The Real Message From Oslo

Most of us in the progressive part of the political bandwidth were ecstatic over the naming of Al Gore as a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Some of us even hope that the award will put some pressure on Mr. Gore to announce his candidacy for the position he should be holding right now. That said, however, it is clear that the Nobel jurors did not have the US election in mind when they made their choice, although, as this op-ed piece from France's Liberation suggests, they did have the US in mind.

Seven years later Gore has been newly-ordained, within the span of a few months, becoming a remarkable crusader in the battle over climate change. His film, “An Inconvenient Truth” is a global success and it continues to garner him awards.

But by awarding Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC] the Nobel Prize Peace, the jurors in Oslo are doing more than merely paying tribute to the work of one man: They have decreed climate change a top global geopolitical priority. We already know how negotiations on greenhouse gas emissions have created international tension among nations since Kyoto, and how changes in climate could have a direct impact on the displacement of refugees and international security.

With this award, the Nobel committee is issuing a call to the world's leading political figures and is urging them to act quickly. The award may be for Al Gore, but the message is primarily addressed to his old nemesis, George W. Bush. After seven years in power, the President has stalled the fight for the environment as much as he could, and today he continues to use all possible means to avoid any binding restrictions. [Emphasis added]

Sadly, the message will be ignored by this White House, even as it sends its minions out to engage in their usual sliming routine against Mr. Gore and the award itself. Hopefully the next occupant of the White House will not have the selective hearing loss that this one has.