I am sure that most everyone has heard of the STOP KONY 2012 campaign that has been circulating all over facebook, which began last Monday the 5th of March. I, having the uncanny ability of not checking facebook, email and even, ahem, blogging as much as I should, did not see the KONY 2012 until Wednesday. When I saw the video, I was, indeed, very emotional as many of you that I would assume would also be. The video consisted of a young man with a wife and son who, for the last 10 years has tried to stop Joseph Kony who has kidnapped and forced many children to become soldiers and sex slaves. The presentation of the video on facebook was extremely well done and professional. The one thing that lingers on my mind is, "Where on Earth did this man get the money to create and produce this movie?" Indeed this has weighed heavily on my mind for the last week. If, as the movie claims, all proceeds go to Uganda and help build schools and shelters for the children, then where does this middle class man get the financial provisions to create a multimillion dollar video?
On Thursday this week, a news article was published in a newspaper that states the mission of the STOP KONY campaign, and in the last third of the article it states "Less than 40 percent of donations are spent on direct services, according to the organization's financial statements. The nonprofit's three founders collectively make $262,000 a year." (Stuart) Oh my goodness! That's why there is the money to make the video to make even more money! If these figures are correct, then the founders have made enough money to create such an expensive video that has become YouTube's top pick for YouTube Trends.
Another blog, authored by a 100% pure Ugandan person, has stated her opinion of the campaign. She believes that Invisible Children Corporation does not seem exactly as helpful as it calims, and,according to her, there is no talk of the atrocities of Kony as she visits family in Uganda. She also stated that Kony has not attacked any villiage for the last 6 years.
So, for my final opinion of the STOP KONY 2012 campaign is this: Kony should be stopped for his heinous crimes, however, I do not trust my money to go to the ICC. The STOP KONY 2012 campaign is playing off of the emotions of naive and caring teenagers, hence the location for the video launch...the one place where most teens today are found...Facebook and Twitter. All in all, I will personally choose to not donate my $30.00 to the ICC and will. instead give it to the LDS humanitarian fund. While I do support the cause for the arrest of Kony, and not donate doesn't mean that I do not care, when I really do, BUT PLEASE note where your money is going and invest it wisely.
Amy
P.S. I just realized that I actually wrote something serious....well, until next time y'all! (emoticon cue now)
ok. so you are complaining because the founders make $85k a year?! This is probably their only job. I do not think that is execive at all. And a very profitable "for-profit" company is happy with a 30% profit. this organization is making 40% and they are opperating in another country. It costs a lot of money to opperate a large motivated campaign like this. Just look at the money presidential candidates spend to get the word out. Mayeb you can opperate your small blog for free because you can hold a rea job, but these people have to devote 130% of their time to this and they take a reasonable check, not exorbitant. Maybe you should talk to a company owner and ask if they think their expenses are out of control. If it was a college fund or something where it didn;t take 100s of people to run then I would say they need to donate a least 80%. this isn;t the case here. They have to pay for materials, shirts, posters, building supplies, advertising, travel, production, meals, hotels, transportation, phones, electricity, rent for offices, web sites, etc. And who says you have to give money? Just share the story
ReplyDeleteHello! Thank you for your comment, as I rarely recieve them. while I respect your opinion, I must hold my own. I am the general middle class, and have been blessed with the financial stability that everyone deserves, however my family members do not make more than 84,000 per year. When I stated, and I quote,"The nonprofit's three founders collectively make $262,000 a year." (Stuart)" I was meaning the founders personal salary, not the total revenue of the ICC. If you compare the numbers, there is a large difference between the salary the founders make and what my family makes. If I live in comfort and I do not have to worry financially, then that just shows how much money this man is making. The other thing to consider is that the founders's salary is not used for their company's needs. The ICC is making enough on it's own that there is no need to dip into the founders's deep pocket, even if they were willing to give up some of their salary. Overall, the American Dream of gaining money and living a comfortable life has distorted the honest reason, to prevent another Great Depression, to a more cosmopolitian one of gaining as much by doing the least. Again thank you for your feedback, and I will be sure to remember it in the future! Have a nice day, as I certainly have!
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