I'm DRutter, and this is week 36 of Mission: Agua-Possible! This post updates the progress toward our goal of 1300 USD (in STEEM), for a well pump to bring water to the family farm of @EdgarGonzalez.
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 began to see more and more Steem users from Venezuela, and I started to hear their interesting stories - and ask questions. I discovered some dark truths about the economic and political situation there. Most shops are empty, the currency is collapsing, 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. The harsh socialist government attempts to control/fix the economy, 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 a man called Guaidó, who also has little public support. Electrical blackouts have become common. It seems that violence is coming. Stability for the people appears out of reach.
Edgar
Months ago, I found the blog of 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 earn 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 garden output has dropped - and the neighborhood must forage for water elsewhere.
Without government water services, and now without water from his well, Edgar and a few other families are in a tough situation. I wondered what a poor Canadian man could do to help. After using the Steem blockchain to learn about the problems, I realized that it 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!
The rising crypto market strikes again
A donation from @jk6276 and some upvotes combined with a rising Steem price to put us at the highest progress yet! As I've been saying, everything helps, and at some point the Steem price will recover, sending progress shooting upward! Once we pass 10%, I think more people will take notice, realize it's really happening, and get involved. That will snowball the progress toward completion!
Much appreciation to those who upvoted last week:
Week 36
week 35 funds: 259.683 Steem
new funds:
- week 35 post payout = 0.415 SBD and 1.074 STEEM POWER = 2.148 Steem
- 5.0 Steem direct donation from @jk6276
- you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be noted here
Total funds: 266.831 Steem
x 0.392 USD/Steem = $104.6 USD (of $1300)
Current progress: 8.0%
We've got over $100 USD (in Steem) toward the goal of $1300! 8% and rising!
Edgar's family and neighborhood, who relied on the water from the aquifer under his land, continue to go without it. When the pump burned out, quite a few people had to start drinking questionable water, and/or walk long distances carrying containers of water bought or traded for nearby.
I can't imagine that being me, but a few years ago, neither could the people of Venezuela! Edgar was a professional man, and now picks wild fruit, and fishes in dangerous waters, to keep his family from starvation! This is one of the best causes I can think of, and that's why I started the project in the first place.
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