--- title: "George Clooney literally uses spy satellites to keep tabs on warlords" date: "2020-04-29" modified: "2020-10-30" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/george-clooney-sudan-satellite-sentinel/" categories: - "Military News" - "Technology" --- # George Clooney literally uses spy satellites to keep tabs on warlords ![]() In 2010, after a trip to South Sudan, George Clooney and Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast had a revelation: they could monitor warlord activity via satellite and take action to help save lives. Within a year, they had launched the [Satellite Sentinel Project](), which "combines commercial satellite imagery, academic analysis, and advocacy to promote human rights in Sudan and South Sudan and serve as an early warning system for impending crisis." Since 1956, military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated war-torn Sudan. Two civil wars mark the country's recent history, and though South Sudan became independent in July 2011, Sudan and South Sudan remain in a conflict resulting in a humanitarian crisis that affects more than one million people. Though violence between government forces has lessened, inter-tribal violence continues — which is where Clooney and his partners step in. --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p89OuPODBMM George Clooney Witnesses War Crimes in Sudan's Nuba Mountains [www.youtube.com]() *WARNING: This video contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.* The project works like this: DigitalGlobe satellites passing over Sudan and South Sudan capture imagery of possible threats to civilians, detect bombed and razed villages, or note other evidence of pending mass violence. Experts at DigitalGlobe work with the Enough Project to analyze imagery and information from sources on the ground to produce reports. The Enough Project then releases to the press and policymakers and sounds the alarm by notifying major news organizations and a mobile network of activists on [Twitter ]()and [Facebook](). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUq2m-BzU-w Activist John Prendergast [youtu.be]() In 2012, Clooney returned to South Sudan to meet with survivors, policy-makers, and militants. "The worst-case scenario is rapidly unfolding: political and personal disputes are escalating into an all-out civil war in which certain ethnic groups are increasingly targeted by the others' forces and the rebels take over the oilfields," wrote Clooney and Prendergast for [The Daily Beast](). But Clooney maintains that there is an opportunity for the international community to help the South Sudanese leaders prevent Sudan from [becoming the next Syria](). Which is where the Satellite Sentinel Project comes in. The Enough Project gathers HUMINT (Human Intelligence) on the ground, provides field reports and policy analysis, and coordinates the communications strategy to sound the alarm. Meanwhile, DigitalGlobe's constellation of satellites capture imagery of Sudan and South Sudan, allowing for analytic support, identification of mass graves, evidence of forced displacement, and early warning against attacks. The [Satellite Sentinel Project]() is a clear example of how anyone can help get involved to help defend those who need it most. ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()