|
|
|
PLANETWORK MONTHLY NETWORKING SAN FRANCISCO Join us at our monthly meeting, and see projects that demonstrate the use of the internet to explore and solve social justice, ecological and true democracy issues. SUBJECT - GEO MAPPING FOR GOOD!!!! CURATOR - Rich Gibson, editor of O'Reilly's Mapping Hacks and Google Maps Hacks. DATE - Thursday, Febuary 2nd - 111 Townsend Street - San Francisco TIME - Doors at 6 pm Program at 7 pm Socializing and Networking 8-10 pm PROGRAM - 6 presentations including - Rebecca Moore—Google Earth as a Citizen http://www.mountainresource.org Citizens are confronted today by a bewildering array of environmental concerns at every level: the effects of global climate-change, national resource management policy (to drill for oil in ANWR vs. protecting the wilderness), California state-wide water concerns and local issues such as timber harvesting and watershed protection. The catchphrase “Think Globally, Act Locally” sounds good in principle, but is often difficult to practice. Citizens often lack access to the information and tools which could enable them to understand these complex issues, communicate about them effectively, share local knowledge and community perspectives with experts and government agencies, advocate their views in a compelling and authoritative fashion to the media, and participate fully and effectively in public regulatory processes. As a result, citizens can become disenfranchised and even cynical about their ability to make a difference with respect to environmental issues affecting their communities. Software-based digital mapping offers a powerful tool for understanding and communicating about environmental issues. However, traditional “Geographic Information System” (GIS) tools tend to be expensive, complex, slow, desktop-oriented (not well-conceived for web users) and too arcane for ordinary citizens to master. Open Source mapping applications are promising but typically do not include data. Google Earth is a new web-based application that offers 3D satellite imagery for the entire earth within a free, high-performance client that permits virtual fly-overs anywhere on the globe. It also offers simple tools for annotating the earth with information, importing GIS data, creating a “story” about an issue and then sharing this easily with others. Millions of citizens around the world have already downloaded Google Earth, and some have begun using it to address environmental issues. Rebecca will present a live demonstration of Google Earth, including several specific case studies developed by ordinary citizens which have already achieved results, including helping to halt a proposed timber harvest plan in the Santa Cruz Mountains. See this SF Chronicle article, "GREEN Eyes in the Sky", by Gregory Dicum, for more info: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2006/01/11/gree.DTL Mike Liebhold—Institute for the Future Brian Hamlin—E-Waste Insights http://www.ewasteinsights.info The lastest developments in computer recycling from Briain Hamlin Author of E-Waste Insights. News Views and Information on the State of Electronics Recycling in California and the USA |