Doing Finance For Peace And Good

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2006, divided into two equal parts, to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank for their efforts to create economic and social development from below. Lasting peace can not be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty. Micro-credit is one such means. Development from below also serves to advance democracy and human rights." The New York Times says "microcredit, also known as microfinance, is the practice of giving or loaning seed money for small businesses to people -- often women traditionally excluded from normal financial channels -- in villages or towns across the developing world, on the theory that economic strength in a country or region can be built from the grass-roots level up."