"Invisible children"
OK so I just went to a screening of this documentary "Invisible children," which was done by three guys, all of whom were about 20 at the time, two of whom were USC students/grads. They basically decided to buy a camera on eBay and go film a documentary in the Sudan. They got a bit sidetracked, though, and the result was "Invisible children."
It tells the story of the ongoing war in Northern Uganda, where 30,000 children have been abducted by a rebel group over the last two decades. Some have been killed, all are put through intense physical and emotional torture, and they are forced to become rebel soldiers at the ages of 7, 8, 9, etc. Meanwhile, the kids who have survived commute into the center of town by foot every night, afraid to sleep in their own homes for fear of abduction.
So that's the short version, but basically it's an incredibly story that was shocking and really just unbelievable. As depressing as it was, it was also amazing to see these three random, relatively naive guys do this project. Their lives have been completely changed, and they've spent the last few years publicizing the film, starting fundraisers for the kids they filmed, getting press/media coverage, visiting Congress, etc., trying to get the war stopped. A week from tomorrow, on April 29, there will be a "Global Night Commute," where people in cities all over the world will sleep in their city centers, as a show of support and an attempt to bring attention to this travesty- basically, to stop the war.
So check out Invisiblechildren.com. I know it sounds maybe a little corny and there is bad stuff everywhere, but these kids are really trying to make a difference. They did a Q&A afterward, and their energy, optimism, and determination was infectious. They filled the 300-400 seat house of the theatre on campus where they were screening, and the tears of the audience were audible. It was intense.
Just lettin' y'all know.
It tells the story of the ongoing war in Northern Uganda, where 30,000 children have been abducted by a rebel group over the last two decades. Some have been killed, all are put through intense physical and emotional torture, and they are forced to become rebel soldiers at the ages of 7, 8, 9, etc. Meanwhile, the kids who have survived commute into the center of town by foot every night, afraid to sleep in their own homes for fear of abduction.
So that's the short version, but basically it's an incredibly story that was shocking and really just unbelievable. As depressing as it was, it was also amazing to see these three random, relatively naive guys do this project. Their lives have been completely changed, and they've spent the last few years publicizing the film, starting fundraisers for the kids they filmed, getting press/media coverage, visiting Congress, etc., trying to get the war stopped. A week from tomorrow, on April 29, there will be a "Global Night Commute," where people in cities all over the world will sleep in their city centers, as a show of support and an attempt to bring attention to this travesty- basically, to stop the war.
So check out Invisiblechildren.com. I know it sounds maybe a little corny and there is bad stuff everywhere, but these kids are really trying to make a difference. They did a Q&A afterward, and their energy, optimism, and determination was infectious. They filled the 300-400 seat house of the theatre on campus where they were screening, and the tears of the audience were audible. It was intense.
Just lettin' y'all know.