How can we best use the power of Web 2.0 'social networks' to help out the people of Haiti?
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M$7 Answers
Mahalo just did that right now. With the help of our community, we’ll be able to help these people by means of our Mahalo Dollars. As of January 13, 2010, 4:13pm Eastern time we gathered M$65, it’s still up so those who want to participate in donating some M$ for our friends over at Haiti. http://www.mahalo.com/answers/community-service/lets-reach-out-for-the-haiti-victims
Last year, when our country (Philippines) was struck by a storm that affected thousands of family, my friends used Facebook to connect with other people to gather some help. In the end, we were able to produce boxes of goods; clothing, food, rice (rice is a staple food in our country) and medicines as well from different people who have seen the announcement. We were able to gather all those just by posting an announcement. That’s the power of social networking sites.
Today, there are hundreds of social network sites out there are also working on getting help for Haiti. These websites actually made it easy to help and to reach out. But still in the end, like I already said, it’s the desire to help that counts. No matter how many features a certain social networking site has or how many millions of members it has, it’s our desire to reach out is much more important. These sites are just our tool or vehicle to get there. :)
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M$In the here and now, fallen_angel has set up a great page that is picking up steam, collecting M$ donations for the Intl Red Cross: http://www.mahalo.com/answers/community-service/lets-reach-out-for-the-haiti-victims
Here's the way I worded the question this a.m.: http://www.mahalo.com/answers/mahalo-answers-community/re-the-haiti-earthquake-is-there-a-place-for-the-mahalo-and-condundrumland-community-to-help-in-the-humanitarian-response-if-so-how
However, as I've been writing on this subject across a number of pages, my thoughts have been crystalizing. I'll post it here, and I'll probably continue to refine it here, on my page and others - especially as I receive feedback from you, other Mahaloans, and Mahalo itself.
We have a unique set of strengths here: our search engine aspects, our buzz team, our VM's/PM's, our community, our currecy, our q&a format, etc. We could come up with a unique response.
How about: Mahalo sets up a "Crisis Response Center" template that can be immediately put into place for such situations. It would allow for Buzz Team/VM's/PM's contribute to several related pages set up (e.g. donations, world response, info on location, etc), it would have prominent Twitter box set up, news box, links to relief agencies, etc. People could contribute M$ (as on f_a's page).
Mahalo would immediately buy Google Adwords to publicize its "Haiti C.R.C." I just checked: the sponsored links for "Haiti Earthquake" were for Billy Graham, Google relief, World Vision, etc; everyone accepting contributions, but noone purporting to be a one-stop place for contributions AND all the information you need AND ANSWERS to any questions you might have, and...!
I think that would/could/should blow the socks off of any competitors and even many of the large news organizations, and benefit everyone(including Mahalo).
Whaddaya think? Scrap it, refine it, whatever. YOUR FEEDBACK, PLEASE!
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M$
P.S. If I am tipped for this answer, it WILL go to some relief agency helping Haitians. I was not answering for personal enrichment.
P.P.S. Here are the "Sponsored Links" when you Google "Haiti earthquake":
Sponsored Links
Earthquake in Haiti
$50 can bring hope to families
devastated by quakes. Donate Today.
www.WorldVision.org
Haiti Earthquake
Learn how you can help support
victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
www.google.com/relief/
UNICEF Haiti Relief
Help Children Affected by the
Earthquake. Donate to UNICEF Today.
www.unicefusa.org
Google Checkout
Haiti Earthquake Victims
Help us bring relief to victims of
the earthquake in Haiti. Learn more
my.CARE.org/HaitiEarthquake
Rapid Response Chaplains
are deploying to Haiti-dont miss
this chance to help change a life!
www.BillyGraham.org
Aid Haiti Quake Victims
Habitat for Humanity is working on
shelter for victims. Donate today!
www.habitat.org/Haiti-Earthquake
1) Provide up-to-date information on what is happening.
2) Communication how to "best" help those in need
- part of this is ways to donate, how to decide where
- part of this is sharing the ways to help,
3) Serve as a tool to connect people who want to help with their specialized resources with those who can best bring them to those in need.
4) Continue share what is misinformation or a scam or has changed.
5) Support each other as we support those in Haiti.
6) Continue to remember those in other places whose natural disaster is out of the news, but who have not yet recovered and are hanging on the edge of existence while they try to rebuild, etc.
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I would also like to share one site I think is doing a good example of compiling and clearly providing information about how to help in Haiti.
This site "BagTheWeb" at http:\\bagtheweb.com/b/9UiJNI2Sup7d
1) This site has a clean (easy to see, run down) list of organizations, (with the logo, hotlinks to the websites) along with the organization's updated post/comment about Haiti.
When I posted this answer, there were 23 organizations listed international to local.
2) The site includes what they call "Linked bags" of information. They define their site as "s the first social bagging tool to organize online information more easily than before."
The "linked bags" of information are collections of web pages that they have grouped together by similar content, purpose or topic. Like the structure of the organization website list, these linked bags have a description, a picture and also subtitle that tells you the number of websites included within that bag.
This structure appears to be readily scalable, is definitely searchable and very clean. I think there is power in it's layout.
Tweet - by Guy Kawasaki of Alltop, regarding the post onAlltop
Alltop - http://holykaw.alltop.com/20-ways-to-help-haiti?, "Holy Kaw! All the topics that interest us
20+ ways to help Haiti"
Bag the Web - http://bagtheweb.com/b/9UiJNI2Sup7d
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M$
Thanks, clulisa! Great thoughts, and I think that Mahalo and the Mahalo community has some unique strengths that could help us do a good job. For instance, there are a lot of avid internet researchers already here, we have a powerful q&a section that could serve as a great resource, etc, etc. I think we could pull together a lot of the things that other sites are starting to do, and add value - which could help out victims, their families, potential contributors, AND Mahalo. I think Mahalo could publicize (Twitter followers, Google AdSense, etc) its hub in a way that only the big media outlets are currently doing.
Oh, and thanks for reminding me about Alltop - I had lost that bookmark in my last computer switchover. What a great resource! (Though not the same as Mahalo could do ;-) )
1. Awareness
2. Donation drive
Real money donation or virtual currency donation (which then converted to real money).
3.Locating lost family and friends.
4.Information flows: real-time videos, pictures, message, twitter, maps
What is the situation, what needs help, effectiveness etc. can be broadcasted in real time.
5.Locating victims trapped
Some devices have messaging capabilities and can send out Emer911-type of message asking for help. Rescuers can pinpoint victims’ location through device with geo-location features.
Some examples of how web 2.0, social network are used:
this Mashable article is insightful.
1. Facebook:
Disaster Relief on Facebook
You can see some Haiti donation groups, donation drives there.
Help Haiti directory.
Check its Directory and Activists Databases & Groups.
This has a good compilations of organizations, donation sites, twitter feeds, blogs etc. on Haiti.
2. Zynga:
added virtual goods for sales in its games, for e.g. Farmville. Raised 1.2 million.
3.MyYearBook donation of virtual currency 3.5 billion “LunchMoney” (L$)
They have this section called “cause” that users can donate their virtual currency “Lunch Money”
http://causes.myyearbook.com/about
websites mentioned in texts.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
@doubleminaz
Thanks. My opinions have been incorporated into questions/answers/comments on some of the Mahalo related questions.
You may check from my “activities”: questions, answers and comments.
As always, interesting insights, wy. Thanks! And, getting more specific, what do you think Mahalo and those of us in the Mahalo community could/should try to do in the future? --mm
I just found more info that may be relevant:
Came across this 50 social media tactics to help nonprofits meet their mission. I found it an insightful read.
At the end of the slides, there is a list of resources.
I saw the post about the above 50 tactics from SocialFish.
http://www.socialfish.org/
You may get some insights from there too.
AddThis website
http://www.addthis.com/services
There are 200+ channels that can be used as marketing channels. We can use it to “market” the good cause too.
I found more info that may be useful:
1. Came across this 50 social media tactics to help nonprofits meet their mission. At the end of the slides, there is a list of resources.
2. I saw the post about the above 50 tactics from SocialFish.
http://www.socialfish.org/
We may get some insights from there too.
3. AddThis website
http://www.addthis.com/services
There are 200+ channels that can be used as marketing channels. We can use it to “market” the good cause too.
Another key to positioning Mahalo as source of reliable information is to make Mahalo the easiest and quickest way for someone to share what's going on right from their phone.
For dumb phones people need to be able to text information to Mahalo and also receive reports and info via text. Smart phones are popular but for only the few who can afford it. Seems like these natural disasters like to hit the poorer nations. They have cell phones and do text.
For smart phones, Mahalo needs to be the slickest, quickest web app that will run in a modern mobile web browser. If a Tornado rips through my town I can go to Mahalo mobile and begin sharing all the information I can. Other's in my area would need to be able to see that info very quickly. This info could be push notifications on smart phones and SMS on dumb phones.
People who are not in the disaster would assist by helping to sort and distribute this info. People power.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
