My Response the US Bill: LRA Disarmament & Northern Uganda Recovery Act 2009

First, I am grateful for the LRA Disarmament and Northen Uganda Recovery Act of 2009.

Secondly, I would like to bring some things to light for people who continue to support the cause. The LRA is being depicted as a rebel group without a cause, but the LRA is being funded by very powerful groups with very clear agendas. The only way we can stop these groups is by first accepting that they exist and secondly understanding what their driving motivations are.

I went to Gulu and spoke to the displaced people and orphans, I saw their homes had been taken from them and now oil rigs are set up drilling and exporting oil from their land. The LRA is being funded by groups who make money off of our dependency on their products.

I was in Uganda when they confiscated one of Joseph Kony's leading officials computers and found a long list of corporations, NGO's, and private groups that are giving the LRA large sum's of money. All these groups care about is making money. Even if they have to lie, steal, kill, and destroy innocent peoples lives to do so.

Our energy would not be wisely spent trying to change the moral codes of the LRA or the groups funding them. But what we can do is create more efficient, peaceful, ethical business practices by putting our dollars where our hearts are. By exercising self-control and wisdom in our lives we can safe guard against getting caught up like blind fools in a con man's poker match.

Everyday we must stop being so greedy self centered and wasteful and we must start exercising more self-control, prudence, and consciousness of our affect on the world around us. We must support and advocate renewable energy sources, conserve energy, consume less, buy eco-friendly products, support local business, grow gardens, support electric and solar cars, and walk, bike, and bus more often. We must demand transparency in all exportation of resources from Africa. We can't buy diamonds from dealers who can't prove they got them from safe sources. We have to end our addiction to new technology that only serves to entertain us and stop throwing away your old phones and computers every time a new one comes out, someone might have lost their life over the resources that made your phone. I can go on and on, but my point is this: I am not against change, I am pro appreciation, pro deep consideration, and pro wisdom. If we aren't practicing the above mentioned daily we become part of this atrocious brutality against children and vulnerable resource rich communities in Africa. Obama can help us stop the LRA, but it is up to each concerned individual to become aware of and fix our internal deficits so that we don't continue to unconsciously fuel the groups who create and fund the LRA. If we don't make these powerful internal changes, we can be sure to see another LRA after we stop this one. And we can be sure to see more children and communities destroyed by our mindless wasteful addictions. How will we change ourselves? How can we grow? Only God knows.

Obama's Speaks

http://blog.invisiblechildren.com/2010/05/obama-speaks-the-president-declares-his-commitment-to-the-lra-bill/

Fleeing Rebels Kill Hundred's Congolese: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/world/africa/28congo.html

Sabism 5 - Just do it

Sunbeam

St. Jude Children's Home: Driving through Kampala

St. Jude Children's Home: Traditional Acholi Dance #2

St. Jude Children's Home: Traditional Acholi Dance

Nigeria - Nneka - Africans