Early last Saturday morning, Tierra Bardley – University of Georgia freshman and Invisible Children supporter – died after a car she was riding in flipped around on Georgia Highway 316. The group of seven UGA students were on their way back from a trip to Six Flags Over Georgia. Here’s the article. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those affected, and in response to all the work Tierra did for IC – thank you.
Chances are you know of Bob’s Big Boy from Austin Powers, when Dr. Evil makes his slick escape in a spaceship shaped after the lovable Big Boy himself. In case you didn’t know, it’s a restaurant too – and a generous restaurant at that. Located in Burbank, CA, they have a monthly contest where anyone can vote for one of three charities, with the top vote-getter receiving a check for 1% of their monthly sales. Last month’s check was for over $4,000.
They’re accepting votes for the next 8 days, all you have to do is click…
Click the picture to go to the brand spankin’ new IC Band Tour site.
THRICE & CIRCA SURVIVE USE SPRING TOUR TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN NORTHERN UGANDA
Invisible Children Gives Fans a Chance to Win Special-Edition
Gibson, First Act Guitars, Masters of Maple Drums, Exclusive Circa Survive Song
San Diego, CA – This spring, awareness hits a new stage. Thanks to Thrice, Circa Survive, Pelican, Masters of Maple Drums, First Act, and Gibson fans can snag some sweet memorabilia while doing some good with their dollar. The Invisible Children Spring Music Raffle will give concertgoers, and avid fans, the chance to win a one-of-a-kind prize by donating a few bucks to a great cause.
This is the first time that Invisible Children has been on tour with Thrice, but the band’s song “Image of the Invisible” was used to encourage fans to find out more about the war in Uganda and the organization. Invisible Children, a media-based organization, uses innovative ways to get unlikely activists involved with the situation in northern Uganda. Through grassroots awareness and fundraising campaigns like the raffle, Invisible Children presents opportunities for all different types of people to get involved. (more…)
Invisible Children has never been about the numbers in Uganda. We are about the people, the individuals, and how we can have the greatest impact on their lives and their personal stories so that they, in turn, can have the greatest effect on their communities and their country. IC has very intentionally invested in the few with the greatest potential, so we can unquestionably say that it’s not about numbers in Uganda.
BUT, if it was…this is what it would look like:
-690 secondary school students receiving scholarships from across Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum, and Pader; each with a Ugandan mentor, being given the opportunity and guidance needed to become the next leaders
-60 university students receiving scholarships in Uganda (as of fall ‘08), 40 girls and 20 guys from impoverished communities, who are also receiving the academic advising necessary to succeed and transform their lives and those around them
-1 university student in the US. She will be attending Boise State in the Fall ‘08 to pilot international scholarships.
-179 bracelet makers, trained in savings and investment, supporting their families and reinvesting their money into programs that stimulate economic growth in their communities
-10 child mothers making handbags, soon to be trained in savings and investment, supporting their families and rising out of extreme poverty
-90 staff members, each giving back to their community while simultaneously earning a great income to support their entire families.
That’s a total of 1,030 people whose lives will never be the same. (more…)
North America just isn’t big enough for our National Tour because as you read this, Invisible Children’s in the UK. Yeah, that’s right – we’re going international (again).
IC’s most proper ambassadors, Jessica Chan and Brice Crozier, are screening the film and meeting up with anyone and everyone on that side of the sea.
Here’s where they’ll be:
Dublin: April 14-17
Leeds/Manchester/Liverpool: April 18-21
Edinburgh/St. Andres: April 22-25
Stafford: April 26-28
Southern England and greater London: April 29-May 4
And here’s how you can be the first to spread Invisible Children throughout the kingdom: (more…)
Gulu, Uganda: the expected day of Kony’s signing.
The weather completely reflects the feelings of this small town of seven paved roads. Like ocean against sky, the mood of Gulu seems to mirror the atmosphere that hovers above it. Dark clouds, ominous and foretelling hardly allow the pink streaks of sunrise to push through. Against the howling storm of 22 years of terror, Acholi people manage to preserve the slightest bit of hope for this day. With timid anticipation, they rise for their 8,030th day of war – the day that could mark the end.
An older woman in her 60s walks toward town, her shoulders drawn down by a heavy bag carried around her neck. Asked about the day, she strains to lift her tired head. Through deep wrinkles, her eyes stand out in brilliant, youthful excitement. “This day is historic for Acholi Land,” she replies with glitter swimming in her eyes. “It is time. Time to go back to our land, resume our life and farm again” she says as her eyes wade out into memory past today’s tide of misery. (more…)
In the pages of the Salt Lake City Weekly sits this article by Kris Heitkamp about tonig
ht’s benefit concert:
“As I peruse the glossy pages of People magazine, I stare at the celebs, drooling over their toned physiques, their Birkin bags and their increasingly popular charity events. I sip my skinny vanilla latte, pondering how I could emulate the stars. I want to help mankind. Buying a Birkin could help our descending economy. An extra 20 minutes on the elliptical and an all-cabbage diet would only increase my profanity and flatulence. So how could I help? Could I find my inner Brangelina?
I decided to follow the pitter-patter of little Shiloh’s feet to her birth continent: Africa. For 21 years, Northern Uganda has been torn by civil war. A rebel militia known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) relentlessly fights against the Ugandan government. (more…)
Before our next Peace and Conflict Update is released on the IC website, here’s a peek at what will be a main topic:
Dr. Riek Machar, Chief Negotiator of the Peace Talks between Joseph Kony’s LRA and the Ugandan government, had this to say about the negotiations – “The LRA delegation has assured me that Kony is in Ri-Kwangba and he is ready to sign the peace deal on Thursday. As mediators we have done everything that could be done to make sure the two sides agree to sign the final peace agreement. Let us wait and see what happens on Thursday.”
With Kony close to signing the agreement, peace is closer than ever before. We’ll find out tomorrow.
