Jump to content

Norwegian lawmakers nominate Snowden for Nobel Peace Prize


Recommended Posts

Posted

OSLO, NORWAY (BNO NEWS) -- Two Norwegian lawmakers on Wednesday disclosed they have jointly nominated American whistle-blower Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, saying he has made a "critical contribution" to restoring the balance between a country's need for intelligence and people's individual freedoms.

Bård Vegar Solhjell and Snorre Valen, both politicians from Norway's Socialist Left Party, revealed their nomination on Wednesday in an open letter. And while they indicated they may not agree with all of Snowden's disclosures, they argued that the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor has made important contributions to a more stable and peaceful world.

"Edward Snowden has revealed the nature and technological prowess of modern surveillance. The level of sophistication and depth of surveillance that citizens all over the world are subject to has stunned us, and stirred debate all over the world," the lawmakers said in their letter. "By doing this, he has contributed critical knowledge about how modern surveillance and intelligence directed towards states and citizens is carried out."

Snowden, whose release of top-secret NSA documents have revealed details about the extent of the U.S. government's surveillance on phone and internet communications, has been charged by U.S. federal prosecutors with espionage and felony theft of government property. He remains in Russia where he was granted political asylum after fleeing Hong Kong.

"The new information technologies of the past few decades bring new possibilities for democratization, transparency and freedom of expression. But it also introduces new tools of oppression, surveillance, and espionage," the lawmakers said in Wednesday's letter. "Massive surveillance of ordinary people's communication, and targeted surveillance against allied leaders, is now possible on a scale that we wouldn't be able to imagine two or three decades ago."

Solhjell and Valen added: "A peaceful world order depends on trust between nations and trust between people. Peace brokering would be impossible without a basic level of trust. International agreements on non-proliferation and disarmament would be impossible without a basic level of trust. And peaceful resolutions to emerging security threats would be impossible without a basic level of trust."

Nonetheless, the lawmakers admitted that Snowden's actions may have damaged the security interests of several nations. "We do not necessarily condone or support all of his disclosures. We are, however, convinced that the public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden's whistleblowing has contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order," the said.

NSA spokeswoman Vanee Vines did not immediately return requests for comment on Wednesday's nomination.

Snowden had no chance to win last year's Nobel Peace Prize because the deadline for nominations was in February, well before Snowden fled the United States to begin his disclosures of top-secret NSA documents, which the Pentagon claims has prompted terrorists to change their methods. And while the official list of candidates is kept secret for 50 years, those who are eligible to nominate candidates are free to announce their choices.

(Copyright 2014 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].)

  • Replies 74
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted

Liberal or Conservative, you either believe in privacy as a basic human right or you believe in tyranny. The exact same kind of tyranny that as an American your forefathers fought against.

The reason the world is now in such a mess is because of this kind of polar-opposites logic: It's either black or white ... you're either for me or against me ... you're either conservative or liberal. However, life doesn't work that way. While there's definitely fully black and fully white, there's also many colors in between.

  • Like 1
Posted

There is a large degree of irony here, as Norway's socialist left party tolerates little if any deviation from it's own set menu of social attitudes from it's own citizens, unless of course they arrived recently from elsewhere.

Another brainwashed foot soldier in the "liberal-conservative" dichotomy. Nominating Snowden for the Peace Prize has nothing to do with liberal/conservative politics and has to do with the redefining of what the limits that governments should have placed on them with since new technology has given them unprecedented power to invade our privacy not as citizens of any one nation but as citizens in the global community.

Liberal or Conservative, you either believe in privacy as a basic human right or you believe in tyranny. The exact same kind of tyranny that as an American your forefathers fought against.

Snowden's disclosures resulted in terrorists adjusting their behavior making it more difficult to follow them, that said a lot of U.S and probably other nations surveillance measures definitely over stepped the mark, IMHO the jury is still out as to his legacy.

As you see fit to mention the forefathers I wonder what they would make of the IRS specifically targeting conservatives, whilst refusing to profile their own protected groups. If it were a conservative administration invading privacy I would be equally concerned, however it is a liberal U.S administration that is doing so and on sectarian lines, which makes it indeed ironic when another nation's liberals applaud Snowden.

  • Like 1
Posted

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

Not to me. I want the US government OUT of both my work and personal stuff. What they have done is criminal. Snowden deserves a medal.

Killing the baby with the bathwater. Espionage is a necessity. He has given important secrets to enemies of his own country, tools that will be used to kill his fellow countrymen. If that isn't a traitor, what's a traitor? If you want to see America weakened, fine, he's your man.

  • Like 1
Posted

I hope Snowden will be nominated. at least he is more deserving for Nobel Prize than Obama

It isn't about Obama. Of course he didn't deserve it. But at least Obama is not a traitor.

The irony of him hanging out in Putin's Russia is just too rich.

How fast would Putin dispose of a Russian traitor?

Posted

I hope Snowden will be nominated. at least he is more deserving for Nobel Prize than Obama

It isn't about Obama. Of course he didn't deserve it. But at least Obama is not a traitor.

The irony of him hanging out in Putin's Russia is just too rich.

How fast would Putin dispose of a Russian traitor?

please stick to the Snowden and Nobel prize. If you want to discuss Putin and Russia pleas open new theme

Posted

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

Not to me. I want the US government OUT of both my work and personal stuff. What they have done is criminal. Snowden deserves a medal.

Killing the baby with the bathwater. Espionage is a necessity. He has given important secrets to enemies of his own country, tools that will be used to kill his fellow countrymen. If that isn't a traitor, what's a traitor? If you want to see America weakened, fine, he's your man.

It's not my country, and I do happen to think the US government could use being taken down a peg or two (George Bush!!!), it seems likely they use the info they steal to knock off people as well.

  • Like 1
Posted

The issues Snowden has raised could have been done so more diplomatically by a non-traitor. He could have secretly met with the a prominent reporter. The letting go of important U.S. security secrets to hostile countries is the traitor part.

Posted

There is a legal way for him to have been a "Whistle Blower" without any retribution. He didn't do that! In fact, he still has material that could be damaging to many countries but the NSA isn't sure what that is, at least they're not talking. He had a sworn duty to protect the information he had access to and he violated that trust. His actions would apply to any person of any nation who has possession of classified documents and violate that trust.

You can make him a hero by ranting all about your privacy rights and all that crap but you are not even talking about the same thing. The USA has more privacy right protections than any other country, hands down. He did expose certain procedures used that border on violating those rights. Good for him for revealing that but the problem is it is the one item he revealed that's getting all the attention. It's the other secret's he holds that pose a more dangerous problem. He is a traitor not only to the USA but to the World.

The USA isn't the only spy group in the world. You better take a long hard look at your own countries and if you can't admit it you are in serious denial.

  • Like 1
Posted

I consider him a traitor. Simples.

one man's traitor is another man's hero

analog

one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

  • Like 2

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Topics

  • Latest posts...

    1. 108

      Britain’s Sharia Courts and the Challenge of Religious Freedom

    2. 0

      Saudia Airlines - Choose Carefully

    3. 107

      Japan dethrones Thailand as top tourist spot

    4. 1

      Is It Better to Date a “6” Than a “10” in Thailand?

    5. 67

      Poster of the Year 2024

    6. 108

      Britain’s Sharia Courts and the Challenge of Religious Freedom

    7. 107

      Japan dethrones Thailand as top tourist spot

  • Popular in The Pub


×
×
  • Create New...