Ever wonder about the Nobel Prize? Alfred Nobel was the discoverer of dynamite, and it made him a fortune. Such a fortune, that when he died in 1896, his will specified that interest and investments from his entire life’s savings, be awarded yearly, to many outstanding individuals, in several professions. Many shared the award if they worked together for a discovery or invention. The award is usually for about $160,000, depending on the proceeds of his estate the previous year. Nobel wanted his bequeathment to be awarded to five, and a sixth category was added at a later date. They are Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economics. The first prize was awarded in 1902, and every year since.
The list of the various nations’ achievers, is interesting, and I think that is indicative of that nation’s intelligence, ability, and the achievement of its citizenry. Not population, for most of these nations’ achievers came not from the largest populations, nor the nation’s location, but admittedly, most are north of the Equator. These rewarded nations, have been described as “white’” and “non-white.”
The “white nations,” have been awarded 1052 Nobel Prizes, and the “non-white” nations awarded 125. There have been 103 “Peace Prizes,” including the one President Barak Obama was awarded, less than two weeks after taking office. How Obama made peace in the world in less than two weeks, escapes me. There have been 103 “Nobel Peace Prizes” over the years, and 30 nations were awarded one Nobel Prize, and 14 have achieved two.
The co-called “white nations’” 1052 prizes, include (in order of their number of recipients), The United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Russia, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Israel, Norway, and Australia. The U.S. has won 406, Britain 137, Germany 114, France 72, etc., down the line, to the last 30, who were awarded one.
By far, most of the achieving nations are “Christian,” and microscopic are Muslim. Most achieving nations, have climates which vary, and none are in desert like climates. The United Nations, recognizes 240 nations and territories in the world, which mathematically, means that some nations earned no Nobel Prize, and many had several awards,
While the U.S. dollar, is the most widely used, and has more world prices listed in dollars, such as oil, gold, silver, and commodities, many efforts are being launched to make the dollar subservient to other currencies, but surely not the Russian ruble or Chinese yuan, which have a value of a penny or a bit more than a dime U.S.
South African gold mines have been exhausted, resulting in its cities being dangerous to visit in, or reside. What is now known as Zimbabwe, has huge lawlessness, starvation, and inflation; normal since it was carved out of what used to be Rhodesia. Rhodesia, named for Cecil Rhodes, a British colonel who developed the land and made it prosperous, declared its independence from the UK in 1965, and was at the time ruled by Ian Smith. Rhodesia was prosperous, and shipped its copper, produce and meats all over the world. I can still hear Smith, begging Eisenhower for aid in overcoming the violent attempt to overthrow his nation, by a couple of well-armed African entities, which called themselves “nations.” It finally occurred in 1979, under the United Nations, Jimmy Carter, and with the help of the U.S. House and Senate. Rhodesia existed no longer in 1979, and the absurdity of Zimbabwe (meaning House of Stone), as been in existence ever since. Another free, productive nation, gone the way of all flesh.
Don Stott- don@coloradogold.com