Education, Science, and Technology Spotlighted in the Fight Against Fascism at Porto Alegre Conference

The 1st International Antifascist Conference held in Porto Alegre underscored the pivotal role of education, science, and technology in combating fascism and advancing societal sovereignty. Márcia Barbosa, rector of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, highlighted the ethical challenges posed by the weaponization of technology by extreme right forces, emphasizing the need for universities to ensure ethical and socially responsible knowledge production. She pointed to the ongoing struggle within higher education, where 50% of students come from public schools and 25% from racial quotas, yet are increasingly threatened by ideologies like "school without party" and "gender ideology," which she described as "fake news" and "anti-science," fostering a climate of fear among educators.

Bianca Borges, president of the National Union of Students (UNE), connected the fight against fascism to the broader quest for sovereignty in the Global South, stressing that sovereignty hinges on robust education, science, and technology sectors. She warned that the extreme right’s rise often results in budget cuts and political interference in educational institutions, undermining academic freedom. The event featured diverse speakers, including Jairo Bolter of PROIFES-Federação, who advocated for defending education and rejecting violence.

Moderated by Deputy Sofia Cavedon and opened by Barbosa, the conference also included international voices like Gloria Ramirez from Colombia and Hugo Yasky from the International Education/IEAL. The gathering affirmed the necessity of transforming education beyond technical training toward societal emancipation, calling for legal regulation of emerging scientific fields such as quantum computing and synthetic biology to prevent misuse. The conference's full proceedings were broadcast live for broader public engagement.