceptable and possibly even a good choice for the award.
The way I look at it is that whether or not he is right on his stance towards global warming or even his approach towards advocacy, he has attracted attention.
Oddly enough, people that may not have looked at a little environmentalist group with a semi-credible scientific representive just might heed a powerful American politician.
Gore might also be seen soon in the next presidential race. According to MSNBC, his advisers say that Gore shows no interest in running the 2008 race but winning the Peace Prize has upped the public pressure on Gore to run.
I think that it is a good thing that Gore isn't showing interest in the next presidential race. Hopeful followers note that he has not ruled it out though.
If he did, the validity of his concern for the environment and his winning the Nobel Peace Prize could be even more so questioned by his critics.