As the old phrase “technology is killing face to face communication because everyone is buried in a computer or mobile device” continues to be spoken by some, it simply doesn’t ring true for people who are actually using social networking sites.

Yesterday we saw a stunning example of this in Australia with emotional tweets bringing people together through the disaster of the major brushfires they experienced.  How do you not have a visceral feeling reading: @Ingenue_Em: “I’m crying over the #bushfires – how can whole towns be decimated? Over 100 souls lost now, could be up to 200.”

That’s the power of 140 characters of text read by friends and strangers alike.  Anyone who has a pulse, and didn’t work in the Bush administration during Hurricane Katrina, will feel a connection and empathy reading tweets like that.  And because Twitter is both instant and international people near and far were able to connect and help each other.

It’s interesting to read the the ABCNews.com article on this to see how traditional media is following social media because no news outlet has enough reporters to be on the scene of an unfolding event, but citizens with cell phones and Twitter accounts are everywhere now.  Old and new media are converging to give us the best of both worlds.

On a similar yet different note, on Thursday, February 12 over 175+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals – meet ups for people on Twitter to tweet, meet and give.  For $10 you meet up with others on Twitter, get a free drink and raise money for clean water charity.  Visit www.Twestival.com for details on the city nearest you.

Here’s why this is a must attend event:

• On 12 February 2009 175+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals.
• The events are raising money for charity and the chosen charity is clean water.
• The Twestival is organized by volunteers who twitter and 100% of the money goes to charity.
• It all started in London under the idea of drinking and socializing and doing good for others.
• It was mainly organized in less than two weeks using Twitter.
• 1.1 billion people don’t have access to clean drinking water. 1/6 of the world. 80% of all sickness starts here.