So why support the Joseph Kony 2012 campaign?

Courtesy of Jennol, the Kony 2012 campaign poster

Japan-based Oscar Shao is a co-organiser for the Kony 2012 'Cover the Night' Facebook event. He and his brother, Eric Shao, like many others, want to spread global awareness about Joseph Kony's actions in Uganda.

I spoke to him about what it meant personally to be involved in such an important event.

To learn the basics behind the campaign read my article or visit Invisible Children.

Q: Why are you taking part in the Kony 2012 campaign?

A: Both Eric and I feel it is morally right to try and spread awareness on what is happening. We hope to try and help out this cause as much as possible, which is why we have created the event.

Q: What is your role in the campaign?

A: Our role is to spread the awareness of Kony around the world. The internet is the most powerful tool today, and can be utilized very well, but could easily be misused. Letting the public know who Kony is and what he has done is key to our final goal; it doesn’t matter which company or charity they support. As long as they are aware of the malicious actions Kony has done, there is no doubt they will be against him.

Q: Do you know why it has taken so many years for the video to be released?

A: The social media has never been so important as in today's society. Facebook started to become really well known only a couple of years ago. Today, Facebook is the biggest and easiest way to reach out to the world.

Q: How would you respond to the increasing critiques Invisible Children and the campaign are receiving?

A: The critiques are irrelevant to our motives. While they argue that Invisible Children misuse their spent money, the organization is still helping the cause to stop Kony for good. The goal for our event is not to raise money and send them to IC, it is to spread awareness.

Q: Are you aware that 31% of the donations given to Invisible Children go direct, and the remainder go towards salaries, production, travel expenses, etc?

(answered by Oscar's close friend Arisa, who is part of the group organizing the event)

A: Yes we are well aware that Invisible Children is not a fully non-profit organization. However, there are so many individuals running the organization at this point that “non-profit” is an idealistic notion. Invisible Children has surely, and steadily, been creating a change in this world, and that's what counts.

Many are against this movement because of the way Invisible Children is operating or because someone googled their financial statement and realized that they don't spend every cent they receive for this cause. But this event we are organising isn't about fundraising for charity. Its not about Invisible Children, Inc. either. Actually, it should be about helping the real invisible children; the thousands of children forced into slavery by Joseph Kony and the families torn apart by violence.

As one of our supporters has written on the event wall: “Maybe Invisible Children, Inc. is looking to exploit us. Maybe not. But let's take the positives from this movement - the fact that millions of people are aware of the evil caused by a man whose name most wouldn't recognize as of three days ago. But now the awareness is here, and the emotion is here. Let's work together to make a productive solution that will address this problem.”

Courtesy of chris shultz, Joseph Kony

Q: How do you feel supporting a charity that puts money into an army? And, specifically, an army that has had many individuals accused of raping and looting?

A: In no way are we directly supporting Invisible Children. We are simply using their resources they provide us to further advance our primary motives. The main reason for the existence of our Facebook Worldwide Event Page is to raise awareness of Joseph Kony and his evil deeds. I imagined a large movement where leaders from cities around the world will gain the courage to promote their own Event Pages for their city. The methods they will use to support the movement is out of our control. Whether they decide to buy the kit and posters from Invisible Children, or donate money to other charities, Joseph Kony will be known throughout the world. As long as we do not stray from our original goal, the children in Uganda will be helped.

We only ignited the flame. We cannot control where the fire spreads.

Q: Do you think the campaign will be successful?

A: Yes, we believe it will be successful. People have different viewpoints on this, but at least they are aware of Kony now. We, the people, have the power to influence anyone, even the government.

This could not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our close friends and the admins of the event; Lauren Studebaker, Arisa Toyosaki, Sara Ras, and Kentaro Ishihara.