Outline what the Nobel Peace Prize is, the origins of the prize.
In 1895 Alfred Nobel left his will and a lot of his money to the Nobel Prize, the Nobel Peace Prize is given every year (since 1901). It is given for achievements in; physiology or medicine, chemistry, physics, peace and for literature. In each prize you get a cash award, a medal and a personal diploma. The prizes have been awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, Oslo and Norway, each year the prize is chosen by a group of five people called the Norwegian Nobel Committee (the people in this committee are chosen by the Norwegian Parliament).
“The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: /- - -/ one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
- From the will of Alfred Nobel, about the peace prize
Brief bibliography of the person, this should include their DOB, any education of work history details and their major achievements (includes a picture)
Aung San Suu Kyi was born on the 19th of June, 1945 in Rangoon and was the only girl in her family of two brothers, mother and father. Her dad died when she was two years of age and approximately two years later she went to India because her mum was appointed Burmese ambassador to India. Primary school she studied in India and after studying politics in Delhi University she then went on to Oxford University and finally went to New York for graduate study.
At Oxford University she met her husband with whom she had two children (a girl and boy), she lived in England with her husband and children until her mother suffered a stroke so she went back to Burma (alone).
In 1988 she makes her first public speech and addresses several hundred thousand people, one month later the military makes a law that a political gathering that has more than four people attending is restricted and in December her mother dies.
At her mother’s funeral in 1989she makes a speech about how her parents helped Burma and that she would follow in their footsteps and also do everything she can to help Burma even if it leads to her death. She goes on with her campaign even though people are dying and being harassed and somewhere in between she is banned from standing for election. In April she keeps walking even though professional soldiers are ready to fire at her. She is placed under house arrest but still her party wins with 82 of seats. On the 12th of October, 1990 she is granted the 1990 Rafto Human Rights Prize then she is given the human rights prize. In 1991 her book Freedom from Fear is published (she has written a biography of her father, a book on Bhutan, Burma, Nepal etc) and has three different translations published. Altogether she spent 15 years in jail/detention but at the moment she is out of jail and living a happy life with her family.
When and why the person was awarded the prize
Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded her Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for “her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights”. Her children take the prize for her because she is in detention because she rejected the offer to go to England and never come back to Burma. The money she was awarded from the prize, she put towards education and health in her home country.
Explain why the person became involved in the work
Mainly, Aung San Suu Kyi became involved in this work because she enjoyed helping her country but also because she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her parents and wanted to help her country because she has a lot of pride not only in herself but in her country and it wants it to develop well.
