Invisible Children Volume 88 Issue 15 October 11, 2011

The Weekly Publication of
The Rotary Club of Downey, California
Volume 88
Issue 15
October 11, 2011
Downey is a city with a rich aerospace history.
Vultee BT-13
Apollo Command Module
Space
Shuttle
Invisible Children
A joint meeting that included the Bellflower, Downey
and Paramount Rotary clubs proved to be a great time of
Rotary fellowship and a program that was eye opening.
The Invisible Children organization gave a presentation
on the plight of children in Uganda and it’s neighboring
countries. The following are the stories of Uganda and
the “Invisible Children.”
HOW IT STARTED
In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to
Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when
these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy
that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims.
After returning to the States, they created the documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," a film that exposes
the tragic realities of northern Uganda’s night commuters
and child soldiers.
The film was originally shown to friends and family, but
has now been seen by millions of people. The overwhelming response has been, "How can I help?" To answer this question, the non-profit Invisible Children, Inc.
was created, giving compassionate individuals an effective way to respond to the situation.
ism. By documenting the lives of those living in regions of
conflict and injustice, we hope to educate and inspire individuals in the Western world to use their unique voice for
change. Our media creates an opportunity for people to become part of a grassroots movement that intelligently responds to what's happening in the world.
But our work extends beyond our borders. In war-affected
regions we focus on long-term development, working directly with individuals and institutions that are eager to realize their full potential. Through education and innovative
economic opportunities, we partner with affected communities and strive to improve the quality of life for individuals
living in conflict and post-conflict regions.
HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Our approach to humanitarian work is founded in the
strength and intelligence of the Ugandan community. We
learned early on it was not only important, but essential to
heed the wisdom of people that had not only lived in the
war, but were surviving it. People who would know better
than anyone what the greatest needs were and the best ways
to meet them. What we came to find is that while there have
been many efforts to address the issues that stem from living and fighting in such a long-lasting war, the people of
Uganda are asking for a future beyond the conflict.
Their pleas have become our development strategy.
WHO WE ARE
We are storytellers. We are visionaries, humanitarians,
artists, and entrepreneurs. We are individuals part of a
generation eager for change and willing to pursue it.
As a non-profit we work to transform apathy into activ-
All of our programming is a partnership between those of
us at Invisible Children and those in the Ugandan community. We focus on long-term goals that enable children to
take responsibility for their future and the future of their
country. Our programs are carefully researched and devel-
oped initiatives that address the need for quality
education, mentorships, the redevelopment of
schools, resettlement from the camps, and financial
stability.
left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the
middle. The GoU's attempt to protect its citizens from
this rebel militia has largely failed, resulting in an entire generation of youth that has never known peace.
UGANDA TODAY
Since Invisible Children: Rough Cut was filmed in
2003, night commuting has ended for the children
of northern Uganda. In recent years peace was
seemingly within reach, largely due to the Juba
Peace Talks. From June 2006 to March 2008 in
Juba, Sudan, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)
and the Government of Uganda (GoU) engaged in
a series of peace talks in order to end the conflict.
These peace talks, supported by special envoys
from the United States and other nations, allowed
for the longest period of peace in northern
Uganda’s 23-year war.
The LRA rebel movement can be traced back to a
woman named Alice Lakwena. In the 1980s, Lakwena
believed the Holy Spirit spoke to her and ordered her to
overthrow the Ugandan government for being unjust to
the Acholi. Lakwena and her followers, known as the
Holy Spirit Movement, gained momentum as resentment toward the government increased. When Lakwena
was exiled and no clear leader of the movement was
left, Joseph Kony, who claimed to be Lakwena’s
cousin, took control and transformed Lakwena’s rebel
army into the LRA.
The Juba Peace Talks developed with hope for a
lasting resolution, and concluded in March of 2008
with the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) ready for
the signature of Joseph Kony and President
Museveni. However, in April of 2008, Kony twice
failed to appear and sign the FPA and officially
ended the Juba talks mediated by the Southern Sudanese government. Joseph Kony’s stated reasons
for not signing the FPA were a vague understanding of the treaty’s systems regarding post-conflict
justice and an apprehension toward ICC warrants
for him and four other LRA leaders. Since the collapse of the peace talks, the LRA has been active in
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central
African Republic (CAR) and southern Sudan,
drawing widespread disapproval from the international community and igniting a new urgency to
end what has become a complex regional conflict
In the last two years, an estimated 900,000 of the
1.8 million displaced have returned to their homes.
But that leaves one million people currently living
in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
While the majority desires to return home, the issues surrounding their return are complex. Some
have been displaced for more than a decade, and
their former way of life is all but gone. Access to
clean water, economic opportunities, health centers, and education are a pressing concern for all,
and even more so for the many who contemplate
returning to resource-barren villages.
AFRICA’S LONGEST RUNNING WAR
The war in northern Uganda has been called the
most neglected humanitarian emergency in the
world today. For the past 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of
Uganda (GoU) have been waging a war that has
Kony's LRA did not receive the same support as the
Holy Spirit Movement from the Acholi people. With
dwindling approval for their cause and heightened government offensives, the rebels resorted to abducting
children and indoctrinating them into their ranks. It is
estimated that more than 90% of the LRA’s troops
were abducted as children.
In 1996, as a response to the LRA attacks in the villages, the Ugandan government forcibly evicted thousands from their homes, relocating them into overcrowded camps in hopes of providing protection. But
over a decade later, roughly one million individuals
still live in these camps and struggle to survive among
the effects of abject poverty, rampant disease, and nearcertain starvation.
In recent years more and more international attention
has been focused on this crisis. In 2001, the US Patriot
Act officially declared the LRA to be a terrorist organization - a huge step in drawing attention to the conflict
and the atrocities committed by the LRA. In 2004,
Congress passed the Northern Uganda Crisis Response
Act, the first piece of American legislation to address
this disaster. And in 2005, the International Criminal
Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Joseph Kony and
four of his top commanders.
Pressure from the international community (particularly
from EU and Canada) combined with a strong desire to
secure peace has brought the Government of Uganda
and the LRA to the negotiating table on numerous occasions, though they have yet to find a peaceful resolution. The most recent talks commenced in Juba, Sudan
in July 2006, and a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement
was signed the following month.
In July 2007, in response to an increased concern for
peace in northern Uganda by the American people, the
US State Department appointed Tim Shortley to Senior
Advisor for Conflict Resolution with his immediate focus on
northern Uganda. This action solidified the US’s commitment to
end this conflict peacefully. That same year, the United Kingdom
bolstered their commitment to peace by allocating £70 million in
aid, while Germany committed to a 25% increase in aid to Uganda
by October 2010. Canada later became more than an international
supporter of the peace process in February 2008 by joining the
peace talks as an official observer (though the Canadian officer on
the ground has since been removed from the region).
At this point in time, the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement has
expired and Joseph Kony has failed to sign the Final Peace Agreement for a fourth time, proving his promises to be futile and ultimately disabling the peace talks. Uncertainty lingers, not only for
the thousands displaced in northern Uganda but across the entire
northeastern border region of DR Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic.
Since September 2008, hostility in the Orientale province in DR
Congo and Western Equatoria in South Sudan has reached a feverish pitch. LRA attacks have become more frequent and hostile,
provoking military action against the rebel group. In an unprecedented joint military operation, the governments of Uganda, DR
Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic launched an
attack on LRA strongholds within DR Congo. “Operation Lightning Thunder”, the name designated for the counteroffensive, was
largely unsuccessful in light of both the failure to reach top LRA
leadership and the onslaught of violence that followed.
One month later on December 24th, 2008, the LRA launched a
retaliatory attack against the people of DR Congo. 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.
As the motives of the LRA become more ambiguous and their
crimes more horrific, Invisible Children remains committed to
seeking sustainable solutions to foster an environment that encourages peace. We are supporting and equipping a generation ravaged
by war so that they can finally know peace. Invisible Children addresses the need for access to education and economic development through innovative programs on the ground. To learn more
about these programs and how you can contribute to lasting peace
and development go to www.invisiblechildren.com.
What’s Going On?
October 11—Warren/Downey Spirit
Day
*November 4—Downey Rotary & the
Arc Golf Tournament at Rio Hondo
Country Club.
*November 6—Foundation Celebration to feature Circus Vargus.
*February 8 to 12 2012—
Humanitarian Trip to Puerto Rico.
*March 24, 2012—
Arc Walk for Independence
Club Duties
Invocation: Mario Guerra
Pledge: Harold Tseklinis
Greeter: Harold Tseklinis
Finemaster: Ray Andazola
President Diane pictured here with her counterparts from
Bellflower and Paramount Rotary Clubs along with a
team from Invisible Children.
Songs: Bob or Dan or Wayne
Kalyan Banerjee,
RI President
Brad Robinson,
District Governor
Diane Davis,
Club President
Rotary Club of Downey Officers 2011-2012
President ……………………………………...……….. Diane Davis
President-Elect ………………………………………..Ray Andazola
Vice President ………………...…………………….William Medina
Secretary ….……………………………………….Patricia Megallon
Treasurer ……………………………...Paul Velasco & Paul Mathys
Club Service ………………………………..………. …Larry Garces
Community Service ………..…..Larry McGrew & Russell Skersick
International ………………………………………...Tom Hutchinson
New Generations (Youth)…………………….…….……Alex Lopez
Vocational Service ……………………………..….… Manny Castro
Past President…………………………………..……....Ingrid Martin
Membership…………..……………………….......Kevin MacDonald
Foundation…………………………………….…………..Ray Brown
Need a Make Up? How about one of these local clubs
Or find a club anywhere in the world at www.rotary.org and click on the Club Locator
Cerritos-Artesia
1215
Downey
1200
Del Amo (Torrance) 1210
Paramount
1210
South Gate
La Mirada
Montebello
Norwalk
1215
1215
1200
1200
Bellflower
Pico Rivera
RioHondo-Vernon
1730
1200
1200
Whittier
1200
Monday
Hometown Buffet
562-404-1993 Dist. 5320
Tuesday
Rio Hondo Event Ctr.
562-413-4001 Dist. 5280
The Depot Rest., Torrance 310-793-7070 Dist. 5280
Progress Park Plaza
562-822-7000 Dist. 5280
Wednesday
SG Municipal Auditorium 951-855-6095 Dist. 5280
Clearman’s Northwood Inn 714-994-4299 Dist. 5320
Montebello C. C.
626-524-1962 Dist. 5300
Sizzler Rest., Norwalk
562-477-6121 Dist. 5320
Thursday
Hollywood Sports Park
562-412-5104 Dist. 5280
Dal Rae Restaurant
562-467-8900 Dist. 5300
Stevens Steak House
562-928-2118 Dist. 5280
Friday
Radisson Hotel, Whittier 562-696-1643 Dist. 5320