Nature editorial says Bolsonaro’s re-election would be a threat to democracy and the environment

An editorial in the scientific journal Nature published on Monday (25) states that, in the current presidential election, classified by the journal as the most important since the end of the dictatorship, there is only one choice for Brazil and the world, and that a second term of the Jair Bolsonaro government (PL) would pose threats to science, democracy and the environment.

In September, before the first round of the current election, an editorial in the scientific journal Lancet criticized Bolsonaro’s management of the pandemic and the disrespect for indigenous people and also spoke about the need for “an urgent change”.

The Nature text claims that the Brazilian president took office denying science, threatening the rights of indigenous populations and promoting guns as a solution to security concerns. “Bolsonaro was true to his word. His mandate was disastrous for science, for the environment and for the people of Brazil — and for the world,” the text says.

When Bolsonaro was elected in 2018, the same Nature, in an editorial, had already published about the risk that the elected president posed to science and the environment.

The text of the respected scientific journal highlights the alarming levels of deforestation since the beginning of the current government. The editorial recalls the period in which the country was able to abruptly bring down the destruction of the forest and break the link between deforestation and meat and soy production. “Much of this progress has been lost,” the text reads.

It also points out that, like former US President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro ignored the science related to Covid-19 and denied the dangers of the disease – in addition to having questioned, without foundation, the safety of vaccines.

“Other similarities have already been raised between Trump and Bolsonaro — both of them tried to undermine the rule of law and reduce the powers of regulators,” the text reads.

The editorial also recalls that funds for finance were already falling before the beginning of the current government, but continued to fall to the point of creating general difficulties for federal universities to function.

Despite criticism of Bolsonaro’s conduct, the Nature editorial also points out the various allegations of corruption associated with the period of Lula’s government — it also mentions the annulment of the former president’s conviction, in part because of the bias in the trials in which he was a defendant.

“No political leader comes close to perfect,” says the editorial about the Brazilian election. She cites, however, that the last four years are a reminder of what happens when those who actively seek to dismantle institutions designed to fight poverty, protect public health, advance science and knowledge and protect the environment are elected. environment.

“Brazilian voters have a valuable opportunity to start rebuilding what Bolsonaro destroyed. If Bolsonaro has four more years in office, the damage could be irreparable,” the editorial concludes.