In short - Congo is a country with heavy conflict going back years - mostly centered around Congo's natural resources. Congo is very dangerous due to armed militas and many, many massacred resulting in the deaths of 6 million people since 1996.
Many men, women and children are forced to work 12+ hours a day, in life threatening conditions. Only for a minuscule salary to barely get by.
HERE is a more in depth post I made, with more info/sources. Please read.
Below are some charities supporting Congo 🇨🇩
☆ - Donate to Friends of the Congo
"The Friends of the Congo (FOTC) is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt an advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. The FOTC was established in 2004 to work in partnership with Congolese to bring about peaceful and lasting change in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formerly Zaire."
☆ - Donate to Action Against Hunger
"Our mission is to save the lives of children and their families. We are there for them before and after disaster strikes. We enable people to provide for themselves, see their children grow up strong, and for whole communities to prosper. We constantly search for more effective solutions, while sharing our knowledge and expertise with the world. We push for long-term change."
☆ - Donate to Embrace Relief
"Embrace Relief is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which collaborates with volunteers to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief to vulnerable communities around the world. In accordance with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, our teams offer relief in the form of financial, emotional and physical support, in order to meet the needs of people ravaged by disaster and other misfortune. The foundation collects and distributes supplies to families, individuals and institutions."
"Delivering research-based, sustainable solutions to achieve immediate and lasting improvements in situations of humanitarian emergency and improving the quality of life of individuals and communities enduring chronic hardships."
Before you donate, I do encourage you to do your own research - if you find that any of these charities don't support Congo or have anything else wrong please let me know. Thank you and free Congo 🇨🇩 <33
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO 🇨🇩- HOW CAN WE HELP? WHY SHOULD WE BE AWARE? cw - descriptions of violence/ sexual violence/ slavery
Hello everyone, I am here to reach you on Congo, or the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I will be sharing a synopsis of the history/what is currently happening in Congo, I will list my sources and I will provide resources where you can help/learn more about Congo. I want to ask you to PLEASE do your own research on this topic. Please, take some time out of your day to get a bit educated on the people of Congo, do not just go off my post. I want to to check out the sources I list and do your own research. If you find any more useful sources/information or find any misinformation or see anything problematic in my post, PLEASE MESSAGE ME, my messages are open.
DRC is a very rich environment - that is an unbelievable understatement. If you are a climate activist, or anybody I urge you to research this. Congo is a very rich land, it is filled with gold, diamonds, oil, zinc, cotton and cobalt and so, so much more. Alot of Congos conflicts are centred around want for resources. You can trace this back to colonialism, where the western world has and still does profit from the exploitation of African countries, and profits from them being unstable and corrupt.
I urge you to PLEASE watch this video here, it is by @ fa2chainz on tiktok, credit to her. The video briefly and clearly explores the connection between the exploitation of Africa and the western world. Its only a few minutes, you have the time. If you somehow don't you can save this to watch later.
Congo's land is extremely fertile. Home to MANY of Africa's rivers and lakes, the Congo Basin is one of Africa's largest forests. IF THIS FOREST IS DESTROYED, IT WOULD HAVE DETRIMENTAL AFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. I implore you to become aware about this, because companies are buying land from this area to extract oil. They thrive on our ignorance, which is why we need to be educated on this and be protesting it. Again let me remind you, the degradation of this area can and will have devastating effects on the earth and the climate. And NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THIS. I HAD TO PURPOSELY LOOK FOR THIS INFORMATION. We need to be getting this information to the main media and have more attention put on it.
On Congolese environment (I will be listing many sources throughout this post, PLEASE let me know if you want a certain source removed/included and why)
Slavery in Congo
See your phone? Your laptop? Your car? They are all here from the blood/tears of Congolese men, women and children. Many of which have died to make the electronics we own today.
Congo is currently going through a SILENT GENOCIDE. Millions being killed so the West can benefit from its resources. Millions. Our brains may not be able to comprehend that amount, and it might not seem as drastic as it should. To put that in perspective, that is HIGHER THAN THE ENTIRE POPULATIOND OF IRELAND, ICELAND, BELIZE, MONACO. There are small island/countries amounts of people that have all been killed in the past years (since 1996). The roughly same number of people are displaced from their homes. And yet, there is nobody talking about this. No big celebrities or influencers, nobody will use their platform for Congo, I often wonder, how many more deaths will it take for them to finally care? How much more devastation and destruction will it take for them to use their platforms to say something?
Mining companies enslave men, women and children. "Will I send my child to school today, or will I eat?" Is what many people in Congo have to ask themselves. They will work literally to the death, in order to earn a miniscule salary to barley get by.
Congo is the world's largest reserve of Coltan, critical mineral needed for electronics, aerospace and innovation of technology. Every single electric car is made with the blood, swaet and tears of Congolese people. These cars are now being mass produced, advertised as a more environmentally friendly alternative, while the same companies are ruining some of the largest natural/fertile wildlife/plant life on earth. Please watch this video here by @ izzyeternal on tiktok, very informative on ethical consumption in relation to Congo.
More on slavery in Congo;
Here
Here
War/violence - M23 - a very brief synopsis
Why is Rwanda involved? On Jan 27, Rwanda backed rebel group M23 claimed to have captured to city of Goma. Leading to millions displaced. Goma holds strategic importance as the region contains trillions of dollars in mineral wealth. I will link videos/a documentary that goes more in depth of the history behind this. M23 is estimated to have a few thousand members, but keeping in mind they are reportedly backed by the Rwandan government/army.
M23 reportedly make a million PER MONTH taxing the mines they own, this money funds their weapons and such. They kill THOUSANDS with heavy weaponry, in hospitals and displacement camps aswell. Women have been burned to death, bodies unrecognisable. This happens with M23 and the Congolese army, reports of 52 women raped by Congolese troops in South Kivu, including alleged reports of gang rape. Rape is used as a weapon of war, and has become so common place as if its routine. Mass graves have been uncovered, with victims in the hundreds of thousands - millions.
Alot of my information comes from these educational videos / a documentary and various websites. I will link so, I encourage you to check this out.
Website- here,
Videos(by news chanels) - here, here, here
Documentary- here, it is very insightful, explains the history and crimes happening in Congo. It is an hour and a half long.
But I do also encourage you to do further research, just incase there is any missunformation spread.
Violence against women/rape in Congo
"When the army came and attacked us, After they killed the children and my husband they grabbed me and cut my body up, poured red hot water and burned me. Then they all raped me. There was twenty - four of them. After two days, I was still lying there with the corpses, all seven children and my husband right next to me. And I was in shock. And when my heart was shocked, I lost my mind." - Exerpt from a woman named Georgetta in Congo sharing her story - HERE is the video, centred around the affects of rape/sexual violence in Congo.
In the video they also meet Rebecca Masika Katsuva, a woman from Congo who has helped THOUSANDS of women, rape victims and children born from rape, she was an amazing person, a hero who is NEVER TALKED ABOUT- HER STORY IS NOT KNOWN. Please learn about her HERE and HERE
"I've been working here for over 32 years. I have never seen what I'm seeing today. Never. Today with all the instances I see of child rape rising and I think it's a phenomenon that we absolutely must understand"
"Most of them are dying just here or before or they come and reach this place after, and they are not alive"
These are quotes from Denis Mukwege regarding child rape, he is a gynecologist from Congo, who founded Panzi hospital and works with thousands of rape victims. (Even nominated for a Nobel Peace prize in 2018) Quotes found in same video HERE learn more about Denis Mukwege HERE - I really hope to see more talking about these people/Congo in general.
More on violence against women;
HERE
HERE
“We face unimaginable horrors daily, enduring relentless violence, exploitation, and suffering that tear at the very fabric of our existence,” said Nelly Kongo, founder of Congolese Families for Joy and CARE’s partner. “Women who are raped cannot speak of their ordeal to anyone for fear of being stigmatized or ridiculed. Others are forced into marriages to combatants or coerced into prostitution to survive. Young girls are also being driven into sex work to support their families. Due to a lack of proper shelter, many families are sleeping outside, exposing children to the risk of kidnapping, while women face sexually transmitted diseases and infections due to rampant sexual violence. The situation is dire and will continue to deteriorate unless urgent action is taken.”
Additional regarding Journalists/journalism in Congo -
HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE
I would like to ask you to PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I SAID ANYTHING WRONG, Or if any sources I listed are spreading misinformation/problematic. The absolute last thing I intend to do with this post is to spread incorrect information or tarnish the names of anyone I talk about, or spread anything that has blatant lies. So if you see anything of the sort, or see something problematic/ offensive at all with this post my messages are open.
CHARITIES SUPPORTING CONGO
Friendsofthecongo.org
Embracerelief.org
Actionagainsthunger.org
Doctorswithoutboarders.org
HERE is a petition to sign for Congo
BOYCOTT FOR CONGO
Companies thrive of slavery in Congo, I mentioned technology earlier -
It would be great if you could look after our technology and make sure it lasts long, and not treat technology like its disposable - many have died for the cobalt in it. You can get a screen protector and a good phone case. MAKE SURE your tech is ethically sourced, refurbished or second hand/reused. You do not need that new IPhone, or laptop. You do not need to get constantly updated with technology.
MAKE SURE TO TRY BOYCOTT Apple, Samsung, HUAWEI, Tesla, BMW, General Motors, Motorola, Nokia, Google and Microsoft to the best of your ability. I understand this may seem impossible/unrealistic because of how widespread and powerful these companies are/how much we rely on them, I am asking you to be mindful and boycott to the best of your ability.
Also make sure your diamonds/gold are ethically sourced, Congo is very rich in diamonds/gold.
HERE is a website on Boycotting for Congo
HELP CONGO IN WHAT WAYS YOU CAN
We should be caring more about this, we should continue to pressure people with big platforms to speak up, since they could bring so much awareness to these issues around the world, and yet they are silent. This information isn't very widely known - and I had to purposely look for these, and the videos I watched have mostly under 1000 comments or likes. The world doesn't seem to care enough about the LITTERAL MILLIONS massacred. The more we stay silent the more complicit we are in this.
With this post I intend for people to know more about Congo, and do their own research/find our more. I hope people will begin to take more action.
PLEASE keep boycotting, share with the people around you, put posters/stickers up around your community/go to protests and rallies (If it's safe to do so and if there is any of course)
We need to be treating the tragedy in Congo as we do with other injustice around the world, with just as much coverage and awareness. Thank you for listening to my post, my posts don't usually get much traction so if you could please share this to a friend or a simple reblog, that would be very much appreciated. Thanks and free Congo <33 🇨🇩🇨🇩
ALSO!! Stream "Waters" by Lagrace - funds raised from that song go towards Congo. She is an amazing artist we should support.
Hello everyone, I would like to remind you that there are entire cities/countries worth of people living in displacement, danger and slavery in Congo, yet there is little to no media coverage - and the majority of people speaking for Congo are Congolese themselves. Which shows you how little the world cares about Congo.
Every phone, laptop and car is made with the blood and tears of Congolese men, women and children. The amount of people unaware of this is appalling, there needs to be more awareness about Congo.
Congo is one of the richest countries in the world, yet its people are in poverty and slavery. Many western countries and neighbouring countries of Congo want Conglese minerals and resources. The Congo Basin is one of Africa's largest rainforests. If this areas is destroyed then it will have irreversible and catastrophic concesquences for the environment. And yet many companies still mine there.
HERE is an in depth post I made about Congo, please give a read, some constructive feedback, and any more information you would like to add, please pay attention to Congo.
Joseph Kabila Stripped of Immunity: DR Congo Treason Charges Explained
Introduction: What Does Stripping Kabila’s Immunity Mean?
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has taken a historic and controversial step by stripping former President Joseph Kabila of his legal immunity. This move opens the door for Kabila to face prosecution on serious treason and war crimes charges linked to his alleged support for the M23 rebel group. This blog explores the…
African Leaders Urged to Find Solution to Congo Conflict at High-Level Summit
DAR ES SALAAM: At an unprecedented summit of Eastern and Southern African regional blocs, leaders called for urgent action to resolve the escalating crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Congo conflict, now in its most intense phase in over a decade, saw M23 rebels capture Goma, the largest city in the region, in late January. Despite declaring a ceasefire, the rebels continue…
South African Soldiers Killed as Congo Conflict Escalates Near Goma
Nine South African soldiers have been killed in the conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the South African Defence Department confirmed on Saturday. This comes as Congolese forces and peacekeepers intensify efforts to halt the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels toward the city of Goma.
The overnight fighting, aimed at defending the provincial capital of over 1 million…
I just watched the documentary “Virunga” and it was so amazingly eye opening! I highly recommend it, it’s on Netflix, but be prepared to cry heavily and often! And if you want to help out they have a website where you can learn more: www.virungamovie.com