a tree in my native canada

A conifer (evergreen) tree in Canada.

Remember to upvote this beautiful post! I want money!!

posted by Spamtiko.

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SURPRISE!

This is actually NOT a shitpost like half of the posts on the Steem blockchain, but a hidden secret edition of the charitable project "Mission: Agua-Possible" which I've been running for exactly 6 months now! This is week 26 and 100% of the upvotes on this post go toward the project.

Country-wide blackouts, famine, disease, hyperinflation, foreign military intervention, and 2 leaders who each claim to be legitimate - Venezuela in crisis!

The world's attention has been focused for weeks on the political and economic situation in Venezuela, with lies and propaganda on every side. Meanwhile, as we have for half a year, Mission: Agua-Possible is progressing toward our goal of 1300 USD (in STEEM), for a well pump to bring water up to the family farm of @edgargonzalez.

Each week on Saturday I post an update (here's last week) on the previous week's payout and any direct donations the project received. I put about 3 hours each week into writing the post to try to maximize the upvotes received, packing as much information and data into an easy-to-read post. Then I spend another 1-2 hours each week managing and promoting the project.

Unfortunately, this tactic appears to be failing. After an initial week of success, we've had about 25 weeks of diminishing returns. It seems that people on Steem don't enjoy the idea of giving up 1 of their 70 weekly upvotes to others. What I've noticed, though, is many posts with almost zero effort put in are being rewarded with large upvotes and support! Hard-to-read posts of a blurry flower and nonsensical caption will often receive $1+, which is more than most M:A-P posts get. That's why I disguised this week's post as a shitpost of a tree, and begging for upvotes, because that kind of "content" seems to do much better than genuine projects here.

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 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 worthless, 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. 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 previously-unknown man called Guaidó. It seems that violence may be coming. Stability for the people seems out of reach.

Edgar

A few months ago, 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 gardens have withered - and the neighborhood must forage for water elsewhere.

( Edgar posted on the collapse of agriculture in Venezuela, leading to more food shortages. )

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.

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

Much appreciation to the few who upvoted last week:

Week 26

week 25 funds: 180.113 Steem

new funds:

• week 25 post payout = 0.113 SBD and 0.242 STEEM POWER = 0.484 Steem
• you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be noted here

Total funds: 180.597 Steem

x 0.47 USD/Steem = $84.88 USD (of $1300)

Current progress: 6.5%

We're down from 7.0% progress last week, due to a drop in the Steem/USD price, and lack of incoming funds. Let's hope this post breathes revival back into our community project!!

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!

I'm sorry I tricked you into reading this post by disguising it as a tree photo. Please consider sparing 1 of your 70 weekly upvotes to help me bring water back to Edgar's neighborhood in crisis-stricken Venezuela. If you have $1300 USD (or a steel aquifer well pump), I'll accept that instead, but most people prefer to click the [^] button. I've tried to make this as easy as possible for people to get 'involved'. One click per week. Thank you!

DRutter