Pink Crush

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt breaking up becomes the biggest scoop of the year, 1000’s of African kids dying of starvation and poverty goes unnoticed. 9/11 creates huge media furore, people still talk about the effects, after effects and after effects, the same number of people die every year in Uganda- once again it goes unrealised! Everyone judges and comments on Paris Hilton’ ssex tapes, prince Charles and Camilla parker Bowles’ wedding or the US attacking Iraq but no one raises their opinion on the political instability in Uganda. WHY? Because believe it or not, accept it or not, we don’t care! We love to live in our well protected, well shielded environment in a state of “ignorance is bliss” while thousands of youngsters in Uganda live under fear wondering if they’ll wake up to see the sunshine next day?!

However, its time to wake up, show those Ugandan kids they are not invisible, “non-existent non-entities”. The first step has been taken by three American students who have shown us the unseen, become the voice of the unheard and generated concern for the uncared through their extremely “disgusting yet inspiring” documentary- ‘THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN”

For those completely oblivious, Uganda is a war torn country in the north east of Africa. The rebel army (LRA) and the government are at war with each other for several years now. In this fight for present and past, it’s the future generation- the children of Uganda who are suffering. The rebels abduct these kids; make them undergo intense, cold hearted training to join their forces. In simple words, these innocent, unassuming children are snatched off their childhood, their right to gain education and are turned into blood thirsty, brutal murderers. Apparently, one of the first duties of the soldier is to go kill his family because if you can shoot your family, you can kill anyone in the world! It is the most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world today.

The film basically elaborates on this messy situation in Uganda. It makes you cry, makes you think, makes you question but most importantly it makes you care! At this age, when we are too tied down with our own trivial problems such as university course load, money matters, complicated love and sex lives, the last thing we want to do is help some kid in country seven seas away! But that’s the beauty and passion of this movie. Those endearing, extremely affable kids with frozen tears and endless fear under those goofy grins carve a special place in our hearts. They make you wanna add them as a “hassle” of your busy life and work towards ending their plight.

What Uganda needs is “peace in the country and peace in every corner of the country”. How you can help? Firstly watch the movie, there will be a screening held very soon. Go to http://www.invisiblechildren.com/ and register yourself for the global night commute (a way of capturing the Ugandan child’s daily struggle in one night). Try helping out financially (a child’s education can be supported by giving up just a few beers at shads). The choice is in your hands! Be a benefactor and help a deprived child achieve his/her goals.

This is our chance to be the change we want to see in the world. Our chance to be a Good Samaritan and do our good for humanity, our chance to undermine corrupt governments, upcoming terrorism and atmosphere of hopelessness in Uganda. Our chance to show those children that’s YES they do exist and YES we care! In the words of Michael Jackson, “heal the world make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race”.

Rucha Sarma
May 2006