Scholars for Academic Freedom in Brazil works to support Brazilian academics under threat following Jair Bolsonaro’s election as President. We currently have about 300 members subscribing to our closed Facebook groupand a similar number signed up to our Google Group (join at: academicfreedominbrazil@gmail.com)
Scholars for Academic Freedom in Brazil was set up in late 2018, with the aim of building a network of academics in UK universities and beyond, to raise awareness of the attacks on academics and academic freedom, to circulate information, publicise petitions and letters to the press, and to develop solidarity initiatives, especially through our trade unions.
Our campaign has the endorsement of the national office of the University and College Union (UCU) which, at its May 2019 Congress, passed a motion ‘Solidarity with Brazil: fighting the far right’.
Principles:
We are agreed that the Scholars for Academic Freedom in Brazil should be as broad-based and inclusive as possible, without a specific political orientation or affiliation to any political party, but united instead around a shared democratic commitment to academic freedom, and working towards the following main aims:
- Increase international visibility for cases of persecution of Brazilian academics and for state and institutional initiatives threatening academic freedom
- Organise material support and solidarity for academics suffering persecution in Brazil
- Fundraise and prepare support in our own institutions for academics who may be forced to leave Brazil
- Articulate this campaign with other international solidarity initiatives and build support beyond the academic community itself
- Organise institutional initiatives to add to international pressure in defence of academic freedom in Brazil
To join Scholars for Academic Freedom in Brazil:
- Write to academicfreedominbrazil@gmail.com to receive regular information and contribute to our Google Group.
- Join our closed Facebook Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/540115709748101/
- Donate to our campaign fund by bank transfer: A/c 20414126. Sort code: 60-83-01