«Happy birthday, Bariloche, provincial capital of science and technology. Where there are 14 people working for science every 1000 inhabitants«, states one of the many sheets that different scientists spread through social networks, for the 122nd anniversary of the city.
“Where scientists investigate improvements for the treatment of epilepsy in hospitals in Argentina and France.” “Where we need funds to study vultures, but say no to Vulture Funds.” “Where scientists investigate the effect of the garbage dump on the health of our birds.” «What your governor doesn’t tell you: The Bases law enables the depredation of your natural resources by foreign companies without any control«.
All the plates emphasize the same point: they state that The Base Law puts an end to scientific development in the country.
Conicet associate researcher Damián Dellavale investigated treatments for refractory epilepsy in France for three years until improvement was achieved. The study was published in the prestigious scientific journal of the International League Against Epilepsy.
«After those years of work, I decided to return to Argentina to transfer that knowledge to hospitals. It was quite a sacrifice, but I was happy to return«, acknowledged the researcher and added: «I returned to Argentina to hear (Javier) Milei say that science is useless. What happens is atrocious. “Argentina has been training its citizens through the public university, and this government is trying to dismantle it.”
Some time ago, independent researchers from various institutions formed the group “I Choose to Grow” in defense of the Argentine scientific system. At the beginning of April, they held an artistic festival to denounce the situation in the country.
«From the debate, researchers are stigmatized and the importance of science in society is taken away. Conicet is being dismantled little by little with layoffs and the defunding of projects. The Bases Law represents a serious threat to the scientific system«, summarized Dellavale.
He explained that “the government’s idea is to approve the Base Law to give an international political signal and be able to take on debt. We already know where it ends. It is not the solution”.
He insisted that the Bases Law implies a dismantling of the scientific system. «They removed the word dissolution, but the truth is that they can defund it. They are going to dismantle it. In addition, the Base Law includes the Rigi, an article for the promotion of large investments. It gives advantages to foreign companies and restricts any control over them. “Foreign companies are going to prey on our resources,” he considered.
Regarding the design of posters for the anniversary of Bariloche, Dellavale clarified that “the objective is to generate knowledge” to “disseminate the damage that the Base Law would generate to the science system in Bariloche where there are a large number of scientists.”
Furthermore, he was extremely critical of the statements of Governor Alberto Weretilneck: «He gives a diluted, misleading speech, without telling the truth. He justifies the vote of the Río Negro deputies in favor of the law, saying that they achieved benefits for Río Negro and that there are no damages. It’s false. As a researcher from Bariloche, I see how the system is being dismantled«.
And he added: «Weretilneck said that they achieved a cold zone benefit. They are going to give you some crumbs. What he is not saying is what comes from behind. In Argentina we must stop buying colored mirrors«.
