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To nominate somebody for a Nobel Prize, the nominating party must meet the requirements outlined for the specific category or has to be invited.<ref name="NobelNomination">The Nobel Foundation: [http://nobelprize.org/nomination/nomination_facts.html Nomination Facts]</ref>

To nominate somebody for a Nobel Prize, the nominating party must meet the requirements outlined for the specific category or has to be invited.<ref name="NobelNomination">The Nobel Foundation: [http://nobelprize.org/nomination/nomination_facts.html Nomination Facts]</ref>

The Nobel Prizes are represented externally by the Nobel Foundation, a private institution entrusted with protecting the common interests of the Prize Awarding Institutions. However, the Nobel Foundation is not involved with the selection process itself. The Prize-Awarding Institutes are independent of government agencies and the Nobel Foundation itself.<ref name="NobelHistory"/> The multiple Prize-Awarding Institutes are all located in [[Sweden]], except for the Nobel Peace Prize which is awarded by the Norweigian Nobel Commitee which is appointed by the norweigian parliament.

The Nobel Prizes are represented externally by the Nobel Foundation, a private institution entrusted with protecting the common interests of the Prize Awarding Institutions. However, the Nobel Foundation is not involved with the selection process itself. The Prize-Awarding Institutes are independent of government agencies and the Nobel Foundation itself.<ref name="NobelHistory"/> The multiple Prize-Awarding Institutes are all located in [[Sweden]], except for the Nobel Peace Prize which is awarded by the Norweigian Nobel Committee which is appointed by the norweigian parliament.

==Criteria==

==Criteria==

===Raymond Damadian===

===Raymond Damadian===

Raymond Damadian developed [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI), a phenomenal medical innovation deserving of a Nobel Prize.  But Damadian is reportedly a [[Young Earth Creationist]], and the Nobel committee never recognizes the achievements of someone who criticizes the theories of evolution and an old earth.  Accordingly, the Nobel committee insulted Damadian by passing him over and giving the the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2003 to Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield "for their discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging".<ref>The Nobel Foundation: [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2003/index.html The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2003]</ref><ref>Creation on the Web: [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/978/ Super-scientist slams society’s spiritual sickness!]</ref>

Raymond Damadian developed [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI), a phenomenal medical innovation deserving of a Nobel Prize.  But Damadian is reportedly a [[Young Earth Creationist]], and the Nobel committee never recognizes the achievements of someone who criticizes the theories of evolution and an old earth.  Accordingly, the Nobel committee insulted Damadian by passing him over and giving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2003 to Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield "for their discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging".<ref>The Nobel Foundation: [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2003/index.html The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2003]</ref><ref>Creation on the Web: [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/978/ Super-scientist slams society’s spiritual sickness!]</ref>

Damadian, who had outlined the use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to detect tumors in 1971, protested against his omission from the Prize and said that his "life's work has been stricken." He then took out full-page ads in several newspapers, describing his omission as a "shameful wrong". The first wave of ads appeared in [[The Washington Post]], the [[Los Angeles Times]], Dagens Nyheter (daily newspaper in Stockholm), and [[The New York Times]].<ref>The Chronicle: [http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i11/11a01401.htm Prize Fight]</ref>

Damadian, who had outlined the use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to detect tumors in 1971, protested against his omission from the Prize and said that his "life's work has been stricken." He then took out full-page ads in several newspapers, describing his omission as a "shameful wrong". The first wave of ads appeared in [[The Washington Post]], the [[Los Angeles Times]], Dagens Nyheter (daily newspaper in Stockholm), and [[The New York Times]].<ref>The Chronicle: [http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i11/11a01401.htm Prize Fight]</ref>

'''Politics, not humanitarianism.'''

'''Politics, not humanitarianism.'''

Equally there have been several instances where prizes were awarded to those whom many felt did not deserve the honor. Controversy in this regard has been especially acute in the award of the Peace Prize. When [[Henry Kissinger]] was awarded the prize in 1973 the American satirist, Tom Lehrer, observed that this had rendered political satire 'obsolete'. Many were outraged by the award to [[Yasir Arafat]] in 1994, who was reportedly associated with the Munich massacre of Jewish athletes in 1972.<ref>http://media.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzUyZjg1MTY2NjgxOTQ5Zjg2OWIwOTNjMTQxY2U4MTk=</ref> Only days after [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] received his Peace Prize in 1991, Soviet troops were ordered into the [[Georgia (country)#South Ossetia and conflict with Russia|sovereign republic of Georgia]]<ref>http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-01-10/news/1991010108_1_georgian-parliament-south-ossetia-georgian-police</ref><ref>[http://books.google.de/books?id=AaE4vZaz1ccC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=South+Ossetia+1990+MVD&source=bl&ots=6Y2TUQOaZZ&sig=al53m0Wfu8m88ZSEAvu7vPIMk04&hl=de&ei=ZCyHSvuKKaHqnAOlvNTkBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=South%20Ossetia%201990%20MVD&f=false Bloodshed in the Caucasus. Violations of Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in the Georgia-South Ossetia Conflict]. Human Rights Watch. April 1, 1992. On January 5, 1991, which is Christmas Day locally, tanks and artillery from Russia's 58th army and [[KGB|Russian Interior Ministry (MVD)]] were dispatched to South Ossetia.</ref> and shot unarmed civilians, killing hundreds.<ref>See also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EInKmH7RNcQ April 9, 1989 Massacre of Women in Tbilisi by Russians] Video.</ref> In 1978 [[Menachem Begin]] won the Peace Prize , who then started the 1982 Lebanon War culminating in the Sabra and Shatila massacres.<ref>http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Famous-Zionist-Quotes/Story703.html</ref> The Peace Prize has often been awarded only a year or so after the political events that have merited the award, and not for lifetime achievement. The Arafat award is particularly controversial in this respect.

Equally there have been several instances where prizes were awarded to those whom many felt did not deserve the honor. Controversy in this regard has been especially acute in the award of the Peace Prize. When [[Henry Kissinger]] was awarded the prize in 1973 the American satirist, Tom Lehrer, observed that this had rendered political satire 'obsolete'. Many were outraged by the award to [[Yasir Arafat]] in 1994, who was reportedly associated with the Munich massacre of Jewish athletes in 1972.<ref>http://media.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzUyZjg1MTY2NjgxOTQ5Zjg2OWIwOTNjMTQxY2U4MTk=</ref> Only days after [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] received his Peace Prize in 1991, Soviet troops were ordered into the [[Georgia (country)#South Ossetia and conflict with Russia|sovereign republic of Georgia]]<ref>http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-01-10/news/1991010108_1_georgian-parliament-south-ossetia-georgian-police</ref><ref>[http://books.google.de/books?id=AaE4vZaz1ccC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=South+Ossetia+1990+MVD&source=bl&ots=6Y2TUQOaZZ&sig=al53m0Wfu8m88ZSEAvu7vPIMk04&hl=de&ei=ZCyHSvuKKaHqnAOlvNTkBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=South%20Ossetia%201990%20MVD&f=false Bloodshed in the Caucasus. Violations of Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in the Georgia-South Ossetia Conflict]. Human Rights Watch. April 1, 1992. On January 5, 1991, which is Christmas Day locally, tanks and artillery from Russia's 58th army and [[KGB|Russian Interior Ministry (MVD)]] were dispatched to South Ossetia.</ref> and shot unarmed civilians, killing hundreds.<ref>See also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EInKmH7RNcQ April 9, 1989 Massacre of Women in Tbilisi by Russians] Video.</ref> In 1978 [[Menachem Begin]] won the Peace Prize, who then started the 1982 Lebanon War culminating in the Sabra and Shatila massacres.<ref>http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Famous-Zionist-Quotes/Story703.html</ref> The Peace Prize has often been awarded only a year or so after the political events that have merited the award, and not for lifetime achievement. The Arafat award is particularly controversial in this respect.

Further politicization of the award occurred in 2007 when [[Al Gore]] was given the peace prize for promoting the dubious theory of man-made [[Global Warming]], a political agenda that has no clear connection with "peace". Bias is facilitated by the haste in awarding the Peace Prize, which in Gore's case seemed to be timed to boost a potential presidential campaign.   

Further politicization of the award occurred in 2007 when [[Al Gore]] was given the peace prize for promoting the dubious theory of man-made [[Global Warming]], a political agenda that has no clear connection with "peace". Bias is facilitated by the haste in awarding the Peace Prize, which in Gore's case seemed to be timed to boost a potential presidential campaign.