Art Changes The Heart

‘Statistics may change the minds but it’s art that changes the heart.’  This was a quotation I came across the other day and thought how true it was. However I might even go so far as saying that statistics which can be monumentally boring, can even send you to sleep! 

There have been countless examples however of where Art has had a profound effect on how people think. I’m thinking particularly of Pablo Picasso’s famous picture Guernica. 

This picture shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals particularly innocent civilians. This huge picture has become, over the years, an anti-war symbol and an embodiment of peace. But it’s not just art in the conventional sense that does this but art in the sense of literature as well.  

A very good example of this is ‘Tom Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ which was a novel written to highlight the suffering that slavery caused in the 18^th century .  

I myself have tried to put art to work to counteract the modern slave trade which is far worse than the old slave trade ever was in that it affects more people. There are literally  millions in the world today who are part of the modern slave trade and that includes sexual slaves as well as economic slaves. 

Twenty years ago the number in modern slavery was calculated to be about 27 million a year, and it has risen steeply since then.  

By comparison it is also calculated that from the 16^th to the 18^th century a total  of 12 million were shipped form Africa to the New World. 

This inspired me to write a book called ‘The Garden of Sparkling Delight.’ This novel does exactly the same job as ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ did so many years ago.  My book takes the story of a young girl who is inveigled  into slavery In Brazil and weaves it with a parallel story of a young English doctor and his wife.  Several times their paths cross and each time we see that the girl is sinking deeper and deeper into a very dark place. The doctor himself is partly responsible, unwittingly, for this. Please read this book and enter into the tragedy that it depicts and also the bravery, love and courage of all those concerned in this exciting story.

The novel tells the story of one such young girl as you travel with her through the situation that caused her to tricked into sexual slavery and the dreadful life she had thereafter, until her rescue. Please read it. No money is made out of this book and you can listen to it for free from this site or on You Tube.  The novel can be obtained from Amazon for a modest sum in paperback and on the Kindle e-reader.  You can use this link to the free audio, The Podcast or go to the links at the top of this WEB page and select 'Tis The Podcast'.  There you will find access to the 21 half hours episodes to listen  on-line or download for later listening and sharing.  

'Tis' (the main character) also on YouTube

The Garden of Sparkling Delight' on Amazon

 

For up to date information from those working to end this trade and support victims contact:-

ECPAT  www.ecpat.org.uk [End Child Pornography and Trafficking] is active in the UK and several other countries.  It specialises is lobbying, campaigning and supporting rescued slaves. 

The A21 Campaign www.thea21campaign.org - this is a global NGO that fights to abolish injustice in the 21^st century. Its focus is on those affected by human trafficking  and it runs prevention and protection schemes throughout Europe, Australia and USA. 

The Salvation Army  www.salvationarmy.org.uk/modern-slavery/am-i-safe-now

Stop the Traffik www.stopthetraffik.org - A global movement of individuals communities and organizations fighting to prevent human trafficking around the world. 

Meninadanca www.meninadanca.org - This society fights child prostitution along the remote arterial highways of Brazil. They also provide a place of safety where rescued girls can go and be rehabilitated.  

Thank you for reading this blog and please share with others.