Why Kony Awareness Event at Aweful Epicurean

WATCH THIS BLOG FOR TRANSCRIPT AND UPDATES

Like many of you I was excited when I first saw the Kony2012 video, but then I saw all the stuff saying it was a scam and I had to stop and ask some questions. If kony2012 has done nothing more than that - it is enough. So please, do not just listen to the negative hype and turn away. Ask Questions. Go to the invisible children site and actually look at the information there. Invisible Children had been accused of many things and like all who are accused deserver the right to answer. Here are some links I found helpful in making my own decision. Above all else do not turn away from this problem because of something you have heard (even from me). There are many groups working in this area it is my hope that you find one you can give your support to in effort and in words if not in donations. If you do not believe the ongoing efforts are the right answer .. what is? Please.. your suggestions are needed. Drop a note in the mail box.

I found many answers in the follow up video kony2012 part II: Beyond Famous

http://www.kony2012.com/watch_the_movie2.html

I heard it stated by anonymous that Kony had been certified dead and all charges dropped, but a quick look at the ICC web page assured me that this was not the case.

http://usaforicc.org/mostwanted/flash

I heard that it was all a scam and that the financial records of the group were not available. I found answers here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRx8aXaJ_Cs&feature=related

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/financials.html

and this section take from the page that gives the official answers to questions

IS INVISIBLE CHILDREN INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED?
Yes, Invisible Children has been independently audited by the outside accounting firm of Considine and Considine since Fiscal Year 2006, and all of our audits have resulted in unqualified opinions on the audit reports. An unqualified opinion means that the auditors believe the financial statements are "free of material misstatement and are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States."

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/critiques.html


I heard that most of the money was spent on making videos. Well yes, that is the task that they were first given - to get the word out  to the wold that there is still much to be done. But a significant amount does go to worthwhile programs on the ground and a little bit from a whole lot of people is more than a lot from a few . hence the value of promotion. What programs you ask?  I found that answer here:


http://www.invisiblechildren.com/programs.html


Yes these all come from the invisible children web page .. which was as far as I personally needed to go. I have struggled with their support of military action but given that 26 years and 5 peace attempts have not convinced Joseph Kony to give himself up I think it is time to go find him. When I asked myself if unarmed forces had any chance of arresting him given that he has a well armed and experienced army at his command, the answer was no, they could not so armed forces are necessary. The force proposed is a group effort of the countries currently affected and I believe the best hope to arrest Kony  and bring him to justice. While we have all debated this issue .. in the 1 month since kony2012 was released 57 more children have been abducted.

The UN called invisible children and asked them to make the defection fliers you see on the projects page.  I don't know about you but the UN has never called me and asked me to do anything. nor do I expect them too.

In the follow up video a woman asks .. If you have a formula for a better way, please come forward. If after reviewing this information you still can not support invisible children  what is the better answer? The world is waiting..  children are waiting for an answer. It has already been 26 years.. if not now when? Let's find a way!

you may also find these links of interest

http://www.enoughproject.org/

http://notonourwatchproject.org/


The contents of todays program will be posted on a blog at: http://insharpcontrast.blogspot.com/

TDP - Making Fuel From Garbage

WOW - These people are making gas and oil from garbage. Watch this and then let your community know about this possibility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWf9nYbm3ac&feature

Girl Keeps Resolution - A Good Deed Every Day

What a great story. It isn't often we see teenagers in this light, but this girl has a lesson to teach us all. Maren McNees, of Atlantic, Iowa  made a new year's resolution to do one good deed a day and is keeping that resolution. Below I have given both the link to the printed story and the video. This certainly qualifies as Good News and has brightened my day to hear about it. I bet you can all find something good and uplifting and I would love to hear your Good News!


print.

http://www.ketv.com/r/27100637/detail.html

video

http://news.yahoo.com/video/omaha-ketv-18230073/girl-keeps-new-year-s-resolution-one-good-deed-per-day-24439740;_ylt=AjANFc9tTr7yXN.tYSBQhOaz174F;_ylu=X3oDMTE3aDVuMWswBHBvcwMyBHNlYwNtb3N0LXBvcHVsYXIEc2xrA2dpcmxrZWVwc25ldw--

Let Freedom Ring - Around The World And On Deeply Personal Levels

First of all, let me say it is great to be posting on this blog again. I have had several days of dealing with computer issues but things finally seem to be working right again.  The world is a rapidly changing place and it is always the bad news that gets the most attention, but I think the world is with hope and good news!
Today I am reminded of a song about freedom by second life musician Brendan Shoreland (David Walton) called "Freedom Is Inside My Head".

Political Freedom

Freedom is breaking out like an epidemic and that is a good thing even if it does involve a tough battle of wills. I won't comment much here on this topic as it is so much on the front pages everywhere but I also didn't want to give the impression that I consider the events in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen and Iran where people are standing up and taking action to gain freedom is anything but .. good news indeed! This is what happens when people become free inside their heads and take action on that fact on the street.

Freedom from Mental Illness

Today I found a wonderful article of hope on another type of freedom. A technology that has been used to help calm the symptoms of Parkinson's disease may have uses in the treatment of mental illness. This devise does not replace standard forms of treatment but gives hope to those for whom those treatments have not worked. Patients with severe forms of Turrets, Depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder have received the device with resembles a pacemaker for the brain, delivering tiny electrical jolts to the brain. Much research is needed to determine the best locations in the brain to deliver these jolts, but results have been promising.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41705773/ns/health-mental_health/

Celebrating Freedom for Egypt

I hardly need to say that today's good news is that the peaceful demonstrations by the people of Egypt have prevailed and we have seen history made. My prayers and best wishes are with the Egyptian people as they chart their future. There were moments yesterday of near panic when I thought that perhaps the masses had been pushed past their limit and would resort to violence. I had horrible images of a potential blood bath it the military turned against them. How glad I am that I was selling these people very short to have such fears. They have shown exemplary resolve to protest in a peaceful way for as long as it took. I have been impressed by the tenacity of Al Jazeera to keep getting the news out to the world despite their office begin closed, web site hacking and other forms of disrupting the broadcast, even to their reporters being detained. What a great day this is for Egypt and for the world and what a great opportunity for everyone to put fear and prejudice aside and see .. yes people of different faith, income, background and heritage can all work together.

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/02/2011211165022206735.html

Tid Bits

  My fav stories from the front page today

Female coach of boys basket ball team turns this school around

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Boys-hoops-team-s-rise-re-frames-school-thanks-?urn=highschool-317094

3d images of the sun .. how it was done and why it's important

http://news.yahoo.com/video/science-15749654/first-3d-images-of-the-sun-24105295#video=24107878


six earth like planets

http://news.yahoo.com/video/science-15749654/first-3d-images-of-the-sun-24105295#video=24064116

and - business is picking up - high tech trash

http://news.yahoo.com/video/science-15749654/first-3d-images-of-the-sun-24105295#video=24078164

No Yolk Folks, It's A Chicken Hotel

Oh the things people come up with! This is just another case of how the early bird gets the worm! David Roberts of Cornwall, England has answered the question nobody was asking. Who takes care of the chickens when the owners go on holiday? His answer is a Chicken Hotel, which is lending new meaning to the idea of serving chicken for dinner. This whole idea may just crack you up but the fact is his hotel was booked solid over Christmas and none of the guests made any complaints! The next time you need to be away from home you may want to consider The Chicken Hotel as a lay-over spot for your feathered friends.


http://www.good.is/post/in-cornwall-a-hotel-for-chickens/