They are a small number – about 200 among millions – but a St. Albert group is confident that by being part of a worldwide movement called Kony 2012, they can make a difference.
An online video by the same name went viral last week, netting more than 50-million views and spurring millions into action worldwide. The America-based non-governmental organization Invisible Children created the 30-minute video in an effort to have accused Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony arrested.
Although the heinous allegations occurred half the world away in central Africa, members of the St. Albert group, largely recruited over the social networking site Facebook, are eager to get involved.
“This movement would be a great way for people to start being aware of important global issues,” said 19-year-old Emma Lausen, organizer and creator of Facebook page “Kony 2012 St. Albert.”
She saw the video on March 5 and said it had a huge impact on her, prompting her to create the page to rally like-minded individuals into action.
Lausen said her goal is to get as many individuals as possible from St. Albert to join together to “cover the night” — a process that involves blanketing the city with branded stickers and posters.
Events like this are scheduled to take place worldwide on April 20.
“I would love for passionate young adults such as myself to keep trying to make this world a better place, even after Kony 2012,” she said. “I really feel that if enough people get involved, we can make a big impact.”
Christine Lewandowski was also inspired after seeing the video online and created the Facebook group Kony 2012-St. Albert.
“I was always wondering what I could do and I’ve never known how to go about it. Often, we feel like just one person, one voice,” she said. “(The video) was a catalyst for me to do more.”
Lewandowski said she has been a child advocate since she was 12 years old and became even more active when she became a mother. She showed the video to her three young children and said they, too, were interested in taking part.
“My generation and my children’s generation can make a difference,” she said.
Mayor Nolan Crouse learned of Kony 2012 from his use of social media and although he hasn’t yet watched the video, he said he has some concerns about items being posted around the city.
“I think that handing out posters and handing out flyers is one thing, but sticking stuff on other peoples’ property is not something that is going to be accepted,” he said. “Stuff posted on public or private property will have to be not part of the plan.”
Structures like light poles, green boxes, bus benches and buildings are private property and Crouse said there could be consequences for individuals who choose to affix items to these structures.
Organizers said they are aware of this concern and will ensure the events are peaceful and responsible.
“(We) have no intention to vandalize our city at all and we want this to be a clean, well-thought-out event,” Lausen said.
The video was posted to YouTube on March 5 and showcases Invisible Children’s efforts and plan to arrest Kony, a goal it is hoping to reach in 2012.
Kony is the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army, which has been out of Uganda since 2006, but has been blamed for mass atrocities and violence in the region, including the use of child soldiers.
He was indicted for war crimes in 2005 by the International Criminal Court, but has since evaded capture. The goal of the Kony 2012 movement is to ensure he is captured and subsequently tried for his crimes by the end of the calendar year.
With the widespread attention to the Kony 2012 video came criticism of the Invisible Children organization, mainly surrounding its financials.
It became a registered non-profit organization in 2006. According to 2010 tax forms, the most recent available, the organization generated roughly $31.7 million in revenue — roughly 33 per cent of this was generated in 2010 alone.
According to the 2011 annual review on the organization’s website, the total revenue for 2011 rang in at roughly $13.8 million, which marked a 67-per-cent increase over 2010. There was roughly $8.9 million in expenses with $3.3 million, or 37 per cent, of that being allocated to direct programs in central Africa.
The remaining funds were allocated to awareness programs and products, media and film creation, fundraising and management.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) tracks thousands of charitable organizations in an effort to “encourage fair and honest solicitation practices, to promote ethical conduct by charitable organizations and to advance support of philanthropy,” the website says.
Each year, the BBB requests information on how the organization is governed, how it spends its money and its willingness to share this information with the public — all of which is used to determine if the organization complies with the accountability standards of the BBB.
Invisible Children did not provide this information to the BBB. According to a release by Invisible Children shortly after it came under fire, the organization said it is holding off providing this information, as it is working to expand its board of directors.
For more information on the organization and its financials, visit www.invisiblechildren.com.
