Kony 2012

Hi everyone!

In the high school sophomore class I tutor in every day, we watched this video that raises awareness about Joseph Kony, the Ugandan rebel leader who, for the past 26 years, has kidnapped thousands of children for the Lord's Resistance Army. I've been a little slow on the uptake about this video, having heard about it for the past several weeks but never actually seeing it until today. It is a powerful film. 

The film was made by Invisible Children, an organization created to bring attention to the plight of thousands of African children who are essentially enslaved and brainwashed to fight on behalf of the rebel cause. The Kony 2012 campaign was designed to put pressure on world leaders to prioritize the capture of Joseph Kony this year and put an end to his insidious methods. According to the film, Joseph Kony is number one on the ICC's (International Criminal Court) list of international war criminals. But for various reasons--mostly having to do with the fact that the U.S. doesn't have any purported defense or natural resource interests in Africa--Kony has been able to avoid capture and arrest. This film and this campaign--which has employed both international entertainers and policy-makers on its behalf--seeks to change this.

I have included the film here. Please watch it and pass it on to everyone you know. This is an important cause and one that needs grass roots support.

Ciao.