Artists, conservationists, business leaders and film and music stars from around the globe are marking the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day with a Green Auction¹ to benefit the environment.

在世界地球日40周年来临之际，来自世界各地的艺术家、环保主义者、商业领袖和演艺界明星正积极参与一项旨在造福环境的“绿色环保拍卖活动”。

New York Gov. David Paterson speaks at an Earth Day event at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany, N.Y., on Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

Organizers of the live auction on Thursday at Christie's, and a companion silent online sale and related events, known as "A Bid to Save the Earth," expect to raise millions for four nonprofit environmental groups.

Artists Jenny Holzer, Damien Hirst, and Alan Sonfist have donated major works for the sale. Jeff Koons will provide a studio visit to the highest bidder² and Annie Leibovitz has donated signed copies of her book.

Bidders³ can also vie for（争夺，竞争） tennis lessons with John McEnroe, an afternoon in Central Park with Candice Bergen, dinner and the theater with actress Sigourney Weaver⁴ or a day on the set with Australian star Hugh Jackman.

Jewelry⁵, watches and luxury green travel packages round out（完成） the items up for grabs at Thursday's auction.

"It's an unprecedented⁶ collaboration," said Susan Cohn Rockefeller, who is co-chair of the auction with husband David Rockefeller Jr., a philanthropist（慈善家） and environmental activist⁸.

With participation⁹ from quarters as far-reaching as Deutsche Bank, NBC Universal and retailers¹⁰ Target and Barneys, officials said the event reflected increasing understanding that business concerns are closely tied to environmental issues, and that two need not be opposing forces.

"We're building bridges with different communities," said Peter Lehner, executive director of the international environmental advocacy（拥护，主张） group National Resources Defense¹¹ Counsel, which will benefit from the event.

He added that his group has been working closely with such nontraditional environmental allies as manufacturers and labor⁷ unions.

Text happy tweeters are encouraged to text GOGREEN to phone number 20222 for a $10 donation, while both Twitter (Bid2SaveEarth) and Facebook (ABidToSaveTheEarth)are linked to the auction.