Nobel Peace Prize. Peace is an art. Not a science.
The Nobel Peace Prize is probably the most famous…and most controversial prize in the world. But when Alfred Nobel created the Nobel Prizes he recognized that Science and Technology..by itself… would not bring about Peace. Alfred Nobel recognized that Peace is not a Science. Peace is Humanitarian. Peace is an Art.
The Nobel Prize Ceremony
The Nobel Prize award ceremony takes place at the Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden, on 10 December – the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. At the ceremony, the Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and the prize in economic sciences are awarded to the Nobel Prize laureates. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo Norway.
1999 Nobel Prize Ceremony
In 1999 I had the distinct honor to attend the Nobel Ceremony in Stockholm along with my father Claes Nobel. What I remember most clearly from this ceremony was how dark and cold Sweden was at that time of year, and how closely it was connected to the Swedish Christmas traditions of lights, hospitality and celebration… and how absolutely magnificent it all was. Even the dinner was fantastic!
For over 100 years the royal and cultural traditions of the Nobel Prizes were always connected to the King of Sweden. It was very impressive. I recall the triviality and difficulty of connecting my cummerbund to the very formal tailcoat. ( I didn’t even know what a tailcoat was! ) But fortunately my father was there to help with my cultural education.
Gunter Grass won the Literature Prize
That year Gunter Grass won the prize in literature “whose frolicsome black fables portray the forgotten face of history”. I remember reading “The Tin Drum” in high school and re-read again with new eyes. When published in 1959 it was as if “German literature had been granted a new beginning after decades of linguistic and moral destruction.”
So in 1999 even the Literature Prize was connected to Peace for the reconstruction of Germany after World War 2. That year the excellent organization Doctors without Borders won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Teach Peace in our Schools
United Earth believes that Peace should be taught in our schools beginning at a grade school level. It is never to early to begin teaching Peace.
