Sydney Twestival

A massive charity event, organised and promoted through the popular micro-blogging website Twitter, is taking place in Sydney and more than 175 other cities around the world today (Thursday 12 February).

This is what doing good in the age of social media looks like. Twestival is an event created by volunteers in London who used the power of the internet to spread word quickly, virally and internationally.

Twestival will bring together Twitter users in person for a night of entertainment to raise money for charity: water, an American organisation that helps the one in six people on the planet who don't have access to clean drinking water. charity: water builds wells and other water projects in developing areas.

Local organisers expect 100 people to attend Sydney Twestival tonight at 7.30pm at the Australian Centre for Photography (257 Oxford St, Paddington 2021). Based on visitor numbers, Sydney is the 11th most popular city on Twitter.

Brevity is key on the micro-blogging website where users post updates - called "tweets" - of less than 140 characters, follow updates of friends or strangers with common interests, and share information and links.

"Twitter is a great community of people. Once you're a part of it, you kind of want to give to it because people are really generous on Twitter - they all help you with answers to questions, or give you information, or in all sorts of ways help you out," says Nathan McDonald, who is organising Sydney Twestival with Anique Vered and Bernard Tai.

"The Twestival is really a way for those people who have made virtual connections to solidify them with some face-to-face time."

Visit Sydney Twestival to reserve a place at the event and see the live music lineup. Sydney Twestival requests a $15 donation for charity: water at the door. 

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