Word around the campfire is that climate campaigners Al Gore and Sheila Watt-Cloutier may be on the short list of nominees with a shot at landing this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The prestigious award — to be announced Oct. 12 — has traditionally been awarded to human-rights activists and peace advocates (except for that whole Henry Kissinger thing). In 2004, the Peace Prize committee branched out somewhat to award environmental activist Wangari Maathai “for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace” through her Green Belt Movement that has planted millions of trees in Kenya, marking the first time the Peace Prize had been awarded to honor work in the environmental field. But will it be the last?
