Gabriel’s WITNESS launches YouTube for human rights

Just over a year ago I wrote about how advocacy movements are increasingly harnessing the Web to reduce isolation, build far-flung networks, and co-ordinate collective action. Even iron-fisted government control over telecommunications in Burma could not prevent individuals from posting numerous grainy, and sometimes gory, videos on YouTube that exposed rampant human rights abuses throughout the country.

Organizations like Peter Gabriel’s Witness traveled deep into the jungles of eastern Burma to document the military’s persistent attacks on ethnic minorities. Now Gabriel has launched his own platform called the Hub, a rallying point for human rights activists who can upload photos and videos to document abuses (see demo here).

Check it out — the site has got some nice functionality and it looks like they have plans for a lot more.