this fire is tragic all around
*A large fire destroyed Brazil's National Museum Sunday (Sept. 2), ruining one of Latin America's most venerable cultural and research insitutions and the 200-year-old home of more than 20 million artifacts, according to its website.
Katia Bogea, president of the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage, was quoted in the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper blaming the devastating loss on budget cuts resulting from a "crisis of values," as translated by AFP. Brazil's Rede Globo quoted the museum deputy director Cristiana Serejo as saying that about 10 percent of the museum's collection survived, and that the immediate problem leading to the out-of-control blaze was that the smoke detectors weren't working and the building's fire suppression systems were limited.
*A crowd of protestors gathered in the wake of the blaze and blamed politicians for neglecting the museum, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. They indicated that funding had been redirected to other priorities, such as the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Herald reported that the crowd tried to enter the museum and was violently attacked by police wielding tear gas and batons.
Not trying to stir up any political views, but its presidential campaign time, the left wing (communist) candidate, which is currently in prison, just got kicked out of the campaign. (Wo der why, lol)
His supporters had threat that they would put fire in landmarks if they couldnt have him running (or free)
As well as all educational/cultural sites in Brazil barely get any funds or care. They run poorly. It's really sad.
I had the opportunity to visit this museum when I was young.
By the way, 4 sites were on fire on the same day. All different states. Coincidence?