Recent Changes

The Conflict
For the last 23 years, civil war has waged in Ughanda between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU), leaving nearly 2 million civilians caught in the middle. The Government of Ughanda has tried and failed to protect its people, leaving an entire generation that has never known peace. In 1996, because of the ongoing war and the innocent villages caught in the middle, thousands of Ugandans were evicted from their homes and relocated to camps. Today, millions are still living in these camps, struggling to survive amidst poverty, disease, and near-starvation.
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The use of children as soldiers has been universally condemned as abhorrent and unacceptable. Yet over the last ten years hundreds of thousands of children have fought and died in conflicts around the world.
Children involved in armed conflict are frequently killed or injured during combat or while carrying out other tasks. They are forced to engage in hazardous activities such as laying mines or explosives, as well as using weapons. Child soldiers are usually forced to live under harsh conditions with insufficient food and little or no access to healthcare. They are almost always treated brutally, subjected to beatings and humiliating treatment. Punishments for mistakes or desertion are often very severe. Girl soldiers are particularly at risk of rape, sexual harassment and abuse as well as being involved in combat and other tasks.
What others are doing
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There are several organizations trying to help in Uganda, and with conflicts all over the world that abduct and use child soldiers. The first step is education. The world needs to know what is happening to bring peace to the region. the Invisible Children organization recruits school children to promote peace and education, helping to donate to build schools, and buy supplies for the camps.
Other organizations, like the Coalition to Stop Child Soldiers, reports to the U.N. in an attempt to get other world leaders involved, calling for the demobilization of child soldiers and to prohibit the use of soldiers under age 18 in armed conflict. War Child International helps to provide, not only material aid, but also to help heal the psychological damage done by forcing children into this very violent adult world.
What Can I do?
1. Educate yourself. There's an excellent documentary out called Invisible Children that tells the story of these child soldiers through their eyes and their experiences. There are also hundreds of articles published about the plights of these children.
2. Spread the word. Let others know what's happening and why we have to stop it.
3. Get involved. Look at the different organizations trying to help, and find one that fits your interest. Start a group at your school or work to help collect donations and spread the word about what is happening.
Organizations Trying to Help
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Invisible Children
Schools for Schools
SOS Children's Villages

For the last 23 years, civil war has waged in Ughanda between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU), leaving nearly 2 million civilians caught in the middle. The Government of Ughanda has tried and failed to protect its people, leaving an entire generation that has never known peace. In 1996, because of the ongoing war and the innocent villages caught in the middle, thousands of Ugandans were evicted from their homes and relocated to camps. Today, millions are still living in these camps, struggling to survive amidst poverty, disease, and near-starvation.
{camps}
Although the LRA has been declared a terrorist organization, the war continues. In 2006, attacks killed over 600 people, and over 100 children were abducted and forced into the LRA to fight for the very organization that is destroying their people.
In an interview with Amnesty International, a 15 year old girl plead, "I would like you to give a message. Please do your best to tell the world what is happening to us, the children. So that other children don't have to pass through this violence." This child was forcibly abducted at night from her home by the (LRA), and made to kill a boy who tried to escape. She saw another boy being hacked to death for not raising the alarm when a friend ran away. She was beaten when she dropped a water container and ran for cover under gunfire. She received 35 days of military training and was sent to fight the government army.
The use of children as soldiers has been universally condemned as abhorrent and unacceptable. Yet over the last ten years hundreds of thousands of children have fought and died in conflicts around the world.
Children involved in armed conflict are frequently killed or injured during combat or while carrying out other tasks. They are forced to engage in hazardous activities such as laying mines or explosives, as well as using weapons. Child soldiers are usually forced to live under harsh conditions with insufficient food and little or no access to healthcare. They are almost always treated brutally, subjected to beatings and humiliating treatment. Punishments for mistakes or desertion are often very severe. Girl soldiers are particularly at risk of rape, sexual harassment and abuse as well as being involved in combat and other tasks.
{children_guns}

zsgafdsFor the last 23 years, civil war has waged in Ughanda between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU), leaving nearly 2 million civilians caught in the middle. The Government of Ughanda has tried and failed to protect its people, leaving an entire generation that has never known peace. In 1996, because of the ongoing war and the innocent villages caught in the middle, thousands of Ugandans were evicted from their homes and relocated to camps. Today, millions are still living in these camps, struggling to survive amidst poverty, disease, and near-starvation.
Although the LRA has been declared a terrorist organization, the war continues. In 2006, attacks killed over 600 people, and over 100 children were abducted and forced into the LRA to fight for the very organization that is destroying their people.

Group Participation Assessment
Calendar
Invisible Children (Example)

zsgafds

Protest Song LyricsSocial Awareness Research Guide of the songsocial issue that you Be creative.
Name
Description of the song
Name of musician(s)
Social ill/problem being protested
Sample of relevant lyrics (please be sensitive about potentially offensive language)
Relevance of the words and phrases selected:social issue
Where is the song convincing in its message?
Event, person, and place
Approximate date
Location
Significance in history
Contemporary connections
Triviathis taking place? Who is it affecting?
Personal stories
Images or media related to the events, people, and places
The reasons you selected this song and/or musiciantopic
What organizations are trying to do
Why we need to take action
What can WE do
External links w/ a description of what the link leads to
Bibliography
This information does not need to be in this order. Organize it as you see fit, but make sure the organization makes sense. In cases where you are answering a question or giving extensive information, complete sentences/paragraphs are expected.

Home
Protest Songs
Editing the Wiki
Research Guide
Editing the Wiki
Wiki Rubric
Group Participation Assessment
Calendar
People Have the Power
So Much Trouble in The World
Won't Get Fooled Again
Lean on Me
Who Will Save Your Soul
Seattle Was a Riot
Bus Rider
get up stand up
Hurricane
Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die
Working Class Hero

Student Objectives
Students will
work in pairs to critically analyzeResearch and examine the lyrics of protest songs.
identify thediscuss social ill/problem the artist is protesting against.
research information presented in the lyrics.
buildissues they find to be important
Develop a caseplan for or against the artist’s position.
addhaving their voice heard
Create a website forum to bring their researchchosen issue to the class wiki.
learn about the collaborative nature of wikis.light
Process
WithChoose a partner, choose a protest song from the Protest Songs compilation list.social issue that you feel needs more awareness.
Begin researching the song,issue, using the
Develop a wiki page in which you present your information for the class. Be sure to check the Wiki Rubric to see how the project will be assessed.
Be sure your page includes a Bibliography, including all the resources you used to gather information. Be sure you also include a citation for the song. You can use Citation Machineto complete this, but make sure your entries are alphabetized.
When you're finished, complete the Online Self-Assessment.
by other groups,other, read their page. You (individually) must leave 3 separate songs.pages.