I still believe in the power of the photograph to communicate and to make
photograph to communicate and to make
photograph to communicate and to make you think and care
you think and care
you think and care [Music]
[Music]
[Music] the most important story that I’ve done
the most important story that I’ve done
the most important story that I’ve done was on 21st century slavery
nothing in my life had prepared me for
nothing in my life had prepared me for what I was going to be seen I became a
what I was going to be seen I became a
what I was going to be seen I became a photographer because I wanted to change
photographer because I wanted to change
photographer because I wanted to change the world it’s just been a little bit
the world it’s just been a little bit
the world it’s just been a little bit harder than I thought it was going to be
harder than I thought it was going to be
harder than I thought it was going to be I believe that photography played a big
I believe that photography played a big
I believe that photography played a big role in ending the war in Vietnam and I
role in ending the war in Vietnam and I
role in ending the war in Vietnam and I really had big plans but now my
really had big plans but now my
really had big plans but now my ambitions are a lot more realistic to
ambitions are a lot more realistic to
ambitions are a lot more realistic to just try to do my bit to help cultures
just try to do my bit to help cultures
just try to do my bit to help cultures understand each other and to try to
understand each other and to try to
understand each other and to try to eliminate or illuminate worlds that most
eliminate or illuminate worlds that most
eliminate or illuminate worlds that most people will never see I’m a journalist
people will never see I’m a journalist
people will never see I’m a journalist and a storyteller at heart the word
and a storyteller at heart the word
and a storyteller at heart the word storytellers become such a cliche but I
storytellers become such a cliche but I
storytellers become such a cliche but I can’t think of a better way to describe
can’t think of a better way to describe
can’t think of a better way to describe what it is that I do from the dawn of
what it is that I do from the dawn of
what it is that I do from the dawn of human history people have been sitting
human history people have been sitting
human history people have been sitting around the campfire and telling stories
around the campfire and telling stories
around the campfire and telling stories to try to understand their world my
to try to understand their world my
to try to understand their world my heart has always been in the concept
heart has always been in the concept
heart has always been in the concept stories the stories about ideas rather
stories the stories about ideas rather
stories the stories about ideas rather than places with places you can’t have
than places with places you can’t have
than places with places you can’t have to invent the the narrative or the story
to invent the the narrative or the story
to invent the the narrative or the story but with concepts you have a real story
but with concepts you have a real story
but with concepts you have a real story to tell and I’d love doing them the most
to tell and I’d love doing them the most
to tell and I’d love doing them the most important story that I’ve done was on
important story that I’ve done was on
important story that I’ve done was on 21st century slavery the trafficking of
21st century slavery the trafficking of
21st century slavery the trafficking of human beings around the world it’s a
human beings around the world it’s a
human beings around the world it’s a story about how 27 million people are
story about how 27 million people are
story about how 27 million people are bought and sold against their will held
bought and sold against their will held
bought and sold against their will held captive brutalized and exploited for
captive brutalized and exploited for
captive brutalized and exploited for profit it was a global story on an
profit it was a global story on an
profit it was a global story on an emotional issue that depended on being
emotional issue that depended on being
emotional issue that depended on being behind closed doors and it was
behind closed doors and it was
behind closed doors and it was accumulation of all my interests and all
accumulation of all my interests and all
accumulation of all my interests and all my passion and all my experience and it
my passion and all my experience and it
my passion and all my experience and it was incredibly dangerous but and and I
was incredibly dangerous but and and I
was incredibly dangerous but and and I was actually in tears or in fear the
was actually in tears or in fear the
was actually in tears or in fear the entire time
entire time
entire time a story tens of thousands of children
a story tens of thousands of children
a story tens of thousands of children are trafficked internally in West Africa
are trafficked internally in West Africa
are trafficked internally in West Africa it’s the abuse of a tradition where kids
it’s the abuse of a tradition where kids
it’s the abuse of a tradition where kids from rural villages were sent to the
from rural villages were sent to the
from rural villages were sent to the cities to live with relatives to work as
cities to live with relatives to work as
cities to live with relatives to work as domestics in exchange for an education
domestics in exchange for an education
domestics in exchange for an education and a chance for a better life but it’s
and a chance for a better life but it’s
and a chance for a better life but it’s now become a professional trafficking
now become a professional trafficking
now become a professional trafficking operation and most of the kids have
operation and most of the kids have
operation and most of the kids have become virtual slaves like this little
become virtual slaves like this little
become virtual slaves like this little mechanic this girl selling water for her
mechanic this girl selling water for her
mechanic this girl selling water for her masters if the girls don’t sell enough
masters if the girls don’t sell enough
masters if the girls don’t sell enough they’re beaten so they’re scared to go
they’re beaten so they’re scared to go
they’re beaten so they’re scared to go back if they’ve had a bad day or if
back if they’ve had a bad day or if
back if they’ve had a bad day or if their earnings were stolen which happens
their earnings were stolen which happens
their earnings were stolen which happens often men know this and give them money
often men know this and give them money
often men know this and give them money to sexually exploit them in India
to sexually exploit them in India
to sexually exploit them in India millions of children are held in bondage
millions of children are held in bondage
millions of children are held in bondage working on the carpet looms this new
working on the carpet looms this new
working on the carpet looms this new owner is sleeping off a hangover while
owner is sleeping off a hangover while
owner is sleeping off a hangover while the little kids work in intolerable
the little kids work in intolerable
the little kids work in intolerable conditions they’re sitting in a dirt pit
conditions they’re sitting in a dirt pit
conditions they’re sitting in a dirt pit in virtual darkness for 18 hours a day
in virtual darkness for 18 hours a day
in virtual darkness for 18 hours a day or more it’s in stifling heat there’s no
or more it’s in stifling heat there’s no
or more it’s in stifling heat there’s no ventilation and their spines become
ventilation and their spines become
ventilation and their spines become deformed their eyesight and their
deformed their eyesight and their
deformed their eyesight and their fingers damaged they’re often beaten and
fingers damaged they’re often beaten and
fingers damaged they’re often beaten and deprived of food and it’s the same on
deprived of food and it’s the same on
deprived of food and it’s the same on the silk looms he sits all day and spins
the silk looms he sits all day and spins
the silk looms he sits all day and spins and when he’s finished each spindle he
and when he’s finished each spindle he
and when he’s finished each spindle he bites the end of the thread to cut it he
bites the end of the thread to cut it he
bites the end of the thread to cut it he doesn’t know that is being slowly
doesn’t know that is being slowly
doesn’t know that is being slowly poisoned by the dye and in the glass
poisoned by the dye and in the glass
poisoned by the dye and in the glass making industry the kids are held in
making industry the kids are held in
making industry the kids are held in debt bondage that was actually incurred
debt bondage that was actually incurred
debt bondage that was actually incurred by their parents they work over these
by their parents they work over these
by their parents they work over these gas burners in intense heat and fumes
gas burners in intense heat and fumes
gas burners in intense heat and fumes with no ventilation no protective gear
with no ventilation no protective gear
with no ventilation no protective gear and they’re welding together the ends of
and they’re welding together the ends of
and they’re welding together the ends of these glass bracelets that you can
these glass bracelets that you can
these glass bracelets that you can actually buy anywhere for a dollar
actually buy anywhere for a dollar
actually buy anywhere for a dollar I was nearly knocked over by the fumes
I was nearly knocked over by the fumes
I was nearly knocked over by the fumes when I was shown this this room when
when I was shown this this room when
when I was shown this this room when they opened these shutters and showed me
they opened these shutters and showed me
they opened these shutters and showed me the children inside
the children inside
the children inside working these kids end up really
working these kids end up really
working these kids end up really severely ill from these conditions and
severely ill from these conditions and
severely ill from these conditions and she’s dying of tuberculosis wearing the
she’s dying of tuberculosis wearing the
she’s dying of tuberculosis wearing the bangles that are killing her bonded
bangles that are killing her bonded
bangles that are killing her bonded labor can trap entire families for
labor can trap entire families for
labor can trap entire families for generations the brick Hill owners get
generations the brick Hill owners get
generations the brick Hill owners get workers by lending money for emergencies
workers by lending money for emergencies
workers by lending money for emergencies like a funeral or a medical problem and
like a funeral or a medical problem and
like a funeral or a medical problem and then they charge outrageous interest
then they charge outrageous interest
then they charge outrageous interest rates so the money can never be repaid
rates so the money can never be repaid
rates so the money can never be repaid and the debt is passed on to the
and the debt is passed on to the
and the debt is passed on to the children the heat was intense that day
children the heat was intense that day
children the heat was intense that day it was a hundred and forty degrees and
it was a hundred and forty degrees and
it was a hundred and forty degrees and the added heat from the furnaces that
the added heat from the furnaces that
the added heat from the furnaces that were burning the bricks around them it
were burning the bricks around them it
were burning the bricks around them it was really hell on earth in India the
was really hell on earth in India the
was really hell on earth in India the kids are trafficked into train stations
kids are trafficked into train stations
kids are trafficked into train stations to beg from passengers and they’re often
to beg from passengers and they’re often
to beg from passengers and they’re often maimed to get more sympathy and more
maimed to get more sympathy and more
maimed to get more sympathy and more money this babies come to symbolize for
money this babies come to symbolize for
money this babies come to symbolize for me the kind of poverty that would allow
me the kind of poverty that would allow
me the kind of poverty that would allow parents to think of their own children
parents to think of their own children
parents to think of their own children as commodities to be bought and sold
as commodities to be bought and sold
as commodities to be bought and sold this baby is an extreme risk of being
this baby is an extreme risk of being
this baby is an extreme risk of being sold into the illegal adoption trade in
sold into the illegal adoption trade in
sold into the illegal adoption trade in Guatemala and this is the largest red
Guatemala and this is the largest red
Guatemala and this is the largest red light district in India and and maybe
light district in India and and maybe
light district in India and and maybe even the world huge numbers of women are
even the world huge numbers of women are
even the world huge numbers of women are lured tricked sold into the sex industry
lured tricked sold into the sex industry
lured tricked sold into the sex industry around the world some and are knowingly
around the world some and are knowingly
around the world some and are knowingly but they don’t expect to become enslaved
but they don’t expect to become enslaved
but they don’t expect to become enslaved and they have no idea what’s in store
and they have no idea what’s in store
and they have no idea what’s in store for them she lives and works in this
for them she lives and works in this
for them she lives and works in this small cage they call them her entire
small cage they call them her entire
small cage they call them her entire world is there she entertains her
world is there she entertains her
world is there she entertains her customers on that that bed there’s a
customers on that that bed there’s a
customers on that that bed there’s a kitchen underneath it’s a little stove
kitchen underneath it’s a little stove
kitchen underneath it’s a little stove where she cooks her meals and eats and
where she cooks her meals and eats and
where she cooks her meals and eats and she was at that time had been
she was at that time had been
she was at that time had been hiv-positive for seven years and she’ll
hiv-positive for seven years and she’ll
hiv-positive for seven years and she’ll soon go into the family business
I wanted to show the perps he’s in a
I wanted to show the perps he’s in a jail on the border of India and Nepal
jail on the border of India and Nepal
jail on the border of India and Nepal and was convicted of trafficking two
and was convicted of trafficking two
and was convicted of trafficking two women and it’s really this small sort of
women and it’s really this small sort of
women and it’s really this small sort of mom-and-pop operations that feed the
mom-and-pop operations that feed the
mom-and-pop operations that feed the trafficking victims into that great
trafficking victims into that great
trafficking victims into that great pipeline and this is a brothel in Israel
pipeline and this is a brothel in Israel
pipeline and this is a brothel in Israel Israel incredibly enough has become one
Israel incredibly enough has become one
Israel incredibly enough has become one of the largest importers of European
of the largest importers of European
of the largest importers of European women they are now flown into Cairo
women they are now flown into Cairo
women they are now flown into Cairo where there then trafficked across the
where there then trafficked across the
where there then trafficked across the desert by the veterans who raped them
desert by the veterans who raped them
desert by the veterans who raped them beat them treat them horribly the fall
beat them treat them horribly the fall
beat them treat them horribly the fall of the Soviet Union caused the explosive
of the Soviet Union caused the explosive
of the Soviet Union caused the explosive growth of the trafficking of its young
growth of the trafficking of its young
growth of the trafficking of its young women all over the world and in Thailand
women all over the world and in Thailand
women all over the world and in Thailand that until the demand side of this
that until the demand side of this
that until the demand side of this equation is dealt with it will be
equation is dealt with it will be
equation is dealt with it will be impossible to eradicate or reform
besides the victims and the perps I
besides the victims and the perps I wanted to show the women who were who
wanted to show the women who were who
wanted to show the women who were who were trying to help who were trying to
were trying to help who were trying to
were trying to help who were trying to save the girls this was in Bosnia it was
save the girls this was in Bosnia it was
save the girls this was in Bosnia it was a shelter for the women who had been
a shelter for the women who had been
a shelter for the women who had been rescued from the brothels and it was run
rescued from the brothels and it was run
rescued from the brothels and it was run by this very brave Bosnian woman it was
by this very brave Bosnian woman it was
by this very brave Bosnian woman it was completely hidden from view I had they
completely hidden from view I had they
completely hidden from view I had they couldn’t tell me where where it was
couldn’t tell me where where it was
couldn’t tell me where where it was where I was going and it was surrounded
where I was going and it was surrounded
where I was going and it was surrounded by by armed guards the girls are
by by armed guards the girls are
by by armed guards the girls are unbelievably traumatized and broken one
unbelievably traumatized and broken one
unbelievably traumatized and broken one girl had a nail driven through her hand
girl had a nail driven through her hand
girl had a nail driven through her hand another was found with a syringe buried
another was found with a syringe buried
another was found with a syringe buried in her arm and I saw one with cigarette
in her arm and I saw one with cigarette
in her arm and I saw one with cigarette burns all over her body and this is in
burns all over her body and this is in
burns all over her body and this is in Nepal a young girl who had just entered
Nepal a young girl who had just entered
Nepal a young girl who had just entered the shelter had been rescued from a
the shelter had been rescued from a
the shelter had been rescued from a brothel in Kathmandu and this is a
brothel in Kathmandu and this is a
brothel in Kathmandu and this is a shelter in Tijuana on the border with
shelter in Tijuana on the border with
shelter in Tijuana on the border with the u.s. young Mexican boys are
the u.s. young Mexican boys are
the u.s. young Mexican boys are trafficked into the u.s. to be
trafficked into the u.s. to be
trafficked into the u.s. to be prostituted to pedophiles in this
prostituted to pedophiles in this
prostituted to pedophiles in this country and this is the children of the
country and this is the children of the
country and this is the children of the night shelter in Los Angeles children of
night shelter in Los Angeles children of
night shelter in Los Angeles children of the night shelter is rescued over 10,000
the night shelter is rescued over 10,000
the night shelter is rescued over 10,000 young kids from from the child sex
young kids from from the child sex
young kids from from the child sex industry in this country the kids are
industry in this country the kids are
industry in this country the kids are taken to sporting events like prize
taken to sporting events like prize
taken to sporting events like prize fights and even the Super Bowl Super
fights and even the Super Bowl Super
fights and even the Super Bowl Super Bowl and prostituted to to the men so I
Bowl and prostituted to to the men so I
Bowl and prostituted to to the men so I found out that it’s it’s not a problem
found out that it’s it’s not a problem
found out that it’s it’s not a problem in the poverty-stricken countries
in the poverty-stricken countries
in the poverty-stricken countries although a lot of it happens there
although a lot of it happens there
although a lot of it happens there it’s the wealthy nations the rich us who
it’s the wealthy nations the rich us who
it’s the wealthy nations the rich us who eat the food that they pick use the
eat the food that they pick use the
eat the food that they pick use the goods they make sexually exploit the
goods they make sexually exploit the
goods they make sexually exploit the women and children my eyes were open to
women and children my eyes were open to
women and children my eyes were open to this parallel universe that exists
this parallel universe that exists
this parallel universe that exists invisibly in our wealthy commercialized
invisibly in our wealthy commercialized
invisibly in our wealthy commercialized society and it took me a very long time
society and it took me a very long time
society and it took me a very long time to recover from this story from having
to recover from this story from having
to recover from this story from having to seek out evil every day and finding
to seek out evil every day and finding
to seek out evil every day and finding it but it’s the most important story
it but it’s the most important story
it but it’s the most important story that I’ve ever done it got the biggest
that I’ve ever done it got the biggest
that I’ve ever done it got the biggest response in the history of National
response in the history of National
response in the history of National Geographic until then so in the end
Geographic until then so in the end
Geographic until then so in the end maybe I didn’t change the world but that
maybe I didn’t change the world but that
maybe I didn’t change the world but that world changed me profoundly and
world changed me profoundly and
world changed me profoundly and irrevocably I don’t I don’t look at
irrevocably I don’t I don’t look at
irrevocably I don’t I don’t look at prostitution as a victimless crime
prostitution as a victimless crime
prostitution as a victimless crime anymore I don’t I don’t think that it’s
anymore I don’t I don’t think that it’s
anymore I don’t I don’t think that it’s a lot of fun to buy things really cheap
a lot of fun to buy things really cheap
a lot of fun to buy things really cheap anymore because in the drive for cheaper
anymore because in the drive for cheaper
anymore because in the drive for cheaper and cheaper goods there is no the
and cheaper goods there is no the
and cheaper goods there is no the temptation is just too great there’s no
temptation is just too great there’s no
temptation is just too great there’s no cheaper labor than a slave thank you
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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