As Puerto Rico Recovers From Hurricane Fiona, Island Advocates Are Turning To The Bitcoin Community

This is a viewpoint editorial by Keiko Yoshino, a public policy attorney and lobbyist who advocates for blockchain-friendly laws in Puerto Rico, and the executive director of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association.By September 18, Hurricane Fiona had put over 30 inches of rain on Puerto Rico within 72 hours, almost as much rain as Seattle gets in a whole year.Historic flooding. Islandwide power blackouts. This was all too familiar to Shirley McPhaul-Castro, who lived through Hurricane Maria.”The most hard thing about Maria was the weeks after,” McPhaul-Castro said. “Seeing empty shelves at the supermarket, the long lines at the gas stations, not understanding when things on the island would return to regular. Ive never felt more alone than the moment I realized that the news, social networks, the world, had actually all just carried on. It felt like we were forgotten.”McPhaul-Castro is the director of CryptoCurious, the education and neighborhood outreach program of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association (PRBTA). CryptoCurious runs workshops on Web 3 technology, consisting of sessions focused on Bitcoin and wallet security, in Spanish. Through education, it wishes to make Bitcoin available to all of Puerto Rico.And now, with the island dealing with a hard healing from Maria, CryptoCurious and all of PRBTA are working to utilize Bitcoins international community and smooth payments technology to assist.”While the electricity, water and web all work in San Juan, it is not the case across the island,” McPhaul-Castro included. “Many individuals still need help, and we want them to understand theyre not alone.” Focusing The Bitcoin Community On Hurricane ReliefThe PRBTA is a nonprofit that was developed into a temporary relief fund so it might right away help neighborhoods impacted on the South and West sides of the island. It has raised more than $55,000 to date in donations through its relief fund and is accepting bitcoin. For over 4 weeks, the PRBTA has actually been purchasing canned items, bagging materials, and distributing food and water to families still without power. To date, it has invested over $105,000 on materials, affected over 4,000 households and covered over 20 barrios with the assistance of over 240 volunteers. Supplies collected by PRBTA for cyclone relief.Understanding the general public suspicion of contributions to nonprofits and out of an abundance of caution, the PRBTA also produced a publicly-available spreadsheets that shows a detailed list of everything it has actually purchased each day.It desired individuals to feel comfortable knowing that every sat, 100% of their contributions, are going to water, food and medication. Everyone dealing with this company is a volunteer; there is no overhead. The PRBTA group has rotated from its day tasks of conference planning and neighborhood education to focus on this relief effort.For circumstances, two weeks back, the PRBTA leased a 26-foot truck and drove across the island to take 1,000 bags of canned food, water and toiletries to Barrio Playa in Añasco. The team satisfied up with Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón who was going door to door, and “Team Playa” planner Marilyn González, who arranged recovery efforts for the neighborhood. PSBTA volunteers and trucks of materials.”Añasco had severe flooding, now that the water has actually decreased they require to clear out their homes and change everything from devices to furnishings,” said Crazy Legs. Crazy Legs has been hosting many fundraising events and released a Hurricane Fiona relief GoFundMe to bring attention and help to Puerto Rico. He is a Bronx-born Puerto Rican dancer and teacher, respected worldwide for his hip-hop and humanitarian contributions. “I have been doing this since Maria, its just as ravaging to see how individuals have lost whatever, some for a 2nd time,” he stated. The PSBTA team of volunteersThe PRBTA signed up with forces with Puerto Ricans and non-natives who are dedicated to bringing relief, help and solidarity to ease main requirements of those affected by Fiona. Hopefully, the Bitcoin neighborhoods generous spirit will extend to these newest efforts.Positive things can come from terrible situations. In this case, the PRBTA is breaking stereotypes and building partnerships through this relief effort.If you want to assist, you can contribute at www.prblockchain.org/relief-fund.This is a guest post by Keiko Yoshino. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.

“McPhaul-Castro is the director of CryptoCurious, the education and community outreach program of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association (PRBTA). Through education, it wants to make Bitcoin available to all of Puerto Rico.And now, with the island facing a hard recovery from Maria, CryptoCurious and all of PRBTA are working to leverage Bitcoins international neighborhood and seamless payments innovation to assist. Supplies collected by PRBTA for hurricane relief.Understanding the public hesitation of contributions to nonprofits and out of an abundance of care, the PRBTA also created a publicly-available spreadsheets that reveals an itemized list of whatever it has actually bought each day.It wanted individuals to feel comfy knowing that every sat, 100% of their donations, are going to medication, water and food. The PRBTA team has pivoted from its day jobs of conference planning and community education to focus on this relief effort.For circumstances, 2 weeks back, the PRBTA leased a 26-foot truck and drove throughout the island to take 1,000 bags of canned food, water and toiletries to Barrio Playa in Añasco. The PSBTA team of volunteersThe PRBTA joined forces with Puerto Non-natives and ricans who are devoted to bringing aid, relief and uniformity to relieve primary requirements of those impacted by Fiona.

Other Questions People Ask

How is the Bitcoin community helping Puerto Rico recover from Hurricane Fiona?

The Bitcoin community is playing a crucial role in Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Fiona by supporting the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association (PRBTA) and its relief efforts. The PRBTA has raised over $55,000 in donations, accepting Bitcoin to provide immediate assistance to affected communities. By leveraging Bitcoin's seamless payment technology, they are able to distribute essential supplies like food and water to families still struggling without power.

What initiatives are being taken by CryptoCurious to educate Puerto Ricans about Bitcoin during the recovery?

CryptoCurious, the education and outreach program of the PRBTA, is actively conducting workshops focused on Bitcoin and wallet security in Spanish. These initiatives aim to make Bitcoin accessible to all Puerto Ricans, especially during the recovery phase from Hurricane Fiona. By educating the community on Web 3 technology, CryptoCurious hopes to empower individuals to utilize Bitcoin for their financial needs and recovery efforts.

What measures has the PRBTA implemented to ensure transparency in their hurricane relief efforts?

To address public skepticism regarding donations to nonprofits, the PRBTA has created publicly available spreadsheets detailing every purchase made for hurricane relief. This transparency ensures that donors can see exactly how their contributions are being utilized, with 100% of funds going directly to essential supplies like food, water, and medication. By operating entirely with volunteers and no overhead costs, the PRBTA aims to build trust within the community during this critical time.

How can individuals contribute to the relief efforts for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona?

Individuals looking to support Puerto Rico's recovery can contribute to the PRBTA's relief fund, which accepts Bitcoin donations. The organization has been actively purchasing and distributing supplies to families affected by Hurricane Fiona, ensuring that aid reaches those in need. By donating, individuals can directly impact the lives of thousands of residents still facing challenges in the aftermath of the hurricane.

What challenges are still faced by Puerto Ricans as they recover from Hurricane Fiona?

Despite ongoing relief efforts, many Puerto Ricans continue to face significant challenges in their recovery from Hurricane Fiona. Issues such as power outages, lack of access to clean water, and damaged homes persist across various regions of the island. The PRBTA and local advocates are working tirelessly to address these needs, but ongoing support from both local and international communities remains essential for a full recovery.