by talking about it, you can help too

I just saw the most disturbing and inspiring documentary called, "Invisible Children" about children in Uganda who walk miles every day to sleep in cities so that they don't get abducted and forced into a bloody-thirsty band of terrorists--the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). An army of children that are forced to kill their own people and become brainwashed.

Children from 8-14 years old are abducted. Within the first week they are forced to kill someone, to share in the guilt of their oppressors. Often siblings will be forced to kill siblings so that no brotherly bonds of affection can supercede the hate of the army's command.

Under threat of death, LRA child soldiers attack villages, shooting and cutting off people's lips, ears, hands, feet, or breasts, at times force-feeding the severed body parts to victims' families. Some cut open the bellies of pregnant women and tear their babies out. Men and women are gang-raped. As a warning to those who might report them to Ugandan authorities, they bore holes in the lips of victims and padlock them shut. Victims are burned alive or beaten to death with machetes and clubs. The murderous task is considered properly executed only when the victim is mutilated beyond recognition and his or her blood spatters the killer's clothing.
--Christianity Today magazine, January 2006

I encourage you to read the above article. It gives alot of helpful information and a good introduction to what we Westerners can't even imagine. If you want something softer, watch the documentary. It's humorous, profound, sad and inspiring.

Every night thousands of children commute to the city to avoid capture and induction into the LRA. Along the way bullies beat up other children, girls are raped by traveling boys and village men, and many do not have much food, if any.

If you want to raise awareness about this situation and help pressure governments to pressure change in Uganda, you can do something today. There's many ways. Visit www.invisiblechildren.com to start.

Also April 29 people from all across the United States and Canada (and other countries are invited) will reinact what these children go through every day (Oprah even talked about it today).

My city is one of the 20 largest participation cities. We'll have it easy. We're only asked to walk from wherever we're at into the city. From Lincoln we will walk to Centennial Mall, and sleep on the ground. The whole night. Then get up at dawn and walk back. From my school, we're only walking about 3-4 miles one way. We'll be bringing sleeping bags (and tarps 'cause it's supposed to rain). We'll have whatever snack food we bring. We'll write letters to the President and senators. We'll write letters to the Uganda kids. We'll sleep. And by our actions, hopefully we'll tell the world Uganda is not isolated, is not alone, is not "somebody else's problem." They can't stop the war and turmoil in their country. But a bunch of angry people with angry governements that shut down the resources and funding for brutality...that can make a difference.