KONY 2012 Viral Activist Campaign Spreading Like Wildfire Across the Internet

[Leopolds Ghost]

Last edited Wed Mar 7, 2012, 11:20 AM - Edit history (3)

It's being deliberately tweeted by celebrities and Anonymous via @YourAnonNews
to humor sites, gaming sites, Facebook, Reddit, anonymous message boards and
other outlets catering to college students and other non-political types.

This campaign is very impressive, and I hope it augurs well that people are feeling more socially aware although the rapidity with which something like this is able to catch on while other issues are ignored or dismissed on economically right-wing, socially libertarian grounds (the average viewpoint of many young American independents) concerns me. Because it suggests that America's Youth really are capable of getting on board against something like this and on other issues perhaps choose not to. If it doesn't get retweeted, did it happen?



The following are all top Google hits for Kony 2012 as of early this morning:

http://memeburn.com/2012/03/kony-2012-a-quest-for-justice-via-social-media/

http.//www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/qlejg/kony_2012...

http://musicfeeds.com.au/culture/watch-what-is-kony-2012/

http://www.funnyjunk.com/text/3418430/KONY+2012/

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/kony-2012

This gaming forum, for instance





The April 20 is a reference to a proposed international flash mob direct action to plaster cities and towns with posters of this guy's face.

ON EDIT: Here's a copy of the tweet people are being asked to forward along by e-mail, social media and bulletin boards:

http://www.kony2012.com/sharefilm/ Joseph Kony is the world’s worst war
criminal. This film explains what he’s done and how to stop him #KONY2012

YouTube link: (youtube.com) /watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

[marybourg]

1. Could you explain to those of us

who may have just awoken what this is about?

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. It's a self-contained memetic video to go after the leader of the Lords Resistance Army in Africa.

Watch it -- it's intended to be spread to all of your friends and relatives -- it's part powerful short
film and part deliberate (positive) propaganda campaign to bring the world's attention to bear on
one of Africa's worst madmen that has killed tons of people (mostly children) in a part of Africa
that has no oil.

He's basically David Koresh if you set him loose in Central Africa (originating in
Uganda, now operating in Sudan and the Congo).

[Leopolds Ghost]

2. I don't think we can ignore that it's not just a matter of people being suddenly made aware of

An issue that many politically-aware bloggers will pat themselves on the back for knowing about
(and possibly being jaded about, since it is not in our backyard) for years.

It's also that the video is incredibly well-made in terms of being structured to see it through the
eyes of two kids, one American and privileged, one African and suffering.

I seem to recall reading about this campaign before the movie was finished and I wondered if the idea would take off
(the explicit intent of the short film was to create a viral activist memetic warfare against the Lords Resistance Army.)

[Loki]

4. Thank you.

I shared it on my Facebook page and I'm signing the pledge today.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. ...

I've shared it as well. Thank you for sharing it here. The video is very powerful.

[DearAbby]

22. Shared it on my facebook - and my heart sings

What a wonderful thing to be a part of, that is change I can believe in.

[PotatoChip]

6. Very powerful video!

I too have shared it. Well worth the time to watch. DU rec.

[Leopolds Ghost]

7. There's a cloud in this silver lining, though.

I don't normally put much stock in anything said on Reddit,

http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/ql4oi/kony_2012/

but the above thread has what appears to be highly factual and specific concerns that while the campaign iteslf is ingenious and the video exceptionally well-made, folks might not want to donate money to the charity itself as part of the April 20 effort, due to concerns that its funding priorities are misdirected:

I myself got the vibe from the video that this April 20 effort would be a whole lot more successful if the initiating group does not try to turn it into a massive fundraising campaign for a sole nonprofit, and/or a simple appeal to fund the Ugandan military (what about the African Union?)

[sagetea]

8. Two hours ago, my 14 yr. old daughter came up to me and told me to watch this video,

my husband, my daughter, and I were crying, this goes beyond party politics, to the base of the human heart. And of course,

Rush, is all for this effing psycho path.

[Leopolds Ghost]

11. Really now. Let's hope he spouts off about it on the air.

[Luminous Animal]

9. Kick.

[boxman15]

10. Please watch this video.

It's moving and shows just how maniacal Joseph Kony is. This goes beyond party lines or ideology. This campaign is all about getting people aware of this and ramping up the pressure on Congress and the President to keep these military advisors in Uganda and get Kony arrested.

I remember those on the fringe left and fringe right who were upset about the decision to send 100 troops for different reasons. Watch this video. Share it. See why this is so important.

[april]

12. thank you so much for bringing this to my attention

I watched this and how heart breaking /Pass this on /email everyone you know /have them watch/get involved !

Also thank Pres.Obama and all the other gov officials (or make them aware)

[TBF]

13. I started seeing it on Facebook yesterday.

My friends list is under 200 (I'm over 40 after all!), but I've already seen a few folks share it. I will do the same.

[1monster]

14. I only wish I could recommend this more than once.

[Leopolds Ghost]

15. bump

[Leopolds Ghost]

16. So this is basically a video chain letter. What are people's opinions on this as a technique?

For educating people about subjects that political bloggers take for granted which most people are uninformed about?

And what are your opinions of whether to participate in this April 20 day of action with, or without, donating money to this guy's nonprofit?

(for an "approved" activism packet/kit -- sorta like mailing out Guy Fawkes masks in the mail, only he's asking folks to pay for posters instead)

It'd be nice to see what people think about this sort of thing...

[cbayer]

17. Interesting take on this - "Joseph Kony is not in Uganda (and other complicated things)"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002401446

[lapislzi]

18. Many things can be true simultaneously

My brilliant daughter actually brought this to my attention last night with a measure of eye-rolling unusual even for her.

Kony is a war criminal and should be brought to justice. True.
The LRA was praised by Limbaugh in 2011. True.
There are human rights abuses going on throughout central Africa, and there have been for decades. True.
The charity is shady. Their record keeping is poor, as is their record of transparency.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/07/1072266/-Do-NOT-Donate-to-Kony-2012-
True.
The charity has done some good work. True.
The situation in central Africa is more complicated than the video can demonstrate.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/mar/08/kony-2012-what-s-the-story?intcmp=239
True.
It's not a bad thing to raise awareness of the plight of children, anywhere. True.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the critically-thinking public to judge on the merits, not the emotional content. The distance between reaction and response? Choice.

The video is a piece of propaganda, complete with partial truths and exaggerations, as well as appeals to emotion. How you choose to respond is up to you.

[Bonobo]

28. +1 My brilliant daughter made much the same point. Also...

There is something inherently good in allowing people to feel that they are able to help change the world by giving what they can give.

What is gained by discrediting and ripping apart the Kony Campaign. It would convince tens of thousands of motivated young people that everything is useless and to be distrusted.

Many things, as you said, can be true. Reality is complex and in order to run a successful campaign to affect change, you DO have to be somewhat manipulative and slick these days.

[Junkdrawer]

31. What happens when kids work their ass off on an issue and THEN find out....

they have been manipulated for someone else's less-than-honorable agenda?

Answer: Yet another apathetic generation - a result which ALSO benefits the Powers That Be.

[Junkdrawer]

30. +10000 My boy has come to the same conclusion....

This campaign seems to be targeted at the I-want-to-do-good High School crowd.

[RebelOne]

19. Campaign targeting African warlord backfires after Twitter storm against charity

It was meant to raise awareness of the actions of brutal African warlord Joseph Kony. But instead a a YouTube video has created a backlash against the charity that put it onto the internet.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2112062/Kony-2012-Inivisible-Children-viral-campaign-backfires-Twitter-storm.html#ixzz1oYrJ7Rwd

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2112062/Kony-2012-Inivisible-Children-viral-campaign-backfires-Twitter-storm.html

[RebelOne]

20. Campaign targeting African warlord backfires after Twitter storm against charity

It was meant to raise awareness of the actions of brutal African warlord Joseph Kony. But instead a YouTube video has created a backlash against the charity that put it onto the internet.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2112062/Kony-2012-Inivisible-Children-viral-campaign-backfires-Twitter-storm.html

[OneGrassRoot]

21. Link to Invisible Children's response to criticism here:

I think it's brilliant; anything that raises awareness is brilliant, imho.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html

[Leopolds Ghost]

24. ...

[ellisonz]

25. Oh if only...

for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo

[Junkdrawer]

27. Joseph Kony is not in Uganda (and other complicated things)....

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/07/guest_post_joseph_kony_is_not_in_uganda_and_other_complicated_things

Tip-o-the-hat to my boy, who is informing me on this issue.

[Quantess]

26. Fine, just don't give them your money.

Their non-profit organization smells bad.

[Junkdrawer]

29. Indeed. Doctors Without Borders seems to have a better grasp of the complexities here:

Last edited Fri Mar 9, 2012, 08:55 AM - Edit history (1)

From 2004:

http://www.democracynow.org/2004/2/24/over_200_civilians_massacred_in_ugandan

[Leopolds Ghost]

32. If this were a media campaign sponsored by a certain other group, they would not be asking for money

They would be telling people to print up their own damn flyers and post them around on April 20, like Adbusters did for Occupy.

I think that is a reasonable response, no?

Of course, I'm too much of a damn hipster to go off and print up flyers and post them on the day I'm told to. I'll let the aforementioned kids do that because this sort of crowd campaign will ultimately stand or fall on crowd participation... If the crowd continues to embrace it, I'd advise people to go off and do their own artwork.