In this, my 4th #BitcoinVoices thread, I'm pleased to introduce two inspiring people who are giving back to #ElSalvador 🇸🇻 and building bridges (#Bitcoin and other) between the Salvadoran diaspora and broader communities in 🇨🇦🇺🇸.
2/ Based in Easton, MD 🇺🇸 @GersonMartinez is a former finance professional and not-for-profit leader who has turned his attention to building @newequitygroup and other activities amplifying re-development efforts in #ElSalvador led by President @NayibBukele and @AsambleaSV.
3/ Based in Regina, SK 🇨🇦, @JaimeWGarcia is a frequent contributor to #Bitcoin community development efforts in Canada, and is a co-host and contributor to @GlobalBTCFest, a platform which supports Bitcoin adoption and socio-economic development in communities around the world.
4/ Recently, @JaimeWGarcia and @GersonMartinez were co-host and contributor for the inspiring El Salvador 🇸🇻 #Bitcoin Adoption Progress session, which provided valuable updates on the country's Bitcoin-related social and economic development efforts.
5/ I hope you will follow @JaimeWGarcia and @GersonMartinez and re-tweet this thread to help amplify their voices as important members of El Salvador's diaspora community who are contributing to a fair and just future for 🇸🇻🇺🇸🇨🇦 alike; one which unites, with opportunity for all.
6/ Click on the #BitcoinVoices tag to also see my first three threads and to follow these inspiring educators, storytellers and community developers:
In my 5th #BitcoinVoices thread, I'm honoured to feature a true global leader and ambassador, Fodé Diop @diopfode.
Based in Dakar, Sénégal, Fodé is dedicated to advancing financial literacy, economic development, and empowerment for people throughout Africa and beyond. 🧵
2/ A software developer, teacher and activist, Fodé has shared his personal story of what led him to #Bitcoin. It's a story rooted in the colonial economic systems and structures -- IMF, CFA franc -- which oppress people and countries throughout Africa.
3/ Fodé is now using his talents & passion to build many onramps to opportunity for others. This includes launching #Bitcoin Developers Academy bitcoindevelopers.academy, educating on socio-economic development issues, and co-hosting @AfricaBTConf (Ghana, Dec 2022) with @Farida_N.
In this, my 3rd #BitcoinVoices thread I would like to introduce you to fellow Canadian 🇨🇦 resident, @Ayelen_Osorio. Based in Vancouver, Ayelen is a talented storyteller who brings to life remarkable stories of how #Bitcoin is advancing human rights and social inclusion.🧵
2/ @Ayelen_Osorio channels her passion for human rights, social inclusion and storytelling through an amazing blog called "The Misfit" themisfit.substack.com. I highly recommend checking out past articles. Sign up by email to be notified when new articles are published.
3/ Sadly, mainstream media reporting on #Bitcoin continues to neglect the many important examples of how Bitcoin is helping tackle climate change, increasing socio-economic inclusion, and more. That's why the work of writers like @Ayelen_Osorio and @gladstein is so important.
Centrafrique : le bitcoin devient monnaie officielle
A good and fair discussion (segment begins at 3:16 of video) about the Central African Republic's adoption of #Bitcoin as legal tender. A quick summary of key points, and some thoughts. 🧵
2/ First off, it's critical to hear from and elevate the voices of Africans -- both on the continent and from the disapora on these issues. So, I hope we see that front and centre. In this case, commentators from Togo which shares a similar colonial and colonial-monetary history.
3/ Some key points are raised. First the positive, and then questions/concerns:
✅ This is a bold move and embrace of innovation
✅ The legacy/impact of the colonial monetary system is a problem and needs to be addressed
✅A very promising opportunity for development
Building on my thread below, I want to help policymakers committed to social, economic and climate justice better understand not only why #Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus is essential, but Bitcoin's global value. We need policymakers to adopt a "walk and chew gum" approach. 🧵
2/ What I mean by a "walk and chew gum" approach is to step back from the fragmented silos in which public policy is far too often approached these days -- environment | housing | healthcare | food security | education | others -- and to adopt an inter-sectoral lens on #Bitcoin.
3/ In the same way that the "Social Determinants of Health" #SDOH and @UN "Sustainable Development Goals" #SDGs@SDGoals have rallied us to grapple with the ways in which diverse social, economic and political factors impact wellbeing & human development, so too does #Bitcoin.
1/ You may recently have seen the @60Minutes feature below about @Bitcoinbeach and the #ElSalvador government @AsambleaSV's adoption of #Bitcoin as legal tender for the country. This is just the tip of a much, much bigger global movement. 🧵
2/ The adoption of #Bitcoin as legal tender, alongside the $USD, has been part of a much larger program of social and economic development ushered in by President @nayibbukele and @AsambleaSV. As a result, #ElSalvador's GDP grew by 10.3% in 2021 and this is expected to continue.
3/ Growth of the #ElSalvador economy, sparked by a #Bitcoin-connected vision and platform, is leading to major investments in physical infrastructure and social capital throughout the country that will help the country achieve sustainable growth well into the future.