tiandi.info Map Now Uses the Google Earth Plug-in

The Map of Chinese Protogroups, Groups, and Congregations at tiandi.info has been enhanced with Google Earth Plug-in technology. This allows the current map file to be viewed, zoomed into, etc. right on the web page without having to be downloaded and opened in the Google Earth program. Of course, this option is still available for those who want the bigger view and other additional options offered by the full program.

A static screenshot of some Google Earth Plug-in content. The content on the Map page at tiandi.info is live and interactive, and it is bristling with placemarks representing Chinese protogroups, groups, and congregations all around the world.

An example of the power and resolution of Google Earth and the Google Earth Plug-in is that thanks to precise directions from a sister in the Nairobi Chinese Group in Kenya, this group’s placemark on the Map now points to the exact building in which it meets, the Nairobi Bethel Kingdom Hall.

To obtain the login information for tiandi.info, request e-mail notification of news regarding available resources, or if you have any questions or comments, you may e-mail me at waynerj@shaw.ca, providing information such as what group or congregation you're with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Overseas Chinese

I recently came across this interesting article on overseas Chinese:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Chinese

A question arose regarding the population numbers used in the article, so someone clarified it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Overseas_Chinese#The_numbers_are_from.3F

Keeping in mind that these numbers are from a couple of years ago, that they're approximate, and that the actual figures are always changing, it is still interesting to note that if we for argument's sake say that there are now about 65 million Chinese outside of mainland China, and that there are about 1.3 billion Chinese inside mainland China (see this page, top left corner), that means that only about 5% of all the Chinese in the world are outside mainland China.