Hundreds of thousands of citizens will march tomorrow for ‘defense of science’

On Earth Day, April 22, hundreds of thousands of scientists and citizens will gather in about 500 cities across more than 40 countries around the world to participate in the March for Science, aiming to highlight the importance of education and science in the modern world.

The idea for organizing tomorrow’s march was born the day after Trump’s inauguration, on January 21, when the Women’s March took place, advocating for civil rights. More than two million people participated in the protest worldwide, with 500,000 in Washington.

>>>VIDEO: The refreshed Google Earth offers 3D maps, more than 50 virtual tours

The organizers of this initiative, which has no ideological or political affiliation, explained that it is not directed specifically against Trump and the Republicans. It was launched because the Trump administration represents a serious threat to the future of the world due to anti-scientific ideas that could have catastrophic global consequences. Among these are the denial of climate change and cuts to research funding.

The action has received support from numerous prominent scientists from around the world, including the most important American scientific association – the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which has 120,000 members and publishes the prestigious Science among many other professional journals.

– The organizers of the march in Washington emphasize that it is not about political motives and that it is not directed against government officials. Scientists have noted that scientific facts have been too frequently ignored in public discussions for years, being replaced by ideological beliefs and assessments, said Rush Holt, president of the AAAS, nuclear physicist, and former Democratic representative in the House of Representatives, to AFP.

>>>Trump’s environmental advisor says carbon dioxide is not a key factor in global warming

– They have finally realized that if they do not act publicly, science will increasingly be sidelined, misrepresented, and misinterpreted, and that ordinary people will suffer as a result, Holt believes, recalling the negative impact of Trump and his administration, which advocate the relativization of truth and anti-scientific theses, particularly emphasizing the denial of climate change and cuts to research funding.

>>>First human head transplant scheduled for this year, madness or science?

– Scientists who participated in the Women’s March began to spontaneously gather and gradually organize on social media. They agreed to hold an event aimed at defending science, Holt explained. The gathering in Washington will start at 8 AM local time in the city park and along the National Mall near the White House, where numerous speakers will address the protesters. The march will proceed towards the Congress headquarters in the afternoon.

>>>Last year 646 new PhDs, men in the minority

Elias Zerhouni, director of the development and research department of the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, emphasized at a press conference on Wednesday that science is “a universal language driven by facts and common sense. It is not just an American issue, but a global one, as we all live on the same planet.”

The organizers of the American march reminded that in January 2017, the hands of the Doomsday Clock were moved to 2.5 minutes to midnight, the closest it has ever been. Marches will also take place in Croatia, with gatherings starting at 11 AM in Zagreb, Rijeka, and Split.