This is important

Hey guys, please just take thirty minutes of your time and watch this video.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/kony2012/kony_all.html

YES! Good idea, Narph. I totally forgot that I could post this here. :D

It seemed like the most logical, after facebook. We're an international community, this is an international issue. We need to step up.

Ive been trying to watch it on my phone but every five to ten seconds it buffers. I got as far as Jacob... Can someone fill me in?

It's a call to arms to the people of the world to take down Joseph Kony, a rebellion leader in Uganda.

He kidnaps children and forces the boys to become child soldiers and keeps the girls for sex slaves, children live in fear and if captured, they are forced to mutilate and kill (the film also mentions children being forced to kill their parents). He's been committing crimes against humanity for over twenty years, and no one has stopped him yet... Because no one really knows about him. You'd think that a war criminal of this magnitude would be a common name, but clearly it isn't, and because of this people aren't demanding change, so the governments aren't acting.

His arrest warrant is at the top of the list for the International Criminal Court. The makers of this video are working with celebrities to make Kony just as famous and well known-- not to support him, but to let people know that this is happening, that it needs to be stopped. They are also working with politicians to make them listen to the people... This video has spread all over facebook and the internet in almost no time. The documentary discusses ways you can help (donating, writing to your senators, etc.), but the easiest way to help is to share the video or the story with anyone you can.

Here's more on Kony:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kony

And here's another link to the video (not from the main site... The main site downloads really slowly, probably because the servers are being swarmed...):

http://vimeo.com/37119711

JOSEPH KONY is a guerrilla leader who has kidnapped over 65,000 children in central Africa to fight for him. He has also driven 2 million people from their lands. He leads the "Lord's Resistance Army" and asserts that he has been visited by spirits and has been mandated to gain control over the land around. He claims to intend to rule in accord with the 10 commandments, but he uses his kidnapped girls as sex slaves & forces his kidnapped boys to begin their career by killing their own parents. He was indicted for war crimes by the UN's International Criminal Court at the Hague in 2005 but nothing has come of the indictment.

This film is by a man who has taken on the goal of stopping Kony this year by raising awareness of the criminal and calling for the governments to act.

EDIT: ok, Narph already answered.

Why in the world is nothing being done? I don't understand. World militarys have gone after less..

What a vile person. If I could even call him that. Ugh. My prayers go out to those poor people. How terrifying that would be. I cant even imagine.

Gruesome criminal, agree. Uganda does have a government, and gets aide from Western countries incl. the US.

But then, if you read the charity navigator website score on this 501 (c)3 you may learn why the charity has a low 3 score out of 4 max possible.
Accountability and transparency of the fundraising organization is only rated a 2/4.
(Source: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12429)
Lastly, if you click on the review button for the charity, here are the comments from the very first reviewer Jimmy N. quoted below to read and make your own judgement before you decide to jump in for their cause with dragon breath ( sorry fire.. :8)

"First of all as a person from Northern Uganda, I would like to thank you, the Martin County Children for your effort to assist the children of Northern Uganda.
However I am also sad to say that Organisation like 'Invisible children' have turned from caring organisations to Fraudulent and scam. The directors of Invisible children forgot what they stated back in 2005 and have now turned to greed. Only less than 25% of money they have been raising in the name of the children of Northern Uganda gets there to the children.
The directors of Invisible children have turned this money to become their very personal money. The directors now drive expensive cars and refer to themselves as Movie directors. They have been shunned by all international Northern Uganda associations in Canda, UK, Sweden and even in Sandiego USA.
Associations such as "acholi in diaspora"(canada) Acholi association(UK) Freinds for Peace in africa(USA). Peace in Northern Uganda group(Sweden). "Campaign to end genocide in Northern Uganada)(USA) and many more.
"invisible children' functions are boycotted by many ugandans who are aware that they recieved bribes from General Salim Saleh to focus the suffering of the Northern Uganda Children to the Rebels...rather than tell the whole truth that both the rebels and Uganda government have comitted atrocities and Genocide againts the acholi people of Northern Uganda..
Northern Uganda members of parliament have added 'invisible children' to their list Of NGO's under investigation for fraud.
They have been requested to publicly declare their accounts since 2005 however untill today that has not been done.
Your contributions are better off being sent directly to the children in Northern Uganda rather than to enrich the directors of 'invisible children'
However we leave it to God to be the judge. Thank you and God bless all of you. "
Source (http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.reviews&orgid=12429)

Please make a wise judgement on the funding organization before you commit your funds.

(Qn for mods: Is PnQ a fundraising organization? If it is, then it should also apply for a 501(c)3 status )

Ew, people getting greedy when they have started out for such a good cause is disgusting as well. People will just have to broadcast this and go about it another way. So many changes have been made in this world without direct funds or power.. it can be done again. My heart just breaks for those children.

It is true that not all fundraising organizations are good. But honestly, watching this video I think that even getting that 25% to these people makes a difference.
That said, raising money is not at all the top priority here.
The aim is to get the governments to make this stop. In order to do that, you don't need money, you just need to raise your voice and keep raising it until you see genuine and consistent change.

Regardless of what money they are sending on (I'm not in a position to comment on that because I don't know) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not let your interpretations of this organization color what you learn from the video... this really is an important issue, and it needs to be known and responded to. If nothing else, I must applaud the people at Invisible Children for doing more to get the word out there and effecting change.

The US govt gives upwards of 400 million each year to the Govt of Uganda
(source http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/countries/uganda/uganda_fs.pdf)

Perhaps, instead of contributing your peanuts to this just cause (I don't deny it, fully sympathize with it), one should spend one's energy to pressurize the US govt. to threaten to stop all (taxpayer funded) aid to them, until this issue has been taken care of, i.e the criminal arrested and prosecuted for his crimes.
Similar to putting presure on Iran to stop its nuclear development with the aim to destroy human lives in the name of religion (the root of all falsehood), before it can sell oil to the World and feed its people.

I don't think it's an issue of the country not trying hard enough. It's an issue of needing to assist them (I'm not saying financially).
The world's problems will never be solved by denying assistance to pressure people into doing a better job, but they might be solved by choosing to look at all people as equal and deserving of aid.

I am totally in agreement here that the person and his injustices to humanity, children specifically, needs to be brought to justice, but the methodology proposed, i.e seeing a video through the eyes of a less than honorable organization, is not the way to do it. When I first visited the link, I felt the urge to donate (because of the prominent link on the site), but then I paused to research the organization and then my fingers did not move forward....you already know why.

If you really wish, I can post a link how to E-mail your Congressman or Senator to pressurize the Ugandan govt as mentioned above, a much more effective way to bring attention to the eyes of the government. This would be a more effectual way to deal with this situation, in my opinion, but I am no expert on these issues.

Thanks, David, for bringing this to my attention.

The world is filled
with criminals like him..

If you really wish, I can post a link how to E-mail your Congressman or Senator

^^ please post that!!

My heart aches after reading this. I feel so compelled to do something but I feel stuck on what to do...

I hope this doesn't fizzle out in a month or so, I'm really praying awareness is brought to people everywhere throughout this whole yr.....

I'm on my phone so I. Can't figure out how to copy and paste the link but there's also a site where u can buy tshirts for 25 bucks and bracelets and posters for 10.....

In the video it said, if this happened in America one day, it'd be on Newsweek the day after. These kids have been hiding and living in fear for years. Something needs done!

So here are the link/s to E-mail your representatives, President or any government agency, in the US government as requested.

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

OR for your Congressman directly

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

OR for your State Senator directly

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

This the correct way to have your voice heard. If you have an issue which is shared by thousand of others, you will be heard, believe me. You do get return E-mail acknowledgement from each representative in a few days, but these are just pre-formatted by interns. My own Professional organization usually does customized letters for us and provides custom links through a private E-mail agency (I call them E-spammers, haha) when we have a shared concerning issue as members of the organization. So it is lot easier for us to en-mass send our particular concern. For you, your best bet is to form a petition on the web/facebook, and once you have enough signers, provide them with a nicely drafted letter (it is important that this be done really well for it to be heard) for them to copy & paste to their representatives from the links above.
Also, you can send your concern to the President of the United States as well....but remember, to be civil and not spam him, or else the FBI will track you down! haha!
I had a real issue 3 years ago re: a policy matter, in which I considered myself an expert. I wrote to him with my suggestions and I got a almost personally drafted response and signed in ink by him a month later, which I still treasure today.

The chances of a humanitarian issue to be taken up seriously if raised by a group of people is much higher than when done by a single or a few people. You also have to be adept to make your argument to be heard, like giving them actual suggestions like above (cutting off funds) to be effective.

Anyway, Good Luck all of you who are impassioned with this issue. The calamity here is no different than similar humanitarian issues that have occured in the continent of Africa in recent years. The US or the World can do some, but then it is really up to the people of that country and their neighbors to rise up to the "cause" themselves. We are often just spectators watching a human disaster unfolding.

Http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=124245

I don't remember wondering how an invisible man could kidnap invisable children and force them to commit crimes against humanity.

If you will read the link above you may find that the key word is missing in the updated video and that is brainwash

At the base where I was imployed we used to get to participate in drills. In a scenario I was kidnaped by hostage takers that had invisable guns . When I was released the security police asked me to describe what the hostage takers did . I told them them one of them pointed a rifle at us . As part of the drill the officer ask me to describe the weapon and it struck me funny that I had to tell them it was invisible because there was no prop, but I assumed it was a rifle by the way he was holding his hands. The reason I felt compelled to share this story is in my simple mind I wondered when Joseph Kony was forcing armed children to do things they did not want to do, why one of them did not shoot him instead of an innocent victim?

The leader needs to be brought to justice though I fear that the goverment of Uganda will always be dependant on aid to fight rebels even after the leaders that force children to kill are brainwashed and have a supply of brainwashed soldiers

Michael I feel that is an incredibly good question...they were probably scared, because that's what I thought to. If I was being told to shoot my parents id turn and shoot the Bastard who told me to.

Wait, now that I think about it..

Someone on here had something about the
Invisible children on their profile!

from long ago already, but I can't recall the name.. of the person.

we are going to post posters all over Aruba too..

lets get his ass known.

I saw on facebook plenty of people from different countries already sharing the link. This was a great idea to put it here too... I cant wait to order posters and stuff..my heart is so touched by this I'd love to raise awareness on this situation.

I'm skeptical of this video, Very Skeptical.

You don't have to buy into the organization to further the result. Make your own research, not so much of the group as Ddavid has done, but of Kony himself. Share that information with those you know. The important issue is for the world to be unified on this most basic freedom, that of being allowed to be a child. Perhaps if that awareness occurs in this instance it can have the beneficial effect for the children caught up in conflicts closer to you.

I agree and I do think the video may have mentioned that Joseph Kony is at the top of a terrorist list in the US

The other side of the story
http://allpoetry.com/topic/268884959-Kony_2012-noguest/#last

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kony. Uganda is considered by international experts to be among the most corrupt nations in the world, and even before oil production has begun, several senior government officials, including the prime minister, have been accused of pocketing millions of dollars in bribes from oil companies, forcing at least one of the politicians to resign.

I am assuming the man in the video that said "you are making our work very difficcult" was a soldier for the Gov

He is the top terrorist in the world not just the US..

As to where the money goes, that is always hard to ascertain, not only of this organisation but of any including the Red Cross etc etc

But I take my hat off to this guy for taking action, his video made the national news here in Australia this morning, with politicians starting to take note.

But there's much more to this video than just Joseph Kony, it's about the power of the people the power of knowledge via the internet , we are seeing it in the Middle East, we are seeing it everywhere..

I agree with Larry, its time to stop bagging the messenger and time to spread the word

I believe anyone who can afford to give to any charity should be honored as having their heart in the right place

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/25/madonna-malawi-charity-squandered-millions

http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=126062

I agree Michael. . . . I can't give the biggest donation, I work ikn retail saving for school, however my heart goes out and I want to do whatever I can spreading the word by word of mouth, posters, tshirts, facebook any ways I can and if their is further action we can do, id like to do that too!

Yes, Nicko. Finally, someone who says it right!

Just saw the Kony 2012 braodcast on ABC news (ch 7)..guess in 1-2 days the video propaganda has gone viral, not only on the internet but worldwide TV. However, the news broadcaster mentioned the video to be 10 yrs old. Yes, Kony was shown as listed #1 wanted by Int'l court, so there is apparently enough truth to it.
But, there are 2 sides of every coin, so one has to really read in depth to figure out what is this sudden hubbaboo 10 yrs after the video was made:

It is really surprising is how successful Russel's video has become worldwide in 2012 within a matter of days, after being produced 10 yrs ago. I guess Invisible children knows how to get public attention worldwide, using the internet. The ABC news newscaster mentioned that the organization even got President Obama's attention to get him to send a small force of military trainers to Uganda to train their task force. But the Ugandan military is also alleged to be one of the most corrupt military anywhere, and regularly accused of looting and rape. So there is a lot of controversy of what can be really achieved by aiding them.

According to a in depth blogsite (http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/qk0pd/kony_2012_help_raise_awareness_and_stop_joseph/c3ycvhb )

It seems Kony has not been in Uganda since 2006. Will quote:
"�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."

On the same blogsite someone representing Invisible Children states in defense of accusations that they really spend very little of the donations recd this:
"�Invisible Children's financial statements are online for everyone to see. The organization only spent 16.24% on administration and management costs in FY2011. Financial statements from the last 5 years, including our 990, are available at www.invisiblechildren.com/financials
�Charity Navigator gives our programs its highest rating of 4 stars. Our Accountability and Transparency score is currently at 2 stars due to the fact that Invisible Children currently does not have five independent voting members on our board of directors. We are currently in the process of interviewing potential board members, and our goal is to add an additional independent member this year in order to regain our 4-star rating by 2013. We are aware of this and trying to fix it.

In response to ^, another blogger found their statements on expenses misleading, quoted here:

"Wait, some of this isn't true...

Saying you only spent 16.24% on admin isn't really fair. Here's the real breakdown from page 6 of your own financials...

Of the $8.9 million you spent in 2011:

�$1.7 million in US employee salaries
�$357,000 in Film costs
�$850,000 in Production costs
�$244,000 in "professional services" (DC lobbyists)
�$1.07 million in travel expenses
�$400,000 in office rent in San Diego
�$16,000 in Entertainment
�etc...
Only $2.8 million (31%) made it to your charity program (which is presumably further whittled down by local Ugandan officials and local management overhead) - what do the children actually get in goods & services?

Also, your rating on Charity Navigator isn't because you don't have an independent board (which is indeed a problem) - you lost 7 points because you haven't had your financial book independently audited. ...which is not a surprising given the use of cash noted above.

There are also some general criticisms of your organization of putting a little too much spin on the facts...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_Children_Inc#Criticisms

http://ilto.wordpress.com/2006/11/02/the-visible-problem-with-invisible-children/

http://www.blackstarnews.com/news/122/ARTICLE/6586/2010-06-02.html
----------------------
So, only 31% really made it to the cause. Sounds like a charity with a mission that is not serving the cause well. So much confusion and misleading info using a 10 year old video, to primarily raise funds, it seems, when Kony and LRA are no longer in Uganda, really mystifies me.

Perhaps people should read the in depth blog and visit its links, before making a judgement.
Yes I agree Kony is #1 Int'l criminal, now that Bin Laden is gone, but where is he and who and what are the people at Invisible children really helping 10 years after the fact, mystifies me.

So Narph, a great cause, but it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack in Congo or Sudanese jungles, defended by a large rebel army of children? Will any military in their right mind really want to fight and shoot children, however misguided they are.

All anyone can really do, is hope that one of his own child lieutenants assasinate him soon. To find and arrest Kony is too big a job for any charity to undertake. It seems they are using false propaganda to get activists like yourself to spread the word to get donations to their charity, and so far have been quite successful in getting worldwide attention.

Hope KONY finds his justice soon.

*

Ok David (ALS) let's all just give up and go home shall we..??? It's not just about Kony or did you watch a different video..???

And please get your facts right pleaseeeeee.. they started this fight 10 years ago and yes he has old footage in there, his son being born old shots of Kony etc... but this video has only just been made and released over the last few months.... considering it shows your congress sending over 100 army personnel in Oct 2011 or did I completely miss something...???

it's not primarily about raising funds, again is there another video that you watched and I didn't? You don't have to donate to show your support this April or send a message to a politician

Ok I'm not here to attack you and yes you must be careful before donating money, what percentage goes to the victims of any charity is normally not known, as mentioned before even the Red Cross can't give an accurate figure, though many think it's about 30%, same as the figure you mentioned for this but who knows? but please please look at the big picture. Its about the world community coming together its about communication and education..its about other Kony's as well

Have a look around before you shut your eyes please.. that's the message they are sending

* Edit. Sorry...just want to read some more about this before I comment.

Anyway after we buy all the posters to make Kony a celebrity all we have to do is invite him to go hunting with Dick Cheney

http://youtu.be/6wXAzAgb4pA

I was proud when our president helped Haiti after the earthquake but angry how the Hatian Gov seemed to show no compassion for the people it was meant to help

Man in Haiti killed for picking up rice in the street | NJN Network

njnnetwork.com/.../man-in-haiti-killed-for-picking-up-rice-in-the-str...

Jan 22, 2010 - CNN reported a man was shot for picking up a bag of rice in the street that fell off a truck. Thursday, January 21. "8:44 p.m. -- Haitian police ...

I'm not sure why you are so set on playing devils advocate, Ddavid, but hold on a minute, let's not play a shell game.

First of all, there were two films made, one that was done in the beginning and a second, the link to which is on this site.

The stated purpose of the organization is to publicize Kony so thoroughly that the world governments, including the US, will take action to capture Kony & stop the LRA. The film is the medium to spread that purpose, along with the kits, etc.
Your analysis as to how much of the money is used for the correct purpose is flawed where you count only the money going to Ugandan children as serving the purpose of the organization.

Further, you repeat errors made by other bloggers. The group's finances have not only been disclosed for years 2006 through 2011, they HAVE been audited, by Considine & Considine, a respected CPA firm.
The AUDITED 2011 financial statement can be found here:
http://c2052482.r82.cf0.rackcdn.com/images/737/original/FY11-Audited%20Financial%20Statements.pdf?1320205055
The 2011 income tax return is here:
http://c2052482.r82.cf0.rackcdn.com/images/736/original/FY11-990%20Tax%20return.pdf?1320205002

The cost of producing the materials & spreading the information furthers the purpose of making Kony notorious.

The direct payments to Uganda further the purpose of improving the lot of the children in Central Africa.

Taking the salaries, rent and entertainment together equals a bit less than 24% of the total
Non-payroll taxes & fees equals about 11%
Promoting the notoriety of Kony equals a bit more than 16%
Direct payment to Uganda equals more than 31%
Factors which contain some cost for promoting the notoriety include travel & postage, about 14%

As for the compensation of the principles, their pay averages about $31 per hour. That is not at all out of line for charities in the US.

Listen, I'm with David on this one, It's a very controversial topic and there are millions of angles to look @ it,
Do I Doubt even one bit that this terrorist should be eliminated? No, not one damn bit, But I do however, Question the motives behind the two days "awareness" frenzy that took place, I mean Kony has been there for more than a decade, What's with the sudden 5 minutes of fame? I urge the people that just found out to do a little research about Africa before taking sides, or even deciding to share the video on their social network accounts or even here.

Congo for example, Should be the world's richest country according to it's natural resources, but is it? The answer is No, we have deaths that accumlate everyday because of starvation alone due to the fact that The rich and imperialistic countries suck off all the natural resources of these great countries.
it's facts like these That scare me,

I mean, Videos like these roamed the internet throughout recent history but exactly who can vouch for their authenticity? When the Jews used to market the idea of Israel they used to show footage and commercials about how the land Is an absolute desert and how they magically can make it heaven?
and footage of how the indigenous population of that territoriality in particular used to torture their animals, that was back in the 1940's. Iraq as well, We all remember the documentaries aired about how Iraq has Nuclear power that can threaten the united states, which raised false awareness and did it's sole purpose, to have the people of the states supporting the war, which back at the time, the majority did, but look @ Iraq now, it's a war zone, with the war bill reaching above a million death, and the reasons for this invasion( war) are again so wrong.

In Africa, says Obama, the "humanitarian mission" is to assist the government of Uganda defeat the Lord's resistance Army (LRA), which "has murdered, raped and kidnapped tens of thousands of men, women and children in central Africa". This is an accurate description of the LRA, evoking multiple atrocities administered by the United States, such as the bloodbath in the 1960s following the CIA-arranged murder of Patrice Lumumba, the Congolese independence leader and first legally elected prime minister, and the CIA coup that installed Mobutu Sese Seko, regarded as Africa's most venal tyrant.

It's as simple as the fact, that no one should trust the current world leaders, because the only good thing comes out of trusting them is justifications that aren't even worthy to hear.
Look out causes such as Africom, and you would see why, people should dodge this video, not share it.
in my honest opinion,This KONY 2012 youtube frenzy is US State Department propaganda. This is ALL about expanding AFRICOM. the masses are yet again being minuplated by corrupt governments who have no care what so ever about human life and only care to increase their bank roles.

Thats sad ^

lets all just stick our heads in the sand and go on hating those we've hated for the last 1000 years.....

Rab,
i respect that you believe your statements, but be careful how you put it. You state opinions as if they are incontrovertible facts.
The motivations you describe may have credibility but you connect disparate actions with invisible ink.
Even if what you say is true, what do you propose as an alternate solution?

I think awareness can only be a good thing. The americans of today are less likely to accept the policy of representation without taxation after getting in the middle of several civil wars like vietnam with no clearly defined missions

If kony has to personally carry out his evil will then a mission would end with his capture. We have not seen this happen in Iraq or all the other countries that are seen as a threat to our own security but I would be pleased to see a humanitarian use careful judgement to end the atrosities begun by Kony

Nicko I think if you accept the fact that there are two or more sides to every story, You'd try reasoning with me.

Larry, I refer to History, and whatever way you decide to look at it, There is bad history when it comes to The powerful governments of the world venturing into Africa whenever they feel the need to,I refer to every single nation that has occupied Africa in our recent history, I don't see how this could end well, Having kony rule and having world wide alliances that are going to suck the resources off the land once they get rid of him are the only two possible options, It becomes a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils, I don't have a problem with awareness if it doesn't involve a certain propaganda and in this case in particular, There's alot of question marks.

http://www.online-literature.com/keats/922/

This poem describes exactly what I feel about kony12 =-)

Rab, you are a master spokesman for your beliefs:

"Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloak your weariness."

However, despite the imperialistic reality, the need yet exists for stopping the Konys of the world. I was one who argued with everyone I knew to stay out of Iraq; I pointed at Cheney, Halliburton and fertile oil-plunder and correctly predicted the true end result.

However, again, my hope for amelioration springs eternal.