The Blender: THE RESCUE OF JOSEPH KONY'S CHILD SOLDIERS

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   Hi Guys,

Just here to invite you all along to The Rescue on April 25!

On April 25th, the international community will unite to deliver the innocent from Kony's reign and ensure he is brought to justice. Thousands of participants will gather in 100 cities across the world to abduct themselves and raise the banner of the child soldiers taken by Joseph Kony.

Those abducted will leave their homes and walk to an event location while carrying their supplies on their backs. At the site, they will then wait to be "rescued" - this requires a certain amount of media coverage as well as the attendance of pre-determined cultural and political leaders. Depending on the size, scope and fervor of the specific event locale, those leaders invited to The Rescue may be a Congressional Representative, State Official, local mayor or local business/media figure.

At the event, participants will write letters, create art/photo projects and seek out media attention in an effort to petition the US, European, Canadian, Mexican and Australian government to develop a strategy and support existing efforts to rescue Kony's child soldiers.

BRISBANE: TENTATIVE PLAN (all details/locations to be confirmed):

The abduction will begin @ 3pm at Queen Street Mall (“abduction site”). We will then drop off one of our family photos, symbolically leaving them behind, and will march together on foot to West End Park (“LRA camp”) to arrive @ 4pm. The march will be done in a single file, while holding onto a rope. Once we arrive at the LRA camp, we will await to be “rescued”. The event will include a speech from a cultural or political leader (“the rescuer”), and will include a mass letter writing campaign to political representatives, and also various art projects. The aim will be to seek out media attention in an effort to petition our government to develop a strategy and support existing efforts to rescue Kony’s child soldiers. For one night, we will all forfeit the comforts of home and sleep in solidarity with the thousands of kids who have been abducted during this war.

For more details, download the info pack: http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com/graphics/The-Rescue-Manual.pdf

WHAT TO BRING:

+ Three photographs of you with your friends, family or guardian. Please place a red circle around yourself in the photo, symbolizing that you have been abducted. You will drop off one of these photos at the abduction site, and include the other two with the letters you write to your political representatives. 

+ Supplies to set up camp and then wait for your Rescue. You don’t need much. The kids in Uganda leave for the bush with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Therefore, please bring the smallest amount of supplies that you need to survive until you are rescued. These supplies could include a sleeping bag, pillow, warm clothes, comfortable shoes, food, water and a tarp (or sleeping pad) if it is forecasted to rain. Remember, you will have to carry these supplies for up to three miles during the march to the LRA camp. 

+ Supplies to write letters and complete a simple art project. Grab just a small amount of pens or paint to make your letters and art piece your own. If you have extras, please bring some to share. 

+ Your official Rescue T-shirt. Invisible Children has released two official Rescue T-shirts. Either shirt is appropriate, but ideally please wear the Green “AK-47” Tee. Please wear this shirt on the out side of your clothes so it is visible to the thousands of the people that will see this event. 

+ Your Rescue Tote Bag. Use this bag to make a statement in the month leading up to the Rescue. Then please bring it on April 25th to carry your photos and art supplies. 

+ $5 Dollars. Please bring 5 bucks to the event. This money covers the cost to host this international awareness event.

IN THE MEANTIME...

1. Sign up for ‘THE RESCUE’ @ http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com - Currently, sign up for Sydney to receive updates. Brisbane will have its own page in a matter of days :)

2. Tell your friends: share the story of the Invisible Children with as many people as possible. Burn the DVD, tell people to watch it online, and invite people along to THE RESCUE in Brisbane on April 25th. Email/phone/text anything about IC and The Rescue.

3. Join the Facebook event and invite your friends to join.

4. Change your Profile Picture: use this graphic for your new profile picture @ http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com/graphics/I-Am-Abducted.pdf or any other imagery from IC or The Rescue.

5. Hold a screening: screen the film at your house, or with your community group, or at your church, wherever!

6. Buy an ‘INVISIBLE CHILDREN’ shirt & wear it: tell everyone what you’re doing by wearing promotional gear. Australian shirts are selling out fast! Check: http://store.invisiblechildren.com or EVEN MAKE YOUR OWN!

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This is the info for our Brisbane event but there will be events in Sydney,Perth and Melbourne aswell. I hope to see you all there!

In the meantime, watch the film at http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com to learn more and tell your friends!!!

Two weeks to go - it's going to be huge!