KONY 2012 Campaign

DegenerateNo1

Think everyone on campus should be aware of this campaign would be great to see the people of UL get involved http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Nockz

I think people should be a little wary of the companies involved and support the issue in a manner they feel will be of benefit.

DegenerateNo1

Ya I'm all for the cause and using people to highlight the issue at hand however I am a little wary of the fact that there is merchandising being involved within this surely there isn't a need for it

OhMSGlive

DegenerateNo1 wrote: »

Ya I'm all for the cause and using people to highlight the issue at hand however I am a little wary of the fact that there is merchandising being involved within this surely there isn't a need for it

The merchandising is meant to be a form of raising awareness, from my understanding of the situation. It's also meant to fund the work that the organisation behind this, Invisible Children, do. (Don't forget, nothing's free these days.)

DegenerateNo1

OhMSGlive wrote: »

The merchandising is meant to be a form of raising awareness, from my understanding of the situation. It's also meant to fund the work that the organisation behind this, Invisible Children, do. (Don't forget, nothing's free these days.)

Yes but surely the merchandising is not pivotal to a campaign like this. Yes it does raise funds which of course if this organisation is ethical will be put to good use but surely the awareness factor can be gathered alone from social media and the worldwide event of April 20th. Just my opinion but I don't like to see these causes being commodified, the livestrong campaign was and sure cancer survivors did benefit but Nike benefitted most of all from positive brand image increased sales and ultimately profits.

Reiss Avfc

There's a meeting in the campaigns and services office tonight at 6 for anyone actively wishing to participate in UL's campaign.

Nockz

OhMSGlive wrote: »

The merchandising is meant to be a form of raising awareness, from my understanding of the situation. It's also meant to fund the work that the organisation behind this, Invisible Children, do. (Don't forget, nothing's free these days.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_Children_Inc#Criticisms

They make A LOT of money for themselves.

DaveR1

From what I've read so far all this is advertising is a MAJOR LITTERING CAMPAIGN around Limerick City.... I can't see much else to be honest

The Nal

The current leader of Uganda is the guy whos been in power for 26 years, who uses child soldiers, who was an aggressor in a war that killed 6 million and wants to introduce the death penalty for homosexuality. Much nicer guy. We should totally ignore him.

This video is almost the viral version of the gel bracelets people wear for AIDS and Making Poverty History. Utterly pointless. Good that people know something now that they didn't before about a terrorist group who are clearly bad but the reasons behind, like everything, it are far deeper and cant be ignored.

The video is asking for money/training/equipment to be given to the Ugandan military from a result of our actions. Helping to train and arm the Ugandan military?! Not a chance I'm doing anything to support that initiative I'm afraid, as well intended as it seems, its madness and the reason why Ireland, including lots of others, have made cut backs in non humanitarian aid to Uganda in the last few years. I'm not helping to reverse that.

bazkennedy

OhMSGlive wrote: »

The merchandising is meant to be a form of raising awareness, from my understanding of the situation. It's also meant to fund the work that the organisation behind this, Invisible Children, do. (Don't forget, nothing's free these days.)

Some of the money goes towards the Ugandan army in their battle against the LRA. Surely that's a good thing because as the video says the Ugandan's are the good guys right?
http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17456%3Aupdf-in-kony-hunt-accused-of-rape-looting&catid=78%3Atopstories&Itemid=116
(From last friday)

wnolan1992

I'm surprised no one has seemed to realise that the campaign is basically calling for America to stick their nose into another countries' affairs... that's worked wonderfully in the past... [/sarcasm]

bazkennedy

wnolan1992 wrote: »

I'm surprised no one has seemed to realise that the campaign is basically calling for America to stick their nose into another countries' affairs... that's worked wonderfully in the past... [/sarcasm]

Thing is they've been sticky their noses in this for about 10 years now with no luck so far. They made an attempt to kill kony in 2008 and not only caused peace talks to collapse but caused the LRA to respond by killing 9000 people

wnolan1992

bazkennedy wrote: »

Thing is they've been sticky their noses in this for about 10 years now with no luck so far. They made an attempt to kill kony in 2008 and not only caused peace talks to collapse but caused the LRA to respond by killing 9000 people

And now people want to encourage them to give government troops the necessary training for jungle warfare.... I can't possibly see that back firing spectacularly in the future...

cson

Their financial figures are hilarious considering its a 'charity'.

Chimaera

Another take on "Invisible Children"

http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/

MajesticDonkey

The Nal wrote: »

The video is asking for money/training/equipment to be given to the Ugandan military from a result of our actions. Helping to train and arm the Ugandan military?! Not a chance I'm doing anything to support that initiative I'm afraid, as well intended as it seems, its madness and the reason why Ireland, including lots of others, have made cut backs in non humanitarian aid to Uganda in the last few years. I'm not helping to reverse that.

Did you even watch the video?

wnolan1992

Decryptor wrote: »

Did you even watch the video?

Did you? They ask for money to raise awareness of the issue, and by doing so put pressure on the US government to keep arming and training the Ugandan army.

From Facebook wrote:

No doubt Kony is as evil as you can find and what's happening is utterly wrong. But it's also important to know more about Invisible Children!

-Spent $8,676,614 last year. Only 32% went to their charity program. 32%!!!

-Accountability of 2/4 stars

-Group favours direct military intervention,

-Their money funds the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces.

-Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting

-Kony is no longer active in Uganda and hasn’t been since 2006 by their own admission

"Military intervention may or may not be the right idea, but people supporting KONY 2012 probably don’t realize they’re helping fund the Ugandan military who are themselves raping and looting away. If people know this and still support Invisible Children because they feel it’s the best solution based on their knowledge and research, I have no issue with that. But I don’t think most people are in that position, and that’s a problem."

They basically are calling for the US to get involved in yet another war that has nothing to do with them.

But leave all that aside. Watch the video. It's clear emotional blackmail and propaganda. There is no reason whatsoever for the film maker to use his son in it other than to go for the "Awwwwwwww" factor. He doesn't present information and let you make up your own mind. He tells you "THIS GUY EVIL! YOU MUST HATE HIM! UGANDAN GOVERNMENT GOOD! YOU MUST SUPPORT THEM!"

If people are going to go ahead with this, then for god's sake don't buy one of their "Action Packs". Print off some posters yourself and do it for free. You'd still raise awareness that way, without inadvertently supporting an organisation with (at best) unclear motives.

MajesticDonkey

wnolan1992 wrote: »

Did you?

Yes. I was getting at the fact that Nal said the money is going to the Ugandan army, which obviously isn't the LRA.

Delta Kilo

Yes. I was getting at the fact that Nal said the money is going to the Ugandan army, which obviously isn't the LRA.

The ugandan army are also a cohort of rapists, murderers and villains of a corrupt regime. The current leader of uganda, in power for 26 years, is trying to bring in the death penalty for homosexuality and has been involved in a war that killed 6,000,000 people. Dont worry about him though.

wnolan is correct here I think. It is propoganda. It is biased. He is not allowing the viewer to look at any other opinion other than his own. He neglects to bring into account other factors of the highly complex situation that exists in this politically corrupt environment. He allows you to believe that by buying their merchandise and littering your town with posters, you can make a difference. He is using his child as an emotive vehicle to persuade the viewer.

B*llocks. If you want to make a difference, go there yourself and help out directly. Teach in a school, assist with healthcare, whatever. It will take years, but some day the country may be educated and may be less corrupt than it currently is.

What annoys me the most is people are not questioning things. They are jumping on the bandwagon thinking this guy (film maker)is the next messiah. There was I thinking people were educated to question things and form their own opinions...

FWIW, Paddy Rockett's post under the ULSU page was nothing short of a disgrace. "We are cancelling all other campaigns except mental health week to facilitate this". Firstly, its not a campaign that effects students, not at all linked with UL, so why spend students money campaigning for it, sacrificing other campaigns? By all means campaign yourself if you so wish, but dont go spending other peoples money on it!

OhMSGlive

Delta Kilo wrote: »

"We are cancelling all other campaigns except mental health week to facilitate this".

For the record, I sought Paddy's clarification on this at the meeting. He says that he is not cancelling other campaigns to focus on this, he's just putting them back a week so that he can help with this movement.

Steeevvyb

Hi Everyone,
We were at the meeting and have the details if you need to read them.

http://www.thomondstudenttimes.com/index.php/news/165-kony

Stephen

Delta Kilo

Nice to see precautions are being taken before there is a commitment to support. Step in the right direction.

CiaranMT

Delta Kilo wrote: »

The ugandan army are also a cohort of rapists, murderers and villains of a corrupt regime. The current leader of uganda, in power for 26 years, is trying to bring in the death penalty for homosexuality and has been involved in a war that killed 6,000,000 people. Dont worry about him though.

wnolan is correct here I think. It is propoganda. It is biased. He is not allowing the viewer to look at any other opinion other than his own. He neglects to bring into account other factors of the highly complex situation that exists in this politically corrupt environment. He allows you to believe that by buying their merchandise and littering your town with posters, you can make a difference. He is using his child as an emotive vehicle to persuade the viewer.

B*llocks. If you want to make a difference, go there yourself and help out directly. Teach in a school, assist with healthcare, whatever. It will take years, but some day the country may be educated and may be less corrupt than it currently is.

What annoys me the most is people are not questioning things. They are jumping on the bandwagon thinking this guy (film maker)is the next messiah. There was I thinking people were educated to question things and form their own opinions...

FWIW, Paddy Rockett's post under the ULSU page was nothing short of a disgrace. "We are cancelling all other campaigns except mental health week to facilitate this". Firstly, its not a campaign that effects students, not at all linked with UL, so why spend students money campaigning for it, sacrificing other campaigns? By all means campaign yourself if you so wish, but dont go spending other peoples money on it!

PLUS... The narrator's voice goes right through me. It surprises me to see so many friends shocked by this on FB, but then again, if they knew, something would probably have already been done.

-Kenny-

Delta Kilo wrote: »

The ugandan army are also a cohort of .......

I don't want to quote it again but I just want to say Great post !

J_E

The Nal wrote: »

The current leader of Uganda is the guy whos been in power for 26 years, who uses child soldiers, who was an aggressor in a war that killed 6 million and wants to introduce the death penalty for homosexuality. Much nicer guy. We should totally ignore him.

This is a common misconception, nowadays Uganda is in a state of relatuve peace and Kony is currently weak and in the Congo. This is a big problem with the film, its based on years-old news.

Jester252

The whole thing smells like typical Ye Charity. Wait for a week when the new hot thing comes all.

Skyrim

Is it wrong that i don't know who or what kony is? People just started randomly talking about it today.

SEANoftheDEAD

Delta Kilo wrote: »

their merchandise and littering your town with posters, you can make a difference. He is using his child as an emotive vehicle to persuade the viewer

Trocaire, concern and goal have been doing it years.

J_E

Just received an email made by (assumably) a student about Kony sent to all students. Seriously? If you're going to pull a stunt like that at least spell his name right.

Stuxnet

Im getting seriously pissed off with the chronic amount of unsolicited email spam from fellow students and departments I have nothing to do with the last few weeks, its beyond outrageous at this stage,

Jester252

I am not going to support this
The movement is a bunch of 20s years olds that saw a 30 min video on something that has been happening for years." We got to stop this OMG this needs to be pushed in everyones faces". The email was the last straw. If there are any Fing chuggers in UL about this I will smack a bitch

Eire-Dearg

I expect plenty of spam from that 'UL to Stop Kony' page.

Really having to bite my tongue and not troll any of the pages.

tommyboy2222

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpHRHHaaz_s

Delta Kilo

Tina from UL fashion soc puts some perspective on it in her blog. She is originally from Uganda and is actually there currently.

Today I logged into my Facebook page and about 6 of my friends had sent me links about the Kony 2012 campaign. I laughed not because it was comical but because I remember growing up wondering why all the powerful people in the west would not come to Uganda and Kill this man that was destroying thousands of lives. I waited and no body came, well they probably did but he was not killed so yeah in my very young opinion, they did not come.

I have watched videos, read news papers and I even have friends whose families were destroyed by Kony’s atrocities in Northern Uganda. I cant count the times I have wanted to do something about it but I realised its not that simple. Why is it not simple?

It is not simple because I have never understood how this man was not caught years ago, I mean his closest comrade was caught and killed but not him. Oh and if cameras and videos CAN get close to him, how about a bullet from a sniper? I think the Kony thing is one big conspiracy that the normal person will never understand until Uganda’s dictator( current president) leaves power because Kony never came about until Uganda’s current president came to power 25 years ago.

Oh and Kony left Uganda a long time ago and thats another reason why I laughed when I saw the facebook campaign to get him out of Uganda.
Meanwhile Kids are still being abducted in Uganda, Gay people are sentenced to death, mothers have nothing to feed their kids, women are being violently raped, innocent people are being killed for crimes they did not commit..day in, day out..how about make a ****ing campaign about that??


I guess what Im trying to say is printing posters ans making T-shirts is not going to put a smile on a child whose family was destroyed years ago, heck not even Kony being killed will help his victims, yeah they might get some kind of closure but it will in no way nurse their wounds. My opinion is that if people feel so bad about this, get a group of friends, do some fundraising, go to Northern Uganda and do some charity work. Then you will see for yourself the families destroyed and you will feel better that even though Kony was not arrested, you helped nurse some of his victims. Kony should not be the focus of the attention here, those orphans, women who lost their husbands and kids, women he raped and gave AIDS to should have all the attention because while we cant take back what Kony did, we can bring some kind of joy to them by showing that we feel their pain and hurt to some degree. Kony’s time will come, one day.

For God and My Country…

http://tinansubuga.com/2012/03/07/practicality-of-the-kony-2012-campaign/

Eire-Dearg

Everyone needs to read that...........

frozenfrozen

Just argued with my several of my friends individually about this and I've come out the other end looking like a ba$tard for saying that it's not right that they're making money from this. It would be ok if they made the film and sold the merch as "Film makers" but no they're claiming to be not for profit, and they're stealing donations which people think are going to a legitimate not for profit organisation.

yesno1234

http://justiceinconflict.org/2012/03/07/taking-kony-2012-down-a-notch/

Interesting read.

ULSU Ents

Hi all,

Can i just say that this campaign drew great interest from the start and I felt a need to be involved. As for abandoning all campaigns to focus on this one that was the wrong thing to say infact it was ment for this week alone mens health week has to be pushed to next week as i am co-ordinating with some students on a fun ' grab your gonads' project re: testicular cancer.

The reason why io took on this campaign was i saw the interest of the students with regards to this. I saw the video and reacted to it in terms of the video alone. When developing a campaign plan I revisited the video and came up with a few thoughts - thoughts that should be shared with students whom are ready to dive into a campaign headlong without a full scope of the issue.

I was not willing to allow a highly funded well developed 30 minute video created for the sole purpose of funding a charity (however much that charity puts towards the issue). The message they deliver is strong and also manipulating - it manipulates the mind to forgo reason and adopt reaction. I do not want students engaged in a reactionary campaign ignotant and un educated.

In a meeting last night 5 members are charged with investigating both Kony and the charity from their inception to their current situation this includes in terms of kony - his past, history, how he came to power and his current actions. in terms of the charity - the founding members, the current funduing they get and where it can be attributed - their actions in terms of aiding war via american ambassidors under the guise of peace develpoment. all this issues will be to the fore front Monday and UL Students will issue their findings and ask where they go from there.

I am not a kony 2012 supporter. I am pro student campaigns but not uneducated ones based on media hype and the new fad of the week. I expect that we will find that this charity are not reputable and we will in fact change the direction of the Campaign in terms of childerens rights with a focus on the attrocities of Joseph Kony.

I hope you dont feel im jumping on the band wagon I simply say a student campaign that craved (a)organisation (b)structure and (c) Education

Hopefully we will have results for for you by friday.

Delta Kilo

SUGGESTION:

If it is going to trend down the line of purely helping Ugandans directly, not a big manhunt for someone nobody knew ten minutes ago, why not liaise with Tina Nsubuga who is currently over there?

If fundraising was done in UL, the money could be given to her to give to a local charity in the region. This way the money goes directly to the region, with no middle man skimming a high wage from it.

An idea worth pursuing?

CiaranMT

Great post Delta.

J_E

Hopefully, if anything, we can use the basis of the original campaign to make some sort of ongoing support project, and that is something I would definitely be interested in looking into.

DaveR1

I have nothing against raising awareness + funds for Uganda. However, there is already a UL-Ghana project running that I am sure many people are not aware of.
Currently there are 6 or 7 UL students living in a village in Ghana for 6months helping the local community. I don't know exactly how to support this but I know there are links between UL and the Irish volunteers over there. They would be more than happy to accept DIRECT AID from UL students and I know it would be going to a very worthy cause!
I have attached an article from the evening echo published 1month ago for anyone interested. It is a UL student talking about their experience after spending 6months in Ghana.

Instead some viral Youtube video is posted and ULENTS is all over it??? #Confused

CJKeane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDTLmSmaR54

And

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILBprCsw_Os

Some interesting thoughts here.

Eire-Dearg

Delta Kilo wrote: »

SUGGESTION:

If it is going to trend down the line of purely helping Ugandans directly, not a big manhunt for someone nobody knew ten minutes ago, why not liaise with Tina Nsubuga who is currently over there?

If fundraising was done in UL, the money could be given to her to give to a local charity in the region. This way the money goes directly to the region, with no middle man skimming a high wage from it.

An idea worth pursuing?

Excellent idea. Don't think it's trendy enough for some folks though.

yuppy700

Just WOW

Sean.

My opinions are as follows:
Agree with raising awareness.
Don't agree with international military intervention.
Don't agree with charity group profiting.
Don't think killing one man will solve problem.
Think we are too late, Kony not active for 6 years. Should have been looked into 26 years ago.
Think we should focus on all problems around the world, not just Kony.
Think Kony2012 video is informal and favors style over substance (i.e. director's kid in every second scene).
Think people need to look into what exactly they're supporting, before supporting it.
Think people fail to realize the complex situation in Uganda and Sudan.
Think counter-violence is not a solution to the problem (Kony's army is made up of children remember).
Think supporting Ugandan army is hypocritical because they too are rotten with corruption.
Think we should provide education and aid to Uganda, not guns.

P.S. Because this is such a topical issue at the moment, my opinions may change as time goes on, but for now, there they are.

nfs

The millions of people watching this documentary probably could not even point out Uganda on the map or even know who Idi Amin was, but just because celebrities like p diddy tweet 'stop kony', they think this is the pressing political issue the world faces today. This is something that has been going on for 20 odd years and people don't even think about why this is being put in front of them now! Kony hasn't even been in Uganda for the past six years http://rt.com/news/koni-viral-video-campaign-133/

Kony 2012, this little catchphrase will provide the justification for the next military intervention, and when they can't get Kony they will have to send in the drones (go team america)!

But hey if you question it, you must be for child torture and rape, spare us from these simplistic arguments.

Stryderman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRCZk8mM1EU&feature=player_embedded

Steeevvyb

Hi All,
Some developments on the SU's response to this campaign. It would appear there has been some confusion regarding Paddy Rockett's involvement.

http://www.thomondstudenttimes.com/index.php/news/166-suexeccony

Stephen
TST

Sean.

Sean. wrote: »

Don't agree with international military intervention.

Just on this point, when is military intervention required?
I think this is the only solution in getting Kony. The U.S. were sent in as an advisary role only, no weapons are being deployed except surveylence and communications equipment (AFIK). If not the U.S. who?
Kony has used peace talks to delay and regroup. I dont think negotiation is an option with this monster.

There has to be a point where military action is necessary for peace, this has gone far beyond that point

cup of tea

Steeevvyb wrote: »

Hi All,
Some developments on the SU's response to this campaign. It would appear there has been some confusion regarding Paddy Rockett's involvement.

http://www.thomondstudenttimes.com/index.php/news/166-suexeccony

Stephen
TST

Very easy to see where that came from......

From: Paddy.Rockett
Sent: 07 March 2012 11:53
To: zz.Everyone.in.Students Union (Affiliate)
Cc: Events
Subject: Kony 2012 Campaign

Hi all,

In the wee hours of the morning the KONY 2012 Campaign was launched it has gone viral in a way that is phenomenal. As Campaigns and Engagement Officer I am taking on this campaign in UL and forgoing all other Campaigns until after April 20th. This does not include Mental Health Week (Neaxt Week)

Students are calling for this in a way I have never seen them before and I think we need some positivity here in UL. We have the opportunity to be part of changing the course of human history, view the video below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

We need and all student email and a message to all clubs and societies. I think that this is a Campaign that will take us away from all our minor differences and focus on something so real and positive that we come out of it feeling we really have made a difference.

I will be sending regular emails – they are of high importance –PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THEM. If it involves using the poster as a lecture slide –changing your picture on facebook. Placing a poster on your door. Not putting up posters on the 20th of April where we as free people show or solidarity by blanketing the city in posters. The campaign is truly amazing and has the opportunity for us to be part of something truly inspirational. Get involved in any way big or small.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/ulstudentsunion#!/events/202677219832125/


This is only the start.

The start of something great.

It would be great for any help feedback and promotion of this Campaign

paddy rockett