Nobel Peace Prize

Outline what the Nobel peace prize is.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to one person a year who is then recognised as a global hero. It is an honour to win and comes with a prize of money depending on how much the foundation has earned that year. (In 2009 the prize money was around $1.4million US dollars) Each winner or laureate also receives a gold medal (diploma).  The peace prize has been honouring men and women from all over the world since 1901. A person can only win the Nobel peace prize if they have done something outstanding; this can be in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and for work in peace and social justice. Alfred Nobel was a kind man who tried to make the world a better place. He was interested in social justice issues as well as promoting peace. It was him who formed the Nobel peace prize out of the money left in his will. The Nobel peace prize was one of five Nobel prizes bequeathed by Alfred Nobel.

What are the origins of the prize?

Alfred Nobel grew up in Sweden when Sweden was a very powerful Nation in northern Europe. Nobel was an amazing man. He was fluent in several languages, a scientist, an inventor, an entrepreneur, an author and he wrote poetry and drama. Nobel was also a pacifist; he was very interested in social and peace-related issues, and held views that were considered radical during his time.

” The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: /- - -/ one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”                                                          (Excerpt from the will of Alfred Nobel)

This piece of Nobel’s will, is what formed the Nobel Prize. This is the part of his will that states that he wants people recognised who either create alliances between nations, reduce armies and war or promote peace.

Brief background of the person.

Desmond Tutu was born in 1931 in Klerksdorp, Transvaal in South Africa. Desmond attended school at Johannesburg Bantu High School. After leaving school he trained first as a teacher at Pretoria Bantu Normal College. In 1954 he graduated from the University of South Africa. After three years teaching as a high school teacher he began to study theology. Desmond loved theolog and found himself climbing the rankings of the church and becoming a bishop. Desmond studied theology in England and he became a master of theology. In 1975 he was appointed Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg, the first black to hold that position and one of Desmond’s major achievements! 1978 he became the first black General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches another great achievement. Desmond “Tutu formulated his objectives as “a democratic and just society without racial divisions” and has set forward the following points as minimum demands:

1.       Equal civil rights for all

2.      The abolition of South Africa's passport laws

3.      A common system of education

4.      The cessation of forced deportation from South Africa to the so-called "homelands" ”  

When and why Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Prize?

Desmond tutu was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1984 for doing all within his power to ensure that:

·         There were equal civil rights for all in South Africa,

·         That South Africa's passport laws were abolished,

·         That everyone was entitled fairly to a common system of education,

·         The cessation of forced deportation from South Africa to the so-called "homelands"  

Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role as a unifying leader. Tutu is also recognized for playing a vital role in the campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa. In addition Desmond Tutu is recognized for ensuring his people were not being discriminated against and were receiving equal rights in education and labour.

Explain why the person became involved in the work.

Desmond Tutu became an Anglican when his family changed religions. When tutu was 12 he moved to Johannesburg; that is where he met the Anglican priest Trevor Huddleston. Trevor Huddleston was a very influential character in Tutu’s life.  Desmond Tutu became involved in work with the church because Desmond had a fascination with theology and spirituality since he met Trevor Huddleston. Whilst Desmond was working as a high school teacher he rediscovered the beauty of the church. Shortly later, he left work at the high school he was working at and began working for the church. He became a priest and mastered theology whilst studying in London! Desmond also became a bishop. Trevor Huddleston was Tutus role model and Tutu followed in his footsteps. Trevor Huddleston opposed the system of legal racial separation (apartheid). Tutu also shared this strong dislike of apartheid and tried his hardest like Trevor to merge the races together as one.