Kony 2012: Difference between revisions

{{LRA}}

 

 

{{as of|2024|6||df=US}}, the film had received over 103 million views and 1.3 million [[Like button|likes]] on the video-sharing website [[YouTube]],<ref name=Kony2012_YT>{{cite web|title=KONY 2012| date=March 5, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407144222/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc|archive-date=April 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and over 18.7 million views and over 21.8 thousand likes on [[Vimeo]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vimeo.com/37119711|title=Kony 2012|date=February 20, 2012|publisher=Vimeo|access-date=May 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505062020/http://vimeo.com/37119711|archive-date=May 5, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> with other views on a central Kony 2012 website operated by Invisible Children. At the time, the video was the most liked on the whole of YouTube, and is the first video ever to reach 1 million likes. The intense exposure of the video caused the Kony 2012 website to crash shortly after it began gaining widespread popularity.<ref name="Lees0307">{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8431494 |title=Australian support amasses for Kony 2012 |access-date=March 7, 2012 |date=March 7, 2012 |work=ninemsn |author=Lees, Philippa |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309174352/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8431494 |archive-date=March 9, 2012 }}</ref> A poll suggested that more than half of young adult Americans heard about ''Kony 2012'' in the days following the video's release.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Kony-2012-Video/Main-report.aspx |title=Rainie, Lee, Paul Hitlin, Mark Jurkowitz, Michael Dimock, Shawn Neidorf. The viral Kony 2012 video. Pew Internet & American Life Report. March 15, 2012 |publisher=Pewinternet.org |date=March 15, 2012 |access-date=April 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703202714/http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Kony-2012-Video/Main-report.aspx |archive-date=July 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=numbers/><ref name=next>{{cite news |author1=Polly Curtis |author2=Tom McCarthy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/apr/20/kony-2012-what-happens-next |title=Kony 2012: what happens next? |work=The Guardian |access-date=April 22, 2012 |date=April 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016125101/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/apr/20/kony-2012-what-happens-next |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was included among the top international events of 2012 by [[PBS]]<ref name=year>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/multimedia/world122412/6.html |title=Memorable World Moments of 2012 &#124; PBS NewsHour &#124; Dec. 24, 2012 |publisher=PBS |date=December 24, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914143918/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/multimedia/world122412/6.html |archive-date=September 14, 2013}}</ref> and called the most viral video ever by ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]'' in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carbone |first=Nick |url=http://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/04/top-10-arts-lists/slide/kony-2012/ |title=Kony 2012 &#124; Arts & Entertainment &#124; TIME.com |publisher=Entertainment.time.com |date=December 4, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010091348/http://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/04/top-10-arts-lists/slide/kony-2012/ |archive-date=October 10, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

One of the main people feature in the film is a young Ugandan named Jacob Avaye, whose brother was killed by the LRA. In response, director and founder of Invisible Children, [[Jason Russell]], promises Jacob that he will help "stop Kony".<ref>{{cite news |title=Celebs Help 'Stop Kony' Trend on Twitter: Who Is Kony? |author=Jenny McGrath |url=http://www.wetpaint.com/network/articles/celebs-help-stop-kony-tweet-on-twitter-who-is-kony |newspaper=[[Wetpaint]] |date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=March 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308193658/http://www.wetpaint.com/network/articles/celebs-help-stop-kony-tweet-on-twitter-who-is-kony |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

 

 

In a later scene in the film, an action scene shows people sticking ''Kony 2012'' [[poster]]s in various places in a town, with the music "[[Lines in Wax|I Can't Stop]]" by [[Flux Pavilion]] playing in the background.

 

==Reception==

[[File:2012 Kony cumulative video views.png|thumb|Cumulative views on YouTube, showing a lower, though steady, view growth rate after its first ten days<ref name=WaybackKony/>]]

 

===Positive===

[[Luis Moreno Ocampo]], who was featured in the film and was, at the time, the chief [[Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court|Prosecutor]] at the [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC), voiced his support of the film and the campaign that had "mobilised the world", and said that the criticism was "stupid".<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/uganda/9137982/Joseph-Kony-2012-International-Criminal-Court-chief-prosecutor-supports-campaign.html Joseph Kony 2012: International Criminal Court chief prosecutor supports campaign] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526113025/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/uganda/9137982/Joseph-Kony-2012-International-Criminal-Court-chief-prosecutor-supports-campaign.html |date=May 26, 2018 }}, ''The Telegraph'', March 12, 2012</ref> The [[United Nations Special Rapporteur|Special Representative]] and head of the newly created [[United Nations]] Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), Abou Moussa, said that international interest in Kony was "useful, very important".<ref>{{cite news|first=Conal|last=Urquhart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/24/joseph-kony-african-union-brigade?newsfeed=true|title=Joseph Kony: African Union brigade to hunt down LRA leader|publisher=guardian.co.uk|date=March 24, 2012|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415045442/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/24/joseph-kony-african-union-brigade?newsfeed=true|archive-date=April 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[White House]] released a statement of support through [[White House Press Secretary|Press Secretary]] [[Jay Carney]], who stated in a news conference, "We congratulate the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have mobilized to this unique crisis of conscience" and said that the raised awareness from the video is "consistent with [[Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act|the bipartisan legislation]] passed by our congress in 2010."<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama throws his support behind 'Kony 2012', while criticism against viral video grows |author=Aliyah Shahid |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-03-09/news/31141626_1_tim-tebow-child-soldiers-lord-s-resistance-army |newspaper=[[The New York Daily News]] |date=March 9, 2012 |access-date=March 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504162348/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-03-09/news/31141626_1_tim-tebow-child-soldiers-lord-s-resistance-army |archive-date=May 4, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cameron Hudson, policy director at the [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum]] and former Africa director in the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], also praised Invisible Children for reaching "tens of millions of people who probably never previously heard of Joseph Kony."<ref name=Rozen>{{cite web|last=Rozen|first=Lauren|title=Kony 2012: Invisible Children's viral video sparks criticism that others say is unfounded|url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/kony2012-invisible-children-viral-video-uganda-conflict-sparks-183106657.html|work=The Envoy/Yahoo News|date=March 8, 2012 |publisher=The Envoy and Yahoo, Inc.|access-date=March 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308200404/http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/kony2012-invisible-children-viral-video-uganda-conflict-sparks-183106657.html|archive-date=March 8, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Anthony Lake]], the executive director of [[UNICEF]], was cited as saying that a similar viral video would have made a difference during the [[Rwandan genocide]] in 1994, also suggesting that "this kind of public attention would also have helped save more lives [[War in Darfur|in Darfur]] and [[Second Congo War|in Congo's warring east]]."<ref name=Kristof/>

 

 

Opinions on the film were mixed in [[Gulu]], one of the former centers of rebel activities in northern Uganda, during a showing of the film, with several of the leaders expressing support and criticism. One of the attendees, State Minister for Foreign Affairs [[Henry Oryem Okello]], said that the criticisms directed at the film and Invisible Children were "unfounded", going on to state, "Invisible Children has done visible things in [[Acholi people|Acholi]][land], for example offering scholarships to thousands of children and anyone against them is our enemy."<ref>{{cite news |title=Kony 2012 video divides opinion in Gulu |author1=Sam Lawino |author2=Moses Akena |url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1369072/-/ax98g6z/-/ |newspaper=Saturday Monitor |date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115213612/http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1369072/-/ax98g6z/-/ |archive-date=November 15, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Betty Bigombe]], a Ugandan cabinet minister and former peace negotiator, said, "I do not know whether it makes any difference as far as taking [Kony] out is concerned. However, what is important is bringing this to the attention of policymakers. I hope that something innovative will come out of it."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/14/negotiator_betty_bigombe_on_konys_15_minutes |title=Negotiator Betty Bigombe on Kony's 15 minutes |last=Keating |first=Joshua |author-link=Joshua Keating |publisher=[[Foreign Policy]] |date=March 14, 2012 |access-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422222717/http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/14/negotiator_betty_bigombe_on_konys_15_minutes |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Norbert Mao]], Ugandan politician and president of the opposition [[Democratic Party (Uganda)|Democratic Party]], stated his support for the film, explaining that while it does have some problems, such as implying Ugandans did not try to fight back against the LRA and not explaining how many of the issues in the film were also exacerbated by the Ugandan government itself, the film is still a "positive development" for the issue, adding that while Invisible Children may not be "the foremost analysts of the complicated political, historical and security dynamics" in the situation, "they have the most beautiful trait on earth&nbsp;– compassion."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/21/guest_post_ive_met_joseph_kony_and_kony_2012_isnt_that_bad |title=Guest Post: I've met Joseph Kony and Kony 2012 isn't that bad |last=Keating |first=Joshua |author-link=Joshua Keating |publisher=[[Foreign Policy]] |date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324095637/http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/21/guest_post_ive_met_joseph_kony_and_kony_2012_isnt_that_bad |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>