On the night of September 2 to 3, a dramatic fire ravaged the national Museum of Rio. 20 million coins went up in smoke. Eight months later, only 250,000 euros of donations were collected to support the work of research among the rubble and restore. A figure sufficiently alarming to Alexander Kellner, the director of the institution, increase the tone Tuesday during a presentation in front of the press parts egyptian spared by the flames. “I want to send today a message of warning to the ministry of Education. Without the ministry, we have no more national Museum”, he explained.

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“We face challenges every day. The teachers do not have a place to work and we have no where to store the parts found. I can’t put them on the ground,” took Alexander Kellner. “To breathe”, the institution needs, in emergency, a million réais (about 220,000 euros). In the aftermath of the disaster, while Michel Temer, the predecessor of the president Jair Bolsonaro, was at the head of the country, the ministry of Education had released 10 million réais (about 2.2 million euros) for emergency work. There was the very survival of the building. Since then, the museum has not received other public funds to finance the excavations, which have already helped to find 2700 pieces among the rubble thanks to the meticulous work of archaeologists.

“Our country is not accustomed to the patronage,”

“We are waiting for a direct contact of the hand of the minister, continued Alexander Kellner. That we visit or that we were going to him to show him what we are doing.” And remember: “The brazilian society is deprived of the national Museum, and this government has a golden opportunity to return the favor.” Contacted by AFP, the ministry of Education has not responded within the immediate to the ranting of the director.

In April, Alexander Kellner reported that the Association of the Friends of the national Museum, charged with collecting the donations, got 32.000 euros from individuals and only 3400 euros from companies. “Our country is not accustomed to the patronage and there is no tax relief for such donations, as is the case in France or in the United States, for example, explains-it. Our government should look into.” The museum has also received a donation of 180,000 euros from the German government and 34.000 euros to the local branch of the British Council, international british agency in charge of educational exchange and cultural relations. These are the figures that pale next to the money raised for the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris since 16 April.

egyptian Amulets found inside a sarcophagus destroyed during the fire at the national museum of Rio. MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP amulets revealed by the flames

unexpected Consequence of the fire, of the artifacts have been released of the sacrophage that contained, when it was destroyed by the flames. Among them, valuable amulets. An ultrasound carried out in 2005 had identified their presence. The coffin was a gift to the emperor Pedro II during a trip to Egypt in the Nineteenth century. Of 2700 parts saved, 200 are part of the egyptian collection. From the collections prehistoric, fossil human Luiza, one of the jewels of the national Museum, had been found last October, giving new enthusiasm to the researchers.

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Putting an end to an eight-month investigation, the federal police said in April that the fire started from the air conditioning system of the auditorium. Its electrical circuit does not meet the manufacturer’s recommendations, which advocated use of circuit breakers individual and the installation of taken of earth. Without alarms or spears of fire or doors against fire, with only a few fire extinguishers, the museum remained completely helpless in the face of tragedy. So much neglect, in the heart of Brazilians, have been perceived as the direct result of the negligence of the State and its indifference displayed to culture and education.