I'll correct my last note as it appears you've kept it moving and back on-topic. Best of luck with the thread and movement.
They've provided their tax returns. It's pretty clear where the money is going, and IMO, its being used inefficiently.
I agree with many points of your post but isn't that exactly what the video is suggesting? they want Kony captured this year, and they target 20 culture icons and 12 policy makers who never asked to be part of the project as if they are already on board. (this was one of my issues when watching the documentary) they use a quote from Clooney about global villains becoming as well known as he is, but he isn't talking about Kony specifically per se. and then they promote the the night of action using Shepherd Fairey in the same way- like we are all going to become our own little Banksy's across the nation for one night (on 4.20 no less- way to capture the youth audience)
If their campaign is mostly one of awareness, then it is probably the most efficient use of funds ever. Even the critics are voicing an opinion and ultimately helping the cause. If people want to see it fail, their best hope might be to just ignore it.
If IC's campaign is one of merely awareness, then that's even worse. People donate money to IC to help the kids in Africa. They're not donating so IC can spread the message without actually helping....
I just dont understand how people can be against this. Its pretty obvious that awareness is the #1 motive of IC, and yes that costs money. To sit here and bicker over where each dollar from donations is going is asinine IMO. This is exactly how we live in an era of genocide. Instead of DOING something we get caught up in everything else and end up doing NOTHING. America's foreign policy is a joke, and it takes something special to make it deviate from its nature. Give credit to where credit is due. A group of no name people went about and brought about a positive change. Whats wrong with getting celebrities and politicians involved? They are right, people listen to them. If Hakeem Olajuwon came out with all these quotes about stopping Kony, then maybe this board would view it differently. But the fact that its some 'hipsters' changes everything? Kony is a truly evil human being. Does it really matter if he left Uganda and is now in Sudan, or DRC, or in the Ivory Coast, or Italy, or Australia or wherever? The issue is to bring him down. Are there other evil people out there? Of course, but IMO you gotta handle them one at a time. Just sad to me that people cant even agree to do something, anything, when its so easy and right there for us.
They want Kony captured this year, and they think creating global pressure and awareness will help in those goals. But nowhere do they suggest that if you get sufficient awareness, he'll magically be captured. Just to clarify, that was the hyperbole part I was referring to.
Except part of IC's stated mission is to create awareness to facilitate change. So if they spend their money to create videos that get people to call their leaders, which leads to Obama sending 100 military advisors over, is that money that helped kids in Africa? This is where it's tricky - their methods are not to simply spend money in Africa - its to create awareness to cause other people to do things in Africa. That's why I think there are so many varying opinions on IC. From a traditional non-profit perspective, a lot of their expenses are marketing. From their standpoint, the marketing is their method for creating change.
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I would like to point out that IC is in favor of military interference with Kony, which, admittedly, is probably the best option should an attempt be made to bring him down (even though it already has). The problem with that is, to get to Kony you would have to go through his army. Of children. How ironic. I agree with what another poster said before me, that the real problem here is the Ugandan government. If Kony is brought down sure everyone is going to whoop and cheer, but keep in mind that the Ugandan government has been accused of raping and looting just as much as Kony. Also, if you truly have your heart set on donating, find a more reputable organization than IC.
I haven't watched the video, but after reading this thread- I have come to the conclusion that Kony is in fact a good guy and we need to do whatever we can to stop Invisible Children.
