Scam is too strong a word. I wouldn't say the Invisible Children campaign is a scam, but it is definitely off the point. It is not tackling the issue of sex slavery/slaughtering/child abduction by its roots. I think the Uganda children need more than just plain awareness, they need protection. Yet what I get after watching the 30 minute professionally done (Well, you gotta give credits to that) video was to ship a 30 bucks Kony 2012 action kit and paste posters and try fitting in a red bracelet.
Many people have jumped onto the bandwagon and support the Kony thing without reading or do a Google search but I do understand the intentions and goodwill. But the war against sex slavery/ child soldiers/ slaughtering is more complex than just a man called Joseph Kony. Everyone wants to really help those poor children who live in fear in Uganda but buying those Kony action kits only serves to displace solutions from the real problem.
The amount that Invisible Children spent on travel and film making as well as the cost of all the bracelets and posters was just too high for a non-profit organization. And, it was found that only 31% of the money they make goes to charity, the rest to cover their exorbitant and unnecessary spendings. Kony is a bad guy just like Gaddafi and he has been around for the longest time, existing in tandem with Uganda President Museveni. It takes a bad guy to back another bad guy don't you think? They should take Museveni to trial or something too.
I think President Obama has long known of the problem in Uganda and has sent numerous missions/operations to nab Kony but failed time and again to more retaliative slaughter of more children and ferocious attack. Probably this is the reason why they have chosen to take a more careful approach. Yet what Invisible Children advocates is another military intervention.
Kony's video is slick and informative, people are now more aware of a world problem they didn't know existed, its a good thing but solutions should be delivered to the root of cause, not buying some Kony kit. Maybe the least we can do is to stay informed with the right facts and stories from qualified journalists. World Peace(:
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/03/07/stop-kony-yes-but-dont-stop-asking-questions/
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