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Fert, Grunberg win Nobel for physics

Peter Grunberg (left) of Germany and Albert Fert of France, who won the 2007 Nobel Prize of physics on Tuesday. — Reuters photo

‘Lobbying for Peace Prize may backfire’

Oslo, October 9
Lobbying for the Nobel Peace Prize may backfire, a key Nobel official said on Tuesday. Geir Lundestad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, said it was hard enough to decide a winner of the $1.5 million prize without letter-writing campaigns, phone calls, visits and other lobbying efforts. The winner of the 2007 prize will be announced in Oslo on Friday from a near-record field of 181 nominees.

“Every year there will be two or three campaigns, who flood us with letters of support,” Lundestad, secretary to the secretive five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee that awards the prize said. “Most such campaigns don’t pay off, and they may be counterproductive,” said Lundestad.

He declined to identify lobbying efforts but said he hoped a record of 750,000 letters on behalf of a candidate in the 1990s “will stand forever”. That person never won. Lundestad said lobbying should not have any impact on the selection of the laureate because the nominees themselves might not be to blame, but said such campaigns triggered a negative psychological response nonetheless.

The committee does not reveal the nominees, though some people, who make nominations, publish their choices. Announced candidates this year, include former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore for his work to raise awareness of climate change, and Canadian Inuit activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier, who has told how warming of the planet is affecting Arctic. — Reuters