People wanting to help can look at websites or National Geographic-this does seem dangerous and creepy.

Normally I would be in favour of anything that can help raise conciousness about the problem, but to be honest, I think this goes a little too far. Safety and privacy need to be considered more seriously. I mean, there are other ways to inform people and this sounds almost like a reality show. I don't think this is a good idea.

Google Earth still shows military bases, both here and in Iraq... in fact they show so much that I know people in the military who use Google Earth stills in their presentations!

Someone needs to reign in this program...

When should information be considered off limits? How recent are the picures? I must admit that I have never used Google Earth. If the pictures are within the last month, then I think it is too far. If they are years old, then I see no problem with it.

DANG, cabaker!!!! That is crazy!

I think it does need to be reigned in, but we also need to deal with the fact that if the technology is out there, there are computer people that can find it. We have to plan as if the information is already in the wrong hands. Some people are crazy geniuses with computers. I definitely don't fall into that category!

I think it's a great idea. Refuge camps aren't secret in any way and I think it's an issue where people take the mentality "out of sight, out of mind". I hope it will raise awareness just by the sheer reach that google has.

Well I remember the controversy when Google switched the images of post-Katrina with images of pre-Katrina. Oh my. We all were up in arms. It's like Google decided, "ah, that hurricane, everyone forgot about it already so let's just show the images from when everything was hunky-dory down there."

I think its a great idea. More attention needs to be drawn to the refugee crises (sp?) all over the world.

Besides, does anyone REALLY think the janjaweed in Sudan has wireless internet & can look up the locations of the camps? Its not like they don't already know where the helpless are...

i'm kind of on the fence about this one. it's like there's a sense of providing too much information and then again, it's like it's something that's important. i don't know what the right answer/response to this is.

I think it's going too far. This particular situation I don't think will help raise awareness. Like Stephly said, if people want to help there are websites, mailouts etc. For those who don't want to help or aren't aware of the issues, google earth isn't going to bring the issue to those people's attention. I'm guessing the types of people who are unaware of world issues like that and others, aren't big google earth users.

I think the people who will be using Google Earth to find these places are not doing it for humanitarian reasons.

I agree cabaker.

Will these people be getting paid or the camp to be featured on this tool?

Here's another question. Will the refugee camps be labelled? Can I type in "Extremist Refugee Camp" and Google Earth will rotate and show me where in the world the refugee camp is, or do I have to find it on my own?

These polls are interesting because most of the comments have been against it, yet the poll says 78% think its a good idea...

I really don't think people read the articles that come with this, they just blindly take the poll.

I just point and click, and then go to the comments... Is that bad?

I never participate in the polls.

Are refugee camps tough to find? In other words, does the janjaweed need to hook up to the internet to find camps, and if they could, would it make a difference? I think the idea behind plotting refugee movements is solid because migrations can inform humanitarian needs, and if the UNHCR endorses this project, they must have done their homework. Maybe we should ask Angelina Jolie what she thinks.

I DO think that showing military bases is a bad idea. Access to bases on the ground is prohibited, so I think it's a security issue to depict the layouts.

"Maybe we should ask Angelina Jolie what she thinks."

rotfl silly!

She would say that America should adpot all the children. I would if I could afford any more

She would say that America should adpot all the children. I would if I could afford any more

She would say that America should adpot all the children. I would if I could afford any more

WTF?? I hit the button once!!!

I apologize for the multiple posts.

You were just really passionate about it. The blog world could tell.

I noticed Dave wrote, ...adpot...(add pot?) Was that really a one time hit Dave? J.K.

Well, I only needed one hit....

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

It creeps me out that someone is always watching us with these programs. But not to derail this comment, I do think Google Earth would be instrumental in planning some kind of terrorist attack.