{"id":2391,"date":"2012-03-15T14:02:40","date_gmt":"2012-03-15T14:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.globalroutes.org\/?p=2391"},"modified":"2012-03-15T14:02:40","modified_gmt":"2012-03-15T14:02:40","slug":"jumping-on-the-bandwagon-another-reflection-on-the-joseph-kony-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalroutes.org\/staging\/8011\/2012\/03\/15\/jumping-on-the-bandwagon-another-reflection-on-the-joseph-kony-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Jumping on the Bandwagon: Another Reflection on the Joseph Kony Video"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m not the betting type, but I would theoretically wager a lot of \u00a0money that at least 90% of those of you reading this blog have watched Invisible Children\u2019s video<\/a> about Joseph Kony and the LRA (Lord\u2019s Resistance Army). Through an incredible demonstration of the power of Facebook and other media, almost 100 million viewers have watched (or at least linked to) the video since its release on March 5. The purpose of the video is to bring the atrocities of the LRA and it\u2019s elusive leader, Joseph Kony, into the spotlight and ultimately create a movement of activists so strong that the collective force sways the U.S. government to take actions that lead to Kony\u2019s arrest and trial before the ICC (International Criminal Court).<\/p>\n

This video really caught my attention for a couple of reasons. First of all, I was in Uganda this January, and while I was there, I spent time with some folks from back home who were working in Kampala with MCC (the Mennonite Central Committee). MCC Uganda<\/a> supports a number of Ugandan-run programs and organizations that promote peace, education, health, and community development. They have two programs in northern Uganda that focus on reaching out to those impacted by the LRA:<\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    The St. Monica\u2019s Girls Vocational School in Gulu teaches women who were abducted by the LRA how to earn an income through sewing, clerical work, and handicrafts. Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe was recognized as one of CNN\u2019s Heroes in 2008. In this video<\/a>, she talks about the power of such programs to create a sense of family and confidence for women and their children as they heal from the traumas of abduction and find ways to become more self-reliant.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. The Recreation Project<\/a> in Gulu uses the model of experiential education to address the social, economic, and emotional impacts facing young people who have grown up in an area torn apart by the LRA. The program brings youth together to participate in guided ropes courses, zip-lining, and other outdoor adventures that mimic real-life obstacles and create character-building skills that are necessary for strong and creative leadership in adverse situations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The second reason this video caught my attention was that I love the conversations that it has stirred up about social media, international development, Uganda and nearby countries, activism, and wars of all kinds. My fianc\u00e9 and I have spent more time following the twists and turns of responses and feelings this video has elicited than talking about our upcoming wedding! As you can see from the summary of responses below, the reaction has varied from praise to all-out critique.<\/p>\n

    Praise for the video & Invisible Children<\/strong><\/p>\n