Book description
John Pilger is one of the world's pre-eminent investigative
journalists and documentary film-makers. His best-selling books of
reportage, which include Heroes and Hidden Voices, have
in the words of Noam Chomsky 'been a beacon of light in often dark
times'.
In Freedom Next Time he looks at five countries, in each of
which a long struggle for freedom has taken place; in each the people,
having shed blood and dreams, are still waiting. In Afghanistan, Iraq
and South Africa there has been the promise of hope, and even an
'official' freedom, but the reality of these divided societies is that
they are still waiting for real freedom. In Palestine, the cycle of
violence continues with no resolution in sight. And the island of
Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, is a microcosm of the ruthlessness
of great powers. The island was sold by the British to the American
military in the 1960s. The indigenous population, descended from
slaves, were forcibly removed to the slums of Port Louis in Mauritius.
They have continued to fight for the return of their homeland ever
since - three years ago the High Court granted them the right of
return, but this has subsequently been blocked. The island remains the
US's third biggest military base; a base from which they are able to
launch attacks against the Middle East.
Once again John Pilger gives a voice to the people living through
these momentous times and, in gripping detail, shows us the lives
behind the headlines.
John Pilger grew up in Sydney, Australia. He has been a war
correspondent, author and film-maker. He has twice won British
journalism's highest award, that of Journalist of the Year, for his work
all over the world, notably in Cambodia and Vietnam. He has been
International Reporter of the Year and winner of the United Nations
Associated Peace Prize and Gold Medal. For his broadcasting, he has won
France's Reporter Sans Frontières, an American television Academy
Award, an Emmy, and the Richard Dimbleby Award, given by the British
Academy of Film and Television Arts. In 2003, he received the Sophie
Prize for 'thirty years of exposing deception and improving human
rights'.
