WEBVTT 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Right now, there are more people on facebook than there were on the planet 200 years ago. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Humanity's greatest desire is to belong and connect. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And now, we see each other. We hear each other. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "Grandpa I love you!" 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "I love you!" 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "Why.. why won't it take a picture?" 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We share what we love and it reminds us what we all have in common. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "Dug out alive and well after seven and a half days.." 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "If you believe in yourself, you'll know how to ride a bike! Watch and learn!" 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "So now technically, your device is on. Can you tell?" 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "Oh! It's exciting!" 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And this connection is changing the way the world works. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Governments are trying to keep up. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Now we can test the freedom. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And older generations are concerned. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "Many people are very concerned about tomorrow. They could get worse next year. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The game has new rules. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The next 27 minutes are an experiment. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But in order for it to work, you have to pay attention. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I can hear him! 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Ever single person in the world started this way. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He didn't chose where or when he was born. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But because he's here, he matters. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yeah! We've been waiting for you! You made it! 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 My name is Jason Russell and this is my son, Gavin. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He loves jumping on the trampoline, being a ninja, and dancing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 What are you doing? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Making a snow angel. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 How do you do that? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You do this! 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And just like his dad, he likes being in movies 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Action! 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Look out! Look out people! Run! It's a bomb! 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And making movies. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Daddy watch this! 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I think we got the video 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But he was born into a pretty complicated world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And as a dad, I want him to grow up in a better world than I did. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And because of the course of events in my life, I see a way to get there. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It has become my job. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Who are you to end a war? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm here to tell you who are you not to. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Hey Gavin, what's up? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Years before Gavin was born, the course of my life was changed entirely by another boy. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And who is this right here? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Jacob 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Who's Jacob? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Jacob is our friend in Africa. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's been almost ten years since Jacob and I became friends. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's okay, they're nice. They're different from sharks. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But when my friends and I first met him in Uganda in Central Africa, it was in very different circumstances. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He was running for his life. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Uh, you go to school here 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That's how you know English so well? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I know. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 How many nights have you stayed here? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Hello 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You are making our work very difficult 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You stop that thing now 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The night I first met Jacob, he told me what he and other children in Northern Uganda were living through. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We worry the rebels when they arrest us again then they will kill us 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 My brother tried to escape then they kill him using Panga 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They cut his neck 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Did you see it? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I saw 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We fear that if we sleep at our home that we can be abducted by the rebels 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Because our home is far away from town 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They will catch us then they will take us there in the bush 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We come here to save our life 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I cannot believe that 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You cannot believe it? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This has been going on for years? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 If that happened one night in America, it would be on the cover of Newsweek. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 What is it that you want to be when you grow up? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 For me I wanted to be lawyer but I don't have money to pay my school fees 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So that I learn and then become a lawyer 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Hmm. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 After spending a few weeks with Jacob, he told me something I would never forget. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So if is better when you kill us and if possible, you can kill us you kill us 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 For us we don't want now to stay 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You don't want to stay on Earth? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We are only two, no one is taking care of us 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We are not doing to school, so 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You would rather die than stay on Earth? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Now, even now? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Even now. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 How are we going to stay in our future? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He told me more about his brother and what he would say to him if he were still alive. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I love you but now I miss you 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So it is better when we meet 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Wa are not going to meet but we may meet in heaven 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You see? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So it is better 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I will not talk much 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I will start something 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Because if I saw my brother once again I don't 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Hmm? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's okay. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Jacob, it's okay 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Everything in my heart told me to do something 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And so I made him a promise 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We are also going to do everything that we can to stop them 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Do you hear my words? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Do you know what I mean? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Hmm? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We are. We're going to stop them. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We're going to stop them 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I made that promise to Jacob not knowing what it would mean but now I do. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Over the past nine years, I have fought to fulfill it. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And the fight has led me here. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To this movie you're watching. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Because that promise is not just about Jacob or me 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's also about you 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And this year, 2012, is the year that we can finally fulfill it 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And if we succeed, we change the course of human history 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But time is running out. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To level with you, this movie expires on December 31, 2012 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And its only purpose is to stop the rebel group, the LRA 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And their leader, Joseph Kony 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And I'm about to tell you exactly how we're going to do it. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So the thing is that my son Gavin has never 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've never really explained to him what I do 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He knows I work in Africa 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But he doesn't know what the war's about 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Or who Joseph Kony is 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And I'm gonna explain it to him for the first time today 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That's what we're going 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So, Gav, are you ready? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yeah 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm gonna ask you some questions 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Okay 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And you can just look at me and answer the questions 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm kinda nervous 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 What do I do for a job? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Ah! You stop the bad guys from being mean 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Who are the bad guys? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Um 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Do you know 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Star Wars people 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Star Wars people? Those are the bad guys? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yeah 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Can I tell you the bad guy's name? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yeah 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is the guy, Joseph Kony 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He's the bad guy? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yeah 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Who is this? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Jacob 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Joseph Kony, he has an army, okay? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And what he does is he takes children from their parents 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And he gives them a gun to shoot 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And he makes them shoot and kill other people. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But they're not gonna do what he says because they're nice guys, right? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yeah they don't want to do what he says 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But he forces them to do bad things 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 What do you think about that? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's sad 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I couldn't explain to Gavin the details of what Joseph Kony really does 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Because the truth is, Kony abducts kids just like Gavin. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 For 26 years, Kony has been kidnapping children into his rebel group, the LRA 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Turning the girls into sex slaves 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And the boys into child soldiers 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He makes them mutilate people's faces 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And he forces them to kill their own parents 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And this is not just a few children 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's been over 30,000 of them 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And Jacob was one of those children 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 As if Kony's crimes aren't bad enough 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He's not fighting for any cause, but only to maintain his power 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 He is not supported by anyone 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And he has repeatedly used peace talks to rearm and murder again and again 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Kony, different times, proposed peace and then just regain strength and attack 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is the head prosecutor for the International Criminal Court 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In 2002 when the court was started, their job was 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To find and demand the arrest of the world's worst criminals 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Although there are a lot of war lords, murderers, and dictators in the world 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The perversity of Kony's crimes made him first on the court's list 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Kony's the first guy indicted by the ICC 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The crimes are basically crimes against humanity 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And war crimes committed against the civillian population 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Including murder, sexual slavery, rapes, abductions 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We need to plan how to arrest Kony 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Start to plan 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And it has to be serious 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In fact, the only way to stop Kony is to show him 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Hey, we're going to arrest you 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 What do you think we should do about it? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You should stop him 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The criminal here is Kony. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Stop him and then solve all the problems 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We should stop who? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Him. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's obvious that Kony should be stopped 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The problem is 99% of the planet doesn't know who he is 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 If they knew, Kony would have been stopped long ago 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Let the world, let the international community 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Take justice to him there 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Follow him wherever he is 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 First to rescue our children 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And secondly, to deliver the justice 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We are determined to cooperate with any friend of Uganda 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To ensure that this mindless killing and slaughter is ended 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 When my friends and I came home from Uganda 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We thought that if the government knew, they would do something to stop him 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But everyone in Washington we talked to said 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 There is no way the United States will ever get involved 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In a conflict where our national security or financial interests aren't at stake 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 No administration, republican, democrat, Obama, Bush, Clinton, doesn't matter 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Would do enough because it's simply not an important enough issue 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 On the radar screen of American Foreign Policy 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Since the government said it was impossible 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We didn't know what else to do 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But tell everyone we could about Jacob and the Invisible Children 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We're going to show this movie to as many people as possible 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In such a way that we can't be ignored 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And when we did, people were shocked 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And their awareness turned into action 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We started something 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 A community 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I have friends that have been living in this conflict their entire life 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Fight for that, because that is what is going to change this world 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And that is what defines us 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We got creative and we got loud 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's not over! It's not over! It's not over! 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And as the LRA began to move into other countries 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Jacob and other Ugandans came to the US 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To speak on behalf of all people suffering because of Kony 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Even though Uganda was relatively safe 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They felt compelled to tell the world that Kony was still out there 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And had to be stopped 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm here so proud advocating for the people who are back at home 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And this change we are going to make is going to last forever 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We built a community around the idea that where you live 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Shouldn't determine whether you live 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We were committed to stop Kony and rebuild what he had destroyed 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And because we couldn't wait for and institutions or governments to step in 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We did it ourselves 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 With our time, talent, and money 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So we rebuilt schools 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The best you can offer a child is by letting them be independent 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And that was providing education 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We created jobs 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I have seen the lives of those who have been hopeless 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Now they have hope 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And we built and early warning radio network on the front line of the war 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To protect villages from rebel attacks 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So you update real-time what's happening in a war zone 8,000 miles away 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 All of this was funded by an army of young people 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Who put their money toward their belief in the value of all human life 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They gave a few dollars a month of what little they had 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To a program called Tri 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And proved that a bunch of littles could make a big difference 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And as a result the unseen became visible 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We've seen these kids 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We've heard their cries 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This war must end 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We will not stop 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We will not fear 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We will fight war 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Deliver your voice 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've talked to people from Mexico, from Canada 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 From every other state that I can think of 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We're all doing this for the exact same reason 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And we're all coming from completely different places 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is what the world should be like 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So with hundreds of thousands of people with us 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We went back to Washington DC and we met with Congressmen and Senators 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 One by one 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 On both sides, republicans, democrats, and they all agreed with us 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Joseph Kony's crimes had to be stopped 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Of all the problems that are out there, none is more severe than one that 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Mutilates the lives of little kids 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 These young members of the Invisible Children organization 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Know that no child should live in fear of being abducted or killed 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So they were determined to become their voice 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They realized that these African children and families 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Were invisible to Washington policy makers 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So they decided to make them visible 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And what I was told would never happen 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Suddenly became possible 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In furtherance of the Congress' stated policy, I have authorized 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 A small number of US forces to deploy to Central Africa 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To provide assistance to regional forces that are working toward 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The removal of Joseph Kony from the battlefield 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Sincerely, Barack Obama 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The surprise announcement came in a letter from the White House 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The US president's decision commits US troops to help 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Through advice and assistance 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Not putting Americans into combat, to help the countries of the region 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 End this threat once and for all 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And that was a worthwhile investment 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We used to think that we could not do it 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And now when I see we can do it I am overwhelmed 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 After 8 years of work, the government finally heard us 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And in October of 2011, 100 American advisors were sent into Central Africa 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To assist the Ugandan army in arresting Kony and stopping the LRA 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It was the first time in history that the United States took that kind of action 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Because the people demanded it 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Not for self defense, but because it was right