Nobel Jurors Facing Bribery Probe 74
RockDoctor writes "A report is circulating that in the run-up to the selection of prize-winners for 2006 and 2008, some members of the Nobel jury accepted an expenses-paid trip (or trips) to China to 'explain the selection process.' That's not, in itself, an incriminating event ('Is there something that we're doing incorrectly, or not doing?' is a valid question), and if there was dishonorable intent, it doesn't seem to have worked too well (the last Chinese Nobel Laureate was in 1957). There does seem to be embarrassment about falling into an obvious conflict-of-interest mantrap."
PhysOrg mentions that a corruption prosecutor is also looking into a Nobel-related sponsorship from a pharmaceutical company that was linked to one of the winners for this year's Medicine prize.
Nothing new (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Bah! Humbug. (Score:4, Informative)
Modern "Portfolio" Theory has received at least three Nobels. Yet MPT has lead directly and predictably (no fat tails) to the financial crisis.
There is no "Nobel Prize" in economics. You've only got "The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel". As for the peace price, it has had its scope extended a bit - e.g. Al Gore. There's no doubt that setting focus on the problem of increased global warming caused by humans is important, and that this eventually will cause a many conflicts, wars and turmoils (scarcity of water, some countries being submerged etc...). But it's extremely proactive, and he didn't solve the problem - he just helped drawing people's attention to it.
Nothing to see here... move along. (Score:2, Informative)
Meh... the Swedes will launch a corruption investigation if a kid gets a penny toffee without paying for it.
And it's no secret that the selection committees have made mistakes in the past (the icepick lobotomy, anyone?) that only become clear with the benefit of hindsight.
In either case, never ascribe to corruption what can be adequately explained by incompetence.
Re:Didn't Henry Kissinger win a Nobel Peace Prize? (Score:1, Informative)
Wow, I had no idea! Thanks for educating me. I just lost all respect for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Links for the lazy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_Peace_Prize_Laureates [wikipedia.org]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Kissinger#Accusations_of_war_crimes_and_legal_difficulties [wikipedia.org]
Re:Nothing to see here... move along. (Score:4, Informative)
Yes, corruption in Sweden is low, and the tolerance for corruption is low, so it is not unusual for an investigation to be opened if there is just a slight chance there could be corruption.
This started with critical journalism at Sveriges Radio [www.sr.se] (in swedish). Because of the articles, the public prosecutor is now investigating.
Some of the articles are about the etical problems with Honeywell sponsoring. This is not illegal, and I do not think this is being investigated.
The trips to China are being investigated, but I think this will end with the travelers being freed of all accusations.
More problematic is the role of Astra Zeneca. They are also sponsors. And Bo Angelin, who is in the committee that awarded the price in medicine to Harald zur Hausen is also on the board of Astra Zeneca. Harald zur Hausen got the price for research that has been patented by Astra Zeneca.
Re:Bribed to NOT Give prize to Chinese Dissidents (Score:1, Informative)
As someone mentioned above the judges that went to China was for "medicine, chemistry and physics committees", not peace. RTA
Re:It's all about the money (Score:3, Informative)
The Nobel Jury awarded a peace prize to Fidel Castro. A peace prize for Fidel Castro is like a humanitarian award for Adolf Hitler. Fidel is a Marxist, and the stated goal of Marxists is using violent means to install world-wide Communism. Fidel Castro used military force to keep Cubans prisoner in Cuba, attempting to flee Cuba is punishable by death... how is that different from slavery?
Jimmy Carter was a clown... Not that he intended to be, he set out with good intentions. His fault was that he focused on being a man of peace, bad people used this as leverage against him. Instead of crying to the UN, he should have offered Iran total destruction. The Persian people were supremely embarrassed by the Ayatollah and would have over-thrown him upon an American invasion.
I think in the near future, we are going to see the beginning of Iranian sponsored nuclear catastrophes, and we can follow the trail back to the weakness of "a man of peace".
Re:It's all about the money (Score:2, Informative)
Fidel Castro has never received a Nobel peace price. [nobelpeaceprize.org]
Cuba placed a moratorium on the use of capital punishment in 2001. The rest of your post is just ridicululous.