David Suzuki wins alternative Nobel Prize.
October 13, 2009 - 9:42am
David Suzuki won the 'alternative Nobel' Prize for his work in raising awareness about climate change.
The awards, which were announced in Stockholm on Tuesday, will be presented in a ceremony at the Swedish parliament on Dec. 4, six days before the Nobel Prizes are handed out.
Suzuki is known for his television and radio series and books about nature and the environment. He's also been harshly critical of governments for their lack of action on climate change.
The prize citation describes Suzuki as "one of the most brilliant scientists and communicators about science of his generation," adding he has shown a "lifetime advocacy for the socially responsible use of science."
And in related news,
New Zealand peace activist Alyn Ware, 47, was recognized "for his effective and creative advocacy and initiatives over two decades to further peace education and rid the world of nuclear weapons," according to the citation.
Imagine that. He actually DID something.
You mean the world is free of nuclear weapons now? Or what, specifically, did he DO?
Ha ha. You'll have to do better than that.
Who crapped in your Corn Flakes anyway?
He did "effective and creative advocacy and initiative over two decades to further peace education".
You know, instead of expanding the war in Afghanistan.
He's actually actively working for change. It's true that he hasn't achieved the ultimate goal - hell, no one has achieved "world peace". If that was the standard for a peace prize, no one could ever get it.
I just wish more budding young scientists would "get with" Suzuki, "come out" so to speak. I think there is a concern for losing research funding.
Local Scientists for Peace found that barrier to their attempts to grow the organization in 1983 - the year of Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech, when we thought we were all about to become toast.
I think there is a concern for losing research funding.
If they lose their funding they could always get money, like Suzuki, from Pew Charities.
He does have lots of sources, MS. In what way does it seem to have blunted his message?
I guess I was just wondering if any of his advocacy took the form of saying "Yes we CAN [get rid of nukes]" or anything like that. I find Obama's Nobel to be pretty silly (though only the third silliest in recent memory) but it wasn't really clear how "advocating" was any more concrete than "inspiring" or "energizing" or whatever Obama got the nod for.
How about you, Snert. Anything obvious in Suzuki's pronouncements that suggests he's "selling out", as it were?
No, I like Suzuki.
but it wasn't really clear how "advocating" was any more concrete than "inspiring" or "energizing" or whatever Obama got the nod for.
Advocacy means raising awareness. Saying "yes we can" doesn't. There's a big difference.
Oh, huge I would suspect. I'm certainly aware of the existence of nukes, so Mission Accomplished there, whereas it's still unclear if We really Can, or will.
I meant deep awareness (you know, this thing called 'details').
Here, since you don't know what advocacy means:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocacy
If you can't then see the difference, it means you don't want to.
And what's your alternative anyway?? What the heck else is Ware supposed to do? Start a prol. revolution?
And the point is, Ware's tried to change things thru advocacy. Obama's too busy being a not-as-evil Georgie W.
And a prez could do way more than a regular person like Ware could if that prez really wanted to. But Obama doesn't. So, Ware as a regular person has done a lot when you think of what he can actually do, while Obama as prez has done crap.
And the point is, Ware's tried to change things thru advocacy. Obama's too busy being a not-as-evil Georgie W.
I used to watch the Duke of Hazzard because it felt so good when it was over. That doesn't mean that I felt the next show deserved an Emmy.
Totally. They need only utter the wish, and It Is Done. Clearly Obama must not care, or he'd have wished us into a better world by now. It's been almost nine months. How many more months are we supposed to wait??
Snert, Obama could choose not to be militaristic. That's right, it's not just he hasn't done enough; he's been just plain wrong on stuff like Afghanistan. And you're the one who seems to think Ware needs to be do more than just advocacy to get a prize, but now you're suddenly ready for forgive Obama for doing way less than that. INCONSISTENCY ANYONE?? Do you deny a prez could do more for disarming than a regular person?????? That was my point. Don't twist the subject and just cut your strawman arguments. Sheesh, do people here not know what a COMPARATIVE sentence is?
(And no, bashing Iran's weapons while glossing over his own land's weapons history doesn't count.)
And hey pogo, do you even know anything about Ware?
http://www.betterworld.net/heroes/pages-w/ware-bio.htm
My whole point at the start was that Snert can't lump Ware in the same group as Obama. I didn't say Ware was the greatest possible prize winner out there ever. (Seems any relative compliment for anything or body around here is taken as saying 'he/she/it is perfect.')
Can't have that, for sure.