As worldwide attention turns to Venezuela, and the USA attempts to install a new puppet government, Russia's military has also 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 20th 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. Last week, the Americans backed 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.
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 to the farm as soon as possible is vital. Water is life!
A new record worst week
Unfortunately, interest in the project and momentum have ground to a complete halt. Not only did we not receive any direct donations this week, but almost nobody upvoted or resteemed the post. What's worse, our Steem holdings lost value against the US Dollar again this week, evaporating much of our recent progress toward the 5% mark.
These Saturday update posts do take me a little time to put together. I've been donating 1 of my 7 weekly posts toward the project. But I've noticed that as I get more followers, and as I become a better content-creator, my everyday posts are getting more upvotes than my M:A-P posts. Even posts that took me seconds to create (a simple photograph and caption) will earn much more than the entire Mission: Agua-Possible project does in a week.
What would YOU, as a past contributor to the project, like to see done in the future? Should I stop posting this weekly update, and instead post a regular post, which will probably randomly generate a higher result with far less effort, and then donate that post's payout toward Mission: Agua-Possible?
Or should I look into new ways to get Steem, like @fundition?
Or just stay the course and hope momentum returns? I've always hoped that asking only for a simple easy upvote (one of 70 available to each Steemit user every week) would be effective, but human psychology is a strange and complicated thing!
Put another way: We've got about 40 bucks toward the $1300 USD we need. How should we get the other 1260? I'm open to suggestions. Until I make any decision, the project will continue as before.
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 20
week 19 funds: 149.505 Steem
new funds:
- week 19 post payout = 0.001 SBD, 0.470 STEEM and 0.474 STEEM POWER = 0.948 Steem
- you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be noted here
Total funds: 150.453 Steem
x 0.29 USD/Steem = $43.63 USD (of $1300)
Current progress: 3.4%
The good news is, we're always building our Steem toward the pump. Over 150 now! The USD value of Steem is volatile, but at some point it will be in our favour, and suddenly our stored Steem will convert into the 1300 USD required. The project has no costs (other than my maintenance of the data and posts), pays no taxes or fees, and will succeed. The only question is when. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.
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