[Battlemesh] Mesh Networking could save lives. Help Needed!

[Man in the Middle]

It looks like I just stumbled on the community I was looking for.

We all know what happens when unhappy citizens try to stand up against their 
tyrannical regimes. A worst case is playing out in Syria, as we speak.

One of the first thing to disappear when this happens is free and open 
communication.  I am convinced something can be done to empower such citizens 
by enabling them to maintain their own robust and secure networks.  It should 
also be possible to enable back-links to the global Internet, for example, 
routers near borders of the rogue nation with the help of more free and 
friendly neighbours.

Here is a little more I wrote about it, elsewhere:

Often in despicable military conflicts when states turn against their own 
citizens, communication infrastructure is very likely to be monitored and/or 
shut down. Monitoring of citizens can lead to arrest, torture, and death. The 
complete shutdown of communications such as the Internet and cell phone 
service may allow a regime to persecute its citizens secretly. 

Though there may be many active and willing citizen journalists risking there 
own lives to capture abuses of tyranny, it is usually quite difficult for the 
stories to make their way to borders where the rest of the world can aid the 
suffering of the persecuted.

Over the last few days, I have been wondering how citizens could maintain 
their own communications infrastructure in the even their own state is 
actively suppressing free and open communications.

I have quite broad knowledge of computer communication and cryptography. 
Unfortunately, I don't have the depth of knowledge required to expertly use 
specific specialized technologies. I can see the path, however, due to the 
serious consequences individuals, using such a technology, face from their own 
governments, I don't dare to assume I could produce a system with the rugged 
security to withstand well funded attacks a regime might use to manipulate 
such a system.

The system is doable. What this effort needs is people willing to donate some 
time and skill. Engineers and developers with great skill in designing secure 
network communications will be desperately needed. People to spread the word 
to enlist engineers and developers are needed. Testers will be needed. 
Providers of test hardware will be needed.

If this project becomes successful, we will vastly improve the movement of 
truth everywhere there may be conflict. This would likely SAVE LIVES!

I am not doing this to make money. I truly believe EVERY person has the right 
to both tell and hear the truth.

Here is the blog post in which I started to muse about the possibilities: 
http://manitmiddle.blogspot.com/2012/02/designing-technology-for-freedom-
could.html

Thank you all so much.  I hope to hear from those of you willing to help!

MANitMIDDLE

-- 
MANitMIDDLE
St. John's, NL
Twitter: @MANitMIDDLE
Blog: http://manitmiddle.blogspot.com