Nobel Musuem

"Peace is the only battle worth waging." 

Albert Camus (1913-1960) 

Nobel Laureate in Literature, 1957

Lorene and I visited the Nobel Museum on Tuesday, October 1st...

In honor of the recently awarded Nobel Prizes.... Located on Gamla Stan, the museum is small and had a wonderful exhibit called Making Peace.

From the brochure -
Making Peace is a major photo exhibition curated by Ashley Woods and produced by the International Peace Bureau (IPB).  Making Peace pays tribute to the people who - all over the planet - devote their time, energy and resources to the cause of peace and how these persons and organizations have shaped and influenced the course of the 20th century.

Despite two World Wars and many bloody conflicts, there have been triumphs, such as the end of the Cold War and the apartheid regine, the banning of anti personnel landmines and the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The IPB (awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910) believes there are are five main elements that go together to form peace. It is only by bringing together these five elements, that we create a sustainable peace. 

1.  Disarmament and nonviolence
2.  Conflict prevention and resolution
3.  Economic and social justice
4. Human rights, law and democracy
5.  Environment and sustainable development

www.makingpeace.org

The exhibit was compelling.  Looking at the photos and reading the descriptions you wonder how anyone can not believe in peaceful resolutions, how anyone can wage war and suffering.  It interesting to be reminded of people long gone from the news... like Lech Walesa, originally a car mechanic, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983. 

Aside from the Making Peace exhibit there are kiosks highlighting Nobel prizes by decade.  Do you know how many Nobel prizes are awarded each year and in what categories?  Six prizes are awarded for groundbreaking achievements in:  physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economics (started in 1968). 

I think you can probably best appreciate the inventions only years later.  It was interesting to see that the award was given for discovering penicillin, the Red Cross, insulin for diabetes, plastic in the 50's, transistor radios, digital cameras, etc.  Of course we know now how important these things are.  How many years will it be before we fully understand/appreciate the current awards?

Alfred Nobel's (1833-1896) will stipulates that, each year, award winners would receive a part of the revenues of his fortune.  How much?  8 million SEK (Swedish Krown) equal to $1.2 million.  The Nobel Prize has always been a world event, covering the most subjects and nationalities. 

Except for the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.  The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, usually on December 10 as well.  Each person receives an individual, custom-designed, artistic diploma along with the gold Nobel medal and prize money. The King of Sweden hands out the awards and a banquet is held after the ceremonies at the Stockholm City Hall with the Swedish Royal Family and 1,300 guests. 

Where did Alfred Nobel's money come from?  Among other things he is best known for inventing dynamite. 

Stockholm City Hall