Anti-kony group releases video sequel
The group Invisible Children released a new video on Thursday as a followup to the viral Kony 2012 film aimed at focusing global awareness on atrocities attributed to Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army.
“We want people to dig deeper into this conflict and actively engage in the solutions,” Ben Keesey, CEO of Invisible Children, said in a statement announcing the 20-minute video. He said Kony 2012: Part II – Beyond Famous “is a call to turn global awareness into informed action.”
The original Kony 2012 film became an Internet sensation last month, racking up more than 86 million hits on Youtube since it was posted and thrusting its director into the spotlight.
The success of the video has been hailed for inspiring young people to activism, but has been criticized for oversimplifying the region’s long-standing human rights crisis.
The conflict is not lim- ited to Uganda, but has long since spilled over into the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Kony was last seen, and where other rebel groups and government forces have also been accused of atrocities.
The LRA also operates in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
The campaign was embarrassed when the maker of the original video, Jason Russell, suffered a public meltdown in California in March that doctors described as a brief psychotic breakdown.
Invisible Children said the new film provided a more in-depth look at the Lord’s Resistance Army and outlines regional efforts to end violence in central Africa.
“The LRA has abducted over 50 people in central Africa since Kony 2012 was launched one month ago.
“Now we have the opportunity to work together as a global community to help solve this issue,” Jolly Okot, Invisible Children’s Uganda country director, said.