Google has already expressed its concern on the terrible tragedy that occurred in Haiti earlier this week. The Mountain View-based search engine has released a KML overlay for Google Earth that presents satellite imagery of Haiti. The KML file can be downloaded here; you can open it with Google Earth or Google Maps. Once you’ve downloaded the KML overlay, it will be updated automatically to include the latest Haiti imagery.
Google has also set up a special disaster relief information site that presents news and updates about the earthquake and lists ways for people to donate money. You can visit the site by clicking here, but if you go to the Google.com homepage you will notice the site is listed there.
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Additional details about Google’s aid effort have surfaced. Like the fact that the search engine giant is donating 1$ million. On behalf of the Google Crisis Response Team, Jacquelline Fuller and Prem Ramaswami, explain:
“In order to help the people of Haiti respond to this catastrophe, Google is donating $1 million to organizations on the ground that are rescuing those still trapped and providing clean water, food, medical care, shelter and support to those affected. In addition, Map Maker data has been made available to U.N. organizations and the team is working with the Map Your World Community to encourage Map Maker users with on the ground knowledge to help update the map of Haiti with disaster response data. We've also reached out to the YouTube community for help. A Spotlight on the [YouTube.com]homepage drives traffic to videos from Oxfam and the American Red Cross, where you can make donations to relief efforts.”
In related news, Facebook announced the launch if the Global Relief on Facebook page which is meant to be “a collaborative resource for individuals, non-profits, governments and industry to raise awareness for those in need.” Skype has announced that would email all Skype users in Haiti vouchers for $2 US of Skype Credit which should be enough for about one hour’s worth of landline calls. In this tragic situation Skype’s capabilities turned it into a vital tool for communication.
Google has already expressed its concern on the terrible tragedy that occurred in Haiti earlier this week. The Mountain View-based search engine has 