Google introduced two other layers yesterday, in addition to the Greenpeace layer, to the Global Awareness layer folder as a result of the Google Earth Outreach program. I’m guessing Google will have posts about these today.
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USHMM: World is Witness – The US Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) has a new layer under the Global Awareness layer folder called “USHMM: World is Witness“. This layer, like the very well known “Crisis in Darfur” layer (introduced last year), contains disturbing stories of human abuse and genocide. The new layer is designed around a geoblog (a blog which describes information tied to a location with a mapping application – read about the first geoblog here). USHMM has taken great care to present quality placemark information with excellent photos, links to podcasts, videos, other KML layers, and other content on the web site and at Facebook. The initial posts to the Geoblog are of a trip through Rowanda and nearby Congo areas where refugees have escaped. You can see the World is Witness geoblog itself here which also uses a Google Maps interface to show the location. There you can get the RSS feed to follow this blog as more information is posted. Michael Graham, who was a leader in developing Crisis in Darfur, is also a leader in the World is Witness program. You’ll see his name in the posts to the new geoblog.
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UNICEF – This layer, also found under the layer folder called Global Awareness is called “Unicef: Water and Sanitation. The layer shows placemarks mostly in third world countries describing projects where Unicef is working on water and sanitation problems. Unicef works around the world supporting child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. The placemark descriptions contain information and pictures describing each picture. There is also an innovative “tab”-like feature showing more information in what appears to be the same placemark. Stefan Geens at OgleEarth noticed this first.
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.