This is DRutter, bringing you the 77th weekly post for Mission: Agua-Possible! It 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 in 2019, as president Maduro doubled down on his currency manipulation, price-fixing, propaganda, 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, 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 - 8 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 and internet blackouts happen regularly. Stability for the people appears out of reach.
Edgar
In mid-2018 I found @edgargonzalez, the blog of Edgar, 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, harvesting fruits, and growing cassava on his late-father's plantation. He uses the Steem blockchain to share his stories and earn cryptocurrency 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 nearby families. Without a pump to bring water up from the aquifer, his harvests are reduced - 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! (The first post was here. I published a special video edition in week 43 here.) Once we gather 1300 USD worth of Steem, I'll transfer it to Edgar, to be converted to cash to buy the pump.
Water is life! It is vital we get this pump for the farm as soon as possible.
Welcome to lucky week 77 :)
Crypto prices rose this week, sending progress up!
STEEM's rising price regained the losses from the previous week, putting us back where we were at the middle of last month. Not to worry - our regular upvoters have saved the day, providing upvotes to push things forward, as you'll read below.
Special thank you to @Fundition, @Xpilar, @Reflektor, @Hingsten, @Bippe, @Vipservice, and @Arthur.Grafo!
Will you make the water flow, with us?
Much appreciation to those who upvoted last week:
Week 77
week 76 funds: 4252.506 STEEM
new funds:
- week 76 post payout = 0.795 SBD, 16.412 STEEM and 20.517 STEEM POWER = 41.034 STEEM
- 10.0 STEEM direct donation from @arthur.grafo
- 10.0 STEEM from me
- you can send me cryptocurrency directly and your donation will be noted here
Total funds: 4313.540 STEEM
x 0.211 USD/STEEM = $910.16 USD (of $1300)
Current progress: 70.0%
Back up to 70%, our 2nd best week yet! We're 7/10 of the way, on week 77.
Lately, significant turbulence in the Steemit world has caused tension, anxiety, and price instability for the currency. I've been avoiding Steemit.com by using SteemLeo for financial posts, WeedCash for cannabis posts, and SteemPeak for general posts.
I hope STEEM holds its value, or moves up some more, so this can be completed soon! Global economic instability caused by the scare around the corona virus could cause additional problems for the project. Let's get it done ASAP!
Upvoting this post is MUCH appreciated! 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