Using the Web to Save Darfur

Here at TBG, we firmly believe that our clients, whether they be corporations, non-profits, or political candidates, should use their websites as conduits for relaying narratives that will spur visitors to action.  Amnesty International's new Eyes on Darfur website (screenshot below) is probably the best example of this tactic that I have ever seen.

 A collaboration between Amnesty International and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Eyes on Darfur makes the atrocities happening in Sudan a reality for people otherwise removed from the situation.  Using satellite imagery, Eyes on Darfur shows the destruction of individual villages in Darfur and Chad, providing pre-crisis imagery of villages and pinpointing structures that have since been destroyed.  The site also uses this technology to identify villages that are still currently at risk. Satellite photos are accompanied by statistics, first-hand accounts, and official reports explaining the events in specific villages.  Visitors to the site can also read background information of the conflict, view photos from villages, and learn about the international response to the situation and what life in Darfur is actually like.

Mona Younis, director of the Science and Human Rights Program at the AAAS told the Washington Post that "The initiative is an example of how science and technology can be applied to expose human rights violations."

Not only is Eyes on Darfur a source of information, but it is also a platform for taking action.  Visitors can sign petitions, send messages to officials, and forward information to friends directly through the website.  The detailed visual information and emotional narrative about the situation in Darfur provide visitors with extremely compelling reasons to get involved, and the site infrastructure makes it really easy to do so.

It's great to see Amnesty harnessing the web for such an important cause.  I really encourage everyone to visit the site and show your support.