Peace in our time

Give President Obama this much. He came to office promising climate change and, according to the committee that awards the annual Nobel Peace Prize, in nine short months in office he has achieved it. Barack Obama, of course, has not lowered global temperatures, carbon emissions or rising sea-levels. Instead, the Norwegian Nobel Committee believes Mr. Obama deserves this distinction because he has given the world "hope for a better future." This arises from his "vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons" and his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."