The Weekly Publication of The Rotary Club of Downey, California Volume 88 Issue 15 October 11, 2011 Downey is a city with a rich aerospace history. Vultee BT-13 Apollo Command Module Space Shuttle Invisible Children A joint meeting that included the Bellflower, Downey and Paramount Rotary clubs proved to be a great time of Rotary fellowship and a program that was eye opening. The Invisible Children organization gave a presentation on the plight of children in Uganda and it’s neighboring countries. The following are the stories of Uganda and the “Invisible Children.” HOW IT STARTED In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a filmmaking adventure transformed into much more when these boys from Southern California discovered a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them, a tragedy where children are both the weapons and the victims. After returning to the States, they created the documentary "Invisible Children: Rough Cut," a film that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda’s night commuters and child soldiers. The film was originally shown to friends and family, but has now been seen by millions of people. The overwhelming response has been, "How can I help?" To answer this question, the non-profit Invisible Children, Inc. was created, giving compassionate individuals an effective way to respond to the situation. ism. By documenting the lives of those living in regions of conflict and injustice, we hope to educate and inspire individuals in the Western world to use their unique voice for change. Our media creates an opportunity for people to become part of a grassroots movement that intelligently responds to what's happening in the world. But our work extends beyond our borders. In war-affected regions we focus on long-term development, working directly with individuals and institutions that are eager to realize their full potential. Through education and innovative economic opportunities, we partner with affected communities and strive to improve the quality of life for individuals living in conflict and post-conflict regions. HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE Our approach to humanitarian work is founded in the strength and intelligence of the Ugandan community. We learned early on it was not only important, but essential to heed the wisdom of people that had not only lived in the war, but were surviving it. People who would know better than anyone what the greatest needs were and the best ways to meet them. What we came to find is that while there have been many efforts to address the issues that stem from living and fighting in such a long-lasting war, the people of Uganda are asking for a future beyond the conflict. Their pleas have become our development strategy. WHO WE ARE We are storytellers. We are visionaries, humanitarians, artists, and entrepreneurs. We are individuals part of a generation eager for change and willing to pursue it. As a non-profit we work to transform apathy into activ- All of our programming is a partnership between those of us at Invisible Children and those in the Ugandan community. We focus on long-term goals that enable children to take responsibility for their future and the future of their country. Our programs are carefully researched and devel- oped initiatives that address the need for quality education, mentorships, the redevelopment of schools, resettlement from the camps, and financial stability. left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle. The GoU's attempt to protect its citizens from this rebel militia has largely failed, resulting in an entire generation of youth that has never known peace. UGANDA TODAY Since Invisible Children: Rough Cut was filmed in 2003, night commuting has ended for the children of northern Uganda. In recent years peace was seemingly within reach, largely due to the Juba Peace Talks. From June 2006 to March 2008 in Juba, Sudan, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU) engaged in a series of peace talks in order to end the conflict. These peace talks, supported by special envoys from the United States and other nations, allowed for the longest period of peace in northern Uganda’s 23-year war. The LRA rebel movement can be traced back to a woman named Alice Lakwena. In the 1980s, Lakwena believed the Holy Spirit spoke to her and ordered her to overthrow the Ugandan government for being unjust to the Acholi. Lakwena and her followers, known as the Holy Spirit Movement, gained momentum as resentment toward the government increased. When Lakwena was exiled and no clear leader of the movement was left, Joseph Kony, who claimed to be Lakwena’s cousin, took control and transformed Lakwena’s rebel army into the LRA. The Juba Peace Talks developed with hope for a lasting resolution, and concluded in March of 2008 with the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) ready for the signature of Joseph Kony and President Museveni. However, in April of 2008, Kony twice failed to appear and sign the FPA and officially ended the Juba talks mediated by the Southern Sudanese government. Joseph Kony’s stated reasons for not signing the FPA were a vague understanding of the treaty’s systems regarding post-conflict justice and an apprehension toward ICC warrants for him and four other LRA leaders. Since the collapse of the peace talks, the LRA has been active in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR) and southern Sudan, drawing widespread disapproval from the international community and igniting a new urgency to end what has become a complex regional conflict In the last two years, an estimated 900,000 of the 1.8 million displaced have returned to their homes. But that leaves one million people currently living in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. While the majority desires to return home, the issues surrounding their return are complex. Some have been displaced for more than a decade, and their former way of life is all but gone. Access to clean water, economic opportunities, health centers, and education are a pressing concern for all, and even more so for the many who contemplate returning to resource-barren villages. AFRICA’S LONGEST RUNNING WAR The war in northern Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today. For the past 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU) have been waging a war that has Kony's LRA did not receive the same support as the Holy Spirit Movement from the Acholi people. With dwindling approval for their cause and heightened government offensives, the rebels resorted to abducting children and indoctrinating them into their ranks. It is estimated that more than 90% of the LRA’s troops were abducted as children. In 1996, as a response to the LRA attacks in the villages, the Ugandan government forcibly evicted thousands from their homes, relocating them into overcrowded camps in hopes of providing protection. But over a decade later, roughly one million individuals still live in these camps and struggle to survive among the effects of abject poverty, rampant disease, and nearcertain starvation. In recent years more and more international attention has been focused on this crisis. In 2001, the US Patriot Act officially declared the LRA to be a terrorist organization - a huge step in drawing attention to the conflict and the atrocities committed by the LRA. In 2004, Congress passed the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act, the first piece of American legislation to address this disaster. And in 2005, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Joseph Kony and four of his top commanders. Pressure from the international community (particularly from EU and Canada) combined with a strong desire to secure peace has brought the Government of Uganda and the LRA to the negotiating table on numerous occasions, though they have yet to find a peaceful resolution. The most recent talks commenced in Juba, Sudan in July 2006, and a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement was signed the following month. In July 2007, in response to an increased concern for peace in northern Uganda by the American people, the US State Department appointed Tim Shortley to Senior Advisor for Conflict Resolution with his immediate focus on northern Uganda. This action solidified the US’s commitment to end this conflict peacefully. That same year, the United Kingdom bolstered their commitment to peace by allocating £70 million in aid, while Germany committed to a 25% increase in aid to Uganda by October 2010. Canada later became more than an international supporter of the peace process in February 2008 by joining the peace talks as an official observer (though the Canadian officer on the ground has since been removed from the region). At this point in time, the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement has expired and Joseph Kony has failed to sign the Final Peace Agreement for a fourth time, proving his promises to be futile and ultimately disabling the peace talks. Uncertainty lingers, not only for the thousands displaced in northern Uganda but across the entire northeastern border region of DR Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic. Since September 2008, hostility in the Orientale province in DR Congo and Western Equatoria in South Sudan has reached a feverish pitch. LRA attacks have become more frequent and hostile, provoking military action against the rebel group. In an unprecedented joint military operation, the governments of Uganda, DR Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic launched an attack on LRA strongholds within DR Congo. “Operation Lightning Thunder”, the name designated for the counteroffensive, was largely unsuccessful in light of both the failure to reach top LRA leadership and the onslaught of violence that followed. One month later on December 24th, 2008, the LRA launched a retaliatory attack against the people of DR Congo. In apparent desperation and a renewed will to spread terror to DR Congo, the LRA murdered over six hundred and abducted more than one hundred and sixty children to fight amongst its ranks. More than 104,000 Congolese have been displaced since Christmas in attempts to escape the LRA forces. As the motives of the LRA become more ambiguous and their crimes more horrific, Invisible Children remains committed to seeking sustainable solutions to foster an environment that encourages peace. We are supporting and equipping a generation ravaged by war so that they can finally know peace. Invisible Children addresses the need for access to education and economic development through innovative programs on the ground. To learn more about these programs and how you can contribute to lasting peace and development go to www.invisiblechildren.com. What’s Going On? October 11—Warren/Downey Spirit Day *November 4—Downey Rotary & the Arc Golf Tournament at Rio Hondo Country Club. *November 6—Foundation Celebration to feature Circus Vargus. *February 8 to 12 2012— Humanitarian Trip to Puerto Rico. *March 24, 2012— Arc Walk for Independence Club Duties Invocation: Mario Guerra Pledge: Harold Tseklinis Greeter: Harold Tseklinis Finemaster: Ray Andazola President Diane pictured here with her counterparts from Bellflower and Paramount Rotary Clubs along with a team from Invisible Children. Songs: Bob or Dan or Wayne Kalyan Banerjee, RI President Brad Robinson, District Governor Diane Davis, Club President Rotary Club of Downey Officers 2011-2012 President ……………………………………...……….. Diane Davis President-Elect ………………………………………..Ray Andazola Vice President ………………...…………………….William Medina Secretary ….……………………………………….Patricia Megallon Treasurer ……………………………...Paul Velasco & Paul Mathys Club Service ………………………………..………. …Larry Garces Community Service ………..…..Larry McGrew & Russell Skersick International ………………………………………...Tom Hutchinson New Generations (Youth)…………………….…….……Alex Lopez Vocational Service ……………………………..….… Manny Castro Past President…………………………………..……....Ingrid Martin Membership…………..……………………….......Kevin MacDonald Foundation…………………………………….…………..Ray Brown Need a Make Up? How about one of these local clubs Or find a club anywhere in the world at www.rotary.org and click on the Club Locator Cerritos-Artesia 1215 Downey 1200 Del Amo (Torrance) 1210 Paramount 1210 South Gate La Mirada Montebello Norwalk 1215 1215 1200 1200 Bellflower Pico Rivera RioHondo-Vernon 1730 1200 1200 Whittier 1200 Monday Hometown Buffet 562-404-1993 Dist. 5320 Tuesday Rio Hondo Event Ctr. 562-413-4001 Dist. 5280 The Depot Rest., Torrance 310-793-7070 Dist. 5280 Progress Park Plaza 562-822-7000 Dist. 5280 Wednesday SG Municipal Auditorium 951-855-6095 Dist. 5280 Clearman’s Northwood Inn 714-994-4299 Dist. 5320 Montebello C. C. 626-524-1962 Dist. 5300 Sizzler Rest., Norwalk 562-477-6121 Dist. 5320 Thursday Hollywood Sports Park 562-412-5104 Dist. 5280 Dal Rae Restaurant 562-467-8900 Dist. 5300 Stevens Steak House 562-928-2118 Dist. 5280 Friday Radisson Hotel, Whittier 562-696-1643 Dist. 5320