To #STOPKONY or not #STOPKONY
I think that you will all have seen the incredibly moving YouTube video by the organisation Invisible Children over the past couple of days. If not, you can find it here below and I do suggest you spend the next 27minutes watching it. The issue of child soldiers in Africa is absolutely horrifying and can easily leave you feeling entirely helpless. What the #KONY2012 project aims to do is raise awareness about the leader of the LDA (the Lord’s Resistance Army) which is a resistance movement in Uganda who, as part of their regime, abduct children from their homes and turn them into child soldiers, often forcing them to kill their own family and to continue to mutilate and murder. Horrifying is an understatement.
Not long after I shared the video on my Facebook page this morning, I was made aware of a few articles floating around criticising the #KONY2012 movement. The main criticisms are the amount of money that has been allocated directly the cause (only one third) and the lack of transparency around the organisations finances generally. There are also concerns about the financing of the Ugandan military, themselves not immune to criticism about how they operate.
This morning when I first watched this is had almost 1million views, at the point I am posting this it has over 21million views.
Some of the points criticising the movement have just been plain pathetic (sorry, but this one just irked me A LOT): Jezebel, Think Twice Before Donating To Kony12, others have been much more reasonable. If you would like to read some of these more reasonable and informed posts that talk about some of the very legitimate questions that any reasonable person should ask before committing to a charity then I suggest: We Got Trouble and Reflections on KONY12
Upon reading the actual arguments and concerns about #KONY2012 movement this is my response:
- Many organisations spend significant portions of their income on awareness campaigns. The sole purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness about Joseph Kony, in their words to “make him famous” so that governments face ongoing pressure to support Ugandan authorities in their pursuit of him.
- The organisers have stated that this is a social media campaign based on Facebook – it will therefore naturally look different to other campaigns as will the way that it’s run. The organisers are not bureaucrats – they are passionate individuals.
- To the people who critices the movement for making out that Joseph Kony is uniquely evil – seriously?! The guy is amoral, whether he is the most amoral person who has ever lived hardly seems something worth arguing about.
- To the people who say the campaign focuses too heavily on emotion – it’s a social media campaign. Of course it does.
Yes, there are problems with the campaign, as the “Reflections on KONY2012″ post says, this campaign feeds into a narrative of white supremacy where as if “we” become aware then “we” can solve a problem that a poor, black nation can’t. Yes, the video doesn’t exhaust the facts about the situation in Uganda at this current time and yes, I would prefer that at least one of the action points at the end of the video wasn’t about donating money.
If you would like to read how the Invisible Children organisation have responded to some of these issues I suggest you read this statement: Critiques
But Joseph Kony is an horrendous war criminal and our “white” nations have the means to support poorer nations in their efforts to bring this man to justice. The goal of this campaign is to “MAKE KONY FAMOUS” and that seems like a pretty good goal to me.
At this time I would however like to urge you to make a donation to another charity who is working in war-torn nations, day in and out, without the support of a viral YouTube campaign.
What do you think? Are you supporting this movement or do you feel skeptical?
Mummble
Stitch Baby + Kids
I think the fact that we are even having a conversation about the realities of child soldiers is fantastic and the #KONY2012 has certainly got people talking. I donated $5 last night and I can easily afford to donate that amount. I am torn actually, this is a multi layered problem. But I could just as easily poke at the Salvation Army and open up a similar can of worms.
I think I will sit on the fence for this one but while I am sitting on the fence I will loudly cheer the fact that people now actually are talking and thinking about child soldiers. And the fact that people are slowly realising that one person can make a difference.
Good post Louisa :)
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I’m with you and so much of the criticism (esp that Jezebel article) has just been really weak in the criticisms made – so easy to poke holes, which is just an attitude to life that I don’t want a part of. The idea that one person can make a difference is really so powerful and important! x
My sentiments exactly Louisa. I agree that the video might have it’s “problems” but , at least many were made aware of this horrendous injustice that has happened to the children and women in Uganda. And I agree with you that the fact is, the “white”…..I prefer to call it – First World Countries CAN and have the power to do something about it, so why not.
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Thanks Norlin & you’re right it’s not so much about white, as 1st world but it does feel that “white man” historical narrative which I guess is what I was referencing.
The whole world has been focussed on the middle east east for so long that I’m happy that something has finally brought awareness back to Africa. The things that happen to women and children there are HORRIFIC. Absolutely horrific.
I was aware of the tragedy that is happening in the Congo http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/international/africa/28africa.html?pagewanted=all Now there is the KONY campaign.
It all just makes me cry.
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Me too Alex and yet, for the first time I feel some hope – like maybe all this awareness will actually make a difference. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Thanks for sharing these thoughts Louisa. I agree with you. I find many of the criticisms of this campaign disappointing and hardly any more balanced than the so called propaganda they’re against. Many of the detractors fail to understand the purpose of the video as a mechanism for mass awareness and descend into finger pointing and accusations of white supremacy. Yes, Kony2012 is simplistic, but when has a complicated message ever been as successful at raising this level of awareness on such a large scale? Can Invisible Children do a better job with its finances? Absolutely. All not for profits can. Should people dismiss the campaign as the latest fad in an era Occupy Wall Street movements? No. Can governments do more to stop these atrocities? Yes. Will they, unless their constituents demand it? Doubtful.
Criticisms about where the money is going (such as funding the less than reputable Ugandan army) are short sighted. If the funding allows for better education, training and the stamping out of corruption within that army then long term this is a worthy goal. It’s never a easy thing to do but sometimes we have to choose the lesser of two evils.
At the end of the day, there are millions upon millions of people who are now aware of this man’s actions (and those of his army). If only 0.01% of those millions take action and call their government representative demanding intervention, and if this contributes to the removal of Kony, then it has been a successful campaign.
Too right Chris! Thanks for sharing this post so widely on twitter – appreciate it mate :)
here here to all of the above. There are a lot of horrible people out there doing such horrible things. Anyone trying to make the world a better place should be applauded.
Not only are these people trying to make a difference, they are also teaching the next generation that they have power to make a difference, and this ‘new world’ we live in can do good instead of all the ‘down falls’ we constantly hear about.
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Gosh I so agree Mandy, I think they are incredibly inspiring!! Having been aware of this issue for a long time I have so often felt pathetically helpless and here are these amazing people who have actually been DOING something all this time. Just amazing!
This has become an interesting topic, here’s my take on this issue: http://www.writeaboutme.com.au/HomebrsmallWelcomesmall/tabid/253/EntryId/59/WAM-Opinion-Had-Enough-of-KONY-2012.aspx
Thanks for letting me know Naomi.
This is indeed an interesting issue and approach to dealing with a someone I can only describe as evil. I like the approach, but have significant concerns about the transparency of the funds Invisible Children is gifted and then uses. Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia who I’ve supported for some years, direct 80% of their donations to use in the field; 16% goes to fundraising and the remaining 4% to administration. Their annual audited accounts are also available on their website for all to see. They among the best at making use of their funds, accepting not a single cent from any government organisation or entity so as to be able to maintain their impartiality in any political situation. It’s for this good governance and transparency that I support MSF. I’ll get out and help with the verbal message, but my money will be better spent with MSF for now, who can do the sort of work I do here in Australia, in my name, without siding with any aspect of the political agenda. And yes, that photo with the bazookas, if you don’t believe in armed conflict, was a very stupid idea on the part of the founders. But hen, we all do things in our youth that bite us in the bum later.
Such great point here, MSF is an amazing organisation indeed! I have appreciated the Invisible Children org responding to the questions and showing people where to find their financials – its a good sign that they aren’t trying to hide anything. x
Well Said Louisa :) The whole idea of Kony12 is to bring awareness to the horrific things this man has done and continues to do (albeit in a different country, still to human beings!) and the pressure that awareness is hopefully going to put on the US government to track and find the man responsible, and so end his reign of tyranny that still continues today, albeit on a much smaller scale. Even if it’s ‘only’ 60 children a month, what if one of those was your son taken off to become a soldier and kill innocents, and another was your daughter or niece, turned into a sex slave… just sayin’.
I know, I know exactly what you mean Jo! My hope is that as well as raising awareness about Kony this campaign will also put the spotlight on the whole region & be a force for change and support from western countries in a broader sense.
Hi Louisa, I watched the Kony video last night and was amazed to see your post this morning, I think your post is well written and very informative, I am definitely supporting the invisible children via Facebook…this horrible man that trains children to mutilate and kill, to live in fear and to create fear, to wish they were dead instead of living….made me cry! He trains them for death in Africa while we train ours for life…Kony has to be brought to justice because his harm is upon hundreds of thousands of children and if it takes all of people worldwide to say “we stand for these children”, well I think it is a cause worth our attention and money too if we so wish. I am sure the posters, stickers, promotional ads etc all cost money. I can understand the need for monetary support.
Thanks Jess, amazing how this campaign has spread like wildfire, like you anything that raises awareness about the issues in this region is something worth getting involved in!