This Manifesto is issued by OTC - Organização dos Trabalhadores Científicos, Portugal.
When signing, please include both your academic title and your affiliation after your name (surname).
*English text followed by Portuguese translation*
Version française : https://otc.pt/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MANIFESTE-DES-SCIENTIFIQUES-CONTRE-LA-GUERRE.pdf
Versión española: https://otc.pt/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MANIFIESTO_CIENTIFICOS-CONTRA-LA-GUERRA.pdf

MANIFESTO:
SCIENTISTS AGAINST WAR
FOR PEACE, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

We are living through difficult and dangerous times on our planet, the only known natural celestial body that harbours life. As men and women of science, we know the impact of scientific knowledge on society, on the lives of each of its members, and on nature in general. We know that science is a double-edged sword, reminiscent of the biblical symbolism of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Advances in fundamental science have translated into accelerated technological development, which has intensified since the mid-20th century and continues to this day. The possession of new means to impose oneself by force has exacerbated the competition between powerful interests that determine the positioning of nation-states in the international arena in the pursuit of control over territories and natural resources.
Nuclear weapons, first used in the final moments of World War II, created a new situation: the possibility of ending life on Earth through human action. Nuclear holocaust is an existential threat that should not be ignored, especially since in the past disaster was close to happening due to human error or technical failure. The multiple ongoing conflicts, active or latent, the evolution of so-called conventional warfare into "modern" forms of hybrid or asymmetric warfare — clearly a result of the perverse application of technological advances provided by science — do not contribute to mitigating, but rather increase, the risks of a foolish deviation towards the use of nuclear weapons. Not to mention, of course, the trail of lives lost and material destruction that any war entails, even without the use of those weapons. It is important to note that the present time is marked, unfortunately, by the total deconstruction of the building painstakingly erected during the years of the so-called 'Cold War' and the decade that followed: the bilateral treaties between the two major nuclear powers, the basis of so-called nuclear deterrence. Today we are witnessing a growing trend of militarization of economies that strengthens profit-driven military-industrial complexes and fuels a global cycle of conflict, war, and arms proliferation. This is a disastrous cycle in which resources and means are invested disproportionately compared to those that, sporadically and often irregularly, are directed towards combating the profound social inequalities and deprivations of all kinds suffered daily by billions of human beings, from food to health and education. These deficiencies are exacerbated by the repetition of extreme weather events, attributable to human activity, which translate into significant loss of life and material damage with profound social repercussions, especially in the poorest countries.

Furthermore, it is undeniable that war, the multiple military conflicts of different scales and natures, as well as the actual operation of military equipment, even in contexts of absence of war, significantly contribute to the worsening of conditions that drive climate change.

We have entered a vicious cycle in which weapons and rearmament are not a guarantee of peace but an incentive for war. Nothing can dissipate the dark clouds that form and linger over our heads without an understanding between powers that leads to a new type of relationship based on respect for the vital interests of the parties involved.

Given the scale of current and potential dangers, inaction and apparent neutrality amount to passive complicity. As scientists, intellectuals, educators, and citizens, we have a duty not only to sound the alarm but also to actively engage in the efforts necessary to confront current and future threats. History will judge us by our ability to resist the logic of destruction that governs the present and to build the conditions for a just, peaceful, and viable future for all.

First signatories

Alexandre Quintanilha, Full Professor (retired), ICBAS, University of Porto, Portugal

Amílcar Cardoso, Full Professor (Retired), FCTUC, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Ana Costa Freitas, Full Professor Emeritus, University of Évora, President AMONET-Portuguese Association of Women in Science

Ana Maria Silva, Associate Professor (retired), Physics Dept. University of Évora

Ana Nunes, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal

António Gomes Martins, Full Professor (retired), Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Portugal

António Sampaio da Nóvoa, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Education, Honorary Rector, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Augusto Fitas, Associated Professor (retired), University of. Évora, Portugal.

Carlos Fiolhais, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra

Carlos Mota Soares, Professor Emeritus, IST, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Elies Molins, Research Professor, ICMAB-CSIC, Campus Univ. Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, Co-President of FMTS-WFSW

Frederico Gama Carvalho, Senior Researcher (retired), C2TN, IST, University of Lisbon, President OTC, Portugal

Galopim de Carvalho, Full Professor (retired), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Guida Veiga, Associate Professor, University of Évora, Portugal

Isabel Castro Henriques, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Lisbon (Retired), Researcher at CEsA/CSG/ISEG/ULisboa 

Henrique dos Santos Pereira, Director, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Brasil

Jean-Paul Lainé, Maître de Conférences, University of Rouen, Co-President FMTS-WFSW, France

João Cunha Serra, Assistant Professor (retired), IST, University of Lisbon, Portugal

João Gaspar Caraça, Physicist, Lisbon Academy of Sciences, Portugal

Jorge Ramos do Ó, Full Professor, Institute of Education, University of Lisbon, Portugal

João Rodrigues, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Portugal

José Neves, Assistant Professor, History Department, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, NOVA University of Lisbon,

Karin Wall, Research Professor Emeritus, Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon. 

Leonor Moniz Pereira, Full Professor, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Portugal TM

Luís Moniz Pereira, Professor Emeritus, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal

Luís Trindade, Researcher, Institute of Contemporary History, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal

Luísa Schmidt, Sociologist and Research Professor, Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon

Manuel Loff, Historian, University of Porto, Portugal

Marc Delepouve, Researcher, Laboratoire d'Histoire des Technosciences en Société, Cnam, Université de Lille, Paris, France,

Marcelo Gonzalez Magnasco, Presidente FEDLATCI- Federación Latinoamericana de Trabajadores Científicos, Argentina

Maria Alice Samara, Historian, Researcher, Institute of Contemporary History, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal

Maria Eduarda Gonçalves, Full Professor, ISCTE-IUL, Lisbon, Portugal 

Maria João Rendas, Associate Professor (Retired), IST, University of Lisbon/ Researcher, CNRS (France), Portugal

Máximo Ferreira, Astronomer, Director “Constância Science Centre – Astronomy Park”, Portugal 

Mehdi Lahlou, Professor, Université de Rabat, member of WFSW International Secretariat and Bureau, Morocco.

Michael Gasser, Associate Professor Emeritus, Indiana University, USA

Mourad Bezzeghoud, Professor Emeritus, University of Évora, Portugal

Nuno Castro, Associate Professor, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal,

Paulo Pereira, Senior Researcher, Faculty of Medical Sciences, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal

Rogério Reis, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal

Rui Namorado Rosa, Professor Emeritus, Physics Dept., University of Évora

Sofia Lisboa, Researcher, FCSH, NOVA University of Lisbon, President ABIC- Association of Scientific Research Grant Holders, Portugal

Stuart Parkinson, PhD, Executive Director, “Scientists for Global Responsibility” (SGR), UK

Teresa Almeida Cravo, Associate Professor in International Relations, Faculty of Economics, Researcher at the Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Tiago André Lopes, Assistant Professor, Researcher at CEJEIA, Lusíada University, Porto, Portugal

Viriato Soromenho Marques, Full Professor, Centre of Philosophy (CFUL), School of Arts and Humanities, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Versão portuguesa

MANIFESTO:
CIENTISTAS CONTRA A GUERRA
PELA PAZ, A COOPERAÇÃO E O DESENVOLVIMENTO

Vivemos tempos difíceis e perigosos neste nosso planeta, único corpo celeste natural onde há conhecimento da existência de vida. Como mulheres e homens de ciência, conhecemos o impacto do conhecimento científico sobre a sociedade, as vidas de cada um dos seus membros e sobre a natureza em geral. Sabemos que a ciência é uma arma de dois gumes que nos remete para o simbolismo bíblico da Árvore do Conhecimento do Bem e do Mal. Os avanços da ciência fundamental traduziram-se no acelerado desenvolvimento tecnológico que se acentua a partir de meados do século passado e prossegue nos nossos dias. A posse de novos meios para se impor pela força, veio exacerbar a competição entre interesses poderosos que determinam o posicionamento dos Estados-nação na arena internacional na procura pelo controlo de territórios e recursos naturais.
A arma nuclear, utilizada pela primeira vez nos momentos finais da II Guerra Mundial, criou uma situação nova: a possibilidade de, por acção humana, ser posto fim à vida na Terra. O holocausto nuclear é uma ameaça existencial que não deve ser ignorada, tanto mais que no passado o desastre esteve próximo de acontecer por erro humano ou falência técnica. Os múltiplos conflitos em curso, activos ou latentes, a evolução da guerra dita convencional para as formas “modernas” de guerra híbrida ou assimétrica, claramente fruto da aplicação perversa de avanços tecnológicos que a ciência proporcionou, não contribuem para atenuar antes aumentam os riscos de um desvio insensato para o recurso à arma nuclear. Para lá, naturalmente, do cortejo de vidas perdidas e da destruição de bens materiais que toda a guerra envolve mesmo sem esse recurso. O tempo presente, importa notá-lo, é marcado, infelizmente, pela total desconstrução do edifício penosamente erguido nos anos da chamada “guerra fria” e da década que se lhe seguiu, dos tratados bilaterais entre as duas maiores potências nucleares, base da chamada dissuasão nuclear. Hoje assistimos a uma crescente tendência para a militarização das economias que fortalece os complexos militares-industriais movidos pelo lucro e alimenta um ciclo global de conflito, guerra e proliferação de armas. Ciclo desastroso em que são investidos meios e recursos sem comum medida com aqueles que, casuística e tantas vezes irregularmente, são dirigidos ao combate às profundas desigualdades sociais, às privações de toda a ordem de que sofrem no seu dia-a-dia milhares de milhões de seres humanos, das necessidades alimentares, à saúde, à educação. Carências agravadas pela repetição de eventos climáticos extremos, atribuíveis à actividade humana, que se traduzem em perdas significativas de vidas e danos materiais com profundas repercussões sociais, sobretudo nos países mais pobres.

Acresce que, reconhecidamente, a guerra, os múltiplos conflitos militares – de escala e natureza diferentes - bem como a própria operação de dispositivos militares, mesmo em contextos de ausência de guerra, contribuem significativamente para o agravamento das condições que impulsionam as alterações climáticas.

Entramos num círculo vicioso em que as armas e o rearmamento não são garantia de Paz, mas estímulo de guerra. Nada poderá levar a dissipar as nuvens escuras que se formam e mantêm sobre as nossas cabeças sem um entendimento entre potências que leve a um novo tipo de relacionamento assente no respeito dos interesses vitais das partes envolvidas. 

Dada a escala dos perigos actuais e potenciais, inacção e aparente neutralidade, equivalem a uma cumplicidade passiva. Como cientistas, intelectuais, formadores, e cidadãos, temos o dever, não só de dar o alarme, mas também de nos envolvermos activamente nos esforços necessários para fazer face a ameaças actuais e futuras. A História julgar-nos-á pela nossa capacidade de resistir à lógica da destruição que rege o presente e de construir as condições para um futuro justo, pacífico e viável para todos.