So yea, there is this viral video all over Facebook called Kony 2012, started by the Invisible Children Inc. to raise awareness of Joseph Kony, who is the leader of the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) in Uganda. There is now a lot of controversy this organization, so I would get in on it, to help people decide for themselves.
Yea, the initial video is long and pulls at the heart strings. I think that is good to elicit a response from people. Hopefully one that is not easily passed over or forgotten, so that they are moved to take action. I don't mind one bit, continuing to raise awareness so that action can be taken.
One BIG problem people seem to have with the Invisible Children Inc, is their monetary allocations. (Where they put their money) One way you can find out how charities choose to use their money is a website called charitynavigator.org.
This website give Invisible Children Inc. an overall 3 out of 4 star rating but does relay that they do lack external audit committe, which is a third party to analyze expenses. So it believed by what they publish that only 32% of their budget goes to helping African children. (Their total expense from 2011 was 8,676,614 with about 2,810,681 in "direct services *see photo below*)
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| Invisible Children, INC 2011 budget per www.invisiblechildren.com/financials |
When talking about direct services the money goes through Ugandan Army and Sudan's People Liberation Army first before it gets to the children. That is why every is 'up-in-arms' about how they use their money and if it is really 'helping' those invisible children their company is named after. That is the fuel behind articles such as this, "The Real Story About the “KONY 2012″ Video"
After all this information, I'll let you decide what you think is best. Just remember that all articles that you read, will have some type of 'angle' or biased. The best you can do, is to read what you can and make an informed decision. I think that I will continue to spread info about Kony 2012 to raise awareness in hopes that our government will take action. Sending 100 troops as 'advisors' is a start but to continue to help out, in ways that will really make a difference, is a hard process. With the African governments as corrupt as the 'terrorist' groups they are fighting is very difficult to navigate to say the least. I'm not sure what or how to go about any of this at this point.
I have been a 'follower' of the Invisible Children Inc for a couple of years and still don't know what the next step is. Just as with Hitler and other violent rulers, we cannot sit back and be silent. But what to do, with those children and families so far away? I'll let you dwell on that question, as I do as well.
**Remember, regardless of what you think of Invisible Children, INC, there is still this horrible conflict going on, not only in Uganda, but is most African countries. Where women are used as sex slaves and thrown away or killed when not needed and children are forced into armies and threatened by their lives or their families, and all people alike are dismembered, disfigured or killed if they refuse or attempt to escape. This needs to be stopped. The Creator of us all, must weep at they way we treat each other. So please, don't just get discouraged by the 'drama' of the institutions/organization, try to figure out which way is best to help, in whatever way, shape or form that may be.**
To keep things brief.. I'll just put this website, so you can read other reasons, why the, "Kony 2012" campaign, is not as 'good' as it may sound.
Why You Should Feel Awkward About the Kony 2012 Video
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