Clubs on Conflict
March 14, 2008
By: Sarah Sheafer <ssheafer@hilite.org>
The first time she ever watched the “Invisible Children” documentary, junior Molly Longest said she was affected by it. Because of this, she decided to join the new club here and get involved in order to stop global conflicts.
“Invisible Children is a club (here) that actually got its name from a film made in 2003 about the horrors of the civil war that has been raging in Northern Uganda for many years now. The ‘Invisible Children’ are the children in Uganda who are kidnapped or at risk of being kidnapped and are forced to fight as child soldiers for the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army),” Longest said. “The club was started to help spread awareness on this issue and to raise money to help benefit these children.”
Even though this is Invisible Children’s first year here at this school, the organization has been around for quite some time. According to the Invisible Children’s Web site, “The war in northern Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today. For the past 21 years, the LRA and the Ugandan government have been waging a war that has left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle.”
Longest said that students here are not always aware of these situations, but that they should be. “I know that there is a lot more that I would like to learn about but I personally get so busy sometimes and wrapped up in my own life that I don’t take the time to educate myself,” she said. “I think it would do everyone good to become more informed on situations around the globe because it really makes you put your life into perspective and realize how blessed you really are to live where you do.”
Invisible Children is not the only organization here that recognizes global conflicts. Amnesty International also tries to get students involved.
Rachelle Johnson, member of Amnesty International and junior, said, “It’s a worldwide group made up of people who are promoters of the preservation of human rights for all people. At (this school) we have our own branch of the club set out to campaign for the same causes.”
According to Johnson, the club members write letters to the United States government and companies who may be involved in these conflicts. By doing something as simple as this, Johnson said it helps.
“Most would agree that there are terrible events happening in the world, but many think that there is nothing of real significance one can do,” Johnson said. “However, by being an aware citizen and even doing something as small as writing a letter to a senator, the information is spread. And by stopping ignorance, the continuation of inhumane events can perhaps end.”
Longest also said that students can help in almost any way. “We do sometimes forget that there is a world outside of our comfortable suburban lifestyle. I just think that it’s important for anyone who is able to help do so,” she said. “So the next time you go shopping, instead of buying a new shirt or pair of jeans, maybe you could donate the money to a cause instead. It’s just a little thing that everyone can do that doesn’t require a lot of time and plus, helping others makes you feel better than any new outfit could.”
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