Alright, so it was about time Kony 2012 was addressed in light of the whole internet fired up about this video. If you still haven’t seen it, do a quick google search with “Kony 2012”. The internet has a wealth of information.
It has been about 3 days since it exploded on the internet, and discussions pro’s and con’s have littered my news feed on Facebook – which I’ll admit, I added to that pile of garbage (yet I still can’t get over my OCD to keep it on ALL DAY at work). Now, 3 days later, as most viral things on the net does, the movement has dissipated. Let’s review this critically, without any emotional attachment – which, by the way, the video did an incredible job of doing and was also the goal.
The video, as we know, is a very emotionally moving piece of work. This is the objective for anybody in the persuasion industry aka; propaganda machine, marketing, and/or selling something. Without emotional connection, it would be pretty difficult to spread this like wildfire; whether the emotion be humour, empathy or otherwise.
This is parallel to any advertisement we see, marketing schemes we come across, and political persuasion shoved in our faces. Let’s take political persuasion for arguments sake, more specifically, I’ll concentrate one of the more recent NATO’s supported encounters in another country – Libya. The rhetoric and dialogue in each are very similar as told through pop media.
Libya – Gaddafi Kony 2012
We learn of an evil dictator We learn of a terrible person
He is “against freedom” He enslaves children
Years of violent suppression He uses children as soldiers
Rebel forces appear Invisible Children comes along
Something must be done Something must be done
NATO countries intervene (Oh, you also have oil?!) Donations are given (We’re 6 years too late?!)
This type of language and propaganda can be seen in NATO country’s international affairs and the same language is used in Kony 2012. The video just has a much deeper emotional connection to which we can feel good about ourselves if we do something about it. The only difference is that Libya is all a concoction of Western media and (arguably) an unjustifiable “war” based on lies. Kony, however, deserves this punishment.
BUT, when you donate money to Invisible Children (the charity that created this video); 1) let’s see where it goes and 2) how the Ugandan people feel about it.
Page 6 financials of their 2011 numbers
Of the $8.9 million they 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…
In their defense, they need to send the victimized children around the world to share their stories. And, of course, the people working at the charity must also eat. And if they are to raise awareness, this is legitimate.
This begs the question, are we donating to raise awareness? Or are we donating STOP KONY? If we choose the latter, we should think again. (However, either one doesn’t matter because the atrocity is 6 YEARS OVER – read on)
From a political science student who follows Invisible Children, Grant Oyston states:
The group is in favour of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces…. Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them…
From the Telegraph, a UK based newspaper. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/uganda/9131469/Joseph-Kony-2012-growing-outrage-in-Uganda-over-film.html
That, the video’s makers claim, will ensure funding for 100 US military advisors sent to train African armies to find Kony will continue.
The money will be used to ensure more violence. Further more, EVEN IF we’re donating to stop Kony, we are 6 years TOO LATE. Dr Beatrice Mpora, director of Kairos, a community health organisation in Gulu, a town that was once the centre of the rebels’ activities says:
“There has not been a single soul from the LRA here since 2006. Now we have peace, people are back in their homes, they are planting their fields, they are starting their businesses. That is what people should help us with.”
… Rosebell Kagumire, a Ugandan journalist specialising in peace and conflict reporting, said: “This paints a picture of Uganda six or seven years ago, that is totally not how it is today. It’s highly irresponsible”.
So really, if they are gone 6 years now, and the majority of the people are living in peace, what is the real reason for even having this video IN THE FIRST PLACE? If we are serious about wanting to help the Ugandan people (or “Africans” as the video loosely used inter-changeably), there are much better charities that work from Uganda itself and not overseas. (See reference links below)
Kony 2012 cannot be denied, it is impeccably well made as a propaganda tool for a charity; employing the same techniques used in the industrial military complex. However, the reality of the situation: 1) Kony has now dissipated, 6 years ago. 2) Peace is now settled in major parts of Uganda 3) The money sent to Invisible Children is not being put to “stopping Kony”
We must look past our emotions and calm down about any type of hype that is sent our way. Let it be political affairs or Kony 2012. Calm down, do some research, look at the facts and put your money wisely. Let’s not have our emotions lead the way to give money to ONE SOURCE of news about a certain atrocity somewhere in the world that will disappear off our Facebook news feed in less than one week. Be an informed citizen and learn from more than one source. Happy trolling.
P.S – I commend those who finish reading all the way to the end to keeping an open mind and not only following their emotions.
Uganda charities that actually can make a difference
http://www.africarising.org/concerned-parents-association
Written by Ian Chow