Comments on: Watching Zimbabwe: Sokwanele Charts are Damning

By: Black Looks

Black Looks — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:36:22 +0000

[...] Watching Zimbabwe: Mapping Terror in Zimbabwe (tags: africa elections zimbabwe maps) [...]

By: Black Looks

Black Looks — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:42:07 +0000

[...] Via White African [...]

By: Data Visualization: Violence in Zimbabwe

Data Visualization: Violence in Zimbabwe — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:10:51 +0000

[...] White African points us to Sokwanele, a site that is mapping and charting the violence going on in Zimbabwe. Kudos to Erik Hersman and Ushahidi (in Kenya) and now Sokwanele for using technology to expose injustice. This is quite literally the opposite of GraphJam. This is data visualization for a good cause, the cause of justice. It’s really sobering to see: [...]

By: nuttycow

nuttycow — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:43:36 +0000

Hey

Thanks for sharing. I’ve passed on the linky love and shared it with my google contacts.

By: HASH

HASH — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:56:49 +0000

@Sokwanele – thanks for clarifying the difference in the two maps. Of course, that makes the newer map even more disturbing.

I will email you separately about if we can help at all.

Our prayers are with you.

By: Sokwanele

Sokwanele — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:36:18 +0000

Hi White African

Thanks for pointing to our map. You mentioned our previous work we did and I would like to clarify that that earlier project – in relation to monitoring violations of the SADC electoral guidelines – was mapping infomation derived mainly from media sources. This obviously means we rely on the media to get their facts straight. This second map represents confirmed and verified incidents of violence recorded by a range of human rights groups. This map is infinitely more accurate and therefore more shocking.

Secondly, it has had a big impact so far so we’d encourage people to carry on with this type of work. We were advised that a major european newspaper would be using it to illustrate a story they run today, and we have had emails from journalists thanking us for helping to make the picture clearer. Our last map was featured on Sky’s 24 hour news station during the March 29th elections which meant people throughout Africa learned of the violations. It was that experience that made us realise mapping the violence would be a very good way to raise awareness.

Sassy – I don’t think it is a lack of understanding on the part of those doing the work that ‘fear’ etc isn’t recorded but more an unspoken fact that metal torture and fear and loathing among those people who have experienced the atrocities we have mapped would be at 100%.

Best
Sok.

By: sassy

sassy — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:28:59 +0000

nothing in the charts about mental torture or promoting fear and lothing, it makes me realise that understanding is a long way off.

By: Unthinkingly.com » Archive » Visualizing Human Rights with the Google Charts API

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:06:07 +0000

[...] best friend. If you can’t communicate the problem, no one is going to give a damn. Hash’s blog just pointed me to some powerful charts Sokwanele mapping project , which I’ve mentioned [...]

By: hujaza

hujaza — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:39:14 +0000

Thank you for presenting these charts. No one is talking about Zimbabwe here in America; it is shameful that there is so little data. I will be spreading these charts around to promote awareness of the depth of tragedy.