Me and My Lions 🦁

Aleksey has loved lions all his life. So when the opportunity presented itself, he relocated to South Africa to be closer to them. When he found out the lion he’d been taking care of was about to be put down, he bought him. Gradually, his first lion was joined by seven others, who were also in danger of being put down or killed during canned hunting. To buy all these lions, Aleksey sold his Moscow apartment. His father and sister are fully supportive and are very happy to see Aleksey fulfil his dream.

When living with his unconventional pets seemed to be on track, a new threat loomed in the distance. The South African government decided to close all wild animal breeding and put down all captive-bred lions. Aleksey and other enthusiasts are trying to find ways to rescue them. Will their efforts yield any results?

Watch Me and My Lions on RT Documentary here - https://youtu.be/aguYYGewyLE

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#video #Russia

13 years ago, Russia’s pole vault queen, Yelena Isinbayeva, leapt 5.05 metres at the Beijing Olympics, setting a world record. She beat her own record in 2009, setting the bar as high as 5.06 metres. As of today, Isinbayeva remains undefeated.

Are you watching the Olympic Games?

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#video #USA

Jason Barrett isn’t a vampire, but he can’t stand sunlight.

A rare genetic disease means being in the sun can be deadly for Jason. Solar rays cause him extreme pain. It’s called erythropoietic protoporphyria, or EPP and there is no cure.

To go outside, Jason has to be fully clothed, covering every part of his face and body. His unusual outfit often turns heads, much to Jason’s frustration. Yet, he has still adapted to living with the condition. He works nightshifts as an electrician and loves rainy days when he can play outdoors with his children.

Children with Jason’s condition can go to 'Camp Sundown', a special place where kids can enjoy a real summer camp experience. We have a documentary about it, you should check it out - https://youtu.be/JdYP_A48Xro

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Why Russian Old Believers settled in Bolivia
#video #Bolivia

These Russians have preserved the traditions, clothing and even their Old Russian language… as far away as Bolivia!

They are Russian 'Old Believers', whose dissident ancestors were imprisoned and persecuted since the 17th century.

Old Believers split from the Russian Orthodox Church following reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon. The changes included the number of fingers used to make the sign of the cross and the spelling of Jesus’ name.

Old Believers went into exile and found refuge in the Siberian taiga, Latin American villages and even Alaska. Now, scattered around the world, members of the community have kept their ancient rites, and elements of traditional clothing and lifestyle. For example, they never marry outside their community.

To find out more about the Russian Old Believers in Bolivia, check out this video - https://youtu.be/pFW6DJN62fA

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‘I hate all people’
#video #Russia

Do you ever dream of living like a hermit, far, far away?

Anya, 30, lives a reclusive life on the remote Sakhalin Island at the far eastern end of Russia. She says she hates all people and doesn’t trust anyone. Anya grew up in a children’s home and became a fisherwoman when she left. Apart from fishing, Anya is an avid hockey player and a cat person.

She stays aloof and shows resentment towards the people, especially women, who mistreated her in the past. However, her sullen shell conceals a sweet personality. Be sure to check out Anya’s story in the full documentary - https://youtu.be/uG3ikJJOv8Q

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In pursuit of an ideal face
#video #SouthKorea

One in four South Korean girls aged 19-29 have had plastic surgery. 💉 Double eyelids, bigger lips, a nicer chin, a thinner nose, a more defined jawline, higher cheek bones – South Korean plastic surgeons can perform any cosmetic operation.

Beauty and success in life are married in South Korean society to such an extent that parents will give their kids plastic surgery as a gift. No wonder cosmetic procedures go hand in hand with the K-pop industry and its own aesthetic.

While not everyone openly admits to having surgery, the SixBomb K-pop band has turned it into their thing. Members of the girl band went under the knife as part of an advertising campaign for their group and a surgical clinic. The girls never tried to hide this and openly told us what they didn’t like about their appearances.

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From Брайтон Бич with love 🇷🇺

Brighton Beach, or Little Odessa, is a microcosm of Russia in New York City. Its residents are mostly immigrants from the former Soviet Union who have preserved their culture and habits very well… in Brooklyn!

If you walk into a local grocery store, you can find gingerbread from Tula, borscht, rye bread, and buckwheat. Apart from the tastes of home, Russian culture is readily apparent from the Cyrillic signs and newspapers, the good in the markets, and even the fur coats worn by babushkas!

Brighton Beach is also home to Runglish, a bizarre mixture of Russian and English.

Have you ever heard it? Check it out in the full video - https://youtu.be/SVTWKDl_3ug

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Happy World Elephant Day! Let’s take a moment to admire these magnificent creatures 🐘

Here’s a nice documentary about an elephant nursery in Zimbabwe you should check out - https://youtu.be/VF-8OFH8PYM

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Afghan Kidney Sales
#video #Afghanistan

Herat Province in Afghanistan is rumoured to have an organ black market. Pushed to the edge by poverty and lack of decent jobs, villagers see no other choice for themselves than to sell a kidney. It would cost around $4,300, which is a huge amount for people who earn $3 to $7 a week. But selling a kidney doesn't solve their problems. Many are so deep in debt the money is hardly enough to pay them off. In addition, poorly performed surgeries often seriously aggravate donors' health, making them unable to take on serious jobs.

Muslim elders are against the surgery as it intentionally impairs the body, which Islam forbids. Still, it is hard to convince people not to do it: many think selling a kidney is better than stealing or murder. Do these people have a choice?

Tune in for the premiere of Afghan Kidney Sales right now on RT Documentary! https://youtu.be/804d1-r2t6k

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Granny Fight Club 🥊
#video #Kenya

There’s a bizarre superstition popular among young men in Nairobi’s biggest slum. They believe having sex with an older woman can cure HIV and lift curses. Elderly women, known as shushus, walk the streets of the Korogocho neighborhood in fear that they’ll fall victim to rape.

A local woman conducts training sessions that teach the grannies to hit back and say ‘NO’. These self-defence classes empower women to feel confident and stand their ground, while giving them a respite from their daily chores.

Besides sexual assaults on seniors, the neighbourhood suffers from rampant HIV and endemic poverty, with most people living on less than a dollar a day.

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Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March
#video #India🇮🇳

On August 15, 1947, India won independence from British rule, otherwise known as the Raj. One of the most pivotal moments in India’s struggle for freedom was Mahatma Gandhi’s brisk march to the Arabian Sea.

Britain had prohibited Indians from collecting and selling salt since the 19th century, forcing them to buy the vital mineral from British merchants. In 1930, Gandhi led his followers in an act of non-violent protest, taking them on a trek from his ashram to the coast to make their own salt. When Gandhi reached the shore, he grasped a handful of salt and said: ‘With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire.’

In response, over 60,000 protesters, including Gandhi, were imprisoned, but the Salt March galvanised the resistance campaign all across India and attracted international media coverage.

Here’s a fragment of our documentary, Gandhi’s Footsteps, which we recommend you watch - https://youtu.be/VxFaO1huVlk

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Elephant Boom, Covid Gloom
#video #Kenya

‘Kenya is having an elephant baby boom!’ Headlines stated that the elephants thrived through the Covid pandemic spread in 2020. However, what’s rarely mentioned is that Covid lockdowns have had a really bad effect on the locals - https://youtu.be/zddmpGrpCTc

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We made these documentaries during the American occupation of Afghanistan. Now that the Taliban effectively took over the country, what do you think will happen to the people featured in these films?

Watch here: https://clck.ru/WsGPk

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Traffic cop turned cult leader
#video #Russia

Sergei Torop was a traffic cop until one day he realised he was the manifestation of Jesus Christ!

He changed his name to Vissarion, wrote 18 volumes of teachings, and started an eco-village in the middle of nowhere. Vissarion has gathered thousands of followers from all walks of life, many of whom sold everything they had to move closer to their messiah.

Vissarion’s sect adopted veganism, rejected money, and lived in heavily guarded communes. While the sect took a lot from the Russian Orthodox Church, its members had their own way of making the sign of cross and counted years starting from 1961, when Vissarion was born. The key idea was that the end of the world was near, and only cult members would survive.

After three decades, Vissarion’s utopia came to an end when he was arrested in 2020 on charges of starting an illegal organisation, extortion, and abuse.

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USSR Collapse
#video #SovietUnion

Exactly 30 years ago, the collapse of the Soviet Union began. Tanks rumbled through the streets of Moscow, and state TV and radio announced the formation of new leadership under the auspices of the State Committee for the State of Emergency. Communist hardliners decided it was time to save the Union and overthrow Gorbachev, revered in the west and widely unpopular at home.

Tensions rose, anti-coup demonstrators flocked to central Moscow and formed human chains. Then, the Russian leader, Boris Yeltsin arrived in Moscow, joined the protesters near the White House and denounced the GKChP's activity as a ‘reactionary coup’.

The failed coup precipitated the end of the union. By the end of 1991, the USSR had disintegrated into 15 republics.

Check out the online premiere of our new documentary to hear first-hand accounts from participants in the 1991 events. It is starting right now - https://youtu.be/-EjWcpOIZa4

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Mass hysteria or mystery illness?
#video #Nicaragua

Locals call it Grisi siknis. Nicaragua’s indigenous Miskito community is gripped by a mystery ailment that strikes suddenly, causing convulsions, shaking, and breathing difficulties. Victims can become extremely strong during Grisi siknis seizures.

The mysterious phenomenon affects mostly young girls. According to locals, the fits of hysteria can be contagious. If a victim mentions someone’s name, that person may also suffer a Grisi siknis attack.

The affliction can’t be cured by conventional drugs, so Miskito people turn to traditional healers, who usually mix up a remedy consisting of medicinal herbs and plants. Locals believe Grisi sikinis may stem from demonic influences, and scientists can’t find a physiological explanation.

Some also note that the mystery illness is similar to other culturally-specific disorders, like Indonesia’s Amok, or ‘polar madness’.

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What do pandas say? 🐼
#video #China

Animal keepers at Chengdu’s Giant Panda Breeding Research Base spend so much time with the bamboo-eating 🎋 bears that they understand all the noises they make!

The centre’s research scientists and caretakers work to ensure that the pandas successfully breed, and later see to their reintroduction to the wild. How? They tend to the pandas’ every need, providing food, medicine, clean enclosures, and play. The caretakers even give these love-shy animals Sex Ed classes!

The Chengdu Centre has been so successful that pandas were taken off the endangered species list in 2016. There are some 600 pandas currently living in captivity and nearly 2,000 roaming the wild. The black-and-white bears have become an icon for conservation, as their viability in the wild is still threatened by factors like loss of natural habitat.

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Exploited by Tradition
#video #Indonesia

East Java, Indonesia has an ancient tradition with a dark secret.

Young boys here are sent to live with grown men called a waroks, who are believed to possess magical powers. But in exchange for their gift, waroks can’t be involved with women. That’s why they employ servant boys like Pak Dirman, who was sent to live with a man when he was 12.

Though it isn’t openly talked about, it’s understood that, besides household chores, this ‘service’ may include the fulfilment of sexual desires.

Proponents defend the practice, saying it’s merely an archaic tradition that appeared before such behaviour was considered inappropriate. They argue that only willing children are sent to join waroks.

Others see it as a clear cut case of child sex abuse.

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