In the ashes of museums, Brazilians see a "tragic metaphor" of the country's crises

As a daughter, Cecilia Pereira's family has a habit of picnicking at the National Museum. Formerly a palace for Portuguese and Brazilian royalty, the majestic Museum Park was a respite from the poor district of Rio where Ms. Pereira grew up, just 15 minutes away.

"I've always wanted to go there," says Pereira, now a master candidate in botany. She finally entered the museum as an undergraduate, blown by exhibitions like the bones of a lazy prehistoric giant, or the five-ton meteorite that greeted visitors in the main entrance .

On Sunday, the National Museum burned with sufficient intensity to destroy up to 90% of its contents, including ancient Egyptian mummies, rare indigenous art works and the 11,500 year old "Luzia" , the oldest human skeleton discovered in America.

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – smt Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "recommended: In a poor Brazilian state, the flow of Venezuelans is testing the limits of compassion "data-reactid =" 14 ">recommended: In a poor Brazilian state, the flow of Venezuelans is testing the limits of compassion

Pereira says that she can not find the words to describe it – and the loss of the country -.

What triggered the fire of the museum is still unknown. But the initial outcry, followed by a dwindling acceptance of the tragedy, underscores the dramatic dives Brazil has seen in recent years, whether it's recrudescence or corruption.

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "At the turn of the 21st century, Brazil was the star rising in Latin America: its economy was skyrocketing, its middle class was growing and its international presence was growing in importance.& nbsp; strongly in education than almost every OECD or industrialized country. It seems that extreme income inequality and severe right-wing dictatorship have long since disappeared. Brazil modernized and left its past behind. The rising star of America: its economy was skyrocketing, its middle class was growing and its international presence was gaining importance: it was investing more in education than almost every country in the world. OECD or industrialized. extreme income inequality and a severe dictatorship on the right: Brazil is modernizing and leaving behind its past.

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "In the last five years, The Nation has begun to stumble, beginning an economic recession and implementing austerity measures that have hit hard the poor and the middle classes.& nbsp; skim billions of dollars in their pockets. This week, the fire that ravaged the Rio Natural History Museum, which has marked thousands of years of history and culture, has shed light on the country's political and economic realities. The disaster left the Brazilians wondering if the country would see the fire as an alarm signal, or see more institutions and national gains suffer from widespread corruption and political paralysis. "Data-reactid =" 18 "> But for five years or so, the nation has begun to stumble, enter into an economic recession and implement austerity measures that have hit hardest the poor and the middle class The Rio Natural History Museum, which traces thousands of years of history and culture, highlighted the political and economic realities of Brazil, leaving Brazilians wondering if the country would see the fire the national gains suffer from widespread corruption and political paralysis.

"My biggest fear is that it is not an awakening, but an affirmation in a country where the past does not seem to be very important and where trust in government and institutions is very weak," he said. Thomas Trebat, director of the Global Center at Columbia University in Rio de Janeiro.

"Brazil should be one of the big countries in the world," said Trebat. But, instead, people feel "late" and question their power to do anything about it.

ROLLER COASTER RECESSION

<p class = "canvas-atom-text-canvas Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Experts warned that the National Museum was a risk of Fire for more than a decade. his budget continued to slide among the austerity policies designed to accelerate the economic recovery: from about $ 130,000 in 2013 to about $ 84,000 in 2017. In the first months of 2018, it would have received only 13 000 dollars. Many say that a sprinkler system is an investment that could have helped to slow down the scope of the fire. "Data-reactid =" 22 "> Experts warn that the National Museum represents a fire risk for more than ten years, among the austerity policies intended to accelerate the economic recovery: from about $ 130,000 in 2013 to about $ 84,000 in 2017. In the first months of 2018, he received only $ 13,000.

"We thought there might be a problem, it could have caught fire at any time, but we could not stop working," says Thaiana Garcia, who studied crustaceans in a lab.

For Ms. Garcia, the lack of investment is not just about the recession. "The government gives more value to science elsewhere than to what we produce here in Brazil," she says. "The first money they take away is money for universities and museums."

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Brazil experienced a roller-coaster of politics and crisis In recent years, with the indictment of a president in office and the imprisonment of a former president, large-scale anti-corruption demonstrations swept the country in 2013 and the The economy officially went into recession the following year. hit about 14 percent last year, according to government data. The hope that the temporary administration of President Michel Temer can put Brazil back on the economy has faded. indictment of an incumbent president and imprisonment of a former president Large-scale anti-corruption protests swept the country in 2013 and the economy officially entered a historic recession. next year, according to the government. The hope that the temporary administration of President Michel Temer can put Brazil back on the economy has faded.

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "High profile corruption scandals have swept the nation – and endeavored to involve the leaders of all Latin America. Now in its fifth year, the sprawling& nbsp; Car Wash operation investigation shook the nation, revealing a series of bribes by which politicians have embezzled billions of dollars. Last May, the Brazilians were speechless while listening& nbsp; disclosed audio recordings President Temer appears to support JBS meat giant to continue bribing senior politicians. Last September, a former minister was arrested after his fingerprints were found on bags with over $ 16 million in cash and sufficient to fund the museum for over a century, based on the budgets of recent years. data-reactid = "26" Operation Car Wash's fifth investigation shook the country, revealing a series of bribes by which politicians have embezzled billions of dollars. Last September, a former minister was arrested after his fingerprints were found on bags containing more than $ 16 million in cash, enough to fund the museum. for more than a century, based on the budgets of recent years.