Exsactly Just What Is a Nobel Peace Prize?

With the exciting announcement about the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize going to its first ever Pakistani who also happens to be the youngest recipient, I thought a brief study was in order.

Alfred Nobel was an industrialist and the creator of dynamite. Once he saw his invention being used for destruction, a year before his death he signed a will (1895)  declaring that most of his fortune be invested and annually awarded to those in the world who "conferred the greatest benefit on mankind."

There are six award categories, one of which is the infamous Nobel Peace Prize.  It is awared every fall around this time and is the only category award presented in Oslo, Norway. The other 5 prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.

The annual process to nominate and select NPP recipients begins a year before the final decision and undergoes several deadlines as the list of nominees is whittled. Initially over 6,000 invitations to nominate are extended to selected insituations. Approximately 1000 people submit nominations, the number of names range from 100-250. The nominators are experts in their respective fields. By February, the 6 Nobel Committees are meeting and triming their lists. The final list of six nominees is sent by early fall to the Nobel Committee in Oslo. This committee is comprised of 5 members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament called the Sorting.

I looked up the current committee members and here is what I learned: the Chair is also the President of Sorting. He is also the Secretary General Council of Europle. There are 3 women and 2 men. They serve five-year terms that can be renewed. One member has been on the committee off and on since 1985. All of the members have or have had political careers, 1 is currently the head of the Norwegian Bar and the eldest member was also once the Bishop of Oslo. It looks like between the five, at least two political parties are represented (Young Conservatives, Progressive) including the Sorting. 3 currently serve in the Sorting in some capacity. The youngest member was born in 1951. Three of the members were there to approve the nomination of Barack Obama in 2009.

The winner receives a certificate, 24-karat gold medal and approximately $1.5 M in addition to the prestige and title of Laureate. Better bragging rights than winning an Oscar to be sure.

Both people and organizations can win a Nobel Peace Prize. I glanced over the list and besides Obama, Al Gore won in 2007 and Mother Teresa in 1979. The UN won in 2001 and even a bank (Grameeen Bank) in 2006. I know why Mother T won but unsure about most of the others. But I intend to share what I found out about another.

The 2014 prize is split between two internationally reknown child activists, Kailash Satyarthi from India and the youngest recipient ever, Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai. It is Malala I am going to highlight. Just 17 and now living in Englad, Malala found out she won while in her Chemistry class. You might remember her story. Two years ago while living in Pakistan, she stood up to the Taliban for rights of girls to go to school. She was shot in the head for her bravery and spent months and months recovering before relocating to England. Malala is now a female education activist who wants to use her platform to ensure that "every child gets a quality education." Malala's concerns are global and looks forward to working together with her co-recipient.

Contrast this brave survivor with the 2009 recipient, newly installed President Obama. After just one year in office, the Nobel Committee awarded the coveted Prize to him because "he has been able change the international climate." The committee chair admitted they had acted quickly, but that was "better than waiting three more years". They were clearly impacted by the former community organizer's "hope and change" campaign.