Google Helps Cover Up Post Katrina Disaster

From ClickToNews

1 Abstract
2 Details
3 Update: April 02, 2007
4 Source

[edit] Abstract

Google has 'rolled back' time on the satellite images it shows for the New Orleans area on its world popular Google Earth & Google Map services - opting to show New Orleans in its Pre-Katrina state, as opposed to its currently devastated circumstances.

[edit] Details

In this new world of online blogs and international news corporations, getting to the truth can be a difficult task. Recently, finding the truth as to the current state of the New Orleans area which was devastated by hurricane Katrina is that much harder. This time, its the Google company itself involved in this literal 'cover up'.

Google Earth (and the online version, Google Maps) are virtual globe programs that allow you to scroll across the Earth, zooming in to view individual buildings, cars and tress, and zooming out until you are in orbit. The actual images shown are not live images of the Earth, but are a collection or mosaic of stored quality satellite images which overlap and are tied together along the seams. Traditionally, the satellite image for any given part of the world remains the same for years at a time.

Up until recently Google HAD been showing POST-Katrina images for the New Orleans area - images which showed the flooded neighborhoods, broken dams, roofless houses and destroyed homes. However, if you now look at New Orleans in Google Earth, you won't see any of the flood, damage or destruction done to New Orleans by Katrina - Google has deliberately decided to remove the post-Katrina images and to restore the years old images of a happy, no-problems-here PRE-KATRINA New Orleans.

How would you feel if you lived in New Orleans? Local residents have been continually battling the federal administration for both its lack of preparedness for the hurricane itself, and for the current lack of federal reconstruction aid, equipment, and even attention. Now, Google has decided to show everyone false images portraying a current false situation. It must be disheartening at the very least.

An additional impact on actual former residents of New Orleans as a result of Google's cover up is that they can no longer view and assess any damage done to their property by Katrina via Google Earth. Many former residents have been displaced, and having up-to-date post-Katrina satellite images would only help them to understand the extent of the damage and the current situation.

WHY would Google do this? A spin-maker for Google was heard saying that numerous factors go into a decision of which image to show for a given area. However, no solid, legitimate reason was given for this obvious cover up.

Perhaps Google along with the US Gov are simply trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes.

Keep your eyes open (and never trust a large corporation to bring you the truth)!

[edit] Update: April 02, 2007

Due to extensive pressure and outrage, Google has reversed its cover-up of New Orleans by adding new, recently taken images of the New Orleans area. No doubt, eh? Chalk that one up to 'What The Hell Were They Thinking'.