The only thing
that could make a dystopian nightmare like George Orwell’s 1984 much worse
would be to have it operate secretly. Snowden’s
disclosures are now and only now forcing a complete overhaul of the underlying
technologies and empowerments that were seriously on the brink of been
seriously abused, simply because they could.
This will rebound on other states around the world as we discover a new
gold standard for modern freedom.
It is too soon
for the end game for Snowden, but it is clear that the surveillance state has
taken a massive blow. It remains to be
seen if it is mortal. It is still likely
going to take serious negotiations to bring him back and provide him
protection. What we certainly do not
want is a gratuitous assassination to match that of Trotsky. By now cooler heads should have prevailed.
In all this, we
will shortly be able to close down all such surveillance once and for all and
that will force the government to return to the old ways of spy craft.
Norwegian MPs
nominate Snowden for Nobel Peace Prize
Published time: January 29, 2014 11:31
Edward Snowden has been nominated for the Nobel
Peace Prizeby
two Norwegian lawmakers, who say the NSA whistleblower contributed to
“transparency and global stability” by revealing the depth and sophistication
of the global surveillance apparatus.
Snorre Valen and Baard Vegar Solhjell,
parliamentarians from Norway’s Socialist Left Party, announced the nomination on Facebook on
Wednesday.
Noting that “peace is more than simply the
absence of war,” the MPs said that Snowden had 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,” a statement by the Norwegian
MPs said.
The legislators said Snowden’s leaks may have
damaged the security interests of several nations in the short-term, noting
they do not necessarily support or condone all of the former NSA contractor’s
disclosures.
“We are, however, convinced that the public debate
and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden's whistle-blowing
has contributed to a more peaceful, stable and peaceful world order.”
Each year the Norwegian Nobel Committee invites 'qualified
people' from national assemblies and governments, courts, universities and
former laureates to submit nominations.
The deadline to nominate candidates for the 2014
Nobel Peace Prize is Saturday. The winner is announced on the second Friday of
October each year.
In October, a group of US whistleblowers presented
Snowden with the Sam Adams Award for ‘Integrity in Intelligence’ in Moscow,
where the former NSA was granted temporary asylum.
Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, who was present at
the ceremony, told RT the award “is a candlestick holder for
someone, who has shone bright light into dark corners.”
In July, the German branch of Transparency
International also awarded Snowden its Whistleblower Award. That same month, a
Swedish sociology professor also
nominated NSA leaker Snowden for the Nobel Peace Prize for his “heroic
effort at great personal cost.”
Professor Stefan Svallfors said giving Snowden the
Nobel nod could “save the prize from the disrepute incurred by the hasty
and ill-conceived decision” to give the 2009 award to Barack Obama.
In 2013, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the
Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) “for
its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.” OPCW inspectors
entered Syria on October 1 to help implement a last minute plan hammered out by
the United States and Russia which saw Syrian President Bashar Assad agree to
destroy his chemical weapons stockpiles in order to avert US-led military
strikes in the country.
The Nobel Committee received far more criticism the
previous year by opting to grant the European Union the peace prize "for
over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation,
democracy and human rights in Europe."
