ACDC is Back

Jon Chu and the gang are at it again. With their most recent YouTube installment, they officiate a live battle, and sport the “I’m Down with ACDC” red T’s. Both got mentioned on Wired’s blog, along with a bit about Invisible Children.

U.S. Supports End of Conflict with LRA

Last week, the U.S. Department of State released this statement:

The United States continues to support a peaceful end to the 22-year-old conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda. We call on LRA leader Joseph Kony to sign and adhere to the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) negotiated in talks that have now concluded in Juba, Sudan. The United States will support the Government of Uganda in implementing aspects of the FPA that pertain to reconciliation, reintegration, and development in northern Uganda.

The United States condemns the recent LRA attacks on Sudanese Peoples’ Liberation Army forces at Nabanga, Sudan, and elsewhere, as well as the LRA’s abductions and other abuses of innocent civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and southern Sudan. We will continue to support regional initiatives to protect the citizens of these countries.

While you’re at it, check out the latest IC Peace and Conflict Update.

Youth in Mission: Be the Remedy

Anyone in North Carolina from July 6th – 10th? If so, you are in for 4 action packed days. Youth in Mission is hosting an event featuring non-profit organizations and speakers from around the country. Our filmmaker, Laren Poole will be speaking at the event. Email Kris at kkonsowitz@colliervilleumc.org for more information and/or reservations. Here’s their website.

From Norway to Uganda

With our offices in a small corner of San Diego, CA, it’s always cool to find out what people are doing in other countries. A few months ago, we came across the story of a class in Norway raising money for IC. Sondre Ahlbæk and Benjamin Karsberg are 8 and 9 years old, and launched a project that raised over $500. From that money, they were able to provide scholarships and mentor support for two fellow students, thousands of miles away in Uganda. Needless to say, they were excited:

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Peace and Conflict Updates 22-24

You’re missing out on some valuable information if you’ve missed any of the recent Peace and Conflict Updates. You will also find the first edition of ‘From The Ground,’ which is our new piece from Ugandan staff members. The latest update (#24) discusses the issues surrounding re-arming, re-igniting and re-settling in northern Uganda.

Angelina Jolie can’t do everything.

For the recent Webby award that Invisible Children won, acceptance speeches were limited to 5 words. IC’s speech created some recent buzz in The NonProfit Times.

IC, Roseline, and AIDS – Part I

For the recent release of Roseline, we felt a responsibility to start putting out more information about the crisis of AIDS in Africa; specifically, in Uganda. Roseline’s story details her struggle with the disease, and how she’s able to live with it. In a weekly series, kicking off today, we’ll attempt to provide more facts about what’s going on from the ground in Uganda, and what Invisible Children is doing about it. Starting off, we’ll provide you with a few basic facts to give you an idea of how AIDS is affecting our world. What we’d like you to provide, are comments. Whether it’s your own testimony about how these issues are affecting your life, or letting us know how you see things through the eyes of Roseline, please share it.

Next week, we’ll take a look at how Roseline’s story fits into this.

HIV/AIDS QUICK FACTS – Global

• People globally living with HIV (2005): 38.6 million[1]
• Number of deaths per day due to AIDS:  6,000[2]
• A child that drops out of school is 3 times more likely to become HIV positive[3]

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Should they? Will they? Can they return home?

Home. The place we seek for comfort and support. The place we recognize as a constant, stable. The place we can always return. Home.

But only for some.

Of the estimated one million people living in northern Uganda’s IDP camps, roughly 548,000 had begun the process of returning home by the end of April 2008. On the one hand, this news is good news, but the struggle to return remains. With recent threats of increased LRA movement along the Ugandan border, the question of security remains the main inhibitor of reuniting the displaced with their homelands. For those who still wish to return, their situation is undoubtedly complex.

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Kevin Vandivort

A weekend check-in…

Kevin Vandivort was recently profiled in the North County Times, detailing his “life-changing” trip to Uganda, as well as his work with Invisible Children. Check it out.

Award Wrap-Up

On Tuesday, IC’s Displace Me website was honored with the People’s Voice Webby Award under activism; we felt it was only appropriate to share some other awards the site has won. So, without further delay, here are the awards we were honored to receive this past year for Displace Me:

The American Advertising Federation handed us an ADDY award this past week.

The 7th Annual Horizon Interactive Awards gave Displace Me & Schools for Schools both awards under public service.

At the 2008 Summit Creative Awards, Schools for Schools took home an award for non-profit website, while Displace Me won under youth websites.

We’re very grateful for all of the recognition for what we’re doing online.