The Nobel Prize Committee surprised the world, and Barack Obama, by awarding its 2009 Peace Prize to the U.S. president on Friday.
In making the announcement, the Committee praised Obama’s "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”
The Committee pointed in particular to the president’s work on nuclear disarmament, but also his leadership on addressing climate change.
While numerous numerous commentators have suggested the award is premature, Nobel alumni Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalis who won in 2004, said she is pleased with the announcement:
"I think the U.S. has been largely judged by the reaction to the act of not signing the Kyoto Protocol and also not believing that climate change is a reality. Now look at the U.S.–it is engaged, it is supporting the events leading to Copenhagen. There is a bill before the Senate–President Obama is supporting it. Obama has not only focused on domestic issues but looked to the world. I think he has shown he is willing to come back, and for the U.S. to provide the leadership on the world stage as far as the environment is concerned. He has really engaged America, shifting from dependence on carbon to low-carbon energy, and all of these are very positive steps, especially [compared with] what was going on in the previous Administration."
Read the full Time magazine story "Why Obama Deserves the Prize: Wangari Maathai and Muhammad Yunus," at the link below.
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