in favor of science | Merval Pereira

Neurosurgeon Paulo Niemeyer Filho’s opening at the Brazilian Academy of Letters, “a doctor working for life” in his own definition, turned into a warm defense of science, and an institutional stance “in favor of scientific research, vaccines and the arts”. Niemeyer’s opening continued the tradition of ABL, which already had names like Miguel Couto, Carlos Chagas Filho and Ivo Pitangui, among others.

The Academy has always positioned itself in defense of civilized values, as Paulo Niemeyer highlighted, noting that at the beginning of the 20th century, Oswaldo Cruz, the great sanitary, had led the campaign against plague, yellow fever and measles in Rio de Janeiro, and had to face a backlash Popularly it became known as the vaccine revolution.

The movement was as politicized as it is now, and it almost led to the downfall of President Rodriguez Alves’ government. The reason was with Oswaldo Cruz, who doubly immortalized himself: for a healthy victory, to eradicate the affliction that has corrupted the nation, and also for the recognition of this Academy, which elected him President No. 5. Oswaldo Cruz was one of the greatest Brazilian heroes.”

Along the same lines, Niemeyer referred to the creation of the Unified Health System (SUS) as “a transformative factor in Brazilian society and perhaps the largest and most important measure of social inclusion in the world”. The new academic denounced “extremism, intolerance, and a strange world that has entered our doors, content with corruption, and a fighter against culture, education, democracy, as well as scientific research, many of whom are paralyzed by budget cuts.” And he added sarcastically, “In a world of increasing competition, a flag boycott shows how well we plan for the failure of our future.”

It was up to jurist and academic Joachim Falcao, first secretary of the ABL, in his reception speech, to ask for applause to salute “the doctors, physicians, scientists, nurses, health professionals and physiotherapists, present here: You have been the light of hope against the lies, ridicule, contempt, politicization of the Covid pandemic” .

As an example that we “live in times when values ​​are upended and institutions are distorted, and times of selfishness increase,” Falcao criticized what he called a “major insult,” the presidential veto of social altruism practiced and symbolized by psychiatrist Dr. . Nice da Silvera, which the National Congress called for inclusion in the Pantheon of Heroes and Heroines of the Fatherland.

The first secretary of the American Revolutionary League praised the work of Dr. Nice in Therapeutic Therapy in Psychiatry, which revealed talented artists such as Arthur Bispo do Rosario, “whose profession is liberated by his innovations.” Joaquim Falcao, who said Dr. Nes da Silvera “will always be in the Pantheon of the Nation.”

Presidential veto on the inclusion of d. Nez da Silvera in the Pantheon of Brazil’s Heroes and Heroines had already been addressed in the day before the session of the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL), when professor and academic Arnaldo Nesquier criticized him, extolling the figure of the doctor. Next week, the former president of the Casa, writer and philosopher Marco Lucchesi, Physician Partner of Casa das Palmeiras, the “Little Free Zone” of mental rehabilitation through occupational therapies, an initiative pioneered by Nes da Silvera who invented modern psychiatry, will give a lecture on His relationship to it and its importance in internationally recognized psychotherapy, contrary to the official claim to veto the inclusion of his name in the Pantheon.

Returning to the opening session at the ABL, it was up to Joachim Falcao to resume the path opened by Paulo Niemeyer, stressing that “health, culture, science and education should not be at the mercy of undemocratic and ill-considered rhetoric regarding public deficit cuts”. Falcao emphasized that “it is not a question of opposing or in favor of financial control. It is a question of choosing on the basis of what urgency, values ​​and ends to reduce this or that expense.” For him, “The infrastructure of the democratic rule of law is at stake here. Freedom and equality.”

Al-Faqih lamented that “without a democratic project, Brazil has minimal solidarity with Brazil. Brazil is long-standing.” He concluded his speech by saying: “It is in the light of Dr. Paulo Niemeyer, one of the professional health champions who are here, and all those who work in favor of the vision of Brazil where the mentor hopes for a better life.”

* Pictured with my friend Pedro Pellegrino, psychiatrist, poet, painter and Dr. Nice da Silvera, in Casa das Palmeiras.