Community Corner

Cardiff Kook Dressed as Kony

The statue is dressed as the brutal African warlord, who recently became the subject of the fastest growing internet video campaign in history.

The Cadiff Kook this morning is dressed up as Joseph Kony, an African warlord who has spurred outcry around the world after his violent and radical practices were exposed in a 30-minute film created by Invisible Children, a group based in San Diego.

That video, titled Kony 2012, has become the fastest growing internet video campaign in history, according Visible Measures, an organization that measures social video advertising.

The production has brought a massive amount of sympathy for the plight of Ugandan children, who the filmmakers say are impressed by warlord Kony into his militia or forced to be sex slaves.

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It has also opened the door to criticism of Invisible Children, which is being accused of having questionable financial practices. The group has been trying to raise attention about problems in Africa for several years.

This time, their video hit the jackpot, capturing the attention of millions, including celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Rihanna and Justin Bieber, who spread the word on their Twitter accounts.

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As of Friday morning, the Kony video had garnered more than 70 million total views, according to Video Measures’ blog. It also had received 500,000 comments.

The firm also reported that about 200 videos have been posted in response to Kony 2012.

The growth of the video is one day faster than that of singer Susan
Boyle, the previous viral video champion, Video Measures reported.

It said Kony 2012 was first posted on Vimeo about two weeks ago, and
the You Tube campaign began on Monday, March 5.

Video Measures expects the number of views to top 100 million soon.

On Twitter, Invisible Children acknowledged that the growth of the
campaign was beginning to slow. For a while, it offered to donate 30 cents to its campaign for every new Twitter follower.

Invisible Children has been criticized this week for simplifying the
issue of how continual fighting in Africa is affecting children, and for not
giving enough of its donations in direct aid.

The Charity Navigator website gives Invisible Children three out of a
possible four stars, noting that it has never undergone an independent audit and has revenues that are outstripping expenditures.

Invisible Children did not immediately respond to a message seeking
comment. 

— City News Service contributed to this report 


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