Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change. It is a great honor for Gore, who would seem to be appreciated more overseas than in his own country, if one went by what is often read here and in the media. Gore, U.N. Body Win Nobel Peace Prize By Howard Schneider and Debbi Wilgoren Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, October 12, 2007; 5:32 AM Former Vice President Al Gore Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today along with a United Nations panel that monitors climate change for their work educating the world about global warming and advocating for political action to stop it. The Nobel committee characterized Gore as "the single individual" responsible for convincing world government's that climate change was real, caused by human activity, and posed a threat to society. The Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change, meanwhile, has been monitoring evidence of climate change and possible solutions since 1988. The panel is a joint project between the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization. Between the two of them -- the science showcased by the panel, and Gore's advocacy through the Academy Award winning film "An Inconvenient Truth" -- the two helped "build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change," the committee said. "Whereas in the 1980s global warming seemed to be merely an interesting hypothesis, the 1990s produced clear scientific support." As with last year's award to banker Mohammed Younis, whose pioneering use of small loans to the very poor helped contribute to the stability of developing nations, this year's prize focused on an issue not directly related to war and peace, but which was seen as critical to maintaining stable societies. Work on climate change has defined public life for Gore, 59, since he lost the closely fought Presidential race in 2000 to President Bush. From that difficult race, in which he won the popular vote but lost the electoral college in a case ultimately decided by the Supreme Court, he emerged as a controversial figure -- ridiculed by the right as an environmental extremist, and hailed by the left as "the Gore-acle" for his foresight on issues like the Internet and climate change. The Nobel is a vindication that could impact the upcoming presidential race: Gore's supporters have repeatedly urged him to enter the race, and the luster of the peace prize may add to that push. But the former vice president, whose background includes a Harvard education and deep roots in Tennessee politics, has seemed disinclined to enter the fray. He has focused more on undertakings like last summer's "Live Earth" concerts, which promoted environmentalism in a series of star-studded rock and roll shows around the world. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101200364.html?hpid=topnews D&D. Impeach Bush for Promoting Torture.
He needs to run, he would be an excellent president and it would go a long way towards repairing some of the relationships with other nations that Dubya has trashed. DD
A great honor for Gore but I highly doubt Gore will run and if he does I doubt even more he would win. Many of the reasons that make Gore so appreciated worldwide would make him polarizing here.
I strongly disagree. He won the popular vote the last time. The political environment now is much more favorable for Democrats than it was in 2000. He does not come with the history and gender baggage of Hillary or the racial and lack of experience baggage of Obama. He was right about the most pressing issue of the day, Iraq and now a majority agree that the invasion was a mistake. I think he is by far our strongest Democratic candidate. And I really worry that we're about blow a golden opportunity if Hillary is nominated. Not to mention, I think she would be a significantly worse president than Gore (or Obama or Edwards).
What a joke. He should have won the Nobel tool prize. How the heck does telling people about global warming promote peace? not that im blaming him for getting it. its not his fault the selection committe or whatever they are called are idiots.
Last year's winner won for work on microloans to poor people. They have a very broad scope on what qualifies as promoting peace.
TJ and Big_Texxx are probably jumping for joy Good for Al. Make sure you put that award in the lockbox
I think Al Gore is a cool guy, and I obviously believe in "global warming," but the Nobel Peace Prize? I guess... It must have been a slow year. :\
if al gore ran the republicans would "swift boat" him. a la "i invented the internet" (he was actually on the congressional commitee that proposed the development of the internet) his home electricity bill is huge (his electricity provider uses windmills to generate electricity) i think hed make a good president but he seems more like a guy who will "turn the other cheek" rather than fight back. and in the political arena thats suicide.
