Google has teamed up with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to launch the Genocide Mapping Initiative, which aims to increase awareness and understanding of genocide by using Google Earth to visually communicate its reality to millions of computer users worldwide.
Typing "Darfur, Sudan" into Google Earth transports you to the region, where you are shown numerous icons that represent damaged or destroyed villages and refuge camps. You can click on one of these and are given the option of downloading the "Crisis in Darfur" layer for Google Earth, which contains numerous photos, videos, and testimonies of victims of the artocities. Users can zoom in on the devastation and the refuge camps in Sudan and eastern Chad. Users are also provided clear links for learning more about the crisis and how to get involved.
It is hoped that this technology will help more people understand the severity of the situation and be moved to action, such as pressuring their governments to get involved to protect civilians. The Google Earth technology can also be used to create presentations for churches or community groups, in order to further build public pressure regarding the necessity of intervention.
Links:
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
http://www.ushmm.org/
Google Earth
http://earth.google.com
Google Earth Crisis in Darfur Layer (You must download Google Earth and install it on your desktop for this to work.)
http://www.ushmm.org/googleearth/professional.kmz
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