CULTURE: WikiLeaks Nominated for Nobel!

A Norwegian lawmaker has nominated WikiLeaks for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, calling it “one of the most important contributors to freedom of speech and transparency” in the 21st century. Yesterday was the deadline for anyone not on the Nobel committee to submit nominees, according to Reuters. Snorre Valen, a musician elected to the Norwegian parliament in 2009, said the site was a “natural contender” for the award.

“Liu Xiabao was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his struggle for human rights, democracy and freedom of speech,” Valen wrote on his blog. “Likewise: WikiLeaks have contributed to the struggle for those very values globally, by exposing (among many other things) corruption, war crimes, and torture.” He also credited WikiLeaks with helping bring about the revolution in Tunisia, because it had published information about the presidential family’s financial arrangements.