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In Defense of the Nuclear Taboo
This year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate was Nihon Hidanke, a Japanese organization that brings together survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It received the award "for its efforts to create a world free of nuclear weapons and for providing evidence that nuclear weapons should never be used again." According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the group's efforts "have established a strong international norm that the use of nuclear weapons is morally unacceptable," but that norm is now under threat.
"It's worth reminding ourselves what nuclear weapons are."
Nihon Hidanke was founded in 1956 by a group of victims of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Initially, the goal was to provide adequate support to the victims, but later it began lobbying for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Nihon Hidanke has representatives in all 47 prefectures of Japan. It has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at least three times: in 1985, 1994, and 2015.
"This is a grassroots movement in support of the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki," said the Norwegian Nobel Committee in announcing the 2024 laureates. "A global movement has emerged in response to the atomic bombings of August 1945, and its members have worked tirelessly. "We recognize the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons."
As noted in the press release, eyewitnesses to the events of August 1945 helped create a movement "to oppose nuclear weapons worldwide based on their personal stories." So they launched an "educational campaign based on their own experiences" and spoke out strongly against "the proliferation and use of nuclear weapons."
The Norwegian Nobel Committee noted that "a strong international norm gradually emerged that the use of nuclear weapons is morally unacceptable, and this norm became known as the 'nuclear taboo'."
But now that norm is under threat, as the press release states: "Nuclear nations are modernizing and improving their arsenals. New nations appear to be preparing to possess nuclear weapons. There is a threat that nuclear weapons will be used in an ongoing war. At this moment in human history, it is worth reminding ourselves what nuclear weapons are. "They are the most destructive weapons the world has ever seen."
"In awarding this year's Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidanka, the Norwegian Nobel Committee expresses its gratitude to all those who, despite physical pain and painful memories, chose to use their experiences for a greater purpose (the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). To pay tribute to Kommersant, who survived. Peace," the committee concluded.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to "the person who has achieved the greatest success or done more than anyone else to unite nations, reduce the number of military personnel, hold peace conferences and attract attention." The award ceremony is traditionally held on the first Friday in October, after the winners in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry and literature have been announced.
According to Alfred Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize laureate is chosen by Norway, not Sweden, by a five-member Norwegian committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament. These are usually Norwegian public and political figures. This year, the committee is chaired by Jørgen Vatne Fridnes, 40, the youngest ever chairman, who worked for Doctors Without Borders. He will also present the prize to the winners on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in Oslo on December 10 (the other regional awards will be presented in Stockholm).
Members of parliament and government of all countries, members of international courts, university rectors, professors of social sciences, other laureates and members of the boards of directors of award-winning organizations, and members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee are eligible to nominate candidates.
There are 286 candidates for the 2024 Peace Prize, 197 of whom are individuals and 89 are organizations. The full list will not be made public until 50 years from now, but the names and organizations of the individuals proposed as candidates are usually known in advance.
This year's nominees are now former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ("His work to achieve peace and democracy in Europe and around the world over the past year") and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange ("Revealing torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners. Service included).
The list also includes former Secretary of State of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan, who was arrested in Azerbaijan, Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Aziza, who reported from the Gaza Strip, and the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump (since ). His presidency and Washington's active role led to the signing of the "agreement" between Israel and Arab countries. Abraham), American businessman Elon Musk ("for defending dialogue, freedom of speech, and the ability to express one's views") and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ("for his personal courage and integrity in the face of the war in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip"), Pope Francis ("for continuing to spread a powerful message about the need for a comprehensive peace"). The nominated organizations include human rights groups in the Middle East, including EcoPeace, Women Wage Peace, Women of the Sun, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA Included).
The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist who "fights the oppression of women" and promotes human rights and freedoms for all people. She was unable to attend the award ceremony because she was serving time in an Iranian prison. A year ago, awards were given to the Memorial human rights center (included in the register of foreign agents and liquidated by court order), the Ukrainian human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties (declared an undesirable organization in the Russian Federation), and Belarusian lawyer Ales Bialiatski.