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Get the facts before opening your wallet for Kony 2012

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP

I want to make the world a better place - that's what I told myself after watching Kony 2012. It is a fascinating video that has gained more than 78 million views on YouTube. The organisation behind it, Invisible Children, has more than three million 'likes' on its Facebook page.

The message of the video is clear: save the children, stop Joseph Kony. It uses powerful images and animation to persuade viewers to act - and indeed they did.

Thousands of people donated to the cause: to get rid of Kony. Kony is the leader of a rebel militant army in Uganda who abducted boys and turned them into child soldiers.

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The Kony video spread rapidly through social networking websites. In Hong Kong, a Facebook event, Kony 2012 Night Sweep, called on 9,000 people to raise awareness about the issue.

But let's take a step back: what's the purpose behind the video?

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Opponents of the video argue that it is propaganda. It uses the power of social media to influence people and pressure the government to start a war, they say. Others say the organisation wants to provide a legitimate reason for sending troops to Uganda. The biggest accusation is that Invisible Children is trying to earn money by commercialising the issue.

With so many differing claims, more facts are needed.

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