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Originally posted by SpaceJ
Okay, don't know where to start. It seems the video is up to 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 views now. Which is great for the cause itself. Even if the LRA isn't currently in Uganda, that just means they are somewhere else.
The main issue I have with this is that stopping one person won't stop the LRA. I mean has toppling the leader ever dissolved such zealous groups? So I think the video would have benefited from showing less of the directors and more back story about the LRA itself. I get that it's easier to unite against one person, for focus, but it lacked conveying a historical basis I think. It time lined their own cause, but I wish it had time lined the LRA.
Second, there's a lot of various tumblrs and news articles being spread accusing them of how they spend their money. I don't know what I think yet on that, but I think he should probably make a public statement about it quick if it's untrue, because it's making plenty of people mad.
That said, regardless of how they spend their money, a service has still been done for those that weren't aware of the topic. Awareness is awareness. Just because you feel for the issue doesn't mean you have to back an organization you feel uncomfortable with, so don't let that deter you from the whole cause. We don't have to be a part of anything to simply speak out on our own.
Originally posted by MarlboroRedCowgirl
Ok. I think things are a little out of hand here.
First of all, if you are quick to spout "DISINFO, PROPAGANDA!" are obviously unaware of the beginnings of this campaign. The Kony 2012 movement is not some new phenomena. There was international attention about the child abductions in Uganda long before Invisible Children was released, but it was that film that reaches the demographic you are currently complaining about.
Just think critically for a moment. This movement was started by 3 young American college graduates who seemed to have no purpose and wanted to experience something meaningful. As they documented the plight of the children, released the film, and created the non-profit. From there, nobody could have anticipated how it would take off. There are tons of documentary films released by college kids every year, have they enjoyed the same response?
Yes, this is a non-profit organization. I am the co-founder of a non-profit and I know a little bit about how they operate. Someone threw out that 32 percent goes to direct projects. Well, if you ask me, that is a pretty high percentage. Most people are totally unaware of the expense that is involved in operating ANY non-profit, not to mention one of this size and scope. Keep in mind, people need to be payed a salary for their services. Any non-profit that tells you that 100 percent of your donation goes directly to afflicted communities is straight out lying to you. There are huge administration costs: included but not limited to rent, utilities, fees for service (website creation ect,) supplies, airfare, the list goes on. Guess what? If these bills don't get paid, the movement flounders. If the movement flounders, no money at all goes directly to the afflicted.
Just because a movement is large doesn't mean its propaganda. Just because they report the only information they are getting doesn't make it disinfo. If it was, the civil rights movement, woman's voting movement, and Occupy Wall Street (which went hugely viral) would be in the same category.