Thank you so much Julianah! Thank you for kind remarks!
Friends all what Julianah wrote is true of myself as a direct victims and the initiatives are real; alive and well with an objective of bringing a smile on the face of those with visible signature of pain on their face except that I am a voice outside Parliament! I lost the last elections to be in Parliament with a purpose to add my bargaining power to my people! Much as I do research in private stance at Parliament especially on Constitutionalism, Democracy and good governance.
I love all Initiatives that aim at changing lives of our people bedeviled by the war. I am not a hero but happy that many take me for one. My Heroes are you Julianah’s who listened to me and are sponsoring some children here; Naoko Sakuragi who through Needy Education Scholarship trust (NEST) in UYAP-has helped several students through to secondary to university among those we cared for in the past 10 years!
I respect the Japanese friends and Adhina Na Upepo Japan who helped in the construction of the Night commuter centers and the Vocational school helping the needy.
I can’t forget Kirsten Durwood and Charles Laliberte for their tireless efforts in making our children smile! A lot has been said on Kony 2012! Nevertheless I hope the proceed in a big percentage will go help more people in the region. My wish and prayers are that we look beyond Kony and seek for harmony to make our world peaceful and better! Lets listen to the voice of the people. Lets look beyond oil wealth!
Really interesting comments. It’s easy to find faults in the Kony 2012 campaign and rightly so.
But the fact remains the campaign has highlighted the LRA to a significant number of people who may not have otherwise known. Importantly it has indirectly since unearthed alleged political injustices, faults with NGOs, much needed priorities for change and so on.
Indirectly therefore hasn’t the campaign done a lot of good? The fact that I am reading your blog and the perspectives here within are evidence of that I think – Kony 2012 is the reason I clicked.
Social media comes with all the natural checks and balances. It seems to me that the campaign was flawed but well intentioned. Personally I haven’t lifted a finger to help anyone in Uganda so I find it hard in my position to point judgmental fingers. Granted you have that right as you have. Unlike me, the makers did take action and I think it is important to remember their actions were well intentioned. Were they? Yes, they did it in a way they enjoyed and no doubt reveled from the fame. But they did it.
They could perhaps argue that cycling around the world is fun and not a sacrifice to those who love traveling either. They could argue that cycling is a mainly developed world middle class pursuit. I may well be wrong (I don’t know much about this) but it sees that both you and the makers of Kony 2012 have similar, commendable intentions.
This is a great blog and it makes me feel like getting off my bum and doing some good in the world. In bocca lupo!
Charlie, I would hardly put Juliana’s endeavor and Invisible Children in the same category. Cycling 200 km a day for a cause that is very much her own – children’s rights, and making a film about an issue that they are relatively clueless about, are a strange comparison. Also, I don’t know anyone who would cycle that much for pleasure, not even those who love travel.
I too lived in Africa and Juliana’s observations are pretty spot on. IC have made millions off of an issue that is not even an issue. They are simply pawns in the US government’s game over the Central Africa resources. Uganda’s dictator, Museveni, is responsible for mass killings and the use of child soldiers, but nobody’s going after him. Kony is simply being used as a scapegoat to further the agenda of the powers that be.
I find your comment naive and no, I do not believe that Kony2012 has made an impact that I would call ‘positive.’ But at least 3 guys are sitting pretty.
Hi Jasmine I have limited understanding of this subject that’s certainly true. I am also ignorant. Understanding is incremental it deepens over time and does so by questioning, listening, empathizing, seeing perspective and discourse.
It would be naive to read Julia’s or Kony 2012’s views and not to critically engage and question. That’s not what I did.
I advocated what I thought were the well meaning intentions of Kony 2012 a reflection of my current understanding. I will keep reading and thinking and continue changing my opinion and deepening my understanding. I would like to understand more, but right now I still feel the intentions of Kony 2012 was well meaning.
Nobody is doubting that the documentary was created with well-meaning intentions, hence my words, “This campaign by well meaning and ignorant bleeding hearts is really assisting in the legitimization of an American military presence in strategic and very lucrative positions throughout Central Africa under the guise of stopping an impotent rebel.” Sometimes even the best of intentions can cause more harm than good. Here’s an interesting article which gives a great deal more insight into the real situation as it currently stands in Uganda and with the LRA. Keep that curiosity of yours though. It’s a healthy attribute! Foreign Policy blog: Joseph Kony is not in Uganda (and other complicated things)
Juiliana has children she supports here in Uganda and has never made noise about it! Invisible children has done their part here and like Juliana they saw the suffering of people first hand!
The Kony2012 Video; has damaged the reputation of IC badly. The video came at a wrong time, but good for ICC gimics! But I support Juliana who is just and cares! you can’t say—–They could perhaps argue that cycling around the world is fun and not a sacrifice to those who love traveling either. They could argue that cycling is a mainly developed world middle class pursuit. I may well be wrong (I don’t know much about this) but it sees that both you and the makers of Kony 2012 have similar, commendable intentions. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. YOU ARE INDEED IGNORANT!
Juiliana has children she supports here in Uganda and has never made noise about it! Invisible children has done their part here and like Juliana they saw the suffering of people first hand!
The Kony2012 Video; has damaged the reputation of IC badly. The video came at a wrong time, but good for ICC gimics! But I support Juliana who is just and cares! you can’t say Julian’s attempt is a fuss!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. YOU ARE INDEED IGNORANT!
Hi there I’d just like to add to this and fully support Juliana and Mwaka’s views. Juliana and I met Mwaka many years ago in our own misguided attempt to head north in uganda to ‘help out’ by bringing mattresses and clothing. Mwaka set us on the right road of understanding his people. A beautiful thing which was born out of this came through a retired friend of mine who with his wife set up a small charity ChildrenUP which sponsors able children into schooling with mentorship through simple fundraising in a neighbourhood way. Not so dramatic, not so sensational, but there are small grassroots projects like this all over Uganda and other African Nations where people make a difference. The difference is in the genuine connection, interest in and care for the actual people affected, where the organisers are not interested in any reward or fame, but only to give what they can and continue to build. The people of northern Uganda and other parts of Africa understand and respond to this kind of project because it is how most of them would behave if they had half a chance. Give what you can. Anyone like you Charlie who wants to help could do little better than promote their efforts and fundraise for education.
Mwaka Emmanuel Lutukumoi
marzo 11, 2012 @ 13:31
Thank you so much Julianah! Thank you for kind remarks!
Friends all what Julianah wrote is true of myself as a direct victims and the initiatives are real; alive and well with an objective of bringing a smile on the face of those with visible signature of pain on their face except that I am a voice outside Parliament! I lost the last elections to be in Parliament with a purpose to add my bargaining power to my people! Much as I do research in private stance at Parliament especially on Constitutionalism, Democracy and good governance.
I love all Initiatives that aim at changing lives of our people bedeviled by the war. I am not a hero but happy that many take me for one. My Heroes are you Julianah’s who listened to me and are sponsoring some children here; Naoko Sakuragi who through Needy Education Scholarship trust (NEST) in UYAP-has helped several students through to secondary to university among those we cared for in the past 10 years!
I respect the Japanese friends and Adhina Na Upepo Japan who helped in the construction of the Night commuter centers and the Vocational school helping the needy.
I can’t forget Kirsten Durwood and Charles Laliberte for their tireless efforts in making our children smile! A lot has been said on Kony 2012! Nevertheless I hope the proceed in a big percentage will go help more people in the region. My wish and prayers are that we look beyond Kony and seek for harmony to make our world peaceful and better! Lets listen to the voice of the people. Lets look beyond oil wealth!
Charlie
aprile 2, 2012 @ 00:55
Really interesting comments. It’s easy to find faults in the Kony 2012 campaign and rightly so.
But the fact remains the campaign has highlighted the LRA to a significant number of people who may not have otherwise known. Importantly it has indirectly since unearthed alleged political injustices, faults with NGOs, much needed priorities for change and so on.
Indirectly therefore hasn’t the campaign done a lot of good? The fact that I am reading your blog and the perspectives here within are evidence of that I think – Kony 2012 is the reason I clicked.
Social media comes with all the natural checks and balances. It seems to me that the campaign was flawed but well intentioned. Personally I haven’t lifted a finger to help anyone in Uganda so I find it hard in my position to point judgmental fingers. Granted you have that right as you have. Unlike me, the makers did take action and I think it is important to remember their actions were well intentioned. Were they? Yes, they did it in a way they enjoyed and no doubt reveled from the fame. But they did it.
They could perhaps argue that cycling around the world is fun and not a sacrifice to those who love traveling either. They could argue that cycling is a mainly developed world middle class pursuit. I may well be wrong (I don’t know much about this) but it sees that both you and the makers of Kony 2012 have similar, commendable intentions.
This is a great blog and it makes me feel like getting off my bum and doing some good in the world. In bocca lupo!
Juliana
aprile 2, 2012 @ 08:17
Charlie, let me say only this: there is nothing more dangerous than an idea perpetrated and perpetuated by ignorance.
Jasmine
aprile 2, 2012 @ 07:39
Charlie, I would hardly put Juliana’s endeavor and Invisible Children in the same category. Cycling 200 km a day for a cause that is very much her own – children’s rights, and making a film about an issue that they are relatively clueless about, are a strange comparison. Also, I don’t know anyone who would cycle that much for pleasure, not even those who love travel.
I too lived in Africa and Juliana’s observations are pretty spot on. IC have made millions off of an issue that is not even an issue. They are simply pawns in the US government’s game over the Central Africa resources. Uganda’s dictator, Museveni, is responsible for mass killings and the use of child soldiers, but nobody’s going after him. Kony is simply being used as a scapegoat to further the agenda of the powers that be.
I find your comment naive and no, I do not believe that Kony2012 has made an impact that I would call ‘positive.’ But at least 3 guys are sitting pretty.
Charlie
aprile 13, 2012 @ 15:01
Hi Jasmine I have limited understanding of this subject that’s certainly true. I am also ignorant. Understanding is incremental it deepens over time and does so by questioning, listening, empathizing, seeing perspective and discourse.
It would be naive to read Julia’s or Kony 2012’s views and not to critically engage and question. That’s not what I did.
I advocated what I thought were the well meaning intentions of Kony 2012 a reflection of my current understanding. I will keep reading and thinking and continue changing my opinion and deepening my understanding. I would like to understand more, but right now I still feel the intentions of Kony 2012 was well meaning.
Juliana
aprile 20, 2012 @ 14:06
Nobody is doubting that the documentary was created with well-meaning intentions, hence my words, “This campaign by well meaning and ignorant bleeding hearts is really assisting in the legitimization of an American military presence in strategic and very lucrative positions throughout Central Africa under the guise of stopping an impotent rebel.” Sometimes even the best of intentions can cause more harm than good. Here’s an interesting article which gives a great deal more insight into the real situation as it currently stands in Uganda and with the LRA. Keep that curiosity of yours though. It’s a healthy attribute!
Foreign Policy blog: Joseph Kony is not in Uganda (and other complicated things)
Mwaka Lutukumoi
aprile 13, 2012 @ 15:37
Dear Charlie;
Juiliana has children she supports here in Uganda and has never made noise about it! Invisible children has done their part here and like Juliana they saw the suffering of people first hand!
The Kony2012 Video; has damaged the reputation of IC badly. The video came at a wrong time, but good for ICC gimics! But I support Juliana who is just and cares! you can’t say—–They could perhaps argue that cycling around the world is fun and not a sacrifice to those who love traveling either. They could argue that cycling is a mainly developed world middle class pursuit. I may well be wrong (I don’t know much about this) but it sees that both you and the makers of Kony 2012 have similar, commendable intentions. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. YOU ARE INDEED IGNORANT!
Mwaka Lutukumoi
aprile 13, 2012 @ 15:38
Dear Charlie;
Juiliana has children she supports here in Uganda and has never made noise about it! Invisible children has done their part here and like Juliana they saw the suffering of people first hand!
The Kony2012 Video; has damaged the reputation of IC badly. The video came at a wrong time, but good for ICC gimics! But I support Juliana who is just and cares! you can’t say Julian’s attempt is a fuss!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. YOU ARE INDEED IGNORANT!
Kirsten
luglio 26, 2012 @ 17:29
Hi there I’d just like to add to this and fully support Juliana and Mwaka’s views. Juliana and I met Mwaka many years ago in our own misguided attempt to head north in uganda to ‘help out’ by bringing mattresses and clothing. Mwaka set us on the right road of understanding his people. A beautiful thing which was born out of this came through a retired friend of mine who with his wife set up a small charity ChildrenUP which sponsors able children into schooling with mentorship through simple fundraising in a neighbourhood way. Not so dramatic, not so sensational, but there are small grassroots projects like this all over Uganda and other African Nations where people make a difference. The difference is in the genuine connection, interest in and care for the actual people affected, where the organisers are not interested in any reward or fame, but only to give what they can and continue to build. The people of northern Uganda and other parts of Africa understand and respond to this kind of project because it is how most of them would behave if they had half a chance. Give what you can. Anyone like you Charlie who wants to help could do little better than promote their efforts and fundraise for education.