[Mission:Agua-Possible] Will you help us use STEEM to bring water to a needy Venezuelan neighborhood?

Please read this thread to find out how YOU can contribute to putting clean water in the glasses, sinks, and irrigation system of a small farm in crisis-stricken Venezuela. This is week 13 of our efforts to gather Steem equal to 1300 USD, to buy a pump for a neighborhood well.

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 may recall an attempted "exploding drone attack" there earlier this year. 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. 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, claiming he would steal it. Now there is talk of Russian military involvement, American meddling, and worse.

In the midst of all this, I met Edgar (Hive account@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.

( Edgar this week caring for his sick mother's remaining pets -
the ones which have not been stolen for food. )

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 Steemit could also be the SOLUTION!

That's when I stepped forward with 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 water flowing on the farm as soon as possible is vital. Water is life!

A brutal week for STEEM and M:A-P

With STEEM taking another plunge - down to 0.22 USD - Steemit has become quiet this week, and many people are depressed. Some who have cash available are buying more STEEM, others are trying to get out before the market goes to zero and Steemit goes offline. It seems that when the price goes down, people become less generous and willing to give upvotes or donations. Hopefully that means that when the price goes up, the upvotes and donations pile in, and we can get this pump bought and installed!!

Shout out to Hive account@jk6276 who again contributed some post payouts to the project! Also to Hive account@melinda010100 and Hive account@kunschj who tossed in some tips, and anyone who makes a pledge to upvote each thread until the water flows!

Resteems help get new eyes (and upvotes) into the project, so thank you if you're able to resteem occasionally.

And a big thank you to everybody who upvoted last week's post!

Week 13

week 12 funds: 79.211 Steem

new funds:

• week 12 payout = 0.003 SBD, 1.046 SP, and 1.035 Steem = 2.092 Steem
• 3.75 Steem from Hive account@jk6276's raffles
• 1.208 Steem tip from @Melinda010100
• 1.0 Steem direct donation from @GirlsofGreen
• 0.25 Steem direct donation from @SativaZeee
• 0.25 Steem direct donation from @MediKatie
• you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be added here

Total funds: 87.761 Steem

Current USD value: $19.31 (of $1300)

Current progress: 1.5%

It was a slightly slower week than normal for upvotes, but a few tips and donations kept things moving. As mentioned above, the USD value of STEEM fell again, halting our progress to about twenty bucks out of the needed 1300. But we will get there, unless STEEM collapses to zero, so it's really just a matter of time. Hopefully for Edgar and his kids it won't take too much longer!

Upvoting this post is appreciated so much! 100% goes toward the pump.

PS: Hive account@arthur.grafo suggested that I make a comment on each M:A-P post, earmarking 100% of its payout to the project, so that generous upvoters would have the option of contributing TWICE per week. Interesting idea, I will try it this week! You can upvote either the main post or the comment - or both if you're willing to do so. I'll put something interesting in the comment, so that it adds value to the blockchain, and entices more upvotes. See below! :)

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