As worldwide attention turns to Venezuela, the USA attempts to install a new government, and Russia's military has moved to the region, backing Maduro. The country is at a standstill and people are dying of malnutrition, dehydration, and treatable illnesses.
This is the 21st week of our efforts to raise Steem to buy a water pump for @edgargonzalez! Help us fund the pump, and instantly bring water to a thirsty neighborhood!
Background
Severe economic and political crisis over the past few years in the South American country of Venezuela intensified recently, as president Maduro doubled down on his currency manipulation, price-fixing, propagandizing citizens, and suppressing resistance. You've heard about the country's recent turmoil. But the world's media isn't showing us even half the reality!
I met a few people from Venezuela, and I started to hear their interesting stories - and ask questions. I discovered the dark truth about the economic and political situation there. Shops are empty, people are hungry - the economy is at a standstill. Theft, corruption, and violence escalate as society breaks down. Millions are fleeing on foot - if they can escape. The harsh socialist government attempts to control almost every aspect of life, and blames problems on the people. Most government services (like running water) work only in certain areas - or not at all.
The people are desperate for any change and protests sometimes fill the streets for miles. Maduro announced that Venezuela will no longer accept US Dollars for oil exports, then tried to get his country's gold back from Bank of England, who refused. The Russian military has become involved, supporting Maduro. The Americans back their puppet, a previously-unknown man called Guaidó. It seems that violence may be coming.
Edgar
A few months ago, I met Edgar (@edgargonzalez), a Venezuelan man about my age. He's a father of young children, and a professional whose job disappeared because of the crisis. He feeds his family by fishing, foraging for fruits, and growing cassava on his late-father's plantation. He uses Steemit to share his stories and make Steem to buy food. Shortly after I met Edgar, a power outage caused a failure of the pump used to bring water up to the farm. A repairman confirmed the pump is beyond fixing. Edgar had been using his well to water his crops, and to provide drinking water to his children and other families in the neighborhood. Without a pump to bring water up from the aquifer, his gardens have withered - and the neighborhood must forage for water elsewhere.
bananas which survived thieves and drought.)
He wrote:
"This morning my mom went to the beach with my aunt for the purpose of carrying bunches of bananas to try to change them for fish with the fishermen who had been arriving from their fishing task, since I did not fish because of fatigue problems that limit me to swim in order to reach the anchored boats. Thank God they got a gentleman who liked bananas and he exchanged them for these fish that he muscled!"
The struggle to grow and obtain food is becoming desperate for so many people in Venezuela. Without government water services, and now without water from his well, Edgar and a few other families are in a tough situation. When I heard about this problem, through Steemit, I realized that the blockchain could also be the SOLUTION!
That's when I first began Mission Agua-possible! Once we gather 1300 USD worth of Steem, I'll transfer it to Edgar, to be converted to cash to buy the pump.
Getting this pump for the farm as soon as possible is vital. Water is life!
Staying the course
Last week's post followed up our worst week of donations and upvotes ever. I asked for ideas of other ways we could get the required funds, but consensus seems to be that we stay the course (continue as planned).
I'm confident this project will get funding! This site regularly has posts in the several hundred dollars, and the actual content of those posts is sometimes very minimal. That shows that it's possible to convince people to hand over their precious upvotes for very little in return. Knowing that, surely we can find some people who will give up their upvotes, to bring a permanent water source to a desperate neighborhood in a devastated country?
Maybe I'm going about it all wrong. Maybe holding out a donation hat turns people off. Maybe I should just focus on producing content for my other 6-ish weekly posts, and donate some of my income to the project each week?
When I see content-less posts (such as flame-war drama) with hundreds in payouts, over and over again, while I have to pull teeth to make a few Steem for a good cause, it gets frustrating. I'm not going to stoop to flame-war drama to bring in funding. I'll just take it one week at a time, do my best, and hope other people get passionate about it too :)
Resteems help get new eyes (and upvotes) into the project, so thank you if you're able to resteem occasionally.
Much appreciation to those who upvoted last week:
Week 21
week 20 funds: 150.453 Steem
new funds:
- week 20 post payout = 0.003 SBD, 1.006 STEEM and 1.017 STEEM POWER = 2.034 Steem
- 3.0 Steem direct donation from @jk6276
- 0.5 Steem direct donation from @MediKatie
- you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be noted here
Total funds: 155.987 Steem
x 0.291 USD/Steem = $45.39 USD (of $1300)
Current progress: 3.5%
With no help (or hindrance) from the USD/Steem exchange rate this week, we made reasonable gains through upvotes and a couple direct donations (@jk6276 and @MediKatie).
Upvoting this post is appreciated so much! 100% goes to the project.
Mission Agua-Possible will help many people, and inspire other great projects. It's a group success story, playing out on the Steem blockchain. Together, we're going to dramatically improve the lives of a whole neighborhood that really needs it!
DRutter