Two Norwegian lawmakers announced Wednesday their nomination of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden for the Nobel Peace Prize for his actions that "contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order."
The members of Parliament submitting the nomination days ahead of the February 1 deadline are Bård Vegar Solhjell and Snorre Valen, members of the Socialist Left Party.
In a joint statement posted to the party's website, Valen and Solhjell write, in part:
Edward Snowden has revealed 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.
Snowden's "actions have in effect led to the reintroduction of trust and transparency as a leading principle in global security policies. Its value can’t be overestimated."
—Bård Vegar Solhjell and Snorre ValenThere is no doubt that the actions of Edward Snowden may have damaged the security interests of several nations in the short term. We do not necessarily condone or support all of his disclosures. We are, however, convinced that the public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden’s whistleblowing has contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order. His actions have in effect led to the reintroduction of trust and transparency as a leading principle in global security policies. Its value can’t be overestimated.A country’s legitimate need for reliable intelligence to preserve its own security, must always be balanced against the people’s individual freedoms – and the global need for trust – as an integral condition for stability and peace. Edward Snowden has made a critical contribution to restoring this balance.
In July, Stefan Svallfors, a professor of sociology at Sweden's Umeå University, also nominated Snowden for the prize, noting that if the award were given to the whistleblower, it would "also help to save the Nobel Peace Prize from the disrepute that incurred by the hasty and ill-conceived decision to award U.S. President Barack Obama 2009 award."
The names of the 2014 Nobel Laureates will be announced in October.
