ReactandRespond: ThePhenomenonofKony2012

WrittenonbehalfoftheOutreachCouncilofthe AfricanStudiesAssociation
by BarbaraB.Brown,Ph.D.(bbbrown@bu.edu) JohnMetzler,Ph.D.(metzler@msu.edu) ChristineRoot PatrickVinck,Ph.D.

Contents:
I. ABriefGuidetotheLRA&JosephKony,PatrickVinck II. AGuidelineforTeachingaboutIssuesRaisedbyKony2012,JohnMetzler

III. MediaLiteracy:Discussionquestionsonthevideo&onsocialmedia,BarbaraB.Brown IV. FurtherResources,ChristineRootforAssociationofConcernedAfricaScholars V. WhatCanWeDoaboutUgandaandtheLRA?,AssociationofConcernedAfricaScholars April13,2012

ABriefGuidetotheLRA&JosephKony
From1987to2006,theviolentrebelLord's ResistanceArmy(LRA)foughttheUgandan governmentandterrorizedthenorthern Ugandanpopulation.Thefightingwasrooted inalongstandingdividebetweenUgandas northandsouth.1Today,theLRAisreduced toabout200militiamembers,dueto defectionsandtomilitaryattacksonthem.In 2006theyleftUgandabutcontinueto plunderinneighboringcountries thecivilians,accusingthemofaidingthe governmentinseekinghisdefeat.Konys militarycampaignsbecameincreasingly focusedoncleansingtheAcholipopulation, althoughhealsopreyedonciviliansin neighboringregions. TheconflictinnorthernUgandaescalated, resultinginlargescalekillingsand mutilations.Bytheendof2005,morethan 1.8millionpeopleweredisplacedandmoved intocamps.Tofillitsranks,theLRAabducted asmanyas60,000civilians,oftenchildren,to serveasporters,soldiers,orsexualand domesticservants.LRAhumanrightsabuses havebeenextreme. ButtheLRAwasnotaloneincommitting abusesinthenorth.TheUgandanarmyhas recruitedchildren,committedtortureand killingsagainstcivilians,anddestroyed civiliantargets.ThegovernmentofUganda alsoestablishedaprolongedencampment policy,ineffectmovingmuchofthenorthern populationintosqualidcampsthatfailedto provideadequateprotection,foodand sanitationservices.

TheOrigins
Armedconflicteruptedinitscurrentform afterpresidentMuseveni,fromsouthern Uganda,seizedpowerin1986fromthe northerndominatedgovernmentandits army.AfterMuseveniscoup,theUgandan armycommittedrevengekillingsand massacresagainstpeopleofthenorththat fueledresentmentandledtotheemergence ofseveralrebellions. TheLRAemergedinthiscontext,headedby JosephKony,aformerarmycommanderwith littleformaleducation.Konysawhimselfasa messengerofGodandaliberatorofthe Acholipeople(alargeethnicgroupin northernUganda).Hehadhisownbeliefs andrituals,drawnfromamixtureof Christianity,Islam,andtraditionalreligions. JosephKony,however,failedtogarner popularsupport.

EndingtheWar
Anumberofattemptshavebeenmadeover thelast20yearstoendthewar,both militarilyandthroughdialogue.Largescale militarycampaignsovertheyears,somewith U.S.support,havefailedtoweakentheLRA significantlyortocaptureJosephKony.Each time,theLRAhasmanagedtoescapeand regroup,respondingtothemilitary operationsbycarryingoutmassiveattackson civilians.Withaviciouswarcontinuing,the newlyestablishedInternationalCriminal Court(ICC)begantoinvestigatethesituation innorthernUganda.In2005,itreleaseda warrantforthearrestofKonyandhistop

TheViolence
Rejectedbylocalleadersandthepopulation ofthenorth,Konyincreasinglyturnedagainst
1 Sincecolonialtimes,thetworegionshave contestedoverpoliticalandmilitarypower. Legitimategrievancesemergedonbothsidesdue tothehistoryofviolenceanddiscriminatory practicesofsubsequentgovernments.

commanders.Variouspeacetalks,asrecently as2008,alsofailed,allowingtheLRAto regroupandlaunchnewattacks. TheLRAhasbeensubstantiallyweakenedby successivemilitaryattacksandbysuccessful effortstobringcombatantsoutofthebush byofferingamnestytoLRAforceswho defect.In2006,KonywithdrewtheLRAfrom northernUgandaandmovedtothe neighboringcountriesoftheDemocratic RepublicoftheCongo(DRC),CentralAfrican Republic(CAR),andSouthSudan,wherehe couldonceagainhideandcontinue marauding.TheUgandanarmyhascrossed theborderintotheCARtofighttheLRA. There,newaccusationsofsexandmineral traffickinghavebeenmadeagainstthe Ugandanarmy. InUgandaitself,thepopulationhasenjoyed peace,oratleasttheabsenceofviolence,for thefirsttimeindecades.Childrenand familiesnowcansleepintheirhomesandno longermustwalkformilestoseekasafe havenatnight.Withinternationalsupport, peoplearerebuildinghomesandplanting theirfields.However,thenorthernregion remainseconomicallymarginalized.The situationhasonlybeenexacerbatedbythe Musevenigovernmentsinterestin developingtheregionbytransferringland

ownershiptoforeigninterestsandpolitical allies.Povertyandotherproblemsrelatedto thelongtermimpactofwar,government neglect,andsocialupheavalcontinueto makelifedifficultformanynortherners.

TowardtheFuture
JosephKonyremainswantedbytheICC.In 2006,UNSpecialOperationForcestrainedin junglecombatfailedtocaptureKony.InMay 13,2010,theU.S.Congresspassedthe Lord'sResistanceArmyDisarmamentand NorthernUgandaRecoveryActtofund effortstoapprehendKony.OnehundredU.S. advisorshavebeensenttosupportthe Ugandanarmy,butKonyhascontinuedto escapecapture,andcivilianscontinuetopay theprice.Mostrecently,theAfricanUnion announcedthedeploymentintheregionof 5,000troops. Inthepast,militaryattemptstocaptureKony haveonlyresultedinincreasedviolence againstcivilians.Atthesametime,Konyhas ultimatelyrejectedeverypeaceprocess,and currentpeaceagreementsdonotgrant amnestyforseriouscrime.Ultimatelythe strategythathasproventobethemost effectiveistoconvincelowerrankingLRA memberstodemobilize,whileatthesame timeprotectingthecivilianpopulation.

Dr.PatrickVinck,HarvardUniversity,incollaborationwiththeAfricanStudiesOutreachCouncil April2,2012

TolearnmoreabouttheLRA:
Ugandawww.peacebuildingdata.org/ugandaLRACrisisTrackerhttp://www.lracrisistracker.com/ TheLordsResistanceArmyofTodayby LedioCakajhttp://www.enoughproject.org/files/lra_today.pdf ALetterFromUgandaon#Kony2012bySaraWeschlerathttp://www.truthdig.com:http://bit.ly/GSK9w6 ObamaTakesontheLRA:WhyWashingtonSentTroopstoCentralAfricabyMareikeSchomerus,Tim Allen,andKoenVlassenrootathttp://www.foreignaffairs.com:http://fam.ag/HELi7R WhatwillittaketoendtheLRAconflict?byConciliationResourceshttp://bit.ly/HcK3z2

GuidelinesforteachingaboutissuesraisedbyKony2012
I.Introduction
TheunprecedentedattentiongeneratedbytheKony2012video,whichhasbeenviewedbywellover100 millionpeopleworldwidesinceitsreleaseonMarch5,providesauniqueteachingmomentabouta numberofcrucialissues,includingrepresentationsofAfrica,resolvinginternationalconflicts,evaluating charitiesandsocialjusticeorganizations,andcampaignsspreadbysocialmedia.Wewouldliketoshare suggestionsabouthoweducatorscanengageandaddressissuesraisedbyKony2012. Teachershavecommunicatedtousthatitisimportanttoaffirmstudentsinterestandengagementthat theKony2012campaignhassparked,evenwhileraisingquestionsaboutthecampaign.Ourclassroom colleaguesbringawealthofexperienceinengagingtheirstudentsinmeaningfullearningactivitiesabout controversialanddifficultcurrentevents.Weinviteandwouldwelcomeyourfeedback.(Seecontact informationbelow.)

II.Riskofacceptingstereotypesoruntestedgeneralizations
ForpeoplewhosawthevideowithlittleornocontextualknowledgeofrecentAfricanhistory,and particularlyoftheGreatLakesregionofeastandcentralAfrica,thevideomayhavereinforcedoreven createdstereotypesaboutAfrica. Herearesomestereotypesofparticularconcern. 1. ViolentcrisesarepartoftheAfricancondition.Thereisapopularconceptionthatviolentcrises areendemictoAfricaalmostgeneticallypartoftheAfricancondition.Thereis,ofcourse overwhelmingevidencethatchallengesthisperception. 2. Africaisallthesame.Africaisoftenseenashomogenous,andaplaceoftheexotic,primordial loyalties(tribalism),poverty,underdevelopment,andcorruptandineffectivegovernments,aswell asatendencytowardsviolence.[AvaluableresourceonthistopicisThedangerofasinglestory, an18.5minutevideoTEDtalkbyNigeriannovelistChimamandaAdichie(http://bit.ly/J5QQWI).] 3. AfricaandAfricanshavelittlecapacitytosolveproblems.BothAfricanstatesandsocietiesand Africanindividualsandmembersofcivilsocietyareoftenperceivedashavinglittlecapacitytosolve theirproblems,including,asintheKony2012video,theabilitytodealwithviolentmovementsand theiraftermath.Infact,therearerecentcasesofcreativeAfricaninitiativesfromacrossthe continenttodealwithviolenceanditsaftermath: ThewomenspeacecampaigninLiberia(WestAfrica)in2003,whichbroughttogetherwomenof allreligionsandeconomicclassesinaprotestmovementthatledtoanegotiatedsettlementof thebrutalcivilwar.[PraytheDevilBacktoHell(availableinboth60and72minuteversions) tellsthisstory(http://www.praythedevilbacktohell.com).Somegraphicviolenceisshown.] ThegacacavillagecourtsinRwandawereestablishedin2001asalocalresponsetotheneedto bringtojusticetothousandsofRwandanswhotookpartinthe1994genocide.Thegacaca courts,looselyadaptingatraditionalRwandandisputeresolutionmechanism,aimedtoestablish amechanismofrestorativejustice,withaconcernforrestoringcommunityrelationsbetween perpetratorsandvictim,whileholdingperpetratorsaccountablefortheircrimes.Whilethe successofgacacaatprovidingrestorativeratherthanretributivejusticeisdebated,thecourts wereclearlyacreativelocalinitiative.[Coexistisonegoodfilmabouttheaftermathofthe genocideinRwandawithateachersguide(http://www.peacedocumentary.org/).] TheSouthAfricanTruthandReconciliationCommission(TRC),whilenotfullysuccessfulinrealizing thegoalofnationalreconciliation,washighlyregardedbymostSouthAfricans.TheTRCmodelhas

beenadoptedbyothernationsinAfrica,LatinAmerica,andAsiaforestablishingpostconflict restorativejustice.[TwofilmstellthestoryoftheTRC,bothofwhichhaveusersguides:ALong NightsJourneyIntoDay(http://newsreel.org/video/LONGNIGHTSJOURNEYINTODAY)andFacing theTruthwithBillMoyers(http://www.facinghistory.org/resources/publications/facingtruth).]

III.Thecoreapproach:criticalinquiry
AsAfricanisteducators,wehavelongembracedpedagogicalmethodologyofcriticalinquiry,believing thatitcanamelioratepeoplesunderstandingofAfricaandreduceunfoundedstereotypes. 1. Providinghistoricalcontext:TheKony2012videovividlydepictstheatrocitiesofJosephKonyand theLordsResistanceArmy(LRA)committedoverthepasttwodecades.Whiletheseatrocities certainlytookplaceandshouldbecondemned,thevideodoesnotprovide,nordoesitsuggestthat itwouldbeappropriatetoexplore,thehistoricalcontextthatgaverisetotheLRA.[The2006film UgandaRisingprovidesbothhistoricalandglobalcontextforthisconflict. (http://www.ugandarisingmovie.com/home.html)] 2.Encouragingstudentstocomplicatetheiranalysis:Aseducators,weencourageourstudentsto complicatetheiranalysisofimportant,complexissues.Thisiscertainlytruewhentryingto understandtheissuesrelatedtotheatrocitiescommittedbytheLRAandthefailureofcentral AfricangovernmentstoarrestKony. 3.Encouragingstudentstodifferentiatebetweencauseandeffect:Historyandsocialstudies standardsandbenchmarksincludestudentsdevelopingtheanalyticalabilitytodistinguishbetween causeandeffectofevents.WhendiscussingtheissuesraisedintheKony2012video,itisimportant toexplorethehistoryoftheconditionsunderwhichtheLRAarose,howitwasmovedoutof northernUganda,theseveraleffortstonegotiatewiththeLRA,andwhyitcontinuestoexistin neighboringcountries. 4.Importanceoftimelyandappropriateresponse:TheKony2012videorequestsimmediateactions fromitsviewers,withthegoalofcapturingJosephKonybytheendof2012.Clearly,therearetimes ofcrisisnaturaldisaster,genocidewhenimmediatehumanitarianactionisessential.However, thereareotherconditionswhensomepeoplecallformilitaryactionandotherscallforamore deliberativeprocess,outofconcernforpossibleunintendedconsequencesthatmayworsenthe crises.Weshouldcriticallyengageinadiscussionofthetype(s)ofinterventionthataremost appropriateregardingtheLRAandaremostlikelytoproducethedesiredresultswhileminimizing negativeconsequences. 5.ListeningtoUgandanandAfricanperspectives:ThevoicesandperspectivesofUgandansandothers inCentralAfricawhohavebeenaffectedbytheLRAareconspicuouslyabsentfromtheKony2012 video.TheirabsencemayreinforcethenegativeanderroneousstereotypeofAfricansaslacking agency,ofnothavingthewillorcapacitytoactintheirowninterest.Fortunately,theenormous reachoftheKony2012videohasledtolivelydebateintheUnitedStatesandmanystatementsby Ugandanjournalists,civilsocietyleaders,andscholarsthatareaccessibleontheWeb.[Seeattached resourcelistand,inparticular,http://ugandaspeaks.com.] 6.Supportingopenendedevaluationsofsocialjusticeorganizations:TheKony2012videoprovidesan opportunityforeducatorsandstudentstoreflectuponhowtoresearchandselectcivic organizationswithwhichtobecivicallyengagedaslocal,nationalandglobalcitizens.Whenyou're lookingtosupportacivicorsocialjusticeorganization,whatareyourcriteriaforsupportingthem? Whatcriteriamightmakeyouwanttoknowmore?Whatwouldyoubemadeuneasyby?How wouldyoulearnmore? Amoredetailedversionoftheseguidelinesisavailableuponrequest.Writeto:metzler@msu.edu.

Medialiteracyinquiry: ThinkingabouttheKony2012video&aboutsocialmedia

Medialiteracyisakeygoalineducationtoday.We,andespeciallyyoungpeople,learnthroughthe media,muchmorethanthroughprint.Kony2012providesanopportunityforcriticalthinking.Using openendedquestionsandcriticalinquiry,diverseperspectivescanbeheardandavarietyofaspects investigated.Thequestionsbelowaredividedintotwosections:1)analyzingthevideoscontentand appealand2)analyzingtheimpactofsocialmedia.

Inordertohaveenoughtimefordiscussion,werecommendaudienceswatchthevideoinadvance,if possible:http://vimeo.com/37119711.Youmayfindthatatranscript(unofficial)ofthevideoisuseful: http://lybio.net/josephkony2012raisesupportforhisarrest/people/.

Leadingadiscussionbasedonthequestionsbelow: Thevideoraisescompellingquestionsonawiderangeoftopics,manymorethancaneasilycoveredina singlediscussion.Tofocusyourdiscussion,wesuggestusingoneoftwoapproaches:selectafew questions,onesyoufindmostusefulforyouraudienceorjigsawthediscussion.(Forajigsaw,break upintosmallgroups,givingdifferentsetsofquestionstosmallgroups.Afteratime,eitherthegroups writeasummaryreport,oreveryonecomesbacktogethertohearsummaryreportsfromeachgroup.

I.AnalyzingtheVideo
1.Afewfactualbasics
Whomadethevideo? Whataudiencedidtheycreateitfor? Whospeaksonthevideo?(Howmuchtimeforeach?) Whatarethemaintypesofvisualsused? Whatarethemaintopicsorpoints? Doacontentanalysisofhowmuchtimeisspentoneachofthemaintopicsinthe29minute video.(Howmuchtimewasspentonunderstandingthecrisis?Onthesupportfortheearlier campaigntosendUSmilitaryadvisortoUganda?Onsupportingthecurrentcampaign?) HowmuchofthevideotimeisspentintheUS?InUganda?

2.Analyzingtheproblem
WhatdidyoulearnaboutUganda?(Istheremoreyouwouldliketoknow?) Aseveryconflicthasitsexplanationsororigins,whatexplanationsareofferedforthisconflict? WhatdidyoulearnabouttheCentralAfricanregion?(KonyisnolongerinUganda.) Whatgoaldoesthevideoseekinordertoachievesocialjustice? Whatspecificstrategiesdoesthevideoendorsetoachievethisend? Whatadditionalinformationwouldyoulike,ifany(orquestionsyouneedanswered)inorderto understandoragreewiththegoalandthestrategiestoachievethisgoal? AftertheKony2012videoreceivedwidepublicity,itwasshowntoalargegroupinnorthern Uganda,adifferentaudiencethanitwasdesignedfor.WhatproblemsdidtheseUgandans expressinthis2:40minnewsreport:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU_1jnrj5VI. Understandingthelargercontext:WhatelsedoyouknowaboutAfrica?Wheredidyoulearn this?(suchaschurch,school,thenews)? o Kony2012isastoryaboutagrosslyunjustman.Doyouknowofanypositivemovements orleadershipwithinAfricaforsocialjustice?

 Doyouknowthenamesandstoriesofanyofthe10AfricanleaderswhovewontheNobel PeacePrize?[These are: Albert John Luthuli (South Africa) 1960; Anwar el-Sadat (Egypt) 1978; Bishop Desmond Tutu (South Africa) 1984; F. W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela (both South Africa) 1993; Kofi Annan (Ghana) 2001; Wangari Maathai (Kenya) 2004; Mohamed ElBaradei (Egypt) 2005; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia) 2011.]

3.Analyzingtheproposedsolutions
WhatsolutiondoesInvisibleChildrenproposeforendingthisviolence?Isittargetingan individualoraninstitution?[BringingKonytotheICC] WhataretheseveralstrategiesthatInvisibleChildrenwantsusedinordertobringKonyto justice?[sendingUSmilitaryadvisorstoUganda&fundingtheUgandanarmy] o Whatarethepotentialbenefitsofthesestrategies?Whatarethepotentialdrawbacks? o Istheremoreyoudliketoknow?

4.Analyzingtheappealofthevideo
Thisisanemotionalvideo.Namethedifferentemotionsthatthevideoseekstoelicit.How doesitelicitthem? WhatroledoesJasonRussell,theheadofInvisibleChildren,play? o WhatarethebenefitsofhavingawhiteAmericanmantellthestory?Whatarethe drawbacks? WhatroledoesthesonoftheheadofInvisibleChildrenplay? o Whatarethebenefitsofhimplayingthisrole?Whatarethedrawbacks?

II.AnalyzingSocialMediaasaPolitical&EducationalTool
1.Howinformationcanspread
Howdidthisfirstcometoyourattention? a. Throughafriend?Anorganization?Acelebrity? b. Throughwhichmedia(talking?Facebook?Twitter?Email?) c. Whatwasthemessageyoureceivedtoseethisvideo?tohelp? Didyoushareit?Throughwhichmedia(talking?Facebook?Twitter?Email?) Whydidyoudecidetoshareit?Howmanypeopledidyoushareitwith?

2.Yourresponsetothevideo
Didyouwatchthewholevideo?Why/whynot? Whatresponse/sdidyouhavetothevideo? Haveyouseeninformationcriticalofthevideo?Whatwasthecriticism?

3.ThepoliticalcampaignofKony2012
ThinkabouthowsocialmediawasusedindifferentwaysbytheArabSpringandbytheKony 2012campaign.(whoinitiatedit;whytheyusedite.g.,forboth:itsbroadreachandforthe MiddleEast:censorshipproblem) Oneinnovationfromthiscampaignistheabilitytoclickontheimagesofselectedcelebrities andpoliticianstosendapretypedtweettothem.Commentontheuseofcelebrities. WhatarethebenefitsofusingFacebookandTwitterforacampaignforsocialjustice?What arethedrawbacks?

 ResourcesaboutUganda,theLRA,andtheKony2012video
Note:UsetheURLscontainingbit.ly;theyaretinyURLsthatconnecttothefulllengthwebaddress.

1. Kony2012VideoandInvisibleChildren Thevideo:http://vimeo.com/37119711Unofficialvideotranscriptathttp://lybio.net: http://bit.ly/H54QnBWebsite:www.invisiblechildren.comVimeo:http://vimeo.com/invisible LettertoPresidentObamafromInvisibleChildren,Resolve,andEnoughProjecthttp://bit.ly/H7k5Yp

2. SourcesofcontinuingcoverageaboutUgandaandtheLRA
UgandaSpeaksTrendingOurOwnStoryhttp://ugandaspeaks.com/ allAfrica.comInFocuspageonUgandaandLRAhttp://bit.ly/GSeEw3andhttp://allafrica.com/uganda/ AfricaFocushttp://www.africafocus.organdparticularlyhttp://bit.ly/GSm8BS(AlsoonFacebook.) AfricanArgumentshttp://africanarguments.org/ AssociationofConcernedAfricaScholarsResourcesaboutUganda,theLRA,andCentralAfrica http://concernedafricascholars.org/ugandalracentralafrica/ MakingSenseofKonyhttp://makingsenseofkony.org/ Ugandanmediahttp://www.monitor.co.ug/http://www.ntvuganda.co.ug/ Twitterhttp://twitter.com/#!/searchhomeSomehashtagstosearchforinclude:#Kony2012, #StopKony,#StopStopKony,#Uganda2012,#Ug2012,#UgandaSpeaks

3. DiverseAfricancommentaryonKony2012(fromthecontinentandthediaspora)
MyresponsetoKONY2012byRosebellKagumire,Ugandanjournalist.6:21minutevideo http://bit.ly/GTlv8Tandtranscriptathttp://lybio.net:http://bit.ly/GQXHUd SellingOldNewspapersShouldntBeProfitable:InvisibleChildrenandKony2012byDavid Sangokoya,aNigerianAmerican,creativelydiscussesstereotypesofAfrica.http://bit.ly/GUPJYu TheWhiteSaviorIndustrialComplexbyTejuCole,NigerianAmericannovelistgivescriticismin7 Tweetsandcommentsonresponsetoit.http://www.theatlantic.com:http://bit.ly/GSsbe8 KonyscreeningprovokesangerinUgandabyMalcombWell,2:40minutevideohttp://bit.ly/GRltBb WomenCivilSocietyGroupsinUganda:Kony2012Campaign,Blurringrealities!at: http://www.isiswomen.org:http://bit.ly/H5vrMr Kony2012VideoisMisleadingbyaUgandanAmericanteenager.5:47minutevideoviewedmore thanfourmilliontimesonYouTube.(Thereisonebriefexpletive.)http://bit.ly/GUbA8U IdTellAnyoneFoodforthoughtabouthelpingAfricansbyJulianeOkotBitek,Ugandanpoet andauthor.http://bit.ly/HBtCcE I'vemetJosephKonyandKony2012isn'tthatbadbyNorbertMao,formerheadoftheGuluLocal Government(200611),sayingthedebatecausedbythevideoistimely.http://bit.ly/HflQ63 CentralAfrica:There'saLightintheGetKonyCampaignJayNaidoo,aSouthAfricansocialjustice activist,arguesthatthehorrorsoftheLRAandtheglobalsystemthatletsitcontinuecannotbe ignored.http://bit.ly/HMpECh

4. OtherCritiquesoftheKony2012campaign
UnpackingKonybyEthanZuckerman,directorofMITsCenterforCivicMediaandcofounderof GlobalVoices,discussesthesimplicityoftheKony2012messageanditsdangersandtheInvisible Childrenstheoryofchange.At:http://www.ethanzuckerman.com:http://bit.ly/GUiuWH JuiceRapNewswithRobertFoster:YesWeKonyAnirreverentparodyofKony2012arapabout thenwhitemansburdenandtheroleofAFRICOM.3:37minutevideohttp://thejuicemedia.com

5. HistoryoftheconflictwiththeLRAandpoliciesproposals
ALetterFromUgandaon#Kony2012SaraWeschlerofInformationforYouthEmpowerment ProgrammeinNorthernUgandasummarizesrecentUgandanhistory.http://bit.ly/GSK9w6 ThedownsideoftheKony2012video:WhatJasondidnottellGavinandhisarmyofinvisible childrenbyMahmoodMamdani,DirectoroftheMakerereInstituteofSocialResearchatMakerere University,Kampala,Ugandahttp://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/80787 ObamaTakesontheLRA:WhyWashingtonSentTroopstoCentralAfricabyMareikeSchomerus, TimAllen,andKoenVlassenroothttp://fam.ag/HELi7R ConflictandConflictResolutioninNorthernUgandaBooksandarticlesincludedinsyllabusbyAdam Branch,Fall2011http://bit.ly/H1r993

6.RecommendationsandcommentaryoncurrentU.S.policy
WhatCanWeDoaboutUgandaandtheLRA?byAssociationofConcernedAfricaScholars, addressingissuesofmilitaryvs.negotiatedsolutionsanddecidingwheretomakedonations.At: http://concernedafricascholars.org:http://bit.ly/GVGURP Kony:Whatstobedone?byAlexdeWaal,ExecutiveDirectoroftheWorldPeaceFoundationatthe FletcherSchool,TuftsUniversity,discussesthemilitaryandnonmilitaryframeworkproposedbythe InternationalCrisisGroup,at:http://africanarguments.org:http://bit.ly/GQzbaf KONY2012,andamilitarysolutiontotheLRAcrisisbyanthropologistRichardVokes,adetailed discussionoftheLRAanddangersofamilitarysolution,at:http://theafricanist.blogspot.co.nz: http://bit.ly/H6giiY BeyondKony2012byNicolasTillonofConciliationResources(apeacebuildingorganisationworking withpeopleaffectedbyviolentconflict)andErnestSuguleKangoyangala.http://bit.ly/HLyyAv #Kony2012andtheWarpingLogicofAtrocitybyScottEdwardsofAmnestyInternationalUSA, regardinghumanrightsconcernsinUgandaandCentralAfrica.http://bit.ly/GTwXCk Kony2012,SaveDarfur,andtheUSplaceintheworldbyRohitNegi,AssistantProfessorat AmbedkarUniversity,Delhi.http://bit.ly/GUxrbb InterviewwithEthanZuckermanbyWBZNewsRadio1030,discussesdifficultiesofcapturingKony andneedtolistentoUgandansaboutsolutions,2:20minuteaudioat:http://cbsloc.al/GSQYOb

7.HowKONY2012wentviral
[DataViz]KONY2012:SeeHowInvisibleNetworksHelpedaCampaignCapturetheWorldsAttention byGiladLotan,VPofResearchandDevelopmentathttp://blog.socialflow.com:http://bit.ly/GRPXDb UsefulreadsonKony2012byEthanZuckermanhttp://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/ Lastupdated:April17,2012

Association of Concerned Africa Scholars http://concernedafricascholars.org/

WhatcanwedoaboutUgandaandtheLRA?

ManyofthemillionsofpeoplewhowatchedtheKony2012videoweretouchedbytheUgandanchildrenit portrayedandtheneedforanendtothewarsandviolenceinvolvingtheLordsResistanceArmy(LRA).But whatarethemosteffectiveandleastpotentiallydamagingwayswecanrespond? TheKony2012videohasbeenwidelycriticizedbymanyUgandans,whofearmoremilitaryinterventionand believethevideomisrepresentsthem,theirsituation,andtheirpressingneeds(see: http://ugandaspeaks.com/).Africaexpertsalsohavecriticizeditforbeingoverlysimplistic,outofdate,and toonarrowinfocusingoncapturingJosephKonyoftheLordsResistanceArmy(LRA).Italsohasbeen criticizedforcontributingtostereotypesofAfricansasneedyandunabletosolvetheirproblemsandofAfrica asacontinentinperpetualconflict.InvisibleChildren,whichproducedthevideo,hasbeenscrutinizedaswell; muchofitsbudgetgoestotheU.S.awarenesscampaignforshowingthevideoacrossthecountryand productmerchandising.AndInvisibleChildrenisonlyoneofmanyorganizationswithprojectsinUgandaand surroundingcountries,andithasobtainedmorefundingthanmost.

1. LearnaboutUganda&CentralAfrica
BeforeadvocatingthattheU.S.governmentadopt aparticularpolicyordecidingtodonatetoan organization,itisimportanttolearnmorefroma varietyofsources,especiallypeoplefromthe countriesinvolved. Consultresourcesproducedbymany individualsandorganizationsaboutbothUganda andCentralAfricalistedontheAssociationof ConcernedAfricaScholars(ACAS)website: (http://bit.ly/GVGURP) Herearesomeissuestolearnmoreabout. WhataretheconditionsinnorthernUganda today,andwhatsupportareitspeopleseeking fromus?Childrenarenolongerindangerofbeing abductedinnorthernUganda,andtheLRAhasnot operatedtheresince2006.Today,northern Ugandansarefocusedonpostconflict reconstruction,renewingfarming,andhealth issuessuchasnoddingdiseasethatemerged duringthewarintheresettlementcampswhere theUgandangovernmentforcedthemtolive.And, aspeoplehavereturnedtotheirlandfromthe camps,theirrightstolandownershiphavebeen challengedinsomeareas. Whereisthisconflictandtheviolencenow? TheLRAisnolongerinUganda,anditsforceshave beenreducedtoonlyafewhundred,buttheir brutalattackshavecontinuedinDemocratic

RepublicoftheCongo(DRC),CentralAfrican Republic(CAR),andSouthSudan.

WhydoesthispartofAfricaseemsoconflicted? Therearepowerfulcompetinginternational, national,andlocalintereststhatseekadvantage andthatarepreparedtoinitiateandsupport violence.Multiplemilitiasandarmieshave disruptedtheCAR,DRC,andSouthSudanformany years.Andnationalgovernmentsoftenhavenot givenprioritytoendingtheviolenceandprotecting theirpopulations.(Resourcesforlearningmore aboutthisconflictareontheACASwebsite.)

Association of Concerned Africa Scholars http://concernedafricascholars.org/

2. WhatshouldweurgetheU.S. governmenttodo?
TheKony2012videocallsforanexpandedmilitary efforttocaptureLRAleaderJosephKony,arrest himbytheendof2012,andbringhimbeforethe InternationalCriminalCourt(ICC).Butincreased cooperationbetweenU.S.ArmySpecialForces, Ugandan,andotherarmiesintheregiontofind andarrestKonyishighlylikelytohavedangerous consequencesforcivilians.Ofteninthepast,they havebeencaughtinthecrossfireorbecome targetsofretaliatoryattacksbytheLRA.Most peoplewanttoendtheviolence,findjusticefor thevictims,andreintegratetheLRAsoldiersinto society.Buthowcanthatbestbeachieved,andare foreignersfarfromtheregioninthebestposition toknowhowtomakethishappen?Anendto thesewarsneedstobenegotiatedbythelocal peopledirectlyaffectedbytheconflictrecallthe longnegotiationsofSouthAfricansforendingthat conflictandforseekingjusticethroughtheirTruth andReconciliationCommission.

TocooperatecloselywiththeAfricanUnion (AU)andUnitedNations(UN)foranegotiated settlementandgivethemthefinancialand logisticalsupportneededtosupportnegotia tionsandtoincreasesecurityforciviliansofthe affectedregionswithoutfurtherescalating violence. ToactivelyseekaneffectiveUnitedNations ArmsTradeTreaty(ATT) <http://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/A rmsTradeTreaty>toendtradeinweapons, munitions,andothermilitaryandpolicing equipmentthatofteninflictmiseryandcarnage oncivilians,especiallyinAfrica. Totakeastrongstandagainstchildsoldiersby fullyenforcingwithoutexceptionstheU.S.Child SoldierPreventionAct,unanimouslypassedby Congressin2009,toprohibitmilitaryassistance togovernmentsnottakingactiontodemobilize childsoldiers.<www.amnestyusa.org/our work/issues/childrensrights/childsoldiers>. AmnestyInternationalhascampaignsonboth childsoldiersandsmallarms.Useofchild soldiersandrapingofwomenandgirlsare commonhorrorsofwar,notjustbytheLRA andnotonlyinAfrica.

Herearesomepolicyrecommendations fromACAS.
UrgePresidentObamaandtheCongress: Tofocusprimarilyonnegotiated,not military,solutions.InMarch2012thepeace buildingorganizationConciliationResources reportedfromitsstudyoftheimpactoftheLRA onlocalcommunitiesintheDRC,CAR,and SouthSudan:Thosewhobearthebruntofthe LRAsviolentretaliationsarealltooawareof therisksofarenewedmilitarystrategyAn overwhelmingmajorityofthoseconsulted expressedadesireforasolutionbasedon protectionandpoliticalengagement. [http://ow.ly/9QfpO] Similarly,inJune2009,UgandanAcholi ReligiousLeadersInitiative(ARLPI)said,The militaryoptionhasbeenexplorednumerous timesinthepast...Militarystrategieslaunched againsttheLRAhavetimeandagainledto severereprisalattacksontheinnocentcivilian community[We]advocatefordialogueand othernonviolentstrategiestobeemployedso thatlongtermsustainablepeacemaybe realized.Letuslearnfromthepastexperiences wherewehaveseenthatviolenceonlybreeds moreviolence.[http://ow.ly/9Qg4S]

3.Doyouwanttodonateforurgent humanneedsinUgandaandthis regionofAfrica?

Researchwhatorganizationsaredoing,howthey workwiththepeoplewhoareaffected,andhow muchoftheirdonationsgotoactivitiesonthe ground.Manypeopleurgeprovidingsupportto locallybasedorganizations. Asastart,twointernationalagencieshave focusedonthechildsoldiersanddisplacedpeople inCentralAfricanRepublic,Congo,SouthSudan, andUganda.Theyareveryshortoffundstocare forandrehabilitatetheinjured.Theseare: UNHighCommissionforRefugees(UNHCR) Addressingurgentneedsofchildren,women,and menaffectedbyinsecurityandchronicconflictin thefourcountries.<http://donate.unhcr.org/> UNChildrensFund(UNICEF)Workingwith formerchildsoldiers,refugees,rapeandabuse victims,anddisplacedbytheLRA,othermilitias, andnationalarmies.<http://www.unicef.org/>