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People live under rocks and are sheltered most of their lives. They need these MTV styled videos to motivate them and to get them riled up for a cause. Otherwise, their lives would just be plain boring. Whether or not their cause is real or not, the point is, they did something, or so they THINK. If it makes them feel good about themselves, and if they can tell other people "look what I did to help poor kids," then it's all a good cause, right? Wrong.
Ultimately, if someone is going to take part in one of these viral campaigns, they need to do their own research and investigate the cause, the history and the organization. As we've unraveled from research already shown in this thread, this video was shot in 2003 and since then this problem has been eradicated or at least relieved a fair bit. Many sources have also reported that Kony is already dead. So what exactly are you achieving in this campaign if the goals have already been achieved years ago? Self-satisfaction? People able to say you took part in something good? Guess what, this Kony guy is a dime a dozen and if you're going to try and make a relief effort, make sure it's legitimate and you know what you're cause is, don't be ignorant and follow because X, Y and Z are doing it.
Well, from my newsfeed, most people that are reposting this are the same that repost online petitions and useless crap like that.
So, yeah.
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I actually feel glad that I haven't seen a single post on this on my facebook.. the only thing I know of it is the meme jokes posted in the NSFW thread, and this thread
Here's one of the co-founders, Jason Russell's, profile (as written on PMc):
Quote:
1: Who am I?
I am a rebel soul: dream evangelist. I am obsessed with people. I tell stories by making inspiring movies that move people’s emotions, and then I take those emotions and transform them into action. My middle name is Radical. I married my best friend. We have known each other since we were six and seven. I have a three-year-old boy named Gavin Danger & a one-year-old girl named Everley Darling. I truly believe I am the luckiest person on earth because of my family, friends and the ability to go to a dream factory every day for work.
2: What do you do and what project are you currently working on?
Touring a new Invisible Children movie called Tony. We will screen it to a direct audience of 500,000 people for the next three months. We will have a huge event on April 25th in which we will be going silent for 25 hours in order to raise funds and protect the child soldiers in Joseph Kony’s rebel army. I am also training for an Iron Man.
3: Where are you from and where are you going?
I am from San Diego California with an upbringing in musical theater. I am going to help end the longest running war in Africa, get Joseph Kony arrested & redefine international justice. Then I am going to direct a Hollywood musical. Then I am going to study theology & literature in Oxford, England, and then move to New York to start “The Academy” – which will be a school where the best creative young minds in the world attend.
4: Who is your biggest hero?
If Oprah, Steven Spielberg and Bono had a baby, I would be that baby.
5: What book is your bible?
East of Eden. No book will ever come as close to the love I have for that book. Timshel.
6: What are some things you love? And some things you hate?
I love:
Brewing my own beer, watching documentaries, bouncing on the bed with my children, traveling to undiscovered places, forgiveness, cheese and Mumford & Sons.
Hate:
Ignorance. Laziness. Injustice.
7: What is your raison d’ętre?
To do impossible things. And to see lives wake up to their true potential.
8: What is your favorite color?
Red. For every single reason you can think of. Love. Hate. Passion.
9: Who is your favorite comic book superhero?
Peter Pan.
10: What is your favorite NYC hot spot?
Little Branch.
11: What turns you on?
Pregnant women. (This is not a joke).
12: What would the last question of this questionnaire be if you were the one asking?
If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and what would you tell them?
I think he comes off as a narcissistic douchebag, but that's just me.
Not as bad as pol pot who killed 1/3 (800,000 - 3 million people out of 7 million population) of the cambodia population alone with his army khmer rogue
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Earl
Not as bad as pol pot who killed 1/3 (800,000 - 3 million people out of 7 million population) of the cambodia population alone with his army khmer rogue
That's not important, they cannot be proven to have child soldiers and slaves. Children are much more marketable.
He's trying to explain it to his son on a level that he can understand it at. I personally think he did a great job.
The problem is people seem to shelter their kids rather then educate them. When you think something is bad or inappropriate for your kids it's better just to completely shut them off from it right?
Take sex and contraception for example. Parents in the US were outraged about sex-ed being taught to students at such a young age. Even more mind boggling was the parents stance on the use of contraception; believing that it was some anti pro-life device. When the numbers were added up which kids do you think had a higher rate of teen pregnancy and STDs? The educated or uneducated kids?
Carl Sagan said, rather then discouraging a child, it's better to educated (properly) them and feed their curiosity. I don't mean tell them that the warlords are forcing kids his age to mutilate their buddies. I mean educate them on a level they can understand.
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Yes, these guys could be using this viral marketing campaign for their own benefits.
Yes, they could be making matters worse in Uganda for people.
Yes, the goals may not come to fruition.
But nothing will change, nothing will happen if nobody brought this to to the attention of millions of people around the western world. It'll just get dragged for another few decades. Yes, this issue has been widely reported before this video came online, but what harm is there by creating awareness of Kony's wrongdoings? Sharing the video or donating to their cause probably won't do anything. The goals of these guys probably will not be realized, but then again, sitting idly and doing nothing helps either. Would it not be better to be aware than oblivious?
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80k a year only?? i'd want to be paid MORE if i was going into a dangerous country NONE of us will go and video tape everything i can, MORE if i had a son.
He's trying to explain it to his son on a level that he can understand it at. I personally think he did a great job.
The problem is people seem to shelter their kids rather then educate them. When you think something is bad or inappropriate for your kids it's better just to completely shut them off from it right?
Take sex and contraception for example. Parents in the US were outraged about sex-ed being taught to students at such a young age. Even more mind boggling was the parents stance on the use of contraception; believing that it was some anti pro-life device. When the numbers were added up which kids do you think had a higher rate of teen pregnancy and STDs? The educated or uneducated kids?
Carl Sagan said, rather then discouraging a child, it's better to educated (properly) them and feed their curiosity. I don't mean tell them that the warlords are forcing kids his age to mutilate their buddies. I mean educate them on a level they can understand.
You definitely to see the point here. The problem here is
1) the kid is 4 - 5 years old. Do you think his father should be telling him about a third world country rebel?
2) his intention is not to try to teach his son but rather video record him for his social media to bring attention to kony. Viewers will see that when a cute little kid is judging the kony as a bad guy and what should be done to him. It's a tactic to make viewers agree with the video
Thank you for reading this and doing further research about Invisible Children and Kony 2012. In response to this explosion of interest about the Kony 2012 film, there have been hundreds of thousands of comments in support of the arrest of Joseph Kony and the work of Invisible Children. However, there have also been a few pieces written that are putting out false or mis-leading information about these efforts. This statement is our official response to some of these articles and is a source for accurate information about Invisible Children’s mission, financials and approach to stopping LRA violence.
Invisible Children’s mission is to stop LRA violence and support the war affected communities in Central Africa. These are the three ways we achieve that mission. Each is essential: 1) Document and make the world aware of the LRA. This includes making documentary films and touring these films around the world so that they are seen for free by millions of people. 2) Channeling the energy and awareness from informed viewers of IC films into large scale advocacy campaigns that have mobilized the international community to stop the LRA and protect civilians. 3) Operate programs on the ground in the LRA-affected areas to provide protection, rehabilitation and development assistance.
As you will see, we spend roughly one third of our money on each of these three goals. This three-prong approach is what makes invisible children unique. Some organizations focus exclusively on documenting human rights abuses, some focus exclusively on international advocacy or awareness, and some focus exclusively on, on-the-ground development. We do all three. At the same time. This comprehensive model is intentional and has shown to be very effective.
Re: Financials
Invisible Children’s financial statements are online for everyone to see. Financial statements from the last 5 years, including our 990, are available at Invisible Children - Financials. The organization spent 80.46% on our programs that further our three fold mission, 16.24% on administration and management costs and 3.22% on direct fundraising in FY2011. Invisible Children is independently audited every year and in full compliance with our 501 c 3 status.
Below is a screen-shot from pages 35 and 36 of the 2011 Invisible Children annual report that detail our total expenses for Fiscal Year 2011. An expense statement by class is the way nonprofits present their expenses to the public because it’s the clearest way to show the purpose of different organizational expenses vs. a line item expense statement such as the one on Page 6 of our Audited Financial Report.
Re: Charity Navigator Rating
Charity Navigator gives our Programs its highest rating of 4 stars. Our Accountability and Transparency score is currently at 2 stars due primarily to the single fact that Invisible Children does not have 5 independent voting members on our board of directors--we currently have 4. We are in the process of interviewing potential board members, and we will add an additional independent member this year in order to regain our 4-star rating by 2013. We have been independently audited by Considine and Considine, since the fiscal year end of June 30, 2006 and all of our audits have resulted in unqualified opinions on the audit reports.
Re: Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Participation in BBB's program is voluntary-- we are choosing to wait until we have expanded our Board of Directors, as some questions hinge on the size of our Board. The current Board is small in size and reflects Invisible Children’s grassroots foundation. Invisible Children has now reached a juncture of success that has astonished even its greatest supporters. While it is important to retain a presence on the Board that reflects Invisible Children's early beginnings, we also are working to realign the structure this year.
The best researched paper supporting the policy position of the KONY 2012 campaign can be found here, drafted by Paul Ronan of Resolve: Resolve - Peace Can Be
But here are a few quick responses to some of the most common questions we’re seeing online:
Re: The strategy to secure Kony arrest
For more than two decades, Kony has refused opportunities to negotiate an end to the violence peacefully, and governments of countries where Kony has operated -- including Uganda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic -- have been unable to capture Kony or bring him to justice. This is because regional governments are often not adequately committed to the task, but also because they lack some of the specific capabilities that would help them do so. The KONY 2012 campaign is calling for U.S. leadership to address both problems. It supports the deployment of U.S. advisors and the provision of intelligence and other support that can help locate and bring Kony to justice, but also increased diplomacy to hold regional governments accountable to their basic responsibilities to protect civilians from this kind of brutal violence. Importantly, the campaign also advocates for broader measures to help communities being affected by LRA attacks, such as increased funding for programs to help Kony's abductees escape and return to their homes and families. For a clear understanding of the KONY 2012 political goals, please see the letter to President Obama.
Re: Ugandan government human rights record
We do not defend any of the human rights abuses perpetrated by the Ugandan government or the Ugandan army (UPDF). None of the money donated through Invisible Children ever goes to the government of Uganda. Yet the only feasible and proper way to stop Kony and protect the civilians he targets is to coordinate efforts with regional governments.
Re: Stopping Kony
We are advocating for the arrest of Joseph Kony so that he can be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a precedent for future war criminals. The goal of Kony 2012 is for the world to unite to see him arrested and prosecuted for his crimes against humanity.
Re: Why work with the UPDF if the LRA is no longer in northern Uganda
The LRA left northern Uganda in 2006. The LRA is currently active in Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Invisible Children’s mission is to stop Joseph Kony and the LRA wherever they are and help rehabilitate LRA-affected communities. The Ugandan government’s army, the UPDF, is more organized and better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries (DRC, South Sudan, CAR) to track down Joseph Kony. Part of the US strategy to stop Kony is to encourage cooperation between the governments and armies of the 4 LRA-affected countries. The LRA was active in Uganda for nearly 20 years, displacing 1.7 million people and abducting at least 30,000 children. The people and government of Uganda have a vested interested in seeing him stopped.
Re: Programs on the Ground
While the vast majority of the recent exposure and commentary about Invisible Children has been towards the awareness portion of our mission, below is an up-to-date explanation of our direct work in Central Africa, an equally important element to the mission of Invisible Children.
Re: The photo of the founders with the guns (see banner image)
A story told by Jason Russell: The photo of Bobby, Laren and I with the guns was taken in an LRA camp in DRC during the 2008 Juba Peace Talks. We were there to see Joseph Kony come to the table to sign the Final Peace Agreement. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was surrounding our camp for protection since Sudan was mediating the peace talks. We wanted to talk to them and film them and get their perspective. And because Bobby, Laren and I are friends and had been doing this for 5 years, we thought it would be funny to bring back to our friends and family a joke photo. You know, “Haha - they have bazookas in their hands but they’re actually fighting for peace.” The ironic thing about this photo is that I HATE guns. I always have. Back in 2008 I wanted this war to end, like we all did, peacefully, through peace talks. But Kony was not interested in that; he kept killing. And we still don’t want war. We don’t want him killed and we don’t want bombs dropped. We want him alive and captured and brought to justice.
Invisible Children’s Program in Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan:
Protecting communities and demobilizing the LRA
HF Early Warning Radio Network:
To address the lack of information from the most vulnerable and remote communities, Invisible Children partnered with Commission Diocesaine Justice et Paix (CDJP), under the umbrella of the Catholic Diocese of Dungu, to expand a High Frequency (HF) Radio Network connecting communities to one another through twice-daily security and humanitarian reporting. This network allows for advanced warning of LRA activity and increased security information for humanitarian responders. Communities participating in the project were selected due to their susceptibility to LRA attack and their lack of the communication infrastructure necessary to report and receive security information. A Local Protection Committee is established in each community to gather and disseminate information, provide regular maintenance to the equipment, and to ensure that trained operators in each community are carrying out the daily reporting,
This project connects communities with local and international humanitarian groups, ultimately allowing for heightened humanitarian response, while limiting the LRA’s ability to attack without warning. Through Invisible Children’s support, there are now 27 communities linked into the HF Early Warning System in Haut and Bas Uele.
FM Radio: To encourage and facilitate the surrender of LRA combatants, Invisible Children partnered with UN DDR/RR and Interactive Radio for Justice (IRfJ) to increase the capacity of Radio Zereda, a community-run FM radio in Obo, Central African Republic, from 1km to an over 30-km radius. Through locally produced radio programming, members the victims’ association in Obo and cultural leaders from LRA-affected regions share insight and sensitize local populations to the LRA’s activities. In conjunction with sensitization, LRA-directed programming is broadcast in both the local Pazande and Acholi languages to encourage and give instructions for peaceful surrender.
In 2011, Invisible Children also provided support to repair Radio Rhinoceros in Faradje, and provided monetary support for a DDR/RR mobile FM unit deployed on rotation in Haut Uele. Additional community-FM projects in Haut Uele and in the highly remote and vulnerable district of Bas Uele are being identified and assessed for support during the 2012 calendar year.
LRA Crisis Tracker: The LRA Crisis Tracker is a real-time mapping platform and data collection system created to bring an unprecedented level of transparency to the atrocities of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Using information sourced from Invisible Children’s Early Warning Radio Network, UN agencies, and local NGOs, this tool allows for better response from governments, policy-makers, and humanitarian organizations. This joint project, developed by Invisible Children and Resolve, marks the first time data surrounding the crisis has been comprehensively aggregated and made publicly available.
Rehabilitation Center:
As forceful abductions continue throughout Central Africa, Invisible Children is partnering with a renowned LRA-trauma specialist, Els de Temmerman, and the leadership of CDJP-Dungu, to establish the first intensive rehabilitation program in the LRA-affected regions of northeastern Congo. The center, located in Dungu, is locally managed and provides one-on-one counseling, utilizing UNICEF-approved Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). The center provides vocational and life skills training and reunification services. Upon completion of the second phase of construction, the center will have capacity for up to 250 children and youth to live and receive holistic counseling services. Currently, a limited number of severely traumatized children are receiving treatment while the center builds staff capacity and develops systems in preparation for full operation. Program management will continue to coordinate with both local and international NGOs and UN agencies to ensure that the center’s activities are utilized by, and fit within, the regional psychosocial and protection strategies.
Uganda:
Promoting peace and prosperity through Education and Livelihood initiatives
Legacy Scholarship Program (LSP):
The scholarship provides fully paid, merit-based scholarships and mentoring from local full-time IC Mentors. Students are selected based on academic potential and need.
Stats as of December 2011:
University students: 250
Secondary students: 590 (currently recruiting additional students)
Schools for Schools (S4S):
This program partners with 11 secondary schools and their surrounding communities in northern Uganda, working on projects that both build and renovate structures, while also investing in teachers and curriculum. The program also facilitates a yearly Teacher Exchange Program benefiting both Ugandan and international educators.
Stats as of December 2011:
Partner schools: 11
Students attending partner schools: 9,048
Livelihood Program:
The Livelihood Program takes a holistic approach to providing sustainable economic growth and improved living conditions for war-affected northern Ugandans. It impacts rural communities using a three-pronged approach: over 1,250 community members are saving and loaning together, participating in our Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) program; 5,000 community members are benefiting from clean water and health and sanitation initiatives through the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program; and over 1,000 people are receiving training on numeracy, reading, and writing in their local language as a part of our Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) program.
Stats as of December 2011:
WASH: over 5,000 (20 communities with an average of 250 community members)
VSLA: 1,250 community members (50 groups of 25-30 members each)
FAL: 1,000 community members (50 groups of 20-25 members each)
These are the stats used by the KONY 2012 film and campaign:
We’ve done our utmost to be as inclusive, transparent, and factual as possible. We built this organization with “seeing is believing” in mind, and that’s what why we are a media-based organization. We WANT you to see everything we are doing, because we are proud of it. Though we would no longer consider ourselves naive, we have always sought counsel from those who know much more. We have never claimed a desire to “save Africa,” but, instead, an intent to inspire Western youth to “do more than just watch.” And in Central Africa, focus on locally-led long-term development programs that enable children to take responsibility for their own futures and the futures of their countries. Our programs are carefully researched and developed initiatives by incredible members of the local community that address the need for quality education, mentorship, the redevelopment of schools, resettlement from the camps, and rehabilitation from war - and if you know anyone who has been there to see it first hand, there is no doubt they will concur. Also, we have invited you to join us on LRACrisisTracker.com, which we established as a way to bring you near real-time reports from the ground, making available to the public the same information received by humanitarians working on the ground.
But, credibility in the eyes of policymakers, fellow non-profit workers, LRA-affected communities, and YOU is our most important asset, so we would like to encourage you, if you have critiques, to get specific: find facts, dig deeper, and we’ll gladly continue the conversation from there. If encountering something you disagree with, suggest an alternative to what we are doing- and we will absolutely take heed. If it’s a matter of opinion, taste, humor, or style: we apologize, and will have to agree to disagree. As the poet Ke$ha says, “we are who we are.”
Let's focus on what matters, and what we DO agree on: Joseph Kony needs to be stopped. And when that happens, peace is the limit. This is the beautiful beginning of an ending that is just the beginning. We are defending tomorrow. And it’s hopeful.
Stay Informed
Found this on my FB wall.
It's too funny to not share this on RS. She made this post after I posted a meme mocking the Kony thing.
Alannah B
To the people ragging on the KONY 2012 campaign. How exactly are you making a difference? By trying to discredit the Invisible Children campaign? unfortunately not everything is free in this world so they obviously need spend money on things in order to spread the word. So if you're not going to spread the word at least don't hinder or discredit those who are ACTIVELY trying making a change.
KONY 2012 - WATCH THE FILM
kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com
Joseph Kony is the world’s worst war criminal. KONY 2012 is a 24-minute film that explains everything he’s done and how he can be stopped. This year. #KONY2012
Like · · Share · 8 hours ago ·
2 people like this.
Evan P 9 years in Iraq and now you want to send troops over to fight some guerrilla war (this will be Vietnam all over again) in the African jungle over some warlord who has been missing for almost 6 years?
Do people understand how these things work? We don't just have an awareness wand to wave around and suddenly Kony appears. No, this man has been hiding in a jungle in which no military has ever even imagined entering. The outcome of military intervention will be a blood bath. Do yourself a favour and research just how dangerous the Congo really is, oh and there are two Congo's, so please pick the right one.
The only difference you're making is bringing napalm back to war. But hey, you're ACTIVELY making a change, and all change is good right?
2 hours ago · Like
Lauren Parker True that sister! Unfortunately there will ALWAYS be resistance with any sort of change. Either way, good or bad, this movement is being talking about. That's what matters!!
2 hours ago · Like
Lauren Parker Well well. That's an opinion if I've ever seen one. I realize this "war" is a dangerous one. But the Kony 2012 is about awareness. Strength in numbers. Like I said, no matter what, change will always bring about some sort of resistance and that is evident all over Facebook and these blogs. I say: fair enough, do your research before you join the movement, but GOSH people are looking way too into this. We're bringing a deserving criminal to justice. This is proof that one voice can make a difference by means of the butterfly effect. There is a reason this man is the #1 criminal in the world. There is a reason his name is on the top of that list. He is a bad man. Also, it is inevitable that change requires monetary support. As if anything is free in this world. T shirts and bracelets are means of propaganda and they AREN'T FREE. so yes I understand why they're asking for money. It makes perfect sense. Rather than resisting this join the numbers and make a difference where we can. We are strong and have all the resources to make change for the future. Criminals and war lords like Kony must know that they cannot get away with these sorts of I humane killings any more.
about an hour ago · Like
Evan P Read the article. Please.
about an hour ago · Like
Lauren Parker I did.
about an hour ago · Like
Evan P That article destroys every single point you tried to make in your response. I don't know what else any one could possible say to convince people just how destructive this "movement" will be.
You're not creating peace or stopping a war criminal, you're creating a new battleground in which you know none of the implications.
Please, and I ask you sincerely, read that article again. I know you think you're helping, but you're not and it isn't pessimistic people trying to convince you of this, it's well-informed people who have been working on this issue since the beginning.
about an hour ago · Like
Lauren Parker I did.
about an hour ago · Like
Evan P Well, lets go to the Congo and start a war then. Blood for blood, that's the pacifist way.
about an hour ago · Like
Lauren Parker Just another persons opinion. That's fine. We're all e titled to our own opinions. That's what makes the world a beautiful place. Our people are so educated that it's apparent that we will NEVER all agree. Just saying that our generation has the chance to make legitimate change. If this campaign truly works, it is proof that one small voice can make a huge difference not just locally but globally. It's inspirational to say the least. I say no more because I don' use Facebook to rant. Tata
about an hour ago · Like
Evan P "Our people are so educated" - ahahahahaha
Women. Give them something emotional to overwhelm them into doing "something". My wife is like that, and knowing that, I countered with the links posted in this thread. Also, sent her the co-founder's profile, and suggested that he's a self-serving, narcissistic, hipster douchebag. That worked.
hahah i tried to talk to a person about this and i respect for her especially when i caught her in a lie, sent her some responses from here and she said she read it already in an article.....
Why can't these people not understand one simple concept; we aren't pro-Kony, we're just not pro-invisible children!
They act as if IV is a unique entity, the first group to stand up against Kony or the like, when that couldn't be further from the truth. IV is the group that got lucky with a video going viral, nothing more. There are more worthy charities, that are more well managed, with more practical plans of effecting change that deserve support.
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