Ok I'm going to start of by saying that I whole heartedly agree with the principle that the "stop Kony", movement is trying to achieve. It is a noble cause and I'll be the first to denounce child abuse and child slavery. Moreover it is a smart campaign in the way that it is using social media and good old fashioned awareness and fundraising activities to get its point across.
The reason I was so incensed by the campaign is the pure and unabashed naivety of it. Do you honestly think that the removal of one terrorist leader will restore safety, or even some kind of unity to the world? Do you honestly see this as such a key thing that all other problems in the world can be addressed like this in a year on year basis? Hell, do you honestly still think that peaceful protest can achieve anything?
OK
It is just so darned stupid and processed and designed to emote a reaction and get you to open your wallets for the "cause", yet it ignores so many problems. So many that I'm going to list them in an easy to read and understand section.
Reasons STOP KONY is stupid
1. Uganda has problems OTHER than Joseph Kony
This is a logical first port of call. President Yoweri Museveni, war hero twice over, president since 1986 is emerging as a self serving and corrupt official, largely leading the country into a state of high inflation and crushing of freedom of speech. Arguably, these are issues that a modern Uganda has to face, and by simply painting the face of Joseph Kony as the only problem that Uganda faces, undermines a real need for reform within the country. This was apparent 8 years ago when constitutional reforms made it so he can run for as many terms as he sees fit. Add into that, the detaining of political opponents, deploying riot police at peaceful protests, and his connection with anti-homosexuality groups, this has led to several EU countries removing financial backing for Uganda(Reuters 2005). This in a time where inflation has reached 30.5%(Buisness week, 10/2011). The problems which Uganda faces are far wider than a guerilla fundamentalist with a penchant for child soldiers.
2. Africa has so many problems, to narrow it down to even one country is inexorably naive.
If we compare the Africa of today, to that of even 20 years ago, there are signs of change, yet it is hardly lifestyles of the rich and famous for the vast majority of the continent. Here's a small list.
Somalia famine and tribal war. Oh and the lack of any government in a large section of the country.
Famine across half the continent, lack of modern systems for food, water, healthcare, even clothing.
To say that Africa has its fair share of problems is like saying hedgehogs are not very cuddly. To be so naive as to say that all we need to do is abolish this one maniac, it will bring the entire world into order is frankly ridiculous for any charity, let alone a multi million dollar company.
3. The company themselves are not the most reputable
As Visible Children so eloquently put, the company is one-dimensional and ill advised. Not only that, they are a symbol of the modern overbloated, overstaffed charity. as a non profit organization, there finances are public. Last year alone they spent over 8 and a half million dollars. Only 32% went to direct services within Uganda, the rest going on staff salaries, those really well produced emotive videos, and transport.
Besides that the company is supportive of military intervention, to the stage that they actively spend money on rearming the Ugandan army, and making those connections to US legislation. This in a country with a leader who is beginning to appear to have no wish other than to rule until he dies.
'I think I've been fairly clear on why I don't enjoy the sentiment that this campaign has brought about. if you want some more evidence check this tumblr feed out, its far better written and sourced than mine.
http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com.nyud.net/
4. The imagery draws comparison with very key things
watching that really well produced video was a bit of a queasy thing for me. The imagery is of the modern western world coming to the rescue of the poor African state. This alone is a dangerous idea, in that we use this to make ourselves sleep easy at night, thinking that we have done our part to save the world.
And the imagery of Hitler! the genocide intervention charity (www.genocideintervention.ne), has found evidence of genocide in 5 countries, Sudan, on Uganda's northern border being one of them. Yet we are let to believe that genocide is not worthy of mention in order to protect the children. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that killing of children and the use of child soldiers isn't a bad thing. I'm saying that its in no way as bad as the eradication of a race of people. If anything the campaign is clearly designed to tug on heartstrings, because animals and children somehow need more help than an entire race. It's selective in he information it gives you, so as to maximise its profits towards its single minded goal.
One final point I do want to make is this though. The way that this campaign has swept across social media in the last 2 days is simply amazing. For a charitable company to achieve that is, a first I guess. But it doesn't make any of the countless other causes any less real, or any less needy. Joseph Kony is a terrible sick person, and regardless of this campaign he more than likely will go on being a bane on humanity till the day he finally dies, but because of one campaign making us feel better about ourselves, do we turn a blind eye to genocide and government sponsored eradication? Thats the scary thing here, if we all get sucked up into this one thing, we run the risk of thinking that nothing else is a problem, even those that are, arguably, more horrific and more pressing.
Peace out guys
