Viral Good

Barbara: This video went viral in exactly six days. How did I find out about it? The darling daughter of my BabyFest friends has been a passionate advocate for all things Africa ever since, well, ever since I can remember. She went to Kenya to teach last summer and came back an even more passionate advocate. Of course, she would be inspired by the Kony 2012 movement!

As she can introduce the film and its phenomenon better than I, here’s what she says:

Brianna: The film gives you most of the information you need regarding Invisible Children and Joseph Kony. What is really inspiring me right now is how viral the video went, and the many possibilities it could unlock. Over 100 of my Facebook friends reposted the video. Student organizations (including the ones I am in charge of) are planning events, and everyone is gearing up to "cover the night" on April 20th. All of a sudden, people really care.

What I am trying to figure out is why now? What does this video present that other organizations have not? I have known about the LRA for quite some time—why are people listening now? Was it because people just didn't know? I have a few ideas including:

- It gives everyday people the chance to catch the bad guy

- They are not asking for money, or asking people to build schools, they're asking for people to make noise. 

- That film puts faces behind stories, and shows the link between the US and Africa.

Regardless, I am just so inspired by how inspired others are getting about this, and I hope people continue to research further. Unfortunately Kony is not unique. Rebel groups are using child soldiers in many other countries including Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Sudan. Capturing Kony is so important, but I hope this is just the spark that begins to open the world's eyes.

I hope that after watching the film people take action and keep educating themselves and moving forward. Invisible Children has done something truly spectacular and I cannot wait to be a part of what happens next.

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Barbara: What I believe is this: a) all that stuff ornery people like to spew about young people “not caring” is absolute BS. This is snowballing thanks to caring kids all over the world, b) we can truly gather and gain momentum for good in this new socially connected world like never before, and lastly, c) the primary importance of a campaign like this is not in funding it, but in realizing the force of our collective good—which also carries the power to let those who “do whatever they want with no consequences” realize irrefutably that “we’re watching you” … by the millions.