This is DRutter, and here's week 39 of Mission: Agua-Possible! This post updates our progress toward the 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. Those who can are fleeing on foot - 4 million already. 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!
We just hit 10% of our funding goal for the first time!
5.0 Steem donations from both @GirlsofGreen and @jk6276, two regular contributors, combined with a handful of upvotes and a slight rise in the price of Steem, to put us at 10% complete!
Much appreciation to those who upvoted last week:
Week 39
week 38 funds: 311.807 Steem
new funds:
- week 38 post payout = 0.274 SBD and 0.661 STEEM POWER = 1.322 Steem
- 5.0 Steem direct donation from @GirlsofGreen
- 5.0 Steem direct donation from @jk6276
- you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be noted here
Total funds: 323.129 Steem
x 0.403 USD/Steem = $130.22 USD (of $1300)
Current progress: 10.0%
We currently have over 130 USD worth of Steem toward our goal of 1300! Congratulations to everyone who has contributed in some way to this project! By reaching 10% complete, we've shown that it can be done. More people will take notice, and get involved.
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. Edgar was a professional man, and now picks wild fruit, and fishes in dangerous waters, to keep his family eating! They have waited for water long enough. Let's get this funded.
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
¡Acabamos de alcanzar el 10% de nuestro objetivo de financiación por primera vez!
5.0 Donaciones Steem de @GirlsofGreen y @jk6276, dos contribuyentes regulares, combinados con un puñado de votos al alza y un ligero aumento en el precio de Steem, para ponernos al 10% completo!
Actualmente tenemos más de 130 USD valor de Steem para nuestra meta de 1300! ¡Felicidades a todos los que han contribuido de alguna manera a este proyecto! Al llegar al 10% completo, hemos demostrado que se puede hacer. Más personas se darán cuenta y se involucrarán.
La familia y el vecindario de Edgar, que confiaba en el agua del acuífero bajo su tierra, siguen sin él. Cuando la bomba se quemó, bastantes personas tuvieron que empezar a beber agua cuestionable, y / o caminar largas distancias llevando contenedores de agua comprados o comercializados por cerca. Edgar era un hombre profesional, y ahora recoge frutas silvestres, y peces en aguas peligrosas, para mantener a su familia comiendo! Han esperado el agua el tiempo suficiente. Vamos a financiar esto.
DRutter