Has the Nobel Peace Prize lost its way?

It was negotiations that convinced Syria to get rid of its chemical weapons. And it's the watchdog overseeing the destruction of that stockpile that is this years Nobel Peace Prize winner. The 2013 award may escape controversy we've seen with other recipients--the European Union, Yasser Arafat, the US president. But does the Nobel Peace Prize still have as much meaning and what does peace mean in 2013?

---

The Meaning of the Nobel Peace Prize

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Alfred Nobel specified the winner should have done "the most work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promoting of peace conferences." It's a little open ended. Most years the selection is controversial; derided as too political or outlandish.

Metta Spencer is the Editor in Chief of Peace Magazine. She believes the Nobel Peace Prize has lost its way and do not meet the definition that Alfred Nobel set for the awarding of the Prize. Metta Spencer was in Toronto.

Barack Obama was asked just last month if there was a dilemma between being a peace prize laureate and advocating an attack on Syria.

"I would much rather spend my time talking about how to get every three and four year old a good education, rather than spending time thinking about how to prevent three and four year old from being exposed to chemical weapons and nerve gas. As President of the United States, I can't avoid those questions".U.S. President Barack Obama

Even the most gentle of world leaders can hardly avoid difficult questions about tyrants, self-defence and disarmament. But if the answers were easy, they wouldn't still be handing out peace prizes.

• Doug Roche has contemplated war and peace for decades. He is a former Progressive Conservative member of Parliament, and the former Canadian ambassador for Disarmament. He is also the author of several books including The Human Right to Peace and Creative Dissent: A Politician's Struggle for Peace. And two years ago he was himself a Nobel Peace Prize nominee. He was in Edmonton.

• Amil Davis is newer to activism. He's been at it about three years. Amil is a student at the University of Toronto and a member of Science for Peace. Climate change is the main focus of his peace activism. Amil Davis was in Toronto.

What do you think? Was the OPCW a good choice for the Nobel Peace Prize? Has the meaning of the award changed?

Tweet us @thecurrentcbc. Follow us on Facebook. Or e-mail us through our website. Call us toll-free at 1 877 287 7366. And as always if you missed anything on The Current, grab a podcast.

This segment was produced by The Current's Howard Goldenthal and Naheed Mustafa.