Cobalt Hell
#photo #Congo
These Congolese people are extracting cobalt – an essential material used to make lithium-ion batteries for our smartphones and laptops. In fact, there’s probably a tiny piece of cobalt inside the electronic device you’re reading this post from!
Cobalt will also purportedly help us transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
But clean energy will come at a price. In Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which contains two-thirds of the world’s cobalt, the ore poisons the people working in the mines. Men dig out the mineral with their bare hands, while women and children wash and sort it. While the dark stones may look harmless, constant exposure to cobalt particles can cause dire health problems.
An RT Documentary crew just came back from the DRC, where they shot a film about the toll cobalt mining takes on humans. It’s coming soon, so make sure not to miss it!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#photo #Congo
These Congolese people are extracting cobalt – an essential material used to make lithium-ion batteries for our smartphones and laptops. In fact, there’s probably a tiny piece of cobalt inside the electronic device you’re reading this post from!
Cobalt will also purportedly help us transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
But clean energy will come at a price. In Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which contains two-thirds of the world’s cobalt, the ore poisons the people working in the mines. Men dig out the mineral with their bare hands, while women and children wash and sort it. While the dark stones may look harmless, constant exposure to cobalt particles can cause dire health problems.
An RT Documentary crew just came back from the DRC, where they shot a film about the toll cobalt mining takes on humans. It’s coming soon, so make sure not to miss it!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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The Oldest Schoolboy in Nepal 📚
#video #Nepal
Durge Kami’s lifelong dream of going to school finally came true when he was in his late 60s. It’s been a long trip to school for the Nepalese man, both figuratively and literally speaking! Durge Kami makes a 2-hour journey from his village to the city of Pokhara to attend classes every day!
When he was little, Durge’s family was too poor to send him to school. Then he had seven children of his own. Although he still struggles with money, the elderly pupil remains motivated and diligent.
Durge’s friends aren’t impressed by his pursuit of education. Neither is his family. “At this time of life he should be caring for his grandchildren instead of going to school, he’s very selfish,” his daughter-in-law says.
Tell us what you think in comments! And check out full story in our film
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Nepal
Durge Kami’s lifelong dream of going to school finally came true when he was in his late 60s. It’s been a long trip to school for the Nepalese man, both figuratively and literally speaking! Durge Kami makes a 2-hour journey from his village to the city of Pokhara to attend classes every day!
When he was little, Durge’s family was too poor to send him to school. Then he had seven children of his own. Although he still struggles with money, the elderly pupil remains motivated and diligent.
Durge’s friends aren’t impressed by his pursuit of education. Neither is his family. “At this time of life he should be caring for his grandchildren instead of going to school, he’s very selfish,” his daughter-in-law says.
Tell us what you think in comments! And check out full story in our film
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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Have you ever wanted to go to the Arctic?
#video #Arctic
RT’s Konstantin Rozhkov travelled to the North Pole on a giant Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker to film the fascinating landscapes of one of the most beautiful but one of the riskiest places on our planet.
Swimming in the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean and meeting a polar bear are just a few thrilling experiences he had there!
However, a journey to the North Pole is not only about fun and beautiful views. It’s also about strong swell, extreme weather conditions, the polar day insomnia, and the complete absence of any communication services.
How did Konstantin and his crew deal with their hardships? Watch North Pole: Inside a Russian Nuclear Icebreaker to find out!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Arctic
RT’s Konstantin Rozhkov travelled to the North Pole on a giant Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker to film the fascinating landscapes of one of the most beautiful but one of the riskiest places on our planet.
Swimming in the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean and meeting a polar bear are just a few thrilling experiences he had there!
However, a journey to the North Pole is not only about fun and beautiful views. It’s also about strong swell, extreme weather conditions, the polar day insomnia, and the complete absence of any communication services.
How did Konstantin and his crew deal with their hardships? Watch North Pole: Inside a Russian Nuclear Icebreaker to find out!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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Witch kids of Congo
#video #Congo
There are thousands of homeless children on the streets of Kinshasa. Many were kicked out because their relatives believe they are sorcerers.
Kids may be branded sorcerers for crying or misbehaving. Children accused of witchcraft are sometimes beaten and forced to undergo exorcisms. Although belief in witchcraft is common in Africa, it’s often used as an excuse for families to get rid of inconvenient children. And, it’s become a lucrative business for preachers.
Check out the full story!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Congo
There are thousands of homeless children on the streets of Kinshasa. Many were kicked out because their relatives believe they are sorcerers.
Kids may be branded sorcerers for crying or misbehaving. Children accused of witchcraft are sometimes beaten and forced to undergo exorcisms. Although belief in witchcraft is common in Africa, it’s often used as an excuse for families to get rid of inconvenient children. And, it’s become a lucrative business for preachers.
Check out the full story!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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#video #Russia
Galina decided to take up knife throwing at the age of 57. She checked coats at a local swimming pool when she heard a knife-throwing club had opened in town. Just one year of hard work earned her the world No. 1 noscript in 2008. She also became European Champion in 2013. She’s won more than 50 medals in France, Italy, and Czechia over the years. The local knife-throwing community considers Galina a legend and has great respect for her.
Today Granny Galya, as her fans lovingly call her, has left the professional sport. Instead, she leads a quiet life and throws a knife or two just for fun in her backyard.
Watch Granny Blade on our RT Documentary YouTube channel
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
Galina decided to take up knife throwing at the age of 57. She checked coats at a local swimming pool when she heard a knife-throwing club had opened in town. Just one year of hard work earned her the world No. 1 noscript in 2008. She also became European Champion in 2013. She’s won more than 50 medals in France, Italy, and Czechia over the years. The local knife-throwing community considers Galina a legend and has great respect for her.
Today Granny Galya, as her fans lovingly call her, has left the professional sport. Instead, she leads a quiet life and throws a knife or two just for fun in her backyard.
Watch Granny Blade on our RT Documentary YouTube channel
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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Suicide epidemic among Indian farmers
#video #India
Savita’s husband could no longer deal with his massive loans and drank a pesticide to kill himself.
This is a horrible but widespread practice among Indian farmers driven into debt.
Some 28 farmers take their lives in India every day, according to India’s Environment report. That’s more than 10,000 farmer suicides every year. The families of many victims blame the cotton crop for pushing farmers deep into debt, as they can barely cover the cost of growing it.
And it keeps getting worse. For months, farmers have been protesting against agricultural reforms that they fear will leave them at the mercy of corporations.
Hear Savita’s heartbreaking account of her husband’s suicide and visit our YouTube channel to watch the full film
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #India
Savita’s husband could no longer deal with his massive loans and drank a pesticide to kill himself.
This is a horrible but widespread practice among Indian farmers driven into debt.
Some 28 farmers take their lives in India every day, according to India’s Environment report. That’s more than 10,000 farmer suicides every year. The families of many victims blame the cotton crop for pushing farmers deep into debt, as they can barely cover the cost of growing it.
And it keeps getting worse. For months, farmers have been protesting against agricultural reforms that they fear will leave them at the mercy of corporations.
Hear Savita’s heartbreaking account of her husband’s suicide and visit our YouTube channel to watch the full film
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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Afghanistan after the US
#video #Afghanistan
After 9/11, the US proclaimed war on terrorism and opened a hunt for Osama bin Laden, who had found safe haven with Afghan Taliban. The hunt lasted a decade and gradually turned into a full-fledged armed conflict with the Taliban, which hadn't ended when the terrorist was caught in 2011 and executed.
At the beginning, the Afghan people were elated to see the American troops as they had high hopes to finally be rid of terrorists. However, soon the situation started to change.
The collateral damage of the American presence was immense. The bombs destroyed schools and hospitals, and anti-Taliban air raids killed civilians in the process. By the end of the mission, the casualties numbered in hundreds of thousands. How is depleted Afghanistan surviving now?
Tune in for the premiere of our new film Afghanistan after the US on our YouTube channel
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Afghanistan
After 9/11, the US proclaimed war on terrorism and opened a hunt for Osama bin Laden, who had found safe haven with Afghan Taliban. The hunt lasted a decade and gradually turned into a full-fledged armed conflict with the Taliban, which hadn't ended when the terrorist was caught in 2011 and executed.
At the beginning, the Afghan people were elated to see the American troops as they had high hopes to finally be rid of terrorists. However, soon the situation started to change.
The collateral damage of the American presence was immense. The bombs destroyed schools and hospitals, and anti-Taliban air raids killed civilians in the process. By the end of the mission, the casualties numbered in hundreds of thousands. How is depleted Afghanistan surviving now?
Tune in for the premiere of our new film Afghanistan after the US on our YouTube channel
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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World’s Tallest Slum
#video #Venezuela
You might remember this grim tower from the Homeland series. The half-finished, abandoned skyscraper is one of Caracas’ infamous landmarks. Nicknamed the Tower of David (Torre de David), it once provided shelter for hundreds of low-income families with nowhere else to go.
The vertical slum operated as a commune. Squatters gathered for meetings and various activities, including cleaning common areas. Residents had a gym, convenience stores, and barbershops so they could live without leaving their tower.
However, the squatters had to leave in 2014 after the government deemed the Tower of David unsafe to live in. Then, the building began to lean in 2018 after an earthquake hit.
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Venezuela
You might remember this grim tower from the Homeland series. The half-finished, abandoned skyscraper is one of Caracas’ infamous landmarks. Nicknamed the Tower of David (Torre de David), it once provided shelter for hundreds of low-income families with nowhere else to go.
The vertical slum operated as a commune. Squatters gathered for meetings and various activities, including cleaning common areas. Residents had a gym, convenience stores, and barbershops so they could live without leaving their tower.
However, the squatters had to leave in 2014 after the government deemed the Tower of David unsafe to live in. Then, the building began to lean in 2018 after an earthquake hit.
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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#video #Peru
Hundreds of thousands of Peruvian women were forcibly sterilised between 1996-2000 as part of President Alberto Fujimori’s family planning programme. The initiative was launched to reduce poverty and cut birth rates among the poor. While it was supposed to be consensual, women involved in the programme say otherwise. Most of the victims came from poor indigenous communities.
Josefa was at home when nurses came and forced her to go to the hospital. She still recalls waking up after the procedure and seeing other women crying out their husbands’ names in pain. In the following years, Josefa suffered from infections and cancer. Decades later, Josefa and others are still seeking justice through a class action suit against the ex-president.
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
Hundreds of thousands of Peruvian women were forcibly sterilised between 1996-2000 as part of President Alberto Fujimori’s family planning programme. The initiative was launched to reduce poverty and cut birth rates among the poor. While it was supposed to be consensual, women involved in the programme say otherwise. Most of the victims came from poor indigenous communities.
Josefa was at home when nurses came and forced her to go to the hospital. She still recalls waking up after the procedure and seeing other women crying out their husbands’ names in pain. In the following years, Josefa suffered from infections and cancer. Decades later, Josefa and others are still seeking justice through a class action suit against the ex-president.
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The ups and downs of women’s rights in Afghanistan
#video #Afghanistan
Can you believe Afghan’s capital, Kabul, was once known as the ‘Paris of Central Asia’, where women dressed in Western clothes and studied and worked alongside men?
That’s a far cry from how the things look today. Despite promises to be more respectful and inclusive, the resurgent Taliban are once again imposing restrictions on women, just as they did during their first reign from 1996-2001.
Watch our new video now to find out more about Afghan women’s long struggle for rights and how the Taliban is threatening to erase them once again - https://youtu.be/usg8Z0Vlj5s
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Afghanistan
Can you believe Afghan’s capital, Kabul, was once known as the ‘Paris of Central Asia’, where women dressed in Western clothes and studied and worked alongside men?
That’s a far cry from how the things look today. Despite promises to be more respectful and inclusive, the resurgent Taliban are once again imposing restrictions on women, just as they did during their first reign from 1996-2001.
Watch our new video now to find out more about Afghan women’s long struggle for rights and how the Taliban is threatening to erase them once again - https://youtu.be/usg8Z0Vlj5s
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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The most dangerous place in Guatemala
#video #Guatemala
Zone 3, or Basurero in Guatemala City, is where you don’t want to find yourself.
All the trash from Guatemala City gets dumped in one place called Zone 3, or Basurero (dump). It’s an entire district where people work and live. Locals call it ‘the mine’ because they may come across gold, mobile phones and money. But there’s also a great chance of finding a severed head left by criminal gangs.
There’s another great risk. Mountains of trash collapse and result in avalanches that sweep away everything on their path. Dozens of people can get buried alive in the garbage.
Despite all the perils, locals can’t afford to leave. The giant dump, or as they call it, ‘the beast’, is their only way to survive.
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Guatemala
Zone 3, or Basurero in Guatemala City, is where you don’t want to find yourself.
All the trash from Guatemala City gets dumped in one place called Zone 3, or Basurero (dump). It’s an entire district where people work and live. Locals call it ‘the mine’ because they may come across gold, mobile phones and money. But there’s also a great chance of finding a severed head left by criminal gangs.
There’s another great risk. Mountains of trash collapse and result in avalanches that sweep away everything on their path. Dozens of people can get buried alive in the garbage.
Despite all the perils, locals can’t afford to leave. The giant dump, or as they call it, ‘the beast’, is their only way to survive.
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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Diving for gold
#video #Philippines
The children in the small Philippine town of Paracale get used to working from an early age. They often skip school because they have nothing to eat. Then, to make $2-3 a day, they pan for gold. While kids work on the surface, adults dive into deep, narrow wells to extract the precious metal.
Prospectors use diving masks with snorkels to breathe underwater. But if walls collapse, the divers have no way out. ‘While you’re down the mine, you have one foot in the grave’ is a popular saying in Paracale.
Check out the full documentary to hear more!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Philippines
The children in the small Philippine town of Paracale get used to working from an early age. They often skip school because they have nothing to eat. Then, to make $2-3 a day, they pan for gold. While kids work on the surface, adults dive into deep, narrow wells to extract the precious metal.
Prospectors use diving masks with snorkels to breathe underwater. But if walls collapse, the divers have no way out. ‘While you’re down the mine, you have one foot in the grave’ is a popular saying in Paracale.
Check out the full documentary to hear more!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
RTDocumentary
Barbarity or tradition? #video #theFaroeIslands On Denmark’s Faroe Islands, pilot whales are slaughtered in a centuries-old tradition called ‘the grind’. The sight is terrifying – the mammals are driven into a bay by small boats and hacked to pieces by a…
This spectacle has shocked Danish and international society. In Denmark, 1,428 dolphins have been slaughtered in a traditional Faroe Islands hunt. This is believed to be the largest ever number of cetaceans killed in the ‘grind’, where Islanders drive dolphins or pilot whales to shore and then knife them. This time, a super-pod of Atlantic White-Sided Dolphins was driven for about 45 km to shore by speed boats and jet skis, where every animal was killed.
The grind is a centuries-old tradition in this part of Denmark. Nevertheless, this mass cull shocked local opinion, as rules were broken. In particular, unlicensed participants were allowed to join in. As they were untrained, they weren’t able to kill the dolphins instantly, and many died a slow and painful death. In addition, dolphins were run over by speedboats and some were hacked to death by propellers. For this reason, locals reported the hunt to the police.
The tradition of killing dolphins used to be justified by the need for meat on the barren islands. However, this latest hunt has produced more meat than the whole district can consume. “My guess is that most of the dolphins will be thrown in the trash or in a hole in the ground,” one local said. The entire population of the islands is around 48,000. Many locals are opposed to the hunt, but they avoid speaking out for fear of reprisals, according to NGO Sea Shepherd.
To find out more about the traditional Faroese slaughter of dolphins and whales; watch our film, Red Waters
The grind is a centuries-old tradition in this part of Denmark. Nevertheless, this mass cull shocked local opinion, as rules were broken. In particular, unlicensed participants were allowed to join in. As they were untrained, they weren’t able to kill the dolphins instantly, and many died a slow and painful death. In addition, dolphins were run over by speedboats and some were hacked to death by propellers. For this reason, locals reported the hunt to the police.
The tradition of killing dolphins used to be justified by the need for meat on the barren islands. However, this latest hunt has produced more meat than the whole district can consume. “My guess is that most of the dolphins will be thrown in the trash or in a hole in the ground,” one local said. The entire population of the islands is around 48,000. Many locals are opposed to the hunt, but they avoid speaking out for fear of reprisals, according to NGO Sea Shepherd.
To find out more about the traditional Faroese slaughter of dolphins and whales; watch our film, Red Waters
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Crawling up Kilimanjaro with no legs
#video #Tanzania
When Aleksandr was born with no legs and deformed fingers, his mother abandoned him. He grew up in an orphanage for kids with disabilities in a remote Russian town. However, Aleksandr has always aimed high and dreamed big.
Aleksandr got lucky and was selected to take part in a US humanitarian project. At the age of 15, he walked on his new prostheses for the first time in his life. His temporary foster parents couldn’t let him go and adopted Aleksandr.
To inspire kids with disabilities, Aleksandr and his friends from the orphanage took on the challenge to climb Africa’s highest mountain Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 metres. RT Documentary witnessed their incredible feat and made a film - https://youtu.be/v2Sz3k9gKp8
For now, Aleksandr lives and studies in Boston, USA, and has climbed Kilimanjaro for a second time!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #Tanzania
When Aleksandr was born with no legs and deformed fingers, his mother abandoned him. He grew up in an orphanage for kids with disabilities in a remote Russian town. However, Aleksandr has always aimed high and dreamed big.
Aleksandr got lucky and was selected to take part in a US humanitarian project. At the age of 15, he walked on his new prostheses for the first time in his life. His temporary foster parents couldn’t let him go and adopted Aleksandr.
To inspire kids with disabilities, Aleksandr and his friends from the orphanage took on the challenge to climb Africa’s highest mountain Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 metres. RT Documentary witnessed their incredible feat and made a film - https://youtu.be/v2Sz3k9gKp8
For now, Aleksandr lives and studies in Boston, USA, and has climbed Kilimanjaro for a second time!
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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All that glitters is not gold
#video #India
Mica is what makes your eyeshadow, lipsticks and nail polish shine and shimmer. It’s a natural mineral that can be found in India’s Jharkhand State. It has the world’s largest mica deposits, which are of high quality and in high demand.
Mica production was once a thriving industry but was made illegal in the 1980s. Nowadays, locals hack at rocks in abandoned mines. It’s easy to cut from razor-sharp mica flakes and get respiratory illnesses from inhaling dense mica dust. So both adults and children mine mica.
Locals sell the mineral for around 30-50 cents per kilo - that’s a sharp difference from the hundreds of dollars offered on the international market. And Jharkhand miners are often unaware of mica’s glamorous uses.
While most mica mines are illegal, processing plants are allowed. So even though cosmetic brands don’t buy mica directly from illicit mines, they rarely question where their mica suppliers come from.
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#video #India
Mica is what makes your eyeshadow, lipsticks and nail polish shine and shimmer. It’s a natural mineral that can be found in India’s Jharkhand State. It has the world’s largest mica deposits, which are of high quality and in high demand.
Mica production was once a thriving industry but was made illegal in the 1980s. Nowadays, locals hack at rocks in abandoned mines. It’s easy to cut from razor-sharp mica flakes and get respiratory illnesses from inhaling dense mica dust. So both adults and children mine mica.
Locals sell the mineral for around 30-50 cents per kilo - that’s a sharp difference from the hundreds of dollars offered on the international market. And Jharkhand miners are often unaware of mica’s glamorous uses.
While most mica mines are illegal, processing plants are allowed. So even though cosmetic brands don’t buy mica directly from illicit mines, they rarely question where their mica suppliers come from.
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
The Buddhist miracle
#photo #Russia
Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov is considered a miracle in the Buddhist region of Buryatia.
He sat in a lotus pose and sank into deep meditation nearly a century ago, but when his body was exhumed, witnesses were stunned.
There was no smell, his body was perfectly preserved. His skin is still elastic and his limbs are flexible. In 1927, Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov gathered his pupils and asked them to visit him in 30 years, and to take him out of the earth in 75 years. According to his wish, he was dug out in 2002.
Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov has been resting in his native Buryatia ever since. RT Documentary went to see the monk’s body in the Ivolginsky temple. Here are some pictures from a prayer service dedicated to Itigelov’s return and the 280th anniversary of Buddhism’s recognition in Russia.
Have you ever heard about the incorruptible body of Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov?
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#photo #Russia
Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov is considered a miracle in the Buddhist region of Buryatia.
He sat in a lotus pose and sank into deep meditation nearly a century ago, but when his body was exhumed, witnesses were stunned.
There was no smell, his body was perfectly preserved. His skin is still elastic and his limbs are flexible. In 1927, Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov gathered his pupils and asked them to visit him in 30 years, and to take him out of the earth in 75 years. According to his wish, he was dug out in 2002.
Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov has been resting in his native Buryatia ever since. RT Documentary went to see the monk’s body in the Ivolginsky temple. Here are some pictures from a prayer service dedicated to Itigelov’s return and the 280th anniversary of Buddhism’s recognition in Russia.
Have you ever heard about the incorruptible body of Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov?
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
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Why aren’t Indian widows allowed to remarry?
#video #India
According to an old Indian custom, a widow is exiled from her home after her husband’s death. Widows are believed to bring bad luck and her sins are blamed for the man’s death. There was a time when Indian widows practiced suttee – a self-immolation ritual.
Modern widows don’t have to throw themselves on funeral pyres, yet it doesn’t make a lifetime of atonement less tragic. Widows cut their hair short, put on a white sari, and live off charity. Many flock to the holy town of Vrindavan, where the Hindu god Krishna allegedly spent most of his childhood.
There are approximately 40 million widows in India. The cruel practice lives on, but rights groups and volunteers have opened shelters and ashrams for widows and provide them with food and medical care. Check out the documentary for more and share your thoughts in comments.
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary
#video #India
According to an old Indian custom, a widow is exiled from her home after her husband’s death. Widows are believed to bring bad luck and her sins are blamed for the man’s death. There was a time when Indian widows practiced suttee – a self-immolation ritual.
Modern widows don’t have to throw themselves on funeral pyres, yet it doesn’t make a lifetime of atonement less tragic. Widows cut their hair short, put on a white sari, and live off charity. Many flock to the holy town of Vrindavan, where the Hindu god Krishna allegedly spent most of his childhood.
There are approximately 40 million widows in India. The cruel practice lives on, but rights groups and volunteers have opened shelters and ashrams for widows and provide them with food and medical care. Check out the documentary for more and share your thoughts in comments.
Follow: https://news.1rj.ru/str/rtdocumentary