The Sound of Silence

High-profile crisis events like the War in Ukraine and the global economic downturn are overshadowing the catastrophic situations unfolding in developing nations such as Haiti, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia. When the Western or developed world faces security concerns, economically vulnerable regions teeter on the verge of collapse.

I have extensive experience working in Haiti and similar countries facing immense challenges. These nations heavily rely on humanitarian aid for their survival. The people in these regions are trapped in a cycle of poverty that hinders their ability to plan beyond their next meal and governments often exploit their desperate circumstances for personal gain. Although governments may take some limited actions to boost the economy, they are insufficiently prioritizing these regions in the global supply chain. Thus, a minor crack in the Western world becomes a devastating breach for the vulnerable population, exacerbating their plight.

Haiti for example, suffers from severe gas shortages, food insecurity, a failed government, inadequate infrastructure, and minimal security for its citizens. Gas shortages pose the most significant threat as they disrupt the delivery of essential supplies like food and water. Employees cannot commute to work, and the already ill-equipped police force cannot effectively patrol the streets. Hospitals, reliant on generators due to an unreliable electrical grid, are forced to shut down. Consequently, everything comes to a standstill.

Dire situations often triggers violence, anger, and fear, particularly an overwhelming fear that overrides rational decision-making and leads to irrational actions. Gangs are recruiting the vulnerable and desperate to conduct violence on citizens. Citizens are rising up against the gangs through vigilante justice. And the police are having difficulty providing any kind of protection to the local population.

Acts of violence and the targeting of expatriates based on their skin color and nationality have become commonplace. As more individuals evacuate, those choosing to remain and offer assistance become increasingly vulnerable. Whether local nationals or not, anyone associated with a humanitarian organization or foreign business becomes a target. They are seen as having access to resources or at least the people who possess resources.

As the global economy continues to slide into recession, impoverished regions will undoubtedly bear the brunt of the impact. This is currently unfolding as I write. So, why aren't we hearing about the crises in these regions and nations?

While a wealth of information is readily available on the internet, it is unfortunately buried under a mountain of sensationalized news articles designed to generate clicks. For my clients, the goal is to avoid crises and react only when necessary. To achieve this, it is crucial to identify early warning signs and implement appropriate mitigation measures for each threat. However, the vast amount of available data makes timely threat identification increasingly challenging.

Every day, I spend hours sifting through Feedly, an aggregator that collects articles based on keywords and sources. The topics I research generate an overwhelming amount of reading material each morning. To manage this, I narrow down my search using proven keywords and phrases. Without this filtering process, the information would be unmanageable.

The problem lies not only in so-called "fake news" or "misinformation" (terms often used by news organizations and politicians to discredit their competitors) but also in the lack of integrity among reporters and researchers. Reporting models are no longer focused on providing lifesaving information or exposing corruption; instead, they prioritize confirmation bias. News outlets, whether large corporations or individual bloggers, want readers to repeatedly visit their sites to improve search rankings, attract advertising opportunities, and gain more followers.

This poses a problem for those tasked with protecting vulnerable populations. Accurate and timely information is vital for crisis prevention and response. Without it, crises escalate, and more people become susceptible to victimization. In today's world, information is one of the most valuable commodities. As the market expands, more information becomes available. So, how can we efficiently sift through this vast amount of information?

I dedicate at least two hours per week to exploring innovative technologies that can help me aggregate news and research quickly into manageable categories. My preferred paid platform is Feedly, as mentioned before. It is user-friendly and effectively facilitates the collection, processing, analysis, and efficient dissemination of information.

Another paid app I rely on is Ground News. What sets Ground News apart is its meter, which indicates the political leanings of articles (far right, right, center, left, far left). This feature allows me to check my own biases while reading and provides critical information. Typically, I flag a story or event if it is reported by only one side of the political spectrum. This serves as an indicator of information suppression.

For receiving alerts, my favorite app is Factal. Created by a trusted colleague with a background in the news industry, Factal sends alerts for critical safety events based on proximity to the user's location and selected topics. I have been using this tool since its launch and consider it an essential companion when traveling. The app's noteworthy features include integration with the user's dashboard and the ability to reach out to analysts with event-related questions. Additionally, the company offers free access to select humanitarian and nonprofit organizations.

Lastly, I find Flipboard to be an excellent free tool. Its standout feature is the ability to create personal magazines and share them with others. Although I occasionally find the tool's feed to be biased towards the left, I can adjust the algorithm by muting biased sources and following topics from both sides. The magazine feature allows me to comment on the articles I share and enables viewers to engage in discussions, making it a valuable vetting tool.

I employ other tailored tools (like my own web application, Predictions) to maximize my efficiency and disseminate information to my clients, helping them avoid crises. Undoubtedly, new and better platforms will emerge in the future. The bottom line is that while technology improves our world, it also overwhelms the flow of information. This phenomenon buries crisis events beneath popular topics that generate revenue for news companies. We must continue to develop more efficient ways of processing information to stay ahead of crises. I believe that soon, more professionals will rely on information aggregating companies as their primary news source instead of traditional news outlets. This presents an exciting opportunity for those willing to fact-check the fact-checkers.