Google Earth is using “hi-tech satellite imagery, photos and eyewitness accounts” (BBC News, Google Earth turns spotlight on Darfur) to highlight the crisis in Darfur and bring the reality of it into millions of homes. The situation in Darfur is genocide and it has been continuing for far too long. At least 200,000 people have been killed and millions displaced from their homes, not to mention the survivors of rape and mutilation.

You can log on Google Earth and now see a marker showing the Darfur area where you can zoom in to see what is left of villages - scorched earth and debris. There are photos and accounts from people who are battling to survive in the region and have lost loved ones, their homes and their livelihoods. There is also information on what you can do to help.

I applaud Google for stepping in and using technology to really try to make a difference. Hopefully, millions of people will learn more about the atrocities in Sudan and take action. The more people who speak out against this, the more chance there is of this genocide being stopped. Sadly, the longer this has gone on, the more widespread it is becoming. People have fled into neighbouring countries such as Chad, which has caused further unrest and conflict.

If you aren’t quite sure what the whole conflict is about, BBC News has put together a Quick guide. You may want to also read their Q&A on the situation as well, or just head right to their Indepth: Sudan section.