6 Legislators nominate Greg Mortensen ("Three Cups of Tea")of Bozeman for Nobel Peace Prize

A bipartisan group of six members of the U.S. Congress have nominated humanitarian Greg Mortenson of Bozeman for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mortenson, 51, founder of the Central Asia Institute and co-author of the bestselling book “Three Cups of Tea,” http://matr.net/click.php?id=1383&url=https://www.ikat.org/ has built nearly 80 schools, especially for girls, in remote areas of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan over the past 15 years.

“Mr. Mortenson’s life work is remarkable,” Rep. Mary Bono, R-Calif., wrote in a nomination letter to the Nobel Committee in Norway. “He has overcome great adversity, escaping brutality and death, to continue his commitment to providing educational opportunities to children” and “continues to impress the global community with his unwavering dedication.”

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Greg Mortensen’s Speech to the 2007 Montana State University Freshman Convocation http://cpa.mtstatefdn.com/Convocation/1.html

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The letter asking the committee to give the nomination its “full consideration” was signed by Bono, Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Reps. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., Connie Mack, R-Fla., and Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio.

Full Story: By KARIN RONNOW Chronicle Staff Writer

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Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg http://www.house.gov/rehberg/ , has nominated a Bozeman man for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In a letter sent Wednesday to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Rehberg nominated Greg Mortensen, a Bozeman resident who has established schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is also the co-author of the bestselling book, Three Cups of Tea http://www.matr.net/click.php?id=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ikat.org%2F .

"The Nobel Peace Prize recognizes individuals who have worked tirelessly to promote peace and prosperity in countries around the world…Greg Mortensen’s work advancing children’s education in volatile countries encompasses these values. I can think of no one more deserving of this award," said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

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Bozeman’s Greg Mortenson appears on ‘Sunday Morning’ today – "Creating Schools, And Bridges, To Children" http://matr.net/article-32296.html

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Below is Rehberg’s complete letter:

The Norwegian Nobel Committee

The Nobel Institute
NO-0255 Oslo, Norway

Dear Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee:

We, the undersigned Members of the United States Congress, respectfully nominate Mr. Greg Mortensen for the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr. Mortensen, a humanitarian, co-founder of the Central Asia Institute and Pennies for Peace, and co-author of the best selling non-fiction, Three Cups of Tea, continues to impress the global community with his unwavering dedication to advancing children’s education in some of the world’s most volatile regions.

Mr. Mortensen’s life work is remarkable. He has overcome great adversity, escaping brutality and death, to continue his commitment to providing educational opportunities to children, especially girls, living in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has established more than 78 schools in rural areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan after witnessing, first-hand, children being schooled on sand lots with nothing more than wooden sticks to use for writing in the dirt.

As we well know, educating females in these countries remains controversial. Mr. Mortensen understands the tremendous positive, peaceful impacts that educated girls and women have on societies around the world. He advocates girl’s education as the key to economic development and peace, and he continues to fight to make this possible where it otherwise may not be achieved.

During his efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mr. Mortensen has worked directly with government officials and other country and community leaders during a time of war in these regions. He brings with him the courage and compassion, few others have, to bridge cultural differences and help countries build better societies.

In recognition of Mr. Mortensen’s achievements, he has received some of the highest honors and awards. Among them, Pakistan’s government announced that Mr. Mortensen will receive their highest civil award, Sitara-e-Pakistan ("Star of Pakistan"), for his humanitarian efforts to provide education in rural areas for the past 15 years.

We, along with other Members of Congress, have engaged Mr. Mortensen in profound discussions regarding his work to strengthen education and advocate peace around the world. Mr. Mortensen has clearly demonstrated to us his strong character, determination and unique ability to work peacefully with foreign leaders during a time of adversity.

To honor Mr. Mortensen’s exceptional humanitarian and peaceful efforts, we ask that you give this nomination your full consideration. We greatly appreciate your effort in this regard.

Sincerely,

Full Story: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=9634543

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More about The Central Asia Institute: http://matr.net/news.phtml?cat_id=106&catlabel=Three+Cups+of+Tea+-+The+Central+Asia+Institute

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Montanan nominated for Nobel

By MIKE DENNISON
Gazette State Bureau

HELENA – Bozeman resident Greg Mortenson, whose best-selling book "Three Cups of Tea" chronicles his work to establish schools in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been nominated by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Rehberg, R-Mont., and five other members of Congress signed a letter sent Wednesday to the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo, Norway, nominating Morten-son for the prestigious award.

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/01/08/news/state/35-nobel.txt