Kony 2012

[egg-whites333]

Hi if you have not heard about him please watch this.
it is a 30 min well watched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
please spread the word. I dont need to say much more the video says the rest. SOMTHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!

[Roger_Klotz]

I watched this video earlier. He should be stopped, but we must also keep in mind that things like what's happening in Uganda is happening all over the world. We just hardly ever hear about it.

[egg-whites333]

i agree just this is the person being foucussed on they said in the video that this will send a message to all of the people like kony that they are not powerfull

[LemonRising]

I don't trust the Invisible Children group at all. (they don't seem to be spending their money very wisely either.. so I suggest you look into that before going to donate)
There's just so much information left out of that video that I think it loses all credit as educational/informational.
People also seem to be forgetting that the 100 american troops being sent will be aiding an army, which will going against the LRA... which will be child soldiers.
IDEK man. The video is so misleading its just weird.
Yeah Joseph Kony is a horrible guy, but what will it cost to find/capture/kill him, and after that? Then what? There are at least one or two other leaders alive in the LRA. Killing one man isn't going to stop this.

[Sunsetforgotten]

The Daily What (http://tumblr.thedailywh.at/post/18909727859/on-kony-2012-i-honestly-wanted-to-stay-as-far)

[Trunks]

I watched this today in current world affairs class. I thought it was pretty clear that the main purpose of this video was to raise awareness to everyone. The more people who know and want to go against it, the more likely the government will step in and help. At the end he tells the steps to start to stop this man, and he said nothing about donating any money in the video just simply to raise awareness, maybe call your house rep or senate.

Also lemon should we just ignore it and pretend it isn't happening just like we did at the Holocaust and Rwanda? Everyone should know ignoring problems don't make them go away. This will keep happening until someone puts a stop to it. Also you say what are the cost of killing this man, well I guess it depends on the amount that you value another humans life.

Not saying that the invisible children group is 100% pure and that you should donate, but the statements in these videos are true, it's been happening in places all over Africa for decades now. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone it's just that most Americans hear about it and think "awww that's sad" and turn there shoulder and go back to having a good time. The least people could do is take 5 minutes out of there day and make a phone call to their senate or house rep.

[LemonRising]

When did I ever imply that we should ignore it? lmao
I believe that everyone should be educated on matters like this, but I don't think it falls to white kids in america who like to hold guns and support military intervention. Every student should be taught and educated about all tragedies like this happening all over, but it's a failing of the schools which is unfortunate, but maybe that's something kids and teens in america can work towards.
I just think they're a very irresponsible group. They do encourage you to buy their 'kits' and the website encourages you to donate as well. I believe that they believe that they're doing the right thing, but I think they're also manipulative.
The only reason this video got around so fast is because of editing and a cute little white kid, shock from people uneducated on the matter, and appeal to teenagers wanting to rebel (most teenagers).
If they really wanted to help they'd be more careful with how they spread their message.

There are plenty of other organizations who are providing better care and help to these people and children.

[Sunsetforgotten]

I watched this today in current world affairs class. I thought it was pretty clear that the main purpose of this video was to raise awareness to everyone. The more people who know and want to go against it, the more likely the government will step in and help. At the end he tells the steps to start to stop this man, and he said nothing about donating any money in the video just simply to raise awareness, maybe call your house rep or senate.

Also lemon should we just ignore it and pretend it isn't happening just like we did at the Holocaust and Rwanda? Everyone should know ignoring problems don't make them go away. This will keep happening until someone puts a stop to it. Also you say what are the cost of killing this man, well I guess it depends on the amount that you value another humans life.

Not saying that the invisible children group is 100% pure and that you should donate, but the statements in these videos are true, it's been happening in places all over Africa for decades now. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone it's just that most Americans hear about it and think "awww that's sad" and turn there shoulder and go back to having a good time. The least people could do is take 5 minutes out of there day and make a phone call to their senate or house rep.

Problem is, the US never intervene without expecting anything in return. US intervention in these foreign countries while we continue to delve further into the debt pile isn't going to do anything. Also, Kony hasn't been seen in years and is probably dead.

[Trunks]

When did I ever imply that we should ignore it? lmao


Didn't say you did, was just asking because you seemed like you didn't think America should lay a helping hand. Also now that I think back they did mention the kits in the video I forgot about, but I still believe the main purpose was just to spread the word.


Problem is, the US never intervene without expecting anything in return. US intervention in these foreign countries while we continue to delve further into the debt pile isn't going to do anything. Also, Kony hasn't been seen in years and is probably dead.

It's not just the US that should be helping, if all countries, or at least just the United Nations would help it'd be much easier on everyone. Also isn't going to do anything for who? The people in Africa or us Americans?

[egg-whites333]

if usama went missing for year they would not assume he was dead i dont think they should do the same for kony he could be hiding with his army and waiting for the us to give up to start up again.

[Sunsetforgotten]

It's not just the US that should be helping, if all countries, or at least just the United Nations would help it'd be much easier on everyone. Also isn't going to do anything for who? The people in Africa or us Americans?

The UN is a joke. We cannot rely on them to get anything done other than assassinating leader of countries that threaten the credibility of the UN.

[Trunks]

The UN is a joke. We cannot rely on them to get anything done other than assassinating leader of countries that threaten the credibility of the UN.

I'm sure people say the same about the US, it goes both ways.

[LemonRising]

I don't think american soldiers have any business there is all. Not that americans/people shouldn't do anything, awareness is a good thing but my main point it to get proper awareness. Though hopefully the soldiers will be doing nothing more than advising the Ugandan army (maybe teach them how to treat their people better too...)


If you're still interested in learning all about Kony, Uganda, and the children I have this copypaste with some sources and further reading:


Joseph Kony is undoubtedly a cruel man, but lets look at some fun facts around the issue and the organization Invisible Children (after you read what I wrote check out some of the links, especially the article from The Guardian which has scholars and experts expressing both sides of the issue and of IC):

The issue:
-The LRA is only 250 soldiers strong at this point.
-The LRA hasn’t been in Uganda since 2006.
-Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting.
-US Africa Command has been trying to stop Kony for years, which only results in failure and retaliation from Kony.
“In general, we’re concerned [about] the catastrophic consequences for the local population,” Van Damme said. “We’ve seen in the past, over and over again, how there’s been a lot of retaliation by the LRA, the burning of villages, maiming people, a lot of killings, with little military success.” - Steven Van Damme, Oxfam’s protection and policy advisor for the whole of eastern Congo
-The footage in the video and the framing of the issue are from 2004-2006.
-To get to Kony you’d have to ultimately kill some of his army…which consists of children soldiers…..
-“While the extreme atrocities committed by the LRA cannot be justified by any ‘political cause’, the LRA did originally emerge as a direct reaction to extreme atrocities committed since the late 1980s by the government and armed forces of Uganda against the Acholi people in northern Uganda. The person in charge since 1986 until today is Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, who is himself a former rebel army leader and came to power by force.”

Invisible Children:
-Only 37% of money raised went to direct services (if you support the issue you may want to choose a more worthwhile charity).
-Of this 37%, a third goes to their scholarship program, which is undoubtedly helpful, but it only supports 700-800 children. So a MILLION dollars is being used to support ONLY 700-800 children…
-Their “accountability and transparency” is a 2 out of 4 stars on charity navigator.
-They have never been publicly audited.
-The group is in favor of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces.
- Foreign Affairs has claimed that Invisible Children (among others) “manipulates facts for strategic purposes, exaggerating the scale of LRA abductions and murders and emphasizing the LRA’s use of innocent children as soldiers, and portraying Kony — a brutal man, to be sure — as uniquely awful, a Kurtz-like embodiment of evil.”
-“So far the organisation has released 11 films and run film tours across the US and other countries to raise awareness. In Uganda, it has given scholarships to 750 children, and helped to re-build schools there and in centralo Africa. The organisation’s accounts show it’s a cash rich operation, which more than tripled its income in 2011, with more than two thirds of its money coming from “general donations”.

The accounts suggest nearly 25% of its $8.8m income last year was spent on travel and film-making with only around 30% going toward programes on the ground. The great majority of the money raised has been spent in the US. $1.7 million went on US employee salaries, $357,000 in film costs, $850,000 in film production costs, $244,000 in “professional services” - thought to be Washington lobbyists - and $1.07 million in travel expenses . Nearly $400,000 was spent on office rent in San Diego.”

Military intervention may or may not be the right idea, but people supporting KONY 2012 probably don’t realize they’re supporting the Ugandan military who are themselves raping and looting away. Educate yourselves a little bit before supporting a particular nonprofit.

Some good reads:
Kony 2012: what's the real story? | Politics | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/mar/08/kony-2012-what-s-the-story#block-4)

Invisible Children responds to criticism about campaign - BlogPost - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/invisible-childrens-stop-kony-campaign/2012/03/07/gIQA7B31wR_blog.html)

Visible Children - KONY 2012 Criticism (http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/)

Obama Takes on the LRA | Foreign Affairs (http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/136673/mareike-schomerus-tim-allen-and-koen-vlassenroot/obama-takes-on-the-lra?page=show)

Worst Idea Ever? | Wronging Rights (http://www.wrongingrights.com/2009/03/worst-idea-ever.html/)

Visible children | Chris Blattman (http://chrisblattman.com/2009/03/04/visible-children/)

allAfrica.com: Africa: Kony 2012 - Lord Help Us, Because This Campaign Won't Help Anyone (http://allafrica.com/stories/201203080526.html)

The Problems with - Global - The Atlantic Wire (http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/03/problem-stop-kony/49634/)

Videos:
Video: So Footage From Stop Joseph Kony Is 5-6 Years Ago!? Ugandan Blogger Responds To Kony 2012! "If You Are Showing Me As Voiceless And Helpless, You Have No Space To Tell My Story" (http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhpkYA0wFQbHvPf863)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvqFi_HRPmk&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

[BobTD]

wait wait wait.... i can support a cause like that by tearing off into the night and plastering pictures around the city? Any boarder line graffiti has me sold. Organizing it as a world event? Even better!

But seriously I will be uploading pics.

[LemonRising]

Lol now I'm just seeing more news about Ugandans being offended by the whole KONY 2012 thing.

[Sunsetforgotten]

I'm sure people say the same about the US, it goes both ways.

The problem is that the UN is comprised of several countries' leaders, not just the US.

[Trunks]

The problem is that the UN is comprised of several countries' leaders, not just the US.

I'm aware of that, it just sounded like you were directing it to the other countries and not including the US.

[Sunsetforgotten]

I'm aware of that, it just sounded like you were directing it to the other countries and not including the US.

Oh, yeah I totally agree with you. The richest countries run the UN and that is why I am totally against it. they don't work on globalization of trade or peace, but rather a world government