Washington Post article discusses international effort to bring Kony to justice

Washington Post published this article by writer Michael Gerson about Joseph Kony and the international effort to bring him to justice. The article discusses the status of military personnel, the myths that surround Kony, and the commitment to put a stop to this man, this war. Our upcoming campaign, KONY 2012, is centered around the mandatory need for Joseph Kony to be captured and held accountable for his decades of torture as the leader of the LRA. Michael Getson hits the nail on the head with this brilliant and heartbreakingly written article, and it goes hand-in-hand with everything that we are determined to see happen this year. Read the article [excerpted below] and may you get as pumped up as we are to launch KONY 2012 and bring the world’s worst war criminal to justice.

From The Washington Post:

The net tightens around Joseph Kony

By Michael Gerson, Published: January 26

DUNGU, Congo

Francoise, age 16, talks quietly, revealing a shy smile only after praise for her tight cornrows. While walking to school four years ago, she and some classmates were captured by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The girls were distributed to soldiers as “wives.” In the mornings, Francoise cooked. In the afternoons, she carried packs on the march. When she tried to escape, the soldiers melted a water container and poured the plastic on her shoulders. Once, when the fighters saw two infants along the path, they crushed them with a pestle. “I witnessed that,” she says.

She recalls seeing Joseph Kony “maybe once a year.” Kony is the leader of the LRA and perhaps the most hated and hunted man on earth. His followers, she explains, think that “he is a supernatural being. He has a power over them.”

Francoise describes a six-week walk to an LRA camp in a remote part of the neighboring Central African Republic (CAR). Then the sounds of an attacking plane and helicopter. In the chaos, she escaped, arriving home just before Christmas.

Her story is eyewitness confirmation of an important event. During the summer, Kony recalled his commanders to the CAR for his first major leadership meeting in two years. On Sept. 12, forces of Uganda’s military (known as the UPDF) scattered the LRA fighters. Kony survived and fled. But the net around him tightens.

The pursuit of the LRA ranges over 240,000 square miles of jungle terrain in three countries. According to officers at the Joint Intelligence and Operations Center in Dungu, there were more than 300 LRA attacks last year. Units operate in small bands both east and west of Dungu. But Kony is still thought to be in the CAR. Experts on the conflict speculate his current location to be somewhere west of the Chinko River, a few hours by helicopter from his pursuers’ nearest military outpost.

Read the full article here and see the shout-out Invisible Children gets for their strides with the LRA Crisis Tracker. And yes, that’s Ben Affleck in the photo.

-Krista

(Photo Credit: The Washington Post)

Foreign aid: What America may not know

Despite recent improvement, America is still in a less-than-perfect economic state and one of the more volatile questions presented to presidential hopefuls is in regards to a purposed solution. Foreign aid tends to come under scrutiny and American’s are generally of the opinion that too much of the U.S. budget is spent on these affairs. According to an article written by World Public Opinion.org there are, however, some facts that the public at large is missing. Typically American’s believe that 25% of the federal budget is spent on foreign aid and suggests that 10% would be a more appropriate figure.

The fact is that a mere 1% of the budget is allotted to foreign aid. Astonishing. Intriguing.

-TM

(From the WPO. Photo by Roberto Schmidt)

The “new” American Dream

From Good:

In a time of continued economic uncertainty, Americans’ priorities are shifting, according to MetLife’s fifth annual survey of American ideals. They are less concerned with professional success and the trappings of material wealth, instead aspiring to a greater sense of personal fulfillment.

Full graphic here.

What would you ask President Obama?

Following President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night, there was a live panel featuring senior White House advisors answering your questions about the speech (I didn’t know either). For those that missed the opportunity to get your questions answered, miss no more: On Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, a group of policy experts and advisors to the President will sit down for Office Hours on Twitter — discussing the issues that matter to you and your community.

The specifics: Friday, January 27 at 2PM EST (10am PST), Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting, will be answering questions regarding foreign policy. We thought this would be a perfect opportunity to weigh in with questions about the LRA.

Submit questions via Twitter, using the hashtag #WHchat and follow the conversation at the @WHLive Twitter account. You can find more information, including the full line-up of Advisors and topics here.

Perfect example question sent from our friends at Resolve:

In addition, on Monday, January 30, President Obama will join the conversation in a special Google+ Hangout, a live multi-person video chat, from the White House. Participating in the Hangout is easy – just visit the White House YouTube channel to submit your questions and vote for your favorites between now and January 28. A few participants will be chosen to join the President in the Google+ Hangout to ask their questions of the President live. Cool beans.

-Krista

(Photo credit: Alex Wong, Getty Images)

So what is the state of the union?

As President Obama gave his speech yesterday evening, much of our office either rushed home or stayed late to hear what he had to say. It was a generally uplifting message in which he addressed income inequality as the “defining issue of our time” and pointedly encouraged Congress to function as a team. He preached the ‘Hope and Change’ rhetoric that solidified his victory four years ago and discussed concerns we all have (gender equality, drop-out rates, jobs).
Will we truly see positive, cooperative action from our government? Will the presidential election result in polarized opinions and stalemates?

-TM

Read more:
Here is an article that looks on the SOTU as just a “feel-good” speech.
This is a piece for the Huffington Post focusing on the bipartisan support given to Obama post-address.

Invisible Children and Better World Books: Book Drive Competition reminder

Invisible Children and Better World Books want to revolutionize the way people think about books – how they are bought, sold, reused, valued. For the sake of friendly competition, there has been an ongoing book drive competition which comes to a close on February 7 – so this serves as a reminder to get your books in by that date. But fear not – book drives are a year-round endeavor. To find out how you can host one, buy, or donate – click here. Remember: every great book you collect is raising funds directly for Invisible Children.

And now, a word from the IC Book Drive Team:

Hello Invisible Children supporters, book lovers, and book haters alike (after all, if you don’t want your books – we’ll gladly accept them!) This is just a friendly book drive check-in from your friendly book drive team. Things are pumping along steadily down here in the book drive department as our Book Drive Competition nears its close on Tuesday, February 7. As you book drivers move toward the close of the competition, here’s a little nugget of wisdom to feed your minds from our man Henry David Thoreau:

“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.”

So keep on collecting that treasured wealth of nations, make sure your UPS pick-up is scheduled for on or before February 7th, and one of you will win a trip to Uganda!

Remember, you can always call or email us if you have any questions or if you need encouragement (I am a certified hoarder of book-themed inspirational quotes). You guys are crushing it and we can’t wait to see the final numbers – this is the home stretch!

Love,
The Book Drive Team
bookdrive@invisiblechildren.com
(619) 562-2799 x209

The Egyptian Revolution: one year later

In the year that has passed since 8 million Egyptians took to their streets rising against Mubarak, the changes they instigated have not proved satisfactory. Revolutionaries are not content with the pace of the Egyptian military’s institution of a civilian democracy and this leaves us looking with anticipation to the revolution’s anniversary. Aaron Ross’s article for Mother Jones looks at the issues that will be especially poignant tomorrow and the obstacles that still lie ahead.
-TM

(Photo by Emilio Morenatti)

Behind KONY 2012 tour: Team CalVegas

TEAM CalVegas
Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, St. George (Utah), Las Vegas
MARTHA PELAYO, CHELSEY ESCHEVARRIA, COURTNEY MCGUIRE & LOGAN RICHARDS

Self-proclaimed team motto: “We throw glitter, we make it rain…we love CalVegas, bang-a-rang!”
[Sidenote: they also have a team handshake – ask them to do it on stage at a screening]

Good afternoon Team CalVegas. Please state your name and where you’re from for the record.

Courtney McGuire (CM): I’m Courtney and I’m from Portland, Oregon.

Chelsey Eschevarria (CE): Chelsey, Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Logan Richards (LR): My name is Logan and I’m from Mineral Wells, West Virginia.

Martha Pelayo (MP): I’m Martha and I’m from Monterrey, Mexico.

Martha, does anyone ever tell you that you look like Miranda Kerr?

MP: No, who is that?

She’s just a Victoria Secret supermodel who is married to Orlando Bloom. No biggie. How did you all learn about Invisible Children?

CM: I watched a Fall Out Boy music video and saw a link to IC. I went on youtube and watched The Rough Cut.

CE: My freshman year of college at UCF, I went to a screening on campus. I interned this past summer and was a roadie last semester.

LR: A friend invited me to The Rescue in Huntington, WV. I went and then watched The Rough Cut, and then booked screenings at my college (WVU-Parkersburg).

MP: Roadies came to my school and I saw The Rescue. I went to LA in 2010 for the Bamboozle Festival and met Kenny and Alex. Then I hosted a screening at my school last semester (ITESM).

Any personal habits that your teammates will be annoyed with after tour?

CM: I can’t wake up in the morning; I sleep like a rock

CE: I have lots and lots of energy. And I’m a stickler for time.

You should be in charge of waking Courtney up from her deep sleep. It’s time! It’s time! You’re welcome in advance for solving your problems.

LR: I’m stubborn about not eating fruits and vegetables, and I’m on a team of vegetarians and vegans. I goof off a lot and like to say random things that don’t sense. And I’m really talkative.

You don’t say.

MP: I can’t stop laughing when I start (proceeds to laugh…and laugh).

What is your favorite football team? As with other roadie teams, if you don’t have one, I will choose the Chargers for you by default.

CM: I don’t watch football. So, Chargers?

You betcha.

CE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

LR: The Boston Red Sox.

MP: Pittsburgh Steelers.

I’m not really happy with any of your answers, but this is not about me. What is your favorite food?

CM: Dessert…any kind.

CE: Leaves…salad…vegan.

LR: Chicken…carnivore.

MP: Berries.

And finally, who is your celebrity crush?

CM: Male or female?

Either. Both.

CM: Emma Watson and Darren Criss.

CE: Tim Allen. And Taye Diggs. I have jungle fever.

LR: Natalie Portman and Drew Barrymore.

MP: Angelina Jolie.

Oh, Angelina. Yes. She really does surpass all reasoning. Well Team CalVegas, good luck on your adventure. Stop at nothing.

______________________

Team CalVegas wants to come to your town. Book a screening by calling them at (619) 562-2799, Ext 195 or fill out this form.

DC Jewelry Designer donates proceeds to Invisible Children program

Sola Biu has always known two things: She wants to help kids, and she loves repurposing vintage items. Oynx Feather, the jewelry company she began in 2009 and runs out of her Union Station apartment, combines both of these passions.

Wanting to contribute a portion of her proceeds to a cause she believes in, she donates 15 percent of every Onyx Feather purchase to the Invisible Children Legacy Scholarship Fund, which Biu says she picked for its use of creative methods to improve the lives of impoverished children in Uganda.

“They address not only a child’s immediate physical needs, but also his or her long-term needs,” she says of the education-based program for an article in the Washingtonian. “That is how you change a community and help it to rebuild.”

Inspired by jewlery designers such as Vintage Givenchy and Fallon [by Dana Lorenz], she makes one-of-a-kind necklaces that are all based on different international capital cities. So far? Rio, Cairo, Cyprus, St. Petersburg, and Paris.

Her vintage-clad necklaces are both extremely creative and benefit Ugandan children – our favorite combination. Visit her socially responsible modern-vintage jewelry line here and get an awesome necklace while making a difference in the life of a child. No-brainer.

-Krista

(Photo credit: Kelci House)

Can America compete with China?

Here’s a bit more related to the post from earlier about consumer responsibility:

The New York Times reports:

Apple employs 43,000 people in the United States and 20,000 overseas, a small fraction of the over 400,000 American workers at General Motors in the 1950s, or the hundreds of thousands at General Electric in the 1980s. Many more people work for Apple’s contractors: an additional 700,000 people engineer, build and assemble iPads, iPhones and Apple’s other products. But almost none of them work in the United States. Instead, they work for foreign companies in Asia, Europe and elsewhere, at factories that almost all electronics designers rely upon to build their wares.

“Apple’s an example of why it’s so hard to create middle-class jobs in the U.S. now,” said Jared Bernstein, who until last year was an economic adviser to the White House.

“If it’s the pinnacle of capitalism, we should be worried.”

Apple executives say that going overseas, at this point, is their only option. One former executive described how the company relied upon a Chinese factory to revamp iPhone manufacturing just weeks before the device was due on shelves. Apple had redesigned the iPhone’s screen at the last minute, forcing an assembly line overhaul. New screens began arriving at the plant near midnight.

A foreman immediately roused 8,000 workers inside the company’s dormitories, according to the executive. Each employee was given a biscuit and a cup of tea, guided to a workstation and within half an hour started a 12-hour shift fitting glass screens into beveled frames. Within 96 hours, the plant was producing over 10,000 iPhones a day.

“The speed and flexibility is breathtaking,” the executive said. “There’s no American plant that can match that.”

Read more at Global Public Square.  (<–photo’s from here too)