[OSM-talk] Countering Google's propaganda

[Jason Cunningham]

This discussion is concentrating on the merits of Google, but I am more
concerned about the involvement of UNICEF and their apparent decision to
encourage people to create mapping data for Google. I assume UNICEF has a
variety of 'mapping data' or POI that it would like to see freely available,
and surely UNICEF should have seen OSM has the best organisation to hold
that data?

A search of UNICEF's website shows some of UNICEF's views on mapping. Its a
GIS related pdf (1.5Mb - July 09), which mentions several internet map
suppliers, but not OSM.
http://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/files/2009_Global_DevInfo_Fina.pdf
This document implies UNICEF doesn't even know OSM exists, which is just as
worring as them funding Google's map making

My view is the OSM foundation or some other official OSM group should be
contacting and creating relationships with UNICEF (and others such
organisations). If in the future they decide to once again sponsor Google's
map making, they at least should be justifying why they are not supporting
putting mapping data in the public domain.
Importantly OSM and UNICEF would benefit from working together.

Jason
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