SkyTruth's mission is to enhance the effectiveness of environmental advocacy NGOs in appearing technically and scientifically credible to their adversaries, working with policymakers to protect the environment, and communicating their messages to the public. In the battle to win hearts and minds, SkyTruth gives advocates the tools to do both: stunning images to sway public opinion, and scientifically robust information about our changing environment. Industry has long known the power of remote sensing and for the past 30 years enjoyed a virtual monopoly on its use, shared only with the biggest and best-funded players in government and academia. Our vision is a level playing field in the arena of information technology, with environmental NGOs taking full advantage of the power and value of remote sensing, and standing toe-to-toe with industry in the statehouse and at the bargaining table. Remote sensing - pictures of the earth taken from orbiting satellites or aircraft, and other measurements of the land, vegetation, water and atmosphere - is an important technology for communicating the effect of human interaction with the environment. Advocates and managers can use remote sensing to study urban sprawl, deforestation, oil and gas production, and mining; quantify impacts that have occurred over time in response to human activities and climate change; monitor industrial, resource-extraction, and fishing operations; and ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations. The area of concern can range from highly local (a mountaintop removal mine) to global (cumulative loss of boreal forests), from nearby (a new subdivision) to far-flung (trawling on deep-ocean seamounts).