Science, the Light on the Path
Once again in this space, we recall the obscurantism of certain current leaders, true emissaries of prejudices of the 13th century through to the infamous and fateful 15th century. Fateful because the European invasion of the American continent profoundly marked the destiny of hundreds of nations that survived, developed, and grew according to their times and needs. The arrival of Europeans not only on this continent, but also on others, was not for learning: they came to impose a lifestyle, a way of generating ideas and techniques to plunder and dominate the subjugated nations.
The fear of knowledge, the horror it provoked in those enemies of truth, turned them into the fiercest persecutors of the brave souls who, despite constant persecution, explored the limited science of those times as the only way to answer basic questions about the existence of humanity. Of course, society also took steps toward the liberation of thought during these centuries. In addition to founding schools and universities – albeit with selective admission – the development of the arts, literature, architecture, and advances in the knowledge of natural resources were paramount.
And herein lies the similarity between that dark age and today in many countries, from the wealthiest to the most modest or poorest: lack of freedom of thought; the imposition of dogmas on the scientific laws that have enabled the social development; the dominance of religions that seek a convenient answer; censorship of almost anything that criticizes the form of government,; the promotion and demand to believe in conservative ideas; and the hijacking of information by the powerful media elite, among other actions that demonstrate an intention to wield the powerful weapon of ignorance against the population.
Hundreds of years have passed, and we still find people bearing the characteristics of those centuries of social and scientific backwardness. Today, we could say that they have the right to reject ideas about certain ecological, technological, and other findings, and that they enjoy freedom of belief and thought, but it is unacceptable for a head of state, in this case of a country deemed a world power, to disqualify the judgment of scientific authorities on climate problems caused by environmental pollution.
In this era of environmental destruction, it is essential to draw on all scientific knowledge to usher in an era of social reconstruction, just as the population did during the Renaissance. We have made great strides that allow us to diagnose and predict harmful phenomena. By applying specialized methodology, we can successfully reverse the profound damage that excessive technological development has caused to the environmental balance, even when faced with unusual events, such pandemics. This would not be possible without the science developed today. No matter where on the planet knowledge is generated, the benefit is global.
Science is the light on the path that has allowed the human race to survive. We don’t deny the existence of a dark side that casts a shadow over the generation of knowledge. But ethics is not dead and neither are principles. We must constantly demand a positive response from governments and the scientific community to society's questions and demands so that the benefits always favor humanity.
These are vital problems we are trying to solve: recovering the ozone layer; protecting fertile soil and effective global reduction of carbon dioxide; promoting regenerative agriculture; minimizing indiscriminate food industrialization; and mass production of biodegradable materials that don’t harm the environmental balance. No matter what the cost, we are talking about the preservation of life on the planet. That is why we must invest generously in technologies that accelerate energy transition. More clean energy sources reduce climate risks and improve public health.
How can we achieve this without resorting to science? President Donald Trump is calling on people to distrust environmental measures and not be “misled” by the scientific community. He will have to prove that there are no floods caused by unrelenting rain around the world and that the wildfires in his country have not been caused by high temperatures generated, in turn, by climate change.
Let us remember, for example, that the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology has been awarded 116 times and 232 scientists have been honored. This year, the award went to Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, both from the United States, and to Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan. Frankly, we do not believe that these people are charlatans. In addition, Russia has presented the EnteroMix vaccine, probably the most effective against all types of cancer, due to its components. Although there are already some preventive substances used against this disease, the one presented by President Vladimir Putin himself promises more far-reaching action.
In other words, over the course of 124 years, millions of people have saved lives or prevented diseases of all kinds. Therefore, science exists and will continue to light our way.
The fear of knowledge, the horror it provoked in those enemies of truth, turned them into the fiercest persecutors of the brave souls who, despite constant persecution, explored the limited science of those times as the only way to answer basic questions about the existence of humanity. Of course, society also took steps toward the liberation of thought during these centuries. In addition to founding schools and universities – albeit with selective admission – the development of the arts, literature, architecture, and advances in the knowledge of natural resources were paramount.
And herein lies the similarity between that dark age and today in many countries, from the wealthiest to the most modest or poorest: lack of freedom of thought; the imposition of dogmas on the scientific laws that have enabled the social development; the dominance of religions that seek a convenient answer; censorship of almost anything that criticizes the form of government,; the promotion and demand to believe in conservative ideas; and the hijacking of information by the powerful media elite, among other actions that demonstrate an intention to wield the powerful weapon of ignorance against the population.
Hundreds of years have passed, and we still find people bearing the characteristics of those centuries of social and scientific backwardness. Today, we could say that they have the right to reject ideas about certain ecological, technological, and other findings, and that they enjoy freedom of belief and thought, but it is unacceptable for a head of state, in this case of a country deemed a world power, to disqualify the judgment of scientific authorities on climate problems caused by environmental pollution.
In this era of environmental destruction, it is essential to draw on all scientific knowledge to usher in an era of social reconstruction, just as the population did during the Renaissance. We have made great strides that allow us to diagnose and predict harmful phenomena. By applying specialized methodology, we can successfully reverse the profound damage that excessive technological development has caused to the environmental balance, even when faced with unusual events, such pandemics. This would not be possible without the science developed today. No matter where on the planet knowledge is generated, the benefit is global.
Science is the light on the path that has allowed the human race to survive. We don’t deny the existence of a dark side that casts a shadow over the generation of knowledge. But ethics is not dead and neither are principles. We must constantly demand a positive response from governments and the scientific community to society's questions and demands so that the benefits always favor humanity.
These are vital problems we are trying to solve: recovering the ozone layer; protecting fertile soil and effective global reduction of carbon dioxide; promoting regenerative agriculture; minimizing indiscriminate food industrialization; and mass production of biodegradable materials that don’t harm the environmental balance. No matter what the cost, we are talking about the preservation of life on the planet. That is why we must invest generously in technologies that accelerate energy transition. More clean energy sources reduce climate risks and improve public health.
How can we achieve this without resorting to science? President Donald Trump is calling on people to distrust environmental measures and not be “misled” by the scientific community. He will have to prove that there are no floods caused by unrelenting rain around the world and that the wildfires in his country have not been caused by high temperatures generated, in turn, by climate change.
Let us remember, for example, that the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology has been awarded 116 times and 232 scientists have been honored. This year, the award went to Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, both from the United States, and to Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan. Frankly, we do not believe that these people are charlatans. In addition, Russia has presented the EnteroMix vaccine, probably the most effective against all types of cancer, due to its components. Although there are already some preventive substances used against this disease, the one presented by President Vladimir Putin himself promises more far-reaching action.
In other words, over the course of 124 years, millions of people have saved lives or prevented diseases of all kinds. Therefore, science exists and will continue to light our way.
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