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Google has unveiled an online mapping initiative aimed at [raising awareness of the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan][1]. Crisis in Darfur, which is in partnership with the [U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum][3], enables Google Earth users visualize and better understand the genocide currently unfolding in Darfur.
Crisis in Darfur is the first project in the Museum's Genocide Prevention Mapping Initiative which will over time include information as layers in Google Earth. The goal of the project is to allowing citizens, governments and institutions to access information on atrocities and potential genocide.
The Museum is presumably trying to leverage some aspect of the wisdom of the crowds so that while CNN may be covered with headlines about the latest celebrity death, the blogosphere and growingly influential citizen media projects can use the Google Earth tools to research and draw attention to stories that matter.
Museum Director Sara J. Bloomfield, Director of the Holocaust Museum, said in press conference earlier today that Google Earth can serve as a means to raise awareness about atrocities both past and present.
"When it comes to responding to genocide, the world’s record is terrible." Bloomfield said. "We hope this important initiative with Google will make it that much harder for the world to ignore those who need us the most"
To access the new content open up Google Earth and fly over to African. The Crisis in Darfur layers are in the Global Awareness directory.
The joint press release from Google and the Holocaust Museum says that Crisis in Darfur allows user to zoom and see firsthand "1,600 damaged and destroyed villages, providing visual, compelling evidence of the scope of destruction." Also visible are the remnants of more than 100,000 homes, schools, mosques and other structures destroyed by the janjaweed militia and Sudanese forces.
Clicking the various icons will reveal more information including links to download files from the genocide museum as well as a "[how you can help][2]" section.
The high resolution images are drawn from sources like the U.S. State Department, non-governmental organizations, the United Nations, individual photographers, and the Museum. The additional content comes from a wide range of sources including the museum and humanitarian groups in the area.
The imagery is haunting, it's a very strange and disturbing experience to sit in the comfort of the your living room and zoom in on graphic images of destroyed villages on the other side of the globe. But that the same time that's the goal of this project, to use Google Earth to bring the realities of world directly into your living room.
Once upon a time it was easy for governments to deny atrocities were happening, to hide evidence behind cordoned off, restricted access areas but thanks to projects like the Crisis in Darfur layers for Google Earth it's becoming increasingly difficult for the perpetuators of such crimes to hide their deeds.
[1]: http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/pressrel/darfur_mapping.html "U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and Google Join in Online Darfur Mapping Initiative"
[2]: http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/darfur/what/ "What Can I Do"
[3]: http://www.ushmm.org/ "U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum"
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