If you haven’t yet experienced Coco Loco, right on the beach, toward the south end of Playa Flamingo, I encourage you to do so.

The food and drinks are fantastic and the location

can’t be beat!

My current favorite menu item is the pork ribs with pineapple bbq sauce . . . delicious! And, if you need to “rehydrate” after a day on the beach, I highly recommend their signature cocktail – the Coco Loco.

Check out Coco Loco’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/cocolococostarica

Sunset Volleyball at Coco Loco

Howcast.com is a great Web site, where you can learn how to do (almost) anything – from how to perform magic tricks to how to play drums to how to “shotgun” a beer, etc., etc.

For example, here is a useful video from Howcast that explains how to get rid of hiccups:

One thing that Howcast.com won’t teach you is how to win a full-featured version of WinX DVD Ripper Platinum from this blog!  You can learn more about this great product and how to enter to win by clicking this button:

How To Win!

Win Me!

DON’T DELAY! This is the LAST DAY to enter! The drawing will be held TOMORROW, April 10, 2012, and the winners will have until April 18 to download and register the software.

All of us here at EthelTheFrog.com hope you are having a great Easter weekend!

(P.S. – Your chances of winning are higher than you might think!)

The internet has proven to be a hub of activity. Most of these activities are business oriented. One of these activities is online shopping.

Different people have seized the opportunity to set up online shops where you can shop for your favourite brands of clothes, shoes and accessories at the touch of a button. Online shops are in touch with the trends that are current. They sell garments and accessories that are in fashion at reasonable prices. It is true that not every trend works for everyone. Especially when it comes to clothes, not every woman of every size can wear a specific design.

There are those that are suitable for petite frames while others are suitable for plus size women. The key is to know what works for you to enhance and flaunt your strong features. This will help you have an easier shopping experience. This summer, bold colours and bright ones are in. Colour blocking is the order of the day where you get to mix and blend bold colours. Illumination patterns are also in trend as they help give a slimmer and elongated look.

Neon purses are all the fuss when it comes to purses and handbags. You can find them at every shop near you and even in online stores. They go for a reasonable price that will not dent your wallet. However, if you want the designer purses you will have to part with a lot more money for your purchase. They are perfectly matched in bold and screaming colours.

A floral dress would be well matched and paired with the neon coloured purse. One should be very careful not to clash the pattern with the bold neon colour. Add on a pair of distinct high heels or strappy gladiator sandals which never go out of fashion and you are good to go!

Win Me!

Remember! Only a few more days left to enter our “Spring Break Giveaway” and have a chance to win a full copy of WinX DVD Ripper Platinum!

The clock is running on our Spring-Break Giveaway!  Enter now!

See: http://www.ethelthefrog.com/super-spring-break-giveaway/

Win Me!

I was planning on posting this yesterday, but it’s sooooooo good that everyone would have thought that it was an “April Fools” prank.

I have the distinct honor of teaming up with Digiarty Software, which many of you will know better as the company behind the great WinX products, to give ten (10) lucky readers a full version of WinX  DVD Ripper Platinum.

I, personally, use and love this product (as well as other applications from Digiarty).

(Let me emphasize, I am giving away 10 (ten) full featured, fully-licensed copies of this fantastic software . . . that regularly sells for $45.95).

What’s so great about this software? Well, let me tell you.

Whenever I buy a new DVD, I immediately (before I even play it once) make a backup copy with WinX DVD Ripper Platinum. I no longer have to worry about my DVDs being scratched, lost, lent and not returned(!), etc.  A DVD collection is not inexpensive . . . it’s crazy to not use this software to back up your investment.

Look at this list of features:

High-level and Unique Technologies:

Continuously update to support the latest DVD copy protections and a growing number of platforms by Microsoft, Apple, Google, etc.
With support for Multi-core CPU, this software delivers blazingly fast DVD conversion performance, which is x2 faster than common DVD ripper in market.
Professional Presets – The program comes preloaded with a number of preconfigured profiles for popular devices. Users could also customize and save profiles.
High Quality Engine – Give you the highest possible quality for maximum enjoyment of standard DVD content.
Deinterlacing – Change interlaced scanning DVD movie to progressive scanning to output much better video effect.

Powerful DVD Ripping and Copy Abilities:

Rip DVD to AVI/MPEG/WMV with original DVD AC3/DTS 6 Channels audio track. Output MP4 video with AAC 2/4/6 Channels supported.

Build in optimized WMV encoder to fit the requirement of Windows Media Center. Convert DVD to WMV with AC3/DTS audio and stream to PS3 & Xbox 360.

Copy all content and data in DVD disc to a UDF ISO image file which can be mounted to the virtual drive and burned to DVD disc later.

Copy full title/main content of a DVD to a single MPEG2 file. Keep high quality video, original subtitles, 5.1 AC3 surround and DTS audio.

Rip DVD to Portable Video Player:

Rip and convert DVD to MP4, H.264 for smoothly playback on Apple video player, e.g. DVD to iPhone/4S, DVD to iPad, DVD to iPod, Apple TV.

Rip DVD to Android, HTC, Samsung, XOOM, Galaxy Tab, general tablets, etc. with specified profiles corresponding to each device.

Rip DVD to PSP compatible MP4, AVC video. Watch DVD movies on PSP with its widescreen, ultra-crisp LCD screens.

Transfer movie to Mobile phone by ripping DVD to 3GP, MP4 video. Play DVD on Nokia, Blackberry, Motorola, etc.

Easy-to-advanced Video Editing Features:

You can freely adjust all video/audio parameters to set your desired video quality and file size, including video bitrate, video resolution, frame rate, etc.

The split feature allows you to edit out annoying adverts to watch your film without inane interruptions. It also lets you rip your favorite DVD clip only.

The built-in video player enables you to preview DVD movie and take snapshot to save as JPEG, BMP files.

Crop video to remove the black bars within DVD. Cut off unwanted area to feature a highlight.

Edit aspect ratio to modify incorrect DVD playback image on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Samsumg, HTC, Android, tab, PSP, etc.

Okay, what do you have to do to win a copy of this incredible software?

1. “Like” Ethel The Frog on Facebook.

2. “Like” Digiarty (WinXDVD.com) on Facebook.

3. Send an email to ethel@ethelthefrog.com, with “I Want To Win” in the subject line. (Silly, bizarre, or nude photo attachments are optional and will not increase your chance of winning; however, I will no doubt enjoy them). You will be subscribed to our (very infrequent) newsletter, and you will be entered to win your own copy of WinX DVD Ripper Platinum.

On April 10, 2012, we will randomly choose 10 (ten) readers from those who follow the three steps above . . . and we will send those ten lucky people download instructions, as well as a License Code. The winners will then have until April 18, 2012 to download and register the software.

Good Luck!

Is it just me? Or does Joe Arpaio look and act like Peter Griffin?

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who has a history of “investigating” and persecuting those who oppose him, criticize him, or fail to share his view as to how “things should be”, has renewed his campaign to prove that US President Obama’s purported birth certificate is a fraud and a sham.

(Note: Arpaio has been under investigation by the US Federal Government pretty much ever since the outset of the Obama presidency – It’s been like two school-yard bullies pushing each other around!)

For those unfamiliar with Arpaio, he is the (some would say) disgraced Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. Joe Arpaio, is generally known for his office’s purported rampant racial profiling against Latinos, but more recently for assembling a team of volunteer self-styled “investigators” to examine Obama’s birth certificate. Earlier this month, that team concluded that the birth certificate is a “forgery and fraud.”

Throwing fuel on the fire, today, Florida Congressman Cliff Stearns called for credence to be given to birth certificate investigations (apparently making reference to Arpaio’s investigation), saying,“I think we are just going to hold in abeyance a final decision until we hear, you know, some of these people seem to have legitimate concerns, so I don’t think it is unreasonable just to see what they have to say,” Stearns said.

(Not so long ago, Stearns actually accepted the fact that President Obama was born in the United States. In 2009, his office looked into the matter and concluded that there was “no reason to question  the President’s citizenship.” )

Here’s how Arpaio’s claims were presented on a Phoenix television station:

One of Arpaio’s most vocal critics, “The Phoenix New Times, (which has had numerous tussels with Arpaio over the years – see http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arpaio) today posted on its blog:

Joe Arpaio’s Birther Squad Strikes Again: Mailman Claims “Foreign” Barack Obama Chatted Him Up at the Ayers’ House

​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s “birther” squad continues to add to the absolute embarrassment of an “investigation” that the sheriff has ordered in his name.

The former craziest mailman in America.

This time around, Arpaio’s conspiracy-nut buddies have released a signed affidavit from a retired mailman claiming the legitimacy of the Bill Ayers aspect of the “birther” investigation released at the beginning of the month.

Mailman Allen Hulton — who was only indentified as a “retired government employee” at the “birther” press conference — has taken an oath swearing that Ayers’ mother told him about a “foreign, black” student at her home, and that guy with the “unusual foreign sounding name” hinted to him some time in the ’90s that he had a “prearranged” presidency.

Clearly, Hulton realized in 2008 that this was the one-and-only Barack Hussein Obama.

Remember, this is just part of the evidence that Arpaio has taken in to call for a “bi-partisan congressional investigation,” as Arpaio actually thinks the president’s birth certificate is about as real as Dolly Parton’s chest.

The mailman’s affidavit, which comes attached to documentation stating he spent 39 years with the post office, talks about his experiences delivering mail to the parents of Bill Ayers in Illinois during the ’80s and ’90s.

Hulton never actually met Ayers, he says, but his father just so happened to speak “like a Marxist and talked about the class struggle between the rich and poor” while he was putting mail in his mailbox.

Then some time in the “early 1990s,” Mary Ayers — Bill Ayers’ mother — said she was “impressed with a foreign, black student.”

“I do not recall from what country she said he was,” the affidavit says. “I recall that the student had an unusual, foreign sounding name. Mary stated Thomas Ayers was helping this student through school financially.”

Some time after that — “I am not sure of the exact period of time,” he says — Hulton claims a black guy with an “unusual, foreign sounding name” introduced himself.

“He stated during the conversation the male stated that he was ‘going to be’ President
of the United States,” Hulton swears. “I was taken aback by this statement because he came across as if his presidency was prearranged.”

By 2008, the friendly postman who spoke with the neighborhood “Marxist” and chatted up foreigners made his discovery.

“During the 2008 presidential campaign, Isaw several news reports detailing a relationship between candidate Barack Obama and radical activist Bill Ayers,” Hulton says.”These stories reminded me of my conversations with the Ayers and my encounter with the young black male with the foreign sounding name. The facial and physical characteristics, as well as candidate Obama’s voice, matched that of the young black male I met at the Ayers’ home. Iam positive that the black male I spoke with in front of the Ayers house that day was indeed a young Barack Obama.”

Just like the rest of the “birther” squad’s evidence, it’s recycled from stuff that’s been passed around like tinfoil at a conspiracy-theorist conference, but Arpaio’s pals at the World Net Daily says it’s officially been submitted to Arpaio’s “Cold Case Posse.”

While the affidavit just claims Obama was “foreign,” the mailman tells Arpaio’s pals, “… I believe [Mary Ayers] said he was from either Kenya or Indonesia, and I favor Indonesia in my recollection.”

Looks like the sheriff’s boys are building a real quality case over there. Click here for the sworn affidavit.

(Ethel: Come on, “New Times” . . . don’t beat around the bush . . . tell us what you really think about Arpaio and his “investigation”)

Does anyone know what would happen if it were actually proved that Obama’s birth certificate is a fraud and that he was not born in the USA? Would he immediately be removed from office and (God forbid!) VP Joe Biden would become President? Or would the Presidency be taken away from Obama and given to  John McCain, his “runner up” in the last election? Would Obama be permitted to serve out his current term, but be prohibited from running again?

Maybe Obama is an illegal alien and should be deported to Kenya or Indonesia or somewhere? I bet that’s what Joe would say!

As always, your comments are encouraged.

SAN DIEGO — The co-founder of Invisible Children, a San Diego-based nonprofit that produced the viral “Kony 2012” video, was detained in San Diego on Thursday night, police said.

Jason Russell appeared to be masturbating in public and vandalizing cars, San Diego police said. He may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, police Lt. Andra Brown said.

Russell was taken to a mental health facility for observation, Brown said.

Ben Keesey, CEO of Invisible Children, released a statement saying that Russell was hospitalized and suffering from exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition.

“He is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better,” according to the statement. “The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday. Jason’s passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue. We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time.”

The “Kony 2012” video, about brutal Ugandan militia leader Joseph Kony, became a viral sensation, and has been viewed about 80 million times on YouTube.

Kony’s reputation was well-documented after decades of murder and plunder. He was indicted by the† International Criminal Court, and President Barack Obama dispatched a special forces team to help catch him last year. But Kony was largely unknown to the West until last week, when the 29-minute video turned him into one of the world’s best-known villains.

On the video, Russell asks his young son: “Can I tell you the bad guy’s name?”

Russell then shows him Kony’s photograph, and explains to viewers that the Lord’s Resistance Army abducts children like him for use as sex slaves and child soldiers.

Invisible Children was founded in 2003 by three California film students moved by their experiences with the victims of war in Africa. It occupies a full floor of a San Diego high-rise where photos of child soldiers hang on the walls, along with signs that read “Remove Joseph Kony from the battlefield.”

The video sparked controversy; many criticized the slick presentation for glossing over complications and overstating the current threat from Kony.

The Invisible Children’s website describes Russell as a “grand storyteller and dreamer.” He graduated from the University of Southern California’s film school with a degree in cinema production. The website lists† his admiration for Oprah Winfrey, Bono, Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Baz Luhrmann and Dan Eldon.

Don’t miss “Alice in Wonderland” presented by Beachnuts Theatre Company on March 23, 24 and 25, 2012, at the Tamarindo Diria Amphitheatre.  If you enjoyed prior performances by the Beachnuts troupe, you’re sure to enjoy this zany, fun, musical interpretation of the Lewis Carroll classic.

Tickets are available at Cafe Mocha, Jaimie Peligro and at Country Day School

See you there!

If you have not yet seen the video, Kony 2012, produced by Invisible Children, you should watch it. It is very compelling. The video, and the campaign behind it, aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.

“Kony 2012″ and the Invisible Children organization have been the subject of significant criticism. For example, the following is a post from Visible Children:

We got trouble.

I do not doubt for a second that those involved in KONY 2012 have great intentions, nor do I doubt for a second that Joseph Kony is a very evil man. But despite this, I’m strongly opposed to the KONY 2012 campaign.

KONY 2012 is the product of a group called Invisible Children, a controversial activist group and not-for-profit. They’ve released 11 films, most with an accompanying bracelet colour (KONY 2012 is fittingly red), all of which focus on Joseph Kony. When we buy merch from them, when we link to their video, when we put up posters linking to their website, we support the organization. I don’t think that’s a good thing, and I’m not alone.

Invisible Children has been condemned time and time again. As a registered not-for-profit, its finances are public. Last year, the organization spent $8,676,614. Only 32% went to direct services (page 6), with much of the rest going to staff salaries, travel and transport, and film production. This is far from ideal for an issue which arguably needs action and aid, not awareness, and Charity Navigator rates their accountability 2/4 stars because they lack an external audit committee. But it goes way deeper than that.

The group is in favour of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces. Here’s a photo of the founders of Invisible Children posing with weapons and personnel of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them, arguing that the Ugandan army is “better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries”, although Kony is no longer active in Uganda and hasn’t been since 2006 by their own admission. Thesebooks each refer to the rape and sexual assault that are perennial issues with the UPDF, the military group Invisible Children is defending.

Still, the bulk of Invisible Children’s spending isn’t on supporting African militias, but on awareness and filmmaking. Which can be great, except that Foreign Affairs has claimed that Invisible Children (among others) “manipulates facts for strategic purposes, exaggerating the scale of LRA abductions and murders and emphasizing the LRA’s use of innocent children as soldiers, and portraying Kony — a brutal man, to be sure — as uniquely awful, a Kurtz-like embodiment of evil.” He’s certainly evil, but exaggeration and manipulation to capture the public eye is unproductive, unprofessional and dishonest.

As Chris Blattman, a political scientist at Yale, writes on the topic of IC’s programming, “There’s also something inherently misleading, naive, maybe even dangerous, about the idea of rescuing children or saving of Africa. […] It hints uncomfortably of the White Man’s Burden. Worse, sometimes it does more than hint. The savior attitude is pervasive in advocacy, and it inevitably shapes programming. Usually misconceived programming.”

Still, Kony’s a bad guy, and he’s been around a while. Which is why the US has been involved in stopping him for years. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has sent multiple missions to capture or kill Kony over the years. And they’ve failed time and time again, each provoking a ferocious response and increased retaliative slaughter. The issue with taking out a man who uses a child army is that his bodyguards are children. Any effort to capture or kill him will almost certainly result in many children’s deaths, an impact that needs to be minimized as much as possible. Each attempt brings more retaliation. And yet Invisible Children supports military intervention. Kony has been involved in peace talks in the past, which have fallen through. But Invisible Children is now focusing on military intervention.

Military intervention may or may not be the right idea, but people supporting KONY 2012 probably don’t realize they’re supporting the Ugandan military who are themselves raping and looting away. If people know this and still support Invisible Children because they feel it’s the best solution based on their knowledge and research, I have no issue with that. But I don’t think most people are in that position, and that’s a problem.

Is awareness good? Yes. But these problems are highly complex, not one-dimensional and, frankly, aren’t of the nature that can be solved by postering, film-making and changing your Facebook profile picture, as hard as that is to swallow. Giving your money and public support to Invisible Children so they can spend it on supporting ill-advised violent intervention and movie #12 isn’t helping. Do I have a better answer? No, I don’t, but that doesn’t mean that you should support KONY 2012 just because it’s something. Something isn’t always better than nothing. Sometimes it’s worse.

If you want to write to your Member of Parliament or your Senator or the President or the Prime Minister, by all means, go ahead. If you want to post about Joseph Kony’s crimes on Facebook, go ahead. But let’s keep it about Joseph Kony, not KONY 2012.

~ Grant Oyston

Grant Oyston is a sociology and political science student at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada.

(Note that this post was written March 7, 2012. Many more updates have followed at visiblechildren.tumblr.com which cites all sources, and more recent information can be found here.)

Other critics such as J. Peter Pham, an Africa expert at the Atlantic Council, question the timing of the awareness campaign and say that Russell has oversimplified the conflict in central Africa.

The film sends the message that Kony “is the sole source of evil in this part of the world and simply by sending in $30 for an action kit you’ve solved this problem,” Pham says. “When in fact, you’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

Pham says the timing is bad because U.S. troops already on the ground and diplomatic efforts underway would work best “in the shadows.”

The Obama administration sent 100 special operations troops in October to work with Ugandan forces to root out Kony and his band of fighters. Another group of U.S. forces is working with the Congo and other neighboring countries to catch Kony.

An African leader such as long-time strongman Joseph Kabila of the Congo is unlikely to allow foreign troops on his soil “now that you’ve trained flood lights on him” with this film, Pham says. “If you want to catch Kony, I can’t think of a dumber thing to do.”

Many critics question the timing of the video’s release because the U.S. military is already involved in trying to find Kony in Uganda and the Congo.

Critics also question the integrity of the fundraising effort.  As stated by Mr. Oyston, above,  in the last reporting year, only 32% of the $8,676,614 in “expenses” that the organization spent went to “direct services”.  That means a whole bunch of money went to staff salaries, travel expenses, film production costs, entertainment, etc., etc. Although the organization claims that it’s financial information is open to public scrutiny it is impossible to determine, for example, how much Jason Russell the founder of Invisible Children is putting in his own pocket. The financial statements show that, last year, he drew a salary of $89,669 (just a little more than 1% of the total expenses). That may sound like a modest salary; however, it should be noted that the provisions of the US Tax Code dealing with non-profit organizations, such as Invisible Children, allows them to legally “outsource” work to corporate entities which may include anyone in the charitable organization.  This is something that the organization quickly glosses over.  Their 2011 financial statement lists expenses such $851,552 for “production costs”. I’m not saying that it happened, but it is entirely possible that Mr. Russell (whose title is “Co-Founder/Filmmaker”)  and his colleagues (such as Laren Poole, the other “Co-Founder/Filmmaker” – who drew a salary, last year of $84,377)  hired themselves (or some for-profit corporation owned by them) to do film production work for $851,552.  I’d also like to see the line item information on where or who the $2,810,681 in “Direct Services” and $852,820 in “Travel and Transportation” went to.

I’m not an accountant, so I’m not sure what all this means, but the organization took in $13,765,180 in revenue last year. Before the $$8,676,614 in “Expense”, the financial statement show that $1,444,370 went to “General and Management” and $286,678 went to “Development”. Plus, apparently, the organization sits on $6,584,811 in “Net Assets”.

Again, I’m not saying that this is the case here, but the cynic in me sees a great money-making opportunity for a film school graduate. You find a compelling cause, such as the abduction, mutilation and murder of children, and set up a “non-profit” corporation. (Many say the “cause” in this case – going after Kony – is not as compelling as we are led to believe. Apparently, the man hasn’t been seen in over two years; Northern Uganda is enjoying relative peace, and what was a problem with the LRA has nearly disappeared. Moreover, it has been said that, even if they caught Kony and convicted him, it would likely change nothing at all). I’m not saying I know what’s going on . . . I’m just saying . . .

Anyway, back to my hypothetical scheme – You set up your non-profit corporation and pay yourself a modest, yet generous salary . . . but not enough to outrage contributors, sponsors and purchasers of your promotional items (t-shirts, bracelets, etc.) Then the non-profit corporation hires your film-making company and pays it hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars to make a polished, compelling film, while paying you and your buddies travel expenses to hop around the globe – flying “first-class”, staying in luxury hotels and dining in the finest restaurants. At the same time, you build your own reputation as a filmmaker and become something of a celebrity, appearing on television shows all over the world, insuring a bright future in the competitive business of film-making. Oh, and you use the company’s money, your very compelling cause, and your new-found celebrity to wine and dine famous musicians, actors, business people, politicians, etc. – which is great fun, and also allows you to “network” and make important connections in the worlds of entertainment, business, technology and politics – connections that will certainly come in handy down the road when you start making films for “real money”. . . . and you don’t have to worry about people claiming that you “sold out” when you ultimately abandon the cause, because you will be sure to state an end date for your campaign . . . such as the end of 2012. Even without an “escape date” set up, the “bogeyman” of your cause will eventually be arrested, assassinated or  die of natural causes. Therefore, your work for the cause is done and you can go on to bigger and better things with a clear conscience, a fat bank account and a lucrative and celebrated career in the “private sector”.

I EMPHASIZE that I’m not saying that this is what Jason Russell and Invisible Children is all about  . . . (although looking at the photo of Russell above – from the Invisible Children Website – you can almost imagine him thinking, “Ha, ha, you suckers!)

. . . I’m just saying, I need to know more about the “cause” and where the funds are ending up, before I donate money or purchase merchandise from this organization. The film is well-done and brings people to tears, and no one can argue that saving children from abduction, mutilation or murder is not a good thing.  . . . But I just don’t know, yet, if this whole thing is about Joseph Kony, the evil warlord . . . or Jason Russell, the talented filmmaker (who is brilliant in the use of his own cute kid in his film, followed by tear-jerking footage of desperate and mutilated children in Africa). He features a despicable “bad guy” who one can’t help but hate, and he knows how to use images and story-telling to “sell” his cause. He is not only a talented filmmaker, but also someone who knows how to use both social and mainstream media to his advantage. I’m not saying that  it’s a “bad” thing . . . If his cause is worthy, and he’s not just scamming people for money, then I applaud him!  Go, Jason, go!

The following is Invisible Children’s response to criticism such as the foregoing (which, I must say, doesn’t answer some of my biggest concerns):

CRITIQUES

Thank you for reading this and doing further research about Invisible Children (IC) and KONY 2012. In response to this explosion of interest about the KONY 2012 film, there have been hundreds of thousands of comments in support of the arrest of Joseph Kony and the work of Invisible Children. However, there have also been pieces written that are putting out false or misleading information about these efforts.

This statement is our official response to some of these articles and is a source for accurate information about Invisible Children’s mission, financials and approach to stopping LRA violence.

Invisible Children’s mission is to stop LRA violence and support the war-affected communities in East and Central Africa. These are the three ways we achieve this mission; each is essential:

1. Make the world aware of the LRA. This includes making documentary films and touring them around the world so that they are seen for free by millions of people.
2. Channel energy from viewers of IC films into large-scale advocacy campaigns to stop the LRA and protect civilians.
3. Operate programs on the ground in LRA-affected areas that provide protection, rehabilitation and development assistance.

As you will see, we spend roughly one third of our money on each of these three goals. This three-prong approach is what makes Invisible Children unique. Some organizations focus exclusively on documenting human rights abuses, some focus exclusively on international advocacy or awareness, and some focus exclusively on on-the-ground development. We do all three. At the same time. This comprehensive model is intentional and has proven to be very effective.

We are committed, and always have been, to be 100% financially transparent and to communicate in plain language the mission of the organization so that everyone can make an informed decision about whether they want to support our strategy.

RE: FINANCIALS

Invisible Children’s financial statements are online for everyone to see. Financial statements from the last 5 years, including our 990, are available at www.invisiblechildren.com/financials. The organization spent 80.46% on our programs that further our three-fold mission; 16.24% on administration and management costs; and 3.22% on direct fundraising in Fiscal Year 2011. Invisible Children is independently audited every year and in full compliance with our 501(c)3 nonprofit status.

Below is a screen-shot from pages 35 and 36 of the 2011 Invisible Children annual report that detail our total expenses for Fiscal Year 2011. An expense statement by class is the way nonprofits present their expenses to the public because it’s the clearest way to show the purpose of different organizational expenses vs. a line item expense statement such as the one on page 6 of our Audited Financial Report.

RE: CHARITY NAVIGATOR RATING

Charity Navigator gives Invisible Children 3 out of 4 stars. It’s gives our Programs its highest rating of 4 stars. Our Accountability and Transparency score is currently at 2 stars due to the fact that Invisible Children does not have 5 independent voting members on our board of directors–we currently have 4. We are in the process of interviewing potential board members, and we will add an additional independent member this year in order to regain our 4-star rating by 2013. We have been independently audited by Considine and Considine since Fiscal Year 2006, and all of our audits have resulted in unqualified opinions on the audit reports. An unqualified opinion means that the auditors believe the financial statements are free of material misstatement and are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States.

RE: BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (BBB)

Participation in BBB’s program is voluntary– we are choosing to wait until we have expanded our Board of Directors, as some questions hinge on the size of our Board. The current Board is small in size and reflects Invisible Children’s grassroots foundation. We have now reached a juncture of success that has astonished even our greatest supporters. While it is important to retain a presence on the Board that reflects Invisible Children’s early beginnings, we are also working to expand the Board this year.

RE: LOBBYING EFFORTS

Part of Invisible Children’s mission is advocacy, and we lobby within our 501(c)3 status. We have lobbied Congress on multiple occasions, but especially in 2009 and 2010 which led to the passage of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. We lobby all members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation. We do not endorse a political party.

Federal laws exist to encourage charities to lobby within certain specified limits and Invisible Children has been careful to stay within these legal limits. Each year, as part of our Form 990, we submit an additional schedule that provides the financial details surrounding Invisible Children’s involvement in lobbying. We have also elected 501(h) status–part of which is a commitment to continue to voluntarily report our lobbying expenditures to the IRS. The Invisible Children Form 990 and audited financials for the past several years can be found on our website at: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/financials.

THE BEST RESEARCHED PAPER SUPPORTING THE POLICY POSITION OF THE KONY 2012 CAMPAIGN CAN BE FOUND HERE, DRAFTED BY PAUL RONAN OF RESOLVE:

http://www.theresolve.org/peace-can-be–3

But here are a few quick responses to some of the most common questions we’re seeing online:

RE: THE STRATEGY TO SECURE KONY ARREST

For more than two decades, Kony has refused opportunities to negotiate an end to the violence peacefully, and has used peace talks to build up his army’s strength through targeted abduction campaigns. Governments of countries where Kony has operated — including Uganda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic — have been unable to capture Kony or bring him to justice. This is because regional governments are often not adequately committed to the task, but also because they lack some of the specific capabilities that would help them do so. The KONY 2012 campaign is calling for U.S. leadership to address both problems. It supports the deployment of U.S. advisers and the provision of intelligence and other support that can help locate and bring Kony to justice, but also increased diplomacy to hold regional governments accountable to their basic responsibilities to protect civilians from this kind of brutal violence. Importantly, the campaign also advocates for broader measures to help communities being affected by LRA attacks, such as increased funding for programs to help Kony’s abductees escape and return to their homes and families. For a clear understanding of the KONY 2012 political goals, please see the letter to President Obama.

RE: UGANDAN GOVERNMENT HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD

We do not defend any of the human rights abuses perpetrated by the Ugandan government or the Ugandan army (UPDF). None of the money donated through Invisible Children ever goes to the government of Uganda or any other government. Yet the only feasible and proper way to stop Kony and protect the civilians he targets is to coordinate efforts with regional governments.

RE: STOPPING KONY

We are advocating for the arrest of Joseph Kony so that he can be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a precedent for future war criminals. The goal of KONY 2012 is for the world to unite to see Kony arrested and prosecuted for his crimes against humanity.

RE: OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF A COMPLEX ISSUE

KONY 2012 portrays, in no uncertain terms, the image of a madman who manipulates children spiritually for his own tactical gains. In our quest to garner wide public support of nuanced policy, Invisible Children has sought to explain the conflict in an easily understandable format, focusing on the core attributes of LRA leadership that infringe upon the most basic of human rights. In a 30-minute film, however, many nuances of the 26-year conflict are admittedly lost or overlooked. The film is a first entry point to this conflict for many, and the organization provides several ways for our supporters to go deeper in learning about the make-up of the LRA and the history of the conflict. Likewise, our work on the ground continually adapts to the changing complexities of the conflict.

RE: EXAGGERATING THE IMPACT OF THE LRA AND IMPLYING THE WAR IS IN UGANDA

Since the LRA left Uganda in 2006, Invisible Children has been publicly denouncing their atrocities in DR Congo, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic (CAR), while continuing to work with now-peaceful communities in post-conflict northern Uganda. In September 2011, Invisible Children launched the LRA Crisis Tracker website with the aim of providing high-quality, verified information about LRA attacks in DR Congo, South Sudan, and CAR. A detailed methodology is available on this website that explains how information is collected, verified, and rated in terms of its accuracy and reliability. Every incident that is reported through the Early Warning Radio Network run by Invisible Children’s partner organizations is carefully verified with other actors in DR Congo and CAR before being published to the LRA Crisis Tracker; even after publishing, incidents on the website continue to be modified as–and when–further information becomes available. Each incident is rated according to two criteria, on a scale of 1 to 5: whether an incident has actually occurred, and whether it was committed by the LRA. In this way, Invisible Children is providing concrete data and helping to dispel unfounded rumours about LRA attacks.

RE: PERPETUATING THE ‘WHITE MAN’S BURDEN’ AND THE SAVIOR COMPLEX

Invisible Children’s programs in Uganda, DR Congo, and Central African Republic are implemented with continuous input from, and in respect of the knowledge and experience of, local communities and their leaders. In Uganda, we learned very quickly that a top-down, Western approach was not the answer, and that local solutions were needed to fill critical humanitarian gaps. It is for this reason that over 95% of IC’s leadership and staff on the ground are Ugandans on the forefront of program design and implementation. In DR Congo, Invisible Children works with the Commission diocesaine justice et paix (CDJP), supporting projects that have been identified as priorities by local partners and that are responsive to local realities and needs. Invisible Children staff members in project areas consistently strive to ensure that they build the capacity of local partners and do not take on duties where local partners can more responsibly and effectively carry these out; the organization meticulously monitors and evaluates the impact of its work on the ground, partnering with Princeton in Africa and employing qualified Monitoring & Evaluation professionals.

RE: THE PHOTO OF THE FOUNDERS WITH THE GUNS (SEE BANNER IMAGE)

A story told by Jason Russell: Let me start by saying that that photo was a bad idea. We were young and we got caught up in the moment. It was never meant to reflect on the organization. The photo of Bobby, Laren and I with the guns was taken in an LRA camp in DRC during the 2008 Juba Peace Talks. We were there to see Joseph Kony come to the table to sign the Final Peace Agreement. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was surrounding our camp for protection since Sudan was mediating the peace talks. We wanted to talk to them and film them and get their perspective. And because Bobby, Laren and I are friends and had been doing this for 5 years, we thought it would be funny to bring back to our friends and family a joke photo. You know, “Haha – they have bazookas in their hands but they’re actually fighting for peace.” The ironic thing about this photo is that I HATE guns. I always have. Back in 2008 I wanted this war to end, like we all did, peacefully, through peace talks. But Kony was not interested in that; he kept killing. And we still don’t want war. We don’t want him killed and we don’t want bombs dropped. We want him alive and captured and brought to justice

RE: PROGRAMS ON THE GROUND

While the vast majority of the recent exposure and commentary about Invisible Children has been towards the awareness portion of our mission, below is an up-to-date explanation of our work in Central Africa, an equally important element to the mission of Invisible Children.

INVISIBLE CHILDREN’S PROGRAM IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND SOUTH SUDAN:

Invisible Children is committed to supporting communities affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army by empowering local leaders to implement programs that have a lasting impact. Our work in Uganda is focused on assisting in the recovery of northern Uganda after being decimated by two decades of conflict, while in DR Congo and the Central African Republic we are working with local partners to protect communities, encourage peaceful LRA surrenders and support the victims of the conflict.

HF EARLY WARNING RADIO NETWORK:

To address the lack of information from the most vulnerable and remote communities, Invisible Children partnered with Commission Diocesaine Justice et Paix (CDJP), led by Abbe Benoit and internationally recognized Congolese human rights advocate for LRA issues, to expand an Early Warning Radio Network connecting communities to one another through twice-daily security and humanitarian reporting. This network utilizes high frequency radios to allow for advanced warning of LRA activity. It also provides the humanitarians that are delivering life-saving services and the groups involved in civilian protection with real-time information. Communities participating in the project were selected due to their susceptibility to LRA attack and their lack of the communication infrastructure necessary to report and receive security information. A Local Protection Committee is established in each community to gather and disseminate information, provide regular maintenance to the equipment, and to ensure that trained operators in each community are carrying out the daily reporting

This project connects communities with local and international humanitarian groups, ultimately allowing for heightened humanitarian response while limiting the LRA’s ability to attack without warning. Through Invisible Children’s support, there are now 27 communities linked into the HF Early Warning Network in Haut and Bas Uele.

FM Radio: FM radio is one of the few ways to directly reach LRA combatants across central Africa with messaging encouraging them–many of whom are unwilling combatants–to escape. Invisible Children partnered with UN DDR/RR and Interactive Radio for Justice (IRfJ) to increase the capacity of Radio Zereda, a community-run FM radio in Obo, Central African Republic, from 1km to an over 30-km radius. Through locally-produced radio programming, members the victims’ association in Obo and cultural leaders from LRA-affected regions share insight and sensitize local populations to the LRA’s activities. In conjunction with sensitization, programming directly targeting nearby LRA groups and is broadcast in both the local Pazande and Acholi languages to encourage and give instructions for peaceful surrender.

In 2011, Invisible Children also provided support to repair Radio Rhinoceros in Faradje, DR Congo, and provided monetary support for a DDR/RR mobile FM unit deployed on rotation in Haut Uele. Additional community-FM projects in Haut Uele and in the highly remote and vulnerable district of Bas Uele are being identified and assessed for support during the 2012 calendar year.

LRA Crisis Tracker: The LRA Crisis Tracker is a real-time mapping platform and data collection system created to bring an unprecedented level of transparency to the atrocities of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Using information sourced from Invisible Children’s Early Warning Radio Network, UN agencies, and local NGOs, this tool allows for better response from governments, policymakers, and humanitarian organizations. This joint project, developed by Invisible Children and Resolve, marks the first time data surrounding the crisis has been comprehensively aggregated and made publicly available.

REHABILITATION CENTER:

As abductions continue throughout Central Africa, Invisible Children is partnering with renowned LRA-trauma specialist, Els de Temmerman, and the leadership of CDJP-Dungu, to establish the first trauma-focused rehabilitation program in the LRA-affected regions of northeastern Congo. Invisible Children, using its construction expertise from our education programs in Uganda, built the center with local labor and largely local materials. The center, located in Dungu, is locally managed and provides one-on-one counseling, utilizing a variety of therapy approaches adapted to each youth, including UNICEF-approved Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). The center provides vocational and life skills training, school catch-up programs, and reunification services. Upon completion of the second phase of construction, the center will have capacity for up to 250 children and youth to reside at the center where they will receive holistic counseling services, which are also available for less-severe outpatient cases. Currently, a limited number of severely traumatized children are receiving treatment while the center builds staff capacity and develops systems. Full capacity is targeted for Fall 2012. Program management will continue to coordinate with both local and international NGOs and UN agencies to ensure that the center’s activities are utilized by, and fit within, the regional psychosocial and protection strategies.

INVISIBLE CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS IN UGANDA:

Promoting peace and prosperity through Education and Livelihood initiatives

LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (LSP):

The scholarship provides fully paid, merit-based scholarships and mentoring from local full-time Invisible Children Mentors. Students are selected based on academic potential and need.

Stats as of December 2011:

• University students: 250
• Secondary students: 590 (currently recruiting additional students)

SCHOOLS FOR SCHOOLS (S4S):

This program partners with 11 secondary schools and their surrounding communities in northern Uganda, working on projects that both build and renovate structures, while also investing in teachers and curriculum. The program also facilitates a yearly Teacher Exchange Program benefiting both Ugandan and international educators.

Stats as of December 2011:

• Partner schools: 11
• Students attending partner schools: 9,048

LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM:

The Livelihood Program takes a holistic approach to providing sustainable economic growth and improved living conditions for war-affected northern Ugandans. It impacts rural communities using a three-pronged approach: over 1,250 community members are saving and loaning together, participating in our Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) program; 5,000 community members are benefiting from clean water and health and sanitation initiatives through the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program; and over 1,000 people are receiving training on numeracy, reading, and writing in their local language as a part of our Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) program.

Stats as of December 2011:

• WASH: over 5,000 (20 communities with an average of 250 community members)
• VSLA: 1,250 community members (50 groups of 25-30 members each)
• FAL: 1,000 community members (50 groups of 20-25 members each)

THESE ARE THE STATS USED BY THE KONY 2012 FILM AND CAMPAIGN:

• 30,000+ children abducted in Uganda by the LRA
  Source (2007): http://www.worldvision.com.au/Libraries/3_1_1_-_Issues_-_Children/Child_soldiers_Uganda.pdf
• 66,000 youth (interviewed when 14-30 years old) abducted by the LRA
  Source (2006): http://chrisblattman.com/documents/policy/sway/SWAY.Phase1.FinalReport.pdf?9d7bd4
• 2.1 million people displaced in Uganda
  Source (2010): http://ochaonline.un.org/ocha2010/uganda.html
• 440,000 people displaced in DRC, CAR, and South Sudan:
  Source (2011): http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/map_1044.pdf

As always, your comments are encouraged.