The Rescue

Make a difference and get involved today!

Invisible Children is a very worth while cause. Here is a little background on what they stand for, against and what they strive to change ...

For 23 years, the government of Uganda and a rebel group called the Lords Resistance Army, led by a man named Joseph Kony, has engaged in Africa’s longest war. In recent years, peace was seemingly within reach, largely due to the Juba Peace Talks that began in July 2006. However, despite a ceasefire signed between the LRA and Ugandan government, efforts toward peace through the Juba Peace Talks were stalled on several occasions by Kony’s refusal to sign the final peace agreement. Kony’s absence at the peace agreement signing on November 29, 2008 proved his promises to be futile and ultimately disabled the peace talks. Furthermore, the ICC has obtained evidence that Kony used the ceasefire during the peace talks to regroup, regain strength and resume child abductions. Joseph Kony is the world’s first individual indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. Since September 2008, hostility in the Orientale province in DR Congo and Western Equatoria in South Sudan has reached a feverish pitch. In apparent desperation and a renewed will to spread terror to DR Congo, the LRA murdered over six hundred and abducted more than one hundred and sixty children to fight amongst its ranks. More than 104,000 Congolese have been displaced since Christmas in attempts to escape the LRA forces. A civil war, originally contained within Uganda’s borders, has now evolved into a widespread regional crisis. Invisible Children, in concert with other policy organizations including Resolve Uganda, The Enough Project, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, now believes an international effort to apprehend Kony and rescue his child soldiers is the most viable way to end the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today.

If you would like to get involved, please pay attention to the information below. It's only $5.00 and one weekend night to make a huge difference!

On April 25th, 2009 the international community will unite to deliver the innocent from Kony’s reign and ensure he is brought to justice. Your abduction will begin on April 25th at 3pm when you leave your home and meet at the fountain in front of Horton Plaza. You will drop off one of your family photos at the abduction site, symbolically leaving them behind. Then you will march as a group, on foot, to the NBC station and then to Embarcadero Marina Park South, our "LRA Camp", while carrying any supplies you will need for the night on your backs. This march will range from 1-3 miles and will be done in a single file line with all participants holding onto a rope. Invisible Children will arrange for photographers and videographers to film this symbolic march. Once you’ve arrived at the LRA Camp, you will set up your “camp” and then wait to be “rescued”.

The atmosphere at the LRA camp will be similar to our previous two events, Global Night Commute in 2006 and Displace Me in 2007, we loved the feel of those nights. People were peacefully moving around, meeting new friends and discussing world issues that really matter ... while writing their letters and completing their art projects. The climax of the night will be when your Rescuer arrives and pledges their support for The Rescue of Joseph Kony’s child soldiers. When this happens you should be very proud of what your city was able to accomplish and we hope that you celebrate and then stay until dawn the next day when you march back home. Spending the night in the Camp is a unique experience. For one night, you will forfeit the comforts of home and sleep in solidarity with the thousands of kids who have been abducted during this war. Your commitment to stay overnight shows the sacrifice that you are willing to make. This sacrifice will speak to our leaders.

I encourage everyone who can to participate in this activity and help make a difference. If you are unable to make The Rescue, there will be a lobbying event June 22 - 23, 2009 (times and locations TBA).

For more information on how to get involved in The Rescue this weekend, please visit therescue.invisiblechildren.com or www.invisiblechildren.com for general information on the movement.