As the official media partner, one small seed set out to Wunderbar Theatre for Short & Sweet, which seemed like the most dignified thing to do, beside polishing off a bottle of brandy to stave off the chill. The place feels beautiful… like something out of a World War Two movie, except with a cast of grandpa-sweatered hipsters instead of war-torn heroes. There is a certain intimacy that covers the theatre; the projector light bounces off eager faces and the smell of hot popcorn gives everyone that common ground of nostalgia. The crowd is looking to be as varied as the line-up of films. You’d find everyone here that’s typical of a film screening; the obnoxious guy in the front telling everyone to shut up, the equally obnoxious couple behind you talking about nothing in-particular and the rowdy people in the next row offering pre-show entertainment. Except there’s nothing typical about Short & Sweet.

From animation and dark comedy to music videos and conceptual pieces, the short films selected that night left the audience in a changing state of being. Each with its own ident (a short and sweet ad), the short films and sheer charm of the event left the dismal atmosphere outside happily forgotten. The mish-mash of hilariously nasty, over-the-top, enlightening and down-right engaging international and local short films (along with the free Cutty Sark Whiskey) were enjoyed by everyone present. One of the guests had this to say:

If nothing else, the selection of films was well curated – whoever is putting the line-up together is rather well-versed and realizes the profundity for the evocative power of short films. In the cramped space of a few minutes, there’s enough time to articulate, but not exhaust a concept or thought.

image: vigilantcitizen.com

Kony 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.’ This is the description under the Kony 2012 YouTube video, which has received more than 75 000 000 views in only a few days after it was made public. Jean-Paul takes a look at Kony 2012, questioning you to ask ‘Is Kony the world’s worst war criminal or more a media sensation?’

Until just recently most of us had not even heard of Joseph Kony, but now his misdeeds are amongst the choicest of topics. His rise to fame, or rather infamy, through the use of social media networks, has been so rapid and has sparked so many comments, that if you googled ‘Kony’ today you would have a hard time sifting the facts from opinion and conjecture. Everybody has something to say, and with so much chatter it is easy for the voices of those who are properly informed to get drowned out. The following article takes a look at the big picture and attempts to sort the facts from the chaff.

Kony 2012 is the name of a campaign and film that is being run by media-based charity group Invisible Children. Headed by Jason Russel, the non-profit organization released its film, Kony 2012, on 5 March. With its high-gloss pathos it quickly spread through Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube until every university student with a laptop or smartphone knew of the Kony 2012 cause. It looked like Kony 2012 was going to be an overnight success, but then Invisible Children came under scrutiny and some awkward questions were posed. Investigations revealed that some of their information had been misleading and that, after spending, only 30% of donations reached the people they were intended for. Soon there were hundreds of Kony videos on YouTube, some of which were posted by conspiracy theorists who sought to refute the claims made by Invisible Children in order to bolster their own sensationalistic speculations.

On the Kony 2012 website, Invisible Children has stated that Joseph Kony is the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group which started in Uganda but now operates in South Sudan and the Democratic republic of Congo. It also stated that he has abducted 30 000 children and has displaced over two million people. It accuses the LRA of murder, rape, and the forced enlistment of children as soldiers. These facts have been confirmed by the African correspondents of several media networks. Invisible Children has also, however, claimed that Joseph Kony is the world’s worst war criminal. Since he is but one of many modern despots and Invisible Children’s claim is pure opinion, it can never be proven or refuted that he is the most terrible of all tyrants.

"Kony 2012" Video

Kony commentators now run the gamut from talk show hosts to political science students and from the rather ignorant to the well-informed. Even hactivist group, Anonymous, has taken a stance and has stated that, even though it stands by Invisible Children in their attempt to bring down Kony, it is suspicious of Invisible Children’s motives. Most of the criticism aimed at Invisible Children concerns its budget, transparency, and release of misinformation. Last year the organization spent $8 676 614, of which only 32% reached the people on the group. The rest was spent on staff, awareness, and filmmaking. They were also never subjected to external auditing which, with their poor budget plan, gets them only 2/4 stars with Charity Navigator, a charity evaluator.

Though this might cause dissatisfaction with supporters who have made donations, what irks me is their support for the Ugandan Army and how they have tried to portray themselves as purveyors of freedom and justice. On Kony 2012 posters and on Invisible Children’s website, the organization has referred to itself as the rescuers of Uganda. Also on their website is a photo of the founders of Invisible Children posing with weapons and soldiers belonging to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Ugandan Army have been accused of atrocities similar to those perpetrated by Kony and his forces. Invisible Children has stated their support for the Ugandan Army, which, in light of their goals, seems a little hypocritical. Still, I don’t believe that Invisible Children is funding a new terror campaign by the Ugandan Army.

image: communities.washingtontimes.com

While most observers and commentators take a relatively objective view of Kony 2012 and try to see both the good and bad in the campaign, there are also those who swing to one of the two extremes, though there are obviously more who choose to attack Invisible Children and its efforts. I have seen more than one YouTube video in which a self-proclaimed expert on African affairs claims that Kony 2012 is a scam or conspiracy aimed at ensuring U.S military intervention, involvement that would ensure access to Uganda’s oilfields. These individuals have said that Invisible Children claimed that Joseph Kony was still active in Uganda. Invisible Children said no such thing but stated that his forces are in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, which, according to people on the ground, they are. One conspiracy theorist also claimed, with much authority and derision, that Kony has not been a threat for six years, even though experts think otherwise. What really alarms me is how public media, such as YouTube, allow such uniformed people to make their opinions known to so many people so easily.

This guy gives quite a ‘hearty’ opinion, one which is against Kony 2012 and sees it as pro-propaganda. Check it out…

Let me state the facts as reported by those in the know. Jose Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. He has abducted 30 000 children and displaced over two million people in the last 26 years. He started the LRA in Uganda over six years ago but then moved his forces into what is now South Sudan and The Democratic Republic of Congo where he continues to spread terror. Invisible Children has been working on public support for the cause for nine years, and, in October 2011, Obama dispatched 100 troops to the region to help in the hunt for Kony. The search is still going on and there is currently no sign that the US task force is going to leave soon. It has also been reported that the threat of the LRA is lower than previo.ly perceived and that it probably only numbers in the hundreds. The LRA is only one of many problems in Central Africa and the war situation is more complex than Invisible Children makes it appear to be. Ugandans, especially, show astonishment at the attention that has been drawn to Joseph Kony, and cite the number of other problems afflicting the area.

image: communities.washingtontimes.com

Malaria, sleeping sickness, and HIV, have all killed more people than any African despot. Though less horrifying to all except those who deal with them, the pain they cause their victims is longer lasting and no-less acute. Disease, however, is not nearly as sensational as pangas and child soldiers, and will likely never see the kind of publicity that Kony has been granted. If viewers only want wars, Africa offers quite a menu. The continent has not seen peace since before the arrival of King Leopold II in the Congo. Some of the more newsworthy atrocities include Idi Amin’s massacres, the ’94 Rwandan genocide, the blood diamond-driven civil war in Sierre Leone, the oil-fueled conflict in Sudan, Apartheid, and the arms deals that followed the end of the Cold War, an exchange in which shiploads of arms were dumped on a continent whose warlords were just waiting for something that more reach than a big knife. Today they are still wars in 24 African countries including Angola, Chad, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Nigeria, and Sudan. For more information see www.warsintheworld.com.

Still, people grow tired even of war. First the bloody scenes make the highlights. Depending on the public’s perceived interest level the story may be followed closely for a few weeks or even a few months, but, after that and as public interest wanes, it is given progressively less coverage until, finally, it is resigned to the African section, where it gets only an occasional mention. When images of the conflict in Dafur first reached the international community, we rallied together to bring an end to the fighting and suffering. People were fervent and optimistic, but like most African wars it was complicated, messy and drawn out. After several months people started losing interest and the media networks reacted by giving it less coverage. Several years later and even though it is no longer a full-out war, the conflict continues, but the once constant media coverage does not. Efforts were not in vain and much has changed, but things in the two countries are far from ideal. Problems like that in North and South Sudan require constant support even after we consider the issue to have lost its appeal. My question is what will we do once the Kony phenomenon blows over? Are we going to give ourselves a pat on the back once he has been brought to justice and leave it at that, or are we going to take a broader view of Africa and the problems that it faces?

"Kony 2012" Video

My suggestion is this: If you want to help, do so in one of the following ways. History has taught us that a country’s natural resources can be both a boon and its greatest source of misery. In those conflicts where natural resources such as blood diamonds and oil are at stake, pressure needs to be put on policy makers to make decisions that put the people in those countries first. Then it must be accepted that even after the right decisions are made, they are not always easy to implement. Wars in Africa spill across borders, and, on a continent as poor and desperate as Africa, violence and lawlessness easily become a way of life. If people want to make donations they should first do some research before giving money to a charity. Charity Navigator can help in identifying those charities that are making the biggest difference.

Kony parody from The Juice Media:

Invisible Children has raised awareness that is unprecedented, and in doing so has given us a model for future awareness campaigns, but the awareness of millions of college students, well intended as they are, is no longer going to make a significant difference in the campaign to bring down Kony. They were implemental in getting U.S forces into Uganda, and should be commended for doing so, but there is not much more they can do now. I argue that it would be better if they turn their attention to the hundreds of other causes in Africa. Not all of Africa’s problems exist in war zones, and it is quite possible to spend a few months to a year lending a hand to the charity workers who work tirelessly even after the cameras have been trained on other issues. There are many volunteer programs for those who want to give hands-on help, but, like charity organizations, some are better than others so do some research. People I know who have done this and have had a positive experience say that it was one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of their lives.

"Kony 2012" Video

Lastly I ask that you question your sources. Be wary of a non-profit organization that puts itself on a pedestal. Charity and self-glorification are mutually self-exclusive. Social media networks are also not the place to get hard news. For informed opinions consult the experts. Every major media network has a foreign correspondent in Africa. Practice close reading. Invisible Children never intended to mislead people. It stated that Joseph Kony started the LRA in Uganda but moved his operations to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo six years ago. Some viewers only heard ‘Uganda’ and, without checking their facts, simply assumed that Invisible Children was trying to mislead them.

If there is anything we can learn from the Kony 2012 experiment it is the power of social media networks. The people that use these media to express their views need to start assuming responsibility and should do some careful research before making their opinions known to millions of viewers whose power of judgment might not equip them to make qualified decisions. I am not talking about Invisible Children, but the individuals who posted YouTube videos claiming that their country was going to use it as an excuse to invade Uganda and steal its oil. Such alarmists need to do their homework. Oil was discovered prior to 2009 and, since the 100-strong task force that Obama sent did not include any engineers, the U.S government hasn’t shown much interest in the country’s oil.

"Kony 2012" Video

Relevant links:

Invisible Children

Kony 2012

words: Jean Paul de Villiers

images: vigilantcitizen.com, cnn.com, chinasmack.com, communities.washingtontimes.com
video source: YouTube

The 18^th of January 2012: Wikipedia is down for 24hrs. The site’s servers have not crashed, there are no technical problems. Instead, Wikipedia has shut down in order to protest the United States government, more specifically the ‘Stop Online Piracy Act’that lies before the United States Congress, waiting to be passed.

The bill is designed to curb illegal downloading and protect the pockets of major Hollywood media companies that have seen their profits threatened by the internet in recent years. The argument goes that piracy, or rather free, unlimited access to information, destroys jobs because it deprives content creators of income. Free information means content creators do not get proper compensation for their labour. With free media, or piracy, supply of content is abundant, driving prices down to nothing, or next to nothing. The legislation in the United States is designed to protect people and, supposedly, create jobs. Unfortunately what the bill amounts to, in my humble opinion, is censorship. Petition the State Department by signing HERE.

In addition to Wikipedia’s protest against the bill, Facebook and Google lodged a formal complaint last November, saying

We support the bills’ stated goals. Unfortunately, the bills as drafted would expose law-abiding U.S. Internet and technology companies to new uncertain liabilities (and) mandates that would require monitoring of web sites.

The United States government, and the proponents of this bill want to stop piracy but they do not understand how to do it. Wikipedia shutting down raises awareness about the issue and includes the whole world in the struggle for free access to information. Wikipedia is down globally, not just in the United States. The struggle against free flow of and access to information by profit minded media will continue on many fronts. The United States Congress will not be the only battlefield, and neither will the internet—I don’t think.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

 
Source: CNN, Wikipedia
Words: Jason Shark

This Facebook integration move could put the site in direct competition with Apple’s iTunes service which chose to partner with Twitter for social integration. The music service would most likely be announced on September 22, the date of Facebook’s F8 Developer Conference.

To those familiar with Facebook, it has been said that you will be able to see the Spotify icon to the left of their newsfeed among the usual icons. If you are wanting to make use of Spotify on Facebook, it will install the service on your desktop allowing you to play from Spotify’s library of millions of tracks through Facebook, the music itself would still be delivered through the third-party service, which users would be required to log in to before listening.

According to sources, on this application it will show your friends using Spotify, clicking on a friend will display their published playlists which other users can stream. It will allow Facebook users to simultaneously listen to songs with friends and share playlists over the network, only if one desires to, the privacy settings will allow you to change who can view and listen to your playlists.

This isn’t the only rumor going around about Facebook changes to come: sources say Warner Bros. movie studio in recent months has begun renting movies on Facebook. Similar to these music sharing rumours, users can watch the movies on Facebook, but they are delivered by third parties. Sadly, according to sources, the new Facebook-Spotify affiliation will be available only in those countries where Spotify currently operates, meaning that potential SA customers will still have to wait.

Source: Forbes, WSJ, Insidefacebook