Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 4. november 2009 / Timeline November 4, 2009
Version 3.53. November 2009, 5. November 2009
11/04/2009
John Pilger wins
2009 Sydney Peace Prize
The world renowned journalist, author and film-maker John Pilger
has been awarded the 2009 Sydney Peace Prize. The jury's citation
reads:
“For work as an author, film-maker and journalist as well as
for courage as a foreign and war correspondent in enabling the
voices of the powerless to be heard. For commitment to peace with
justice by exposing and holding governments to account for human
rights abuses and for fearless challenges to censorship in any
form.’
Sydney Peace Foundation Director Professor Stuart Rees comments,
“The jury was impressed by John’s courage as well as by
his skills and creativity. His commitment to uncovering human
rights abuses shines through his numerous books, films and
articles. His work inspires all those who value peace with
justice.”
Speaking from London about news of this award, John Pilger
responded: "Coming from my homeland and the city where I was born
and grew up, this is an honour I shall cherish, with the hope that
it encourages young Australian journalists, writers and film-makers
to break the silences that perpetuate injustice both faraway and
close to home."
Examples of his work include an account of the British and American
governments’ secret ‘mass kidnappings’ of a whole
population of the Chagos Islands in the Indian ocean to make way
for an American military base. His 1979 film Year Zero: the Silent
Death of Cambodia depicted the horrors of the Pol Pot regime and
the plight of the Khmer people. In 1994, Death of a Nation, shot
under cover in East Timor, galvanized world wide support for the
East Timorese people. His re-making of the film Palestine is Still
the Issue reminds the world of a continuing occupation and cruel
injustice.
Other distinguished recipients of Australia’s only
international prize for peace have included previous Nobel
recipients Professor Muhammad Yunus and Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Indian
author and human rights campaigner Arundhati Roy and, last year,
the Aboriginal leader and ‘father of reconciliation’
Patrick Dodson.
On Wednesday 4th November John Pilger will receive the 2009 Sydney
Peace Prize at a gala ceremony in the Maclaurin Hall at the
University of Sydney. On Thursday November 5th he will give the
City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture in the concert hall of the
Sydney Opera House. On the morning of Friday November 6th, he will
be the guest of 1500 high school students at a peace festival
hosted by Cabramatta High School.
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