On Feb. 1, the deadline for submissions of nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize was reached. The winner is selected by a five-member group called the Norwegian Nobel Committee (NNC). While the NNC does not comment on who was nominated, some like to share their choices. The Nobel Peace Prize nominations have been kept secret for 50 years to avoid nominees campaigning, yet, according to Newsweek, there have been 22 nominees that were revealed by the NNC. Here are some of the nominees for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize:
Stacey Abrams
Abrams was nominated by a lawmaker from Norway named Lars Haltbrekken. Abrams, a Yale graduate, served as a Representative for the Democratic party in the state of Georgia. She has gained popularity for her work as a voting rights activist and through her organization, Fairfight, which promotes fair elections and educates voters on their voting rights.
Greta Thunberg
Thunberg is an environmentalist from Sweden known for directing her thoughts towards the leaders of the world about climate change. She advocates for immediate action on the issue, not just from world leaders, but everyday people. Thunberg was featured in 2020’s Nobel Prize shortlist and now finds herself again on the final list.
Alexei Navalny
Navalny is a Russian activist who is the direct opposition to Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin. Navalny has ran for office and advocated for anti-corruption in Russia. In August 2020, Navalny had an attempt on his life with a military-level nerve agent. He recovered and returned to Russia in 2019 only to be detained and has been held since.
The World Health Organization
The World Health Organization, or the WHO, was front and center in the battle against COVID-19 in 2020. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO has been helping the world understand how the virus spreads and how to keep us safe. The World Health Organization aims to “promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.”
Black Lives Matter
Since its founding in 2013, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has become the biggest organization in the world against racism and police brutality. In 2020, BLM organized peaceful protests around the U.S. in response to the death of George Floyd, the Black man who was murdered by Minneapolis police. BLM was nominated by a lawmaker in Norway named Petter Eide. He commented, “BLM forces countries to face up to racism.” BLM’s comment to the nomination was “We’re only getting started.”
