It had been awhile since I'd played with Google Earth, but Jim Prosser at Direct Relief International gave me a good reason this morning: DRI has used GE to map the official health clinics and hospitals in Myanmar.

When you first access their KML overlay, it looks like Myanmar is stuffed with health clinics, but zoom in a bit, particularly on the hard-hit Irrawaddy Delta region, and you'll get some small idea of the miles and miles an injured person might have to traverse to find adequate medical attention.

Direct Relief International's COO, Annie Maxwell, has written about the project on the Google Earth blog. For more on the aftermath of the cyclone, check out Beth Kanter's list of ways you can help -- even if it's just by writing a blog post.

As we announced last week, Google Earth has launched a new nonprofit outreach initiative. Google Earth Outreach was announced on June 26 at an event in New York City, and now you can view video of that event on the Google blog.

I've actually watched the whole video now and have to say that I'm really impressed. I'm impressed because it's not just a product launch, it's an inspiration. They did a great job of highlighting organizations that have been using Google Earth already - a great way to spark your imagination!

It was also inspiring because the nonprofits highlighted at the event are doing amazing work, and the mapping technology really brings it to life. In our line of work, it's easy to feel disconnected from mission. But these are all very clear examples of technology helping to make social change. You'll get to hear from Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Foundation, the UN Foundation, and Earthwatch. These and other examples are also available on the Google Earth Outreach site.

Google Earth is an incredible tool that Earthwatch has found a number of ways to use.

At its simplest, Google Earth is a free software program that allows you to see aerial views of any place on the globe from any elevation: you can zoom out to see the whole country, for example, or zoom in and see your own neighborhood. These aerial views are based on satellite photos taken within the last 3 years. Depending on the area you're looking at, the photos may be sharp enough to see the cars in your driveway.

But that's just the start. You can create "placemarks" -- virtual stick pins in the globe -- and associate those spots with photos, information and web links. And you can share these placemarks easily, with the community at large, or just within your organization.

Google officially launched its nonprofit outreach program today for its Google Earth product. I was at the launch party where nonprofit groups such as NTEN member Earthwatch Institute and the Goodall Institute (with Jane Goodall videoconferenced in from London) described how they use Google Earth. We already described how a small nonprofit, Appalachian Voices, uses the tool to fight against mountaintop removal for coal mining. Mary Ann Hitt, Appalachian Voices' Executive Director was there for the launch.

Mary Anne Hitt, Appalachian Voices

Anyone who has ever flown in a small aircraft over southern West Virginia or eastern Kentucky to view mountaintop removal coal mining first-hand can never forget the experience of seeing the massive scale of destruction—mountain after mountain blown up and dumped into valleys as far as the eye can see. People working to stop mountaintop removal have long dreamed of flying thousands of people over the Appalachian coal fields, but the logistics of that endeavor proved daunting.

As an alternative, Appalachian Voices turned to Google Earth. In the past, we took reporters and decision-makers on day-long tours, first flying over the coal fields and then driving through coal field communities to hear first-hand accounts from local residents. Today, a good approximation of that tour is accessible to anyone with a computer, a high-speed internet connection, and Google Earth, extending the reach of Appalachian Voices by millions of people.