“The government has ignored the science, going so far as to boycott vaccines,” Lula told SBPC.

Lula visited the SBPC in Brasilia. Photos: Ricardo Stockert

“During his visit to the 74th annual meeting of the Brazilian Association for the Advancement of Science, he declared that the most tragic consequence of the scientific blackout we are witnessing today is the killing of nearly 680,000 Brazilians at the hands of Covid. (SBPC)

Former President Lula visited the 74th annual meeting of the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science (SBPC), in Brasilia, Thursday morning (28), and condemned the “scientific blackout” caused by the Bolsonaro government.

“The most tragic consequence of the scientific blackout we are witnessing today is the deaths of nearly 680,000 Brazilians at the hands of Covid. Many of them are because the current president has ignored all recommendations of the scientific community, going so far as to boycott vaccines,” Lula said.

The former president drew attention that “the current government has put Brazil into a time machine toward the past” in Science.

“Reducing investments in education and science, attacks on universities and unemployment lead to a loss of qualified cadres abroad. Young people are led by dreams and challenges. We need to restore conditions so that they are encouraged to work in the reconstruction of the country,” Lula emphasized.

“The current government has put Brazil in a time machine toward the past.”

The former president indicated actions for a possible new period, in which scientific research, innovation and education will be priorities and levers to solve problems such as poverty and deindustrialization.

I am sure that we will be able to bring scientific research, innovation and education back to the center of national issues. I hope it will be re-evaluated as a lever for economic growth, re-industrialization in the country, poverty reduction, and the pursuit of an ecologically sustainable and inclusive economy,” he said.

Lula also emphasized that the nation’s project that is capable of facing the challenges of the present, towards the future, cannot abandon its commitments to democracy, economic, educational, scientific and technological development, social inclusion, the reduction of regional disparities and cultural pluralism.

“National sovereignty and the defense of the environment must go together and be directed towards the expansion of citizenship, work and income. Progress in these areas has been – and remains – the result of struggles and resistance by progressive forces throughout our historical course, and therefore, must be defended and deepened,” he said.

Lula committed to increasing the budgets of science research and development agencies.

“Federal funding agencies’ budgets, particularly those of CNPq, FINEP and CAPES, must be recovered from the highest levels achieved in Labor governments.”

The former president called for national mobilization to defend education, science, technology, innovation, environment, human rights, health and other property of the nation and struggle to preserve life, to ensure and reduce sovereignty. of inequality in the country. “I call on everyone to move forward in resuming the development process, from the perspective of using natural resources with sustainability and inclusion,” he noted.

Lula also highlighted the progress science made during his government.

“The science draft of PAC was discussed and approved by the CCT before it was publicly released. In the four years of the PAC, from 2007 to 2010, the plan was fully implemented, with resources of 41 billion R$, which in today’s currency corresponds to more than 70 billion R$” , like he said.