KONY 2012 revisited
A little over 1 month ago, Invisible Children made a big viral splash with their KONY 2012 video. It had over 100 million views in less than a week! Big name celebrities were talking about it. Major news outlets covered it.
The purpose was awareness – not action…awareness. Yes, you could act (buy a packet, call a lawmaker, etc), but mostly they wanted lots of people to know what Joseph Kony has been up to for the past 15+ years.
Invisible Children last week released a follow-up video to address several concerns, one of them being action. On April 20, 2012, they are asking for people all over the world to join in “Cover the Night” – a type of mass community project. (Interestingly in the first 2-3 days, less than 1 million had viewed the video on YouTube).
Something bigger
I admit, I was moved when I watched the original KONY 2012 video. I was also disappointed when reading some of the concerns about Invisible Children and the arrest of co-founder, Jason Russell.
I want to make a difference. Somewhere. Somehow. I want to make a difference.
I know there is something bigger than The Collective, than Andy Bondurant. I still haven’t come to that conclusion.
I think that’s why I was moved by the KONY 2012 video. A group of guys are doing something. I may not agree with exactly how they run their organization. I may be disappointed in their personal actions. Yet, they are doing something. Something bigger than themselves.
Forgotten Shirts
My friend, Phil Hussong (you might remember Phil as one of the guys working for WHCC as a customer service rep a few years ago), passed along to me the information on an endeavor some friends had begun – Forgotten Shirts.
Forgotten Shirts is doing something bigger. Forgotten Shirts is also taking action in the exact region Invisible Children is targeting (and beyond).
3/74
Forgotten Shirts is built on a simple principle. Help 3 groups of people (Ugandan cotton farmers, Ugandan factory workers, at-risk Minneapolis youth) by employing them for 74 minutes (for each shirt purchased).
The cotton sold for the shirts are from the Fair Trade market, allowing the farmers to make 3 times as much as the normal markets. The t-shirt factory employs young women, allowing them to provide food and education for their families. The screen printing employs young people in urban Minneapolis that provides tutoring and support.
Will you be a part?
I took the easiest path possible. I purchased 2 shirts – 1 for myself and 1 for Kia. The price is a little high compared to purchasing a similar shirt elsewhere on the web, but the money is well spent.
I can do more, so can you.
In addition to a one-off online store, Forgotten shirts provides the option to print custom shirts for your business or organization. What if you used them to print shirts for your next promotion – senior models, open-house event, staff shirts, etc.
One thing we know about the Millennial Generation believes in making a change – the KONY 2012 “movement” is a great example of this. What a great way to do something beyond your studio as simply as purchasing a t-shirt!
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