The legendaryAustralian journalist filmmaker and relentless critic of Western foreign policy John Pilger died two years ago on 30 December 2023 at age 84 from pulmonary fibrosis. He was so brave and focussed his life on telling the world what many, particularly British journalists have failed at. He told the truth.
Pilger was a relentless critic of American, Australian, and British foreign policy, which he considered to be driven by an imperialist and colonialist agenda. He also criticised his native country's treatment of Indigenous Australians. He first drew international attention for his reports on the Cambodian genocide.
I thank him for shining a light on so many injustices in the world. He helped shape my outlook on the world with his reporting and documentaries. From Palestine to Iraq, Australia and the Chagos Islands, I also had the privilege of meeting him .
He did what journalists should do - question and expose. A man of true integrity with an immense legacy. His journalism changed the world, he called out the charlatans and functionaries. He remains a moral beacon whose light shines on. He will be remembered as one of the most important journalists of our time, whose journalism and films took on power, uncovered hidden agendas and gave voice to the voiceless.
His writing and presentational style mark him out as a man who was interested in bringing stories of oppression and criminality committed by the ruling class to the attention of the masses. He interviewed without fear or favour and travelled everywhere in pursuit of stories. An outstanding seeker and contributor who made it his life's work to share some of the most difficult truths.
Pilger remained a tireless advocate for those affected by US criminality in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Unlike most journalists who are little more than self serving propagandists he remained committed to the people in the stories he covered over many years.
John Pilger, who was among the most important journalistic voices in the West on the Palestinian question, died in the midst of Israel’s genocide against Gaza, his profound warnings having been ignored about where the crisis was headed. Always on the right side of history. Sorely missed. A truly great man.
Let's not forget he was covertly monitored by a secret British propaganda unit as the UK government wanted to discredit his journalistic work.
The following quote was part of his final published piece before his death in December 2023.The full article is titled "We Are Spartacus". In the article, Pilger uses the famous scene from the 1960 film Spartacus as a metaphor for modern resistance and solidarity with those who expose injustice or stand up to powerful forces.
“Spartacus was the rebellious leader of Rome’s slaves in 71-73 BC. There is a thrilling moment in the Kirk Douglas movie Spartacus when the Romans call on Spartacus’s men to identify their leader and so be pardoned. Instead hundreds of his comrades stand and raise their fists in solidarity and shout, ‘I am Spartacus!’ The rebellion is under way. Julian and David are Spartacus. The Palestinians are Spartacus. People who fill the streets with flags and principle and solidarity are Spartacus. We are all Spartacus if we want to be”.
The "Julian and David" mentioned in the quote refer to: Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who has faced legal battles and potential extradition to the US for publishing classified information. David McBride, an Australian military whistleblower who was prosecuted for leaking confidential documents about alleged war crimes committed by Australian troops in Afghanistan.
Pilger used the metaphor to argue that showing solidarity with such individuals and with groups like the Palestinians, who he viewed as resisting oppression, is a shared responsibility for all who value freedom and decency.
Let's keep fighting for social justice, a profoundly different future, where the human rights of all will be fully realized, a future of life and of decent lives for all. Highlighting injustices done to those fleeing persecution and war and those living in the UK who are denied means to protect their health.The victims of war deserve our solidarity and support, whoever they are, and wherever they happen to be.
To honor John Pilger here's a thread of clips from his 2010 documentary, The War You Don't See, about media's role in selling war.
and here is his entire film Palestine Is Still the Issue and the discussion that followed between Pilger and the great Israeli historian Ilan Pappé, in 2021.
No comments:
Post a Comment