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This film is a Netflix exclusive
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VIRUNGA is a gripping exposé of the realities of life in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the incredible true story of a group of brave people risking their lives to build a better future in a part of Africa the world has forgotten.
Director: Orlando von Einsiedel
Share this film. Consider hosting a screening to spark conversation with friends and/or colleges.
Donate to the Virunga Foundation, donations go directly to the park and the rangers who work everyday to protect this magnificent place and its communities.
Spread the word on Twitter and Facebook. We must not let this slide. Suggested Tweet: “What is SOCO International doing to safeguard #Virunga? Watch @VirungaMovie on #Netflix and #TakeAction http:// virungamovie.com/#takeaction“
Write to SOCO. Ask them how they intend to safeguard for the future of Virunga National Park.
Write to SOCO’s shareholders. Ask them to join #TeamVirunga in questioning SOCO’s efforts to safeguard the future of Virunga National Park.
“While it has an activist purpose in common with many social issue documentaries of its ilk, VIRUNGA stands out by constantly folding its unsettling content into an intimate drama that doesn’t take the high risk scenario for granted. The movie works on its own terms even as it functions as a first-rate call to action.”
“…very few poachers know killing an elephant can lead to jail. ‘I am a casual worker. I do any type of business to raise money for my children. We don’t have the money to pay their school fees. Men asked me to help remove ivory from an elephant. It was already dead and I was to get paid for the job’…“
Explore our Virunga pinterest board.
Our interview with Orlando Von Einsiedel
“The billions of pounds those minerals have generated have brought nothing but misery and death to the very people who live on top of them, while enriching a microscopic elite in the Congo and their foreign backers, and underpinning our technological revolution in the developed world.”
Read an in-depth history of the region on the BBC.
“Extreme poverty and armed conflict are without question the biggest threats to Africa’s wildlife. Both undermine the rule of law and without that, there is little hope of being able to protect wildlife from threats, such as poaching, the bush meat trade, and illegal animal trafficking. Of course, the extraction of natural resources also poses a huge threat to Africa’s wildlife…”
Read more here.
Read the full Galo Magazine interview.
What are the implications of this mix for the future of Virunga?
Read an interesting reflection on the topic here.
Learn about this eco-friendly chocolate company that supports the conservation of Virunga National Park.
“The Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is home to active volcanoes, forests, savanna and some of the world’s last mountain gorillas. But a nearly two decades long conflict in the region has left millions dead and great swathes of territory under rebel control.”
