Mônica Bergamo: Around 140 scientists sign a manifesto in support of Lula

A group of 141 scientists signed a manifesto in support of the candidacy of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) for the Presidency of the Republic.

Among the signatories are the director of the Amazon Museum and honorary president of the SBPC (Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science), Ennio Candotti, USP professor Heloisa Buarque de Almeida, Fiocruz researcher emeritus Renato Cordeiro, UFRJ professor Lígia Bahia and the neuroscientist Sidarta Ribeiro.

The text states that, under PT’s governments, the bases for the “fraternal, educated, scientific and technological” development of the country would have been consolidated. “The seeds of equality have germinated and nurtured arts, culture and international cooperation,” he says.

Regarding the management of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), who will compete with Lula in the second round of the elections, the manifesto states that the current government promotes “ignorance against reason”.

According to the document, Jair Bolsonaro treated Covid-19 and its victims with contempt for encouraging the use of medicines without scientific proof to combat the disease, as was done with chloroquine and ivermectin.

“Many of the 686,000 deaths could have been avoided if the indications of scientists and sanitarians had prevailed over the flat earth of government guidelines”, says the text endorsed by the scientists.

Read the full manifesto below:

THIRD SIGN

Actress Adriana Lessa attended the premiere of the musical “Dominguinhos: Isso Aqui Tá Bom Demais”, held last week at Teatro Faap, in São Paulo. Filmmaker Luiz Villaça and actress Denise Fraga were there, as well as philosopher and writer Mario Sergio Cortella.

_{with BIANKA VIEIRA, KARINA MATIAS and MANOELLA SMITH}