On February 12, 2009 over 175 cities around the globe will be hosting Twestivals.  Haven’t heard of Testival?  Testival is both a world-wide celebration and fundraising event to celebrate International Twitter Day.

Twestival will bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water. Join in by:

Twestival is entirely organized by volunteers in cities around the world.  More importantly, 100% of the funds raised from this massive humanitarian effort, goes directly to support charity: water projects all over the planet! 

In September of 2008, a group of Tweeters based in London, UK decided to organize a new event.  Their intention was to take the local Twitter community off line so they could socialize; meet the faces behind the avatars, enjoy some entertainment, have a few drinks and last but not least, incorporate a food drive and fundraising effort for a local homeless charity.  The bulk of the event was amazingly organized in less than two weeks, via Twitter.  But, it also utilized the talents and funding support of the local Twittersphere to make this first event possible. 

Alas, similar stories began to emerge from around the world.  Other local Twitter communities were also getting together and taking action for a great local cause. “Twestival was born out of the idea that if cities were able to collaborate on an international scale, but work from a local level, it could have a spectacular impact.” says Twestival organizers.  “By rallying together globally, under short timescales, for a single aim on the same day, the Twestival hopes to bring awareness to this global crisis.” 

Charity: water is a non profit organization that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in under developed nations around the world.  They fund sustainable clean water solutions in areas with the greatest need. Right now, approximately 1.1 billion people on the planet have no access to safe, clean drinking water, much less that to bathe in. That means one in six of us is missing one of the most basic necessities of sustainable life.  Unsafe water and lack of fundamental sanitation processes cause 80% of all illness and causes the rampant spreading of disease.  This kills more people annually than all forms of violence, including war. 

Many villages in developing nations often have a bountiful supply of clean drinking water just below the ground.  The problem is that they have no means to to get to it.  This is where charity: water and other partner organizations share their wealth, knowledge and expertise.  Do you know that simply drilling a well can cost from $4,000 - $12,000?  Many families only live on less than $1 a day.  They cannot afford to drill a well in their community, even if the money is combined.  

Each Twestival city has devised a monetary goal for their event on February 12th.  The intention is to raise enough money from the event to enhance charity: water’s capabilities to bring more wells to developing countries, starting at $4,000.  “Twitter can be a most powerful communications tool. It can connect, mobilize and inform people around the world instantly.” shares Twestival organizers.  And now Twitter can bring clean water to the World. 

Twestival organizers say “It is proven from the first Twestival that bringing the Twittersphere together for a special event is not only a memorable night; it has momentum to bring about social change.”  On 12 February 2009, Twestival will be working with global partners to share live broadcasts of the events around the world with all of us.  So Tweeters take a peek at the list below and find the Twestival local to you. 

Twestival Africa

Cape Town @capetown Johannesburg @twestival_jozi Lagos @qubestreet Lusaka @mpelembe  

Twestival Asia Pacific

Adelaide @clutterbells Auckland @justinflitter Bangalore @chaitanyak Bangkok @quikpal Beijing @davidfeng Brisbane @lexiphanic Chennai @jainnimit Christchurch @siftnz Delhi @abhishekkant Dhaka @ekushey Hong Kong @twestivalhk Hyderabad @psam Kolkata @rohitsonika Malè @draconiams Melbourne @melbtwestival Mumbai @monikkinom Nizamabad @sizzler_chetan Pune @sandykadam Quezon City @silvakreuz Saint Petersburg @morav Shanghai @shanghaitwtr Singapore @morav Sydney @sydneytwestival Taipei @svgirlintaiwan Wellington @br3nda  

Twestival Europe

Amsterdam @amstwestival Arad @adriandinarad Athens @titanas Barcelona @tomhayton Belfast @icedcoffee Berlin @chiron08 Birmingham @brumtwestival Bremen @analythis Brighton @brightwest Bristol @bristwestival Brussels @brutwestival Bucharest @buchatwest Cardiff @cardiffwebscene Chisinau @vultoor Clermont Ferrand @sansonnet Cluj-Napoca @psaico Copenhagen @cphtwestival Cornwall @arengrimshaw Dublin @dubtwestival Edinburgh @edtwestival Frankfurt @twestival_de Galati @razvanc Gothenburg @gbgtwestival Hamburg @zeniscalm Hannover @nerotunes Helsinki @prash Istanbul @duygusaylam Karlsruhe @mka_01 Lecce @ermes Leeds @leedstweeters Lisbon @jnogueira Lille @nellio Liverpool @lpooltwestival London @ldntwestival Madrid @neolabels Malmö @secretlaunch Manchester @manctwester Mannheim @ripanti Munich @talkabout Newcastle @tynetwestival Norrköping @nkpgtwestival Norwich @nottstwestival Nottingham @nottstwestival Oslo @smilespray Oxford @oxtwestival Paris @wearesocialfr Reading @rdgtwestival Rome @rossella76 Sheffield @twestival_sheff Stockholm @sthlmtwestival Stoke @stoketwestival Vienna @mountaindan Würzburg @kahta  

Twestival Middle East

Amman @maliksoft Beirut @hervecuviliez Bethlehem @saedabuhmud Doha @tarek Dubai @dubaitwestival Jerusalem @charliekalech Riyadh @themaxer  

Twestival North America

Anaheim salsurra Asheville @h0zae Atlanta @jrOS Augusta @birdinhand Austin @austintwestival Baltimore @ryanatmghwom Baton Rouge @davidlink Boca Raton @lightwarriorval Boston @justinmwhitaker Calgary @ctwestival Charlotte @richtucker Charlottesville @shopemills Chicago @mjcarter Cleveland @benji08 College Station TX @robyfitzhenry Columbia @1datarecovery Columbus @jenleereeves Dallas @vargasl Denver @chuckblakeman Des Moines @nathantwright Detroit @llaurentsmith Durham @blazamos Edmonton @mastermaq Fargo @lala_k Galveston @markmayhew Halifax @robertsnell Hampton Roads VA @twestival_hr Honolulu @hitwestival Houston @gracerodriguez Ithaca @campusnational Joplin @thinmatt Kansas City @kctwestival Kelowna @hlooman Lafayette @nelulazar Lakewood @markcrase Las Vegas @lvtwestival Los Angeles @twestival_la Madison @madtwestival Memphis @smexpedition Mexico City @twestivalmex Miami @miamitwestival Milwaukee @webmedia Minneapolis @andrewkorf Moncton @jonreid Monterrey @alex_mayorga Montreal @adelemcalear Nashville @nashvillest New Orleans @seocopy New York @nyctwestival Ottawa @bitpakkit Philadelphia @melitami Phoenix @twestivalphx Pittsburgh @hmaust Portland @mssonicflare Richmond VA @blarner Rochester @roctwestival San Antonio @txroadshow San Diego @classyceo San Francisco @twestivalsf San Jose @siliconstani Santa Barbara @chadcat Savannah @larrylanier Seattle @twestivalsea Somers CT @liana_marie South Padre @southpadrelive Springfield @tm_washington Tampa @mvndrvrt Toronto @twestivalto Traverse City @quesea Vancouver @yvrtwestival Virginia Beach @frankiecarl Washington @peterlamotte Wichita @wichitacindy Wilmington @seo_guy  

Twestival South America

Belo Horizonte @lucasmezencio Bogota @nervioso Buenos Aires @twestivalba Campinas @gustavoramos Curitiba @macari Florianópolis @rafaelziggy Guayaquil @ecuatwitt Lima @limatwestival Mar del Plata @deoese Medellin @bigmancho Passo Fundo @cfarias Porto Alegre @guadalupe Quito @jviteri Recife @teo Rosario @twestivalrosarios Rio de Janeiro @claudiaruiva Santiago @actiondatsun São Paulo @fernandosouza Temuco @mcognian