Editors Note:

This booklet is a compilation of short essays on selected Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. The students involved with this project are all part of Dr. Mar PeterRaouls class, Praxis I-II. We hope with the creation of this booklet, that we inspire more people to act as these individuals to promote positive change, peace, and well-being in the world. As you may see, each entry retains its own style. I unified the format for each entry, but the content is strictly that of the individual student. I hope you enjoy our entries and become inspired to take action for peace and justice.
-Mike Napolitano, April 2009

One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being. May Sarton

The heroes of all time have gone before uswhere we had thought to travel outwards we shall come to the center of our own existence. And where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world. -Joseph Campbell

Table of Contents
Adolfo Prez Esquivel Al Gore The 14th Dalai Lama Archbishop Desmond Tutu Elie Wiesel Elie Wiesel Jimmy Carter Mdecins Sans Frontires Mother Teresa Oscar Arias Sanchez Aung San Suu Kyi Wangari Maathai By Sam Tobia By Kasey Nagle By Joe Cricchio By Mike Napolitano By Nicole Colomban By Lauren Utter By Carola Madrid By Alanna Henneberry By Briana Timlin By Emily Fiore By Colleen Ryan By Anthony Antonecchia

Faculty: Editor:

Dr. Mar Peter-Raoul Mike Napolitano

Cover Collage: Lauren Utter

Adolfo Prez Esquivel, by Sam Tobia

Adolfo Prez Esquivel received the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize for devoting, his life to the struggle for human rights, and running the, organisation Servicio Paz y Justicia, which promotes, fundamental human rights, basing itself exclusively on nonviolent means. In his presentation speech, he said, The institutionalised violence,

misery and oppression generate a dual reality, fruit of the political and economic systems that create injustice, sanctifying a social order that benefits only a few: the rich becomes ever richer at the expense of the poor who becomes ever poorer.
Adolfo Prez Esquivel has dedicated his life to bringing change, peace, and justice throughout Latin America. Born on 26 November 1931 in Buenos Aires, Esquivel was raised by his Catholic father and Gaurani Indian grandmother. He witnessed many military coups or governmental overthrows between 1931 and 1973. In 1976, a military dictatorship carried out its Dirty War campaign in Argentina, based on repression, censorship, torture, and murder. Teachers, artists, writers, activists, and journalists were some of the main targets of this brutal crackdown on democratic rights (Global Call to Action). Family members, children, and friends began to disappear as arrests were made in the middle of the night. The government sold children into adoption, tortured, and often killed their parents and other prisoners. Later it was discovered that some of the disappeared were thrown out of airplanes over the ocean (Global Call to Action). Before the Dirty War began, Esquivel attended a conference in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1968, where the blueprints were developed for a non-violent organization that would seek to bring change to Latin America. This Christian based organization, Servicio Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ or Peace and Justice Service), sought to uphold human rights, specifically social and economic rights. Esquivel gave up his profession as a professor of sculpture and architecture in 1974 in order to focus his attention on instigating social change. In 1976, he was appointed Secretary-General of SERPAJ. His first campaign sought to convince the United Nations to establish a Human Rights Commission (Odelberg).

In 1977, the military dictatorship arrested and tortured Esquivel for fourteen months. The government received thousands of letters, demanding he be set free. Esquivel was even named Amnesty Internationals political prisoner of the year, in 1978. Upon release, Esquivel returned to SERPAJ. Shortly after his release in 1983, the military dictatorship was deposed and members of the rouge government were brought to trial (Global Call to Action). SERPAJ is still continuing its campaign to bring economic and social rights to the people of Latin America. On the practical level this means that Servicio provides assistance to the rural workers in their struggle for land, and to the trade unions in their struggle to protect the rights of their workers (Odelberg). Currently, SERPAJ is working on a campaign to cancel debt in third world countries. Esquivel is currently active in a number of organizations. He supports The Mothers of May Square and The Grandmothers of May Square. Both organizations seek to bring justice to the families whose children disappeared during the Dirty War and reunite the kidnapped children with their biological families. He has also started two Peace Villages which provide training and housing for homeless and orphaned children in Argentina (Global Call to Action). He is currently the president of the International Academy of Environmental Sciences, which is working to create an International Environmental Criminal Court to protect the environment (International Academy of Environmental Scientists). He is also actively involved in the Comisin Provincial por la Memoria, a human rights organization based in Buenos Aires. Esquivel stresses the importance of using peace as the only weapon to transform the world. He states, to create this new society, we must present outstretched and friendly hands, without hatred or rancor, even as we show great determination and never waver in the defense of truth and justice (Global Call to Action). He insists that we transform our culture of death into a culture of life (Global Call to Action). Change must be generated, not by a number of casualties, but by the actions of inspirational, determined, and peaceful citizens. He not only sought peaceful social change in his generation, but inspires others to do the same in the future. The important issue, Esquivel says, is to communicate to the youth the hope for a new and different world (Global Call to Action). He proves that anyone can instigate social change; a masters degree in political science or a powerful occupation is not necessary. Adolfo Prez Esquivel proves that all that is required of a social change activist is that she or he uses nonviolent resistance as a tool to relentlessly pursue a peaceful world. I think that peace is the great revolution that mankind is waiting for. Esquivel

Al Gore, by Kasey Nagle

Al Gore and the United Nations Climate Control Panel won the noble peace prize in 2007 for the Academy Award winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. The documentary focuses on our threatening habit of abusing the ozone layer and the epic problem of global warning.
According to Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth features the biggest problem we will ever face. Though Gores documentary features a scary reality, he makes the very dense issues understandable for any viewer. Because of this, it is remarkably effective and praiseworthy. It would be easy to continue to commend Gore for his accomplishments, however, this piece will focus on Gores life. Albert Gore Jr. was born in Washington D.C. on March 31, 1948. As the son of U.S. House of Representative, Albert Gore Sr., Gore spent his childhood back and forth from D.C. and his fathers home in Tennessee. Gore attended St. Albans where he played football and ran track. His senior prom date, Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson, later became his wife. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Harvard University, and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. One class that made a lifelong impression on him was climate science. This class which was taught by Roger Revelle introduced Gore to the issues of climate control and made him focus on environmental issues throughout his political career.

After college, Gore was drafted into the army and fought in the Vietnam War. He opposed the war but believed it was his public duty to participate. Reflecting on the experience Gore said: I don't pretend that my own military experience matches in any way what others here have been through [...] I didn't do the most, or run the gravest danger. But I was proud to wear my country's uniform. And my own experiences gave me strong beliefs about America's obligation to keep our national defenses strong. After his service, Gore decided to continue his education. He attended Vanderbilt University and studied journalism but after a year transferred to the Vanderbilt Law School. Before finishing law school he decided to run for his fathers former seat in Congress which he won in 1976 and remained in Congress until 1993. In 1988 Gore made his first attempt at the democratic presidential nomination but came in third to Michael Dukakis. In April of 1989 his youngest child Albert III was hit by a car and was in critical condition. Gore has said that this was a trauma so shattering that he views it as a moment of personal rebirth and a key moment in his life which changed everything. Mainly because of the accident, Gore did not attempt to run for President again in 1992, but was selected as Bill Clintons running mate that same election. During that year, Gore was able to publish his first book Earth in the Balance, which was just a small preview of things to come. Al Gore has done remarkable things in his political career, but none of his triumphs compare to presenting the world with An Inconvenient Truth. It is going to take an idealist such as Al Gore to make people comprehend the problem our world has in front of us. Doing nothing, and continuing on with our polluting habits, will just further our future problems. As Gore said when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue; it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. This issue of climate control is much grander than a political agenda, it is an issue everyones future depends on and we must take on our roles as individuals to make a change before it is too late.

The 14th Dalai Lama, by Joe Cricchio

His Holiness was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. In his Nobel lecture, he said, I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in building a better world through human understanding and love, and that in doing so we may reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, Tibet. At the age of two, His Holiness who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity (Les Prix Nobel). His Holiness began his monastic education at the early age of six. The curriculum consisted of five major and five minor subjects. The major subjects were logic, Tibetan art and culture, Sanskrit, medicine, and Buddhist philosophy which was further divided into five subcategories: Prajnaparimita, the perfection of wisdom; Madhyamika, the philosophy of the middle Way; Vinaya, the canon of monastic discipline; Abidharma, metaphysics; and Pramana, logic and epistemology. At 24, he took the preliminary examination at each of the three monastic universities: Drepung, Sera, and Ganden. The final examination was held in Jokhang, Lhasa, during the annual Monlam Festival of Prayer, held during the first month of every year. In the morning he was examined by 30 logic scholars (Les Prix Nobel). In the afternoon, he debated with 15 scholars on the subject of the Middle Path, and in the evening, 35 scholars tested his knowledge of the canon of monastic discipline and the study of metaphysics. His Holiness passed the examinations with honors which was conducted before a vast audience of monk scholars.

In 1950, a year after Chinas invasion of Tibet, His Holiness, at the age of 16, was called upon to assume full political power. In 1954, he went to Beijing to engage in peace talks with Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Chou Enlai, and other Chinese leaders. Despite these talks, the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising by Chinese troops in Lhasa continued; His Holiness was forced to escape into exile in 1959. Since then, he has been living in Dharamsala, India while the seat of the Tibetan political administration remains vacant due to his exile (Les Prix Nobel). In the early years of exile, His Holiness appealed to the United Nations on the question of Tibet, resulting in three resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in 1959, 1961, and 1965 (Les Prix Nobel). In 1963, His Holiness enacted a draft constitution for Tibet which assures a democratic form of government. In the last two decades, His Holiness has set up educational, cultural and religious institutions which have made major contributions towards the preservation of the Tibetan identity and its rich heritage. He has given many teachings and initiations, including the rare Kalachakra Initiation, which he has conducted more than any of his predecessors. In September 1987 His Holiness proposed the Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet as the first step towards a peaceful solution to the worsening situation in Tibet. The Five Point Peace Plan consisted of five main components. The first component was to transform Tibet into a zone of peace. The second was the abandonment of China's population transfer policy that threatens the very existence of the Tibetans as a people. The third was respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms. The forth was to restore and protect Tibet's natural environment and to abandon China's use of Tibet for the production of nuclear weapons and dumping of nuclear waste. The final component was a Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet and between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. China has so far failed to respond positively to the various peace proposals put forward by His Holiness. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a man of peace. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems. As both a political and religious leader his first commitment is the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. He is a man that believes that all human beings are created equal. Through all of his achievements and successes the Dalai Lama still describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.

Desmond Tutu, by Mike Napolitano

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, for his role as a unifying leader figure in the campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa. In his acceptance speech, he said, In dehumanizing others, they are themselves dehumanized. Perhaps oppression dehumanizes the oppressor as much as, if not more than, the oppressed. They need each other to become truly free, to become human.

Noting his achievement in striving for peace, the Nobel committee recognized Archbishop Tutu for his doctrine of nonviolence in the face of extreme oppression and racism at the hands of the minority-ruling Apartheid government in South Africa. For years under the Apartheid regime, Tutu called for non-violence and justice in the face of heartless abuse. With his formulated objective for South Africa, Archbishop Tutu called for, a democratic and just society without racial divisions. Beyond that, he listed four points in which he put his minimal demands: 1. Equal civil rights for all 2. The abolition of South Africas passport laws (meant to restrict the movement of blacks to segregated areas). 3. A common system of education (in rejection of the Bantu Education) 4. The cessation of forced deportation from South Africa to the so-called home lands. In his quest for justice, Desmond Tutu inspired many to seek positive action in the face of the radical negativity of the Apartheid regime and its policies. It is noted that, his policy of forgiveness and reconciliation has become an

international example of conflict resolution and a trusted method of postconflict reconstruction. Archbishop Tutu came from humble roots. Born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal in 1931 he attended Bantu High School in Johannesburg. Tutu then went on to become a high school teacher. After graduating from the University of South Africa in 1954 he began to study theology independently. He abandoned teaching in 1960 and was ordained as a priest that year. From 1962 to 1966 Tutu pursued his masters in theology in England and then traveled back to South Africa to teach theology. Tutu has held many positions in South African religious structures, including the Dean of St. Marys Cathedral in Johannesburg, and later the Bishop of Lesotho. Prior to winning the Peace Prize in 1984, Tutu was elected to one of the highest religious positions in South Africa when he became the General Secretary of South African Council of Churches. A month after receiving the Peace Prize, Tutu was elected and installed as the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg and later became the Archbishop of Cape Town. Archbishop Tutu has been recognized by many institutions for his philosophies, teachings, and action. He has received many honorary doctorates from numerous institutions in the United States, Britain, and Germany. In his continuing quest for human rights and justice Archbishop Tutu continues to attend peace conferences and, last year, recorded a public service announcement in South Africa for the Every Human Has a Right, campaign for the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Elie Wiesel, by Nicole Colomban

Elie Wiesel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for speaking out against violence, racism, and oppression. In his Nobel lecture, he noted that for the first time in history, we could not bury our dead. We bear their graves within ourselves. For us, forgetting was never an option.

Elie Wiesel, a Jewish writer, inspirer, and political activist, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He has written 57 books, with Night being the most read and critically acclaimed, and to me, the most inspiring. Wiesel grew up in the small town of Sighet located in Transylvania, with three sisters and his parents Sarah and Shlomo. His father influenced him to have a strong sense of humanity while his mother stressed Judaism. Their positive influences shaped his view of the world and gave him the strength to endure the atrocities of the Holocaust. Wiesels hellish journey began when his family was placed into one of two Nazi ghettos and, from there, his family was sent to Auschwitz. In Auschwitz, he was separated from both his mother and sister Tzipora. Elie stayed close to his father while dealing with death, torture, and the unimaginable cruelty of the Nazis. About a year later, Wiesels father succumbed to exhaustion, starvation, and dysentery. His death proved to be rather tragic as they were liberated months after his death. The war took Wiesels mother, father, Tzipora, and millions of others; entire families were destroyed by those who were influenced by blind hatred. It is hard to accept that similar crimes are still being committed today.

For many years after the war, Wiesel could not write about his experience, it was simply too disturbing to talk about. He didnt know how to appropriately describe all that he had witnessed and the immense hurt he had endured. But, in 1952, with a little push from a friend, he finally decided to write about the events of the Holocaust. He struggled through this first book, but as the eloquence and uniqueness of his work spread, it received much success and was subsequently sold in many different languages. Elie Wiesel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He won the prize for speaking out against violence, racism, and oppression. A year before recieving Nobel Peace Prize, Wiesel earned the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest non-military award the US Congress gives. He is one of the most inspirational figures in history. Wiesel stands as a symbol for the perseverance of good over evil, humanity against barbarity. His stories help teach us how to move forward and let wounds heal. Wiesel will forever remain an important figure in history. His experiences have now helped him find his way back to God and have pushed him to defend all those who endure suffering and humiliation. He seeks to defend the weak, and through this defense, show us how to live.

DrawingofWieselbyColomban

Elie Wiesel, by Lauren Utter

Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his work as chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council from 19801986 and for acting as, A messenger to mankind and a human being dedicated to humanity. The Nobel Committee recognized that Wiesel has emerged as one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression and racism continue to characterize the world.
Elie Wiesel once affirmed, What unites all of us as human beings is the aspiration to make the world better, more compassionate, with less conflict, less hate and hardship, and with more tolerance and understanding. Wiesel, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, experienced firsthand the violent horrors that can arise from oppression and racism. His parents and younger sister were killed in the Nazi extermination camps during World War II. Only Weisel and his two older sisters were liberated from the camps by the U.S. Army in 1945. In Wiesel`s noble lecture, he stated in regard to the survivors memories of the concentration camps:

Each one of us felt compelled to bear witness, such were the wishes of the dying, the testament of the dead. Since the so-called civilized world had no use for their lives, then let it be inhabited by their deaths. The great historian Shimon Dubnov served as our guide and inspiration. Until the moment of his death he said over and over again to his companions in the Riga ghetto: "Yidden, shreibt un fershreibt" (Jews, write it all down). His words were heeded. Overnight, countless victims became chroniclers and historians in the ghettos, even in the death camps.
It was not until ten years after Wiesel`s liberation that he finally made the decision to break the silence surrounding the Holocaust. Up until then, Wiesel was struggling to regain his identity; his previous identity had been replaced with the number A 7713. Wiesel credits the Catholic writer Francois Mauriac for his decision to write of the horrors. During a 1954 interview with Mauriac, Wiesel strongly reacted to Mauriac`s relentless talk of the suffering of Jesus. Wiesel raged with emotion when he said to Mauriac, Ten years ago, not far from here, I knew Jewish children everyone of whom

suffered a thousand times more, six million times more, than Christ on the cross. And we dont speak about them. Mauriac urged Wiesel to write down his horrific experiences in the concentration camps and within a year, Wiesel had finished writing the memoir Night. Night is a classic account of the Holocaust. Since then, Wiesel has published over 40 works. He once responded in an interview as to why he writes saying, I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. Wiesel`s work is not only concerned with unveiling the horrors of the past, but directly focuses on preventing the possible victory of evil forces in the future. He said, I will conquer our murderers by attempting to reconstruct what they destroyed. Wiesel has advocated against persecution, oppression, and racism of Jews. He has also spoken out for the victims of oppression all over the world. Some examples include Argentina`s Desaparecidos, apartheid in South Africa, Cambodian refugees, the Kurds in Iraq, the Miskito Indians in Nicaragua, the war victims in Bosnia, and the victims of famine and genocide in Africa. He has received countless awards and honorary doctorates for his literature and advocacy, including the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, the Medal of Liberty Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Egil Aarvik, powerfully affirmed Elie Wiesel`s presentation speech, truly, prisoner number A 7713 has become a human being once again, a human being dedicated to humanity. Below is an excerpt from Elie Wiesel`s Nobel acceptance speech:

Of course we could try to forget the past. Why not? Is it not natural for a human being to repress what causes him pain, what causes him shame? Like the body, memory protects its wounds. When day breaks after a sleepless night, one's ghosts must withdraw; the dead are ordered back to their graves. But for the first time in history, we could not bury our dead. We bear their graves within ourselves. For us, forgetting was never an option.

Jimmy Carter, by Carola Madrid

Jimmy Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for standing by the principle that, conflicts must be resolved through mediation and international cooperation based on international law, respect for human rights, and economic development. In his Nobel acceptance speech, Carter stated, the bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices. God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes and we must. Jimmy Carter served as the 39th president of the United States. Although he only served in office for four years, his influence from those years reach far beyond many of his presidential peers. Carter has been one of the only presidents who has taken an interest in the Middle East. From the outset of his administration, he sought and envisioned a, final peaceful solution to this century. His consistent advocacy for peaceful solutions with consideration for international law sets him apart not only as a diplomat, but as a global citizen. Carters vision of how to achieve peace in the Middle East led to his involvement in mediating the Camp David Accords, a thirteen day peace conference between Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Anwar Sadat, the president of Egypt. Carters courage knew no limits: He was not afraid to announce that the Palestinian people had a right to a homeland, and that their human rights must be protected. He also held that Israel must withdraw from conquered territory from the 1967 war and abide by the principles of international law, in particular, UN Resolution 242. The overwhelming achievement of the Camp David Accords, embracing UN Resolution 242, were not only signed by all three leaders, but were also ratified by the Israeli Knesset in 1978. The peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, signed 26 March 1979, would never have been achieved without Carter and remains today the one important peace treaty in this area of conflict.

After leaving the White House in 1981, the Carter family wanted to continue working for peace in the world. Thus they founded the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia for the purpose of helping countries resolve their internal conflicts by encouraging individuals and governments to undertake peace talks instead of resorting to civil violence or military force. The Carter Center also teaches African farmers to grow more food, works with other international organizations to immunize children, and continues human rights work. The Center also created the International Negotiation Network to study conflicts and ways to prevent or end them (Ibid p. xii-xiii). In their citation, the Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Carters very extensive and persevering conflict resolution on several continents (Citation, p. xi). The Committee continues, He has shown outstanding commitment to human rights, and has served as an observer at countless elections all over the world. He has worked hard on many fronts to fight tropical diseases and to bring about growth and progress in developing countries. In Carters Nobel Peace Prize Lecture, delivered on 10 December 2002, he quotes Ralph Bunch: To suggest that war can prevent war is despicable The objective of any who sincerely believe in peace clearly must be to exhaust every honorable recourse in the effort to save the peace. The world has had ample evidence that war begets only conditions that beget further war. He goes on to say, There are at least eight nuclear powers on earth. For powerful countries to adopt a principle of preventive war may well set an example that can have catastrophic consequences. If we accept the premise that the United Nations is the best avenue for the maintenance of peace, then the carefully considered decisions of the UN Security Council must be enforced (Carter, p. 11-12). Carter sees that the growing chasm between the richest and the poorest people on earth is the root cause of most of the worlds unresolved problems, including starvation, illiteracy, environmental degradation, violent conflict, and unnecessary illnesses (Carter p. 19). He closes the acceptance lecture by affirming, The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices. God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes- and we must (Ibid p. 20). Carter cautions all, Peacemaking is not easy it is much more difficult than making war we must not relax in our efforts to ease the pain and suffering caused by conflict and to help the worlds people secure their safety, health, and freedoms (Ibid p. xiv).

Mdecins Sans Frontires, by Alanna Heneberry

Doctors Without Borders received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, In recognition of the organizations pioneering humanitarian work on several continents. In their acceptance speech they noted their mission to, Bring medical aid to people in distress is an attempt to defend them against what is aggressive to them as human beings. Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian organization which provides medical relief to underserved populations and to countries in conflict or crisis. Doctors Without Borders was started in France, in 1972, by 10 doctors. Today, more than 27,000 doctors, nurses, administrators, epidemiologists, logistic experts, laboratory technicians, mental health professionals, sanitary specialists and other professionals work daily to carry out MSFs humanitarian missions. MSF has provided aid to about 80 countries, 20 of which are in conflict (Doctors Without Borders). In 1999, MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, In recognition of the organizations pioneering humanitarian work on several continents (Nobel Prize). Dr. James Orbinski, the president of MSF at the time, accepted the award on behalf of MSF on 10 December 1999 in Oslow, Norway. The speech was widely broadcasted, and was the first Nobel Speech to be shown live over the internet (Doctors Without Borders). Dr. Orbinski used the speech as a way to speak publicly of the injustices of the world. MSF believes that providing medical relief is not enough; they strive to inform the public on the violence, neglect, corruption, and atrocities which the MSF workers witness during their work. Dr. Orbinski explained the importance of speaking out on these issues, stating, We are not sure that words can always save lives, but we know that silence can certainly kill

(Nobel). In 1985, MSF gave a voice to the hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians who were displaced by its government. In 1994, during the Rwandan genocide, they called for an international military response. In 1995, MSF brought public attention to the Serbian massacre of the civilians at Srebrenica. During the acceptance speech, Dr.Orbinski pleaded with President Yeltsin and the Russian Ambassador to stop the bombings of the people of Chechnya and Grozny (Doctors Without Borders). These are just a few of the examples of MSFs actions to bring attention to critical matters which threaten humanity. MSF workers sometimes pay for their insistence on blowing the whistle; some have been kidnapped and others murdered. In the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, hundreds of MSF volunteers were killed. MSF sees the Nobel Peace award as honoring the lives lost, and those who risk their lives daily, working to help correct the injustices of the world (Doctors Without Borders). The proceeds from MSFs Nobel Peace Prize were used to establish the Neglected Disease Fund. The fund supports projects which help treat neglected diseases such as sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, and malaria. These diseases are neglected by the world at large because they mostly affect poor populations with incomes too sparse to motivate pharmaceutical companies to seek cures for these illnesses. Doctors Without Borders continues to give hope to the millions of people around the world who are suffering from disease, war, malnutrition and political injustices.

Mother Teresa, by Briana Timlin

Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace." In her Nobel Lecture, she spoke of the importance of spreading peace, saying, You must come to know the poor, maybe our people here have material things, everything, but I think that if we all look into our own homes, how difficult we find it sometimes to smile at each other, but that smile is the beginning of loveand so let us always meet each other with a smile.

In a world where wealth is measured by monetary status, appearances, flashy cars and expensive jewelry, the existence of devout, selfless, volunteers seems to often be forgotten amidst the chaotic, material-oriented lifestyle that smothers many individuals. Mother Teresa, on the other hand, lived an incredibly simple life where she sought to promote peace and oneness. She was a woman that selflessly lived in poverty so that she could relentlessly help the human race, a woman that performed countless acts of mercy so that no one was left hungry or alone. But, more than anything, she was a woman that possessed wealth that cannot be measured on any objective scale. The prosperity that she was endowed with came from a transcendental place; it came from helping others by being a missionary to spread the love of Christ and from her unbending determination to achieve peace in this world. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Yugoslavia on August 26, 1910, she was the youngest child of her Albanian family. At the age of twelve, Agnes strongly felt the call of God and was convinced that she should commit herself to a religious life as a missionary. The Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India, welcomed the eighteen year-old Agnes, who would never see her own family again. After learning to speak English in Ireland, she used her new language to help teach school children at the Loreto convent school in eastern Kolkata. She took her first religious vows as a nun on May 24, 1931, when she chose the name Teresa, after Saint Thrse de Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries. When Sister Teresa worked at the convent, she received another call from God that she must live among the poor if she was truly going to help them. It was after that revelation in September 1946 that she left the convent to live among the poor. Because she had no income, she was forced to beg for food and supplies, struggling to get by.

Faced with loneliness, pain, hunger and doubt, she would look for food but would often become tired and her body would ache. When confronted with this, she would simply contemplate the extent of poverty which the poor must feel and her worries would vanish. In her diary, she recorded, Of free choice, my God, and out of love for you, I desire to remain and do whatever be your Holy will in my regard. I did not let a single tear come. Her selfless and loving nature was extraordinary. On 7 October 1950, Mother Teresa received permission from the Vatican to start her own order, The Missionaries of Charity. Its purpose was to care for the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone." With the help of charitable funding, she was able to open shelters, homes, hospices, orphanages, and leper houses all over India. These outreach clinics provided medications, bandages and food. In one of her compelling statements she said, I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldnt touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God, epitomizing her heavenly and altruistic mentality. Along with being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, Mother Teresa received many other accolades for her lifetime dedication to missionary work. She refused her ceremonial Laureate banquet and asked instead that the $192,000 of allocated funds for the banquet be given to the poor in India. During her gripping Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, given on 11 December 1979 in Oslo, Norway, Mother Teresa motivated her audience to spread love and peace by sharing with one another and putting ones ideas into action. Mother Teresa sacrificed her life for the wellbeing of others and was at peace with herself in doing so. She is one of the most influential figures of our time and possessed a magnitude of strength and courage of which most people could only hope to attain a fraction of throughout their lifetime. She was dedicated to making people feel wanted; she did not follow the jaded, tainted rubric that the rest of our world follows when it comes to measuring the value of ones life. The poorest people, in her eyes, were those who had it all in the material sense, but lived a life without love. She was genuinely saddened by situations of the absence of love and peace. She theorized that if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. Her accomplishments have left people in awe. She was a simple woman that followed simple morals: love one another and spread peace.

Oscar Arias Sanchez, by Emily Fiore

Oscar Arias Sanchez the recipient of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, firmly held that, A prerequisite for lasting peace is realization of democratic ideals, with freedom and equality for all. In the highlight of his Nobel lecture, Sanchez said, I do not share this defeatism. I cannot accept that to be a realist means to tolerate misery, violence, and hate. I do not believe that a hungry man who expresses his suffering should be treated as a subversive. I can never accept that the law be used to justify tragedy, that things must remain as they are, that we must abandon all thoughts of a different world. The law is the path of freedom and as such must offer equal opportunity for the development of all.

Oscar Arias Sanchez was born in 1940 in the province of Heredia, Costa Rica. Sanchezs family was in the coffee business and therefore very wealthy, but this did not affect the feeling of brotherhood he would come to share with all Costa Ricans. In 1948 President Jose Figueres Ferrer made the historic decision to abolish the Costa Rican army. This was a seminal event in Sanchezs life. As president, one of his central political ideas is that no country needs the military to ensure safety and stability. He said famously, We need to understand that the security of a state does not necessarily come from the military. The true security of state comes from the quality of life of the people. Sanchez received an extensive education, studying medicine, law and economics in Costa Rica, the United States, and England. He returned to Costa Rica in 1970 to work for former President Figueres Ferrer, who was seeking reelection. When Figueres Ferrer won in 1972, Sanchez was appointed Minister of National Planning and Political Economy. In 1975, the National Liberation Party elected him International Secretary and in 1979, General Secretary. After working for several other political campaigns, Sanchez was elected President of Costa Rica in 1986. At the time of Sanchezs first election, Latin America was facing many political challenges, some of them violent. The Sandinistas had overthrown the Somoza dynasty in Nicaragua and the US was training Contras in Honduras and Costa Rica. Latin America was also becoming the battleground of the Cold War. Sanchezs first objective as president was to remove Costa Rica from any involvement, direct or indirect, in the Cold War conflict. His presidential predecessors had allowed the United States to build a clandestine airport on Costa Rican soil. Sanchez saw this as a violation of Costa Ricas proclaimed neutrality and quickly reversed this precedent. The United States was pressuring Costa Rica to militarize and defeat the Sandinistas, even threatening economic sanctions. However, Sanchez refused to acquiesce

and argued that the US Contra forces were more of a problem than a solution. In May 1986, Sanchez began talks with the presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua to discuss proposals for a Central American Peace Plan. In 1987, an agreement was finally reached and all five presidents met in Guatemala to sign what would become known as the Esquipulas II Accords or the Procedure to Establish a Firm and Lasting Peace in Central America. This remains one of Sanchezs most notable political successes to date. Sanchez recounted a more intimate moment of the meeting, When we five Central American presidents were crossing the plaza to enter the National Cathedral of Guatemala for a mass of thanksgiving after signing the peace plan, there was an indigenous woman on one side of the crowd, her hair braided and her feet bare. She was holding a child and her face was full of the sadness and resignation that marked so many Central Americans at that time, who had witnessed too many years of violence. After the mass, we came out of the cathedral and were again crossing the plaza, and the woman approached me. She said, Thank you, seor Presidente, for this son and the one who is fighting. I will never forget that woman and the ratification she gave to all my efforts in favor of the peace plan. In my heart, her words will always be more important than those of the international press, academic analysts, and political pundits. She spoke with the voice of the people, and it humbled me. That was a great day (Guernica Magazine). President Oscar Arias Sanchez truly is a peoples president. Using the money that would normally be used for military development, he continues to work to better the educational and living standards of his people. He feels confident and safe in Costa Rica, dining in public restaurants and driving his own car. This complete commitment to peace, security, and nonviolence sets a powerful example for his fellow citizens. Sanchez has vast wisdom to share for any world leader that is striving to develop peace as well as a sage awareness of the worlds tenuous political atmosphere. He is a powerful voice for Latin America, an optimist, an idealist, and one of the greatest political treasures in the world today.

For More Information http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1987/index.html http://www.worldtrek.org/odyssey/latinamerica/oscar/oscarbio.html http://www.scu.edu/ethics/architects-of-peace/Sanchez/essay.html http://www.guernicamag.com/interviews/36/oscar_arias_snchez/ http://www.mssu.edu/international/Latinam/speech.htm

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, by Colleen Ryan

Burma, a country of around 50 million people is ruled by fear. A military machine of 500,000 soldiers denies a whole nation its most basic rights. Aung San Suu Kyi, pro- democracy leader and Nobel Prize winner, symbolizes the struggle of Burmas people to be free.(Burmacampaign.org) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced Ong San Soo Chee) was born in Rangoon, Burma, On June 19,1945. Her mother Daw Khin Kyi was Burmas only woman ambassador to India and Nepal. Her father, General Aung San led independence movements and was assassinated in 1947. Aung San Suu Kyi was educated in Rangoon until she left for New Delhi with her mother at age fifteen. From 1969 to 1971, Suu Kyi was the Assistant secretary on the United Nations Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary concerns. In 1972, she worked at the Ministry of foreign affairs in Bhutan as the Research Officer. She also married an English scholar Dr. Michael Aris and had two sons. Her life turned when in 1988 she returned home to Burma to care for her sick mother.

NobelPrizecitation:Forher nonviolentstrugglefor democracyandhuman rights..theNorwegianNobel Committeewishestohonor thiswomenforherunflagging effortsandtoshowitssupport forthemanypeople throughouttheworldwhoare strivingtoattaindemocracy, humanrightsandethnic conciliationbypeaceful means NobelPeacePrizeAward speech:Inthegoodfightfor peaceandreconciliation,we aredependentonpersonswho setexamples,personswhocan symbolizewhatweareseeking andmobilizethebestinus. AungSanSuuKyiisjustsucha person.Sheunitesdeep commitmentandtenacitywith

In 1988, mass demonstrations were taking place nationwide for Democracy, and Suu Kyi took a leading role. She joined the NLD, National League for Democracy and gave many speeches advocating for freedom and democracy. The regime responded with force and killed 5,000 demonstrators. In 1989, the military placed Suu Kyi under house arrest. Amnesty international declared her a prisoner of conscience. Even though NLD leaders including Daw Suu Kyi were arrested, the party won the election by 82 %. Still, the military junta refused to honor the election results. Daw Suu Kyis containment gained her national and international attention. She continued to deny offers to leave the country because she would never be allowed back in. While contained in 1990, Aung San Su Kyi was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought and the Rafto Prize and the Jawaharlal peace prize by the Government of India. In 1991, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for insisting on nonviolence in Burmas struggle for

democracy. Since she was under house arrest and not allowed to leave at the time, her son received the award for her. Iknowthatshewouldbeginby sayingthatsheacceptstheNobel PrizeforPeacenotinherownname butinthenameofallpeopleof Burmatoallthosemen,women,and childrenwho,evenasIspeak, continuetosacrificetheirwellbeing, theirfreedomandtheirlivesin pursuitofademocraticBurma.Theirs istheprizeandtheirswillbethe eventualvictoryinBurmaslong struggleforpeacefreedomand democracy

Her initial detainment ended in 1995, but she was put under house arrest again in 2000. In May of 2003 at the time of Depayin massacre where 100 supporters were beaten to death by the regimes militia she was detained again. Suu Kyi is still detained today. Her phone has been cut, her mail is intercepted, and the NLD volunteers providing her security at her compound were removed in 2004. Yet, she continues to maintain her position, It is not power that corrupts but fear. Today, Burma is considered one of the most brutal and corrupt regimes in the world. They are responsible for many human rights abuses: the widespread use of forced labor, murder, detainment without trial, massive forced relocations-over 1 million people forced from their homes, 2,100 political prisoners who are often tortured, 70,000 child soldiers(more than any nations in the world), and using rape to maintain force. Under their rule, the standard of living has fallen with half the government budget spent on the military. Today in Burma, one in ten children die before the age of five. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has charged Burmas regime with a crime against humanity. On December 10, 1991, Suu Kyis son Alexander Aris accepted her Nobel Peace Prize. In the acceptance speech, he explained: This regime has through almost thirty years of misrule reduced the once prosperous Golden Land of Burma to one of the worlds most economically destitute nations. He continued: We must remember that the lonely struggle taking place in a heavily guarded compound in Rangoon is part of the much larger struggle, worldwide, for the emancipation of the human spirit from political tyranny and psychological subjection. He quotes his mother To live the full life one must have the courage to bear the responsibility of the needs of othersthe quest for democracy in Burma is the struggle of a people to live whole, meaningful lives as free and equal members of the world community. It is part of the unceasing human endeavor to prove that the spirit of man can transcend the flaws of his nature

Wangari Maathai, by Anthony Antonecchia

Wangari Maathai was awarded The Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, For her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

She was recognized for collectively planting over 30 million trees of peace, trees of conflict resolution, trees of reconciliation, and trees of democracy as part of her Green Belt Movement. The trees that were planted were planted for prisoners of conscience, food, shelter, education, household needs, employment, soils, watersheds, and feminine empowerment. In her Nobel lecture, or acceptance speech, she noted that, Those of us who are privileged receivers of education, skills, experiences, and even power must be role models for the next generation of leadership. We must come to understand that while it is necessary to raise our voices and hold our governments accountable, it is equally important that in our own relationships with each other, we exemplify the leadership values we wish to see in leaders, namely justice, integrity and trust. We should rediscover the positive aspects of our culture, and accept them for a sense of belonging, identity, and self-confidence. Interconnected are our govern-and-environ-ments. Let us embrace democratic governance, protect human rights and protect our environment. I am confident that we shall rise to the occasion. I have always believed that solutions to most of our problems must come fromus. The choice is..ours. That time is.now.

Drawing of Maathai by Antonecchia

End Note
A majority of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates more than deserve their awards for their efforts to bring peace and justice to the world. There are, however, many people who are not recognized for their work for peace. One prime example is Eleanor Roosevelt. As one of the leaders in the development of international human rights doctrines, and an author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she could have been recognized by the Nobel Committee but, regrettably, was not. This page is a tribute to all those who have done great work for humanity but have not been recognized for their efforts.
-Mike Napolitano

Eleanor Roosevelt with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 (Copyright UNHCHR)

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Sack, Kevin (August 23, 2000). "THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE VICE PRESIDENT; Gore Tells Fellow Veterans He Is Dedicated to Military". New York Times Archives. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. "Al Gore: Quick Biography". New York Times. October 11, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/us/topics_algore_bio.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-11. Gore, Al. "Al's Bio". algore.com. http://www.algore.com/about.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-11.

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"Bishop Tutu given Nobel Prize in Oslo." The New York Times 11 Dec. 1984. 11 Apr. 2009 <http://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/11/world/bishop-tutu-given-nobel-prize-in-osloceremony.html>. "Desmond Tutu - Biography." Nobelprize.org. The Nobel Foundation. 10 Apr. 2009 <http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1984/tutu-bio.html>. "Desmond Tutu: theElders.org." Theelders.org. The Elders. 11 Apr. 2009 <http://www.theelders.org/elders/tutu.aspx>. Koch, David. "Desmond Tutu makes PSA." Unicef.org. UNICEF. 12 Apr. 2009 <http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/southafrica_46468.html>. "The Nobel Peace Prize for 1984." Nobelprize.org. Nobel Foundation. 10 Apr. 2009 <http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1984/press.html>. "Presentation Speech." Nobelprize.org. Nobel Foundation. 10 Apr. 2009 <http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1984/presentation-speech.html>.

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Professor Mar Peter-Raouls class Praxis I+II:

Marist College Public Praxis Project 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 http://www.marist.edu/liberalarts/philrel/pubpraxis/ http://www.praxivism.blogspot.com