14 DAY TRIAL // Last year, in July, Edward Snowden was nominated for the Nobel Prize by a Swedish sociology professor. Today, another nomination bearing Snowden’s name was sent to the Nobel Prize committee by two Norwegian lawmakers.
Snorre Vallen and Baard Vegar Solhjell, both members of the Socialist Left Party, made the announcement via a Facebook message.
They say that “peace is more than simply the absence of war” and that Snowden has contributed to global security by revealing the nature and technological prowess of modern surveillance.
“The level of sophistication and depth of surveillance that citizens all over the world are subject to, has stunned us, and stirred debate all over the world. By doing this, he has contributed critical knowledge about how modern surveillance and intelligence directed towards states and citizens is carried out,” the statement reads.
The two say that Snowden’s leaks may have caused damage to security interests of several nations, but this is only in the short term. In the long run, his disclosures are immensely beneficial.
“We are, however, convinced that the public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden’s whistleblowing has contributed to a more peaceful, stable and peaceful world order,” they write.
Both the nomination made back in July and the one made today are for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. According to the schedule followed by the Nobel Prize committee every year, nominations are received by February 1, which means this is the last week when candidates can be nominated.
In the next few months, a short list will be made as the Committee assesses the candidates’ work and in October, the final list is announced.
This isn’t the only prize that Snowden has been nominated for. So far, he’s won several whistleblower awards and has been nominated for the European Union’s Sakharov Prize for human rights.