'The internet' is in the running for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.

The BBC reports that 'the internet' is among a record 237 individuals and organizations nominated, up from even last year's all-time high of 205.

Modesty does not prevent us from reporting that the candidacy of 'The internet' was championed by the Italian edition of Wired for advancing "dialogue, debate and consensus".

"The internet can be considered the first weapon of mass construction, which we can deploy to destroy hate and conflict and to propagate peace and democracy," Riccardo Luna, editor-in-chief of the Italian edition of Wired magazine, said when it backed the effort last November. "What happened in Iran after the latest election, and the role the web played in spreading information that would otherwise have been censored, are only the newest examples of how the internet can become a weapon of global hope."

Nobel institution director Geir Lundestad told the BCC that "thousands of nominations" had been received. The institute itself does not reveal who is on the short list, though nominating parties often do.Others believed to be in the running are Russian human rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina and Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo, the BBC said.

Twitter didn't make the cut as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year", but the judging criteria aren't exactly the same — and no offense, but the internet has at least as much experience bringing about world peace as last year's winner.

Only question: Should 'The internet' win, who will accept at the lavish ceremony in Stockholm Oslo (Thank you, BEL) next Oct. 8? Let the comments commence ...

BBC News - Internet 'in running' for Nobel Peace Prize.

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