On Thursday, December 9 at 19:30 GMT:
The Nobel prizes are among the many world’s most prestigious honors. However additionally they generate a good quantity of controversy. As this 12 months’s laureates put together for Nobel Week, some critics are calling for an overhaul of the whole course of.
Advocates say the Nobels are necessary as a result of they draw consideration to essential developments in science and human rights development, awarding these “who’ve conferred the best profit to humankind” within the earlier 12 months. However criticism is rising over a scarcity of transparency and the awards’ tendency to miss girls and minorities.
For the peace prize, laureates are chosen by a Nobel committee of solely 5 members. They’re appointed by Norway’s Parliament and sometimes embody retired politicians. Up to now 120 years, solely a fraction of all Nobel winners have been girls. And in some science classes, there has by no means been a Black recipient.
Generally, winners generate extra controversy than goodwill, as is the case with 2019 Peace Prize laureate Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Ahmed was initially counseled for his peacemaking efforts with neighbouring Eritrea. He now stands accused of human rights violations in Tigray, which the UN says might quantity to struggle crimes, however continues to carry onto his Nobel prize as a result of it’s towards committee guidelines to withdraw the award.
The Nobels have been established by well-known Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel within the late 1800s, and classes embody the fields of physics, medication, chemistry, literature, peace and economics. Along with a medal and certificates, winners are additionally awarded about $1 million every, a prize that’s cut up if a number of persons are awarded in the identical class.
On this episode of The Stream, we’ll talk about whether or not the Nobel prizes are nonetheless related, methods to enhance the method and the accomplishments of this 12 months’s winners. Be part of the dialog.
On this episode of The Stream, we’re joined by:
Henrik Urdal, @h_urdal
Director, Peace Analysis Institute
Devang Mehta, @drdevangm
Publish Doctoral Researcher
Folly Bah Thibault, @follybahAJE
Presenter, Al Jazeera English
James Bays, @baysontheroad
Correspondent, Al Jazeera English