Theory and practice

AIDS kills almost 1,000 people per year in São Paulo. Air pollution kills 4,000. AIDS is considered a public health problem, and doctors have a say on defining public policies. Air pollution isn’t – even though it shortens the life of the average person in the city of São Paulo by two years. Taking care of car pollution isn’t a subject for the public health system – it’s for the public transportation agency, for the traffic engineers, and nobody takes into consideration the impact caused in people’s lungs when designing more avenues. It is based on this paradox that the pathologist Paulo Saldiva began TEDxSP talk.

Saldiva’s a rare kind of Brazilian scholar. He’s a researcher, and a great one. Doctor, specialist on pollution, he’s worked in Harvard, publishes regularly in specialized magazines, and is respected in the entire world. But he’s also an activist. He tries to use the data he collects to influence public policies, to change habits, to improve people’s life. He speaks up against the car culture, criticizes the dominant point of view, is always discussing with politicians and business people. Not mentioning that he rides his bike to the hospital he works every day. In short, he connects theory to practice, thought to action. In addition to all this, he’s a fun guy.

It’s good to pay attention to the things he says. A nice opportunity to do it is by watching his talk at TEDxSP. It must go on air today on the TEDxSP site.