tagged w/ Twestival
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Fans and followers of the social media website Twitter and their friends gathered yesterday to take part in one-off charity events across the UK, and the world, hoping to raise over £200k for education projects run by charity Concern Worldwide.
Tapping into a wider trend of social media for social good, over two thousand people attended events across the UK, already raising over £36 thousand and rising. The 26 British and Irish Twestival’s joined 175 cities around the world to come together to raise money, have fun and create awareness.
The Cable Club in London hosted over 700 people raising £12,000, Bristol smashed its target raising a fantastic £4,000, Ireland raised over £1,000, and Farnham took over a castle for the night.
Claire Thompson, one of the UK co-ordination team said, “We’re all on a huge high. Our teams have been fitting in organising events around their day jobs so it is fantastic to see all their hard work pay off - we’re so excited to see the money come rolling in for Concern’s brilliant work”
All local Twestivals are organised 100% by volunteers and 100% of ticket sales and donations go direct to the charity’s projects. The theme of this year’s Twestival Global is education, and Concern was chosen by the Global and Local Twestival teams for the work it does addressing the needs of the world’s 72 million poor and marginalised children who don’t have the opportunity to go to school.
In order to better meet a goal of 100 percent donation, Twestival’s all-volunteer organizers have partnered with PayPal, which allows supporters to donate via WhatGives?! widgets, waiving all fees up to $1 million. In addition Citrix Online has donated GoToMeeting to all those who are organising Twestival events, and Amiando has waived all credit card ticketing fees to Twestival events, allowing for 100 percent of money raised to benefit Concern Worldwide projects directly.
In addition to the offline events on March 25, Twestival extended its online reach with such activities which are still live, such as TwestivalFM, allowing high-profile artists and musicians around the world including Moby, Jet, Metric and Ryan Adams to donate their songs to download for donations; Auction140, a global online auction of celebrity-donated items and experiences on eBay from celebrity Twitter users like Justin Bieber, Stephen Fry, Imogen Heap that features a live Twitter stream for the first time; an iPhone application; and live donations and results widgets that will enable real-time donations at local events. Twestival also has partnered with Ustream to live stream the day’s events, starting in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii.
Originating in London, Twestival has become a global success story since its inception in 2008, with the festival turning into an annual international fundraising event, often referred to as LiveAid 2.0.
To find out more visit - http://www.uk.twestival.com/
This Social Media news release is available at: -
http://blogit.realwire.com/?ReleaseID=18180Fans and followers of the social media website Twitter and their friends gathered... more
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In February 2009, 202 cities hosted a Twestival, the event to bring Twitter communities together and raise money for Charity: water. An astonishing amount of money was raised ($250,000+), and Charity:water will use 100% to give people clean and safe drinking water.
On 11 April, Charity:water will drill the first Twestival well in Africa, posting videos of the progress.
Got a question about water crisis? Do you want to know how your money is being used to help people in Ethiopia? Tweet @charitywater or use #charitywater.In February 2009, 202 cities hosted a Twestival, the event to bring Twitter... more
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A British man who set out to reach the other side of the world relying only on the help of people using Twitter has finally arrived in New Zealand.
Paul Smith, 33, known online as 'Twitchhiker', has travelled across Holland, France, Austria, Germany, America and New Zealand without spending a thing.A British man who set out to reach the other side of the world relying only on the... more
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SW2
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added this
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3 years ago
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This week we feature footage from all over Europe courtesy of our new Techfluff correspondents who braved the elements to report on the Twestival extravaganza. We also interviewed a high powered gorilla, had some nifty eyebrow moves on the escalator and put your questions to Smarta Founder, Shaa WasmundThis week we feature footage from all over Europe courtesy of our new Techfluff... more
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Last week Twitter users from over 200 cities around the world got together in a global party to raise money for charity : water.
Amanda Rose, the main organiser of the event said today "The global total is slowly rolling in from city organizers. Although over one third of the Twestivals are still to confirm their totals, we’re thrilled to announce that Twestival has already raised over a quarter of a million dollars ($250K) for charity: water."
Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water has invited me to Ethiopia where we’ll document the drilling of a well, so that everyone can see exactly where their money is going. If we can obtain sponsorship from a satellite company, we may even show this live. Over the next few days, charity: water will be updating their website to show exactly how much has been accounted for in each city, along with next steps."
So who says Twitter is just a time wasting navel gazing exercise for people who want the world to know when they're having a cup of tea? It may be that as well, but if it can raise this amount of money in one single day, it's got to be a whole lot more than that.
Follow us at Current UK on Twitter to see when we're having our next tea break ;-)
http://twitter.com/CurrentUKLast week Twitter users from over 200 cities around the world got together in a global... more
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How is Twitter helping to provide clean water to developing countries?
Still fuzzy on what Twitter is?
If you can express it in 140 characters, you’re ready to “tweet” yourself into the micro-blogging community some 750 thousand strong.
One thing you may find difficult to express in 140 characters, however, is the dire need for clean water in countries outside our own. Unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation cause 80% of all the sickness and disease worldwide. So how does a seemingly trivial web gadget help this planetary plight?
On February 12th, over 100 cities will be hosting Twestivals, bringing together Twitter communities to raise money and awareness for the non-profit organization called charity:water. All donations will directly fund costly yet vital clean water bearing systems.
Because of the power Twitter has to connect, mobilize, and inform people, these Twestivals have turned a quirky phenomenon into a force for global change.
Join the Twestival in your city by clicking on the following links:
Anaheim Asheville Atlanta Augusta Austin Baltimore Baton Rouge Boca Raton Boston Calgary Charlotte Charlottesville Chicago Cleveland College Station TX Columbia MO Columbus OH Dallas Denver Des Moines Detroit Durham Edmonton Fargo Galveston Halifax Hampton Roads VA Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Ithaca Iowa City Kansas City Kelowna Lafayette Lakewood Las Vegas Los Angeles Madison Memphis Mexico City Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Moncton Montclair Monterrey Montreal Nashville New Orleans New York Ottawa Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland Raleigh Richmond VA Rochester San Diego San Francisco San Jose Santa Barbara Savannah Seattle Somers CT South Padre Springfield Tampa Toronto Traverse City Vancouver Washington Wichita Wilmington International Cities and South AmericaHow is Twitter helping to provide clean water to developing countries?
Still fuzzy... more
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On the 12th February, Twitter users in 175 cities around the world met in bars, clubs, casinos and other venues for a global charity party night organised 100% by approximately 1000 volunteers connected on the micro-blogging site.
Up to 20,000 users of the social messaging service are thought to have come together with the aim of raising huge amounts of money for the 1.1billion people in the world who can’t access clean drinking water.
In the UK, 17 places hosted their own meet-ups for Twitter users in the likes of Brighton, London, Dublin and Glasgow.
Globally, Twestival is predicted to raise in a massive $1m for charity:water, which aims to provide clean and safe drinking water in third world countries.
Current UK's team (@currentuk) attended the London Twestival (@LDNtwestival) and loved putting meeting the people behind the avatars on Current.com and Twitter. To those of you we met, thanks for saying hi!
Twitter, which lets users posts messages in up to 140 characters, has been all over the mainstream media in the UK due to high profile celebrity users Jonathan Ross (@wossy), Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) and Philip Schofield (@schofe). This week, the site entered the UK's 100 most visited websites for the first time, ranking at 91.On the 12th February, Twitter users in 175 cities around the world met in bars, clubs,... more
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richjm
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3 years ago
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Charity Water / Twestival Countdown - on the 12th February 2009, you too could be surrounded by crazy twitter addicts - all for char-i-dee of course.Charity Water / Twestival Countdown - on the 12th February 2009, you too could be... more
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ljrich
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3 years ago
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With the excitement building for the Hack the Debate series on Current.com (http://current.com/topics/88834922_hack_the_debate) we took a team outing to the interestingly titled Twestival to make some connections with the whos who of the UK Twitter scene.
For those of you not yet familiar with the service, Twitter is a micro-blogging platform, allowing short messages of 140 character to be broadcast to a wide ranging audience.
Events such as Twestival have the potential to really put the UK social media scene on the map. I know here at Current UK we often look on enviously at the multitude of vibrant networking events our San Francisco colleagues enjoy.
Being social media butterflies we love a good party here at Current UK and when that party includes the opportunity to talk till we are hoarse and make connections with other like minded individuals it is difficult to keep us away. It is with these elements we found ourselves deep underground on a Thursday night.
The idea behind the event was to bring together fun people, fresh ideas and a few surprises in an unforgettable event and all whilst helping to raise money for The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields, a community centre based in Trafalgar Square that works with homeless people.
http://www.connection-at-stmartins.org.uk/
Whether by design or luck the location turned out to be perfect. Hosting a party for social media types in a basement insured that conversation flowed. iPhones and mobiles became cameras for the evening with all communication functions disabled. We bought our tickets for the raffle and entered the breach, lubricated liberally with some free wine we got stuck in. Introductions were made, conversations flowed and we all floated around on a sea of optimism and ideas.
We met so many interesting people and had so many connections that it would be impossible to name check everyone involved and all the planning that went into the event. But Current UK would certainly like to extend a hearty congratulations to all those who had a hand in it. All in all a really successful event that has us eager for more.
Finally in what can only be described as the cherry on the cake, I managed to win a star prize in the raffle, kindly donated by www.sixdegreespr.com so left with a big grin and a Nintendo Wii under my arm.*
*Friday afternoon productivity is going to be seriously below average.
With the excitement building for the Hack the Debate series on Current.com... more
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