Summer Tour 2013

The Tree Leaves’ Oracle will be at the following this summer:

Bodypainting, Tarot Reading, Oracles, Omens, Divination, Photo shoots are available at the above festivals and by a reservation basis. In addition these services are tentatively available by reservation in the following areas: (rough estimate – all subject to change)

  • Elf Fest (Lothlorien/Needmore, Indiana: May 22-27, 2013)
  • Columbia, South Carolina: May 28th-June 22, 2013.
  • North Carolina: June 23, 2013.
  • Virginia: June 24-25, 2013.
  • New York: June 26-27, 2013.
  • New York Faerie Festival: June 27 – July 1, 2013.
  • July 1-3: Massachussetts.
  • July 4-5: New Hampshire/Maine.
  • July 6: Upstate New York.
  • July 7-8, 2013: Ohio.
  • July 9-15th: Starwood @ Wisteria, Ohio.
  • July 16: Indiana.
  • July 17: Illinois.
  • July 18: Iowa.
  • July 19: Minnesota.
  • July 20: South Dakota.
  • July 21: Wyoming.
  • July 22-23: Yellowstone National Park.
  • July 24: Idaho.
  • July 25: Eugene, Oregon.
  • July 26-28, 2013: Faerieworlds, Eugene, Oregon.
  • July 29-30, 2013: Corvallis, Oregon.
  • July 31, 2013: Newport, Oregon.
  • August 1, 2013: Cannon Beach, Oregon.
  • August 2, 2013: Portland, Oregon.
  • August 3-4, 2013: Ocean Shores, WA.
  • August 5-7, 2013: Seattle, Washington.
  • August 8-12, 2013: Point Roberts, Washington – Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • August 13-14, 2013: Seattle, Washington.
  • August 15-16, 2013: Portland-Corvallis-Eugene, Oregon.
  • August 17-18, 2013: Ashland, Oregon – Redwoods / Shasta, California.
  • August 19-21, 2013: Northern California down to San Francisco.
  • August 22-24, 2013: San Francisco, CA.
  • August 25-28, 2013: Los Angeles, California.
  • August 29-Sept 2, 2013: Arizona.
  • Sept 3-7th: New Mexico.
  • Sept 8th-12th: Colorado.
  • Sept 13th-14th, 2013: Texas.
  • Sept 15th-17th: Louisiana/Mississippi.
  • Sept 18th-19th: North Florida.
  • Sept 20th-30th: Columbia, South Carolina.

Posted in Events, News and Updates | Leave a comment

Staurolite: Fairy crosses/stones

Fairy Stone / Fairy Cross / Staurolite

Localities: Fairy Stone State Park, Virginia, USA; North Georgia, USA; Little Falls, Minnesota, USA; Taos, New Mexico, USA; Switzerland; Russia; Australia; Brazil; France; Italy; Scotland.

Description: Popular to its folklore and legends, this stone has a State Park in Virginia named after it as it is home to its namesake “fairy stones”. It is also the official stone of the state of Georgia in the USA. Most commonly shaped like Celtic crosses or the St. Andrew’s cross, as an “X” or as a “T” shaped Roman cross, and square Maltese crosses. Color of the Staurolite varies to the region it comes from but can be dark brow, brownish black, grey, or reddish brown.

Geology:Staurolite are a combination of silica, iron, and aluminum. A silicate mineral, with the Chemical formula of Fe2+2Al9O6(SiO4)4(O,OH)2, and a Strunz classification of 9.AF.30, possessing a monclinic prismatic crystal symmetry. It’s H-M symbol is (2/m), with a Space group of C 2/m, and a unit cell a = 7.86 Å, b = 16.6 Å, c = 5.65 Å; β = 90.45°; Z=2. Coloring ranges from yellowish brown, rarely blue, dark reddish brown to blackish brown, pale golden yellow in thin sections with a subvitreous to resinous luster, white to gray streaks, transparent to opague diaphaneity. Specific gravity is 3.74 – 3.83 meas. 3.686 calc. Twinning is commonly as 60° twins, less common as 90° cruciform twins. Subconchoidal fracture, brittle tenacity, mosh scale hardness of 7-7.5. Common to have penetration twinning, or a characteristic cross-shape. It occurs with almandine garnet, micas, kyanite; as well as albite, biotite, and sillimanite in gneiss and schist of regional metamorphic rocks. It is only found in rocks once subjected to great heat and pressure. A rare mineral occurence in nature, it is only found in certain areas of the world in the fairy cross or celtic cross shapes. Each are unique and never are identical. True Staurolite crosses are hard enough to scratch glass.

Folklore: Named after the Greek word “Stauros” for “cross”, they are commonly known as “fairy stones” or “fairy crosses”. According to European and Christianity influenced Native American legend on the state park website, “hundreds of years before Chief Powhatan’s reign, the fairies were dancing around a magical spring of water, playing with naiads and wood nymphs, when a elfin messenger arrived from a city far away bringing the news of the death of Christ. When these creatures of the forest heard the story of the crucifixion, they wept, as their tears fell upon the earth they crystallized into beautiful crosses”. During the first meeting of John Smith and Pocahontas, it is said the Indian princess gave John Smith a good luck charm made out of a “fairy cross”. Legend has it that Richard the Lionheart used them during the crusades to heal the wounded. Some say these are the tears of the Cherokee who wept over the loss of their homeland during the exodus on the “Trail of Tears”. Others talk of an ancient race of mountain faeries who were dancing at their favorite meeting places, and upon finding out that the “Great Creator” had died, shed tears, so moved, were crushed in heart and cried, as they wept their tears crystallized into the “fairy crosses”. Others say that during the defeat of the Tuatha de Danann and other faerie races when they were forced under-ground to live in the hills, the faeries around the world shed tears, made of Iron to represent the Iron Age destroying their race, in the shapes of crosses as an omen of the peopling that would destroy the planet next.

    Ay the charms of the fairy stone make you blessed
    through the days of labor and nights of rest
    Where ever you stay, where ever you go,
    May the beautiful flowers of the good Fairies Grow.
    ~ Little Falls Minnesota web page

Well known that Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Wilson, Thomas A. Edison, Colonel Charles Lindbergh, and other prominent people carried one of these on their person(s).

Magical uses: For centuries these were believed to protect the wearer from sickness, accidents, disaster, and witchcraft. Used to find lost objects. Placed under the pillow to help induce lucid dreaming and astral travel. Used as amulets for good luck. Used to aid stress, anxiety, fear, considered soothing energy, and helpful with grounding. Many believe they embody an energy that will help you make contact with faeries or nature spirits. Some believe wearing the stones will help one stop smoking. Astrologically associated with Pisces. Associated with the base chakra. Healing qualities, good luck, rituals, protection, fever, defeat of malaria, stress, depression, addictive personality traits, time management, smoking cessation.

By Thomas Baurley, Technogypsie Productions and Research Facility.

Continue reading

Posted in Divination, Mythology and Folklore | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pendulums

Pendulums

One of the most common forms of divination, pendulums are used to tell the sex of unborn children, detect pregnancy, tell the future, answer life’s questions, prophecy, divining, and a common place magic trick. No one really fully understands the process of how the pendulum works. Pendulums are easy to make as it simply involves attaching a small weight to a length of chain, thread, or cord. The process of using it is even easier, as all one has to do is place their elbow on a table, face the pendulum which is looped over the index finger, and asked questions – to which the weight will move and provide answers. People often ask the pendulum if they should take trips, make life choices, if someone likes/loves them, relationship issues, if they should make purchases, if they are sick, allergic, and/or pregnant. Some use the pendulum to determine allergies. Others use pendulums to locate lost items, find places on a map, hidden treasure, water, caves, graves, or secrets of the unknown. Albeit easy to use, the pendulum does take a bit of rhythmn, practice, and tuning for precision results. Pendulums can be constructed of simply a lead fishing weight, a coin (such as a Norwegian kronos), a ring, a crystal, stone, or needle attached to a length of string or chain. Some choose to purchase simple to elaborate ones from Metaphysical, Pagan, New Age, Witch, or Occult shops. Some “experts” claim a true pendulum needs to be made using certain guidelines, including requirements of something that weighs at least three ounces and attached to 4-6 inches of cord. In my experience, the cord should be roughly the length of your hand from your wrist to the tip of your middle finger. As far as weight, that varies, as I’ve had much success if a pin definitely weighing under 3 ounces.

The best success with pendulums use I’ve found is to hold the cord between the thumb and first finger of your right or left hand (depending on what handedness you are – though some claim it must be the right hand. I am however left-handed and find it works perfectly with my usual orientation) or drooped over your index finger pinned by your thumb. Then resting your elbow on a table allow the pendulum to swing freely an inch or so above the surface of a table. You can also purchase a pendulum board for clearer and a more “fancy” presentation. Stop the movement of the weight with your free hand and then ask the pendulum your question. Ask it to answer “yes” and make note of the movement of the swing. Ask it to answer “no” and make note of the movement of the swing. Generally though, if it swings the direction of your head when nodding “yes” (to and from your face), then that is a “yes”. If it moves side to side, like the movement of the head in western culture for “no” it is a no. There is some dispute that the movements vary based on cultural views of body language for yes/no answers. The pendulum can also move diagonal meaning “maybe”, “don’t want to answer”, “right question”, or “don’t know”. It can also move in circles (clock-wise or counter-clockwise). Once the pendulum indicates an answer, which can be answered with mini swings to full swinging motions your answer should be revealed. There is also some debate that you should be asking Deity, spirits, ancestors, faeries, angels, and/or the undead directly your question while others believe you can just do it directing the question to the pendulum itself. (A debate similar to the usage of a ouija board) Your questions don’t need to be limited, just make sure you really want to know the real answer to your question. It is also very possible to mentally influence and override the movements of a pendulum if you think to hard on a particular response or too personally engaged with the result. In this case, its best to have someone not attached to the matter to do the pendulum reading for you. It is advised not to use the pendulum flippantly nor to let it rule your life. Place intuition, instinct, and common sense into action for your commitment with results from the pendulum. Pendulums are used also for dowsing. The intent behind the dowsing or divination sometimes dictates whether the pendulum is made of crystal, metal, or other materials. Stage magicians have audience members seal items in envelopes and presented to him/her to which a pendulum is used to “dowse” whether the item belongs to a male or a female. They can be held over a pad or cloth with yes/no written on it as well for audience demonstration. In Radiesthesia, pendulums are used for medical diagnosis.

Scientifically we know the pendulum swings by the influence of gravity, making it swing back and forth along a circular arc. The time it takes for a pendulum to oscillate from the peak of the swing on one side to the other and back is called the period of vibration, which depends on the length of the pendulum, the magnitude of gravitational acceleration where the pendulum is located, and the amplitude of the swing. A small amplitude has no effect on the period and the period is given by the equation T=2p l/g where T is the period of vibration, l is the length of the pendulum, and g is the local gravitational acceleration. The Greek letter ∏ (pi) is a constant with an approximate value of 3.1416. Pendulums are used in science for the uniformity of its period especially for keeping time, demonstrating the earth’s rotation, and determining gravitational acceleration at a particular location. The first recorded use of a pendulum, according to Science, was in 1620 when the British scientist Francis Bacon proposed using a pendulum to measure gravity, suggesting taking one up a mountain to see if gravity varies with altitude. According to “science” its use for pseudo-science broke out from the knowledge of the foucault pendulum. In 1851, Jean Bernard Léon Foucault showed that the plane of oscillation of a pendulum, like a gyroscope, tends to stay constant regardless of the motion of the pivot, and that this could be used to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. He did this by suspending a pendulum free to swing in 2 dimensions from the dome of the Panthéon in Paris. The length of the cord was 67 m and once in motion, the plane of swing was observed to precess or rotate 360° clockwise in about 32 hours thus becoming the first demonstration of the Earth’s rotation that didn’t depend on celestial observations. After this, it was believed that “pendulum mania” broke out and utilized in various sub-cultures, groups, demonstrations, and New age spirituality.

~ By Leaf McGowan


    Bibliography, References, Recommended Reading:
  • About.com: How to use a Pendulum. Website referenced July 2012. http://healing.about.com/cs/tools/ht/How_pendulums.htm
  • Calacademy: The Pendulum. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.calacademy.org/products/pendulum/page1.htm
  • How Stuff Works: Science – The Pendulum. Website referenced July 2012. http://science.howstuffworks.com/pendulum-info.htm
  • Llewellyn Publications: The Pendulum. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/471.
  • Pendulums.com. Website referenced July 2012. http://www.pendulums.com/

Posted in Divination, Mythology and Folklore | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A overcast day in Dublin … changes in motion

August 7, 2012
Dublin, Ireland

Greetings friend, family, members, and customers … We here at the Tree Leaves’ Folk Fellowship and the Tree Leaves’ Oracle are busy reviving our organization with plans to make it an exciting group once again. Days of old we had many activities, events, discussion groups, workshops, classes, and festivities … and we miss that. We realize that alot of that has been because we’ve been travelling around the world … but we are nesting once again and with that we hope to bring together some real-time activities. 

But before we do, we’d like to hear from you. What would you like to see happen with Tree Leaves? Are you still interested in getting involved? Do you have any ideas? what do you envision for our new future?

Please comment below with your input. We’d like to hear from you.

Blessings, 

Leaf McGowan

Posted in News and Updates, Tree Leaves Folk Fellowship | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tree Leaves’ Oracle Online – Re-opened!

As of August 1st, 2012 – We are live and in full operation with our online store again. We are still travelling and gathering found treasures, art, collectibles, and gifts for your enjoyment. Later this month, we’ll be sailing from Ireland to Scotland, flying from Scotland to Iceland, then on to Colorado where we’ll be getting all of our merchandise again and slowing adding it back online for your access. It has been a long journey over the last year and a half, as we moved operations from America, to Australia, to Cornwall, and Ireland – being separated from our warehouse so had to de-activate the shop. But no longer! We have some of our portable inventory already ready to ship to you, and in September will be adding thousands of more items. Enjoy!


For over 20 years, we’ve enjoyed your fellowship, friendship, kinship, comraderie, travels, and events … and we look forward to many more years! We’ll be getting things rolling again as we head from our Dublin office to our port in Charleston, South Carolina. Let the adventure begin! From Colorado we’ll be joining the Gypsy Project of Pirate Relief making way across the wild west of the Americas, gathering treasures and gifts along the way, from Colorado, through New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Expect much to happen in the next couple of months! You can keep up with the adventures of the travels at Chronicles of Sir Thomas Leaf, Tree Leaves’ tales, and on the Pirate’s Plank.

As of today, we’ve got all of our “accessible” bumper stickers and decals uploaded and ready to ship. We’ve many more stickers to add in upcoming months, as well as art, gifts, crafts, clothing, and found treasures. Each day we’ll be adding more and more … so check back daily!

Posted in Arts & Crafts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shakefest 2012: May 26th – Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Ireland

2012 Shake Fest: Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Ireland

Shakefest 2012
May 26-27th, 2012 * Charleville Castle * Tullamore * Ireland * Shakefest.net *

This year will be Shakefest’s “7th” Annual Dance and multi-cultural festival held at the historic epic Charleville Castle. The festival grounds is starting to bustle with activity as preparations are in the flow to welcome local and international community, visitors, friends, and family to celebrate culture. Since 2006, Shakefest has been bringing together an eclectic mix of Middle Eastern, Cultural Dance, and Artistic Workshops ending with a multi-cultural evening of dance performances. This year, Shakefest is expanding into more folklore, diversity, performance art, crafts, and themes for all ages, sexes, and cultures. This year features numerous workshops, classes, performances, and activities such as a “Faerie Glen” to get lost in, A “Madhatter’s Tea Party”, A bouncy Pirate Ship, Indian Cuisine, Performances by Tullamore’s “The Red Embers”, Galway Bellydance, Appolonia Tribal Bellydance, Sheeoneh, Nicole Volmering, and Aoife Hardiman.


Joana Saahirah ~ photo courtesy of Shakefest

This year’s International Guest Instructor is Oriental Dancer Joana Saahirah of Cairo, Egypt providing authentic education on Egyptian History and Folklore as well as Oriental Dance instruction in Classical, Saiidi and Alexandria of Mellaya styles. Declan Kiely will host a special workshop on how to “Dance like Michael Jackson”. Hip Hop, Jazz, Poi & Ribbon Dancing, Bachata and Argentinian Tango classes are also offered. There will also be African dance, poetry, open-mic sessions, a kid’s gigantic Dragonfly and butterfly hunt, punch and judy, juggling & stiltwalking by Stagecraft Ireland, Drum Circles, and a magic show. This year will also be breaking ground on a live history section with the KHI Medieval Re-enactors treating audiences to combat simulations of the Crusader’s Knight’s Templar with medieval tents, a full try-on armoury and archery for all ages.



KHI Medieval Re-enactors ~ photo courtesy of Shakefest

Featured musical performances by 40′s Swinging The Bugle Babes, Our Annual Multi-cultural Hafla, daring fire show by The Red Embers & Babylon’s Inferno, The North Strand Kontra Band from North Dublin. Dazzling Romanian and Bulgarian instrumental band is expected to finish off the fest with explosive energy and lively dance accompanied by original and traditional tunes from clarinet, saxophone, trombone, keys, banjo, double bass, and drums. If you’re travelling through Ireland this weekend or live in the magical isles, this event is not to be missed. Gates open at Noon on Saturday the 26th with admission only €10 general entry, €10 camping, €20 family day pass or only €15 for evening entertainment.  All proceeds will be going towards Charleville Castle Restoration Fund – Operation ‘Raise The Roof’ project in which money will be raised towards putting a protective roof on the castle chapel. We’ll be covering this event, so come back here for photos, review, and the stories we weave from the experience …


North Strand Kontra Band ~ photo courtesy of Shakefest

Posted in Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Come Join Us At ShakeFest 2012 ~ Historic Charleville Castle, Ireland

2012 Shake Fest: Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Ireland

2012 Shake Fest: Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Ireland

This year, Technogypsie Productions, Pirate Relief, and The Tree Leaves’ Oracle & Folk Fellowship are helping with the production of “Shakefest by creating a children’s (and adults) fun area as the “Faerie Glen” with a Wishing Well, Rag Tree, and a Madhatter’s Tea Party and much much more. After hours, we’ll be doing a sorta- reunion for our Irish Core Effigy friends we camped with at Tir na nOg this year at the Burn. Childrens Madhatter’s Tea Party is around 1:30 pm, while the Adults Tea Party is at the Witching Hour. Costumes required to participate. Dress as Pirates, Faeries, or someone from Alice in Wonderland. Face painting, Faerie Art, stickers, candles, and Tarot Readings also available. Saturday, May 26, 2012 – Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Ireland – Faerie Glen & Madhatter’s area open from Noon until an hour or two after the witching hour …Note: If you are coming for the Evening activities, please arrive by 6 pm – for bands and entertainment as gates close early.

Posted in Arts & Crafts, Classes, Events | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tree Leaves’ Sponsors: Shakefest 2012 – May 26th-27th – Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Ireland


The North Strand Kontra Band was formed on the North side of Dublin in the Winter of 2005. They’re an instrumental band who play a mix of original and traditional material influenced predominantly by the music of Romania and Bulgaria. The band has played to critical acclaim in many of the leading venues and festivals at home and abroad with their live shows being lauded for their high energy levels and explosive musicianship. The line up includes; Clarinet, Saxophone, Trombone, Keys, Banjo, Double Bass and Drums.

<><><><><>


Shakefest, A Celebration of Dance and Culture, was formed at Charleville Castle in 2006 with an eclectic mix of Middle Eastern, Cultural Dance and Artistic Workshops that ended with a multicultural evening of dance performances.  7 years on, Shakefest grows from strength to strength and will be offering much more interactive activities and performances for all ages.

On Saturday, April 14th, a full house was treated to a Multicultural dance recital of excellence at The Culture Box, Temple Bar, Dublin with the official announcement of all workshops and performances for this year’s Shakefest 2012.

Assale Ibrahim, originally from Iraq and of esteemed Oriental and Gypsy dance who was  Shakefest’s first International Guest Instructor at Shakefest 2010, performed captivating and inspiring Baladi, Tribal, Gypsy and the Sacred Sufi Whirling dance for the Shakefest audience as well as members of our Irish Oriental and Tribal Dance community like Tullamore’s The Red Embers, Galway Bellydance, Appolonia Tribal Bellydance, Sheeoneh, Nicole Volmering and Aoife Hardiman.

Shakefest’s 2012 International Guest Instructor was announced as Oriental Dancer Joana Saahirah of Cairo, Egypt who will be here to provide an authentic education on Egyptian History and Folklore as well as Oriental Dance instruction in Classical, Saiidi and Alexandria of Mellaya styles accompanied  by two dazzling and interpretive Oriental dances.

Joana has delighted Egyptian audiences with her live Orchestral shows in Cairo with some of the best Egyptian musicians and travels worldwide sharing her passion and education.  Artistically and technically rich, Joana Saahirah brings back the SOUL to Oriental Dance.

For dance enthusiasts of all ages, we have a special workshop called ‘DANCE LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON’ instructed by Declan Kiely who performs regularly as a tribute to Michael Jackson. Hip Hop, Jazz, Poi and Ribbon dancing, Bachata and Argentinian Tango are also on offer.  African dance, Poetry, Open-Mic sessions, Kid’s gigantic Dragonfly and Butterfly hunt, Punch and Judy, Magician, Bouncy Castle, Juggling and Stiltwalking show by Stagecraft Ireland, Drum Circles, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and Fairy Glen are all on offer for kids and families.

New to Shakefest this year is our LIVE HISTORY section – KHI Medieval Re-enactors will be treating audiences to Combat Simulations of the Crusaders Knight’s Templar as well as providing authentic Medieval tents, a full try-on armoury and archery for all ages.  KHI directly reflects the historical ties that bind to Charleville Castle and the symbolism of its personal history.  Evening performances highlighted will be our annual Multicultural Hafla, followed by daring Fire Show by The Red Embers and special guests Babylon’s Inferno, and 40’s Swing by The Bugle Babes.  To finish the evening in a cultural and energetic crescendo, Shakefest this year hosts The North Strand Kontra Band from Dublin.  The North Strand Kontra Band was formed on the North side of Dublin in the Winter of 2005. They are an instrumental band who play a mix of original and traditional material influenced predominantly by the music of Romania and Bulgaria. The band has played to critical acclaim in many of the leading venues and festivals at home and abroad with their live shows being lauded for their high energy levels and explosive musicianship.

Tickets for Shakefest can be purchased on www.shakefest.net or www.brownpapertickets.com and range from €10 general admission, €10 camping, €20 family day pass or only €15 for evening entertainment and gates open at 12pm.  All proceeds will be going towards Charleville Castle Restoration Fund – Operation ‘Raise The Roof’ project in which money will be raised towards putting a protective roof on the castle chapel.

Shakefest is supported by the Offaly Local Development Company, the Offaly County Council, The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the European Commission, the Offaly Leader and The Offaly Arts Office.

Posted in Events | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

June 22-24, 2012 ~ 12th Annual Fairy Human Relations Congress: Twisp, Washington

The March 15 early registration date is coming up!
Get 3 days of Fairy Congress for $215!

- that’s meals, workshops, rituals, camping, the magic of Skalitude, music
and enough fairy dust to make you shine for the rest of the year!

details at www.fairycongress.com

 

 

Friends of the Trees • PO Box 826 • Tonasket, WA 98855

http://www.friendsofthetrees.net

Posted in Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kony 2012: Bring Justice, Arrest Joseph Kony

Awareness is the key for stopping wrongs in this world. Action against those wrongs is the next step. Educate yourself about this issue so you too can help the injustices happening in Uganda. KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. Joseph Kony is a warlord, a guerrilla group leader operating the LRA – The Lord’s Resistance Army as both a cult and a militant group in Uganda. Armed with a radical pseudo-Christian fundamentalist and extremist ideology, Kony kidnaps young children brutally forcing them to become his soldiers and prostitutes. He forces them to kill their own parents, commit murder, mutilations on others, rape, and even purported acts of cannibalism. These are ordered through his own self-styled version of the Ten Commandments. The crimes have not just stayed within the borders of Uganda, but Democratic Repulbic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, and Central African Republic. He is accused of forcing over 30,000-66,000 children into his army (estimates vary from different sources) and displacing over 2 million since the rebellion began in 1986. Kony was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court in 2005 (Hague, Netherlands) but has been never captured. Do you part to get him captured today. http://www.invisiblechildren.com/.

Posted in Cultural & Environmental Issues, Political | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment