The Rescue

From John Parkhurst

Friends,

I would like to make you aware of an event happening this Saturday, April 25, to raise awareness and encourage the rescue of the abducted child soldiers in Central East Africa, particularly in Uganda, the Congo, and Sudan. The event is called “The Rescue” and is being held in 100 cities in 10 countries. There are already 65,000 signed up worldwide, nearly 200 in Birmingham, and over 400 in Chattanooga. For more information about the current situation as well as the event, please visit therescue.invisiblechildren.com; there is a 35 minute documentary online that is well worth watching, even if you are familiar with what is happening; also see the entry “Arrow Boys” on Jen’s blog [http://jenwilmore.blogspot.com]. The basic concept behind the event is “abducting yourself for the abducted child soldiers”. Participants will travel by foot to a pre-determined location in their city that will serve as their “LRA Camp”. There, they will remain ‘abducted’ until a person of great influence or cultural significance arrives and ‘RESCUES’ them by making a public statement on behalf of the child soldiers. Basically, we don’t go home until these designated leaders arrive. If you want to participate in the event, make sure to sign up on the website. Even if you can’t attend, consider contacting these leaders, as well as the media, and encourage them to come; there is a document on each city’s page that tells what to do.

If you are cynical about whether on not this will make a difference, watch this short 3 ½ minute video: http://behindthescenes.invisiblechildren.com/post/96932852/it-will-work-it-must

If are still cynical after watching that, watch this 5 minute video: http://behindthescenes.invisiblechildren.com/post/98392647/the-rescue-riders-are-real-together-were-free?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=willitworkemail

My favorite line is “don’t sleep through a revolution”. Seriously, don’t.

(even if you already know this will make a difference, watch the videos anyway…they’re good)

And if doing it for the child soldiers isn’t motivation enough, do it for Jen. It’ll make her life a little bit safer.

I trust all of you are doing well and I hope to see you soon.

John