James Wilcock
This is a tumblelog, kinda like a blog but with short-form, mixed-media posts with stuff I like. Scroll down a bit to start reading, or a bit more to read more about me.
![thedailywhat:
On Kony 2012:
The organization behind Kony 2012 — Invisible Children Inc. — is an extremely shady nonprofit that has been called ”misleading,” “naive,” and “dangerous” by a Yale political science professor, and has been accused by Foreign Affairs of “manipulat[ing] facts for strategic purposes.” They have also been criticized by the Better Business Bureau for refusing to provide information necessary to determine if IC meets the Bureau’s standards.
Additionally, IC has a low two-star rating in accountability from Charity Navigator because they won’t let their financials be independently audited. That’s not a good thing. In fact, it’s a very bad thing, and should make you immediately pause and reflect on where the money you’re sending them is going.
By IC’s own admission, only 31% of all the funds they receive go toward actually helping anyone [pdf]. The rest go to line the pockets of the three people in charge of the organization, to pay for their travel expenses (over $1 million in the last year alone) and to fund their filmmaking business (also over a million) — which is quite an effective way to make more money, as clearly illustrated by the fact that so many can’t seem to stop forwarding their well-engineered emotional blackmail to everyone they’ve ever known.
And as far as what they do with that money:
The group is in favour of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces. Here’s a photo of the founders of Invisible Children posing with weapons and personnel of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them, arguing that the Ugandan army is “better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries”, although Kony is no longer active in Uganda and hasn’t been since 2006 by their own admission. These books each refer to the rape and sexual assault that are perennial issues with the UPDF, the military group Invisible Children is defending.
Let’s not get our lines crossed: The Lord’s Resistance Army is bad news. And Joseph Kony is a very bad man, and needs to be stopped. But propping up Uganda’s decades-old dictatorship and its military arm, which has been accused by the UN of committing unspeakable atrocities and itself facilitated the recruitment of child soldiers, is not the way to go about it.
The United States is already plenty involved in helping rout Kony and his band of psycho sycophants. Kony is on the run, having been pushed out of Uganda, and it’s likely he will soon be caught, if he isn’t already dead. But killing Kony won’t fix anything, just as killing Osama bin Laden didn’t end terrorism. The LRA might collapse, but, as Foreign Affairs points out, it is “a relatively small player in all of this — as much a symptom as a cause of the endemic violence.”
Myopically placing the blame for all of central Africa’s woes on Kony — even as a starting point — will only imperil many more people than are already in danger.
Sending money to a nonprofit that wants to muck things up by dousing the flames with fuel is not helping. Want to help? Really want to help? Send your money to nonprofits that are putting more than 31% toward rebuilding the region’s medical and educational infrastructure, so that former child soldiers have something worth coming home to.
Here are just a few of those charities. They all have a sparkling four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and, more importantly, no interest in airdropping American troops armed to the teeth into the middle of a multi-nation tribal war to help one madman catch another.
The bottom line is, research your causes thoroughly. Don’t just forward a random video to a stranger because a mass murderer makes a five-year-old “sad.” Learn a little bit about the complexities of the region’s ongoing strife before advocating for direct military intervention.
There is no black and white in the world. And going about solving important problems like there is just serves to make all those equally troubling shades of gray invisible.
[kony2012.]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0iyiw3Jv01qzpwi0o1_r1_1280.jpg)
On Kony 2012:
The organization behind Kony 2012 — Invisible Children Inc. — is an extremely shady nonprofit that has been called ”misleading,” “naive,” and “dangerous” by a Yale political science professor, and has been accused by Foreign Affairs of “manipulat[ing] facts for strategic purposes.” They have also been criticized by the Better Business Bureau for refusing to provide information necessary to determine if IC meets the Bureau’s standards.
Additionally, IC has a low two-star rating in accountability from Charity Navigator because they won’t let their financials be independently audited. That’s not a good thing. In fact, it’s a very bad thing, and should make you immediately pause and reflect on where the money you’re sending them is going.
By IC’s own admission, only 31% of all the funds they receive go toward actually helping anyone [pdf]. The rest go to line the pockets of the three people in charge of the organization, to pay for their travel expenses (over $1 million in the last year alone) and to fund their filmmaking business (also over a million) — which is quite an effective way to make more money, as clearly illustrated by the fact that so many can’t seem to stop forwarding their well-engineered emotional blackmail to everyone they’ve ever known.
And as far as what they do with that money:
The group is in favour of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces. Here’s a photo of the founders of Invisible Children posing with weapons and personnel of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them, arguing that the Ugandan army is “better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries”, although Kony is no longer active in Uganda and hasn’t been since 2006 by their own admission. These books each refer to the rape and sexual assault that are perennial issues with the UPDF, the military group Invisible Children is defending.
Let’s not get our lines crossed: The Lord’s Resistance Army is bad news. And Joseph Kony is a very bad man, and needs to be stopped. But propping up Uganda’s decades-old dictatorship and its military arm, which has been accused by the UN of committing unspeakable atrocities and itself facilitated the recruitment of child soldiers, is not the way to go about it.
The United States is already plenty involved in helping rout Kony and his band of psycho sycophants. Kony is on the run, having been pushed out of Uganda, and it’s likely he will soon be caught, if he isn’t already dead. But killing Kony won’t fix anything, just as killing Osama bin Laden didn’t end terrorism. The LRA might collapse, but, as Foreign Affairs points out, it is “a relatively small player in all of this — as much a symptom as a cause of the endemic violence.”
Myopically placing the blame for all of central Africa’s woes on Kony — even as a starting point — will only imperil many more people than are already in danger.
Sending money to a nonprofit that wants to muck things up by dousing the flames with fuel is not helping. Want to help? Really want to help? Send your money to nonprofits that are putting more than 31% toward rebuilding the region’s medical and educational infrastructure, so that former child soldiers have something worth coming home to.
Here are just a few of those charities. They all have a sparkling four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and, more importantly, no interest in airdropping American troops armed to the teeth into the middle of a multi-nation tribal war to help one madman catch another.
The bottom line is, research your causes thoroughly. Don’t just forward a random video to a stranger because a mass murderer makes a five-year-old “sad.” Learn a little bit about the complexities of the region’s ongoing strife before advocating for direct military intervention.
There is no black and white in the world. And going about solving important problems like there is just serves to make all those equally troubling shades of gray invisible.
[kony2012.]
I don’t normally ‘Tumble’ but…
… my opinions on Kony and The Invisible Children are too complex for a status or tweet, and I’m keen to write them down - if only to clarify them to myself.
Let me kick off by saying I support the general ideals of the campaign and will whole heartedly support it, not just by ‘liking’ it or joining a group but by attempting to educate myself and certainly attending the events. I whole heartedly recommend watching the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc&sns=tw
I do however worry about certain aspects of it. Some people are somewhat mindlessley jumping on the bandwagon. It’s important to think about it, read around the subject and come to your own conclusions rather than just watching the video and doing as your told. I believe being dictated to is wrong, even when the morals and values are right.
There are certainly some ‘social experiment’ aspects to the campaign, and I worry that those will become a bigger story than the actual mission e.g. when RATM got Xmas #1 the news stories were about the fact that facebook made it happen (the social experiment) rather than the actual song. The thing that needs to be brought to light is the ridiculous atrocities that go on in the world without anyone taking a blind bit of notice (something the video, viral campaign and even the bandwagoners are doing a great job doing) not the fact that Facebook/Youtube/Twitter can make a difference - they’re a tool, not the story.
I also worry about the longevity of it - as a generation we have ridiculously short attention spans, especially when it comes to politics. Remember all the fuss about the BNP, everyone was joining activist groups and signing petitions left right and centre, but now that’s its not ‘trending’ no one gives two hoots about it. Activism not Slacktivism
I worry that if/when we catch Kony, people will pat themselves on the back and move on with their lives. There’s dozens of other warlords, murderers and dictators on the ICC list and many of them are just as bad as Kony. Stopping Kony would be amazing but it would be just a drop in the ocean of oppresion and suffering in the world, and if people are truely serious about changing the world they have a lot further to go!
Finally I want to make it clear that I’m not against the campaign, I agree with it and support it. It has done a great job at making the general public aware of the attrocities that take place (much better than a man on a street with a megaphone) and their ideas for how to make a change are solid.
I know most people probably don’t care about my opinions, especially with the hundreds of other posts on the subject, but writing them down has at least helped me clarify them to myself, and who knows, maybe it’s made someone think a little.
Episode 13: Louis Sinks the Sub
- --------: 5:03 PM
- --------: RickDickens77 is now online
- RickDickens77: Lou
- LouisTheCat: hey rick you made it
- RickDickens77: Yup we made it
- RickDickens77: Got to the hotel, started to unpack
- RickDickens77: And guess what we found
- LouisTheCat: what
- RickDickens77: SHUT UP
- RickDickens77: YOU KNOW WHAT WE FOUND
- LouisTheCat: lol yeah
- LouisTheCat: youre welcome
- RickDickens77: I didn't thank you
- RickDickens77: I'm pretty steamed this time Lou
- LouisTheCat: woah woah woah
- LouisTheCat: thats no way to react to a thoughtful gift
- RickDickens77: We can probably get the clothes washed
- RickDickens77: But the luggage is ruined.
- LouisTheCat: well pardon me for trying to give you something to remember me by
- RickDickens77: Urine? Really?
- LouisTheCat: what else do i have rick
- LouisTheCat: its not like i know how to take and print a photo
- LouisTheCat: actually thats not true i probably could have figured that out
- RickDickens77: You are a tremendous jerk.
- LouisTheCat: my bad
- LouisTheCat: but think about this rick
- LouisTheCat: when you packed that bag
- LouisTheCat: how long were you away from it between packing it and zipping it up
- RickDickens77: I don't know, a minute maybe.
- LouisTheCat: i dont know what that means but it wasnt very long
- LouisTheCat: and did you smell it
- RickDickens77: Of course not, I would have done something.
- LouisTheCat: exactly
- RickDickens77: What's your point
- LouisTheCat: think about the effort in timing that right
- LouisTheCat: it takes research rick
- LouisTheCat: i had to know exactly when to sneak in there
- LouisTheCat: do the business
- LouisTheCat: and get out
- RickDickens77: Am I supposed to appreciate that?
- RickDickens77: Am I supposed to go OH THANKS FOR TRYING SO HARD TO PEE ON MY CLOTHES LOU
- LouisTheCat: if you had a tiny shred of a soul maybe
- RickDickens77: Guess I don't then, because I'm just not seeing the upside.
- LouisTheCat: you disappoint me rick
- RickDickens77: YOU disappoint ME.
- RickDickens77: Emily's bag is a disaster too
- RickDickens77: She didn't even bring it inside at the house!
- LouisTheCat: im an artist rick
- RickDickens77: You're a menace.
- --------: 5:53 PM
- RickDickens77: We're going to dinner. I'll deal with you later. Has Heike shown up yet?
- LouisTheCat: what is a heike
- RickDickens77: I told you about the cat sitter.
- LouisTheCat: and i told you i didnt need a sitter
- RickDickens77: I know, and yet here we are.
- RickDickens77: I asked her to start tomorrow, but she was going to come by this evening to spend a little time getting to know you.
- LouisTheCat: well i look forward to it
- RickDickens77: Please be nice.
- LouisTheCat: no seriously i cant wait
- LouisTheCat: we can play some games
- LouisTheCat: talk about boys
- LouisTheCat: ill make us some snacks
- RickDickens77: Remember she's just helping to take care of you.
- LouisTheCat: taking care of me is your job
- RickDickens77: It's one of my jobs, yes
- RickDickens77: Unfortunately, my other job has me far away, so I can't do that job.
- RickDickens77: That's why I'm paying Heike.
- LouisTheCat: how much are you paying her
- RickDickens77: Doesn't matter. Gotta go.
- LouisTheCat: ah
- LouisTheCat: silent auction
- LouisTheCat: gotcha
- --------: 7:45 PM
- RickDickens77: How's it going Lou
- RickDickens77: Lou
- --------: 8:06 PM
- LouisTheCat: rick this lady is nuts
- LouisTheCat: i dont understand a word she says
- RickDickens77: Oh, yeah- she's German so she might sound funny to you
- LouisTheCat: this isnt funny its terrifying
- LouisTheCat: and wtf is german
- RickDickens77: From Germany. The country.
- RickDickens77: She knows English, she just probably doesn't think it matters to you.
- LouisTheCat: it matters
- LouisTheCat: i got this nutbag running around my house
- LouisTheCat: chasing me with a feather on a stick
- LouisTheCat: going bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap like its words but its not words rick
- LouisTheCat: its not words at all
- RickDickens77: It's just a different language. Try to hang out with her, she wants to play.
- --------: 8:48 PM
- LouisTheCat: rick
- LouisTheCat: rick
- LouisTheCat: rick
- LouisTheCat: rick
- LouisTheCat: rick
- --------: 9:06 PM
- RickDickens77: What's up
- RickDickens77: I'm getting ready for bed
- LouisTheCat: rick
- LouisTheCat: i think heike is dead rick
- RickDickens77: What?
- LouisTheCat: rick shes dead
- LouisTheCat: its awful rick
- LouisTheCat: shes not moving in there
- RickDickens77: Woah, woah, woah
- RickDickens77: slow down and tell me what happened
- RickDickens77: I can call for help.
- LouisTheCat: ok so i was in the pantry right
- LouisTheCat: showing heike where the treats are
- LouisTheCat: and shes all bap bap bap bap bap bap bap
- LouisTheCat: i dont know
- LouisTheCat: like baby talk or something
- RickDickens77: Get to the part where she dies, please.
- LouisTheCat: so im like ok lets find some common ground right
- LouisTheCat: so i try playing that game you like
- RickDickens77: Catch The Giant Breakable Thing?
- RickDickens77: I hate that game.
- LouisTheCat: then why do you keep playing
- RickDickens77: Think about my choices, Lou.
- RickDickens77: anyway, go
- RickDickens77: what happened.
- LouisTheCat: well she sucks at it
- LouisTheCat: thats what happened
- RickDickens77: Ugh.
- RickDickens77: I'm calling 911
- LouisTheCat: wait
- LouisTheCat: i hear her
- LouisTheCat: yeah shes talking
- LouisTheCat: hang on
- RickDickens77: Is she ok?
- LouisTheCat: i dont know that she was ever ok rick
- LouisTheCat: she seems the same as before if thats what you mean
- RickDickens77: Ok I'm calling her
- LouisTheCat: well now i dont think thats quite necessary
- RickDickens77: Too late, it's ringing.
- LouisTheCat: she left already you dont need to do that
- RickDickens77: I just want to make sure she's ok.
- LouisTheCat: shes driving away i can see her
- RickDickens77: Quiet.
- --------: 9:28 PM
- RickDickens77: Ok, so guess what, you got your wish.
- LouisTheCat: i didnt want this rick
- RickDickens77: No sitter? That's not what you wanted?
- LouisTheCat: ok so technically i wanted that
- RickDickens77: Yeah. Well you got it.
- RickDickens77: You should be ashamed of yourself.
- LouisTheCat: i was just playing a game rick
- RickDickens77: Several games, it sounds like.
- RickDickens77: Shred The Purse.
- RickDickens77: Pee On The Shoes And Coat, always a classic.
- RickDickens77: Ride The Hair, that's new!
- LouisTheCat: its the curls
- LouisTheCat: irresistible
- RickDickens77: So I'm stuck paying for a purse, a coat, a pair of shoes, a trip to the hair salon and probably an ER bill
- RickDickens77: And she didn't want to go into this one, but I'm also buying her a new bra.
- LouisTheCat: we had a moment
- RickDickens77: Apparently.
- LouisTheCat: did she mention the umbrella
- RickDickens77: She did not.
- LouisTheCat: give it time
- RickDickens77: Needless to say, I am annoyed.
- LouisTheCat: im sorry rick
- RickDickens77: No you're not.
- RickDickens77: We'll discuss it when I get home. I'm going to bed.
- LouisTheCat: seems early
- RickDickens77: Emily wants me to get off the computer, and I don't intend to explain time zones to you.
- LouisTheCat: oh i get it
- LouisTheCat: adult time
- LouisTheCat: hey why does she get to go with you and i dont
- RickDickens77: Tell you what, I'm going to go to sleep now, and you can spend the rest of my trip figuring that out for yourself.
- LouisTheCat: rick
- LouisTheCat: rick
- LouisTheCat: rick
- LouisTheCat: rick
- RickDickens77: WHAT
- LouisTheCat: im lonely
- --------: RickDickens77 has gone offline
