Wikileaks, the now famous (infamous?) whistle-blowing website has been nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. They’re up against a bit of competition (a record 241 nominees this year), but this website, founded by Australian Julian Assange, is definitely one of the most controversial nominations on the ballot.
If Wikileaks wins the Nobel Peace Prize, they will be awarded a piece of metal, a personal diploma, and a cash reward (a little over $1 million in USD). It may also add a layer of legitimacy to Wikileaks, who is currently under fire from governments, political talking heads, and banks alike. Especially since the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to newly elected US President Barak Obama just two years earlier.
On the other hand, maybe the Nobel Peace Prize just doesn’t really mean anything anymore. Barak Obama was awarded the prize in 2009 “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Remember, he had only been in office for nine months at that point; he hadn’t really done anything yet. And his administration has since proven to go above and beyond any other administration in regards to hunting anyone attempting to share the details of these “extraordinary” international diplomacy efforts being perpetrated by the US government.
At least the Nobel Peace Prize nomination is bringing a bit of positive attention for the revolutionary website. I think the general public, many of whom aren’t following the Wikileaks stories closely, will be more willing to accept the legitimacy of the website. It’s much easier to get mainstream acceptance when backed by organizations such as the Nobel Peace Prize committee rather than simply a small group of (albiet important) activists calling themselves Anonymous. Wikileaks need as many organizations on their side as possible, and the Nobel Prize nomination is extremely positive support.
IAmDann does, and will always, support free speech.
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