Los Angeles: Fans of the late pop star Michael Jackson have launched an Internet campaign to have their idol nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Two online petitions have already collected more than 12,000 signatures in support of nominating the singer, who died of cardiac arrest on June 25, for one of the world's most prestigious awards.
"Michael's message for humankind has always been rooted in compassion, and kindness. He has succeeded a lifelong dedication to the well being of humanity," one of the petitions said.
The fans explain that Jackson should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for devoting his life to "helping others in their darkest time of need".
"It would be nearly impossible to count the multiple hundreds of millions of dollars Michael has donated to charity from his own finances and also through organising major fund raising events," reads the petition, which has been signed by more than 2,000 people.
The other group of more than 10,000 fans has signed letters to Nobel Peace Prize laureates and the United Nations to nominate the king of pop for the award.
"Unfortunately we didn't succeed in getting Michael nominated," authors of the petition said.
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established in the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel. The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901.
Every September, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, comprising five people elected by the Norwegian parliament, sends letters to members of parliament, political leaders, international organizations and other "qualified people", asking them to put forward their own candidates for the prize.
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