The Third Edition of the
NSG PEACE PRIZE
- Year 2012 -
PROCLAMATION
The poll is over, and a single nominee has attained a plurality of votes.
The Commitee (that is, myself), on behalf of the NSGers, congratulates
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
(individual, Burma)
with the
NSG Prize for Peace, 2012
for her extraordinary contribution to the cause of civil rights and democracy.
Suu Kyi received the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. In 1992 she was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding by the government of India and the International Simón Bolívar Prize from the government of Venezuela. In 2007, the Government of Canada made her an honorary citizen of that country; at the time, she was one of only four people ever to receive the honor. In 2011, she was awarded the Wallenberg Medal. On 19 September 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi was also presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, which is, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
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.
Also inanimated objects are eligible, see rules below.
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)
Final poll between:
- Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama (individual, Tibet) (9)
- Malala Yousafzai (individual, Pakistan) and Gordon Brown (individual, UK) (9)
- the European Union (organization, multinational) (7)
- Park Jae-sang aka PSY (individual, South Korea) (5)
- Aung San Suu Kyi (individual, Burma) (5)
- the Palestinian people (organization, Palestine/other countries (3)
NOTES & RULES
ABOUT THE NOMINATIONS PHASE:
- The nominations phase has been CLOSED on Friday, November 30th, 2012, h13.00 GMT.
- 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, I'll 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.
- 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 (I'd prefer you didn't though, because the thread would become a mess!)
- 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 for/against nominees just in the POLL phase.
- NO NOMINATIONS VIA TG WILL BE ACCEPTED. ONLY POSTS IN THIS THREAD.
- Previous winners of the prize cannot be nominated.
- (new rule) Support by puppet nations - identified as such by NS mods - will be considered void.
ABOUT THE POLL PHASE:
- The poll is now OPEN (sorry for the delay) and it will last 5 days.
- 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. Just let's keep it reasonable, ok?
NOMINATIONS LIST
- Aung San Suu Kyi (individual, Burma)
5 nominations: Pope Joan, Ovisterra, Herrebrugh, Serrland, Americanada
"Suu Kyi received the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. In 1992 she was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding by the government of India and the International Simón Bolívar Prize from the government of Venezuela. In 2007, the Government of Canada made her an honorary citizen of that country; at the time, she was one of only four people ever to receive the honor. In 2011, she was awarded the Wallenberg Medal. On 19 September 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi was also presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, which is, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States." - Malala Yousafzai (individual, Pakistan) and Gordon Brown (individual, UK)
9 nominations: Astrolinium, Gordano and Lysandus, Venaleria, Avenio, 4years, Lyncanestria, Milograd, Disserbia, Romalae
Mrs.Yousafzai: "...a school student and education activist from the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. She is known for her education and women's rights activism in the Swat Valley, where the Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school. In early 2009, at the age of 11/12, Yousafzai wrote a blog under a pseudonym for the BBC detailing her life under Taliban rule, their attempts to take control of the valley, and her views on promoting education for girls. ...On 9 October 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus. In the days immediately following the attack, she remained unconscious and in critical condition, but later her condition improved enough for her to be sent to a hospital in the United Kingdom for intensive rehabilitation. On 12 October, a group of 50 Islamic clerics in Pakistan issued a fatwā against those who tried to kill her, but the Taliban reiterated its intent to kill Yousafzai and her father, Ziauddin."
Mr.Brown: "He's supported the Malala movement strongly and with his influence and the power of his petition, allowed Malala's wishes and voice to be heard worldwide and brought education to Pakistan with her. Mr. Brown, after losing the General Election in Britain, did not, like his predecessor, retire from politics. Instead, he continued as a backbencher to attend to the needs of his constituency and his party. Yet, on top of these responsibilities, he has taken the incredible burden of being the Secretary-General's Envoy on Global Education to combat what is seen by many as an insurmountable challenge - extending the human right of education to the many disenfranchised youths worldwide. Just like the Malala campaign in Pakistan, which is bringing improvements to over three million Pakistani children, his work is there to take Malala's message not just to Pakistan, but to many countries. Education for everyone is a basic human right. Let us recognise what Mr. Brown is doing and continuing to do." - the European Union (organization, multinational)
7 nominations: Ostroeuropa, Olivaero, Genivaria, The Archregimancy, TaQud, Bering, Maklohi Vai
"60 years of peace and co-operation between the main european powers. Except Russia. The longest in Europe for about 2000 years.
As an institution, it has provided a second channel by which nations may redress their grievances to the western world instead of only the USA being the final arbiter of the Wests platform. While mostly it has upheld the US policy, in some areas it has not, notably with regard to Iran. What's more, whereas other individuals or organizations presented may have admirable accomplishments, they are unlikely to be continuing to facilitate peace and make war undesirable, if not impossible, long after all of us are dead, whereas the EU is.
We are also seeing attempts (such as the African Union) to replicate it's success, so it can be said with seriousness that the EU may not only be the cause of a lasting and permanent peace in Europe, but may in fact be influencing and inspiring peace in one of the most war-torn continents of the world." - Felipe Andres Coronel a.k.a. Immortal Technique (invidual, Peru/USA)
2 nominations: Trustopia, Mushet
"for uniting the people against economic and racial oppression, supporting equality in the world, travelling in developing worlds and helping their children be educated, and for funding schools. His lyrics are poetry of peace, unity and equality. He sells his newest CDs for free, due to some of his listeners not having the money to buy them. He has worked in the US to reduce pollution, and counter the climate. However, he has informed all his listeners of his early crimes in the world he now despises. He has refused to agree on almost all records, as he fears that his words will be turned, and made into money. Thus, he has promoted not only equality, but anti-consumerism as well." - Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama born Lhamo Dondrub (individual, Tibet/India)
9 nominations: Cill Airne, Heleventia, Namri-Lontson, Taibe, Kvatchdom, Mawtini, Raurosia, Bratoslovoukia, Dogapus
"Despite what has occurred in his life, from exile from his home-land, to a recent uncovered assassination plot he has not advocated violence. Instead, he has taught that peace will triumph over the enemies, and has advocated equality for people of all religions, races, sexes, and creeds." "The Dalai Lama is living in India since 1959, he has played a vital role in boosting the morale of the Tibetan population and advocated for the welfare of the Tibetan people. He is an ardent believer of non violence - a fact endorsed by his position as the head of the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He spends most of his time travelling around the world, giving speeches on non-violence, environment, economy among other. In these words, the Dalai Lama has summarised his devotion to peace "I am the messenger of India's ancient thoughts the world over." and "Let the 21st century be a century of tolerance and dialogue." " - Mario Balotelli born Mario Barwuah (individual, Italy)
1 nomination: Nazis in Space
"As a black-skinned person adopted by an Italian family, he - and his significantly above-average media presence - symbolises the modern, globalised, and consequently multicultural world. Additionally, he's laudable for taking a respectable stance against racism - from which he's suffered - not in the form of whining and crying and begging for the evil racism to end, but in the form of being a real man, and acting like one. To quote M. Ballotelli himself: "If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to prison because I will kill him." That's badass. In a world where some footballers openly admit their fascist tendencies (Buffon), jewish players receive racist abuse by their own fanbase (Schechter, Kaiserslautern), and jewish fans are stabbity-stabbed by cowards off the pitch (Tottenham vis-a-vis Romans), Mario Ballotelli stands as a light in the darkness, a symbol of what we can achieve, and what we want the future of our world to be like. Not through meaningless speeches before a sleeping audience, not through impotent patience, but through an aura of implied, righteous violence, through actions before millions of frenetic supporters. For Mario Ballotelli is a man of action." - Camila Vallejo (individual, Chile)
1 nomination: Kemalist
"for leading the great student protests in Chile against the inequitable policies of the government toward education at her young age. She became a source of inspiration and an admirable idol for lots of youth organizations all over the country and motivated them to take action. A Chilean geography undergraduate student and member of the Chilean Communist Youth, as president of the University of Chile Student Federation (Fech) and main spokesperson of the Confederation of Chilean Students (Confech), she led a movement for better access to quality education at the end of April 2011 which continues as of April 2012. Vallejo has acquired public attention as a leading spokesperson and as leader of the 2011 student protests in Chile, alongside other student leaders. In August 2011, the Supreme Court of Chile ordered police protection for Vallejo after she received death threats. Vallejo has been labeled by the media as the most important and influential Communist personality of the 21st century in Chile, and also as the symbolic successor of Gladys Marín. In August 2011, she was displayed on the front page of the German weekly Die Zeit and in December of that year she was overwhelmingly chosen as "Person of the Year" in an online poll by readers of The Guardian. Vallejo has been included by magazines in such lists as "100 People Who Mattered" by Time Magazine in its December 2011 "Time Person of the Year" annual issue, and in "150 Fearless Women" by Newsweek in March 2012." - the United States of America (organization, USA)
0 nominations: (all nominations were retired)
"The United States of America has contributed greatly to humanitarian causes. The Marshall Plan carved a path of international cooperation in Western Europe that was previously impossible and set a precedent of peace and cooperation that would give birth to the European Union. The United States has defined military humanism by taking advantage of the advanced logistics capacities and ability to get through rough terrain to fallicitate humanism in a manner faster than most NGOs would be capable, helping to define a more positive role for military forces. The nation has also seen numerous Nobel Peace Prize laureates come from its borders before and will likely continue to do so. Beyond the immediate scientific and medical usage of such things as the Human Genome project and Proto 2, the United States created ARPANET as the progenitor of this internet that would be used to protect and spread human rights; make transperant the operations of governments and other holders of power for the benefit of the environment, consumers, laborers, and the ruled; encourage cultural and international understanding across the world; and make Nationstates and this thread possible." - Park Jae-sang aka PSY (individual, South Korea)
5 nominations: Czechanada, United Koryo, Nightkill the Emperor, Euskirribakondara, Tyrants
"For uniting people all over the world in a crazy dance that has crossed all borders and now withstands as a symbol of the good things of globalization. Making Korea appear on the map again, but with joy this time; and recognizing himself as an individual of the Korean (not South Korean) nation; PSY must now be a role model for the artists of the world: a world without racism, a world without nationalism.... A world where any man from any race can dance to the same beat, and try to sing the same lyrics of an only song; as in an anthem of mankind." - the Freedom From Religion Foundation (organization, USA)
2 nominations: Dyakovo, SaintB
"for their ongoing efforts to promote secular society. The Foundation and its staff attorneys act on countless violations of separation of state and church on behalf of members and the public including: Prayers in public schools, payment of funds for religious purposes, government funding of pervasively sectarian institutions, and the ongoing campaign against civil rights for women, gays and lesbians led by churches. The Foundation keeps several challenges in the courts at all times, and has ended a variety of violations of the First Amendment"
(snipped a bit: for the whole list see Dyakovo's post) - Roméo Antonius Dallaire (individual, Canada)
2 nominations: Camicon, Saruhan
"for his work during the 1994 Rwandian genocide, and subsequent works to promote public awareness of: the mental health of military veterans; the abuse of children, with regards to labour and child soldiers; the abuse of humans beings, with regards to human rights violations and genocide; as well as his investigations, publications, and support of conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance, and basic human rights. All of his subsequent works in despite of very severe mental health issues, as a result of his work during the Rwandan genocide." - Anonymous (organization, multinational)
1 nomination: Republic of Hell
"we can all agree they've done good in the world with the means they have available to them. It's not even so much a well-built organization, so much as it is a group of like-minded people all around the globe committed to their objectives. And in the past, these objectives have been great. There have been instances where they have done things as small as using the power of the Internet to track down and dispense justice to a teenage cat abuser, to things as large as cooperating with the team of programmers at Firefox to expose and shut down one of the largest child pornography sites on the Internet. They have battled bills which would effectively destroy online freedom, and fought for the rights of LGBT people in Uganda- all of this using the Internet as their sole means of outreach. And I could go on with this forever, but I think it's time we reward the "peacekeepers" of the future- even if we don't like how they do what they do. Medicine doesn't have to taste good for it to work." - Gene Sharp (individual, USA)
1 nomination: Gauntleted Fist
"In 2009 and 2012 he was nominated for the Nobel peace prize.Sharp was widely considered the favourite for the 2012 award. In 2011 he was awarded the El-Hibri Peace Education Prize. In 2012 he was awarded, together with Sima Samar and Campaign Against Arms Trade, the Right Livelihood Award. In 2012 he was also awarded the Distinguished Lifetime Democracy Award. His practical manual on how to overthrow dictatorships, "From Dictatorship to Democracy," has spread like a virus since he wrote it 20 years ago and has been translated by activists into more than 30 languages. He has also listed "198 Methods of Nonviolent Action" -- powerful, sometimes surprising, ways to tear power from the hands of regimes. Examples of their use by demonstrators and revolutionaries pop up over and over again. His works have inspired non-violent revolution and opposition to tyranny around the world. I think he's deserving of any such award for peace. The man has dedicated his entire life to non-violence, and done good work to inspire others to follow such a path."
(slightly snipped) - the Palestinian people (organization, Palestine/other countries)
3 nominations: Bundabunda, Tlaceceyaya, Risottia
"For the last 30 years or so, they have gone through brutal repression, only to be called "terrorists" for either defending their home or radicalizing after watching their friends and family die in front of them. Now more than ever, there is not a singular ethnicity that embodies the human desire's spirit for want of self rule. Palestine is at the forefront of the national liberation movements as well as the "poster child" for unwarranted human rights violations. More so than Tibet, these are the most oppressed peoples in the world and still endure." - Plataforma "¡Democracia Real Ya!" ("Real Democracy Now!" Movement) (organization, Spain)
1 nomination: Martean
"For archieving something that seemed impossible only a couple of months ago: Make politicians change the laws. For example, evictions had skyrocketed since 2008, but no politician seemed to care, they created a subdivision of this movement, Stop deshaucios (Stop evictions) but, nothing... Until suicides started and demonstrations gained force, they said that if we give 100 billios Euros to the banks, they shouldn't be allowed to evict, and they did it: They sat the two main political parties in Spain and made them create a new eviction law just a few weeks ago, which is now on effort (the older one was of... 1905!) And thanks to that, they've helped thousands of spaniards to save from eviction. But they did other mayor things: They organised the 15-M and the ''indignado'' movement, they made millions to gather in the streets, they created a social front which had never been so powerful since the spanish transition to democracy, in the late 1970's. Little by little, they're changing this country, like in 1975, when if you attended a general strike, you could make the government legalise the Communist party, or the unions, or fire a minister. And now, they are making this possible again." - George John Mitchell, jr. (individual, USA)
1 nomination: Lithatrius
"The Troubles caused immense difficulty in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. Hundreds, if not thousands were killed, including Airey Neave MP, a close confidant of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and a close relative of the Queen, Lord Mountbatten. Senator Mitchell was the U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland and chaired the Peace Process. The Peace Process eventually ended positively, including the ultimate victory, with the IRA disarming. For his amazing actions, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and an honorary knighthood in the United Kingdom, as well as being (unsuccessfully) nominated for a Nobel Prize. He was awarded the Liberty Medal, and in his acceptance speech, he said "I believe there’s no such thing as a conflict that can’t be ended. They’re created and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings. No matter how ancient the conflict, no matter how hateful, no matter how hurtful, peace can prevail." He's the leading architect in ending the last civil war in Western Europe." - Barack Hussein Obama (individual, USA)
1 nomination: Kingdom of Rome and the Senate
"for, as President, creating a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened. Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population." - Jerry Mateparae (individual, New Zealand)
1 nomination: GCMG
"as Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Jerry had the brilliant idea of inviting 62 NZers with the same birthday as himself and Prince Charles who was here on a visit to a birthday party. Prince Charles had a very good visit and the only nutjob causing trouble was not Prince Charles... a point I attribute entirely to our very senisible GG and his brilliant birthday plan. We must also point out in the best tradition of his predecessor Sir Anand Satyanand he flies under the radar, never generating controversy and so causing peace. Also, he has been Chief of the Defence Force and absolutely nothing but downsizing has happened since." - the Libyan General National Congress (organization, Libya)
0 nominations: (all nominations have been retired) - Ales Bialiatski (individual, Belarus)
1 nomination: Voerdeland
"a dissident to the last autocracy in Europe, who was nominated to this year's Nobel Peace Prize, and who has been imprisoned since 2011 for alleged tax evasion. ...The work of Ales Bialiatski who devoted his life to struggle for human rights and a better world embodies a perfect example of this linkage. Under his leadership and in very unfavourable conditions Viasna Centre has defended and effectively assisted thousands of victims of repression in "Europe´s last dictatorship". ...Ales Bialiatski himself was arrested in August 2011 and has been recognized a "prisoner of conscience" by Amnesty International. His arrest and sentence were condemned by the EU, US, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and scores of international human rights organizations ...Ales Bialiatski and his activities are an outstanding example of a long and devoted non-violent and brave struggle at the great personal risk and self-sacrifice to bring sustainable democracy, respect to human rights and basic freedoms to the countries in need. ..."
(snipped a bit, see Voerdeland's post for the full motivation) - Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) (organization, multinational)
2 nominations: Napkiraly, Novaya Tselinoyarsk
"They give up their plush, well off jobs to go into war zones, developing nations with inadequate healthcare systems, and regions suffering from endemic diseases. No one is discriminated against, be it sex, religion, race, or creed. They have attempted to bring attention to humanitarian crisis to world leaders and organizations throughout their history and have documented some of the worst atrocities such as the Biafra War and the Rwandan genocide. By giving up their comfortable lives to help others, providing them equal medical care, and trying to bring attention to humanitarian crisis' be it war, famine, natural disasters, etc. to the world, I believe they should be awarded the NSG Peace Prize for their selfless actions and dedication to improving the lives of others through medicine." - the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (organization, multinational)
1 nomination: Angleter
"for over sixty years of promoting peace and freedom across the world. Founded in 1949, the first forty years of NATO's existence saw it unite the free states of Western Europe, despite their long history of wars, against the expansionist force of Soviet tyranny, and its actions most likely helped bring about the fall of the Soviet Bloc at the end of the 1980s. In the decade following the fall of the USSR, NATO fought and defeated Serbian expansionism in the Balkans, thus essentially neutralising the most substantial threat to European peace since 1945, and it has also brought many Eastern European nations into its fold, strengthening these nations' new-found liberties. Since the millennium, however, NATO has been mostly interested in Middle Eastern affairs, having fought against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, helped protect Afghanistan from Taliban insurgents, and perhaps most importantly was key to the success of the 2011 democratic revolution in Libya." - Pope Theodoros II of Alexandria, born Waǧīh Ṣubḥī Bāqī Sulaymān (individual, Egypt)
1 nomination: The Realm of God
"for services to the Coptic Oriental Orthodox Christians in Egypt and statements of commitment to help Egypt find it's place in a more independent constitutional post 2011 world and his commitment to ecumenical programs to help improve relations between Oriental Orthodox Copts and Muslims. "
(pending expansion of motivation) - Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul (individual, USA)
1 nomination: Renegade Island
"He spoke for peace in a country whose politicians only speak about perpetual war. He spoke for the people in reining in the power of the banking system, and restoring the liberties granted to them by their constitution. And unlike other politicians who have been accused of "flip-flopping" - that is, changing their views to suit the social climate or win votes, Paul has been consistent with his message for many years now, running on the same platform in 1988 for the Libertarian Party." - Peace One Day (organization, UK)
1 nomination: Tsuntion
"Founded in 1999 by filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, Peace One Day has first stabalised the date of the International Day of Peace and then promoted observation of this day at all levels of society, from domestic violence to uprisings to warfare. It hopes that achieving proper peace on that short time can be a foundation for lasting truces and good diplomacy. Thanks to Gilley's work through the organisation and with other people, all UN member states agreed to comply with the day with regards to military manouevours and the like, accepting it as a global time of ceasefire and nonviolence. Even the Taliban agreed to support and abide by the day due to Peace One Day's work, and in 2008 a 70% reduction of violent incidents in Afghanistan was recorded. Because of similar happenings there and in other countries, health and aid workers were able to save thousands of lives through vaccinating and immunising children in areas normally unsafe for them to travel to. The organisation now works on a Global Truce campaign to not only reduce violence upon one day but to make that an active promotion of peace through gathering individuals across the world in activities related to Peace One Day."
