Bulgarian Scientists Stage 'Budget of Ignorance' Rally
Society | October 13, 2010, Wednesday // 09:15| views
"Scientist - BGN 270 salary; garbage collector - BGN 660. Which one do you value more?" reads the banner of the protesting scientists who tied up their hands to symbolize the enslavement of ignorance resulting from lack of funing. Photo by BGNES
Bulgarian scientists and researchers have staged a protest rally under the motto "Budget 2011 – the Budget of Ignorance."
The protest is against the Cabinet's policies of budget cuts in the education and science sectors.
The participants gathered in the park in front of the Sofia University, and went to the Parliament, the Council of Ministers, the Education and Finance Ministries.
Organizers say the actions of the Education Ministry have stirred utter chaos in the system and belittle scientists and researchers, especially young ones, pointing out with the lowest budget for science in Europe, Bulgaria, actually, ranks among Third World countries.
“We insist that Bulgaria should allocated for science and education a similar percentage of its GDP as that of other EU states. It is usually 1% of the GDP for science, and 5-7% for education,” said Hristo Lafchiev, a nuclear physicist from the Union of Young Scientists.
A total of about 500 scientists took part in the rally demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Simeon Djankov. Lafchiev vowed that the scientists will support the protest rally of the Sofia University scheduled for November 1.
“Borisov, keep your promise,” read one of the banners of the protesters. The front banner of the rally, however, stated “Djankov's Dream = BGN 0.00 for Science”
As part of the rally, the protesters tied up their hands claiming their rationale being that science and education mean freedom, which the lack of money for these fields meant that they are being enslaved.
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