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A review by mubeenirfan
The New Rulers of the World by John Pilger
4.0
This is the second time I picked up something from John Pilger and have not been disappointed either time. I got this book thinking it was written recently but found out it was penned in 2003/04 and this is only an updated edition with a new preface and some additions at the end of each chapter.
This book has four chapters dealing with Indonesia, Afghanistan, Iraq and to my surprise Australia. I am already aware of neo-capitalism engulfing developing nations in the form of IMF & World Bank resulting in subsidy losses and reduction in the standard of living in name of economic progress however, there were a few topics which were new and caused much heart break while reading them. The most striking thing for me was the callosity of US/UK administrations in blocking all medical aid & instruments to Iraq after first Gulf war citing the dual usage of many of drugs/instruments to develop weapons of mass destruction when so many notable experts disagreed such use was possible with the quantities being required for this humanitarian assistance. As a result, millions of Iraqi kids have died of cancer in those 15 years but there has never been any questioning or discussion on this monstrosity.
The last chapter was the most informative. Australia is a land of opportunities for many and is perceived as an integrated diverse country. However, the treatment they have meted out to their indigenous people (Aborigines) rivals the treatment of African-Americans in American south. I toured Australia once and count Melbourne as the best city I have ever visited so it was surprising to me how out of touch general Australians are wrt state of affairs of their Aborigines brothers in the bush (outback). But I should not be surprised. In an age where Black Lives Matter is a relevant phenomenon, Australia's Aborigines would also be struggling to get their share of basics. The new rulers of the world are still the old rulers of the world.
This book has four chapters dealing with Indonesia, Afghanistan, Iraq and to my surprise Australia. I am already aware of neo-capitalism engulfing developing nations in the form of IMF & World Bank resulting in subsidy losses and reduction in the standard of living in name of economic progress however, there were a few topics which were new and caused much heart break while reading them. The most striking thing for me was the callosity of US/UK administrations in blocking all medical aid & instruments to Iraq after first Gulf war citing the dual usage of many of drugs/instruments to develop weapons of mass destruction when so many notable experts disagreed such use was possible with the quantities being required for this humanitarian assistance. As a result, millions of Iraqi kids have died of cancer in those 15 years but there has never been any questioning or discussion on this monstrosity.
The last chapter was the most informative. Australia is a land of opportunities for many and is perceived as an integrated diverse country. However, the treatment they have meted out to their indigenous people (Aborigines) rivals the treatment of African-Americans in American south. I toured Australia once and count Melbourne as the best city I have ever visited so it was surprising to me how out of touch general Australians are wrt state of affairs of their Aborigines brothers in the bush (outback). But I should not be surprised. In an age where Black Lives Matter is a relevant phenomenon, Australia's Aborigines would also be struggling to get their share of basics. The new rulers of the world are still the old rulers of the world.