KONY 2012

Neotyguy40 · Mar 07, 2012 7:22 PM

I've created a new thread for this subject because it deserves a conversation of itself. I am talking about this video, which is about Joseph Kony:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/Y4MnpzG5Sqc&[/youtube]

2 years ago, the Invisible Children group came to my school to discuss the issues of child soldiers currently being used in central Africa. More specifically, the ones following Joseph Kony. At that time, we were told that about 22,000 children were abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army and about 1.5 million have been displaced. Now there are approximately 30,000 abducted and 2 million displaced, which is proof that the issue is getting larger exponentially, and doesn't seem to be slowing down. The CIA had pinpointed his location numerous times, but refused to assist due to no incentives for rescuing them. Honestly the only reason industrialized countries refuse to help is for the same reason they refused to help Rwanda 15 years ago.

For those that think that 30 minutes is too long to watch the movie, here is a basic overview of what is happening:

Since 1986, a man named Joseph Kony has been kidnapping children from all over the central Africa region. Putting guns in the hands of boys and giving the girls off to marry high ranking officers.

Since 1986, he has abducted over 100,000 children, approximately 30,000 are still children in his army (others die, grow old, or escape). The exact number is unknown.

Very few people know about this guy and the crimes he has committed. If you have heard about him before this week, then you are part of the minority.

The goal is to spread awareness of him and his crimes during the US election season.

For more information:
Wikipedia for Invisible Children.
Wikipedia for Joseph Kony.
Wikipedia for The Lord's Resistance Army.
Invisible Children website.
Documentary of the child soldiers.

Clock-la · Mar 07, 2012 7:28 PM

This guy seems worse than hitler.

Yet we only just found out about him now?????

Latias fan · Mar 07, 2012 7:58 PM

Clock-la wrote:

This guy seems worse than hitler.
Yet we only just found out about him now?????

Probably because not a alot of countries pay attention to third world countries in Africa, South America or parts of Asia(India mostly).

Even so. It's still horrible. To deny childrens futures like that.

Hwd45 · Mar 07, 2012 8:32 PM

Kony is a horrible man, and he should be executed, but raising awareness isn't going to stop him. Last year, they raised over $3000000, but only 30% went to charity, and the other 70% was used for staff funding.

36IStillLikeSpyro36 · Mar 07, 2012 9:28 PM

in addition to what Hwd45 said:

contains swears

Stormy · Mar 07, 2012 9:44 PM

How manipulative of them. I hope that's not true, but it probably is. sad

Mr. John · Mar 07, 2012 10:18 PM

Those poor things. sad This man needs to be stopped.

Neotyguy40 · Mar 07, 2012 10:32 PM

Stormy wrote:

How manipulative of them. I hope that's not true, but it probably is.

Not necessarily. While it is true that Invisible Children Inc. don't donate all their money, charities aren't really suppose to donate to other charities. Otherwise nothing would get done.

That article posted is also surprisingly biased. They mention that Charity Navigator gave them 2 out of 4 stars, but that was merely the lowest score in a category that they were judged on. The actual score was 3 out of 4 stars, and they have received multiple categories with 4 out of 4.

I am not saying that IC is efficient (it isn't efficient at all), but it is far from 'shady'. The reason they've received so much backlashed is because they are not led by someone who is very 'educated'. They aren't good with money or politics, but they are far from 'shady'.

The founders only used 3% of the donations to keep themselves and their families financially safe (which is low if you consider they aren't well-known and haven't received many donations). Less than $90k each.

But either way doesn't matter. You don't need to pay a single cent to raise awareness.

36IStillLikeSpyro36 · Mar 07, 2012 10:47 PM

The founders only used 3% of the donations to keep themselves and their families financially safe

source. also, 3% is still 3% too much. less than 90k each is less than 90k each that could have gone to something productive.

Aceedwin · Mar 08, 2012 12:13 AM

36IStillLikeSpyro36 wrote:

The founders only used 3% of the donations to keep themselves and their families financially safe
source. also, 3% is still 3% too much. less than 90k each is less than 90k each that could have gone to something productive.

Something more productive than keeping the founders able to continue their work?

I'm on for April 20th. I'm on holiday at the time. Painting London sounds like fun.

Also, dat face at 22:55.

Neotyguy40 · Mar 08, 2012 1:53 AM

36IStillLikeSpyro36 wrote:

The founders only used 3% of the donations to keep themselves and their families financially safe
source. also, 3% is still 3% too much. less than 90k each is less than 90k each that could have gone to something productive.

Unlike Kony, the founders of IC don't think they are Jesus. They can't give everything they own away in this day and age. Especially considering 2 of the families don't get income anywhere else.

Neotyguy40 · Mar 08, 2012 10:26 PM

Swaffy · Mar 09, 2012 5:25 PM

Neotyguy40 wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/v/RPDJ6WlXzxU

Private video.

Stormy · Mar 09, 2012 6:02 PM

Huh, that's weird. It wasn't last night when I watched it.

ThePurpleDragon · Mar 09, 2012 9:29 PM

That man scares me....

yearofthe · Mar 10, 2012 1:08 AM

It's a scam.

Neotyguy40 · Mar 10, 2012 3:22 AM

*facepalm*

"2 out of 4 stars" - Because people seem so lazy they won't even CHECK THE SITE THEMSELVES. They have a 3.3 right now, not close to a 2. Not to mention it is weighted exponentially. And out of 17 checks for measurability, they only miss 1 of them.

Here is a very recent release from the Ugandan government:

Friday 9th, March 2012
18:00 hour
No Embargo
RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL DISCOURSE OF LRA ACTIVITY
Uganda welcomes all campaigns which seek to raise awareness and highlight the plight of people affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). We are grateful for renewed efforts which seek to contribute to the arrest of Joseph Kony and the elimination of the LRA from the Central African Region. The Government of Uganda however, would strongly urge that any awareness campaign fully takes into consideration the current realities of the situation. The Lord’s Resistance Army has been a concern of this government since the late 80’s and have exacted a great toll on the Ugandan people and independent estimates approximate that 30,000 children were abducted and used as child soldiers over the course of the 25 year conflict. Misinterpretations of media content may lead some people to believe that the LRA is currently active in Uganda. It must be clarified that at present the LRA is not active in any part of Uganda. Successfully expelled by the Ugandan Peoples Defence Forces in mid-2006, the LRA has retreated to dense terrain within bordering countries in the Central African area. They are a diminished and weakened group with numbers not exceeding 300. The threat posed by the LRA in our neighboring countries is considerably reduced and we are hopeful that it will be altogether eliminated with the help of US logistical support. The people of Uganda, especially those in the north of the country are on a path of rebuilding, reconciliation and reintegration and are now vibrant and prospering communities. To aid this prosperity the Government implemented a 10 Year Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda (PRDP). The Ugandan Government is encouraged by this outpouring of international support for its continuing campaign to eliminate the threat posed by the LRA to all countries and communities. We are hopeful that our neighboring countries can also become free of LRA activity and enjoy the peace and prosperity that northern Uganda has experienced in the last 6 years. For God and My Country
Fred Opolot Executive Director

I hope that clears up what people think between Uganda and the actual places they are in.

The image of the founders posing with the SPLA was during the 2008 peace talks, not as the Invisible Children, but on request by Associated Press. As part of the agreement, the SPLA dismantled their Child Soldier program in 2010. The UN has not confirmed anything because only recently have they tried to access the war zone. Talk about 'doing your research'.

Now look, Invisible Children is not a scam. I've met them first hand, and I know for a fact how crappy they run their organization. Now I wouldn't donate to them at all, not because they are a scam or can't handle money well, but because they are a lobbyist group. They have never claimed to be something different, and 32% of donations is pretty big for a lobbyist group. Those who believe they should donate more should really be looking at those kinds of charities. Not blow off the cause altogether.

And as for that video, I can tell immediately that these kinds of people are exactly the kind that just look for sensationalist headlines and go about by that. Seriously, he says 2 out of 4 stars AS HE SHOWS A PICTURE OF A 3.3 RATING... Not to mention the guy ignorantly says that pretty much everyone knows about Kony, but I guess his eyes are too glued to the monitor to notice everyone else not on Facebook (not to mention he probably heard about this not more than a few days ago himself, meaning it's working).

Sorry for the rant, but I've been studying this for about 3 years now, and I'll be *bleep* if someone who heard about this half a week ago is going to try to stand up and say that it's all a scam. You can call me a hipster, and I'll probably deserve it, but I'd rather know about the subject and use it than to announce whatever is most sensationalist at the time.

Even so, the point of this wasn't to get Invisible Children known. It was to get Joseph Kony known, who, despite what these sensationalists believe, has committed the crimes said beforehand. In fact, he is still one of the ICC's and Interpol's most wanted criminal. And that isn't the only person in the LRA who their after. Research yourself these names for more horror:

Dominic Ogwen
Vincent Otti
Okot Odhiambo

Clock-la · Mar 10, 2012 10:32 AM

If im honest im going to do the worst thing.

Im putting my head in the sand hmm I can't surrport anything untill I know the truth about this group. sorry guys. I would help them if they were sending like i donno like 72% of there money.

Latias fan · Mar 10, 2012 1:01 PM

Clock-la wrote:

If im honest im going to do the worst thing.
Im putting my head in the sand I can't surrport anything untill I know the truth about this group. sorry guys. I would help them if they were sending like i donno like 72% of there money.

I'm doing the same. What's the point of supporting them If there not even doing anything.

Neotyguy40 · Mar 10, 2012 3:36 PM

Then you should check out The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. That is who I donate to.

Apoc · Mar 10, 2012 5:28 PM

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/7DO73Ese25Y&feature=share[/youtube]

Hwd45 · Mar 11, 2012 12:07 AM

I'll only remember his name because Konya sounds like Sony... Or was he called Kega? Or was it Klaystation? Kbox? Kii? KreamGis? I forget.

Apoc · Mar 11, 2012 12:08 AM

To catch them is my real test, to train them is my caaaaaaaaaaaaaause!

Hwd45 · Mar 11, 2012 12:10 AM

Apoc wrote:

To catch them is my real test, to train them is my caaaaaaaaaaaaaause!

I will travel across the lands... Of Africa... Searching far and wide...

Apoc · Mar 11, 2012 12:10 AM

We're going to hell for this.

#1 Mar 07, 2012 7:22 PM

KONY 2012

#2 Mar 07, 2012 7:28 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#3 Mar 07, 2012 7:58 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#4 Mar 07, 2012 8:32 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#5 Mar 07, 2012 9:28 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#6 Mar 07, 2012 9:44 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#7 Mar 07, 2012 10:18 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#8 Mar 07, 2012 10:32 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#9 Mar 07, 2012 10:47 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#10 Mar 08, 2012 12:13 AM

Re: KONY 2012

#11 Mar 08, 2012 1:53 AM

Re: KONY 2012

#12 Mar 08, 2012 10:26 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#13 Mar 09, 2012 5:25 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#14 Mar 09, 2012 6:02 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#15 Mar 09, 2012 9:29 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#16 Mar 10, 2012 1:08 AM

Re: KONY 2012

#17 Mar 10, 2012 3:22 AM

Re: KONY 2012

#18 Mar 10, 2012 10:32 AM

Re: KONY 2012

#19 Mar 10, 2012 1:01 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#20 Mar 10, 2012 3:36 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#21 Mar 10, 2012 5:28 PM

Re: KONY 2012

#22 Mar 11, 2012 12:07 AM

Re: KONY 2012

#23 Mar 11, 2012 12:08 AM

Re: KONY 2012

#24 Mar 11, 2012 12:10 AM

Re: KONY 2012

#25 Mar 11, 2012 12:10 AM

Re: KONY 2012

Board footer