LRA leader Joseph Kony
No one disagrees that stopping Joseph Kony (seen at left) from enslaving children as sex slaves and soldiers is a noble pursuit. But as Kony 2012, also known as Invisible Children, gains prominence after the group's release last week of a mega-hit video, a rising tide of criticism has followed, and it seems that the organization is not all that it's cracked up to be. Reuters

Another trend is sweeping across Twitter, gaining much popularity among ordinary citizens and celebrities who have been mobilized to action to end the reign of Joseph Kony, leader of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army or LRA.

While Twitter is always buzzing with trending topics hourly, this trend could end up saving the lives of thousands of children in Uganda. The trend is a hashtag called #StopKony and thousands of users have been spreading the word about Kony's mistreatment of children and sharing a 30-minute video called Kony 2012, educating the world's youth about Kony and his crimes.

Who is Joseph Kony?

Joseph Kony, who has systematically ruled people in central Africa for more than 20 years, has been accused of using the LRA to hold power through violent means. The LRA has a reputation for brutality in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

Several reports have claimed that Kony's LRA has not only abducted, but forced tens of thousands, of children to fight for the terrorist group. The unrest has forced the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people since the rebellion began in 1986.

Kony has been indicted by the International Criminals Court on charges that include murder, torture, child enslavement, mutilation and rape, according to the Christian Post.

Boys that are abducted into his army become child soldiers--mutilating people faces and areven forced to kill their own parents. Girls become sex slaves.

Kony is still at large.

Kony 2012 Wants to End 26-Year Reign

The video Kony 2012 gives viewers a glimpse of Kony and the drastic actions he takes to maintain his power. It is narrated by Jason Russell, founder of Invisible Children, an organization with a mission to educate the world about Kony, the LRA and the deadly acts of violence they commit daily.

The video aims to get support for Kony's arrest and international justice for the children.

The video resulted from a promise Russell made to his friend Jacob, whom he met in Uganda. Jacob, who was among the thousands of children in Kony's army, was running for his life when he met Russell. Jacob said he saw family members killed by Kony's army and, if caught by the army, Jacob said he would be killed.

For about nine years Russell has been working to keep his promise to Jacob.

It is obvious that Kony should be stopped, Russell said in the video. The problem is 99 percent of the planet doesn't know who he is. If they knew, Kony would have been stopped long ago.

Politicians have told Russell that they are willing to cooperate with friends of Uganda to stop Kony.

Last October, U.S. President Barack Obama ordered that about 100 American troops be dispatched to central Africa to help hunt and find Kony. The troops role is to act only as advisers. They will take no part in combat unless necessary for self-defense, Obama stated in a letter to Congress.

The U.S. State Department has said that since 2008 alone, the LRA has killed more than 2,400 people and abducted more than 3,400. The United Nations estimates that more than 380,000 people are displaced across Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan because of the guerrilla group.

In order for Kony to be arrested this year, the Ugandan military has to find him, Russell said. In order to find him they need the technology and training to track him in the vast jungle. That's where the American advisers come in. But in order for the American advisers to be there, the U.S. government has to deploy them. They've done that. But if the government doesn't believe that people care about arresting Kony the mission will be canceled.

Russell said for people to care they have to know.

They will only know if Kony's name is everywhere, Russell said.

The Kony 2012 video expires Dec. 31, 2012. Celebrities, athletes, billionaires are being targeted because of their influence. So are policy makers. Twenty culture makers and 12 policymakers are being targeted to spread the word about Kony.

Now Twitter users are asking people to learn about Kony and to get behind the effort to catch him, so that he can be tried for the crimes he is accused of.

If you haven't heard about Joseph Kony, you need to know. Please help #stopkony, Twitter user Jonas Applegate wrote, adding a link to the video.

99% of world doesn't know: 26 years-30,000 children- #stopkony Be informed! This is the year! wrote Samantha Smith.

This war must stop! Show this to as many people as possible. #StopKony, wrote Jerrell Jackson.

Do you think Twitter and the rest of the world can make it happen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.

Central African Republic Sudan Barack obama Twitter