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'Berlin Wall's Lessons For Today'

In an op-ed for "USA Today," Jeffrey Gedmin discusses RFE and the role of free media in societies living under repressive regimes. More
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Nobel Laureate Hopes Prize Inspires Others To Fight Poverty

December 10, 2006

Nobel Peace Prize winner, Grameen Bank's Muhammad Yunus (file photo) (epa)

December 10, 2006 -- Bangladesh economist Muhammad Yunus said in prepared remarks ahead of collecting the Nobel Peace Prize today in Oslo that he hopes his award will inspire "bold initiatives" to fight world poverty.

Yunus also said that unjust economic, social, and political orders threaten peace.
 
Before accepting the award, Yunus urged others to follow the example of his Grameen Bank, which has been an innovator in extending so-called microloans to help the poor begin small businesses.
 
"So I am saying that if lending money to the poor people changes their lives and you could do business -- you know, getting money back, cover all your costs -- why shouldn't we do more of that?" Yunus asked. "This is one of the issues that we keep raising and that is something  that we will continue to do."
 
Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, winner of the Nobel for literature, and other Nobel  winners were scheduled to receive their awards in a separate ceremony later in the day in Stockholm, Sweden.

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