The Proposal

The proposal for PAX is still being worked on. This site is part of that process - encouraging an online conversation around the idea.

On the opposite panel you can see a brief summary of the idea so far. Please read it, and then make your comments on the 'What do you think?' page.

Proposal Details

  1. PAX would gather information from the digital 'crowd' through an automated computer system.
  2. The information would include keyword searches of websites and social networks, news from global organisations, and information and photos sent from mobile phones and computers.
  3. This information would go through a PAX algorithm. Sources which had proved accurate would be given more weight, through a system of credibility filtering.
  4. Volunteer evaluators would be able to assess and rank PAX's data and information.
  5. The crowdsourcing of information and the website evaluation would produce a graphics-based early warning barometer for emerging conflicts – with conflicts moving up and down the scale according to the latest information.
  6. The categories in the digital barometer would be 'Early Warning', 'Tension', and 'Crisis'.
  7. As conflicts reach the 'Tension' or 'Crisis' point, the evidence about them would be sent to paid Specialist Evaluators – selected from a PAX Experts' database.
  8. The final stage is for the PAX team to collate reports - and to make a decision on whether to email the reports and a PAX ALARM to non-governmental organisations, policy groups, journalists and to people in the conflict zone.

The main sections of the PAX website would be in the six UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish and Russian. The keyword filter would search for conflict words in relevant languages.

PAX would be non-profit-making, independent and impartial. It would be based on funding from organisations who wanted to support its aims. A pdf of the feasibility study is available for download, click here.

As we get feedback, we will continue to refine the proposal. The next phase would be to continue to work on the details of the proposal, to compile a technical specification, and to seek funding.