To much of the world’s surprise, Donald Trump has been nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

A man who believes America should ban all Muslims from travelling to the US, or that November’s Paris attacks would have been “much, much different” if more people had guns, has been nominated to receive the world’s most famous symbol of peace. 

The source of the nomination remains a mystery, but a  letter submitted to the Nobel committee celebrates Trump’s role in promoting a strategy of "peace through strength," ambiguously described as a "threat weapon of deterrence against radical Islam, ISIS, nuclear Iran and Communist China." 

Every year, unexpected nominations crop up - often backed by petitions or grassroots campaigns. 2016’s contest will certainly be exciting, with plenty of other surprising candidates in the running. Donald Trump is up against some stiff competition. Meet 4 Nobel contenders whose lives embody the true meaning of peace.

1) Greek islanders welcoming refugees 

Image: punghi / Shutterstock.com

An Avaaz petition urging the Nobel committee to award the prize to the “ordinary residents of Greek islands and other volunteers” has received over 600,000 signatures.For years, the inhabitants of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea have been at the forefront of the refugee crisis. Almost a million refugees arrived in Europe last year - and the vast majority first entered through these islands. Still recovering from a devastating financial crisis, the compassion and self-sacrifice of these islanders has sent a powerful example to Europe and the rest of the world. And now their generosity has been recognised. 

As only individuals or organisations can be nominated for the prize, leading academics have chosen a trio of nominees: Stratis Valiamos, a local fisherman who has saved scores of refugees from drowning, an 85 year old Greek grandmother famously photographed feeding milk to refugee babies, and actress Susan Sarandon, who joined hundreds of other activists in Lesbos to welcome refugees over Christmas.
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The trio represent the thousands of people who make daily sacrifices in response to the human tragedy on Europe's shores. In the words of Valiamos: “People say ‘you’re a hero,’ but this isn’t heroism, it’s the normal thing to do."

2) Human Rights activist Nadia Murad 

Forced to become an ISIS sex-slave, Nadia Murad has experienced horrors no human should ever have to face. The 21 year old Yazidi from Iraq was taken captive by ISIS militants in 2014 and faced three months of torture before she was able to escape, eventually seeking asylum in Stuttgart. While in captivity, she was gang-raped repeatedly: “ISIS used to force captives to pray and then rape us.” 

Now free, she has shown incredible courage, sharing her story in front of the UN Security Council to urge world leaders to do more to protect citizens of Iraq and Syria from ISIS.  Nominated by the Iraqi government for her bravery, Murad refuses to be silenced by violent threats: 


3) Emanuel AME church, Charleston 

After nine people were killed during a Bible study at Emanuel AME Church in a racially motivated attack, tensions between communities could easily have flared to a breaking point.  

Instead, relatives of the victims led the community in a powerful display of peace. One by one, they told the perpetrator “I forgive you.” This spirit of forgiveness permeated the city of Charleston and transformed a tragedy into an opportunity for change. Within weeks of  the shooting,  South Carolina removed the Confederate Flag, a racially divisive symbol, from the state Capitol grounds. This historic decision was a victory for peace, setting an example for the rest of the world to follow. 


4) Afghan Women’s Cycling Team 

Another refreshing nomination came from an unlikely source. A coalition of Italian MPs nominated the Afghan Cycling Federation women’s team for this year’s prize - and the reason given for the nomination might surprise you. While the media has celebrated the Afghan Women’s cycling team for championing female empowerment and challenging gendered taboos, the Italian coalition highlights another reason why the team is worthy of the prize: 

"Bikes are the most ecological method of transport there is. It is not just sustainable but also economical and accessible and therefore 'democratic', which makes the bicycle a symbol of lifestyles and consumer tastes on a more human scale,”  said Massimo Cirri of Italian radio station, Radio Rai, who launched the campaign. 

Combining cycling’s environmental benefits with the determination and independence embodied in the Afghan Women’s Cycling team, the nomination is a powerful example of the purpose of prize - to focus the world’s attention on what peace really means.


There are countless people promoting peace throughout the world. They show everyone around them that generosity, tolerance and patience are the most fulfilling ways to live. And they all deserve to be celebrated for what they do.

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