If you have a Facebook account, you’ve probably heard of the massive campaign involving The Invisible Children and “Kony 2012”. Along with all of this, was a 30-minute
long video informing people about the horrible world of Joseph Kony, the Ugandan leader of the guerilla army, The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which has allegedly kidnapped over 30,000 children from their homes and supplied them with weapons. The children are forced to murder their own parents by Kony’s orders, and slaughter others, as well. The boys are turned into rebel soldiers and the girls into slaves. The video features Jacob, a Ugandan young man who was in the LRA but managed to escape Kony’s grasp.

Jason Russell is a filmmaker who has been actively involved in raising awareness of Kony for almost a decade, when he met twelve-year-old Jacob who, at the time, had just escaped the LRA camp. Jacob informed him he, “would rather be dead than on this earth” (under Kony’s control). Jacob asked Russell to help him put an end to Kony’s madness. Ever since then, Russell has been raising awareness and contacting the U.S. government to help the Ugandan children and arrest Kony. The U.S. government has sent troops to Uganda to track down Kony, but to no avail. Recently, an informative video documentary was released all over media websites like Facebook, Vimeo, and YouTube; even having it’s own website, Kony2012.com. On the website, you can not only watch the video, but buy a “kit”, which includes two Kony 2012 bracelets, posters, and pins. Young people are urged to watch this video and take action.

The question is: is it a scam? Is buying this $30 kit and making donations really helping the children in Uganda? Studies show that Jason Russell donates 32% of the profit to the cause, but pockets 68%. Although Russell denies this, many people are skeptical of where their money is going. Since the Lord’s Resistance Army has been kidnapping and murdering children for over twenty-six years, many critics wonder why the U.S. is just now taking action. Many people have boycotted the Kony 2012 campaign, even going as far to call it “fake” or a “scam”. Could this be true? Could the money we donate be turning into mere profit for Jason Russell? Regardless, Joseph Kony is alive (though it is rumored he died)  and still abusing helpless children in the central African country of Uganda. It is your choice whether or not to take action.

~Julia Champagne