We don't have a thread for this now... Make him famous
KONY 2012; We must stop this
- Thread starter Matt_Allen
- Start date
Mm, I watched it all as well. I'm apparently one of that 1% that already knew about him 
Not sure if you've heard of him, but there's this guy called Sam Childers who the movie Machine Gun Preacher was based off. He's doing his absolute best to stop Kony as well, and I also got to talk to him multiple times. His big bread only makes him more awesome :D
Not sure if you've heard of him, but there's this guy called Sam Childers who the movie Machine Gun Preacher was based off. He's doing his absolute best to stop Kony as well, and I also got to talk to him multiple times. His big bread only makes him more awesome :D
DOWN with Koney. and DOWN with the invis children company who is doing this movement. Here's the thing. They are hypocrites and wasting like 80% of the money the get from pledges on themselves. They've done it before with their other movements. So yeah Kony is bad and the invis children company is bad too. :)
They spent 32% on direct services last year. That's still 2.7 million dollars going towards the crisis. The rest goes into staff, travel, and film. They need to make a living, so staff is fine. Travel could be used for a variety of good purposes, from rallies and events to bringing victims of these disasters to America. Film. That is, their latest film which was the only reason millions of people have found out about Kony. I fail to see how they are bad. Isn't enough that they devote so much of their time to helping kids? So what if they want some money?
Without Invisible Children, we wouldn't even be discussing this, and US probably wouldn't have sent any support. Invisible Children aren't the bad guys. Sure, they could spend more money on the crisis at hand, but they aren't bad AFAIK.
I just watched this video and I don't know if I'm the only one, but I found some of the things they said were rather odd. I'd hate to be rude, but this video gives the idea that it's the first time someone's ever done something terrible and been persecuted for it (newsflash: it isn't.). I also got from the video that they think that stopping Kony will (somehow) end everything bad in the world.
I'm happy that a humanitarian issue is gaining ground and popularity in society because obviously I like seeing things like this being supported, but honestly at the end of the day Kony is probably only one of many people who are doing these sorts of things, not only in places like Uganda and Central Africa but in locations all over the world.
Sure, I'd love to see Kony stopped, but I'm not going to be so arrogant to think that stopping Kony will be the end of everything wrong, something that this video seems to think. I'd be much more supportive if an organization similar to this had something of a broader scope, where multiple issues were promoted in this viral way (Something that again the video thinks is something new and revolutionary. Celebrity endorsements of charities/causes happen all the time.).
Maybe this is only the first of many actions to come, I really can't be sure. But I'd like to see this organization recognize that there are other things besides Kony that deserve attention too. I really don't like the tunnel vision people are getting. There's a bigger picture out there.
I'm happy that a humanitarian issue is gaining ground and popularity in society because obviously I like seeing things like this being supported, but honestly at the end of the day Kony is probably only one of many people who are doing these sorts of things, not only in places like Uganda and Central Africa but in locations all over the world.
Sure, I'd love to see Kony stopped, but I'm not going to be so arrogant to think that stopping Kony will be the end of everything wrong, something that this video seems to think. I'd be much more supportive if an organization similar to this had something of a broader scope, where multiple issues were promoted in this viral way (Something that again the video thinks is something new and revolutionary. Celebrity endorsements of charities/causes happen all the time.).
Maybe this is only the first of many actions to come, I really can't be sure. But I'd like to see this organization recognize that there are other things besides Kony that deserve attention too. I really don't like the tunnel vision people are getting. There's a bigger picture out there.
After you watch the video, I suggest you read this; http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/post/18890947431/we-got-trouble
It's best to hear both sides of a story (I'm not saying Kony has done good things; this post agrees that he needs to be put away. It's just how this whole children campaign is being run [in a sketchy way]).
It's best to hear both sides of a story (I'm not saying Kony has done good things; this post agrees that he needs to be put away. It's just how this whole children campaign is being run [in a sketchy way]).
I actually posted that link in this thread earlier today, but I decided that it was best that I deleted it due to the fact that the information isn't really confirmed, and it's probably best not to trust it. This being said, I am not sure of the fact that IC is a reliable way of helping to stop this, as a lot of the stuff in that post was actually factual evidence.
Also Enceladus I agree completely, although in the video they say something about stopping kony is the start to changing. Something along those lines, I'm not sure, but I think that's what they say. Basically a one footstep at a time sort of deal.
Enceladus Matt_Allen Basically, to have the world headed in the right direction, you need to set it off that way. Plus, the momentum of this cause will hopefully carry over to other causes.
Don't worry about it. You don't have to do anything. The LRA have not been active in Uganda since 2006. What you see in KONY2012 is from 2003.
Ya'll of you can't really do anything. You can share the video, sure. But I doubt it will do anything but awareness.
You can also donate, but sadly, most of the money InvisibleChildren is wrongly spent, in my opinion. http://c2052482.r82.cf0.rackcdn.com...1-Audited Financial Statements.pdf?1320205055
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12429
Another fact is that these clips they're showing, are from northern Uganda 2002/2003.
They're either intentionally underplaying the fact that there's no undergoing violence in northern Uganda at the moment. OR They're doing a very poor job of educating their viewers.
Please take a moment to research this matter and organization yourself. - I want Joseph Kony himself stopped, but KONY2012 is shit, atleast in my opinion. The only 'real' good thing they've done, is to let the world know about Kony's existence, they do that excellently. But they're also presenting old data, without letting us know that it's OLD.
You probably watched the video, and you're believing this Joseph Kony have a child army of roughly 30.000 kids, right? Wrong. The figure of 30,000 refers to the total number of children abducted by the LRA over nearly 30 years.
You can read it all by yourselves, or research for yourselves, but don't think that you're doing charity because you're forwarding a video by InvisibleChildren, you're just trying to empower yourself and feel better.
Joseph Kony is bad, yes, so is Kony2012 and InvisibleChildren. I, personally, want all of them stopped, and Joseph Kony put to justice.
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts...is_not_in_uganda_and_other_complicated_things
http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/
http://jezebel.com/5891269/think-twice-before-donating-to-kony-2012-the-meme-du-jour
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/...r/08/kony-2012-what-s-the-story?newsfeed=true
Thanks for the long detailed post Kap! I basically posted this thread in the heat of the moment on the day Kony 2012 went viral, but then the day afterwards I actually looked into it, and realized that Invisible Children isn't a reliable charity. Also, just yesterday I saw a video that highlighted most of what you said in this post. To sum it all up, Kony must be stopped, but going with Invisible Children is NOT the way to stop him, there are many other charities out there that are much more efficient and reliable in how they spend your donations.
Compare how the Red Cross does this as well.
KONY does 32% to their staff.
Red Cross does 2%.
If both parties got 100 million dollars, they are throwing away 32million dollars to themselves.
Red Cross would only make 2 million off of that.
KONY does 32% to their staff.
Red Cross does 2%.
If both parties got 100 million dollars, they are throwing away 32million dollars to themselves.
Red Cross would only make 2 million off of that.
When this was first brought to me via Facebook what my first though was: "Oh great. Another group of self righteous people deciding that no one video has changed their life and everyone elses forever."
Well guess what; it hasn't.
I have been completely convinced through major bloggers that I follow to not follow this organization and promote not allowing people to mindless blunder into this and here are short reasons why.
Replying to violence with violence:
First, what people seem to think this is about is going into Uganda and reacting against Kony who was active in 2006. Who's activity it now not as major as it was in 2006. So it's taken 6 years for any actual acknowledgement from the world to look into Ugandan problems? WE'RE SUDDENLY SO PASSIONATE about world problems and will do anything to fix them now by physical moment.
Overnight no less.
Ugandan's Against Kony Movement:
So the people that live there are actually against the viral Kony video. Small quotes from Ugandan activists:
“What that video says is totally wrong, and it can cause us more problems than help us,” said Dr Beatrice Mpora, director of Kairos, a community health organisation in Gulu, a town that was once the centre of the rebels’ activities.
“There has not been a single soul from the LRA here since 2006. Now we have peace, people are back in their homes, they are planting their fields, they are starting their businesses. That is what people should help us with.”
SOMETHING POSITIVE.
“This paints a picture of Uganda six or seven years ago, that is totally not how it is today. It’s highly irresponsible”.
-Rosebell Kagumire, Ugandan peace & conflict journalist
Shady Organization [Invisible Children]:
I'll just refer to here: http://yuumei.deviantart.com/journal/Is-Invisible-Children-Trustworthy-289115279
White Saviors:
The defintion of White Savior: the western people going into other third world countries [of color] without having a complete understanding of the culture, historical events, and that area's needs.
In a overall view of the video; a few white guys with cameras go and make an emotional film about one problem, it goes viral, making alarm and outraged people. But not actually getting the entire problem at a basis.
Conclusion(?):
More or so this "conclusion" is just a repeat of FIGHT VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE. When this video suggests we're going into Uganda with a military action; does this accomplish anything? The death of another person we can celebrate about? IS THAT EVEN APPROPRIATE. Throw a party because someone is dead? Can you honestly look at a child and tell them yes.
Further, the proposed military solution is oversimplified. To quote Wilkerson:“One of the biggest issues with a simplistic “Stop Kony” message is that discussions of Navy Seals or drone strikes are inevitable when patience runs out with Ugandan-led efforts . But what about the dozens or hundreds of abducted and brainwashed kids? Should we bomb [the kids too]? Will they actually stop fighting after Kony is gone? What if they shoot back?”
This short post is not only my ideas but others I have been convinced by from other people. I'm just using correct information in the right locations and trying to stress my opinion that not all organizations with good intention are positive organizations. GO FORTH AND RESEARCH before you buy into something. There is so much out there on the internet to follow. Look how quickly Matt Allen was here to share the video and then took it upon himself to see what IC was REALLY ABOUT.
Just to add on to Kap's and Trap's statements:
1) If Kony is ever active again, guess who his bodyguards will be? Children. Yes, you'd have to kill children to kill him. What he's done doesn't justify the slaughter of these child soldiers.
2) We still have around 500 child abductions a year in the UK, and more in other European countries and some in the US. Let's worry about these problems first.
1) If Kony is ever active again, guess who his bodyguards will be? Children. Yes, you'd have to kill children to kill him. What he's done doesn't justify the slaughter of these child soldiers.
2) We still have around 500 child abductions a year in the UK, and more in other European countries and some in the US. Let's worry about these problems first.
