Less Than Nobel Intentions and the Growing Boycott

China has boycotted this year's Nobel Peace Prize Award ceremony on the basis that one of its political dissidents, Liu Xiaobo, was the recipient. According to Reuters, China wasn't alone and reported that the Nobel committee,

...said in addition to China, countries declining invitations for the gala were: Russia, Kazakhstan, Colombia, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Serbia, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Venezuela, the Philippines, Egypt, Sudan, Ukraine, Cuba and Morocco.

But not all seemed to boycott for the same reason as China. However, with a little thought one can understand why some nations would be suspect of the mechanism behind the Award and the Award itself. Certainly the spirit of the Nobel Peace Prize is without question, but if Obama's reception of the award is anything to go by, it may have a purpose other than just promoting Peace, and may in fact be a tool for the Western political agenda.

Last year Obama was awarded the Peace Prize for making nothing more than a speech. The irony is that one of the central reasons cited for Obama's worthiness was his, '...efforts to support international bodies and promote nuclear disarmament' (BBC 2009). This becomes laughable with France and England only recently forming treaties on defence and testing of nuclear weaponry. 

The implication of Obama's speech and subsequent award, is that the US - and by extension the West -  were taking a new approach to nuclear proliferation, with the award underlining the credibility and gravity of the 'effort'. In light of the UK/France defence treaty, it was nothing more than lip service. It really was only a speech. 

With the WikiLeaks info running amok and US opponents coming out holding the short end of the stick, suspicion grows in direct proportion with the hypocrisy of Western Governments who seem to think only they should posses nuclear weaponry. 

Liu Xiaobo may very well deserve the Peace Prize and China does have a spotty human rights record to answer for, however, a news forum participant insightfully noted that the West is quick to condemn WikiLeaks for exposing its violations and secrets, but quick to reward those who expose the violations and secrets of its enemies. Very good point.