To ask you to please help. re Kony 2012

[DontWorryBeHappy1994]

www.kony2012.com

My DD at university just sent me the link, going to watch the whole thing later.

I just googled Kony2012.

bump again!

Bump, too important not to!

"Its about a guy who is the leader of the 'lords resistance army' he kidnaps children in Uganda and forces them to work for him killing people including their parents and mutilating adults and children by cutting off their noses, ears and lips, the girls are also used as sex slaves. This project is about catching him and outing him as the evil fucked up man that he is. Over the years he has kidnapped over 30,000 children"

bump again! need to keep it going!!!

Bump

Come on, make him famous!

Kony is a monster. But the Invisible Children campaign isn't necessarily the best way to deal with him - the issues are more complicated than that.

You do realise that basically what the campaign is asking for is for more US 'military advisers' to be sent into Uganda to assassinate Kony? And since his bodyguards are child-soldiers, that means killing children too?

I am no expert, but when I watch a video that pulls all sorts of emotional strings very effectively and then offers an instant feel-good solution ('Join! Be part of something good!) my instinct is to investigate and read up on it a bit more. I don't just accept the first version of events and solutions I am presented with. And I don't expect any of us are experts on African civil wars, are we?

So before you jump on the bandwagon, read a few more things:

Stop Kony, yes, but don't stop asking questions

Taking Kony down a notch

Visible Children

Ex. This is the first time I have ever heard of this man, so I'd say the campaign is good especially if people ask all sorts of questions.

It's good people are being made aware but please do some research into the campaign, it's much more complicated than a half an hour video. Exexpat has put some good links on.

Totally what exepat has already posted.

IC are a militant group, and support the Ugandan Army and SPLA as means of defeating Kony, both of which are corrupt, with horrendous track records as far as abuse and rape of women and children go.

And part of the money they raise goes straight into the back pockets of te corrupt organisations they support.

I have heard about this for the first time today and have watched the video. I understand that the campaign against Kony is a good one but I'm unsure about Invisible Children.

Does anyone know any other way of showing support or what else I could do?

This is going viral amongst teenagers. My dd (14) has seen it tonight and it raised some family discussion.

Also, from what I have heard, they take a very significant cut of donations to TRI as salaries. As in upwards of $80,000 for certains people within IC.

I don't doubt their motive - who could? But as a poster has mentioned above, taking Kony out will affect more children.

Especially as he is now aware of the campaign against him. He will go underground like Saddam.

My DS4 (14 years old) has become very 'fired up' with all this tonight. I have told him to speak to his RE teacher at school and also go to his Headmaster and ask what they can do as a school to support this. Im a little uneasy about the fact that he wants to go, I think its April 21st, into Manchester to help 'spread the word.' Of course he will not be going into Manchester without me and his Dad but it still worries me. I dont even know why it does.

I am proud that he cares enough to be so 'fired up' but a bit of a cynical older mum I suppose.

but surely any noise about him is good... just drawing peoples attention to the IC is good isn't it? Up till yesterday i had never heard of Kony.

Read a lot about this tonight after someone I know posted the link on FB.

The publicity is fantastic and a real achievement, it builds awareness and that has to be a good thing.

Yes the video has some questionable points and is a little straight forward but I doubt it would have worked so well if they had not opted for the type of video they have. If it was a lot more political and not as straight forward it wouldn't have been so effective. I think "Invisible Children' are probably aware of a lot of the political issues surrounding the government and the Ugandan army but would be reluctant to put this in the viral. Once the story is out there it will develop and people will become aware of the bigger picture.

Shabba. You'd be right to be worried as it's a night time op on the 20th April.

The idea is to put up posters/stickers etc everywhere overnight.

Good that he is fired up about this, but please be wary as I'm not sure how well these events will be organized and if there might be any repercussions for fly postying etc for those involved.

I bet the authorities will be aware of it now and will be on the watch out on the night of the 20th.

well said mrs robinson!

Absolutely agree, MrsRobinson

Fundi - that is one of my main concerns. I know that 'night time' doesn't make much difference in the 'great scheme of things' but Manchester is scary enough during the day. He has just shouted downstairs to tell me that they are organising the same thing in Bolton town center. That is very close to where we live. The plan is to cover the town hall and the stairs of the town hall with the posters. One of the people organising everything is also keen to cover the cenotaph in the town hall square as well. Just had a quick talk with my son and said that was 'out of order.' I will be sitting with him hundreds of times over the next few weeks and discussing it. As I said, Im very proud that he feels so strongly about this BUT there are so many things to consider.

My 14 yo dd has told me I am 'lazy and don't care about the world' as I was too busy to watch earlier. Wow, the internet is powerful - great the kids are angry about this rather than vaccuous shit about 1D. Impressive campaign.

[smle] Fizzy - I think I thought I knew everything when I was 14 as well - Arrrrggghhhh I am too old for this teenager thing!!! Was nearly 41 when I had my 'suprise' DS4 and think I am probably the same age as a lot of grandparents of his school friends!!

Thanks exexpat for the info. I also have a fired up teen so that's really useful.