‘Hero’ Edward Snowden Receives Award Considered ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’

It seems Edward Snowden’s international notoriety continues to grow. The man who has been called a whistleblower by some, and a traitor by others, was awarded Sweden’s Right Livelihood Honorary Prize. The award recognizes individuals who provide “practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today,” according to the prize’s website. It is considered the “Alternative Nobel Prize,” and has been bestowed upon 158 “Laureates” from around the world since it was created in 1980.

The award praised Edward Snowden for his “courage and skill in revealing the unprecedented extent of state surveillance violating basic democratic processes and constitutional rights.”

As reported by The Guardian, Snowden recorded a statement in which he said the following.

“Being named a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award for my work in revealing the global system of mass surveillance that’s monitoring all of us in secret without the consent of the public, is a vindication I think not just for myself, but for everyone who came before me to raise awareness about these issues.”

Snowden also gave credit to the efforts of journalists, human rights activists, and others “who recognized long before I did what was coming and why it was so important to stop it.”

The former NSA contractor also had this to say.

“The meaning of resisting the violations of our freedoms that we see today is not that we have something to hide, but that we have something to protect: our rights.”

Meanwhile, Snowden has become something of a “cult hero” in Germany, according to the Wall Street Journal. His likeness and name are being depicted in posters and graffiti, and he’s even referenced in a song called “Guten Morgen NSA” by a German hip-hop star called MoTrip.

Snowden was a recipient of the “honorary” portion of the Right Livelihood Award. That means he won’t get any of the cash prize that comes along with it. In addition, he must share the award with Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, who was recognized for his work in publishing articles based on Snowden’s leaked documents.

Earlier this month, The Inquisitr reported that former NSA official Chris Inglis expressed his belief that Snowden’s actions have helped the Islamic State — often referred to as ISIS or ISIL — in their violent efforts in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere.

Do you think Edward Snowden deserved to receive the Right Livelihood Award? Do you believe he is a traitor, or should he be considered a hero?