Sattellite Imagery And Human Rights -- New York Times Is One Year Late In Its Reporting

From The New York Times:

It’s pretty clear that technology can potentially smooth the path toward 9 billion people (more or less) seeking a decent life. The most familiar applications are in realms like energy (cheaper solar cells), transportation (Masdar’s smart people movers) and health (water filters or quick tuberculosis tests). But there is growing evidence that another field, human rights, can be aided by gadgets — in this case eyes in the sky.

The latest evidence comes from the Ogaden region in eastern Ethiopia, where there have been hundreds of eyewitness accounts of village burnings, rape and other actions by the army, but little corroborating information because the government will not let outside observers move around. Jeffrey Gettleman’s gripping coverage of rebel fighters last year provides a useful introduction to the issues.

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My Comment: Another example of how technology and its use by common people can expose crimes and /or situations that governments in isolated regions may not want to be revealed. But the New York Times is one year late in its reporting. Amnesty International launched Eyes On Darfur in which satellite cameras allows the public to monitor villages last year. More news from the Have Fun-Do Good blog.