2012 Nobel Peace Prize

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

You know they could have given the prize to someone involved in the "Arab Spring" movements.

I think they're sensibly giving it a few years to see which ones end up as genocidal dictators in a brutal theocracy.

[Alexander's Horse]

You aussies were mainly fighting the Japanese as I recall.

Nope we declared war with britain in 1939 and from 40 to 42 spend most of our time fighting krauts, Itais and Vichy French. Our highest casualties were in bomber command, bombing germany through till 45.

[molly bloom]

Yes, it is a pity, although I am not sure if those countries would have enjoyed being battlegrounds between two industrialised sides representing ~1 billion people going at it in a hot war.

I'd rather a quick thermo-nuclear death than a slow death from disease, starvation or mutilation- as was faced by any number of victims of realpolitik from the War between Ethiopia and Somalia (Ethiopia was pro-West until the coup against the utterly useless government of Haile Selassie, then the Soviets backed Mengistu and 'asked' Cuba to send troops to support the new regime) to the Angolan War Of Independence, the invasion of East Timor, the coup in Chile...

Even that bastion of the high life, South Africa, had a famine in the 1980s (confined to the black population, of course) and whilst the West was busily selling it arms and purchasing diamonds, gold and uranium from it in the 1960s, parts of the black population were suffering nutrition deficiency diseases such as pellagra and kwashiorkor- at the same time that the South African government were destroying grain and milk surpluses.

Still they did have that nice naval base at Simonstown and they weren't Communists.

[molly bloom]

Nope we declared war with britain in 1939 and from 40 to 42 spend most of our time fighting krauts, Itais and Vichy French. Our highest casualties were in bomber command, bombing germany through till 45.

And there was that ridiculous trip to Greece and the escape from Crete. I think Curtin had the right idea, considering the Japanese were in Papua New Guinea.

[kentonio]

Well the result may have been a bit unexpected, but nice to see they're going to use the prize money for something nice.

European Union To Use Nobel Peace Prize Money To Help Children In Conflict Zones

BRUSSELS — The European Union, the 2012 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has decided to spend its 8 million kronor ($1.2 million) reward on projects helping children in war and conflict zones.

The EU won the prize in recognition of its efforts to keep the peace on a continent long riven by fighting.

The European Commission on Wednesday agreed to administer the prize money on behalf of the EU. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that because the award represents reconciliation, the funds "should benefit the first hope for the future, but also the first victims of present and past conflicts: children."

The Nobel Peace Prize, which also includes a medal and certificate, will be awarded at a ceremony in Oslo on Dec. 10.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...usaolp00000003

[Hauldren Collider]

I wonder if they exchanged it into Euros first? Probably dollars. Euros are too risky, right?

[Asher]

Even USD is too risky.

They should have exchanged it to CDN.

[DinoDoc]

Even USD is too risky.

He's not wrong here. If you're going to laugh at the Euro Zone for being debt ridden and near collapse, it makes little sense for an American to pump up the US up since the Euro's are only further down the same road we are. Expanding welfare states and massively increasing debt loads don't mix well for very long.

[giblets]

The USD is not headed for collapse. Asher and Dinodoc are morons.

[Asher]

The USD is not headed for collapse. Asher and Dinodoc are morons.

It's not headed for collapse, but the value has nosedived compared to stronger currencies like the Canadian Dollars.

[regexcellent]

USD and CDN have approximately the same value.

[giblets]

It's not headed for collapse, but the value has nosedived compared to stronger currencies like the Canadian Dollars.

Neither of us can predict how the USD/CAD exchange rate will fluctuate in the future.

[Asher]

USD and CDN have approximately the same value.

Yes. Exactly.

This is the problem. It shouldn't be so.

The value of the USD has fallen relative to CDN.

[giblets]

Yes. Exactly.

This is the problem. It shouldn't be so.

The value of the USD has fallen relative to CDN.

Over the past decade, sure. It probably has something to do with oil. I don't see any reason to believe further depreciation is more likely than appreciation.

[Hauldren Collider]

The USD is the most traded and the most reserved currency in the world. It's not going anywhere.