The Nobel Peace Prize,worth 10 million Swedish krona ($1.4 million) will be presented in Oslo on December 10,the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel,who founded the awards in his 1895 will.
“The Peace Prize laureates represent civil society in their home countries. They have for many years promoted the right to criticise power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation.
“They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes,human rights abuses and the abuse of power. Together,they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy.”
The award has in the past put a spotlight on groups and activists trying to prevent conflicts,alleviate hardship and protect human rights.
Last year’s winners have faced a tough time since receiving the prize. Journalists Dmitry Muratov,of Russia,and Maria Ressa,of the Philippines,have been fighting for the survival of their news organisations,defying government efforts to silence them
They were honoured last year for “their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression,which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
A week of Nobel Prize announcements kicked off Monday with Swedish scientist Svante Paabo receiving the award in medicine forunlocking secrets of Neanderthal DNA that provided key insights into our immune system.
Three scientists jointly won the prize in physics Tuesday. Frenchman Alain Aspect,American John F. Clauser and Austrian Anton Zeilinger had shown that tiny particles can retain a connection with each other even when separated,a phenomenon known as quantum entanglement,that can be used for specialised computing and to encrypt information.
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded Wednesday to Americans Carolyn R. Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless,and Danish scientist Morten Meldal for developing a way of “snapping molecules together” that can be used to explore cells,map DNA and design drugs that can target diseases such as cancer more precisely.
French author Annie Ernauxwon this year’s Nobel Prize in literature Thursday. The panel commended her for blending fiction and autobiography in books that fearlessly mine her experiences as a working-class woman to explore life in France since the 1940s.
The 2022 Nobel Prize in economics will be announced on Monday.
Reuters with AP
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