Venezuela Observatory : Which is going to be; will it be Food, Toilet Paper or Gas (electricity)
Let me tell you a story.
One winter day in London a few years back, an elderly lady was admitted with a mild heart attack. As I walked away to let her eat post procedure, the poor lady was so hungry that made me pause and see if she wanted more food. She was thin, a bit unkempt and lives alone.
It's been a few years and I can still see her clearly on how she was eating from the foot of her bed. One can wish that a memory like this can easily be forgotten. Some linger and do stay.
Interviewing her to check if it was safe for us to send her home alone prior to discharge, she needed to stay in the hospital a few days longer to recuperate. The gist of the story is that: for her pension money like £20 per week...there was a struggle between buying for food or pay for gas for warmth. Sadly in the UK, she's not alone and it is an industrialised country. Also, there's no hyperinflation going on right now either.
UK vs the Philippines vs Venezuela
In the Philippines where our poor Filipinos try to earn a living each day, where their earnings is barely enough to BUY FOOD for that day...
Will it be FOOD or TOILET PAPER? Somebody said "water and a towel".
How about some soap? For the same amount of money, instead of a toilet paper, a few bars of soap can last a month or longer. Then water and a towel. Practicalities and all.
Throw in 1 SBD!!!
But let's go back to FOOD. The Philippines is a developing country. Compared to Venezuela at the moment, the Philippines is better off. Inflation is not that much here compared to there. A dollar goes a long way here too but how far can it go in Venezuela?
Logo by @bifilarcoil
Let's go to there?
Till now, I couldn't move on from what I've written almost a week now since we have started writing about #venezuelaobservatory, you can read of my post here venezuela-observatory-it-all-started-with-hope
Couldn't helped but be amused when reading of my friend @bifilarcoil's post yesterday here. It's just a small observation regarding Venezuela, actually IT'S JUST A LITTLE THING.
How do we look at this little thing? I heard that a person needs a duffle bag when exchanging a couple of hundred $$$ in there. HOW TRUE? What can it buy though or are there anything to buy in the shops? How can they win against all those things happening over there?
Without GAS for warmth, how long can an elderly stand the cold? In Venezuela, how can the elderlies stand their HUNGER? Do they queue too?
I can't imagine those elderlies queuing for a piece of bread, more so when they have ran out when it's their turn to receive their shares. What a way to LIVE.
These are my experiences, opinions,etc. and I accept any criticisms, corrections, guidance to the right direction. This post is in conjunction with what @bifilarcoil have started a week ago from an outsider's perspective of what is going on in Venezuela.
#venezuelaobservatory posts:
observing-venezuela-the-start-of-a-block-chain-observatory-2018-may-06
venezuela-observatory-wtf-no-toilet-paper-o
Footer by @oscarcc89
Its sad to see and must but so hard for you all, while the rest of the world appear to plod on. Truth is we know nothing about your struggle, we do here but or propaganda media don't report a word. I'm sure more would help if they knew but that's our modern world thankfully platforms like Steemit are changing this.
Is the Crypto world changing things there? I hope so and like Zimbabwe people start moving towards such way to pay for good and teach fellow citizens it way so you can help pull people out of this horrific situation.
Sending you all reiki vibes and well wishes 💯🐒
Thank you. We hope that a lot of Steemians can help in their present situation and with #venezuelaobservatory , this can reach people who can help.
The current situation in Venezuela right now is really sad. They are in their economic crisis
Very much and we hope that their plight will reach people who can help them.
Thanks for your thought-provoking post @immarojas. I will read the links you've added and learn some more. 😍
It was meant to provoke Gillian ;) Don't know what else to write about Venezuela but this.
Are the resources available to make DIY soap and make a small soap business?
If people have a capital and they don't mind hardwork in starting a business.
If they do, soap-making won't be a priority.
if they work hard then they will need soap, and someone needs to make it, making it from sources at hand is far cheaper then buying it from a corporation and transport it across the country.
that's a bit where i'm getting at, when someone makes the soap, then that person has a job, and there is less money lost in expensive transportation
Resources means expenses still..I've never met any Filipino who wants to have that as a business, but my exposure is limited. If my sis can make washing soap, then anyone can. But will they?
I came acsross people on internet who make soap as a hobby, if there are resources the knowledge and the customers then there is a market. people need hygene, so the market is there, soap is fat with lye (and lye is made from wood ashes) so this could be enough business for one man in a neighborhood to trade soap and feed his family If we can help people set up small businesses with simple products that fill a need (like hygene) then they are one step closer to the next level in the Maslow philosophy
And in case of soap, as i said you need wood ashes that can be collected, and fat, can also be collected from cooking residue. this is why soap seemed to be a good product to start with
Will we be doing this in Venezuela? Afterwards here. As ive said it's not the top industry and something that people would wanna do☺
Hello @immarojas, im from venezuela. i will use a translator my english is no good.
first of all, there is no cold here, cold is not a problem, but gas like any service is practically free, but inefficient. that is to say, you have to pay a lot of money for gas or water since the services of the state do not arrive or arrive very late. the current minimum wage is 3 dollars, that is 1 steem now, 1.30 sbd approximately, one kg of meat costs 3 dollars, one kg of rice costs 1 dollar and hyperinflation raises prices daily, people survive with a food box that the government sends but that does not reach all Venezuelans, and that the food is of poor quality causing health problems, not to mention the medicines. That is part of the reality of Venezuelans and that is why Venezuelans are the largest community in Steemit.
feel free to ask anything you want about venezuela and thanks by supporting us,
There are people who wanna help...you will be contacted. I will let them ask questions as politically, they know more. Am more in the humanitarian side.
That's good news that Venezuelans are here..let's bring more of them.
We believe that only Venezuelans can do more to help their country and if needing extra manpower from outsiders, there are people worldwide but a few for now.
The reason that #venezuelaobservatory was started..to show the world of what is happening over there if it's not safe for you guys to be open.
Thank you, this is a very good initiative. I have a month and something in steemit, I was lucky to meet wonderful people like you in this social network, I can not be 100% in steemit for other reasons but all the time I can I dedicate it to publish and help others.
It's a start and its' success depends to all of us, and from the time without us outsiders.
People can collectively..goodluck to all of us.
Well its a nice story, and i know Philippines peoples really very hard work, they can everything do as possible, well you doing good job for those peoples, god blessed you, thanks.
Thank you.
hola por tu apellido se que eres Venezolana gran articulo amiga de verdad estamos pasando penuria. tambien publique algo de lo que sucede en venezuela sigamos creando conciencia con lo que pasa en nuestro pais
Pardon pero no habla espagnol amigo. English por favor.
hello for your last name is Venezuelan great article friend of truth We are going through hardship. also publish something of what happens in venezuela keep creating awareness with what happens in our country.
This is what I told you in Spanish
Mate..i am not Venezuelan nor i am in Venezuela. Venezuelans should be writing what is going on in their country for the world to see.
This is what #venezuelaobservatory is about, Venezuelans reporting what is happening to their co-Venezuelans.
correct friend and excuse me if I bother my comment .. That's what I mostly dedicate my public mostly to the situation of my country although this brings me consequences I can go to prison for expressing my opinion
That bad huh? Even pictures?
if all my publications placed them with photos of the reality of Venezuela
If there's a will,
there's a way.