Congo cobalt: TikTok users abandon vaping due to mining worries
Numerous young adults on TikTok are pledging to discard their e-cigarettes and stop vaping – not due to health concerns though.
Micah Ndango, a five-year vape user, states in a widely viewed video, with over 15,000 views, that he is giving up vaping as a part of his contribution to assist the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"My sibling recently grabbed my final vape, so I'm going to chronicle my journey of quitting vaping on this platform," promises the 21-year-old.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, located in the heart of Africa, is the primary global supplier of cobalt. This element is crucial for the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are utilized in cell phones, electric cars, and numerous types of e-cigarettes.
The place also accommodates over 100 million inhabitants and is presently confronting what the UN declares as one of the "most severe humanitarian disasters globally".
Numerous militant factions have consistently troubled the mineral-abundant eastern region of DR Congo. This year, escalating conflicts have resulted in an unprecedented 6.9 million individuals being displaced from their residences, as indicated by UN statistics.
Non-combatants are likewise under attack – only a week ago, 14 village inhabitants lost their lives, believed to be at the hands
News about the ongoing turmoil is spreading, and social media users are scrutinizing the part global corporations and buyers play in the problems of DR Congo.
"Ms Ndango, a resident of the United States, initially learned about the effects of cobalt mining in Congo through a TikTok ," she shared with the BBC.
"Having viewed that TikTok, I conducted my own investigation into the topic."
In September, a study by Amnesty International revealed that global corporations extracting copper and cobalt in DR Congo had aggressively displaced whole communities.
Amnesty also discovered violations of human rights – for example, many villagers who resisted evacuation reported being assaulted by Congolese soldiers.
In the previous year, the US Labor Department included lithium-ion batteries in its catalogue of items produced through child or forced labor. This decision was influenced by their findings of children being involved in cobalt extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The department stated that numerous kids skip school and endure dreadful circumstances to generate cobalt for lithium-ion batteries.
The report suggests that whole families could be employed in cobalt mines in Congo. If their parents die due to mine collapses or landslides, the children are left without any choice but to carry on working.
Considering the extent of the issue, Ms. Ndango understands that it may be challenging for digital campaigns to bring about enduring transformation locally. Nevertheless, she believes that her videos will, at the very least, help increase awareness.
You can't predict who might be at the other end of that call and the difference they could potentially make.
"I'm confident in my capacity to raise consciousness, and considering the immense influence of social media as a communication medium, it would be a waste not to utilize it."
Footage featuring TikTok users such as Ms Ndango committing to stop vaping have certainly garnered a lot of interest. A video by the author @itskristinamf is among the most viewed, with over 1.7 million views.
Numerous TikTok users have reacted to Ms Ndango's personal videos with replies such as: "You're not by yourself. I've also begun the same journey" and "HONEY, I ALSO RESIGNED TODAY, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER".
Nonetheless, Christoph Vogel, who penned Conflict Minerals, Inc.: War, Profit and White Saviourism in Eastern Congo, opines that such online advocacy can be a mixed blessing.
He informs the BBC that it has the ability to garner widespread attention towards crucial matters, but this is usually achieved through substantial oversimplification.
Mr. Vogel, a specialist on DR Congo for the UN Security Council who has spent numerous years working in the nation, states that human rights abuses are rampant, including child labour, particularly in the cobalt mining sector, which further contributes to significant health risks.
"However, this is a typical feature of mining overall, and it would be inaccurate to attribute it solely to cobalt."
There's also a danger that digital activism might inadvertently disempower the groups it aims to assist, as the storyline is often controlled by Western supporters and the collective wisdom of internet users.
Ms. Ndango concedes this fact.
The problems in DR Congo are extremely complex with numerous aspects to consider. However, when disseminating information about them online, individuals often reduce these complexities to suit their short, minute-long messages.
She expresses her sorrow that those most affected by cobalt mining in DR Congo may not possess the resources to share their experiences widely. However, she encourages others to "utilize your influence positively".
She further adds, "A single post has the potential to be seen by a whole country
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