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Kony 2012

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Willkiller

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Ok so over the past few hours something has overtaken Twitter and Facebook. Kony 2012.

Kony 2012 is a campaign to get Joseph Kony, the leader of the Ugandan guerilla group the LRA arrested and brought to justice for the disguisting war crimes against the Ugandan people and in particular, its children.

Take just 30 mins out of your day and watch their video http://www.kony2012.com/sharefilm/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=kony2012&utm_medium=web

Edit: So it turns out this is all mostly bullshit and the leader of the group is crazy. Oh well.
 
I don't have time to watch the video, can someone just give me a brief explanation on how twitter users can take down an African warlord?
 
Moppet13 said:
I don't have time to watch the video, can someone just give me a brief explanation on how twitter users can take down an African warlord?
Click to expand...

People asked who is Paul McCartney on twitter, so why not ask who is Joseph Kony?

AWARENESS!
 
It had the same impact to me *started a thread but it didn't really got picked up (sucky op)

I hardly get emotional via these kind of campains, but the video is so well set up and the message is so compelling I couldn't hold back tears. I already donated $25 and am trying to share it with as many people as I can via facebook.
 
EVIL said:
It had the same impact to me *started a thread but it didn't really got picked up (sucky op)

I hardly get emotional via these kind of campains, but the video is so well set up and the message is so compelling I couldn't hold back tears. I already donated $25 and am trying to share it with as many people as I can via facebook.
Click to expand...

Ah sorry man, I didn't search beforehand!

But yeah, it really is amazing. There is so much doom and gloom at the minute it was really special to see such a pure and brilliant message being supported by so many people with no political adgenda. I think that's why it had such an impact on me anyway.

Bollocks to 'Stop the Earth I want to get off'. Humanity fuck yeah.
 
Moppet13 said:
I don't have time to watch the video, can someone just give me a brief explanation on how twitter users can take down an African warlord?
Click to expand...

The idea is that if he were to become famous then people could no longer ignore him and his crimes and so would want him prosecuted. As it is very few people know about this terrible man and so there is never really a big desire to stop him.
 
"Natalia Kuwik and 27 other friends shared a link.

KONY 2012"

this is really catching steam. hopefully people do some research on the logistics of dealing with the current ugandan president, and if the americans will want to get involved in another larger scale conflict. many factors to discuss, but this is good. humanity +1
 
I may actually buy one of those kits to spread around.

edit: someone on facebook just posted "Enough about Kony.....let's hear about Jesus!". I think it's about time I delete this idiot.
 
You should all dip into the conversation on Reddit. They're making good points on why this shouldn't be supported.

Here ya go.

Edit: If you want a real face-palm, search 'Kony' on Twitter right now. People are awful.
 
Look making a twitter campaign is all well and good, but it's gonna take more than a simple youtube video to do anything. Genocidal 3rd world terrorist leaders don't get taken down just because "hey i saw that guy on facebook and I really really really really want this bad man to go away." Yeah it's nice to see that Kony's getting the infamy he deserves, but there's a reason this guy has eluded international authorities for the better part of the last 25 years, and that reason won't go away just because you and your grandma and your best friends Kate and Bobby clicked "Like." If I wanted to be REALLY cynical I'd say that the only reason this guy wasn't dead yet was because there's no oil tied up in it. Not to mention that, as stated in the Reddit thread, there's a chance that he IS already dead, and the Ugandan government itself is the bigger issue.
 
CrunchyFrog said:
Look making a twitter campaign is all well and good, but it's gonna take more than a simple youtube video to do anything. Genocidal 3rd world terrorist leaders don't get taken down just because "hey i saw that guy on facebook and I really really really really want this bad man to go away." Yeah it's nice to see that Kony's getting the infamy he deserves, but there's a reason this guy has eluded international authorities for the better part of the last 25 years, and that reason won't go away just because you and your grandma and your best friends Kate and Bobby clicked "Like." If I wanted to be REALLY cynical I'd say that the only reason this guy wasn't dead yet was because there's no oil tied up in it. Not to mention that, as stated in the Reddit thread, there's a chance that he IS already dead, and the Ugandan government itself is the bigger issue.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm trying to not be cynical. I really am, because this 'movement' on its own, should be a good thing. But giving weapons to the Ugandan army? That's like giving Charlie Manson a machine gun and asking him if he wouldn't mind killing Hitler instead of the innocent blonde girl next door.

Plus, the non-profit seems shady.
 
CrunchyFrog said:
Look making a twitter campaign is all well and good, but it's gonna take more than a simple youtube video to do anything. Genocidal 3rd world terrorist leaders don't get taken down just because "hey i saw that guy on facebook and I really really really really want this bad man to go away." Yeah it's nice to see that Kony's getting the infamy he deserves, but there's a reason this guy has eluded international authorities for the better part of the last 25 years, and that reason won't go away just because you and your grandma and your best friends Kate and Bobby clicked "Like." If I wanted to be REALLY cynical I'd say that the only reason this guy wasn't dead yet was because there's no oil tied up in it. Not to mention that, as stated in the Reddit thread, there's a chance that he IS already dead, and the Ugandan government itself is the bigger issue.
Click to expand...

FollowSmoke said:
Yeah, I'm trying to not be cynical. I really am, because this 'movement' on its own, should be a good thing. But giving weapons to the Ugandan army? That's like giving Charlie Manson a machine gun and asking him if he wouldn't mind killing Hitler instead of the innocent blonde girl next door.

Plus, the non-profit seems shady.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this was my reaction. I mean, the goal of this campaign is good, but the method...
 
This is getting really big on facebook, everyone's changing their profile pictures. Seems like the movement's catching on.
 
Nice to that this there internet thang can be put to use for a good cause. It's pretty incredible what they've managed to accomplish since their first "movie". I remember seeing it in a college class about 6 or so years ago(hell, might have been high school).

The "caring but not enough to do something" is so strong in a lot of people and it really shows on the internet. I mean, I "care" about those kids, but will I help them in anyway? I would like to think so, but I doubt I will.

Anyways, I hope this movement at least gets Kony killed or captured and that they can at least help Uganda shape a future where people can no longer get away with such atrocities.
 
Wonder how long it'll take before a presidential candidate makes Kony a running point and rakes in the youth vote because it's the only political thing most teens will know about.

Sucks to look at it that way, but it'll happen.

Great cause nonetheless.
 
When I saw that link being shared on Facebook I assumed it was about some DJ or electronic music festival

I know of the LRA but not their leader, and I know my friends on Facebook sharing it non-stop wouldn't be able to place Uganda on a map =/


These are people that don't know what is going on Syria, didn't know what was going on in Egypt or even Libya, let alone political issues in Toronto or Canada......yet because of some link be shared non-stop they suddenly pretend to care about Africa

None of them are going to do anything or care in a few hours, they will go back to sharing funny kitten pictures
 
JackEtc said:
Wonder how long it'll take before a presidential candidate makes Kony a running point and rakes in the youth vote because it's the only political thing most teens will know about.

Sucks to look at it that way, but it'll happen.

Great cause nonetheless.
Click to expand...

Considering the video shows a letter from Obama sending troops to help, I say Obama is already getting their vote if they vote at all.
 
I'm sad to say my only knowledge of Kony came from the Unknown Soldier comic series a couple years back.

That's how unreported the LRA is I guess, glad to see it's coming to the light in a big way. All over facebook and the like.
 
Willkiller said:
Ok so over the past few hours something has overtaken Twitter and Facebook. Kony 2012.

Kong 2012 is a campaign to get Joseph Kony, the leader of the Ugandan guerilla group the LRA arrested and brought to justice for the disguisting war crimes against the Ugandan people and in particular, its children.

I usually don't buy into these campaigns but for some reason this really moved me. Take just 30 mins out of your day and watch their video http://www.kony2012.com/sharefilm/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=kony2012&utm_medium=web

Even if my OP hasn't sold you (and it probably won't) just trust me and watch that video. It explains everything fully and for the first time in a long time, it moved me to tears.

Just watch the video.
Click to expand...

i wanted to know what the video was about, so i clicked the vimeo link on facebook. hmm, no summary.

tried the youtube version. no info there.

tried the kony2012 site, nope.

tried the invisiblechildren site, nope.

back to the kony2012 site, downloaded the propaganda kit to see what the posters said. they said to go to the site.

your OP is more informative on the video than anything i could find on my own, other than some australian news blog. i dont have 30 minutes to just waste normally, i dont get the angle these guys are taking. i see a lot of buttons and suggestions to donate, though.
 
I went to Prom with a girl who was a part of the Invisible Children thing. A lot of people thought she was crazy for it; I wonder if that opinion has changed?
 
Here's an article from 2006 that talks about the problem with Invisible Children and what's actually going on in Uganda. Take it as you will.

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

It's been six years, but it still seems relevant. I remember several years ago when I was in high school we had a school presentation of the IC video (I think it was their original one). As you'd expect, afterwards everyone was all "we need to help!!!", and I think it was a teacher back in class who discussed it with us it and made the same points as in that article:

-the situation in Uganda wasn't like how it was depicted in the movie (anymore)
-there are a lot of other serious problems as well
-throwing money at these things is a bad idea because they just end up in the pockets of corrupt government officials and leaders
-Western kids uneducated about the actual problems going on flying around to different countries to actually "help" don't help anything

I haven't done any research since then to really form a fully backed opinion, but I'm generally skeptical of these kinds of groups and campaigns.
 
mcrae said:
i wanted to know what the video was about, so i clicked the vimeo link on facebook. hmm, no summary.

tried the youtube version. no info there.

tried the kony2012 site, nope.

tried the invisiblechildren site, nope.

back to the kony2012 site, downloaded the propaganda kit to see what the posters said. they said to go to the site.

your OP is more informative on the video than anything i could find on my own, other than some australian news blog. i dont have 30 minutes to just waste normally, i dont get the angle these guys are taking. i see a lot of buttons and suggestions to donate, though.
Click to expand...
Just watch the video dude.
 
Noble cause but where is he now? If in uganda, then what's happening on that front.? Haven't heard much about him but i've heard about the atrocities being carried out in Northern Uganda. Oh, and OP, it wouldn't have hurt if you gave a little more background on his deeds. Especially in regards to child soldiers and the lot.
 
mcrae said:
i wanted to know what the video was about, so i clicked the vimeo link on facebook. hmm, no summary.

tried the youtube version. no info there.

tried the kony2012 site, nope.

tried the invisiblechildren site, nope.

back to the kony2012 site, downloaded the propaganda kit to see what the posters said. they said to go to the site.

your OP is more informative on the video than anything i could find on my own, other than some australian news blog. i dont have 30 minutes to just waste normally, i dont get the angle these guys are taking. i see a lot of buttons and suggestions to donate, though.
Click to expand...
All the people that do watch it are in the know, all the people who refuse to watch it still contribute to the conversation by reiterating the talking points in comments.
 
Watched it earlier today.

This was how I learned about Kony:

unknown_soldier_trade_1.jpg


I'm sceptical about these sorts of things. I want better for the world, but while I feel that this "rah rah let's save the world and feel great about ourselves" kind of stuff is great, what's the end goal? Do you have political connections in Uganda that have foresight in planning and maintaining a post-Kony Uganda? Show me this kind of stuff and you have my support. I don't really buy into the feel good stuff, sorry.
 
Zekes! said:
Here's an article from 2006 that talks about the problem with Invisible Children and what's actually going on in Uganda. Take it as you will.

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

It's been six years, but it still seems relevant. I remember several years ago when I was in high school we had a school presentation of the IC video (I think it was their original one). As you'd expect, afterwards everyone was all "we need to help!!!", and I think it was a teacher back in class who discussed it with us it and made the same points as in that article:

-the situation in Uganda wasn't like how it was depicted in the movie (anymore)
-there are a lot of other serious problems as well
-throwing money at these things is a bad idea because they just end up in the pockets of corrupt government officials and leaders
-Western kids uneducated about the actual problems going on flying around to different countries to actually "help" don't help anything

I haven't done any research since then to really form a fully backed opinion, but I'm generally skeptical of these kinds of groups and campaigns.
Click to expand...

Yeah I do share some of your skepticism, I usually am VERY skeptical about these kind of campaigns.

But especially after all the revolutions last year If there is one thing I believe in it's people power, seeing as this really only blew up yesterday it's pretty crazy that on Facebook I have been added to a local event on April 20th where 500 people are already planning on putting the posters etc up. If this really takes off it will be extremely difficult for governments to simply ignore it.

Edit: Just had a look at the youtube version of the video. In less than two days it has '230,997 likes' and but only 165,330 views. I know this is because Youtube is slow to update the views etc etc but with that many likes this has the potential to be HUGE. For comparison the most viewed video on Youtube with 427 Million views only has 870,000 likes....
 
Zekes! said:
Here's an article from 2006 that talks about the problem with Invisible Children and what's actually going on in Uganda. Take it as you will.

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

It's been six years, but it still seems relevant. I remember several years ago when I was in high school we had a school presentation of the IC video (I think it was their original one). As you'd expect, afterwards everyone was all "we need to help!!!", and I think it was a teacher back in class who discussed it with us it and made the same points as in that article:

-the situation in Uganda wasn't like how it was depicted in the movie (anymore)
-there are a lot of other serious problems as well
-throwing money at these things is a bad idea because they just end up in the pockets of corrupt government officials and leaders
-Western kids uneducated about the actual problems going on flying around to different countries to actually "help" don't help anything

I haven't done any research since then to really form a fully backed opinion, but I'm generally skeptical of these kinds of groups and campaigns.
Click to expand...


Big disagree their. Its better than sending money to corrupt Organization working for the government.
 
Zekes! said:
Here's an article from 2006 that talks about the problem with Invisible Children and what's actually going on in Uganda. Take it as you will.

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

It's been six years, but it still seems relevant. I remember several years ago when I was in high school we had a school presentation of the IC video (I think it was their original one). As you'd expect, afterwards everyone was all "we need to help!!!", and I think it was a teacher back in class who discussed it with us it and made the same points as in that article:

-the situation in Uganda wasn't like how it was depicted in the movie (anymore)
-there are a lot of other serious problems as well
-throwing money at these things is a bad idea because they just end up in the pockets of corrupt government officials and leaders
-Western kids uneducated about the actual problems going on flying around to different countries to actually "help" don't help anything

I haven't done any research since then to really form a fully backed opinion, but I'm generally skeptical of these kinds of groups and campaigns.
Click to expand...
From what I gathered the idea is pretty simple this time, if you don't want to donate just use the internet to spread the message about Kony. Use the tools of technology that have advanced "the human connection" around the globe.
 
I'm usually skeptical of these kinds of campaigns, but at least this video pushed me to learn more. I didn't realize that he was already wanted by the Hague.
 
Willkiller said:
But especially after all the revolutions last year If there is one thing I believe in it's people power, seeing as this really only blew up yesterday it's pretty crazy that on Facebook I have been added to a local event on April 20th where 500 people are already planning on putting the posters etc up. If this really takes off it will be extremely difficult for governments to simply ignore it.
Click to expand...

The social media-fuelled revolutions, while none of them have really reached their end yet, are what make me especially sceptical of this sort of thing. I see so much potential, but it always seems so unguided.

KONY 2012 wants to have a day where people abandon slacktivism and get out and plaster posters and stickers everywhere. Awesome. But what's the next step? I watched the video and I don't see a next step. I'm not a teenager and I want this information because the inspirational music-infused rallying call to be a part of something isn't enough for me.

To me, this video isn't an experiment in making the world a better place, it's a measure of how well today's disengaged youth respond to a well-executed propaganda piece that's centred around a good cause.
 
I didn't see the whole thing, but this whole campaign reeks of bullshit to me. It seems to me that there is a ulterior motive to this: fame and recognition = creating a big and memorable movement. Don't get me wrong, I like the message, but something just seems a little off.

What really seems off is the fact that they have a nice office, a fleet of cars, salaries to pay, money to host talks, expenses, equipement, and everything else....
 
Trust GAF to bring our the cynicism and skeptical bullshit.

Just bought an action kit. What a great movement.
 
been seeing the mysterious adverts for this over the net for a few months now. I'm happy its something worthwhile rather than a new TV from Samsung.

Count me in.
 
Willkiller said:
Kong 2012 is a campaign to get Joseph Kony, the leader of the Ugandan guerilla group the LRA arrested and brought to justice for the disguisting war crimes against the Ugandan people and in particular, its children.
Click to expand...

Couldn't resist.

nha99.png


It begs for a better catchphrase but I'm tired, so w.e

Anyway, I watched the video and was baffled I'd never heard of this LRA business before. I'm gonna look into it some more and probably contribute a bit myself. Seems like a good cause/movement.
 
daxy said:
Couldn't resist.

nha99.png


Anyway, I watched the video and was baffled I'd never heard of this before. I'm gonna look into it some more and probably contribute a bit myself. Seems like a good cause/movement.
Click to expand...

Oh son of a...

Thanks for bringing it to my attention haha, fixed.
 
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