Muslim winner of Nobel Peace Prize

[bowerbird]

The Nobel Peace Prize 2006 was on Sunday presented jointly to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank during a ceremony at the Oslo City Hall, for their efforts to create economic and social development from below.

http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=36243

[Draciaus]

I'm not familiar with the Grameen Bank's work, do they extent beyond the Muslim World?

[FlyingGuineapig]

I'm not sure what all the countries they are that the Bank serves, but the concept of "microloans" that Muhammad Yunus pioneered is pretty fricking brillant, yet simple and is widely copied (see "Microcredit" under Wikipedia if you're not familar with it). While Pakistan (and that region) has been the initial benefactors, the effect is world-wide for less affluent countries (heck, maybe even affulent ones as well). He definitely deserves (IMHO) a Nobel.

[Draciaus]

Yeah, I vaguely remember something about a banking organization that made small loans to women so that they could start small businesses, and turn an income, but for some reason, it didn't click until I read about it on Wikipedia. I'm surprised how high the percentage of loan-receivers is women, but I guess that they are more reliable in this sense.