Who is Joseph Kony?

[redrock]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

Bear in mind that exploitation is just part of it. Corruption is rife in those countries we are talking about here.

[polaris_x]

he may have been kidding...everybody else on here blames the US for all the bad in the world so why not this too..right ? I think it was in jest.

Godfather.

it was not in jest ... far from it ...

i really don't feel like explaining third world poverty issues and the concept of economic imperialism ... let's just say if one looks at access to resources in developing countries - you will see that the control is largely with large multi-national corporations and in countries that they are not ... they are all subjected to the threats of war ... see Iran ...

[Godfather.]

he may have been kidding...everybody else on here blames the US for all the bad in the world so why not this too..right ? I think it was in jest.

Godfather.

it was not in jest ... far from it ...

i really don't feel like explaining third world poverty issues and the concept of economic imperialism ... let's just say if one looks at access to resources in developing countries - you will see that the control is largely with large multi-national corporations and in countries that they are not ... they are all subjected to the threats of war ... see Iran ...

ooop's my mistake...carry on.


Godfather.

[Vitalogy Man]

he may have been kidding...everybody else on here blames the US for all the bad in the world so why not this too..right ? I think it was in jest.

Godfather.

it was not in jest ... far from it ...

i really don't feel like explaining third world poverty issues and the concept of economic imperialism ... let's just say if one looks at access to resources in developing countries - you will see that the control is largely with large multi-national corporations and in countries that they are not ... they are all subjected to the threats of war ... see Iran ...

Can you please name specifically, the corporations that are exploiting Africa?

I'djust like to learn more about them- it seems like I'm the only one who doesn't know about it... So, which corporations are we talking about?

[polaris_x]

Can you please name specifically, the corporations that are exploiting Africa?

I'djust like to learn more about them- it seems like I'm the only one who doesn't know about it... So, which corporations are we talking about?

there are many ... from Shell and the Ken Saro Wiwa travesty years ago in Nigeria, to mining companies like De Beers to Nestle ... etc ...

[peacefrompaul]

A theocracy based on the ten commandments...

God has sent spirits to Kony directly... Apparently God wants him to be violent about it too.

I truly feel sorry for those people.

[Vitalogy Man]

Can you please name specifically, the corporations that are exploiting Africa?

I'djust like to learn more about them- it seems like I'm the only one who doesn't know about it... So, which corporations are we talking about?

there are many ... from Shell and the Ken Saro Wiwa travesty years ago in Nigeria, to mining companies like De Beers to Nestle ... etc ...

Ok.
Shell Oil.
Nestle.
DeBeers.

Those are companies who employ Africans in oil fields, cocoa plantations, and diamond mines.

But other than employing Aficans, how are they "exploiting" the Continent of Africa?

[redrock]

Can you please name specifically, the corporations that are exploiting Africa?

I'djust like to learn more about them- it seems like I'm the only one who doesn't know about it... So, which corporations are we talking about?

there are many ... from Shell and the Ken Saro Wiwa travesty years ago in Nigeria, to mining companies like De Beers to Nestle ... etc ...

Ok.
Shell Oil.
Nestle.
DeBeers.

Those are companies who employ Africans in oil fields, cocoa plantations, and diamond mines.

But other than employing Aficans, how are they "exploiting" the Continent of Africa?

These aren't serious questions,are they? IF you had read the little article I linked to (short and not difficult to read), within the first couple of paragraghs you would have had an idea of what the 'exploitation' is.

Silly of me to take the bait...

[Vitalogy Man]

RedRocks-

I read it.

I found this interesting: "As it relates to available resources, Africa has surpassed the Middle East as the greatest supplier of oil to the United States responsible for 24 percent of the oil used here. Over 80 percent of the coltan used by companies like Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson and Sony for many of the world’s electronic devices such as cell phones, computers and DVD players comes from Africa. Additionally, 80 percent of the cobalt used in lithium ion batteries—a key component in the future development of green technology—including cars—comes from Africa."

And this:
In a recent column, Nicole C. Lee, executive director of TransAfrica Forum writes: “As a continent, Africa is still enslaved because of its vast wealth. The mining and extraction of precious materials—oil, natural gas, coltan and cobalt—enrich corporations but cast a shadow of poverty throughout the continent. Whether in the Niger Delta or the Democratic Republic of Congo, the people experience lives of misery and receive very little benefit from the richness of their land. This is known as the “resource curse”—the paradoxical relationship so many Africans have to the richness of Africa.”

Also this:
Firestone, who for over 82 years has run the world’s largest rubber operation in the world in a financially exploitative relationship using child labor to extract rubber from Liberia without paying proper taxes to the government.


Sounds like Africa should be the richest continent on the planet based on their available resources. The article accuses a handful of corporations, without evidence or specifics, of stealing the resources and not paying the proper taxes to the people.

But one thing about your source, not sure if you are aware- the colomn writers for the site you referenced are as follows:

Louis Farrakkhan
Elijah Muhammad
Jabril Muhammad
Tynnetta Muhammad

Sorry, but posting Louis Farrakkhan as a reliable source, is well.... you know.
And some people freak out at a Foxnews link...


Here's a broader question. In 10,000 years, no African country has developed their natural resources to export, at least without foreign assistance. Long before any corporation showed up.

So, is it REALLY the corporations, an 82 year old problem? What's wrong with Africa has alot more to do with why a guy like this evil Joseoph Kony takes power so easily over millions of people, than it does with Firestone paying taxes. Pay taxes to who? A corrupt government that enslaves it's OWN people.

That is the problem. Not Nestle- for God's sake- it's not the chocolate company that's kept Africa down for 10000000000000000000000000 years.

[Drowned Out]

This all becomes very chicken-or-the-egg.....But the question is this:
Does a corrupt government official or dictator have the right to sell off their nation's resources, or to agree to infrastructure/aid loans that cripple their nation for generations to come?

Because THAT is what happens in these places. Western corporations come in and find the right palm to grease, then claim they 'have a deal'....If they can't find a palm to grease, they find a way to put one of their people in a position of power. Western governments and media are complicit in this, it isn't just the resource/infrastructure corps.

It's been referenced here a million times, but Confessions of an Economic Hitman is a good book for anyone looking for a peak behind the globalist curtain.

[Halifax2TheMax]

RedRocks-

I read it.

I found this interesting: "As it relates to available resources, Africa has surpassed the Middle East as the greatest supplier of oil to the United States responsible for 24 percent of the oil used here. Over 80 percent of the coltan used by companies like Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson and Sony for many of the world’s electronic devices such as cell phones, computers and DVD players comes from Africa. Additionally, 80 percent of the cobalt used in lithium ion batteries—a key component in the future development of green technology—including cars—comes from Africa."

And this:
In a recent column, Nicole C. Lee, executive director of TransAfrica Forum writes: “As a continent, Africa is still enslaved because of its vast wealth. The mining and extraction of precious materials—oil, natural gas, coltan and cobalt—enrich corporations but cast a shadow of poverty throughout the continent. Whether in the Niger Delta or the Democratic Republic of Congo, the people experience lives of misery and receive very little benefit from the richness of their land. This is known as the “resource curse”—the paradoxical relationship so many Africans have to the richness of Africa.”

Also this:
Firestone, who for over 82 years has run the world’s largest rubber operation in the world in a financially exploitative relationship using child labor to extract rubber from Liberia without paying proper taxes to the government.


Sounds like Africa should be the richest continent on the planet based on their available resources. The article accuses a handful of corporations, without evidence or specifics, of stealing the resources and not paying the proper taxes to the people.

But one thing about your source, not sure if you are aware- the colomn writers for the site you referenced are as follows:

Louis Farrakkhan
Elijah Muhammad
Jabril Muhammad
Tynnetta Muhammad

Sorry, but posting Louis Farrakkhan as a reliable source, is well.... you know.
And some people freak out at a Foxnews link...


Here's a broader question. In 10,000 years, no African country has developed their natural resources to export, at least without foreign assistance. Long before any corporation showed up.

So, is it REALLY the corporations, an 82 year old problem? What's wrong with Africa has alot more to do with why a guy like this evil Joseoph Kony takes power so easily over millions of people, than it does with Firestone paying taxes. Pay taxes to who? A corrupt government that enslaves it's OWN people.

That is the problem. Not Nestle- for God's sake- it's not the chocolate company that's kept Africa down for 10000000000000000000000000 years.

May I suggest to you that you read a People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn as a primer on how US and other multinational corporations exploit the countries on the African continent? But when you finish reading it, be sure to read the footnotes and annotated sources for truly understanding where the information came from and perhaps read those sources before determining whether they're biased sources of information. Then, when you're finished with it and before you come to a conclusion, may I suggest that you read A History of the CIA (sorry, I forgot the author's name), particularly the chapter(s) regarding South and Central America as well as the chapters on the Congo, Uganda and the conflict between Turkey and Greece, all of which is relevant to understanding who and why "corporations" exploit the nations of Africa. Seriously, it'll help you understand what is happening today if you have a sense of what has been happening for the past three hundred years or so.

Peace.

[Idris]

That would be fantastic, wouldn't it? But one would need to end conflicts before having elections.

When you look at Uganda and DR Congo, both in dreadful conflicts, both rich countries, both completely corrupt. The wealth is not for the benefit of the people but exploited by the rulers and big corporations - yes Western ones too. Things are way too violent and volatile, but if and when things settle - 'we' are straight back in and so is exploitation and corruption.

part of me believes some of these conflicts are driven by the west to ensure political instability in the region ... also, it creates a market for arms sales which is big motivation of foreign policy ...

Something the 'system' is fearful of is a 'United Africa'. So Keep them divided (in conflict/strife), provide weapons, keep the bloodshed going until they (the people/land who you seek to exploit) are weak enough for the empires to come in and conquer them, Coming in as the 'heroes'.

The President of Uganda 'Museveni' has been in power for 26 years, how much bloodshed is on his hands? Is he innocent of war crimes? Does it even matter? I mean he's friendly with us so why should it?

This right now is all about the Militerization of Uganda via what was passed A few years ago, the LRA Disarmament And Northern Uganda Recovery Act. Put troops and "advisers" on the ground. Slowly building up a force and pushing 'AFRICOM' (AFRICOM started during the G.W Bush era)

The US is interested in keeping China at a distance from the resources in Africa and of course making a strong foothold in The Pearl Of Africa which will help in it's fight against 'Al Shabaab'. Slowly but surely the 'western power structure' is moving in on Africa.

Kony is not unique in the world, he is one of many. He just currently fits in well being the bogeyman against US interests on the African continent right now and along with this 'kony 2012' propaganda marketing campaign being pushed around and gaining popularity and whatever.

This is a feel good conflict the public can get behind. A public who probably could not even point out 'Uganda' on a map.

[inlet13]

An interesting retort:


http://visiblechildren.tumblr.com/

We got trouble.

For those asking what you can do to help, please link to visiblechildren.tumblr.com wherever you see KONY 2012 posts. And tweet a link to this page to famous people on Twitter who are talking about KONY 2012!

I do not doubt for a second that those involved in KONY 2012 have great intentions, nor do I doubt for a second that Joseph Kony is a very evil man. But despite this, I’m strongly opposed to the KONY 2012 campaign.

KONY 2012 is the product of a group called Invisible Children, a controversial activist group and not-for-profit. They’ve released 11 films, most with an accompanying bracelet colour (KONY 2012 is fittingly red), all of which focus on Joseph Kony. When we buy merch from them, when we link to their video, when we put up posters linking to their website, we support the organization. I don’t think that’s a good thing, and I’m not alone.

Invisible Children has been condemned time and time again. As a registered not-for-profit, its finances are public. Last year, the organization spent $8,676,614. Only 32% went to direct services (page 6), with much of the rest going to staff salaries, travel and transport, and film production. This is far from ideal, and Charity Navigator rates their accountability 2/4 stars because they haven’t had their finances externally audited. But it goes way deeper than that.

The group is in favour of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces. Here’s a photo of the founders of Invisible Children posing with weapons and personnel of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them, arguing that the Ugandan army is “better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries”, although Kony is no longer active in Uganda and hasn’t been since 2006 by their own admission. These books each refer to the rape and sexual assault that are perennial issues with the UPDF, the military group Invisible Children is defending.

Still, the bulk of Invisible Children’s spending isn’t on supporting African militias, but on awareness and filmmaking. Which can be great, except that Foreign Affairs has claimed that Invisible Children (among others) “manipulates facts for strategic purposes, exaggerating the scale of LRA abductions and murders and emphasizing the LRA’s use of innocent children as soldiers, and portraying Kony — a brutal man, to be sure — as uniquely awful, a Kurtz-like embodiment of evil.” He’s certainly evil, but exaggeration and manipulation to capture the public eye is unproductive, unprofessional and dishonest.

As Chris Blattman, a political scientist at Yale, writes on the topic of IC’s programming, “There’s also something inherently misleading, naive, maybe even dangerous, about the idea of rescuing children or saving of Africa. […] It hints uncomfortably of the White Man’s Burden. Worse, sometimes it does more than hint. The savior attitude is pervasive in advocacy, and it inevitably shapes programming. Usually misconceived programming.”

Still, Kony’s a bad guy, and he’s been around a while. Which is why the US has been involved in stopping him for years. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has sent multiple missions to capture or kill Kony over the years. And they’ve failed time and time again, each provoking a ferocious response and increased retaliative slaughter. The issue with taking out a man who uses a child army is that his bodyguards are children. Any effort to capture or kill him will almost certainly result in many children’s deaths, an impact that needs to be minimized as much as possible. Each attempt brings more retaliation. And yet Invisible Children supports military intervention. Kony has been involved in peace talks in the past, which have fallen through. But Invisible Children is now focusing on military intervention.

Military intervention may or may not be the right idea, but people supporting KONY 2012 probably don’t realize they’re supporting the Ugandan military who are themselves raping and looting away. If people know this and still support Invisible Children because they feel it’s the best solution based on their knowledge and research, I have no issue with that. But I don’t think most people are in that position, and that’s a problem.

Is awareness good? Yes. But these problems are highly complex, not one-dimensional and, frankly, aren’t of the nature that can be solved by postering, film-making and changing your Facebook profile picture, as hard as that is to swallow. Giving your money and public support to Invisible Children so they can spend it on supporting ill-advised violent intervention and movie #12 isn’t helping. Do I have a better answer? No, I don’t, but that doesn’t mean that you should support KONY 2012 just because it’s something. Something isn’t always better than nothing. Sometimes it’s worse.

If you want to write to your Member of Parliament or your Senator or the President or the Prime Minister, by all means, go ahead. If you want to post about Joseph Kony’s crimes on Facebook, go ahead. But let’s keep it about Joseph Kony, not KONY 2012.

~ Grant Oyston, visiblechildren@grantoyston.com

Grant Oyston is a sociology and political science student at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada. You can help spread the word about this by linking to his blog at visiblechildren.tumblr.com anywhere you see posts about KONY 2012.

[polaris_x]

those are good points about the organization ... most charities need to be scrutinized a bit more ... it is why some of us here have said that although removal and capture of this man would be good thing - it still doesn't solve the underlying problems in africa ...

[inlet13]

those are good points about the organization ... most charities need to be scrutinized a bit more ... it is why some of us here have said that although removal and capture of this man would be good thing - it still doesn't solve the underlying problems in africa ...

Right. I don't claim to know the ins and outs of this situation or the organization behind it. But, I do think there are many charities/organizations (certainly NOT ALL) out there that take advantage of situations, most people would see as problematic (Kony, cancer charities, etc). So, organizations like this should be scrutinized a bit before we go posting everywhere.

It seems to me there's a lot of problems with this organization. Yet, people are touting it everywhere (not just here). I've seen it all over the place. I think it's trending on twitter as we speak. It would be pretty sad if it's just another way to make money. The under workings behind this seems slightly similar to the military industrial complex and their voice in the states toppling other horrid leaders, just a new way to build popular support.