Edward Snowden Nominated For EU’s Top Human Rights Prize

[GeorgeGist]

Source: TPM

The European Parliament announced Monday that Edward Snowden is one of seven nominees for the 2013 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Snowden was nominated by the Greens, a pro-environment group. The winner will be named next month and will be awarded a 50,000 euro — or $65,000 — prize, according to the AP. Along with Snowden, other nominees include Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen who was shot last year by the Taliban on her way home from school.

Previous winners of the Sakharov Prize include Nelson Mandela.

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/edward-snowden-nominated-for-eus-top-human-rights

[Demeter]

1. I hope he sweeps the field, along with Manning and Assange

they are true profiles in courage, working for ordinary people, high tech Mother Teresas.

[idwiyo]

2. K&R IMO, Chelsea Manning and Snowden should share the prize.

[drynberg]

3. AGREED, TRUE HEROS, ACTING FOR THE GOOD OF THE NATION

Without regard to personal consequences. Let's hear for the whistleblowers!

[idwiyo]

4. Not just one nation, but entire World. British GCHQ is as dirty as NSA.

[struggle4progress]

48. I guess the Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL have dumped Manning

Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL supported Manning in the past. But perhaps Manning, post-conviction, just does not seem sexy enough for them now, compared to Snowden, who is still deliciously and excitingly hidden in his undisclosed location

[Divernan]

5. Proud to be the 5th rec & off to the Greatest Page with you!

[Tanuki]

6. Full list of the nominees

including Malala Yousefzai, who took a bullet in the head for her support of the rights of girls and women, and the Freedom Project to end modern day slavery:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20130916IPR20013/html/2013-Sakharov-Prize-for-Freedom-of-Thought-seven-nominations

[Divernan]

9. It is a great honor just to be nominated to this illustrious group.

And indicates how well-regarded Snowden is outside of the MIC/Obama administration. I hope the nomination brings him some consolation in his difficult circumstances.

[Turborama]

10. Thanks for sharing that. I'd be surprised if Mulala doesn't win it.

This young girl is a wonderful role model and a true hero who very nearly lost her life in an extremely dangerous place and should be the headline nominee, IMHO.

[JustanAngel]

44. And when Anonymous helped provide the courts and the rest of the world the evidence needed

to prove that the 15 yr. old, who broke up with her Steubenberg (sp) boyfriend really had been victimized in ways too sick to ever justify, or even to reflect upon. It would be a shame if these whistleblowers' heroics didn't change what has been exposed for a better future.

[iemitsu]

7. This sure points out the difference between living in

the EU and living in a jingoistic America, where all dissent is labeled terrorism.

[RC]

16. And yet shooting and killing over a dozen people on military installations or in schools or is not.

[TBF]

8. K&R nt

[rtracey]

11. congrats

To put Snowden in the same sentence or breath as Malala Yousafzal and Nelson Mandela, is a complete atrocity (IMO)

[RC]

17. Like Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize?

Then going on to double tap innocent civilians using drones?

[baldguy]

19. Fail, fail & more fail.

Your point would have been more effective if you used George Bush as an example.

[RC]

20. Probably, but

Obama continued so many of bu$h's policies, his first term has been labeled bu$h III.

[baldguy]

22. Only by anti-Obama, anti-Democrat trolls.

[RC]

23. Define "Democrat"

DLC? DINO? New Democrat? Liberal? Progressive?

[baldguy]

25. .

as a start.

But definitely not

[RC]

31. The second guy upheld his oath to defend the Constitution better than the first guy has to so far.

The first guy is the one continuing so many of Bu$h's policies that "Democrat" is a push. Letting known war criminals walk. Not going after the banks and Wall Streeters the crashed the economy. Bailing out the banks, but not Main Street. Putting Social Security on the table, when it has nothing to do with the debt or Deficit. Pushing the Chained CPI. And don't forget the illegal drone strikes on innocent people in countries we are not at war with. Double tapping even.
The second guy exposed the secret, unconstitutional spying on American citizens, first guy wanted to keep secret.
Plus the second guy has this distinction:

The European Parliament announced Monday that Edward Snowden is one of seven nominees for the 2013 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014596646

But you knew that.

[dipsydoodle]

32. True.

.

[cui bono]

46. I'm with you RC.

Principles are more important to defend than a man who doesn't stand on them.

[Douglas Carpenter]

59. +1000 - Ain't that the truth

[rtracey]

36. agreed

totally agree with your point. Many who claim Obama is Bush III are not true progressives and liberals. They are want to bes, that will jump ship as soon as they see it sinking, instead of being a true liberal, and staying on the ship to help the others.

[cui bono]

47. That's a bunch of malarkey.

Prove it.

[rhett o rick]

50. To say that Pres Obama has continued the Bush policies IMO is giving both presidents

too much credit. It implies that both presidents had the ability to change the policies. With regards to foreign policy and economic policy, I contend that that someone else has the power to determine policy. I dont think anyone here would argue that Georgie had any say about foreign policy. Why would we think that Pres Obama does? The foreign policies and economic policies and personnel have transcended the change in presidency.

[RC]

51. Well maybe if Obama would stop appointing Republicans to various agencies...

And appointed Center and Left of Center Democrats, those policies might be different now.

[rhett o rick]

53. Possibly he doesnt get much of a choice. Let me give a possible example.

When he became the President the NSA, CIA, etc. sat him down and nicely pointed out that the intelligence agencies were operating very smoothly, had major programs in place and were keeping America safe. And maybe they pointed out that if he made any major changes to personnel or policies, the safety of America couldnt be guaranteed and he would take the full responsibility of any terrorist attack. Not direct blackmail but still coercion. Why else would he choose Gen Clapper and Gen Alexander and the rest?

[bahrbearian]

21. Is there a difference

[deurbano]

26. I don't believe Bush won a Nobel Peace Prize.

[baldguy]

29. Bush nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize = Snowden being nominated for the Sakarov Prize.

Having either win would greatly diminish the prestige of the prize.

[deurbano]

34. That was never confirmed.

There were rumors Bush was nominated in 2001 and 2002.


http://www.snopes.com/rumors/nobel.asp

[karynnj]

35. It seems very likely from that link that he was nominated - but had no chance

of winning - after all Jimmy Carter getting it then was rather a slap in the face. However, it does sound like it is very possible that he was nominated.

[baldguy]

57. Harald T. Nesvik

Harald Tom Nesvik (born 4 May 1966 in Ålesund, Norway) is a Norwegian politician and member of the Storting for Møre and Romsdal since 1997. He is a member of the Progress Party (FrP) and is perhaps most famous outside Norway for nominating Tony Blair and George W. Bush for the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.

...

In 2002 Nesvik achieved brief international media attention when he publicly claimed that he had nominated British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In his statement to the Associated Press, Nesvik justified the claimed nomination, which was controversial to some, as follows: "The background for my nomination is their decisive action against terrorism, something I believe in the future will be the greatest threat to peace... Unfortunately, sometimes... you have to use force to secure peace."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_T._Nesvik

Harald Tom Nesvik, who represents the Party of Progress in the Norwegian parliament, said yesterday: "The background for my nomination is their decisive action against terrorism, something I believe in the future will be the greatest threat to peace. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to use force to secure peace."

Mr Nesvik has nomination rights as a member of a national legislature.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/feb/05/politics.labour

Nobel nomination for Bush and Blair

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a Norwegian politician.

Harald Tom Nesvik, a member of the right-wing Party for Progress, said that he had nominated the two world leaders for fighting terrorism and promoting world peace.

"The background for my nomination is their decisive action against terrorism, something I believe in the future will be the greatest threat to peace," he told the Associated Press news agency.

"Unfortunately, sometimes... you have to use force to secure peace."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1801773.stm

That's from about 30-secs with Google. You do know how to use Google, don't you?

[deurbano]

61. Why the rudeness? (baldguy: "You do know how to use Google, don't you?")

Last edited Wed Sep 18, 2013, 11:26 AM - Edit history (1)

I often turn to Snopes to dispel the many ludicrous allegations my rightwing, ditto-head, Fox-immersed mom makes against the Obamas, the Clintons (etc.). When I Googled "bush nominated for nobel peace prize," the Snopes entry was at the top of the page. Was there anything inaccurate in the Snopes entry? The nominations are kept secret for 50 years, so real confirmation takes a while, no matter what claims are made. The Snopes entry leaves the impression that it is more likely than not that Bush was nominated in 2002... but also that he had no chance of winning (like "Mickey Mouse" will never be president), so if you would prefer that I take Nesvik's claims as confirmation, then okay, I can do that... but RC was referring to President Obama receiving the Nobel Prize, not just being nominated, so Bush is not a good substitute, since he had zero chance of winning.

[muriel_volestrangler]

41. Not really - this is a public list of just 7, with multiple MEPs nominating each one

Snowden has the nomination of the left wing Greens/EFA group and GUE/NGL group. Bush got nominated by one right wing Norwegian Party for Progress MP - the party that the mass murderer Brevik used to belong to. 126 were nominated in the year before.

This is serious; Bush's nomination was a stunt by a far right wing nut.

[lark]

40. Bush didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Therefore, the example would be invalid with Bush. Is Bush worse than Obama, of course. Did Obama continue WAY too many of Bush's policies and is he even worse on whistleblowers - yes. Siding with Obama over a whistleblower who outted Obama's un-constitutional spying on Americans is basically putting personality over policy.

[another_liberal]

12. Once we break the stranglehold . . .

He will receive the Medal of Freedom as well, once we break the stranglehold the NSA intelligence empire has on our Congress.

[WillyT]

13. K & R !!!

[Cryptoad]

14. LMAO!

[LiberalLovinLug]

15. Great News!

Although Yousafzai's story pulls at the heart strings more and IMO deserves the win, its heartening to see Snowden at least recognized for his act of courage. No matter what the chicken-little authoritarians wail about, they cannot deny he single-handedly sparked a conversation on how far the government should be allowed to snoop into our private correspondence. With the leaders of U.S. congressional intelligence committees now investigating along with many foreign powers.

[Katashi_itto]

18. K&R!!!!

[Le Taz Hot]

24. So, when might we expect

the character destruction of the nominating committee complete with blue links that go nowhere? The big question is, do they have boxes in their garages? Hmmm?

Congrats to Snowden! I agree with the poster above, Malala Yousafzai will probably get it and should, but I do believe the EU is trying to tell something to the Obama Administration.

[ConcernedCanuk]

27. I think, maybe, just maybe - the World is getting pissed off at the USA.

.
.
.


SERIOUSLY pissed off.

And, getting ready to do something about it.

USA has been sailing around the globe with their warships, making it plain they are the "superpower",

and inflicting damage in dozens of countries at their will.

China and Russia stepped up to the plate this time regarding the Syria issue.

Not really a good idea to have those two allied against the USA.

But USA - PNAC/MIC did it - united them in some form.

NOW - the focus from them is on the USA . .

bad move imo.

CC

[Sunlei]

28. I'd vote for Malala Yousafzai. She already has done more for 'human rights' and a lot more in future

she's still a child today, can you imagine her future.

[pscot]

30. K&R

[L0oniX]

33. So when does DU get one?

[grahamhgreen]

37. Kick for whistleblowers!

[bvar22]

38. DURec!

I hope he wins.
A WIN for Snowden would add more impetus for the "reforming" of the Out-of-Control US Intelligence agencies,
and a return to Constitutional Limitations on our Government.

[MuseRider]

39. Glad to see he is among those nominated. n/t

[Bigmack]

42. When i first saw the headline on this, I wanted

Snowden to WIN, absolutely, but then I read the post and saw that Malala Yousafzai has also been nominated.....HARD choice, but I think I'll support Malala. Ms Bigmack

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

43. Pussy Riot is not on the ballot?

Snowden must have done something significant for the environment, to get nominated by the Greens.

My money's on Malala, the Press is strong with that one.

[Whisp]

45. A Russian Spy nominated for Human Rights Prize...

Putin would be rolling over belly laughing this one.

[struggle4progress]

49. I will be amazed if this becomes the Sakharov Prize for International Espionage

[orpupilofnature57]

52. That tells a story about us .

[grasswire]

54. thank you Ed Snowden.

You achieved your goal of making us talk about surveillance.

[wisenupoet]

55. thief is really paying off

Steal classifieds doc get award please..
Hiding out get an award
Share secrets with the world get an award
Please tell me why and how he is a hero..

[xfundy]

58. Not as much as theft by repigs.

Stealing people's homes via big bank foreclosures, stealing old and sick peoples' money with religious bullshit, cutting food stamps, preventing health care for all... actually I don't think you'll last long here so I'm not going to waste the time or energy to go further.

[devils chaplain]

56. I don't think he should win, but...

He gets my thanks for sure. We are getting very overdue and needed scrutiny of the incredibly omnipotent NSA thanks to him.

[Douglas Carpenter]

60. every single one of us owes him a debt of gratitude - whether we all realize it or not

[fujiyama]

62. Snowden certainly performed a vital and significant service

and he has my admiration. He is indeed a whistle blower and should be recognized as such for his courage.

But if I had to decide between him and Malala, there isn't much of a contest. Malala's courage, especially at her age, is truly remarkable and her efforts in trying to obtain an education and make it available to other girls is nothing short of inspirational. She actually has the scars to prove it. She is trying to do something so many children around the world take for granted. And just because she's in England doesn't mean she's safe. There are plenty of fanatics there as well - and if the paranoid Pakistani reaction is any indication (that she's some sort of CIA plant), then she'll be at risk for the rest of her life. These savages don't give up.