YOUR COMMENTS

I feel compelled to correct Charles , from Annanvade on "massive profits made on the death of a generation", by Alfred Nobel.

Prior to the invention of dynamite, miners and tunnelers (as in train tunnels) used liquid nitroglycerine as an explosive. It is very sensitive, and many people were killed and horribly injured using it.

Dynamite changed all that. Blasting became much safer, and this contributed greatly to overall safety in mining and tunneling.

Just because beliggerents use dynamite to kill each other is not Alfred Nobels' fault. He created it for purposes of good.

And , as a side note, Alfred is probably spinning in his grave , with Al Gore and Yasser Arafat being given the peace prize he established. How sad.

Those Sweedish politicians are so shameless.
- Doug Maenpaa, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Now that the latest reports about earth's cooling over the past decade have essentially wiped out the gains of the past 100 years, is it now worth investigating if the Nobel Committee can take the Prize (and million $) away from our former VP Chicken Little?
- Chad B, Piscataway, NJ

If it is not a geologist talking about global warming, then the person talking is not sufficently educated to explain global warming. As a geologist, I will take global warming over cooling any day, unless you want most of canada and my fair city, Cleveland, under a mile-thick layer of ice...try growing beans or corn or cattle in that case. Al Gore is a fraud and he is or will make tons of money before the mainstream fianally figures it out.
- Travis, Cleveland, oh

Al Gore deserved this prize. Al Gore deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Yassar Arafat and Jimmy Carter for the eternity of history, forever and ever.
- Ron, Philadelphia

Our thanks to everyone who has commented on this editorial, pro or con. Because the arguments for and against Gore's Nobel prize have been made quite well in this discussion, few -- if any -- additional comments will be posted.
- Editor's note, UnionLeader.com

You resort to the knee jerk right wing reaction and distortion of fact that characterized this papers previous editor/publisher.
The UK court ruled that some items cited as fact in Gores presentation were not universally agreed upon and that must be noted when it is presented to students.Would that a court might rule similarly on the lies and misrepresentations of our president and vice-president.
- Ronald Stout, Seatac,WA

On a personal note; I had a Great Aunt who worked her whole life as a missionary specializing in relocation of families from foreign refugees camps to the U.S. She received some local recognition for the 300+ families she rescued, but nothing major.
She did not do it for the accolades; she felt she was doing Gods work. There are many un-recognized people all over the world doing humanitarian work, some putting themselves at great risk.
Al Gore produced a weather forecast.
- David Meyer, Chicago

Can anyone tell me what the ideal temperature of the earth should be? It could be that an increase of 2-3 degrees could increase food production worldwide and end global hunger everywhere. Of course at the rate we are going that won't happen for several hundred more years. Oh, unless you factor in Gores hot air.
- Steve Foster, Sharpsburg GA

mr gore who has failed to complete law school , failed to complete divinity school, and failed to get elected president-has resorted to attempting to
become the "high priest" of a new
religion--man-made global warming-I
wonder if he will try to convert unbelievers with a threat of burning at
the stake??
- j e madsen, mc allen tx

mr gore who has failed to complete law school , failed to complete divinity school, and failed to get elected president-has resorted to attempting to
become the "high priest" of a new
religion--man-made global warming-I
wonder if he will try to convert unbelievers with a threat of burning at
the stake??
- j e madsen, mc allen tx

The Nobel Peace Prize was deemed meaningless when it went to Arafat 1994.

But we aren't denying that "Global Warming" exists, I mean who doesn't go outside and feel the 1 degree difference than we had 100 years ago? The problem, though, is that he says we mere humans cause it and can control it. I don't think so, Al. That's pretty arrogant. We can't even predict earthquakes or the size and shape of fluffy cloud formations.

It's still being debated among the scientific community. Its not even a scientific fact!!
- Jason H., Windermere, FL

chetan, yes there is global warming, a whole degree up in 100 years, until the NASA temp data is straightened out, then maybe not even that. Is it man made, some possibly, all-no. What you have to understand is that this is not about temperatures, global warming or even pollution. What it is about is political power, changing social norms and structures and basically slamming the US and Europe while doing nothing about third world additions to the problem. Can you say Socialism. I knew you could.
- Richard, BHC, AZ

Here here! Excellent article. Fine, Gore wants to create hype about a topic so he can try to stay relevant? So let him. But to award him the peace prize for working to solve a problem that science can't even prove exists? And as you point out, what the hell does global warming have to do with peace?
- Myxx, Irvine, CA

Gore is a joke.

Dr. Gray, the famous scientist who predicts hurricane activity, believes Gore is promulgating a lie that is dangerous. Go to:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/gore-gets-a-cold-shoulder/2007/10/13/1191696238792.html

I remember when the doomsday prophets said we were all going to freeze over. They are back with a new mantra that is politically motivated. Taxes will go up, businesses will be hurt and policed, economies will be bootstrapped, while the socialist elites laugh comfortably in their "warm" homes, driving large SUV's (see Gore on both of these) and traveling in big guzzling jets at expense of duped masses.

The Nobel Peace Committee got their members from the local circus. A good clown act!
- SLDV, Ph.D., Miami, Florida

But you are using the very internet he invented.
- Kevin G. McDonald, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Climate change is as old as the earth. To think that today's climate is best for the earth is a highly misplaced sense of ego. Just because we humans have adjusted to the current conditions does not make it right. The attempt to halt change is a bit arrogant on our part. The whole emphasis has been misplaced, recognize change and adjust.
- Stan Bishoprick, Vancouver

chetan,
No serious person denies that the earth is warmer. But, again, no serious person believes that its the fault of humans.
- Derek V., Round Rock, TX

What is going to be ironic, i.e. the "peace" prize is that, with the alternative fuels we're trying to create, to stave off Mr. Gore's theories, we are actually creating grain shortages, which are affecting people in a profound way. People have gone to war for far less than not being able to afford the staples of life such as bread and tortillas. If this continues, the prize could really be a joke.
- Jim T., Royal Palm Beach, Florida

I think it's amazing how often people attack Gore and everything he does. Rather than listen to what the man is trying to say, a bunch of conservative wackos always bay the loudest and drown out the the true concerns common to all humanity. Conservatives are just sore their glorious leader Bush has turned into such joke of a president, so they lash out at anyone and anything else.
- Jason Parise, San Diego

Chetan, Global Warming is nothing but a massive smokescreen for the "carbon credits" ponzi scheme. Please do your homework.
- Mike R., Bedford

When Gorbachev won over Reagan, and Jimmy Carter who single-handedly created the state of Iran won, I recognized that the process of awarding the Nobel Peace prize had been corrupted. Gore's win continues the spread of misinformation and rewards the incompetent.
- Lynn Sampson, Charlottesville

Gore is about one thing....
Gore.
How about giving that Peace Prize to the Monks in Burma? THAT Would have accomplished something that Nobel would have been proud of.
Or a dozen other people around the world that easily qualify.
The Peace Prize has been reduced to a libearl agenda "Oscar".
Sad. It could serve peace by bringing attention to issues around the world more deserving then choosing sides in the global warming debate. And yes. there IS still much debate. But Gore strangely will not debate it.
- Jack B., San Diego, Ca

If ever there was an issue that affected every currently living being, and those to come, it is the condition of our planet. Where there is an opportunity to join humanity together in a peaceful and co-motivated and co-beneficial crisis it is the detriment of our global environment. Gore has been championing this issue, for the love of all of us, for over 20 years. Kudos for the Nobel Committee for its recognition of what's most important, and to Al for not letting us dimiss or forget our responsibility.
- Melissa C., Houston, TX

Tell FW de Klerk, Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela the peace prize has no worth. And while there may be errors in Gore's data, these do nothing to undermine the seriousness of global warning. Gore's passion for the subject, his willingness to pursue this agenda and drag America, and indeed, much of the first world and its businesses to acknowledge the greatest threat to our planet's health, demand that he should have gotten this award alone. But then something tells me this article was little more than a vindictive stab at a man who's views and beliefs are a legitimate threat to the redneck mentality it is currently enslaved by.
- Marlon B, Cape Town, South Africa

chetan, global warming may be accepted as fact, but not Gore's hysteria-laden film. Rather than trying to honestly educate, he played on people's fears to steer attention to a legitmate issue, but as a result, the public perception of global warming is frequently wrong, and leaves the entire issue more vulnerable to attack. Given that there are people who have literally given up their freedom and risked their lives in order to stand up for the rights of their own people, awarding Gore for his own safe, montarily rewarding, self-aggrandizement reflects a serious misplacement of priorities.
- misterd, Port Jervis NY

So what of Global warming? Relax! This has happened over and over since the beginning of time. At one time, Greenland WAS green land. People actually flourished there. What's the big deal?
- Sam Adams, Palmdale

A very reasoned, accurate article. I don't expect it to receive a lot of play on TV, PBS, BBC or other ultra-liberal media, but it is on the money.

I've studied climates (prehistoric) for over 40 years, and to say that this latest small fluctuation is caused by humans is, at the best, obfuscation, and at the worst, a power play by politicians to take control of more people's lives.

The 'carbon taxes' are coming, unless the people of the US absolutely call a halt to the charade.
- Keltin, San Diego

I can't believe somebody on the UL's editorial staff knew who Cat Stevens was.
- Hank, Stratham, NH

Al Gore is preparing the way for dozens of Nuclear Power Plants to be built in the US and around the world....wake up people it's always about money.
- GuyC, Dallas,TX

The article said nothing against a trend toward global warming. It pointed out facts regarding judges in the U.K. regarding Al Gore's movie. Whether or not Al Gore has done a bang up job bringing Global Warming to light, he has done nothing regarding "the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses" unless you call conferring about global warming "the holding and promotion of peace congresses". That's quite a stretch.
Surely one of the other nominees was more deserving of the Peace Prize.
- Tadd T, Raleigh, NC

Regardless how you feel about global warming or Al Gore, this article hits a bullseye about the importance and nature of the NPP. More scrutiny is required to regain the rightful importance of this award - if that can be done...
- Mike B, Chandler AZ

Excellent article! Scientists know that the earth goes through periods of warming and cooling, and this process takes geologic ages to accomplish. Our present phase is within normal limits. Thirty years ago alarmists were trying to frighten people with global cooling. Now it's global warming. They're betting on the ignorance of the masses.
- Pricey, Orange County

Those who study the atmospheric science with sincerity and without a committed agenda find the case for global warming compelling. Although the Earth is an extremely complex system, the broad principles upon which this analysis is based is very well-settled science. The work of the IPCC has only gone to show further the specific expectations. Gore, for his part, has raised this issue to national attention; and since the U.S. is in a key role among nations, his efforts to change the viewpoint in the U.S. has global implications: unless the U.S. on one side and China & India on the other side agree to make progress, nothing will change.
- Neal J. King, Oakland, CA

Former Senator Al Gore of Tennessee was infamous for being disingeneous. He positioned himself as an advocate for the poor and downtrodden, all the while contributing little to charities (he claimed deductions of less than $400 for charitable giving on his six figure income in one notable tax year, the year his office told my wife that he was short of money because his eldest daughter was marrying into an old Manhattan banking family). Tennesseans dismissed him long ago. I was one of them. At least the Nobel Committee has made him share.
- JM Brown, Honolulu, HI

As a native Tennessean, it's amusing to watch the whole world find out what a fraud Gore is. It's something we in the Volunteer State have known for a very long time. It takes real talent to get thrown out of Vanderbilt University not once, but twice, while your father is a Senator.
- John, Nashville, TN

All I want to say is "Thank You." At last, there is someone with some common sense calling the bluff of this Norwegian panel. By awarding a pseudo-scientist (and "inventor" of the internet) this recognition, they have shown how pathetically hollow the criteria are for winning. The next thing we'll have is some soap-box orator in London's Hyde Park winning this award just for screaming armageddon. What a shame!
- Rusty Shackleford, Atlanta, GA

I understand, you can't effectively argue with Al Gore's global warming arguments--few can considering how damning the evidence is--but you can diminish his accomplishment by finding fault with the Nobel Prize, sayings it's become political and a joke.
It's great how you're able to find TWO people of questionable integrity who won the prize over the course of a 104 year history. Out of 500+ awards given, yep, some bad people got through.
- David DeMarco, Omaha, NE

I am 66 and all I heard from these same so called "science professionals" was about the Global Ice age coming back in the 70!s, and then from the all knowing environmentalists, we got the panic about all the Caribou disappearing if the US dug for oil in Prudhoe Bay. Well the reality is that there is a problem now of two many Caribou after tPrudhoe bay
- Kevin Haggerty, Rye

He won it. No recounts or supreme court rulings here. Get over it. He rose above the partisan crap and did something meaningful with his Presidential loss. If only Bush had been half as positive with his "win."
Congratulations to Al Gore!
- lulu, santa rosa, CA

I usually keep myself from commenting on any site, but this is too much. Did none of you people stop to think that, perhaps, climate change is a big deal? That many more experts are convinced of it and its negative effects in the future than not convinced? OK, maybe Al Gore wasn't the best VP, but he's trying to help humanity. What are you doing?
- Justin, New York

I remember when they gave it to Jimmy Carter a few years ago. The Nobel Committee members themselves said they wanted to use it to give Bush "a kick in the leg." Anyone remember that statement?

As with the Pulitzer and the Oscar for documentary (which have been awarded primarily for anti-Bush and anti-American screeds as of late), the Nobel Peace Prize joins a long line of lefty awards whose back-slapping anti-American pro-Socialist politics make them essentially meaningless. I can only imagine what Mr. Nobel would think seeing his award going to this generation's version of Chicken Little.

Lastly, I can only wonder how much of an enormous carbon footprint Gore is leaving as he jets across oceans and continents from eco-conference to eco-conference or to collect accolades. But he's exempt, right?
- Johnny T., Nashua

While I agree with the author's comments, he makes an ad homenim argument personally attacking the committee. We need to use these forum opportunities to talk about how the science shows that man is NOT creating any significant impact on global warming (which is real, and very cyclical) when compared to SOLAR Weather... which we can't control. This man-made global warming industry is a self-licking ice cream cone, for which taxpayers foot the bill.
- Andrew M, Austin TX

Alfred Nobel DID NOT feel horrible about the massive profits he made on the death of a generation by dynamite, as yoiur article starts off to say. He actually felt great about it even in the face of overwhelming proof to the contrary. Gross foolishness and shortsightedness.

He only began the endowment thinking it would clear his name after the mistaken early publication of his obituary by a newspaper. The obituary called him what he was, just another opportunistic arms merchant making the millions off of the death of millions.

The Nobel Prize goes on much like the product which made his fortune, with unintended consequences. More gross foolishness and shortsightedness.
- Charles, Annandale, VA

Your paper has done a disservice to your readers. You have allowed your political biases to overrule your judgement. There are a great many things that effect or impact making war or securing peace. I hope we don't see what will happen when great masses of people have to flee regions that are effected by advancing seas or in some places drought. People fight when they are hungry or oppressed. Now use your brain and say... "I am sorry for writing my slanted views."
- Fred Ashmead, Houston, Texas

Very well-written article. Al Gore is is either lying or is deceived about global warming, and as the author said, did not merit the so-called Peace Prize.
- Ron V. R., Oakdale, MN

I don't agree with this article.

Global warming is happening right now.

If Al Gore is trying the make the world a better place, he should be given credit.

You might hate Al Gore as a person, but that gives you no right to ignore global warming.

And frankly, your article is imho garbage.
- chetan, singapore

Remember the run-up to the first Gulf War? The cynical Gore, as a Senator, sold his vote for authorizing the war in exchange for an hour long speech from the floor of the Senate in prime time. It was not an act worthy of Alfred Noble's lofty purpose.
- abenaki, Melbourne,FL

I'd say that the Nobel Peace Prize has been pretty meaningless ever since they gave it to Kissinger back in 1973.
- Joe T., Derry, NH