NORWAY: Artists from all over the world gather to celebrate this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureates

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2006 was shared, in two equal parts, between Professor Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank for their efforts to create economic and social development from below. This year's hosts, Hollywood superstars Sharon Stone and Anjelica Huston, attended a press conference before the concert along with other artists who were performing that evening. Stone, who is a long-time peace activist started by talking about how she views fame and the roles artists play in promoting peace: "You know I and many of my colleagues believe that fame is a currency and that, that currency well spent can do a great deal of good in the world," said Stone. For the first time in the history of the Nobel Peace Prize concert, there was also a relative of the laureate in the line up. Muhammad Yunus's daughter Monica Yunus is a successful opera singer. "It's an amazing opportunity for me to be among such amazing celebrities and such artists, so I am really just so honoured to be here, honoured to be part of this very, very great day in my father's life," she said. Soul legend Lionel Richie spoke about the naive dreams he had twenty years ago when he wrote the monster hit "We are the World." Concluding that nothing has really changed since then he challenged his fellow artists to join him in a new project: "I must tell you that I am at the stage now were I think that it is about time that we did something like that again on a global basis. I challenge my fellow artists on this stage to join in some force there," said Richie. Maybe this year's biggest surprise act was the man who today goes under the name, Yusuf Islam, who to most glam rockers during the seventies is known as Cat Stevens. Yusuf, who now is a practising Muslim, spoke about the laureate and why he had decided to start singing again after a break of nearly thirty years: "Muhammad Yunus has actually linked peace with prosperity. And I think that's a very important clue that a lot of world leaders might begin to try to understand," said Islam. "Well it is because of that in away that I have come back to, to sing again. Because I am in a unique position, as a looking glass perhaps through which the west can see Islam and the Muslims can see west," he added. US soul singer John Legend spoke of his decision to come to Oslo: "Growing up, the Nobel Prize has always been something that struck me as something very prestigious, knowing that someone like Martin Luther King has won it, people that have made an amazing impact on the world have won it, so it has such an important meaning to me." At eight o'clock local time, Muhammad Yunus arrived at the Spectrum Oslo Arena, joined by the Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon and his Princess Mette Maarit. Some twenty thousands Nobel fans gave the laureate a standing ovation at his arrival. The concert kicked off with hosts Sharon Stone and Anjelica Huston walking onto to the massive stage accompanied by a sixty person orchestra. Anjelica Huston once again pointed out what made this years Nobel Peace Prize winners so special: "The committee has awarded the prize, not for traditional conflict resolution but in recognition of that poverty breathes conflict. Thus fighting poverty is working for peace." Then it was time for a long line of performers to pay tribute to the Nobel Peace Prize winners. First out was British band Simply Red followed by Egypt's Hakim. Later on came RnB princess Rihanna as well as country queen Wynonna Judd who both entertained an ecstatic audience.

ITN Source | December 14, 2006

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