A Clooney idea

Every time you step outside you are being spied on.
But – it’s for your own good. Images and videos captured by CCTV are used to protect you from harm but can be used as evidence to exonerate or convict you, if you get involved in an unsavoury incident.

If you own a smartphone then you are also being tracked constantly and your geolocation updated as often as you inhale. Get into your car and you will be monitored before you reach the first set of traffic lights.

This is a consequence of living in a free society. We have become accustomed to this and no longer protest about the privacy issues. In any case no one is listening to you.

Satellite Surveillance
Imagine this type of surveillance being deployed and utilised by a private individual – not Google. That’s exactly what is being proposed by George Clooney. His organisation, ‘Not on our watch’, are proposing that satellite surveillance techniques be used in areas around the world where despots kill innocent people at will.

The referendum
The case in point is Sudan where the country is being split into 2 new countries primarily on religious grounds. The North of Sudan is Muslim and 20% of the population and the South, Christian is 80%.
A referendum is taking place in Southern Sudan from 9 January until 15 January 2011, on whether the region should remain a part of Sudan or be independent. The referendum is one of the consequences of the 2005 Naivasha Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M).

The Satellite
The use of satellite imagery can detect and deter human rights crimes in Darfur and Southern Sudan by denying deniability and promoting greater accountability.

The ‘satellite spy surveillance’ will be used as an early warning system. Conflict between military and civilians will be captured by satellite and the evidence gathered will be used to prosecute the perpetrators. Images and video could be beamed via the internet to the media and governments ‘who give a damn’ about atrocities, where appropriate action can be taken.

The idea is that if these images of activities such as;
- troop build-up
- civilians on the move
- refuge camps development etc..

are in the public domain before a crisis develops then action can be taken on an international level to prevent a disaster.

The UN
Armed with this information the UN would have to move swiftly to avert a disaster. This seems unlikely, unless media pressure mobilises politicians and engenders the necessary response to save lives.

In theory ‘the satellite spy system’ sounds like a good idea although there are many problems to resolve and the cost of such a program would be immense.

On the other hand…
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

Founders of ‘Not On Our watch’
George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon
Don Cheadle, Jerry Weintraub, David Pressman

Mission statement
Not On Our Watch is committed to robust international advocacy and humanitarian assistance. Drawing upon figures with uniquely powerful voices, we develop advocacy campaigns that bring global attention to international crises and give voice to their victims. We target mass media and international press, and engage world leadership. We encourage governing bodies to take meaningful, immediate action to protect the vulnerable, marginalized, and displaced. We mobilize significant funds towards emergency, lifesaving projects to protect those in harm’s way.
Drawing upon the voices of cultural leaders to protect and assist the vulnerable, marginalized and displaced