* NSG PEACE PRIZE 2016 (Seventh Edition) *

[Risottia]

The NSG Peace Prize Committee presents

The Seventh Edition of the

NationStates General

PEACE PRIZE

- Year 2016 -

PROCEEDINGS

Just like last year, it's time for the NSG PEACE PRIZE!
Every one of us will be able to nominate a single RL individual, or a single RL organization, which deserves to be honoured for the extraordinary contribution given to the cause of human rights and/or peace. Please explain summarily what the contribution is. Take a peep at the proceedings of the previous editions for ideas.
Also inanimated objects are eligible, see rules below.

for the Committee, Risottia (Chair)

As usual, the Committee will intervene with suggestions and evaluations of the nominations - both about the value of the nominee and the form of the nomination itself. The Committee is the ultimate referee of the proceedings.

Committee members:
Risottia
Minoa
Please do not TG the Committee members: post in this thread instead.


Links to the proceedings and proclamations of all the editions
Proceedings and proclamation of the First Edition (2010)
Proceedings and proclamation of the Second Edition (2011)
Proceedings and proclamation of the Third Edition (2012)
Proceedings and proclamation of the Fourth Edition (2013)
Proceedings and proclamation of the Fifth Edition (2014)
Proceedings and proclamation of the Sixth Edition (2015)
Proceedings and proclamation of the Seventh Edition (2016)

NOTES & RULES

ABOUT THE NOMINATIONS PHASE:

• The nominations phase is now OPEN and will last until October 8th, 20.00 CET (UTC+1). (Currently considering an extra week).
• Every single nomination will have to be supported by at least 5 NSGers to pass to the next stage - poll between the 10 most supported nominations. If less than 10 candidates will have reached 5 nominations, the Committee will try to include in the final poll also those who got 4, or eventually 3, nominations only.
• REAL LIFE individuals, REAL LIFE organizations. No NS Nations, groups of NS Nations, or otherwise fictional nominees.
• PEOPLE must be ALIVE at the moment of the nomination. ORGANIZATIONS must be ACTIVE at the moment of the nomination.
• INANIMATED OBJECTS accepted also, provided they are single, physical objects still existing at the moment of the nomination. As a guideline, it should be something eligible as UNESCO World Heritage (material or immaterial).
• ALWAYS provide a good explanation of the contribute your nominee has given. Take a peep at the previous editions to have examples of good and bad explanations.
• ONLY ONE nomination per NSGer, please. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING OTHER NOMINATIONS: if you already nominated someone you cannot support someone else's nomination. You can retire a nomination/support you previously made/gave (we'd prefer you didn't though, because the thread would become a mess!). And no, you can't support more than one nomination. I thought it was clear.
• Note: If you aren't submitting a new nomination, and are instead going to support someone that has already been nominated, be sure to check the WHOLE nomination list.
• Please, campaign against nominees just in the POLL phase.
• NO NOMINATIONS VIA TG WILL BE ACCEPTED. ONLY POSTS IN THIS THREAD. ALSO DO NOT PESTER THE COMMITTEE VIA TG.
• Previous winners of the prize cannot be nominated.
• Support by puppet nations - identified as such by NS mods - will be considered void.
• The committee will consider as void the posts with double nominations or supports.

ABOUT THE POLL PHASE:

• The poll is now CLOSED.
• YES you can change your vote in the poll.
• NO you can't vote for more than one candidate.
• NO you don't have necessarily to vote for the same candidate you nominated.
• YES you can campaign for/against candidates ON THIS THREAD DURING THE POLL PHASE. Just let's keep it reasonable, ok?

POLL
The poll is now CLOSED.
Poll between:

• list is empty

NOMINATIONS LIST

• The Kurdish defenders of Kobane (organisation, Syria/Iraq/Turkey) for supporting women's rights and upholding democratic values even while facing the assault of ISIL.
  3 nominations: Shofercia, Bakery Hill, Socialist Tera
  Good suggestion by Bakery Hill: We could rather say Rojava/North Syrian Federation or TEV-DEM (Movement for a Democratic Society) then?
  
  
• The rescuers, nurses, doctors of Aleppo (various organisations, Syria) for intervening, in a catastrophic situation, to save civillians trapped in the rubble and injured because of the bombings in the Syrian war.
  4 nominations: European Guilds, Dread Lady Nathicana, Geilinor, Neutraligon
  
  
• Juan Manuel Santos, President of the Republic of Colombia, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia aka FARC, for their efforts in ending a civil conflict that had lasted for over six decades, and for bringing forth a new, more stable, prosperous, and hopeful era for their nation.
  3 nominations: Shrilland, Pope Joan, Napkiraly
  
  
• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon due to the vast amounts of time an effort he has dedicated to alleviating the damage caused by the Aleppo debacle and other similar humanitarian crises. Even with the work of his colleagues, the necessary actions would not have been taken without his perseverance. The fact that these actions have seen limited success should not diminish his legacy, which continues today.
  1 nomination: The Great Devourer of All
  
  
• The Rosetta Stone due its relevance for our understanding of the Egyptian Civilisation.
  1 nomination: Auristania
  
  
• AllTrials, a non-profit organisation that wants to address the flaws in the system that allow research to be buried. They are advocating that every clinical trial be registered on a database and their results made publicly available. SUSPENDED - the nomination needs to highlight more closely the contribution to human rights (hint: the right to health could be an idea?)
  1 nomination: Philjia
  
  
• Project Semicolon, for its vision about achieving lower suicide rates in the US and around the world, through a conversation about suicide, mental illness and addiction, with the aim of a society that openly addresses the struggle with mental illness, suicide and addiction
  2 nominations: Nanatsu no Tsuki, Minzerland II
  
  
• Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I for his efforts towards increased minority rights in Turkey, improvement of relations with the Catholics, and unity of the Orthodoxy. Most notably for his role in organizing the Pan-Orthodox Council, the first gathering of Orthodox Autocephalous Churches in centuries, which convened this year in spite of the politically motivated absence of several churches.
  1 nomination: New Werpland
  
  
• Donald John Trump for fighting to usher in a new era in American politics which will make the world safer by challenging the greed and warmongering of the established political order by forging new relationships that will resolve the problems of global conflict and unequal trade through dialogue and negotiation rather than confrontation and exploitation. He made the first bold step in ending one of the 21st century's most dangerous geopolitical confrontations - that between the Russian Federation and the United States playing out in Eurasia. This confrontation has directly or indirectly caused serious hurt and harm in places like the Crimea and the Ukraine and instability across Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Donald Trump has also shown an interest in resolving for good the European Migrant crisis and diffusing tensions in East Asia.
  3 nominations: Even Less of Mackonia, Panslavicland, Scandinavian Nations
  
  
• BlackLivesMatter movement, for its bringing attention to the excessively brutal terroristic methods of so-called police forces across the U.S.A., for its steadfast advocacy of criminal justice reform, and for its revival and continuation of the black civil rights movement of the 1960s.
  1 nomination: Yootxtlalkaan
  
  
• Amnesty International, for their long-established and continuous work to defend human rights. Amnesty International, based a short walk from the Sadler’s Wells Theatre, has been for many years, one of the main go-to organisations for defending human rights internationally. While Reporters Sans Frontières is the authority for press freedom, covering 180 countries in this year’s Press Freedom Index, Amnesty International is the de facto leader in the human rights movement globally.
  1 nomination: Minoa
  
  
• Harambe REJECTED for not being a living human, an active organisation, or an eligible object. DO NOT REPOST.
  
• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi REJECTED for being the leader of a murderous totalitarian theocratic dictatorship. DO NOT REPOST.
  
• CITES REJECTED for not showing a direct causal link with human rights or peace.
  
• Rodrigo Duterte REJECTED because, frankly, too high on Poe's Law. "Invented CCTV", really? Not going to comb through that.
  
• Médécins Sans Frontiéres not eligible having already won an earlier edition.
  
• Malala Yousafzai not eligible having already won an earlier edition.
  
• Julie Bishop SUSPENDED for insufficient motivation.
  
• International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement SUSPENDED for insufficent motivation.
  
• Justin Trudeau SUSPENDED for insufficient motivation.

[Shofercia]

The Kurds that defended Kobane for actually doing something useful instead of nonstop yapping about Human Rights while attempting to escalate the war, and for their ability to compromise and unite the others around them, for their cause, giving women equal rights and not dealing with those who deny women equal rights despite the "moderate" label, and running a secular democracy in the midst of a bloody Civil War.

[Geilinor]

The Kurds that defended Kobane for actually doing something useful instead of nonstop yapping about Human Rights while attempting to escalate the war, and for their ability to compromise and unite the others around them, for their cause, giving women equal rights and not dealing with those who deny women equal rights despite the "moderate" label, and running a secular democracy in the midst of a bloody Civil War.

I second this nomination, but I'm going to word it differently because they work with plenty of people and groups that don't care about women's rights.

The YPG and Peshmerga for fighting to defend their lands from the brutality of ISIS and uniting Kurds in their countries behind a common cause. They have defended secular democracy in the Middle East and have given women equal fighting roles.

[Maurepas]

There is exactly one correct answer here. The one being to have given his life defending children in a cause of peace. These other submissions? They've taken lives, only one Gorilla died defending a life. That Gorilla is Harambe. All over the world men are taking their dicks out in celebration and rememberance of this brave individual. His contributions and awareness of the cause are second to none.

Harambe would receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations -- that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, this life matters, and can bend history in the direction of justice.

Rest in Power my friends. #DicksOut #HarambeNSGPeacePrize2016

*Also note: PEOPLE must be alive, but Harambe is clearly a Gorilla. *nods*

[The Liberated Territories]

In before: someone nominates Hillary Clinton

(Image)

There is exactly one correct answer here. The one being to have given his life defending children in a cause of peace. These other submissions? They've taken lives, only one Gorilla died defending a life. That Gorilla is Harambe. All over the world men are taking their dicks out in celebration and rememberance of this brave individual. His contributions and awareness of the cause are second to none.

Harambe would receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations -- that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, this life matters, and can bend history in the direction of justice.

Rest in Power my friends. #DicksOut #HarambeNSGPeacePrize2016

*Also note: PEOPLE must be alive, but Harambe is clearly a Gorilla. *nods*

I can get behind this.

[Socialist Nordia]

(Image)

There is exactly one correct answer here. The one being to have given his life defending children in a cause of peace. These other submissions? They've taken lives, only one Gorilla died defending a life. That Gorilla is Harambe. All over the world men are taking their dicks out in celebration and rememberance of this brave individual. His contributions and awareness of the cause are second to none.

Harambe would receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations -- that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, this life matters, and can bend history in the direction of justice.

Rest in Power my friends. #DicksOut #HarambeNSGPeacePrize2016

*Also note: PEOPLE must be alive, but Harambe is clearly a Gorilla. *nods*

Ugh... Please no. Let the dead meme rest in peace.

[Eol Sha]

(Image)

There is exactly one correct answer here. The one being to have given his life defending children in a cause of peace. These other submissions? They've taken lives, only one Gorilla died defending a life. That Gorilla is Harambe. All over the world men are taking their dicks out in celebration and rememberance of this brave individual. His contributions and awareness of the cause are second to none.

Harambe would receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations -- that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, this life matters, and can bend history in the direction of justice.

Rest in Power my friends. #DicksOut #HarambeNSGPeacePrize2016

*Also note: PEOPLE must be alive, but Harambe is clearly a Gorilla. *nods*

You've managed to ruin a thread, four posts in, Maur. Congratulations.

[Farnhamia]

(Image)

There is exactly one correct answer here. The one being to have given his life defending children in a cause of peace. These other submissions? They've taken lives, only one Gorilla died defending a life. That Gorilla is Harambe. All over the world men are taking their dicks out in celebration and rememberance of this brave individual. His contributions and awareness of the cause are second to none.

Harambe would receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations -- that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, this life matters, and can bend history in the direction of justice.

Rest in Power my friends. #DicksOut #HarambeNSGPeacePrize2016

*Also note: PEOPLE must be alive, but Harambe is clearly a Gorilla. *nods*

I would not advise taking this nomination seriously. The sheer numbers of "Dicks out" posts we're going to get could result in Modly action cancelling this year's prize. I'm not saying it will but why run the risk?

[Maurepas]

You've managed to ruin a thread, four posts in, Maur. Congratulations.

Clearly I deserve the prize,

[Farnhamia]

You've managed to ruin a thread, four posts in, Maur. Congratulations.

Clearly I deserve the prize,

Oh, we have a prize for you. *summons Guards* Show him his prize.

[New Werpland]

removed

[European Guilds]

I would like to nominate the Syrian Civil Defense, AKA the White Helmets.They are an organization of Syrian volunteers who act as first responders after a bombardment to save people from the rubble and have saved thousands of lives.

http://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive ... ts/502073/
https://theintercept.com/2016/10/01/syr ... irstrikes/
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/white ... -135305200

[Shrillland]

Juan Manuel Santos, President of the Republic of Colombia, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, more commonly known as FARC, for their efforts in ending a civil conflict that had lasted for over six decades, and for bringing forth a new, more stable, prosperous, and hopeful era for their nation.

[Maurepas]

Clearly I deserve the prize,

Oh, we have a prize for you. *summons Guards* Show him his prize.

Damn, every time. I guess we all have our enclosures in life,

[The Great Devourer of All]

I nominate UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon due to the vast amounts of time an effort he has dedicated to alleviating the damage caused by the Aleppo debacle and other similar humanitarian crises. Even with the work of his colleagues, the necessary actions would not have been taken without his perseverance. The fact that these actions have seen limited success should not diminish his legacy, which continues today.

[Philjia]

I'd like to nominate AllTrials.

Between one third and one half of all clinical trials go unpublished. For a variety of reasons, thousands upon thousands of studies are abandoned by their authors before the public ever see them. This understandably leads to a huge number of missed opportunities to improve public health. AllTrials is a non-profit organisation that wants to address the flaws in the system that allow research to be buried. They are advocating that every clinical trial be registered on a database and their results made publicly available.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I would like to nominate Project Semicolon.

Why?

The vision is that together we can achieve lower suicide rates in the US and around the world;
That together we can start a conversation about suicide, mental illness and addiction that can't be stopped;

We envision love and hope and we declare that hope is alive;

We envision a society that openly addresses the struggle with mental illness, suicide and addiction;

We envision a conversation embraced by churches and addressed with love;

We envision a society that sees their value and embraces it;

We envision a community that comes together and stands together in support of one another;

We envision a world where an escape is not found within drugs or alcohol;

We envision a world where self-destruction is no longer a escape to be used;

We envision a revolution of LOVE and declare that our stories are not over yet;

- Amy Bleuel
Founder & President

[Shofercia]

I would like to nominate the Syrian Civil Defense, AKA the White Helmets.They are an organization of Syrian volunteers who act as first responders after a bombardment to save people from the rubble and have saved thousands of lives.

By executing them: https://www.sott.net/article/319963-Fak ... s-in-Syria

A range of Syrian women have denounced the US-UK funded group the 'White Helmets', led by a former British soldier and recently revealed to be financed by USAID. They come from all the country's communities (e.g. Sunni, Alawi, Druze, Christian) but, like most Syrians, prefer to identify simply as Syrian. Their comments follow the release of a range of evidence (Beeley 2015; Hands off Syria 2016) which show that the White Helmets - who present as 'heroes' rescuing civilians from the destruction of war - are in fact armed, partisan, western government funded and participating with Jabhat al Nusra (al Qaeda) in sectarian celebrations and executions...

Rana from Damascus says: 'they are an armed force [which has] covered themselves under the wing of 'humanitarian' organization. In rural Idlib they did so many executions against Syrian civilians that doesn't support the fake revolution. Their main support and fund comes from US government and UK government.'A White Helmets (2015) video from Douma (NE Damascus countryside) shows the aftermath of a Syrian Government attack on Jabhat al Nusra and Jaysh al Islam terrorist groups, which had sent rockets and mortars into Damascus almost every day for several years, killing hundreds of people. The young men donning 'White Helmets' jackets to rescue their colleagues are indistinguishable from Islamist fighters. Portraying Islamist casualties as civilians is a long tradition in the war on Syria. US journalist Nir Rosen (2012) wrote some years back that 'dead opposition fighters ... [are often] described as innocent civilians killed by security forces'.

[Zudril]

The Kurds that defended Kobane for actually doing something useful instead of nonstop yapping about Human Rights while attempting to escalate the war, and for their ability to compromise and unite the others around them, for their cause, giving women equal rights and not dealing with those who deny women equal rights despite the "moderate" label, and running a secular democracy in the midst of a bloody Civil War.

This is less a nomination for the Kurds and more a naked attack on the rebels (while simultaneously whitewashing the regime of their crimes).

Disappointing first post. Harambe was better.

[Shofercia]

The Kurds that defended Kobane for actually doing something useful instead of nonstop yapping about Human Rights while attempting to escalate the war, and for their ability to compromise and unite the others around them, for their cause, giving women equal rights and not dealing with those who deny women equal rights despite the "moderate" label, and running a secular democracy in the midst of a bloody Civil War.

This is less a nomination for the Kurds and more a naked attack on the rebels (while simultaneously whitewashing the regime of their crimes).

Disappointing first post. Harambe was better.

The actual first post was the OP. That was the first response. Skipping aside that factual misstatement on your part, let's actually count, (1, 2, 3, 4,) the compliments paid to the Kurds:

1. Heroically defending their cities
2. Giving women equal rights
3. Running a secular Democracy
4. Having the ability to compromise

That's four compliments. And they're rather strong. So if this is, as you mistakenly allege, a naked attack on the "rebels" please list at least five ways that is an attack on the "rebels" eh? Go ahead, I'll wait, knowing that you cannot. Having said that, I'm a bit, (well, actually quite a bit,) confused as to how that whitewashes Assad's crimes. Or are the Kurds an Assad plant?

The Kurds that defended Kobane for actually doing something useful instead of nonstop yapping about Human Rights while attempting to escalate the war, and for their ability to compromise and unite the others around them, for their cause, giving women equal rights and not dealing with those who deny women equal rights despite the "moderate" label, and running a secular democracy in the midst of a bloody Civil War.

Hmm, let's see here:

1. Nonstop yapping about Human Rights on it's own, is not bad. Rather, Nonstop yapping about Human Rights, while attempting to escalate the war is bad. So that's one.
2. Not giving women equal rights - that's two.
3. The moderate label - a bit iffy, but sure, that implies something mean, so that's three.

If my focus was to nakedly attack the "rebels" instead of praising the Kurds, wouldn't I have more points actually attacking the "rebels" and less points praising the Kurds?

[Pope Joan]

Juan Manuel Santos, President of the Republic of Colombia, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, more commonly known as FARC, for their efforts in ending a civil conflict that had lasted for over six decades, and for bringing forth a new, more stable, prosperous, and hopeful era for their nation.

I support this. It is long overdue, but it is a hopeful sign. Political opposition is always better than armed conflict. Look at Ireland.

[Zudril]

The actual first post was the OP. That was the first response.

What a boringly stunted start to your argument. My point was clear.

Skipping aside that factual misstatement on your part, let's actually count, (1, 2, 3, 4,) the compliments paid to the Kurds:

1. Heroically defending their cities
2. Giving women equal rights
3. Running a secular Democracy
4. Having the ability to compromise

None of these are given by themselves. You make them only in comparison to something else, as an insult to them, and imply they and they alone have the opposite of these virtues, further implying the Syrian regime is somehow better.

That's four compliments. And they're rather strong. So if this is, as you mistakenly allege, a naked attack on the "rebels" please list at least five ways that is an attack on the "rebels" eh?

I don't understand why you're trying to put some mathematical basis to this. My previous assertion shows why your post was less a praise of the Kurds and more an attack on the rebels.

Go ahead, I'll wait, knowing that you cannot. Having said that, I'm a bit, (well, actually quite a bit,) confused as to how that whitewashes Assad's crimes. Or are the Kurds an Assad plant?

You are attacking the rebels in your post, while not mentioning the fact the regime is guilty of all the crimes you just listed.

1. Nonstop yapping about Human Rights on it's own, is not bad. Rather, Nonstop yapping about Human Rights, while attempting to escalate the war is bad. So that's one.

Funny because the US is the one supporting the Kurds.

2. Not giving women equal rights - that's two.

Which the Syrian regime does not do.

3. The moderate label - a bit iffy, but sure, that implies something mean, so that's three.

It's an insult you use almost every day, so, I'd assume it has some personal meaning to you.

If my focus was to nakedly attack the "rebels" instead of praising the Kurds, wouldn't I have more points actually attacking the "rebels" and less points praising the Kurds?

Because your praising of the Kurds is also and implication the rebels none of those things.

[New Werpland]

This is less a nomination for the Kurds and more a naked attack on the rebels (while simultaneously whitewashing the regime of their crimes).

Disappointing first post. Harambe was better.

The actual first post was the OP. That was the first response. Skipping aside that factual misstatement on your part, let's actually count, (1, 2, 3, 4,) the compliments paid to the Kurds:

1. Heroically defending their cities
2. Giving women equal rights
3. Running a secular Democracy
4. Having the ability to compromise

That's four compliments. And they're rather strong. So if this is, as you mistakenly allege, a naked attack on the "rebels" please list at least five ways that is an attack on the "rebels" eh? Go ahead, I'll wait, knowing that you cannot. Having said that, I'm a bit, (well, actually quite a bit,) confused as to how that whitewashes Assad's crimes. Or are the Kurds an Assad plant?

The Kurds that defended Kobane for actually doing something useful instead of nonstop yapping about Human Rights while attempting to escalate the war, and for their ability to compromise and unite the others around them, for their cause, giving women equal rights and not dealing with those who deny women equal rights despite the "moderate" label, and running a secular democracy in the midst of a bloody Civil War.

Hmm, let's see here:

1. Nonstop yapping about Human Rights on it's own, is not bad. Rather, Nonstop yapping about Human Rights, while attempting to escalate the war is bad. So that's one.
2. Not giving women equal rights - that's two.
3. The moderate label - a bit iffy, but sure, that implies something mean, so that's three.

If my focus was to nakedly attack the "rebels" instead of praising the Kurds, wouldn't I have more points actually attacking the "rebels" and less points praising the Kurds?

Err yea just one thing. The YPG are not angels, they are the least bad militant group in Syria. Not necessarily worthy of a peace prize for that, especially when we consider who they affiliate with. Personally, I think they've been the subject of too much lionization at this point.

Is it really necessary to hail the Syrian branch of a school bombing terrorist organization as having made great contribution to human rights and peace? Why not leave them be and avoid whitewashing?

[Bakery Hill]

Err yea just one thing. The YPG are not angels, they are the least bad militia group in Syria. Not necessarily worthy of a peace prize for that, especially when we consider who they affiliate with. Personally, I think they've been the subject of too much lionization at this point.

Is it really necessary to hail the Syrian branch of a school bombing terrorist organization as having made great contribution to human rights and peace? Why not leave them be and avoid whitewashing?

This is true, they do work quite closely with the US air force...

[Bakery Hill]

The Kurds that defended Kobane for actually doing something useful instead of nonstop yapping about Human Rights while attempting to escalate the war, and for their ability to compromise and unite the others around them, for their cause, giving women equal rights and not dealing with those who deny women equal rights despite the "moderate" label, and running a secular democracy in the midst of a bloody Civil War.

I'm going to third this one.

With the minor quibble that they didn't really give women equal rights, as much as the women of the movement took them in their own right.