Invisible Children has been entered as a worthy cause to win $50,000. Cultivate Wines is giving away the money to the charity that gets the most votes between now and March 30. Do you know what this means? VOTE. You can vote once a day until it ends. It’s simple – click on this link and it will take you directly to the Invisible Children voting page. It’s so easy, your grandma running Windows 95 already voted.
Very soon the incredible Roadies joining us from Uganda will be arriving in America. We want to keep them warm and well-prepared for their upcoming adventures across North America. Their appreciation for any possible assistance in providing these items would be huge. They are needed by February 20th at the latest.
What they need: (For young adults in their 20’s – Men & Women)
Where to send them:
Attn: Ugandan Roadies
Invisible Children, Inc.
1620 5th Avenue, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92101
Brittany Keesling
Office of Development
Bkeesling@invisiblechildren.com
619-562-2799 Ext 229
VHS or Beta and SD locals Hyena were the featured artists last night at Soundcheck, a once a month night of fun that we do with the Hard Rock Hotel and FILTER Magazine in downtown San Diego.
Our insanely talented designer Chadwick Gantes jumped in the crowd and dance battled his way to the front to grab these beautiful photos.
We still have a few handscreened posters from our pals at Aloha Sunday. Shoot Lauren an email if you want to grab one for a $20 donation.
Poster design by Brandon Reeves.
TEAM NEW ENGLAND
Maine, New Hampshire, upstate New York, Vermont, Massachusetts
CALEB RIDDLE, ROSA COLMAN, ALLY HALL & ERIN MILLER
Self-proclaimed team motto: “New England C.A.R.E.’s”
Please state your name & birthplace for the record.
Rosa Colman (RC): I’m Rosa and I’m from Olympia, Washington.
Erin Miller (EM): My name is Erin and I’m from Stanhope, New Jersey.
Ally Hall (AH): I’m Ally and was born in Harrin, Illinois.
Caleb Riddle (CR): My name is Caleb and I’m from Chesapeake, Virginia.
I guess the most important question for Team New England is if the New England Patriots are your favorite football team? If not, which team is?
RC: Seattle Seahawks.
EM: New York Giants.
[Sound: me throwing my pen across the room in frustration.]
AH: I don’t really have one…maybe the Rams…I’m from near St. Louis.
CR: Carolina Panthers.
How did you all find out about Invisible Children? What led you to become Roadies?
RC: My seventh grade teacher showed The Rough Cut to our class, and then I met Bethany Bylsma when she was a Roadie.
EM: When I was a freshman at Virginia Tech I went to a screening of The Rough Cut.
AH: When I was 16 I saw The Rough Cut and got involved throughout high school and college.
CR: I heard about IC in high school and saw The Rescue stream on IC’s website.
Any annoying habits that are going to drive your teammates crazy while on the road?
RC: All of us are night people…so mornings will be rough.
EM: I tend to drum on things and don’t notice it.
AH: I talk in my sleep. I literally have entire conversations with myself. I’m told.
CR: This could be embarrassing but I always have morning breath, so I always have mints and gum.
And I’m sure all the girls will be thankful for that. What is your favorite type of music?
RC: Rap!
EM: Me too!
AH: Me three! Especially when driving.
CR: Not me. I prefer more relaxed music, like something with ukuleles.
Isn’t it usually reversed? I always think of guys liking rap music, and girls preferring a more relaxed sound. Bygones. What is your favorite food?
RC: Thai food.
EM: Seafood.
AH: Thai food.
CR: Pizza…I love pizza…I eat it everyday.
If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
RC: Stephen Schwartz [the composer].
EM: I’ve been thinking about Heath Ledger lately, so, Heath Ledger.
AH: I’ve been asked this before and always say Jason Russell.
You know, we might be able to arrange that.
AH: That would be awesome. Jason, I’m ready for lunch!
CR: J.J. Abrams.
Good one! Last question – where are you most excited to visit?
RC: We’re trying to book a screening in Martha’s Vineyard, so that would be exciting. And I’m excited to see Boston in general.
EM: Vermont.
AH: Boston. One of my best friends Stephani just moved there and it will be nice to be in the same time zone as her.
CR: I’m just excited to journey across the United States.
We’re excited for you. Get ready for an adventure Team New England – we’re lucky to have you representing IC!
_______________________
Team New England would love to book a screening in your town. Call them at (619) 562-2799 Ext 327 or fill out this form.
There’s more happening at Mend than just making beautiful bags. Last month, the ladies participated in a training on Gender Based Violence (GBV), a topic that the staff social worker, Evelyn, said she noticed coming up frequently in conversations at the center.
Evelyn explained that cultural factors like “power distance” between men and women in Uganda can create a dependency that leaves women vulnerable to abuse in the home. In 2003, a World Health Organization study found that 70% of men and 90% of women surveyed in Uganda perceived wife beating as acceptable under some circumstances.
During the training, many of the seamstresses were able to rethink their misconceptions, and learn about the channels of support that are available to victims of GBV.
“The ladies were so excited and interested to learn the truth about GBV,” Evelyn said. “This training will help the women support their daughters, their sisters and also themselves.”
Trainings like this one are empowering the women at Mend to transform their homes and communities into places where women can stand up for their rights, and where abuse is no longer tolerated.
TEAM NORTHERN EXPOSURE
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Detroit (MI)
JUSTIN PETERSON, KYLE STEWART, NATALIE BLANTON & RACHAEL CAPONE
Self-proclaimed team motto: “A Mari Usque Ad Mare” – meaning “From Sea to Sea”
I welcome you to your roadie interview. Let’s start with where you are from.
Kyle Stewart (KS): Carlsbad, California.
Natalie Blanton (NB): Salt Lake City, Utah.
Justin Peterson (JP): Hamilton, New Jersey.
Rachael Capone (RC): Harrisonburg, Virginia.
How did you learn about Invisible Children?
KS: Summer camp.
NB: At a concert for Between the Trees. There was an IC music booth, and I bought a bracelet and DVD. I didn’t watch the DVD until a year later.
JP: The band Thrice mentioned Invisible Children, so I looked them up and watched The Rough Cut.
RC: The summer before my senior year of college I studied abroad in Kenya. The woman I lived with was Ugandan and had personally been affected by the LRA. I looked into it and discovered IC.
We are so glad all roads pointed here. Do you have any vices that your teammates are going to find annoying while on tour?
KS: I really have to see the sunset, especially if I’m surfing. And I don’t like when people don’t clean up after themselves. And I don’t like mouth noises.
Sunset, cleanliness, mouth noises, got it.
NB: I hate when people are judgmental about feet.
Pardon?
NB: I have webbed toes so I am sensitive about feet. If people say they hate feet, my guard goes up.
I understand. I feel that way about Bob Saget.
JP: I drink tons of water and I’m going to have to stop a lot to go pee. And I hate knuckle cracking.
RC: I can’t handle when people smack their gum. And I don’t like being late – I am unapologetically early.
What is your favorite movie?
KS: The Darjeeling Unlimited.
NB: The Dark Crystal.
JP: Life is Beautiful.
RC: Grandma’s Boy.
And finally, if you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
KS: Cormac McCarthy.
NB: Toni Morrison.
JP: Jim Atkins from Jimmy Eat World. The whole band actually.
RC: Audre Lorde.
We have a lot of readers on this team, I see. And Justin. I wish you all luck on your endeavors. Stop at nothing.
________________
Team Northern Exposure would love to expose the truth about Joseph Kony at a screening in your town. Call them at (619) 562-2799 Ext 165 or fill out this form.
It’s feels like its been an eternity since our last SOUNDCHECK. Thankfully, the next one is only a few short days away.
This month we’re honored to have our buddies at Aloha Sunday hanging out and screen printing posters. As always, we’ll have a full merch booth set up for you; accepting cash & card. Can’t wait to see you there!
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.
Since the LRA has been known to make its presence known in South Sudan, we like to keep tabs on the happenings (and you should too). And since South Sudan is a new(ish) country, we want it to succeed (and you should too). There have been recent retaliatory attacks between ethnic groups in the region which has displaced tens of thousands of people. This makes us sad (and you should be too). -KM
From BBC:
Gunmen have killed at least 51 people – mostly women and children – in the latest clashes in South Sudan’s troubled Jonglei state, regional governor Kuol Manyang has said.
At least 22 others were injured after attackers raided and burned the village of Duk Padiet, he added.
The wounded have been evacuated to Juba, the capital, he said.
A series of retaliatory attacks between ethnic groups in the region has displaced tens of thousands of people.
“We are expecting more to be injured because they ran to the villages last night,” Mr Manyang said.
Officials told AFP news agency the killings were carried out by the Murle group on ethnic Dinkas, as revenge for a deadly raid last month on the town of Pibor.
It is understood that some Dinkas accompanied some 6,000 Lou Nuer warriors who attacked Pibor.
The cycle of violence has lasted months and killed hundreds of people. It began as cattle raids but has spiralled out of control.
BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says the attacks are getting increasingly violent and neither the government nor the United Nations peacekeepers seem capable of stopping them.
Officials point out that Jonglei is the size of Bangladesh and that it is impossible to protect every village.
Some of the reinforcements sent to the region have been deployed in Murle areas around Pibor but the revenge attacks are now happening in Dinka and Lou Nuer communities.
South Sudan, which gained independence last year, has declared Jonglei a national “disaster area”, while the UN has launched an emergency operation to help those affected by the fighting.
You’ve probably seen the acronym SOPA (and its equally unattractive sibling, PIPA) around the social web. This Stop Online Piracy Act, written with the intent of more vigorously protecting copyright on the internet, mainly serves the giant music and entertainment companies that want to come down harder on file sharing and the theft of copyrighted materials (Napster, anyone?).
Many influential companies are opposed to this threat, so much so that Wikipedia has announced its plan for a 24-hour blackout this Wednesday to protest. The English version of Wikipedia will reportedly be replaced with a call to action for people to write and call Congress. Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, states, “Today Wikipedians from around the world have spoken about their opposition to this destructive legislation. This is an extraordinary action for our community to take – and while we regret having to prevent the world from having access to Wikipedia for even a second, we simply cannot ignore the fact that SOPA and PIPA endanger free speech both in the United States and abroad, and set a frightening precedent of Internet censorship for the world.”
The White House released this statement in regards to the SOPA upheaval: “[The White House] will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risks, or undermines the dynamic innovative global internet.” That’s not to say President Obama will veto the bill if it is passed through Congress, but we’ll give him a shout out for his diplomatic efforts.
Please heed this warning, and get all of your research homework done before midnight on Wednesday. The small silver lining? Wednesday night bar trivia has never been more fair.
-Krista
(Photo credit: Sonia Simone)
