Child Soldiers

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Child Soldiers

•           By Samantha and Jo 

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•     Thousands of children in more than 40
  countries across the globe are being forced or
  tricked into becoming soldiers. 
•      
•     

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The Problem US

• A child goes missing or is abducted
• Broadcasting descriptions
• Flash pictures
• Post information regarding the abduction
• Police move out in force with helicopters and
  planes
• Bring a child home to its family
• Go after the abductor to put him behind bars,

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The Problem AFRICA

• Northern districts of Uganda, 300,000 children
  abducted in 20 years nobody does a thing.
• Almost every family has been affected. 
• Many families lost a child through abduction, or
  their village was attacked and destroyed by an
  army of abducted children known as The Lords
  Resistance Army.
• Countryside virtually empty
• People move to "safe villages" protected by the
  government
• Said not done. 
• At night the children of the north flee into
  towns to sleep, fearing that they might be
  abducted. 

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The Main Info

• Children around 10 years old are taught to kill
• Child is commanded to kill others in order to
  stay alive 
• The number of children under the age of 18 who
  have been coerced or induced to become child
  soldiers is thought to be in the range of 300,000 

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Joseph Kony

• Claims to make Uganda better place based on the
  Ten Commandments, but he has broken every one of
  them. 
• Control of children and the doing of a crazy
  man. 
• Known nothing else but death and destruction. 

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The Time/place

• 18 years, no resolve in sight. 
• Recruits soldiers from villages and schools of
  Uganda through abductions.
• Children have been robbed of life itself
• Ruthless killers who no longer feel

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A Story in Pictures

•  Drawings by former child soldiers as young as 5
  years old
•  
• http//www.amnestyusa.org/child_soldiers/gallery.h
  tml - A story in pictures.
• This is what the LRA has been doing to our
  children for over 18 years now, and it's time for
  it to stop. Kids as young as 5 years old, are
  drawing these images after being a child soldier.
  No hearts, no pictures for mommy. just cold-
  blooded murder scenes.

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Quotes

• FORMER GIRL SOLDIER in hiding in Colombia -
• They told me I had to cut a man's throat. I was
  frightened. But I had to do it to survive."

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Quotes

• FORMER CHILD SOLDIER - "I killed innocent people
  in terrorist attacks with bombs. I haven't given
  it much thought. I know there was one town where
  I planted dynamite - I used about 25kg of
  explosives. I am really not sure."

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Quotes

• "I've seen people get their hands cut off, a
  ten-year old girl get assaulted and then died,
  and so many men and women burned and buried
  alive so many times I just cried inside my
  heart because I didn't dare cry out loud," said a
  14 year-old girl, abducted in January 2000 by the
  Revolutionary United Front, an armed group in
  Sierra Leone. 

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Quotes

• CHILD SOLDIER, Myanmar - "I feel sorry. Why do I
  feel sorry? Because by the time I could go to
  school, I am already too old for the beginner's
  class. I can't dream of going to school any more
  because it is too late. I will stay in the
  army until I die. I lost all my dreams, all my
  hopes for the future, I feel like a dead person."

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Quotes

• LRA ESCAPEE - "The LRA were looting the village.
  I tried to run away but it was too late. They
  forced me to carry two 50kg bags of sugar. I
  couldn't carry them on my own, so they captured 2
  more kids to help."

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Video Link

• http//www2.invisiblechildren.com/videos/3765611 -
  Who We Are video

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How We Can Help

• Donate. Go to www. invisiblechildren.com, to
  donate your money, and help the invisible
  children of Uganda, become visible. 
• Support. Invisible Children co. has recently
  started their bracelet campaign. They have
  started selling bracelets handmade by the Ugandan
  people, that will benefit the people of Africa.
  By purchasing one of these bracelets you will
  help support the Invisible Children, and child
  soldiers of Uganda
• Spread the word. By spreading the word about
  child soldiers, we will help educate ourselves
  and others about the problem in not only Africa,
  but also the rest of the world.

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Bibliography

• http//www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/stories/s59
  6672.htm
• http//www.amnestyusa.org/child_soldiers/gallery.h
  tml
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•  http//www2.invisiblechildren.com/videos/3765611
•  
• http//kabiza.com/Lira-Children-Kony-Rebels.htm