Today, 175+ cities around the world are hosting Twestivals that bring together Twitter communities to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

The mission of Twestival:
Right now 1.1 billion people on the planet don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water. That’s one in six of us. Many communities in developing nations often have a plentiful supply of clean drinking water just below the ground, but no way to get to it. This is where charity: water and their partner organizations come in. Drilling a well can cost from $4,000 – $12,000 USD and many living on less than $1 a day cannot afford one in their community, even if the money is combined.

On 12 February 2009, 100+ international cities will be hosting a Twestival to bring Twitter communities together in an effort to raise money for charity: water. Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects. 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.

According to the What Gives!? blog, the organizers of Twestival have donated items and “experiences” to list on eBay Giving Works. Some of the folks on there include iJustine, and Chris Brogan.

A full list of the charity auctions can be found here… looks like I’m already out of the running for lunch with Charlene Li but based on some of the recent comments on Ink, maybe I should look into the one hour blogging consultation with Margaret Roach. The auctions started last night and run through February 21.

Cheers!
RBH