2007 Nobel Peace Prize
If anybody wonders why I’m suddenly blogging again, I’m just taking a breather before the storm hits. Next week’s the dates for 2 heavyweight tests and continuation of a crash course in using CFD and CAD components in COMSOL. No, I’m not modelling aircraft or submarines but something drier (an industrial-sized dryer). I’m also looking for a copy of FLUENT and GAMBIT for keepsakes as it’s the CFD package most widely used in industry.
First up, if anybody is still interested in our first space traveller, Expedition 16 is currently docking with the ISS. The photographs of the welcoming abroad ceremony should no doubt be on tomorrow’s papers. Strangely, ST’s coverage seems to be better than The Star’s so far. Bummer. I bet the local Chinese dailies gave this less coverage than Shenzhou 5 as well.
Now, unless you’re on the Moon you would have heard that Al Gore and IPCC are this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winners. IMO, that’s probably the most obvious and best thing the committee could have done to self publicise and making a very strong statement with regards to global warming. Gore and the IPCC topped the betting list just before the Prize was announced, but I didn’t bother because I didn’t think it’s going to happen. So, I was surprised at the subsequent announcement. In hindsight the Chemistry Prize was clue enough. Also, the past 2 consecutive Peace Prizes were awarded jointly to an individual and organisation (2005 to ElBaradei & IAEA, 2006 to Yunus & Grameen Bank). Besides, stopping global warming promotes world peace (based on the Pentagon and CNAC papers). So there goes a chance to capitalise on the time spent in the NUS Nobel Prize Exhibition. D’oh!
In any case, Gore deserves the Peace Prize. Thanks to him, global warming is now an issue that permeates the global community. Not so for the IPCC. Because all nations must agree to the text of the annual reports, warnings have been watered down and estimates revised downwards. The psychological tipping point is reached, but the physical tipping points are already long here. That is not enough. To quote Gore, “Time is running out, and we still haven’t done anything.” Not surprisingly, we hope for more competent leadership.
Obviously, there’s talk of Gore running for 2008. As Draft Gore supporters just got their huge boost, the call for him to rerun will get stronger. If you ask me, my choices are Gore, Clinton and Obama in that order. 
But as this article serves to remind we are better off if he didn’t (same goes for UN Sec. Gen. I guess, which is quite impractical). IMO, Hillary being President might be the best possible outcome. With Al and Bill, she forms a powerful trinity. With a partnership with Obama, taking 1600 Penn. Ave. will be easy (they just need to put the words Bush and Republican together to win the votes). Hmmm…
