I just donated 134 Steem to [Mission: Agua-Possible] and the project is now 12% complete! Want to help us?

I'm DRutter and this is week 44 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 have 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, 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 - 6 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 happen regularly. Violence is always just around the corner. Stability for the people appears out of reach.

Edgar

Nearly a year ago now, 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.

( Edgar's crops received rainfall this week. "Thank God this rain will keep my plants in the ground alive." A dry spell could mean death in the family. )

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.

Water is life! Getting this pump for the farm as soon as possible is vital.

Donations manage to offset the rapidly collapsing STEEM price

Steem's value against the USD collapsed again this week (after several weeks of the same). Juicy upvotes from @joshman, @streetstyle, and @canadian-coconut, and a 10.0 Steem donation from @jk6276, were AGAIN no match for the crashing value of STEEM. When this happened last week, @Vention1mgtow stepped up with a donation of 120 Steem (via Bitcoin), keeping us from backsliding.

This week, I'm donating 134 Steem directly to the project. It's my payout from the special MAP video I posted on 3Speak.

I want to challenge other Steemians, content-creators, groups, curators, communities, and investors: Match my donation to Mission: Agua-Possible! I gave as much as I could: 134 Steem! Who will match me?

Because how would it feel to have to wait, for drinking water?

I wonder how it would be to rely on factors outside my control in order to provide food for my children. How scary it would be for me, if at any time a dry patch of weather could result in sickness and/or death in my family. How a bad day fishing could mean going to bed hungry. Only briefly in my life have I lived somewhere there wasn't a supermarket stocked with food. It was hard even for short periods of time. These people are living through that never-ending nightmare right now, and many have already died, or fled on foot if they were able. Elderly, young families, many people have little to no food, water, medicine, or hope. What was once a great country and prosperous people, there is now a ruined society being plundered by corrupt despots. It's within our grasp to fund this project. The main barrier is potential contributors not sending in their best possible direct donations. Everything else is in place. Incredible things are set to occur once that bottleneck gets opened up!

Will you make the water flow, with us?

Much appreciation to those who upvoted last week:

Week 44

week 43 funds: 472.077 Steem

new funds:

• week 43 post payout = 0.055 SBD, 3.094 STEEM, and 3.327 STEEM POWER = 6.654 Steem
• 10.0 Steem direct donation from @jk6276
• 134.0 Steem direct donation from me (payout from my MAP video on 3Speak)
• you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be noted here

Total funds: 622.731 Steem

x 0.250 USD/Steem = $155.68 USD (of $1300)

Current progress: 12.0%

Everyone's generosity has brought the total well over 600 Steem, which is great! It's disappointing when the price goes down every week, nearly erasing all our efforts. If feels like running up the "down" escalator. In some ways it feels like someone is getting rich, while others who need it aren't getting enough water to stay healthy. Some people on this site are pulling out big profits.... which is wonderful for them, and in most cases they earned it fair and square. But I also feel like certain insiders have become profiteers around here, and will make out like bandits, while the content-creators (and project funders) get screwed. Just a personal feeling, and hopefully things don't go that way.

I've donated the largest lump sum of Steem I've ever been paid - 134. I challenge others to meet or beat that donation! Or, to pitch in however they're able. You could resteem this post, or make your own post about the project (and donate proceeds).

Now at an all-time high of 12% progress, it will be interesting to see if we can maintain it. If the price continues to plummet, the deck is stacked against us. Let's hope for continued donations, and a turnaround in the Steem price soon.

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