The fact that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize last year has apparently inspired the largest number of Nobel Peace Prize nominees this year, including…The Internet!
From the Internet for Peace website, the Internet is “the biggest social interface ever known to humanity”, and has “laid the foundations for a new kind of society”, one that is “advancing dialogue, debate and consensus through communication.”
That’s why it’s apparently a tool for peace. You can read their manifesto in full at the link above, and here’s a video they made as well:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrwQGBsuIh4[/youtube]
I think it’s an interesting idea, though a bit silly. There’s no doubt that the Internet has revolutionized the way we get information, and has allowed us to find out about previously unknown causes issues (all while enjoying the latest funny video…) It’s also been a useful tool in spreading information and mobilizing peoples for various causes.
And yet…it’s just a tool. Behind every worthwhile cause, whether on the internet or not, there’s usually some remarkable people.
I think there’s too many such people, who’ve been toiling away behind the scenes, and whose hard work under often difficult circumstances deserves to be recognized. The Nobel Prize is a great way to give them and their causes international recognition (and funding).
Of course, my argument is somewhat weakened by the fact that the prize recently went to both Obama and Al Gore…I never said the decision wasn’t political, but I think it should ideally go to people or causes who might otherwise not be internationally known.
Although that’s just a personal preference, it would certainly be interesting if the Internet did win – and it’d be nice if they decided to split the prize money amongst all internet users 🙂 (Ok, I can keep dreaming…)
Splitting that prize money among all the internet users seems more like a nightmare to me 🙂