Who says reporters have to live up to ethical or moral standards?
And if so, what kind of standards would allow a 250 million gallon coal sludge spill in Martin County, KY (Oct 11, 2000) be blacked out from the media? This is at least an order of magnitude greater than the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, and the clean-up is significantly more difficult because the sludge sinks to the bottom of the streams and rivers. (It can't be skimmed off the top.)
What about the Election 2000 fiasco with the major networks calling FL before the people in CA had finished voting?
How about the absence of news regarding civilian conditions in Iraq? If you think the NATO vets are suffering from a bad case of Gulf War Syndrome, think about the people that were continuosly bombed with depleted (though still radioactive) Uranium munitions.)
On the brighter side, the internet at least allows people to search and find alternative views on most events. John Q. Public doesn't have to swallow the official media stance on any issue anymore.
Let me start by saying I found the pictures taken by Ikonos fascinating. Recent movies (Enemy of the State) and forthcoming software games ( Black and White ) have shown this capability to scale from a distant view of the earth from the moon all the way down to a view from an airplane fly-over. Amazing.
I'm glad that the Ikonos people are displaying these images. However, I am somewhat alarmed at the potential misuses for such technology in a "commercial" environment. I suppose the commercial misuses can only be as bad as the governmental misuses that are no doubt already occuring. (Who really doubts that the < insert your favorite agency here > doesnt already have recon satellites with much greater resolution and advanced sensors?)
How long should we continue to rely on crowd anonymity ? When will the people/corporations be accountable for their actions? Is the almighty dollar the only authority anymore?
Am I being too paranoid/conspiratorial/etc? I dont know...
But I do know that those pictures of War in Grozny, Chechnya were absolutely devastating. When I can worry about formatting for a website while others are worrying about food and shelter for the night, I think anything is possible.
Slashdot Mirror
And if so, what kind of standards would allow a 250 million gallon coal sludge spill in Martin County, KY (Oct 11, 2000) be blacked out from the media? This is at least an order of magnitude greater than the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, and the clean-up is significantly more difficult because the sludge sinks to the bottom of the streams and rivers. (It can't be skimmed off the top.)
What about the Election 2000 fiasco with the major networks calling FL before the people in CA had finished voting?
How about the absence of news regarding civilian conditions in Iraq? If you think the NATO vets are suffering from a bad case of Gulf War Syndrome, think about the people that were continuosly bombed with depleted (though still radioactive) Uranium munitions.)
On the brighter side, the internet at least allows people to search and find alternative views on most events. John Q. Public doesn't have to swallow the official media stance on any issue anymore.
We need to wake up.
Let me start by saying I found the pictures taken by Ikonos fascinating. Recent movies (Enemy of the State) and forthcoming software games ( Black and White ) have shown this capability to scale from a distant view of the earth from the moon all the way down to a view from an airplane fly-over. Amazing.
I'm glad that the Ikonos people are displaying these images. However, I am somewhat alarmed at the potential misuses for such technology in a "commercial" environment. I suppose the commercial misuses can only be as bad as the governmental misuses that are no doubt already occuring. (Who really doubts that the < insert your favorite agency here > doesnt already have recon satellites with much greater resolution and advanced sensors?)
How long should we continue to rely on crowd anonymity ? When will the people/corporations be accountable for their actions? Is the almighty dollar the only authority anymore?
Am I being too paranoid/conspiratorial/etc? I dont know...
But I do know that those pictures of War in Grozny, Chechnya were absolutely devastating. When I can worry about formatting for a website while others are worrying about food and shelter for the night, I think anything is possible.
What do you think?
Peace.