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"Geoff Livingston co-founded Zoetica to focus on cause-related work, and released an award-winning book on new media Now is Gone in 2007.\nAs the ongoing oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico continues, several organizations have created dynamic uses of social media to monitor the situation. These efforts range from a deploying combination of balloons, cameras and maps to chronicle the progress of the oil spill to old fashioned information dissemination on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. \nHere are four ways non-profit and governmental organizations are helping citizens stay up-to-date on the Gulf situation. \n1. Grassroots Mapping Provides Accurate Pictures\n\n\n\n\nGrassroots Mapping uses  balloons, kites, and other simple tools to produce their own aerial imagery of the oil spill. Supported by the MIT Media Lab's Center for Future Civic Media and the Knight Foundation, the organization is not trying  to duplicate satellite imagery or flyover data, but is encouraging complete open access to spill imagery. Grassroots Mapping is releasing all of its imagery into the public domain on places like Flickr.\n2. Deepwater Horizon Command Online\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDon't think the U.S. government is just standing on the sidelines for this crisis.  In fact, you can visit the government's Deepwater Horizon Unified Command Response effort online for the latest updates.  In addition to blog updates and FAQs the site includes links to, Twitter, YouTube videos, and hundreds of pictures, as well as a very vibrant Facebook page with lots of concerned citizens offering feedback.\n3. Another Great Ushahidi Crisis Map\nWhile it has been around for years, Ushahidi really entered into the public consciousness with its fantastic mapping of the Haiti crisis.  As reported last week on Mashable, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade is using the technology to develop an oil spill crisis map. \nSee how reports of oil-inspired incidents are growing around the coastline.\n4. Greenpeace Provides Ongoing Coverage\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGreenpeace USA has an ongoing blog about the oil spill where readers can find the latest news and images from the Gulf. Comprehensive coverage includes videos, blog posts, maps and Flickr images. There's even a counter tabulating the minimum estimated amount of gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico thus far.\nWhat other social media sites are you using to monitor the crisis?\n\n\nFor more social media coverage, follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook\n\n\nMore social good resources from Mashable:\n- 8 Tips for a Successful Social Media Cause Campaign- How Does Twitter\u2019s New Social Good Initiative Stack Up?- How Non-Profits are Using Social Media for Real Results- 9 Ways to Do Good With 5 Minutes or $25- 5 Ways Mega Charity Events Can Harness the Power of Social Media\n[img credit: jeferonix]"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2010/05/15/social-media-oil-spill/>