Sailing for a Smile and Crypto
Ahoy me Steemian Hearties!
Today I would like to use Achievement 4 to tell you a little bit more about why our sailing story is more connected to Blockchain than some people might think. But I have to add that we are not among the happy early Bitcoin adopters who enjoy immense financial wealth today. However our relationship with blockchain and cryptocurrencies is nevertheless somewhat special and should be told.
We anchored with our Bamba Maru in a port of the Dominican Republic...
Over a bottle of Rum, an old sailor friend of mine from Canada told me in late 2017 how he lived quite well from Bitcoin, Mining earnings, and the whole thing and he recommended me to check it out. I informed myself, read a lot, and was very convinced that we are experiencing the arrival of a brand new technology.
We were expecting our governmental concepts to collapse at some point and put some gold aside for our pension as a precaution. You never know if fed owned fiat money will be worth as much everywhere as in Venezuela nowadays. Especially when governments around the globe print money as if there were no tomorrow. But I was ready at that time and wanted to invest our piece of gold in crypto-currencies. Even before I found a way to buy the coveted coins, the entire market collapsed and I quickly lost interest in the plan. It was like a Ponzi scheme and I didn't want to have anything to do with it anymore. I was happy not to have invested and I felt sorry for my friend from Canada - he must have suffered enormous losses.
The Blockchain didn't let me go. I am still excited about what is possible with it. It seemed to be comparable to the launch of the internet back in the nineties and so I always had a bit of an eye on it. Whether someone likes the technology or not, it can't be turned off or banned and there are great ways to create a truly secure system for all our needs. We are all just beginning to understand how we can change the world with it. Others are starting to fight this technology because they fear it will melt away their power and control. It is extremely exciting to experience this time of transfer.
The Blockchain didn't let me go. I am still excited about what is possible with it. It seemed to be comparable to the launch of the internet back in the nineties and so I always had a bit of an eye on it. Whether someone likes the technology or not, it can't be turned off or banned and there are great ways to create a truly secure system for all our needs. We are all just beginning to understand how we can change the world with it. Others are starting to fight this technology because they fear it will melt away their power and control. It is extremely exciting to experience this time of transfer.
So, when did we join?
A year later we had two Greeks on board and sailed from Guadeloupe to Dominica loaded with relief supplies to provided disaster relief after Hurricane Maria. On such crossings, it is common that the trip is free of charge if you help on board. The necessary groceries are bought together and the costs are shared among the crew. For the two Greeks, a few US dollars were missing to cover their share. From previous discussions at sea, they knew however that we had an open ear for crypto and so he suggested sending the amount owed to us by Bitcoin.
 |  |
We had no wallet yet due to a lack of Bitcoin. We agreed that they need only to pay for one, if the other one helps us, to set up a wallet and gives a kind of crash course through Binance, Coinbase, and all that. No sooner said than done and we were proud owners of our first wallet. The transferred value was small at that time and only for testing purposes, but to us, it had a character of laying of the foundation stone and it still remains separate from the newer wallets. After all, it is now worth more than twice as much. One day we will integrate the seeds for this wallet into a treasure hunt. The treasure map will then result from hints from our vlog be available additionally as an encrypted riddle. More details about this will be available at a later date. We will create a separate post for it.
Basically, we have understood that our lives will change significantly when the blockchain becomes part of our everyday life. Especially for the unbanked and the poorer social classes, it will bring great advantages. It will be possible that people can now actually own their identity, their property, their medical past and you name it. Micropayments to the other end of the world are possible in seconds and ... well, I don't have to explain Blockchain to you. During all our disaster relief missions, the biggest hurdle was always to get donations to the affected people quickly, reliably, and cheaply. It is still unacceptable how much goes via the conventional financial system to the already rich corporations like Paypal, Western Union, or Gofundme. What's left is often taken by majors, NGO's, police, or military
Several weeks of waiting periods for the availability of donation funds can decide over life or death. We have been to so many disaster areas and with tears in our eyes, we realized that not even a fraction of the donations actually arrive where it is supposed to. As long as there is a need for an intermediary or a service organization, disasters are only a means to an end to get the money out of the pockets of the bona fide. The non-functioning bureaucracy and a large amount of bribery make it possible. We don't really know how to change this, but if there is a solution to the problem, it lies in decentralized blockchain technology.
We are not doing any fundraisings ourselves, but we would like to contribute to the development of a system that offers the advantages of decentralization, incorruptible security, and guarantees for such purposes. There are very promising approaches in the space and especially projects like Cardano seem to have the potential for such a story. However, we are not developers but sailors, currently anchored off the island of Carriacou near Grenada in the Caribbean. We are learning what we can do and in the long run, we are trying to find an applicable solution for transparent, fast, and uncomplicated fundraising which benefits the victims only. There must be a way to stop the drainage of disaster relief funds for private pockets. On the way to success, we came by here and had a look around. Nice place you have here and super awesome people in your community - it is a pleasure to be with all you guys.
Much love and positive Vibes
Captain Andy Bamba
I am not sure if this will work, we are not coders or anything close. I hope @cryptokannon has the patience to read this. Oh and for @steemcurator03 the country tag would be Grenada... Not sure where to apply that correctly. I am steeming from a small island near Grenada. It is a country altough there is not much land ;-)
Wow, that's interesting story about how you got into crypto. I was first getting into crypto around the end of 2017 too, bought the bitcoin at the top and it crashes hard after that, but I'm still here, I still believe in blockchain potential especially bitcoin as digital gold and other blockchains that will become a base for all decentralized applications built around it, own by the people, no more control of the large corporation and controlled by the banks and the governments.
We do have a community charity fund here. Steemit actually looking to fund any legit charity run by the community member here. I hope you both could prepare a proposal of sort or post on how you will run the charity program so steemit team could look into it and fund it via upvote or maybe via other means, so far they been funding charity organizations on steemit via upvote. You may see the works of @fundacorazon and @littledisciples for example.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you for the label 4 @cryptokannon, it is certainly a very exciting time we are living in and I am sure we will witness the greatest wealth transfer of all times. Nevertheless, it is still a long thorny path to walk. The powers of control certainly do not give up their privilege voluntarily. But we are many, we are people who love, care, and feel. The times of ruling kings and princes in the Middle Ages were normal for a long time. The concept was at some point considered obsolete and people tried new ways like dictatorship, socialism, and democracy. Of all this, the rest is still leftover today and nothing wants to prevail or function meaningfully and sustainably. So what if all these forms of society are also outdated and we are on the threshold of a completely new way of living thogeter? I can hardly wait to see how this story develops.
I have already heard about the projects in Venezuela and I think the actions are sensational. Way to go! We follow the projects with great interest. The big problem for us is not necessarily the raising of donations. It is rather the fast, transparent, and efficient distribution. To make crypto donations usable in disaster areas, acceptance points must be available. This will take forever until we have the area covered. One could set up wallets for the victims to which the donations are paid. But it must be made sure that these people can pay for rice, water, and the necessary material with it. So there must be a solution to how local merchants can be served fast and spacious in an area of operation with an acceptable solution for crypto payments to close the loop. Of course, also crypto novices among the business owners must be offered an easy way how they can continue to use the received cryptocurrencies by such payment methods to suppliers or an easy transfer possibility to change their cryptos into fiat. You see... all big dreams and still a lot to do. The Answer is certainly somewhere in the blockchain, but the actual fundraising itself is not that important yet. First, we need a secure distribution method.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hi @bambamaru2020 This is why people who realized something is wrong with the current system move to blockchain world, lead by Bitcoin, it's kind of revolution.
Yes I understand about this problem in between to get the fund to successfully reach the person in need.
I think you can fill in this gap? You have some basic knowledge of crypto already.
We have a quick swap on steem such as @swap.app where you can instantly convert your steem to BTC.
I believe most of the currency exchange or at least some crypto enthusiast community around the world accept bitcoin to be exchanged with their local FIAT.
I hope you can fill in this gap, there is a tool already available as I mentioned above, just need people who care about this issue to take action and working on it.
Nice that you bring this issue up. Great discussion.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
The real gap will be how people that are not used to crypto can use it in daily life without having access to internet, high tech and education. We're trying to find a solution for those that can not even imagine what Bitcoin is all about. People that just had lost everything and grieving about family members. People that are not really up for fancy high tech while their life went in vain. There is a solution, I'm sure, but it will take a while to figure it out. Most solutions involve a sort of middleman. This is a system what already failed. I am actually very excited and look forward to meet the right people here on the space to find something we can work with.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I think this is why we need transparency and accountability from these middlemen who will transfer this fund to these people in need as you stated with lack of knowledge of technology and other tools needed to access it.
With blockchain that records everything on the chain and transparent to everyone whoever can see this transaction, I think this middleman embezzlement problem can be solved.
Steemit platform and steem blockchain technology surely can solve this problem if deployed by the right and good persons.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Blockchain is certainly the solution. Which one and which community can actually realize it will soon become clear. The need is present and the underlying tec invented. Now it only depends on whether someone wants to build his new empire or if we can really start to use our development for our good.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I loved your point of view!
I'm beginning in the crypto world and I know there is a lot to learn! I haven't thought that way, and you are totally right.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Wow, you are a PRO blogger already. I also checked your website https://bambamaru.com/. Nicely built.
This post if so professionally written and awesome use of markdowns.
I liked the entire post and came to know about your story related to Bitcoin and Blockchain, it's interesting. I am sure you will be a great contributor to the Steem blockchain.
Keep up the good work.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks for your kind words. I feel honored and will do my best. This platform was not built to give crypto nerds a new playground. It was build for the people. Variety is the key and will make the platform famous one day. So here is my two cents from the ocean ;-)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You have been upvoted by @njiatanga and I’m voting with the Steemit Community Curator @steemcurator03 account to support the newcomers coming into steemit. You can now move to the next achievement task.
Follow @steemitblog for the latest update on Steem Community.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Aye, thanks a lot then, also to @njiatanga - your support is much appreciated.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hi @bambamaru2020!! I really like your story and how you explain the importance of cryptocurrency. Do you have any books to recommend me? I know almost nothing about this topic. I began in #steemit because I love photography and writing, and making research, I found this platform. But once in here, I can see that this is such a great opportunity to begin in the crypto world.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hey @belenguerra and thanks for your kind words. Honestly, I have gone out on a limb with this post and written more about crypto and blockchain than I'm capable to teach. I only did that as part of Achievement 4. So to be honest, I can't recommend any literature because we are also still learning and finding out how it all works. But there are a lot of nice and helpful professionals in the community who can give you qualified pieces of information. If you already made it here... I believe you are on the best way to success.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks anyway @bambamaru!! 😊😊
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit