Nobel Peace Prize Center
Norway was the home of Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite. He didn’t marry or have children but left his wealth to what has now become known as the ‘Nobel Peace Prize Award’.
You can find out more at the Nobel Peace Prize Centre in Oslo, this space is also used to present culture and politics to discuss debate and conflict resolution in the hope for peace.
IIf you ever wondered how the nomination process works or more about the Nobel Peace Prize winners, this is the place to go. Some actually surprised me such as the European Union (EU) which won an award in 2012 for, “over six decades [having] contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe“. I also didn’t know Martin Luther King Jr. had been nominated by the Quakers!
The main room above was dedicated to the 2018 prize winners Nadida Murad and Dr. Dennis Mugweek, ‘The Body as A Battlefield’ – a deeply disturbing exhibition about sexual violence used as a weapon of war worldwide.
‘Half a papaya, with a knife driven clean through its core. Tiny toy soldiers on a naked back. The images, which make up the exhibition “The Body as a Battlefield”, illustrates the barbarity that lies behind this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war since the dawn of time. Systematic rape, violent sexual assault and sexual slavery are used to spread fear, reward soldiers or exterminate entire religious and ethnic minorities. ‘
Nadia Murad, a member of Iraq’s Yazidi minority and a survivor of sexual violence and slavery. Held captive by ISIS, she managed to escape and is now speaking out for survivors.
Dr Denis Mukwege, the Congolese surgeon who has helped reconstruct the shattered bodies of thousands of victims of sexual violence in the Congo.
A deeply disturbing exhibition but extremely moving. Much respect to these selfless people sacrificing their lives in coming forward to advocate for change.
Viking Ship Museum
A small museum (soon to be extended) but interesting to see none the less, these excavated Viking ships will give you an insight into Nordic history.
Archeologists found the remains of two women during excavation of the Oseberg Ship in 1904.The Oseberg mound was a collection of grave goods which indicated that these women were important political or religious figures.
As well as the ships themselves you can view a selection of artefacts that were found on the ships.
