Invisible Children

So, people have been telling me about the invisible children for a while now. But I've always been too lazy to really DO anything about it.
The basic info:
The war in northern Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today. For the past 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU) have been waging a war that has left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle. The GoU's attempt to protect its citizens from this rebel militia has largely failed, resulting in an entire generation of youth that has never known peace. Leader of the LRA is Joseph Kony, who is wanted for war crimes. It is estimated that more than 90% of the LRA’s troops were abducted as children.

In 1996, as a response to the LRA attacks in the villages, the Ugandan government forcibly evicted thousands from their homes, relocating them into overcrowded camps in hopes of providing protection. But over a decade later, about one millionpeople still live in these camps and struggle to survive among the effects of poverty, disease, and starvation.

Recently, more and more international attention has been focused on this crisis. In 2001, the US Patriot Act officially declared the LRA to be a terrorist organization - a huge step in drawing attention to the conflict and the atrocities committed by the LRA. In 2004, Congress passed the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act, the first piece of American legislation to address this disaster. And in 2005, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Joseph Kony and four of his top commanders.

Pressure from the international community combined with a strong desire to secure peace has brought the Government of Uganda and the LRA to the negotiating table on numerous occasions, though they have yet to find a peaceful resolution.

In July 2007, in response to an increased concern for peace in northern Uganda by the American people, the US State Department appointed Tim Shortley to Senior Advisor for Conflict Resolution with his immediate focus on northern Uganda. This action solidified the US’s commitment to end this conflict peacefully.

At this point in time, the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement has expired and Joseph Kony has failed to sign the Final Peace Agreement for a fourth time, proving his promises to be futile and ultimately disabling the peace talks. This does not only effect the thousands displaced in northern Uganda but across the entire northeastern border region of DR Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic.

Since September 2008, hostility in the Orientale province in DR Congo and Western Equatoria in South Sudan has increased. LRA attacks have become more frequent and hostile, provoking military action against the rebel group.

December 24th, 2008, the LRA launched a retaliatory attack against the people of DR Congo. In apparent desperation and a renewed will to spread terror to DR Congo, the LRA murdered over six hundred and abducted more than one hundred and sixty children to fight amongst its ranks. More than 104,000 Congolese have been displaced since Christmas in attempts to escape the LRA forces.

As the motives of the LRA become more ambiguous and their crimes more horrific, Invisible Children remains committed to seeking sustainable solutions to foster an environment that encourages peace.

Invisible Children addresses the need for access to education and economic development through innovative programs on the ground.

Ok, yes, this is a lot of information, and I had to copy dates and some facts from the internet. But I tried to shorten it down a bit.

For a more visual effect you can always watch the movie. I suggest to go online to

http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com/

So, with all these attemps of peace, no secure conclusion has come into place. So, this organization is hosting a 'rally' of sorts where people in 100 cities are going to 'abduct' themselves to raise awareness. I am a little late in the game getting involved, but I'm encourage as many people as I can to go, or at least inform themselves. Because while Africa may seem far away, and we as humans have a difficult time paying specific attention to something that isn't happening directly to us, if this experience has taught be anything it is that the world is NOT that big. And in some way or another, everyone knows each other.
In fact, it's estimated that, in a sequence of nine, you know everyone; a friend of a friend of a brother of a father of a lover of a friend. I beleive that. With all those 6 billion people out there, a large percentage is somehow tied to me. Perhaps even one of many children in Uganda.

WATCH:

http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com/