*NSG Peace Prize* 2014

[Greed and Death]

I nominate greed and death.
The actual forces of human greed and its destructive wake. Without the excesses we would never understand and appreciated the value of restraint.

[Murkwood]

I nominate the French government for their actions in Mali and the Central Africa Republic. Because of their quick action, jihadists in Mali and a possible genocide in the Central Africa Republic was stopped.

Goddammit Murk, I wanted to post that.

I take that as a second?

[Risottia]

The nominations are now OPEN, and the first valid nomination is the following one. Previous posts will NOT be taken into account.

...

Cut the Committee some slack... I'll start revising the nominations tonight.

[The Archregimancy]

I nominate the International Committee of the Blue Shield.

The Blue Shield is the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross. It is the protective emblem specified in the 1954 Hague Convention (Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict) for marking cultural sites to give them protection from attack in the event of armed conflict. The Blue Shield network consists of organizations dealing with museums, archives, audiovisual supports, libraries, as well as monuments and sites.

http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/ico ... lue-shield


In a period where cultural heritage is under considerable threat from war - as shown by (among other examples) the wanton destruction of cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq by most sides in the overlapping conflicts - those heritage professionals who risk their lives to at least try and save our global cultural heritage for future generations deserve some form of recognition even if the nature of their work means they're not always successful.


Yes, I did just use my sekret mod powers to move this post to after Riso's announcement that nominations were formally open.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Is the "must be alive at time of nomination" a hard rule, or could it be amended to "must have been alive in the year preceding this nomination period" to account for those who have died between the 2013 and 2014 NSG Peace Prize threads? Father Frans van der Lugt comes to mind.

[The Archregimancy]

Oh, and Riso... if you'll accept a copyedit suggestion from an academic journal editor...

It should be "inanimate object", not "inanimated object".

[Nazis in Space]

A third time, then. Some mild edits.

We recognise Mr Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a laudable individual whose efforts to end the ethnic violence in the near east by way of establishing a large, monoethnic and more specifically, pan-arabic state featuring a widely shared consensus of spiritual, social and political values are furthering the cause of peace on Earth, achieved via the elimination of competing peoples, ideologies and organisations. His tireless efforts to bring forth the future he dreams of, and his remarkable success in terms of territorial and media presence show him to be a formidable human being not only capable of talking the talk, but also of walking the walk.

Mr Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi deserves our recognition as one of the worlds' premier exponents of peace by elimination, and should therefore receive the ~~~NationStates General Peace Price 2014~~~

[Ainin]

I nominate the Government of France for the 2014 NSG Peace Prize.

During the past year, we have seen a renewed slide in the Middle East and Subsaharan Africa into religious and sectarian violence, at a time where the international community shows increased reluctance to intervene due to financial and strategic constraints, as had been the case during the early 1990s, which led to the terrible occurrences of the Rwandan and Bosnian genocides, which had been allowed to continue with impunity. It may be the past, but the past is never far behind us, and as the situation in the region remains volatile, it is a good thing that the French government maintains a policy to combat threats to the region's stability.

In the past year, examples include:

• Operation Serval, which helped oust an Islamist insurgency in the north of Mali that occurred subsequent to political turmoil in the country. The mission helped eliminate the group that was causing one of the largest humanitarian crises faced by that region and helped bring back peace and close a dark chapter of Malian history
• Intervention in the Central African Republic, a peacekeeping operation by the French Armed Forces that disarmed several dangerous Christian and Muslim militias that threatened to bring the country into severe sectarian violence, or, according to some news reports of the time, even genocide.
• Participation in the Coalition strikes against ISIS, in which French warplanes, as part of an international coalition, bombed ISIS positions in support of Iraqi and Kurdish ground movements against the bloody and cruel terrorist group.

[Angleter]

I nominate Vian Dakhil, for her advocacy on behalf of the Yezidi people. As the sole Yezidi member of the Iraqi Parliament, Dakhil brought international attention upon the plight of her people with a moving speech in the Iraqi Parliament that exposed the horrific truths of the Islamic State’s genocide against the Yezidi, and called for intervention “in the name of humanity, to save us.” In the ensuing international intervention, she further volunteered to help relief efforts on Mt. Sinjar, and was injured when an aid helicopter she was on crashed. Nonetheless, she has continued to advocate tirelessly around the world for both short-term relief and long-term security for the Yezidi people. Dakhil has talked about atrocities that badly needed talking about; she has acted when action needed to be taken, to the extent that her own life was endangered; and she continues to work towards a brighter future for an oppressed minority.

[Bandwagon]

Since it's now past the 1st October (It's the 2nd) I will formally nominate all of the Pro-Democracy Campaigners in Hong Kong for the 2014 NSG Peace Prize.
They are campaigning peacefully for democracy, a right which many of us take for granted. He is campaigning for free elections in Hong Kong that have been promised by the Chinese Government for years. Hong Kong has never had universal suffrage like most nations have. Some of these people have been arrested for peacefully protesting. This is an unacceptable fact. Many of these are students who are risking failing their university courses for the sake of their country. Democracy is a human right that all human beings should have access to. It's a basic. That's why I nominate these protesters who have bravery, courage and dignity which is an honourable trait. These are innocent, peaceful people. They haven't fired a shot. They shouldn't be subject to rubber bullets and tear gas. Democracy is the only option for freedom. These people want freedom. They want to have a say in the decisions of their country. At the moment they have none. Many of us live in democratic countries. How would you feel if nobody but an elite group of people could vote? I know you would feel angry, that's why you should be in solidarity with these people. These people may seem radical but none of them has threatened violence against another human being. They are risking their lives out there with the constant threat of violence from "Security" Forces. Rubber Bullets and Gas Attacks are irresponsible uses of force. These people want democracy. Democracy should come now.

[L Ron Cupboard]

I would like to nominate Alan Henning - the British taxi driver kidnapped by IS Militants.

"Alan was taken prisoner last December and is being held by the Islamic State.

"Alan is a peaceful, selfless man who left his family and his job as a taxi driver in the UK to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need.

"When he was taken he was driving an ambulance full of food and water to be handed out to anyone in need. His purpose for being there was no more and no less. This was an act of sheer compassion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29299031

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I'm sorry. I didn't remember Malala winning in a previous contest.

Ok, I'll try this again. Hopefully, this hasn't been nominated in other years.

I think I'll nominate It’s a Girl Action Campaign, and here's my reasoning for it. This project came out of the documentary It's a girl: The Three Deadliest Words in the World, which showcases gendercide in countries like India and China, and what this practice has done to the population and attitudes towards the females of these countries.

Although the documentary came out in 2012, the initiative it gave birth to is, still today, striving to make a change in both China and India and around the world, to change attitudes towards females and achieving it peacefully.

---

I thought about nominating Project Bhageerathi but I can't find much information on it other than that it strives to change the lives of over 300 underprivileged children in the Varanasi province of India. Also, I don't know if the initiative is still in effect since it was launched, IIRC, in 2009. So I shan't.

^Officially then. I nominate the It's a Girl Action Campaign.

Is this valid now, since it's posted after the OP said the nominations are open?

[Murkwood]

I nominate the Government of France for the 2014 NSG Peace Prize.

During the past year, we have seen a renewed slide in the Middle East and Subsaharan Africa into religious and sectarian violence, at a time where the international community shows increased reluctance to intervene due to financial and strategic constraints, as had been the case during the early 1990s, which led to the terrible occurrences of the Rwandan and Bosnian genocides, which had been allowed to continue with impunity. It may be the past, but the past is never far behind us, and as the situation in the region remains volatile, it is a good thing that the French government maintains a policy to combat threats to the region's stability.

In the past year, examples include:

• Operation Serval, which helped oust an Islamist insurgency in the north of Mali that occurred subsequent to political turmoil in the country. The mission helped eliminate the group that was causing one of the largest humanitarian crises faced by that region and helped bring back peace and close a dark chapter of Malian history
• Intervention in the Central African Republic, a peacekeeping operation by the French Armed Forces that disarmed several dangerous Christian and Muslim militias that threatened to bring the country into severe sectarian violence, or, according to some news reports of the time, even genocide.
• Participation in the Coalition strikes against ISIS, in which French warplanes, as part of an international coalition, bombed ISIS positions in support of Iraqi and Kurdish ground movements against the bloody and cruel terrorist group.

I second this.

[Anollasia]

I really don't think anyone (who is important) really stands up for peace anymore.

[Rebellious Fishermen]

President Obama.

[Greater Weselton]

I nominate the National Right to Life Committee for opposing the modern evil of abortion. Abortion is like slavery was 150 years ago.

[L Ron Cupboard]

I would like to nominate Alan Henning - the British taxi driver kidnapped by IS Militants.

"Alan was taken prisoner last December and is being held by the Islamic State.

"Alan is a peaceful, selfless man who left his family and his job as a taxi driver in the UK to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need.

"When he was taken he was driving an ambulance full of food and water to be handed out to anyone in need. His purpose for being there was no more and no less. This was an act of sheer compassion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29299031

Sadly it seems IS have executed Alan Henning now. Arseholes.

[Risottia]

UPDATED

Death is a good contributor to peace.
Or would that be too abstract to nominate?

It's a natural phenomenon occurring everywhere, not eligible as UNESCO world heritage.

I nominate greed and death.
The actual forces of human greed and its destructive wake. Without the excesses we would never understand and appreciated the value of restraint.

Death is a natural phenomenon occurring everywhere, not eligible as UNESCO world heritage.
Greed is an abstract concept, not eligible as UNESCO world heritage.

Is the "must be alive at time of nomination" a hard rule

Entirely ultimative.

Oh, and Riso... if you'll accept a copyedit suggestion from an academic journal editor...
It should be "inanimate object", not "inanimated object".

Thank you.

Sadly it seems IS have executed Alan Henning now. Arseholes.

He was nominated before his death. The nomination is valid.

President Obama.

Not even a hint of a motivation?

[Nazis in Space]

The rejection of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi shows once again how western imperialist discourse continues to stiffle free thought and debate in the world, and marginalises non-western cultures in favour of a monocultural 'Ideal' centered around the ideas of straight, white christian men at the exclusion of everyone else.

The ethnic an cultural divide exemplified by these actions, systematically quelling dissenting voices in favour of Europeans raised in and espousing the values of a judeo-christian environment, regardless of their applicability in other regions and cultures of the world, whose existence, indeed, whose very right to exist they deny, is disgusting and proves just how important Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's fight against the encroachment of western 'Civilisation' is to preserve the independence and uniqueness of non-western peoples everywhere.

[AiliailiA]

I'm going to need some time to think about this. The year has not been peaceful.

[The Archregimancy]

Was there a problem with the below nomination, Riso?

It doesn't seem to be listed in the OP.....

I nominate the International Committee of the Blue Shield.

The Blue Shield is the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross. It is the protective emblem specified in the 1954 Hague Convention (Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict) for marking cultural sites to give them protection from attack in the event of armed conflict. The Blue Shield network consists of organizations dealing with museums, archives, audiovisual supports, libraries, as well as monuments and sites.

http://www.icomos.org/en/what-we-do/ico ... lue-shield


In a period where cultural heritage is under considerable threat from war - as shown by (among other examples) the wanton destruction of cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq by most sides in the overlapping conflicts - those heritage professionals who risk their lives to at least try and save our global cultural heritage for future generations deserve some form of recognition even if the nature of their work means they're not always successful.

[Sjalhaven]

I'm going to be nominating the Government of France, for likely preventing a genocide in the Central African Republic.

I nominate the Government of France for the same reason.

[Ragnarokee]

watch-tag

[Risottia]

Was there a problem with the below nomination, Riso?

Yes... the problem was a bit of encephalic flatulence on my part. Sorry, included now.

[MERIZoC]

Goddamit Ris.
Anyway, here we go again:

I nominate Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, for his work in promoting global peace and compassion. He has strived for democracy, religious harmony, and non-violence, and the preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture. As the figurehead of one of the largest religions in the world, the Dalai Lama has stressed the need for cooperation and kindness between cultures, something that is in short supply today. He has strongly condemned religious violence, such as jihad, and the massacres of Muslims by Buddhists in Myanmar, and this message of peace carries far.