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Elaisha Stokes on See for yourself - Conflict goes 2.0

Graham F. Scott on See for yourself - Conflict goes 2.0


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January 12, 2009

See for yourself - Conflict goes 2.0

Posted by Elaisha Stokes at 11:17 AM ET

It's hard to know just what to say about the most recent installment of the Israeli-Gaza conflict. The 16 days of fighting have killed 900 Palestinians and left 1.5 million in urgent need of food and medical aid. Recent reports suggest humanitarian aid is currently denied access at Gaza checkpoints. Many international agencies have pulled out, citing the increase of violence as an extreme hazard to their aid workers.

The Israeli government has forbidden foreign journalists from entering the Gaza strip, making it impossible to confirm accuracy of the reports coming from the region. Fortunately, in the age of the internet, anything is possible. For the first time in history you can act as an international observer from the comfort of your own home.

The Israel Defense Ministry has set up a web cam feed of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the largest boarder crossing between Israel and Gaza. Live images are broadcast during the three hour ceasefire from three cameras that monitor the entrance and exit of the terminal. Are the trucks really making it across the boarder and into Gaza? Is there really a steady flow of aid to the Palestinian people? Now you can see for yourself.

Alternatively, if you're looking for a little hope in these troubled times, why not check out the live feed of the Western Wall.

Are all these live feeds just a publicity stunt for a beleaguered government trying to change international public opinion on their efforts? Is seeing really believing? What do you think?

More entries on: Interweb | War and peace


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Reader comments:

This is an interesting example of how "transparency" doesn't always lead to better or more responsible conduct. As in this case, some governments are using the web and new technologies in aid of a much older activity: disinformation and misdirection. This webcam feed is, in fact, of limited use as a human-rights monitoring device; its actual utility for the Israeli Defence Ministry is that it preempts criticism by the international community. "You're concerned about the humanitarian effects of the Israeli army's advance into Gaza? But look, we've set up a webcam! We're being transparent and open! Look at that aid go!" By cranking up the volume of empty or irrelevant data they put out, governments obscure or suppress meaningful information about their conduct. Actual understanding is drowned in a sea of pointless facts.

And the fact of the existence of the webcam anesthetizes people: the fact that they believe they could go and check on humanitarian aid flows through their web browser in fact means that they never will, because, hey, all that transparency and openness means someone must be watching, right? Instead of engaged citizens, you get passive viewers, who feel little responsibility to monitor and influence their governments' activities

Posted by: Graham F. Scott at January 13, 2009 10:39 AM

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Yeah, passive viewers for three hours only. The rest of the day, who knows...

Posted by: Elaisha Stokes at January 13, 2009 10:44 AM

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