The Google Earth Outreach program is helping non profit groups spread their message, reach their goals and spread awareness through the power of visualization. From an AP story:

Already, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has been using Google Earth to call attention to atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan. When users scan over Darfur, they see icons of flames representing destroyed villages and of tents for refugee camps. Clicking on one opens a window with details and links on how to help.

Houston NetSquared's July meetup was a very moving discussion with local hero Reggie Bibbs about his experiences educating the world about Neurofibromatosis (www.texasnf.org/).

Reggie has recently launched a massive campaign entitled 'Just Ask' - making regular public appearances and using the social web to document his experiences. Check out Reggie's Web site (www.reggiebibbs.com), his Blog (www.reggiebibbs.wordpress.com) and his Flickr stream (www.flickr.com/photos/reggiebibbs) to learn all about this truly exceptional man.

One of the best Houston Net2 meetups yet! Thanks Reggie :)

The Houston NetSquared gang is incredibly happy to have Reggie Bibbs (http://www.reggiebibbs.com) and the Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation (http://www.texasnf.org) will be joining Houston NetSquared for our June Meetup.

Reggie will discuss his work promoting awareness of Neurofibromatosis and growing a strong support community through Web, viral and public service projects. Online technology has shaped his global communication efforts in a huge way - let's discuss the good and the bad of running a grassroots campaign online!

Hello! We are Katie and Ed from the Houston NetSquared group.

We are really excited about attending the Net2 Conference this year, especially as we are Project Champions for Kabissa 2.0 and Open Source Open Standards Video.

These two projects are right up our alley as they are all about growing and helping communities, Web 2.0 and open source. We can't wait to dive right in!

Silona Bonewald joined the Houston NetSquared group last night to discuss the League of Technical Voters and the art of lobbying for technical causes.

It was one of the most politically informed meetups yet, with lots of discussion on 'The Way Things Work' in the world of political networking and the need for a centralized geek political community online.

 Houston NetSquared is hosting a February NetTuesday with a political bent this month as we welcome Silona Bonewald from the League of Technical Voters. The League of Technical Voters works to promote the use of technology in policymaking and public/lawmaker policy and voting education.

Silona will touch on a few League of Technical Voter projects, such as:

1) Project: Transparent Federal Budget

The Houston NetSquared December meetup was one of the best yet.  Kathy Payton from Houston's 5th Ward Community Re-development Corporation spoke with us on their efforts to improve the quality of life in this historically impoverished and crime-ridden area. 

Britt already posted about this (thanks Britt!), but the Houston Net2-ers are super excited to have Kathy Payton of Houston's Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation come to speak to us next Tuesday Dec. 12th.

Birthplace of George Foreman and other prominent members of society, the 5th Ward is a very historical part of Houston.  Originally settled by newly freed slaves after the Civil War, the Ward in later years became a hotbed of violence and drug activity with the city's lowest income levels.

I ran across information on a recent United Nations accessibility review of 100 different Web sites from 20 countries around the world.  Their grade?  Big Fat F for Failure

Only 3 of those 100 actually made a decent score, which is just pathetic.  Specifically:

1. German chancellor's site: http://www.bundeskanzlerin.de
2. British prime minister's site: http://www.primeminister.gov.uk
3. Spanish government site:  http://www.la-moncloa.es/default.htm

The Houston NetSquared November meetup was a free form discussion group with strong political themes (stronger than usual, I should say).

We met at our usual Stag's Head Pub location and were about 10 members strong this time.  The major points of discussion surrounded the recent election and how people deal with their political affiliations when it's often more correct 'not to say'.

Ed Schipul and several other attendees argued that it is this silence (in keeping with the whole politically correct sentiment) that bars any real progress.  If a group of like-minded individuals don't stand together to work for social/political change, than how will things get accomplished?