I wanted to write a short story about “Almayer's Folly”. Conrad's book and René Magritte's painting. But I got overwhelmed by all the “cultural” connections and coincidences that seemed to lead back to the disillusions of life. So I decided to drop it. It sounded too forced: the narcissism of the shadows. I have set it all to one side for now.
Then I read something that made me understand that, often, the real mistake lies in relating everything to ourselves. Like looking at your finger while pointing at the moon. The real shadows are the hidden crimes around us. The dark matter.
What I read was the Global Slavery Index 2013. Produced by the Walk Free Foundation (WFF), it analyses the global situation of modern slavery. This includes slavery, slavery-like practices (such as debt bondage, forced marriage and sale or exploitation of children), human trafficking and forced labour, and other practices.
Thirty million people live under these conditions in the world today. Most are in Africa and Asia. The highest number is in the two countries that should represent the planet's future: India and China.
From this perspective, Magritte's painting becomes a kind of symbol.


To download the report click here