KONY 2012 YouTube video powerful; April 20 will be day of action

Update: We are waiting for a response from an email written to Invisible Children Inc: "We are hoping that this is not just another project using poor African children to raise money or to become famous. We are often inundated by organizations made up of Caucasian do-gooders who often are profiting by the millions from 'humanitarian' projects in Africa. I am reminded of King Leopold 'helping' the Congolese people while he was stealing their rubber and other natural resources.

"Can you please answer the following: How will donations be spent?   How much money has been raised? How much did it cost to make and market the film?"

Previous post:

I saw KONY 2012 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc) being reviewed on the Today Show this morning and decided to take 30 minutes of my time with two cups of coffee to see what over 27 million others were watching. It sparked my interest because it displayed a murderous, Idi Amin-like renegade who murders and rapes at whim.

The main villain of the documentary, Ugandan leader of the Lord's Resistance Army Joseph Kony, is being sought out for crimes against humanity. The film is directed by Invisible Children Inc. filmmaker Jason Russell. The project began in 2003, the film was released in 2006, but it went viral on the Internet earlier this week, proving the power of images on YouTube.

The timing speaks to the problem of continuing to allow horrible atrocities to occur because the world community is not paying attention and stepping up to end violence against children. It also makes me ponder why we can spend energy on capturing, trying, and killing Troy Davis while Joseph Kony is on the loose.

First minutes: As soon as the Internet film begins, I know this is not an amateur project. Riveting from the first few seconds, it tells a story of sorrow but hope, of innocence but ungodliness, of suffering but preserving determination. It crosses income brackets, race, and borders.  Now, let me continue watching...

22 minutes in: Kony is sought by U.S. military advisers authorized by President Barack Obama, and the Get Kony 2012 campaign has begun with the action mission of individuals to contact celebrities, policymakers, and millionaires through social media. Goal - blanket the night on April 20, 2012.  This will be a people of the world protectionism event.

NOTE: Of persons on the list of the International Criminal Court who have been indicted for counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and contempt of Court, seven are from Sudan, six each are from Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, five are from Uganda, two are from Libya, and one is from Cote d'Ivoire. It has been noted that no one knows the whereabouts of Kony at this time.
©2012 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.